Carnival Pride Review with pics - 3/25/12 sailing!

[CruiserJul]

I just love this ship! Going back for 5th time in Sept. What is slingo? I have been very lucky in the Pride's casino.... hope my luck continues ! LOL

Thank you for taking the time to do a report. I'm really enjoying it.

 

Slingo is a game made popular via the internet - a combo of slots and bingo. In this case it is a penny slot machine - there were 2 side by side near the coin sweeper machines.

 

Wow - 5 times on the Pride - I'm jealous!

[CruiserJul]

Great review so far! We are sailing on her July 29th, it will be our second time on the Pride, but first for the kids. Did your DS do the teen club and what did he think?

 

Glad you are enjoying the review!

 

 

DS did not do the teen club so sorry can't comment on that.He is a little on the shy side - but he had a great time anyway.

[Scrapenthusiast]

Thanks for posting such a great review! I'm really enjoying it. I can't wait to sail with my dh on the Pride in Dec. Also thanks for posting a picture of your view from your obstructed balcony. We have 5172 booked which is also an obstructed balcony and I was wondering what the view would be like. We also got this cabin for less than an inside!:D

[Scrapenthusiast]

Just thought of a question for you. Did you guys do the Steakhouse? We were wondering which night would be best for that....I know we don't want to miss the cruise elegant nights in the MDR though. Also which dinner time did y'all do, or did you go with Your Time dining? Since it'll just be me and dh we're not sure which option we want to go with...

[PathfinderEss]

Great review, love your pictures, makes me hungry seeing all that good food.

[tracy b]

thanks for posting - we're going in August...excited now!

[CruiserJul]

Just thought of a question for you. Did you guys do the Steakhouse? We were wondering which night would be best for that....I know we don't want to miss the cruise elegant nights in the MDR though. Also which dinner time did y'all do, or did you go with Your Time dining? Since it'll just be me and dh we're not sure which option we want to go with...

 

We did not do the Steakhouse - too much food for me - lol! But if you go the first night you get a free bottle of wine...just FYI. We did anytime dining. We never had a wait. We usually went around 6 or 6:15, but on Port Canaveral day we went to dinner at 7:45 and still did not have a problem getting seated. I want to add also that I took a bottle of wine the 2nd night and didn't finish it so even though we had a different table/wait staff they knew to bring the bottle back out the next day.

[CruiserJul]

Port Canaveral Day - Arrival 7:00am.

 

This was on our bed the night before:

 

We were up early and I ordered room service for DS and I. We needed to be off the ship by 9 because we rented a car and wanted to get to Typhoon Lagoon (Disney water park) by 10 when they opened. Rented the car from Budget for $41 and they automatically have a shuttle that is at the cruise terminal to take you to their office. We just need to return it by 5:15. We had a great day at the water park - temps were in the 80's and sunny but didn't take the camera for fear of it getting stolen. We headed back around 3 and stopped at Grill's seafood restaurant and Tiki Bar for drinks (a great place). It is fairly close to where the cruise ships dock. We were standing on the deck and saw several dolphin go by!

 

We got back on board and watched sailaway from our balcony

 

Mall cop (he he)

 

 

 

 

Grill's:

 

Pilot boat:

 

Went to dinner (YTD) at 7:45 and I had the roast pork and the Tom Ka Gui soup (I loved this - curry flavor and a little spicy).

 

Later in the evening we met our CC friends at the piano bar, but it was closed so we chatted in the little lounge outside of it and then went up to the deck party - Mexican Buffet Night! We danced a little and had a shot in a fancy lighted shot glass that we purchased. We were not hungry after eating so late but DS managed to put away this:

 

[Room Service!]

That looks delicious! :)

[sparks1093]

Your review is making me wish that the next 188 days will fly by;). Great pics, too!

[deedee290]

Great review!How Was the view from the balcony I'll be on the Pride May 6 and have an obstructed balcony just wondering what it is like.

[michelle1836]

thanks for the review and the pictures. Now I'm starving! cant wait for the rest!

[megansdad1]

great review so far. looking forward to seeing the rest :)

[luv2gocruzin]

Loving your detailed review and pictures...........thanks for taking the time to share with us!!

[cobianlover]

Great review so far! We are sailing on her July 29th, it will be our second time on the Pride, but first for the kids. Did your DS do the teen club and what did he think?

 

I, too, am wondering what your son did during the times you were off doing the "adult" stuff!!! Also sailing on July 29th.

[CruiserJul]

I, too, am wondering what your son did during the times you were off doing the "adult" stuff!!! Also sailing on July 29th.

 

He would sometimes stay in the room and watch a movie on TV or walk around the ship in search of food:rolleyes:. We didn't really leave him for too long at a time.

[CruiserJul]

I'm glad everyone is enjoying the review. I'm back at work now :( but will try to post more later this evening.

[michelle1836]

I'm glad everyone is enjoying the review. I'm back at work now :( but will try to post more later this evening.

 

try and ease back into the work thing! :D

looking forward to more later

[LisaT12]

Soooo....looking forward to reading the rest. Thanks for posting!

[CruiserJul]

Nassau Day!

 

We docked at 11 and we were off the ship by 11:15 - 11:30:

 

 

6 ships in port that day! We did a little walking tour and walked to Fort Fincastle and the Queen's staircase.

 

View from our balcony:

 

We got in a long line to get back on the ship for lunch. The line was for the other ships as well. The good news was that Mermaid's Grill was practically empty at that time. We got back off the ship and walked to Junkanoo Beach to meet some CC friends there. (about a 20 min. walk). Stopped at the duty free store to buy some passion fruit flavored liquor we don't have at home for $24 to share with our friends. The water was beautiful. View from the beach:

 

DS did a little snorkeling and saw a few fish:

 

 

 

We just had a great time there because we met up with our new friends and it was a beautiful day!

 

We walked back around 5, bought some rum at the duty free and stopped at some other food store just to check out what they had (DS bought an energy drink)

 

Decided to eat at the casual buffet tonight and then went to Game Show Mania and Family Face Off where DH got picked to participate! His team lost but he got a medal.

 

Later we met our friends at the Piano Bar and had some Amish wine brought by PCOInstructor. While we were there DS managed to see fireworks and took a picture:

 

 

 

Towel animal for the night:

 

[CruiserJul]

Freeport!

 

We got up early and DS and I had a room service breakfast. We docked at 7 and saw the Fantasy come in at 8. We got a taxi for $30 round trip and went to Port Lucaya. They drop you off near the marketplace and then it is a 10 minute walk to the public beach. We arrived around 9 and no one else was there at the time. It is a nice little beach with watersports available, a restaurant/bar and restrooms. DS and DH took a snorkeling trip for $35 pp. They take you over to a coral reef and they saw quite a few fish. You can stay out as long as you want. I just read my book in the sun for a while and then got a nice rum punch from the bar. A very relaxing beach day for me. Too bad this is such a short day. We left at 12:30 - which I must add it was pretty crowded by then. We took the taxi back and shopped in the little area in front of the boat. DS bought some cologne for himself and I bought DD perfume. We were on the ship by 1 and ate lunch (pretty crowded at the buffet at this time). I walked around deck for a while then went back to the room and hung out on our balcony for a while until time to get ready for dinner. It was another Elegant Night.

I had shrimp and corvina ceviche (very good!) and Chateaubriand, which was also really good. I don't think I've ever had it before. DS got the Bing Cherry Soup:

and the Pasta Siciliana:

 

 

He and DH also split a grilled shrimp dinner.

 

Towel animal for the evening...

 

 

After dinner we went to the family friendly comedy and the main show Vroom. DH and I went to the casino a while then I hit the sack. DH and DS however, went to see the card magician in the card room as DS is really into that. DS said he had some really good tricks.

[luv2gocruzin]

Loving this!

[CruiserJul]

Last Fun Day at Sea

 

This is always a bit depressing, knowing your cruise is almost over. DH and I were up at 9 and headed to Lido for breakfast. There was a very short line at the omelette station so I got an egg white omelet and one of those little vanilla pastries that are so good.

 

Woke DS up so we could go to the Towel Folding class at 10:30. DS is into origami and I figured he would enjoy this. We learned how to make a dog, elephant and seal. This is DS's elephant:

 

We all went to the gym after that and used the treadmills/ellipticals.

 

At lunchtime there was the chocolate buffet! DS was looking forward to this!

 

 

 

As you can see it is not all chocolate. The first part of the line you can get apples, pineapple, mini donuts, mini cheesecakes, etc and the crew member will coat it in chocolate if you want. Then there was Strawberry Bisque, jujubes, sugar rocks and choc covered orange candy - all pictured above. There were also choc. covered rum balls. Further down there was a section of various cakes and choc. mousse, rice pudding, etc.

 

After that I got lunch (I know my priorities) at Chopsticks. Then we all went to the Where in the World trivia game. Did not do so well. You have to know your geography.

 

Went back to the room to enjoy the balcony since it was still warm outside. Then DS and I went to Win, Lose or Draw. I must say they keep you busy with games if you like that sort of thing. After that we tried our hand at Sodoku. Some girl finished 2 puzzles in like 3 minutes - OMG! I was still on the first! Then we went to Bingo - 7 games for $25 - did not win - boo!

 

Went back to the room to get ready for the Fun Farewell Party = Free Drinks! Sat with our CC friends then we were off to dinner.. I had chips and salsa and the mahi mahi - both very good!

Here is the Mango Soup DS had:

 

 

Mahi Mahi:

 

Towel Animal

 

 

We went to both family friendly comedy shows and the casino for a while. Back at the cabin we watched OSU lose to Kansas.

 

We decided to pack in the morning as we did self- assist.

 

Wanted to note that the temps fell quite a bit by 4:00 and it was extremely windy!

[NurseBPS]

Great Review!! Cant wait for May 6th!! Thanks for posting the part about the hair dryer, I was debating on whether I should take mine or not! If its a regular wattage I will be fine!

[Room Service!]

Thanks! Really enjoyed the review and pics.

Glad you and your family and such a good time. :)