The amazing value of a cruise has never been so clear in comparison to other vacation options, especially now with so many choices out of Baltimore. If you read my blog article on “My 1st Cruise Experience” you know my take on Cruising vs. going to Ocean City, but below, check out the in depth details of why you will have so much more fun on a cruise.We have had a beautiful ship, Royal Caribbean’s, Grandeur of the Seas, leaving out of Baltimore for many years. Last year, we acquired the NCL Majesty sailing to Bermuda and if that wasn’t exciting enough, this year, besides those two great ships, we will have The Carnival Pride and Celebrity’s Mercury.
I am especially excited about The Carnival Pride, so this article / comparison will be based on her details. I will write another time about the equally amazing Celebrity Mercury, who I sailed Alaska on this past summer.
Cruises combine accommodations, fine dining, entertainment, and activities. And, as opposed to land-based vacations, comfortable transportation is included! Now, with only a few weeks planning, you can enjoy the getaway you need and deserve. Call me today to plan your great Get a Way.
When you consider that over of 96% of cruisers are satisfied with their vacation choice, versus a 73% approval rating among land vacationers, you'll realize that cruising is the best option. Let's compare basic costs of typical cruise and land getaways:
A 7 Night Typical Resort stay vs. a *7 Night BahamasCruise on Carnival Pride.
Accommodations on land $875.00, at sea $907.00
Meals on land $420.00, at sea, Included.
Activities & Entertainment, $200.00, at sea Included.
Gratuities $ 95.00, $70.00.
Totals, Land $1,590.00 Sea *$977.00
* Based on BALCONY accommodations, April 2009
* Based on BALCONY accommodations, April 2009
Now, more on Carnival and Carnival Pride.
Carnival has been around for 36 Years of Fun. The dream of Ted Arison, Carnival was launched in 1972 with a converted transatlantic liner. It was Arison’s dream to make the cruise experience accessible to the average family.
Carnival has been around for 36 Years of Fun. The dream of Ted Arison, Carnival was launched in 1972 with a converted transatlantic liner. It was Arison’s dream to make the cruise experience accessible to the average family.
Today Carnival is one of the largest and most successful cruise lines in the world and offers quality cruise vacations at affordable prices. The best value in the entire vacation marketplace with 23 floating resorts operating voyages of 3 to 18 days in length to more than 60 destinations.
For the past two years, Carnival Cruise Lines have been voted the number one cruise choice in Southern Living Magazine’s annual readers’ poll. For the past six years, Carnival Cruise Lines has earned "best value" honors from the World Cruise & Ocean Liner Society.
Carnival prides itself in appealing to a wide variety of ages, lifestyles, and income levels. The median age of a Carnival guest is 44, but cruises include singles, young couples, families, and retired people. In other words, today’s Carnival cruise clientele is anyone and everyone.
Description of Carnival Pride
If most of your ship's extra-spacious staterooms featured ocean views and the majority of those boasted private balconies, you would have reason to be proud too. A masterpiece in the art of having fun, CARNIVAL PRIDE has everything you could want on your vacation. Outdoors, you'll love her pools, whirlpools, Carnival's Twister Waterslide and Sliding Sky Dome, which covers the aft pool in the event of a shower. The indoor excitement includes pampering at Spa Carnival playing your favorite games at the Winner's Club casino and dining and dancing at David's, the reservations-only supper club. So if you see our crew beaming as you come aboard, that's just their confidence in knowing you're going to have the best possible cruise vacation. featured ocean views and the majority of those boasted private balconies, you would have reason to be proud too. A masterpiece in the art of having fun, CARNIVAL PRIDE has everything you could want on your vacation. Outdoors, you'll love her pools, whirlpools, Carnival's Twister Waterslide and Sliding Sky Dome, which covers the aft pool in the event of a shower. The indoor excitement includes pampering at Spa Carnival playing your favorite games at the Winner's Club casino and dining and dancing at David's, the reservations-only supper club. So if you see our crew beaming as you come aboard, that's just their confidence in knowing you're going to have the best possible cruise vacation.
Food
One of every Virgin Cruisers biggest question is. Can you really eat 24/7? YES!
So, let’s take some comparisons on food for our land based stay, our average of $420 for the week, that’s pretty cheap on vacation. Those prices were based on fast-food for breakfast and some lunches and your average 3 course meal at an average chain restaurant.
But let’s talk about upgrades, Room Service on land? Sometimes you want that mid-night snack, or jus want to hang in your room for breakfast. I’ve never seen a room service bill under $20, but on the Pride, you can use it UNLIMITED at no charge.
Now those breakfasts that we priced on land, they were really mediocre fastfood type meals. In all fairness, what you are getting on the ship is more like you would get if you went to a high end restaurants breakfast or buffet lunch. Those brunches can run $25 or more.
Lunches, the same thing. All though you can get just that burger, pizza or sub if you want it, the value of the meals you will receive on the cruise, salad, drink, meal and dessert, god knows you can’t go without dessert on a cruise, already included in your pricing, are at least $20 value on land.
Dinners in our comparison doesn’t even touch the level of food and service that you get on a cruise. You’re going to savor exquisite gourmet meals in the elegant Normandie Restaurant, on land these meals would cost you at least $50 a plate.
Want something more casual, try Mermaid’s grill. Still top quality food and an awesome selection. On land, this would cost you at least $25.00.
Try a specialty dining experience at David’s Supper Club. 5 course meal, live band for only $30, Ruth Chris would cost you well over $75 p/p.
What did all this upgrades food and service cost you over our original comparison. ZERO
Now let’s talk about Extra’s, things to do
When you think of a pass time in O/C what are some of the things that come to mind ? Beach / Waterpark / Boardwalk / Mini Golf / Clubs-Pubs
On board you have Pools, waterslides, basketball court, a 9-hole golf course and more. Sounds like your neighborhood country club?
Food
One of every Virgin Cruisers biggest question is. Can you really eat 24/7? YES!
So, let’s take some comparisons on food for our land based stay, our average of $420 for the week, that’s pretty cheap on vacation. Those prices were based on fast-food for breakfast and some lunches and your average 3 course meal at an average chain restaurant.
But let’s talk about upgrades, Room Service on land? Sometimes you want that mid-night snack, or jus want to hang in your room for breakfast. I’ve never seen a room service bill under $20, but on the Pride, you can use it UNLIMITED at no charge.
Now those breakfasts that we priced on land, they were really mediocre fastfood type meals. In all fairness, what you are getting on the ship is more like you would get if you went to a high end restaurants breakfast or buffet lunch. Those brunches can run $25 or more.
Lunches, the same thing. All though you can get just that burger, pizza or sub if you want it, the value of the meals you will receive on the cruise, salad, drink, meal and dessert, god knows you can’t go without dessert on a cruise, already included in your pricing, are at least $20 value on land.
Dinners in our comparison doesn’t even touch the level of food and service that you get on a cruise. You’re going to savor exquisite gourmet meals in the elegant Normandie Restaurant, on land these meals would cost you at least $50 a plate.
Want something more casual, try Mermaid’s grill. Still top quality food and an awesome selection. On land, this would cost you at least $25.00.
Try a specialty dining experience at David’s Supper Club. 5 course meal, live band for only $30, Ruth Chris would cost you well over $75 p/p.
What did all this upgrades food and service cost you over our original comparison. ZERO
Now let’s talk about Extra’s, things to do
When you think of a pass time in O/C what are some of the things that come to mind ? Beach / Waterpark / Boardwalk / Mini Golf / Clubs-Pubs
On board you have Pools, waterslides, basketball court, a 9-hole golf course and more. Sounds like your neighborhood country club?
Let’s start with Mini Golf I know this is huge pass time in O/C for family’s and couple both. All of the courses I was able to find pricing on ranged $5 to $7 per person per game.
Hmm, how much on the cruise you ask? ZIP
Now, if you have kids, you’re hitting a waterpark at least once. If you’re going with me, we’re going several times. 
Entry fee to an Ocean City popular water park $30.00 per person, In a day, because ½ of your day is spent standing in line, you may get to go down 8 or 10 slides. On the Pride, you have all week, ride the slide as often as you want.
Oh, what’s it cost you say? NO CHARGE!
So you want to just hang around the pool, you have 3 main Pools to choose from plus the aft pool which has a dome cover in case of showers, plus 4 spa/Jacuzzis.
So what else are you going to do with the kids? Camp Carnival offers great activities for kids of every age group.
Toddlers enjoy age-appropriate activities for your 2-5 year-olds. Anything from finger painting to cartoon time, arts and crafts to puppet shows, your little ones will have a blast! Toddlers do not have to be potty-trained in order to be part of Camp Carnival; parents simply need to provide the youth staff with diapers and toiletries for their child.
Juniors, 6-8 year old guests enjoy fun activities like Spin Art, dodge ball, volcano making. They will also participate in a large variety of themed activities and games, including prize bingo, water colors, jewelry making, air hockey and more.
Your kids will have so much fun they won’t even notice their being supervised.
Intermediates, 9-11 will play all day, dodgeball (with their age group) pool parties, video games and ship wide scavenger hunts. They’ll be excited about the new friends they’ve made and not want to leave for dinner. Talent shows, music and movement activities, makes me want to play at camp carnival.
For teens and older there is Circle C and Club 02 to just chill with kids their own ages. They can participate in the same types of fun activities, video games, sports and dance party’s.
What is the cost for all this cool stuff for your kids?!?! Nothing, Zero, Zip.
You aren’t getting that at the Ocean.
So, now that you’ve got your kids off having fun, what about you?
Ever go to your hotels gym and find it less than mediocre? Not on the Pride, a beautiful fitness facility with state of the art equipment, plus aerobics, yoga, spinning classes and health seminars.
So you like your beach jog with ocean views? Take to the Jogging Track up on the sports deck, with a bird’s eye view and NO Sand in your shoes. Take a power walk on The Prides Exterior Promenade, 1 lap around the ship equals 1/10 of a mile.
Grab some friends for a game of Volley Ball or Basket Ball. 
Hang out at the main pool for crazy cruise staff activities or just lounge and listen to the Calypso sounds.
Had enough sun, time for some indoor activities that range from wine tasting seminars, digital photography classes, destination lectures, art auctions, dance classes and the ever favorite Bingo.
Want some quiet time, visit the Nobel Library and internet café or the aft pool and relax with a good book. The only quiet time you’re getting in O/C is in your hotel room.
Or visit the spa, you will spend some money on your quiet time here, but you can pamper yourself with massages, body wraps, facials, loofah treatments, thermal suites and water therapies.
Or visit the spa, you will spend some money on your quiet time here, but you can pamper yourself with massages, body wraps, facials, loofah treatments, thermal suites and water therapies.
Nightclubs ?
Life aboard The Pride definitely heats up when thesun goes down. At O/C, cover charges ranging from $5 to $15 on any OC club, No cover charge in the hot spots on the Pride.
Try Butterflies Lounge or The Oxford Bar for gathering with friends, old and new.
Get your groove on at Beauties dance club and dance the night away.
Check out the cool sounds coming from Starry Night Jazz Club or Ivory Piano Bar. If you like the Sports Bar feel, visit the Perfect Game Bar, still NO cover Charge for any of these spots.
Don’t forget to try lady luck in Winners Club Casino which will rival any Casino in Las Vegas.
Movies, $10.00 on land, no charge on the Pride for 1st run movies. Pay per view in you cabin is also available.
What about the theater? To see a Comedy show or musical revue, you would pay out the whazoo in any resort spot. NO charge on the Pride a beautiful show lounge Taj Mahal just for your viewing pleasure. See Las Vegas caliber revues, comedy shows, magic shows, the possibility’s are endless.
Life aboard The Pride definitely heats up when thesun goes down. At O/C, cover charges ranging from $5 to $15 on any OC club, No cover charge in the hot spots on the Pride.
Try Butterflies Lounge or The Oxford Bar for gathering with friends, old and new.
Get your groove on at Beauties dance club and dance the night away.
Check out the cool sounds coming from Starry Night Jazz Club or Ivory Piano Bar. If you like the Sports Bar feel, visit the Perfect Game Bar, still NO cover Charge for any of these spots.
Don’t forget to try lady luck in Winners Club Casino which will rival any Casino in Las Vegas.
Movies, $10.00 on land, no charge on the Pride for 1st run movies. Pay per view in you cabin is also available.
What about the theater? To see a Comedy show or musical revue, you would pay out the whazoo in any resort spot. NO charge on the Pride a beautiful show lounge Taj Mahal just for your viewing pleasure. See Las Vegas caliber revues, comedy shows, magic shows, the possibility’s are endless.
EVERY NIGHT, NO CHARGE
So now, even though a cruise on the Carnival Pride is a better dollar value than a week at Ocean City, you can see with all the Extras that you get on your cruise, it is definitely a much better Vacation Value. Call me today, I’ll help you plan your Get a Way, right from your own backdoor!
So now, even though a cruise on the Carnival Pride is a better dollar value than a week at Ocean City, you can see with all the Extras that you get on your cruise, it is definitely a much better Vacation Value. Call me today, I’ll help you plan your Get a Way, right from your own backdoor!
Associate of Sara Perkins – Franchise owner, Abingdon, MD
