Christmas on Pride 2014

[P&B Toronto]

Birdy the under the sea pics I used a fuji xp 150. All the above pics are with my iPhone 5. We had an expensive camera with us, I never used it once, it doesn't fit in my pocket.

 

Thanks gck1249, I agree, I love the ports. What is your favourite port and why?

I would sail again on Sunday if I could.

Apparently all onboard activities are planned by Carnival, the staff are given strict guidelines. I hope that someone passes on to Carnival and or George that he needs to change some things :)

[jacmo24]

The CD does the schedule though don't they? We cruised in July and while we had similar activities, we had so much more. I thought there were 'approved' onboard activities and it was up to the CD to make them happen.

 

Like we had an airplane making contest and then flew them for distance down the promenade. Hilarious. All the scavenger hunts? I think I saw one adult scavenger hunt this cruise. Did you see more?

 

I also dont' understand having two evening without any shows or comedy and in addition, no alternative activities other than casino and drinking. Don't get me wrong, we end up making our own fun... we were just very disappointed in the lack of activity on this cruise.

[P&B Toronto]

Hi jacmo24, I don't know how it works with onboard activities. I was told the whole thing is scripted by Carnival. Anyone else know? I did not see any other scavenger hunts, I would have loved a paper plane contest, I make a round airplane that you throw like a football.

 

I was surprised by the empty nights as well. It was my first Carnival cruise, I thought the lack of activity was the way they did it.

[fbe2228]

P&B Toronto:

Where exactly were you snorkeling at Mahogany Bay? We were there a few months ago and due to bad weather we just hung around the port for the day. I didn't bother taking my snorkeling gear because I heard there was nothing good to see. I wish I would have now. Where did you enter the water?

 

Thanks,

Paul

[P&B Toronto]

Hi Paul, I entered at the end of the pier. I wish I had more time to see more of the reef, it went a lot farther then I explored. Here is a picture approaching the drop off. I didn't take any pictures over the drop off. I forgot the floating strap and was afraid of dropping it :)

 

 

Happy new year Paul and others reading this.

 

Paul in Toronto

[P&B Toronto]

Forgot to say there are even two dive platforms at the end of the pier.

[P&B Toronto]

One last thought on snorkelling, apparently a guy goy stung by a jelly fish. I saw one, they are easy to avoid and beautiful to watch :)

 

[labsnabys]

Love the one of our ship in Mahogany Bay! I wish we had gone back off the ship once the rain stopped...would have loved to check out the beach, but my family was done.

[fbe2228]

Paul (in Toronto),

 

Thanks for the info. When you got in the water at the dive platforms, which way did you go (toward the beach or to the left?).

 

Good to know for next time.

 

Happy New Year!

 

Paul (in Ohio)

[P&B Toronto]

Labsnabys, your ship looked great. I love the pic of the hot tub that overhangs the ship.

 

Paul go straight out then left.

[fbe2228]

Thank You!

[P&B Toronto]

I went on the new slide right after lunch on the first day. Weird having the floor drop out on you :D

 

 

Mini put was fun when the ship wasn't moving, impossible with the wind when cruising. The course and sports court are basic, but they work.

 

 

Never did the sports trivia, being from cold weather I didn't want to be sitting inside.

[P&B Toronto]

The new screen, watched one movie there. Cool, kinda like a drive in.

 

 

I thought the two bands and various individual musicians were good.

 

 

David's steakhouse, although David probably ate lamb not beef ;)

 

[Seago2]

Thanks for the review! Loving the pics and your attitude.

[P&B Toronto]

De nada Paul

 

Thanks seago2

[P&B Toronto]

I had to share this picture, taken at 4:30 am one morning, the only time I could sit in a hammock!

 

 

How about a hammock rule, no 40 minutes grace like lounge chairs, once you get up move your stuff!!!! There are 4 hammocks and over 1,500 adults on the ship. Be thoughtful people. Serenity looked great, never spent anytime there, everything was always occupied or being saved :roll eyes:

 

Here are a few sunrises

 

 

 

[P&B Toronto]

Read this about a land restaurant - Following their research, the poster found that the average time that a customer spent in the restaurant from start to finish in 2004 was 1 hour and 5 minutes, while in 2014 the average time was 1 hour and 55 minutes. - The culprit? Cell phones, people taking pictures of menus and food and posting on social media and people talking on phones I find it weird seeing 5 people at a table who have gone out to eat all on their cell phones, why bother going out together? My 4 siblings and I get together almost monthly for lunch in a restaurant, we have a rule for the hour lunch - no cell phones. I have never posted any food pics to social media. I don't think anyone wants to know what I am eating for supper. I bet the next thing people will be posting telling people they had a poop on the toilet, hopefully no pics of that.

 

That being said, I know people on cc like food porn. I hardly remembered to take any. I posted one here are a few more. Btw, if you want faster service in the mdr, just tell them you would like to be out in an hour. I did this 3 times.

 

 

Pork loin steak and some kind of salad, both really good.

 

 

Seafood newburg, it was good.

 

 

Guys burger, as advertised, really good.

[P&B Toronto]

We were a few hours late returning to Tampa. A couple hours out of Cayman an announcement was made, we had a medical emergency and were returning to Cayman. Two passengers were taken off the ship.

 

Here are pics as we were coming back into Tampa.

 

 

 

 

[IDcruising]

Why? Did you not like the CD?

Edited January 4, 2015 by IDcruising

[DavyJoneses]

This was my first cruise on Carnival. I have only cruised Norwegian before. I had read a lot of reviews about the Pride before the cruise, almost everything I read was not true on our cruise or is not my opinion of things. We choose what we focus on in life.Overall the cruise was great. I will post pictures as soon as I figure out how, can someone help me out.

 

 

Not a great picture guru myself, but looking forward to the pictures.:)

[ncbeachteacher]

Great review! We were also on the same cruise with you! We really enjoyed the ship (LOVE all the new upgrades!) and the staff friendly and happy. We had maybe one encounter with the CD. Neither good or bad. Love the Pride and would sail on her again! Sorry we didn't meet!:D

[pghsteelerfan]

I really loved your review, beautiful pictures as well. Thank you so much for including the snorkeling pictures at Mahogany Bay in Roatan. We were on Carnival Liberty last April and also went to West Bay on a private tour in which the water was too rough to swim. We had a quick stop in West End, but it looked desolate and the water was also rough, so we decided to pass. We had special announcements from our captain (announcement and follow up letter with the same information) that due to recent crimes (robberies, some armed) targeting tourists, it was highly recommended we stay in groups in populated areas, so we followed that advice. We had a short port day, so by the time we got back to Mahogany Bay, it was about time to board the ship. I was kicking myself for not just staying at Mahogany Bay but I think we will next time. We also may try Little French Key, but we'll see. I'm glad to see your cruise made it to Grand Cayman. Ours was cancelled due to weather but we'd been there before (did Stingray City), so it wasn't like we were missing what would have been a new port.

 

I loved the part where you talked about Christmas and how there are people who are alone. That was very nice to read and very uplifting.

 

Again, your pictures are beautiful and thank you for taking the time to do a review.

[P&B Toronto]

DaveyJonses, I have posted lots of pictures, here are some of the dolphins swimming by our hotel in Tampa

 

 

[P&B Toronto]

IDcruising, I did not find him personable. Saw him snap at a passenger during the Hasboro show. I just wasn't impressed by him. Like I said maybe he is going through a rough patch, who knows.

[P&B Toronto]

ncbeachteacher, it is too bad that our roll call didn't organize something. After 35 high school motivational presentations in the fall and my real estate work, I was too wiped to organize something. I hope the rest of your school year goes well.