Like Fine Wine
We live in a world addicted to superlative -- biggest, greatest, newest. Especially newest. There are people who must see the movie opening day, score the new smartphone the day it’s released or sail on a new ship’s first launch.
Carnival Pride sails out of Baltimore. It’s been doing so for nine years now. And to watch and listen to the passengers on my recent cruise, they couldn’t care less that the ship isn’t new. Sure, it needs some paint here and there, a spruce-up definitely, but people love this ship. I lost track of how many people said it was their 14th, 16th, 18th cruise. I met a fair amount who’d even gained Diamond status, meaning 200-plus cruise days, which adds special benefits. Some make this their annual vacation; some sail more often.
Just goes to show that age + experience = knowledge. And those in the know find Carnival Pride and Baltimore worth repeating.
Pride of Place
Carnival Pride sports a wide range of clientele -- young, old, solos, couples, families and an astonishing amount of multigenerational groups. And ship features and daily activities reflect that. Kids’ clubs and Dr. Seuss-themed events draw young people galore. Two pools are packed with kids (even during evening Dive-In Movies) -- the third is adult-only and competition for a cabana is fierce. Some people don’t know there’s another whirlpool in the spa -- also available to those not paying for services.
Dual slides in Waterworks lure kids and adults, as does the sports court. The usual games and dance instructions on Lido entertain poolside, and the number of opportunities to play bingo in Taj Mahal Theater or trivia games in The Piazza Café is extensive. Plus, Butterflies Theater offers comedians in two showings -- R- and PG-rated. And bars and nighttime music venues, of course, are in abundance.
Food is pretty much what cruisers expect -- Guy Fieri’s Burger Joint justifiably pulls in a crowd. But the best by far is the premium-charge Chef’s Table. And those who don’t reserve a spot way ahead won’t get one. Open to 14 diners per evening, this meal begins with a galley tour, plus a few hors d’oeuvres to whet the appetite.
Dinner -- with wine pairings -- takes place in the former disco, and participants are the exclusive stars. Executive Chef Michael Wisdom introduced each of the eight courses. It’s an exploration of creative cuisine, expertly prepared and artfully plated. For those who can’t land a spot at Chef’s Table -- or those wanting more -- David’s Steakhouse is exceptional. This intimate and yes, superlative, restaurant, graced by a demure replica of Michelangelo’s David, is also host to a once-a-cruise chef demo (complete with samples) that puts cruisers up close to the culinary talent.
Boasting of Baltimore
Baltimore’s history is lengthy and diverse, and a pre- or post-cruise visit is more than well worth the time. It’s a city of neighborhoods, and the visitor’s anchor is Inner Harbor.
Hotel RL, a sleek, modern repurposing of the 1905, neoclassic Keyser Building, was my home base. Spacious rooms with high ceilings and expansive windows sport great downtown views, while the coffeehouse-style ground level features work spaces, free loaner bikes, entertainment on The Living Stage (select evenings) and a cafe with Victrola Coffee Roasters artisan coffee. Its location three blocks north of Inner Harbor sealed the deal.
My time was short, so I caught a Baltimore National Heritage Area walking tour of three waterfront neighborhoods -- Inner Harbor (the 1854 USS Constellation is a prime photo op), Jonestown (ancestral home of the Jewish community) and Little Italy (where more than 20 traditional restaurants beckon visitors). The Baltimore Water Taxi makes it easy and fun to visit others, so I hopped a ride to Fell’s Point, predating the city and site of its 18th-century maritime history. Quintessential waterfront restaurants and bars -- including the Horse You Came In On Saloon, supposedly Edgar Allan Poe’s last stop -- are plentiful.
History lives large in Federal Hill, with stellar city-skyline views and Fort McHenry, site of the War of 1812 battle that birthed The Star-Spangled Banner. Visitors can get an education on that flag, too, at the Star-Spangled Banner Flag House (seamstress Mary Pickersgill’s home) in Jonestown. It’s fronted by a to-scale glass replica of the garrison flag.
The free Charm City Circulator makes for a quick run to the Mount Vernon neighborhood for a look at the 1815 (climbable) Washington Monument, created by sculptor Robert Mills before he went to D.C. The Walters Art Museum and Johns Hopkins’ graceful, five-story George Peabody Library are nearby.
When hunger calls, a few blocks west is the Bromo Arts District, where terrific crab cakes rule at Faidley’s Seafood in the 1782 Lexington Market (the country’s oldest). And a hop north yields Hampden -- a walkable, trendy neighborhood filled with quirky shops and boutiques -- where visitors simply can’t go wrong with Chef Chad Gauss’ Food Market.
Those looking for a timeless setting for a farewell dinner will find it at the warm, candlelit Rusty Scupper, fine dining accompanied by expansive views of Inner Harbor. Save room for a slice of Smith Island Cake, Maryland’s decadent, long-standing official dessert. Just another example of how things get better with age.
Planning Your Trip
For information on Carnival Pride and its itineraries, visit carnival.com. For information on Baltimore, log on to Visit Baltimore at baltimore.org. And check out Hotel RL’s new cruise package at redlion.com/baltimore/packages. To use AAA member discounts, visit your local AAA Travel agent or AAA.com to book.
