Carnival Pride Review 6/27 - 7/4

[M&M121]

I'm loving your review so far! My boyfriend and I liked/didnt like a lot of the same things that you have mentioned. Overall we were happy with breakfast in Mermaids, lunch from the grill, and dinners in Normandie. I do admit at times food was lacking.

 

I recognize you from around the ship! We were in the Ivory Bar that night (and every night!) as well. Paul was awesome. We really enjoyed the show he put on.

[pridemnx]

Hi Barbara,

It was a pleasure meeting you and Virginia. She is a smart and beautiful lady. You must be so proud of her.

It was good to see you at the David’s Cooking Demonstration, Behind the Scene Tour and the Carnival Legend show and more.

I love your review. So much details.

My family and I had so much fun. We really enjoy this cruise.

I emailed our photo to you. Hope you have received it. If not, please let me know.

 

willow0325 - we sailed the extended balcony room (Rm 7277) on the Pride a few years ago and the standard balcony room (Rm 6120) this time. Extended balcony is nice (more room) but not a big deal to us. More importantly, we would choose the Starboard side - better scenery; Dec 6 or 7 - Deck 8 and 4 are noise; mid ship - less rocky; away from elevator - quieter.

[family cruisers]

You're now giving us something to look forward to even though we 've been on the pride before.

I understand the 5am thing. Thats my wake up time for work BUT I'm out by 3pm, summer *(now)* I'm out at 2.. Can't complain at all.

 

Carrie

Carrie thanks for the complements. She had a great time on the cruise - she found friends her own age to hang out with and they had a blast. I will try to finish night 3 before I go to bed - I need to get up for work a 5am tomorrow :(

[delongedoug]

Thanks for the detailed and pictured review! I was in Baltimore this weekend at my girlfriend's house and watched the cruise leave Sunday evening from her rooftop deck. Four more months...

[zfam]

I was so tired (and sun burnt) from spending the day at Atlantis. I set an alarm to wake up and make sure DD made curfew that night.

 

I hear ya, my nose is still peeling. Had the same issues with our DD, (16yr old) who suddenly forgot how to 'tell time' on the cruise. Heard 'mom, there's no clocks anywhere on the ship' many times. Your DD is so pretty and photogenic!

 

Looking forward to reading more of your review. :)

[dataz722]

We were short the second comedian (who missed the ship) the second half of the cruise because of a delayed (canceled??) flight into the Bahamas.

 

I was on this cruise as well and I can say from a very reliable source that the other comedian overslept and missed his flight into Nassau.

 

We ate in the dining room 6 of the 7 nights this cruise. We did Any Time Dining and ate diner early every night except for Nassua. I had reserved David’s Steakhouse for the Port Canaveral night about 6 weeks before we sailed.

 

I think you guys were sitting right behind my wife and myself at Davids. We had a 6:15 reservation (actually got in about 10 minutes early) the night of Port Canaveral. If I remember right and you were at that table one of the waiters ran the salad cart into your table.

[dataz722]

Heard 'mom, there's no clocks anywhere on the ship' many times.

 

Must say that I agree with her on that.

[Jeffy294]

Great review, thinking of sailing Pride again after seeing the pics.

[jkudzu]

Wow--great review Barbara! Thanks so much for doing this. Now could you provide an umbrella drink and ocean breezes for me to complete the tour? :D

I'm so glad you had a good time!

[cbpanda]

If I looked straight down I saw a lifeboat[/url]

 

Okay, here's my question. DH and I are booked in an Ocean Suite on the same deck and based on the deck plans (which we obviously failed to look at earlier:(), it seems like we will have the same view looking down. Did it bother you that you couldn't look down at the water? I don't think my DH will like this at all. Hmmmm.... I guess we'll just have to look out and not down!

[akers123]

I go on the Pride in 12 Days - I can't wait! Thanks for the review!!

[vavasmom]

I hear ya, my nose is still peeling. Had the same issues with our DD, (16yr old) who suddenly forgot how to 'tell time' on the cruise. Heard 'mom, there's no clocks anywhere on the ship' many times. Your DD is so pretty and photogenic!

 

Looking forward to reading more of your review. :)

 

I burnt my legs from my hips to knees floating in a tube. I look like I have bad case of dandruff because the top of my head is peeling.

 

DD was great - she made her curfew every single night. There were more clocks than on RCCL. The only night she was a few minutes late was becuase the clock on deck 10 was 15 minutes slow (she thought she was going to be early).

[vavasmom]

I was on this cruise as well and I can say from a very reliable source that the other comedian overslept and missed his flight into Nassau.

 

I think you guys were sitting right behind my wife and myself at Davids. We had a 6:15 reservation (actually got in about 10 minutes early) the night of Port Canaveral. If I remember right and you were at that table one of the waiters ran the salad cart into your table.

 

I guess the other comedian was cutting him some slack. That was us in Davids - she had to push that cart between our table and a pole - it barely fit. I hope your meal was enjoyable as ours.

[vavasmom]

Okay, here's my question. DH and I are booked in an Ocean Suite on the same deck and based on the deck plans (which we obviously failed to look at earlier:(), it seems like we will have the same view looking down. Did it bother you that you couldn't look down at the water? I don't think my DH will like this at all. Hmmmm.... I guess we'll just have to look out and not down!

 

To be honest it bothered me for the first day or so until I trained myself to look out not down. Once I adapted it was fine. Not being able to look straight down was a new experience for me.

[vavasmom]

I wanted to thank everyone for their positive comments. Doing this has given me a new appreciation for how much work it really is - especially uploading and linking the photos. I am getting ready to post Day 4 until dinner in a few minutes. Tomorrow I plan on finishing Day 4 and doing days 5 and 6 (I have fewer photos). That will leave day 7 for Thursday. I leave on my annual roller coaster trip at 5am Friday morning so I need to get this done, my suitcases re-packed, and go to work 2 more days between now and then.

 

I would love to blow-off the work thing but my vacation habit - not to mention living expenses, future college expenses for Virginia, and my someday retirement requires the paycheck.:D

[vavasmom]

Hi Barbara,

It was a pleasure meeting you and Virginia. She is a smart and beautiful lady. You must be so proud of her.

It was good to see you at the David’s Cooking Demonstration, Behind the Scene Tour and the Carnival Legend show and more.

I love your review. So much details.

My family and I had so much fun. We really enjoy this cruise.

I emailed our photo to you. Hope you have received it. If not, please let me know.

Thanks so much for the picture. It was wonderful to met you and your family as well. I saw you guys in the immigration line on Sunday morning. I hope you had an uneventful drive home.

[vavasmom]

Day 4: 30 June – Port Canaveral

A little info before I get started: I took more pictures on this day than any other. . I want to thank MarkM and Radio for convincing me, via their detailed Pride reviews late last fall, that KSC was worth a visit. I wish Canaveral was not a port stop – I would prefer an 8am – 9pm in Nassau and a full day in Freeport. I think Carnival stops here for the revenue. Many people we ran into on the ship had booked excursions to the Orlando theme parks. The Magic Kingdom seemed popular with families of small children and Islands of Adventure (for the new Harry Potter Attraction) was just about everyone else’s selection. I know part of the cruise director’s staff went to IOA that day. Waits for the Harry Potter section were reported to have varied between 2 and 3 hours in the 100 degree heat.

 

We were up early (6 am) to get ready for our day in Port Canaveral. I had arranged a rental car through Budget ($38.96 with all taxes/fees no added insurance using a COSTCO coupon). I made sure I had my COSTCO card and proof of insurance (neither one was checked). We walked out onto the deck over the bridge to watch our arrival. It was a beautiful morning and we saw some dolphins on our way into the port. We enjoyed a nice breakfast (including a made to order omelet) in Mermaids while we waited for the ship to be cleared.

 

As soon as the announcement was made we and 1500 of our closest friends made our way off the ship. There were many signs and warnings about taking food from the ship. I saw a couple of USDA inspectors in the port but do not know if anyone had any issues.

 

Once we exited the building we went past the excursion buses heading to KSC and found the Budget shuttle (it was just before 8am). As soon as the shuttle driver confirmed I had a reservation we were off. It took only a few minutes to reach the office. The woman behind the counter was very helpful and we soon had our car for the day.

 

As we were getting ready to leave, I asked for a map and directions. The Budget woman said “Turn Left our of the parking lot and just follow the signs to KSC – you can’t get lost”. Here is where we make our little detour because we can't possibly get lost. I took the exit for Cape Canaveral thinking that was the way to go – wrong – we hit the gate of the Air Force base and turned around. It only cost us 10 or 15 minutes and we got to drive by the Pride at the port. Following the signs to Kennedy Space Center worked put much better. We arrived and parked right by the admission gates a little before 9am. I had purchased general admission ticket vouchers from AAA (cost 72.00 for 2). The vouchers were quickly exchanged for tickets and we were on our way.

 

 

[vavasmom]

Day 4: 30 June – Port Canaveral - Cont.

 

The first IMAX movie Magnificent Desolation: Walking on the Moon 3-D was not until 10am so we decided to tour the Rocket Garden and Early Space Exploration exhibits. The Rocket Garden was very interesting but also very hot. If you are going in the warmer months I suggest taking a hat, plenty of sunscreen (there was very little shade), and bottled water. My pictures do not do the area justice. We saw many different types rocket, were able to climb into simulate capsules (they are much smaller than your think), walk down the Apollo Walkway, and see an actual rocket engine up close. The Early Space Exploration exhibit was popular for the air conditioning. It was a nice break after the 45 minutes in the sunny rocket garden.

 

[vavasmom]

Day 4: 30 June – Port Canaveral - Cont

 

After the movie, we decided to see the Space Shuttle Plaza and the Astronaut Memorial before taking the bus tour. As we entered the area, the first thing we saw was a beautiful sand sculpture. As we continued to walk, it was interesting to get that up close to the inside of a Space Shuttle – the shuttle at the Smithsonian Air and Space Center Annex is on display but you can not see inside. I also gained an appreciation for the size of the solid rocket boosters. The astronaut memorial pays tribute to the men and women who lost their lives as part of the space program. It consists of the black granite the wall and memorial plaques. Since I did not have a quarter to secure my excursion bag in a locker, Virginia did the Shuttle launch experience while I made a couple of calls on the cell phone. She said Mission Space is a much more intense ride. After a quick restroom break, we dodged the souvenir photographer and got in line for the KSC Tour.

 

[NelF1025]

Okay, here's my question. DH and I are booked in an Ocean Suite on the same deck and based on the deck plans (which we obviously failed to look at earlier:(), it seems like we will have the same view looking down. Did it bother you that you couldn't look down at the water? I don't think my DH will like this at all. Hmmmm.... I guess we'll just have to look out and not down!

 

 

We had that view once... never ever again... and it was only a 3 day cruise.. My hubby loves sitting on deck and he was NOT happy...

[vavasmom]

Day 4: 30 June – Port Canaveral - Cont.

 

The KSC tour departs approximately every 15 minutes by bus. We had to wait through on cycle before we were able to board. The tour is a combination of bus driver narration, videos displayed on small TVs, and three stops to view areas where you get off the bus and view exhibits. At each of the stops you get off the bus and spend as much time as you wish exploring that stop. You then queue for the next available bus. The first stop was the LC39 Observation Gantry. On the way to this stop, the driver points out the Vehicle Assembly Building, the “crawlerway” used by the crawler to transport the space shuttle to the launch pad, and the launch control center. At the Gantry, there is a movie, which we skipped since it had a capacity crowd, and an elevator ride to the top. From the top, we could see both of the shuttle launch pads, a few other rocket launch pads, and the different buildings used to support the space shuttle. The signage at the top was very informative as to what you were looking at. You are a distance from everything (a zoom feature is very useful). This stop also had a “Space Dots” (Dipping Dots) cart and a snack stand selling soft pretzels and chips. DD and I shared some space dots and 2 bottles of water. On the way out, the driver pointed out the famous blue countdown clock, the fact that all flags had been lowered to half-staff because of the death of Senator Byrd, and an osprey’s nest.

 

[vavasmom]

Day 5: 30 June – Port Canaveral - Cont.

 

The second stop on the tour was the Apollo/Saturn 5 Center. This stop has 2 movies – one of which you must see before entering the building, a portion of the launch control room (from Apollo), an Apollo rocket, a lunar explorer, a moon rock, space suits, and an area called “Apollo Treasures Gallery”. I found this the most fascinating – it contained artifacts from many different aspects of the Apollo program including the Apollo 14 space capsule, spacesuits, a spacesuit emergency repair kit, checklist/instructions used in the actual missions, the watch that survived the fatal Apollo 1 fire, the emergency procedure book for Apollo 13, etc. This building also has actual food service and restrooms.

 

[vavasmom]

Day 5: 30 June – Port Canaveral - Cont.

 

The third stop on the tour is the International Space Station Center. We were able to walk through a mock-up of one of the space stations modules and then cross into an observatory area for the actual space station clean room assembly area. A docent was available to answer questions about the space station and the on-going work. It was almost 3:30 at this point so we boarded the bus back to the visitor’s center and made our way back to the car. We noticed a lot of smoke. The driver explained they were doing a controlled burn to stop wild fires this summer. I was glad we visited the Shuttle in the morning because that area now had quite a bit of smoke in the air. On the way out we stopped by the famous black sphere on the water. When we got to the car the outside temperature was 100 degrees. No wonder we were so hot all day. I was very happy when the car’s A?C kicked in. The return drive was uneventful. I stopped for gas (3.25) and a quick snack of M&Ms/water before returning the car. The friendly Budget counter woman drove us back to the ship and asked if we know about the fire. As we boarded the ship, Virginia and I both agreed that we were surprised by how much there was to see. We agreed that we had had a very fun and in educational day. We were going to take a quick dip in the pool to cool off and then get ready for our dinner reservation at David’s. You can see in the picture below that one pool was out of commission….

 

[vavasmom]

Day 5: 30 June – Port Canaveral - Cont.

 

I had booked a reservation for 6pm at David’s in May. I thought it would be the perfect location for a “celebration” dinner. I will admit that I also wanted to compare it to the additional charge restaurants on RCCL and DCL. By making their menus standard fleet wide, it was possible to determine what was being served ahead of time. I wish other cruise lines would do the same so it would be possible to plan nights like David’s in advance. I selected this night because nothing on the menu looked appealing. IMHO, something is wrong when the beef stroganoff that has pickles and eggs. I also do not like lamb.

 

For those of you not familiar with the Pride, David’s is two level restaurant located in the Whale Tail (funnel) on deck 10 – reached via elevator or a glass staircase. It is impossible to miss the status of the namesake when you enter. We were seated at a table for two by the windows near a support column.

 

 

 

[vavasmom]

Day 5: 30 June – Port Canaveral - Cont.

 

The meal starts with the server bringing a tray of the different meats available on the menu. You also receive bread and three different accompaniments (fresh made bruschetta topping, butter, and a third I do not remember). Once we ordered, the server brought out a small sample of an item not on the menu complements of the chef. I was given smoked salmon and a flavorful cream accompaniment while Virginia was given a tomato mint soup. For an appetizer (sorry no pictures), I had the crab cake and Virginia had the escargot. Both were excellent - much better preparation and presentation than the same items served in the dining room. The server then prepared our Cesar salads table-side using a large preparation cart. The salad contained whole romaine leaves, flavorful croutons, and fresh Parmesan. We had her omit the anchovies. For dinner, I had the surf and turf (6 oz lobster tail and 4.5 oz Fillet Mignon) and Virginia had the 9oz fillet with peppercorn sauce. We each had a baked potato on the side.

 

 

The steaks were cooked exactly as ordered. Like other steakhouses I have eaten in, they tend to cook on the rarer side. While we were eating, the server accidentally ran the salad cart into our table (pretty hard). I felt sorry for her. She had to make a very tight turn with the large bulky salad cart. It just fit between our table and the support pole. I was very glad my hand was not on the edge of the table because that would have hurt.

 

For dessert Virginia order the cheesecake and I ordered the chocolate sampler. I liked 2 of the 4 chocolate items but Virginia’s cheesecake was to die for. It was also large enough to feed 3 or 4 people. As a side note, I ordered a glass of wine with dinner and had to pay Canaveral tax because we were still docked when it was entered into the system. There was also 3.60 tax on the cover charge. I added extra to the tip because of the quality of the service (ignoring the cart driving error).

 

 

The meal we had was slightly better than what we had in either Chops or Portifino on the Freedom of the Seas (RCCL) last year. I consider it slightly better to on-par with the brunch I had in Palo (DCL) several years ago.