Mitsugirly takes great PRIDE in bringing her Spring Break extreme review

[mitsugirly]

BASKETBALL/PUTT PUTT AREA:

 

Sorry, the only picture I have to share for this area is this lone single picture (for now). There will be more in the review when we participate in this highly competitive gold tournament later in the week. :p :D

 

 

 

[mitsugirly]

Leaving on the Pride Sunday... so this is a super amazing coincidence. Pride seems to be a boat that everyone loves. It's my first time.

 

 

I hope you have a wonderful cruise. We loved her. :)

[mitsugirly]

CLUB 02

 

Our daughter spent a lot of time up here...more on this later.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

[swodog94]

Now I didn't realize this, but after I boarded the ship and I was in contact with others, they ask if some of the pictures still had the "nipples" removed from the pictures. ??? I had no idea what they were referring to and hadn't noticed it. However, my husband had the answer pretty darn quickly and said "yes". I thought it was funny that he had noticed this and knew exactly what they were talking about...but then again, he is a guy.

 

I then found a picture and gave it to them. Everyone laughed. I would really like to know the story behind this if anyone cares to share....

 

Who is it that crossed out the nipples around the ship?

 

I had read things here and there about how some "families" went on the ship and was disgusted about the "nudity" of the art work and the statues. Of course I didn't find anything wrong with it and neither did our little ones. But I guess to each their own. It's what the ship is about...renaissance and the art work.

We cruised on Pride in 2012 and 2013 and had no issue with the nipples...or the huge statue of David in the steakhouse where his...errr..."meat"...was on display. Apparently they put a fig leaf over his naughty bits during the 2.0 upgrade. LOL!

[swodog94]

Throwing in an "extra" here.

 

Did you know that all Carnival ships have a special coin welded to them in a box? Here's the info:

 

 

The ship was blessed for safe travels for all crew and guests that will sail with her; a champagne bottle was broken and the ship was gifted with a very special coin. According to the shipyard staff there is a centuries old tradition that calls for every ship to carry a lucky coin. The coin is welded to the hull of the ship and has to happen before the ship can touch water.

This is an old seafaring tradition that is not unique to Carnival. When placing, or "stepping", the mast, sailors used to place coins under the mast for good luck. With the advent of steel ships, the tradition was modified to welding a box with coins or good luck charms to the mast. It is believed that the ritual goes back to Roman times, when seafaring was still considered so dangerous that coins were placed on the ship to pay Charon the ferryman for passage across the river Styx into Hades (the afterlife). Look up "mast stepping" for more details on this mariner's superstition.

[SMSACE6]

Hi Mitsugirly! As always I am enjoying your review and photos immensely! Thanks again for posting a wonderful and entertaining review. I look forward to more:)

[My6Dogs]

Really enjoying your review!

 

We were just on Pride in January and loved her!

 

Mike

[trixiegal]

I'm interested in reading this review to get another perspective on the Pride. I also gave you some advice on where to stay and park in the area. Even offered to bring you water since the BW Elkridge is in my neighborhood before I realized I was going to be in Asheville for Easter weekend! I'm sure you got it all worked out. [emoji6]

 

Despite living so close to this port, I've never found the fares on the Pride a good value even with not having to fly to get on the ship. Plus, I've been to the Bahamas too many times and I like cruising to new ports. I know she's usually sold out (which is why prices are so high) so let me click back to post 1 and see what this fuss is about.

[mitsugirly]

DAVID'S STEAK HOUSE...THE FUNNEL

 

This place was gorgeous. I loved the way it was situated in the funnel and everything was red. It was a beautiful place and I bet it made for an awesome dining experience. We did not dine here (I don't eat steak), but it would have been neat for the experience alone.

 

 

Another cc poster warned me about the steps to this place...and I just knew I had to see it (this is actually one of the first places I headed to when we got on the ship). The steps are all glass and you can see all the way down into the atrium on the 2nd floor. It's pretty spectacular and eerie at the same time. Sakari thought it was cool going up, not so much coming back down. LOL

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

[mitsugirly]

DAVID'S STEAK HOUSE...THE FUNNEL

 

 

 

 

David with his new rocawear outfit.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

[mitsugirly]

DAVID'S STEAK HOUSE...THE FUNNEL

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Looking in from outside.

 

 

 

[mitsugirly]

We cruised on Pride in 2012 and 2013 and had no issue with the nipples...or the huge statue of David in the steakhouse where his...errr..."meat"...was on display. Apparently they put a fig leaf over his naughty bits during the 2.0 upgrade. LOL!

 

I seriously LOLed at all of this. :p :D Great choice of words. Yep, he has a leaf on him now.

 

This is an old seafaring tradition that is not unique to Carnival. When placing, or "stepping", the mast, sailors used to place coins under the mast for good luck. With the advent of steel ships, the tradition was modified to welding a box with coins or good luck charms to the mast. It is believed that the ritual goes back to Roman times, when seafaring was still considered so dangerous that coins were placed on the ship to pay Charon the ferryman for passage across the river Styx into Hades (the afterlife). Look up "mast stepping" for more details on this mariner's superstition.

 

 

Awesome. Thanks for the lesson. I'll look it up. :)

[mitsugirly]

Hi Mitsugirly! As always I am enjoying your review and photos immensely! Thanks again for posting a wonderful and entertaining review. I look forward to more:)

 

Hey there! Glad you are here and enjoying it. Thanks for the comments and I hope I don't let you down this time either. :D

 

Really enjoying your review!

 

We were just on Pride in January and loved her!

 

Mike

 

She is amazing isn't she!

[cruisenoobie14]

We're going on the pride next Feb and my mother uses a cane to walk. She has occasional problems with stairs and we were discussing possibly going to the steakhouse. We were wondering (couldn't tell from your photos) is there another way up to the steakhouse other than the glass stairs?

[mitsugirly]

I'm interested in reading this review to get another perspective on the Pride. I also gave you some advice on where to stay and park in the area. Even offered to bring you water since the BW Elkridge is in my neighborhood before I realized I was going to be in Asheville for Easter weekend! I'm sure you got it all worked out. [emoji6]

 

Despite living so close to this port, I've never found the fares on the Pride a good value even with not having to fly to get on the ship. Plus, I've been to the Bahamas too many times and I like cruising to new ports. I know she's usually sold out (which is why prices are so high) so let me click back to post 1 and see what this fuss is about.

 

 

Hi there Trixie!!! I absolutely positively remember you. You were such a great help when I was frantically trying to plan my stay in Baltimore. You are a great wealth of information over there on the Baltimore cruise port area and I super duper appreciated your help and knowledge. Thank you so much for all you do. Our stay at BW Elkridge worked out WONDERFUL!!! I was so grateful in you offering to bring pop (even though you couldn't because of the timing). Cruisers like you are awesome! :)

[mitsugirly]

We're going on the pride next Feb and my mother uses a cane to walk. She has occasional problems with stairs and we were discussing possibly going to the steakhouse. We were wondering (couldn't tell from your photos) is there another way up to the steakhouse other than the glass stairs?

 

 

Absolutely there is...the glass elevators will take you there in style. :D

 

 

[mitsugirly]

FITNESS POOL AREA

 

 

Now up where the putt putt golfing is located, there is a glass dome. If you look in that glass dome, you will see the fitness workout room and there is a small hot tub(?) there.

 

I knew about this hot tub area and others had mentioned it before I left...saying it was the perfect place to "get away" and relax and not many people knew about it.

 

I have to say that I never got to try it out...but not because I wanted to, but because I was denied entry each time we tried! :eek:

 

It seemed (unless I missed it) that you had to enter the work out room using the spa area (which is just weird). Every time we tried to enter that area (and I even ask the people at the desk in the spa where to get into the fitness area) they would tell me 1) They were closing or 2) I couldn't come in right now. :mad: I found this very strange. Every ship I have ever been on had a fitness center that was open all the time and you could come and go as you please. However, since this was located somehow within the spa place, they wasn't always open? Or at least that's what they kept telling us. I finally gave up and admired it from the ROOF! :p

 

The fitness area looked pretty cool are well with different levels and stairs. I really would have loved to check it out and get pictures at least.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

[mitsugirly]

WATERWORKS AREA

 

 

Bring on the fun!!!!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

[mitsugirly]

WATERWORKS AREA

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

[tandemcruzr]

Thanks Mitsugirly for taking the time and effort to do this review. We were on the Pride in January before she returned to Baltimore. We enjoyed her and your photos bring back some pleasant memories.

 

Aunt Sakari will probably have some funny stories explaining how she is Brayden's Aunt. :D

Edited April 21, 2015 by tandemcruzr

[mitsugirly]

Once again, a few odds and ends around the ship.

 

I just loved these little flower lights.

 

 

 

Another thing I love about Carnival is there use of signs for directions. You always know what's ahead.

 

 

 

 

Now I have to make this comparision comment about the public bathrooms-Carnival versus NCL.

 

I found that this ship had the most wonderful and nice public bathrooms ever. They were huge and spacious just about everywhere we went. NCL seems to have bathrooms for public use with 2 maybe 3 stalls tops. You wind up waiting in line, doing the "I gotta potty now" dance every time...especially around the casino areas. Not here!!! Every bathroom I went in on this ship and a lot of stalls in it...and to top it off...IT SMELLED NICE!!! They were always clean and in working condition. I found only 1 stall that went "out of business" during the cruise and it was only like that for 1 day.

 

 

Everyone loves a whale...

 

 

 

Up on deck with the glass closed, looking down into the pool area.

 

 

 

That awesome moment when you are able to capture not only the whale tail, but the name of the ship in the same picture.

 

[mitsugirly]

Thanks Mitsugirly for taking the time and effort to do this review. We were on the Pride in January before she returned to Baltimore. We enjoyed her and your photos bring back some pleasant memories.

 

Aunt Sakari will probably have some funny stories explaining haw she is Brayden's Aunt. :D

 

 

I would have loved to sail her out of Tampa. I love memories. I think that's why I do these reviews as well.

 

Aunt Sakari will surely get a kick out of it as she grows older. However, we are having all the fun explaining and watching the reactions of others until she gets to that age she can do it herself. :p :D

[mitsugirly]

Time for another comparison of ships...I felt this one is warranted.

 

Being a nurse, I'm an avid scrub-your-hands-until-you-have-no-top-layer-of-skin-left-on-them person...not really, but some days my hands feel like that from all the washing and sanitizing.

 

On Carnival, there's no "washy-washy" guys hanging around telling you to wash your hands as you enter areas that you eat in or coming back onboard or any place for that matter. While this method kinda seems childish, it does work (I believe) in probably keeping the germs at bay as silly as it seems.

 

Instead, Carnival has these available for your use...and obviously at your own discretion...which meant I seen only a handful of people using them during the entire cruise! Like seriously!

 

 

 

Sigh!!!!

 

 

However, Kendra did discover this contraption and we really liked it (it's always better to actually use soap and water to wash your hands that sanitizer and these were all in 1 amazing machines)

 

Click for video

 

 

 

One thing I absolutely HATE about any bathroom is not having any paper towels. I know it cuts back and is supposed to be better for you, but I seriously hate these. They never stay on long enough to get your hands dry, half the time it's next to impossible to get them to turn on and you frantically do the hand dance trying to figure out that perfect spot you need to wave at in order for it to recognize that there's someone there (I swear they have hidden camera's in them and my frantic hand jive will end up on tv some day), and some only want to stay on 5 seconds...forcing you to hand jive over and over. Sigh! Just give me some paper towels please!!!!

 

This particular XLERATOR lost it's X and had no power at all.

 

 

Another reason for using paper towels...when you turn on the sink (not all are motion activated as you can see in my pic below) you are using your dirty hands...then you go to blow dry them, where's the paper towel to turn the sink off with? You are supposed to use your clean hands? Therefore getting them dirty again? Yea I know, I use my arm, but then my arm is dirty. I guess I could always get some exercise and wing my foot up there to bang it down like you do with a non-motion toilet. But I don't think people would find that too amusing.

 

Ok, end of my sanitizing rant. :p

Edited April 21, 2015 by mitsugirly

[jzad]

Hello all. This will be my April 5th-12th Spring Break review and pictorial from our Carnival Pride cruise to Grand Turk, Half Moon Cay and Freeport out of Baltimore. I hope you enjoy it.

 

 

A little about "me" (us). I have been cruising since the 80's & 90's off and on and "full time" (hehe) since 2010. We try to take at least 2 cruises a year but have been fortunate enough to cruise 3 times last year and I'm hoping it will be the same for this year.

 

We normally cruise with NCL...I don't know, it was the first cruise line we ever cruised with and I kinda stuck to it with buying the future cruise certificates and getting great deals with the kids/family sail free specials. However, I tried Carnival for the first time in 2013 on the Dream and LOVED it!!! I vowed to do Carnival again in the future and I'm very sorry to say I am just now getting around to it again. Although this was only our 2nd Carnival cruise, once again, it will NOT be our last!!! The only other line I have been on is RC and that was back in the 90's. I hope to sail with them again, I just need a raise to do so...a huge raise. (wink wink).

 

So since this is my second Carnival cruise, I will not bore you with comparisons between the 2 lines (Carnival vs NCL) since I did that in my first review (located in my signature line) of the Dream. However, I will throw in a few things here and there with both lines when I feel the need. Fair enough?

 

I have been to many ports (some several times) in the Caribbean and hopefully have helped a lot of you cc people out with my detailed reviews, suggestions and answers on the ports of call sections. I try to be as detailed as possible and I'm a picture FREAK! I'm a visual person and have to see things in detail to get a better feel for what I'm looking at. I'm a research fanatic and will spend months and months reviewing, searching and asking questions over and over before making a decision. So many of you cc cruisers have helped me out in the past and I love to give back to the community as much as I can. I will not sway a person one way or the other but like to give MY honest opinion...and we all know that opinions are VERY different between people and just because I may or may not like something by no means determines whether or not you will be the same. I only give MY experiences and hope that you will dig deeper into whatever interest you.

 

Now, who I cruise with...normally (well always) the hubby and my 6 year old...wait NEWLY TURNED 7 YEAR OLD (this weekend) BIG GIRL, Sakari. Sometimes my oldest daughter (Kendra, now 26), her boyfriend and my grandson (Brayden, who is the same age as my youngest but 3 months apart) will join us. Then my youngest son (age 20) and his girlfriend (21) have joined us twice now. I have yet to get my oldest son (28) back on a cruise since he was a teen. Some day...

 

This cruise, it will be myself, hubby, Sakari, Kendra and grandson Brayden.

 

We (well truth be known, I) scoured the Internet for the perfect cruise to add to our "collection" for Sakari's Spring Break. I knew I had wanted to come back to Carnival and it was a task to find the perfect cruise. I knew I wanted to try different ports this time around as well. I'm hoping this year will be full of different ports than the past (I'll be doing my first Bermuda cruise in 45 days from now). After polling the people on here between 4 different ships....I picked a totally different ship than the 4 I had posted...thanks to, once again, wonderful suggestions from people on here. The Pride it was. After a lot of research and interrogation from everyone I could, I found that it came highly recommended, had just had the 2.0 updates, Dr Seuss, water works, Guys Burgers, Blue Iguana Cantina and looked fabulous!

 

Now...just throwing this out there...but this is the MOST EXPENSIVE cruise I have EVER taken...like ever!! Like 2 1/2 times the amount I normally pay for any cruise. However, with the Pride cruising out of Baltimore, I would save what I would normally pay in air flight and that was the way I was able to justify booking it...to the hubby at least. Also, the ports we would be visiting would basically be "free" ports and we wouldn't incur additional expenses with these ports if we didn't want to. Cha-ching, another point checked off in my direction. Hubby agreed, we booked. (Now that I have to pull too many strings for him to want to cruise again lol). However, I bragged a little too much to Kendra about this upcoming cruise that she worked and saved every dime she could...and booked it too. But this time, she left the bf at home and it was just her and my grandson this time around. Now anyone who has read my reviews in the past, know my grandson is...um, well...a little terror to say the least. Constant reminding and threatening does not go a long way with him. I love him to death, but man does he strike a nerve when he can. Just saying...

 

So the Pride was booked and the planning had begun and I will tell more about that during the review.

 

As you can all tell by now, I'm a little winded with my reviews. Yes they are long. Yes they have a lot of detail in them. Yes, they contain a lot of pictures. If you are not prepared for that or like the short and sweet reviews, this one is probably not for you.

 

However, I can say this is the first time I have started a review and have ALL my pictures picked out, done and hosted. So all I have to do is type and insert pictures. It should go a lot quicker than most of my reviews. I know how people can get a little anxious waiting for more. I'll try to do my best. Hey, I want this over with as soon as possible too so I can continue making plans for Bermuda. ;)

 

So let the fun begin...

 

 

We've read all of your reviews and we were waiting patiently for this one!! Thanks!

[mitsugirly]

Everyone needs a picture of a life preserver on the ship..

 

 

 

A schedule of the shows for the week...well, just because I took a picture of it.

 

 

 

Here's a few pictures I took of some pictures and the glass blown objects behind the glass located in various stairways. I usually go around the last night and walk up and down every stairway taking pictures of everything in them. Truth be known, I was completely wore out the last night and didn't do it this time.