We've just returned from our Ontario March break cruise on Carnival Pride. My husband and I (early 40's) with my 15 year-old daughter and 14 year-old son, as well as a friend of the family (16 year-old girl). Taking advantage of some nice early booking prices, we splurged on a balcony for the first time ever. Since only balconies and Ocean-views were left to accommodate the three kids and there were balconies left cheaper than Oceanviews - they got a balcony too. We left Toronto early Friday morning, driving to Baltimore.

Pre-cruise:

We decided to break up our driving by stopping to shop in Pennsylvania on Friday (no tax on clothes) and spending Saturday in Washington D.C. With three teenagers with us we spent way too many hours at the Prime Outlet in Grove City, Pennsylvania. We resumed our journey in the late afternoon on Friday and reached Washington D.C late in the evening where we spent the night at the Sheraton National in Arlington VA. We got a great rate on Hotwire for the Sheraton and were pleased with our stay. I had emailed them in advance to ask for a room with a view of the monuments (even numbered rooms 6th floor or higher) and they were able to accommodate us. Parking was about $18 a night and we needed a rollaway bed for the kids' room since there were three of them ($20), but we got such a great rate on the two rooms that I had no problem with that. For breakfast we ate at Bob and Edith's diner down the street from the hotel, then set off to see Washington DC. Read more