Pride 4-19 thru 4-26 - quickie review.

[disfan13]

Hi folks - I will not even consider competing with Jamman's awesome Pride review! This will be quick and prety much to the point. please ask any questions - will do my best to answer any.

 

Booked this cruise less than 3 weeks out - a 1st for us! Because we did that there were not many choices of cabins in our range. Took an extended balcony on the upper deck, forward. It was fine. We have done suites in the past, but adjusted just fine.

 

We traveled with friends of ours.

It was me - my partner Chris friend / Cindi & her husband.

 

Left NJ at about 7:30 Am - got to the port at about 10:45 after a brief stop. Had to wait a bit to enter the parking area. It wasn't too bad.

 

moved thru - dropped off our luggage, then paid and went to check in. Because we booked so late there were no FTTF or Cabanas available for Half Moon cay - my favorite stop. So I was hoping to get to the excursions desk to get on a waiting list.

 

We got separated from our friends who were in front of us at check in. They got #4 and by the time we were done got # 5. We ended up being asked to sit in a separate room - we didn't know what to think. They started boarding a wedding group who was with us and had us board with them. We were about the first on the ship. I RAN to the excursion desk where the young lady advised the system wasn't up yet but would be soon. I said I wanted to get on a waiting list. That's where the manager came up and whispered he had one for us. That made our day. We picked which one we wanted and in a few minutes found us and handed us the ticket!!! AWESOME start!

 

We were debating on the cheers program - basically because we read about prices going up on some wines and alcohol. We did some research and decided we would purchase it. We were the first to do that as well.

 

We were supposed to be linked with our friends - in fact I know we were as we are travel agents and could see that we were. We were not assigned the same time for dining. So off I went to the Maitre D and had that taken care of. This was all before our friends boarded LOL.

 

FINALLY they boarded and we headed up for a Guys burger. Been waiting for this since we booked! It was awesome - that and a beer. good stuff. We never heard an announcement that the rooms were ready - close to 1:30 we headed down to our cabin and it was ready. Had to explain to Ahmmed that we wanted our beds together a couple of times. He finally got it. He turned out to be great!

 

We had David's reservations at 7:30 - went up early to have a drink - that's where Chris found his wine he would like. It was only served in the restaurants but we could get it in the bar outside the 3rd deck entrance to Normandee Dining Room. I was pleased with the single malt scotch available.

 

Davids was excellent as usual! We all loved our dinner and service. The weather leaving Baltimore wasnt great - we also left late for some reason. It got choppy as the night went on and was quite choppy in the morning - our friend got sick but was OK by mid afternoon. She was determined not to miss elegant night LOL.

 

I was very impressed with the lobster in the MDR - It was as tender ( but a bit smaller) as David's. We had YTD which we enjoyed. We had this on the Splendor but I don't remember the lines waiting just for a pager.

 

Had a great 2nd sea day with lots of sun and lots of chair saving in the Serenity area. ( One woman asked me that morning where the serendipity area was LOL). We grabbed a few chairs up on deck 10 - Devroy found me and kept the drinks flowing. ( Devroy worked the Serenity area each day then moved to the bar outside the 3rd floor in the evenings).

 

Grand Turk - we went to Jacks Shack. Great drinks and Conch. What I don't remember from the last time was the music - it was so loud and very obnoxious. Defininitely NOT appropriate for kids. Maybe I'm just getting old LOL.

 

Then it was time for Half Moon Cay - one of my all time favorite islands! We were on the first tender over - hitched a ride to our Cabana 12 and had the most amazing day! Many of us requested we skip Freeport and spend another day at HMC!

 

Freeport - we got off the ship for about an hour - didn't do much. it was HOT! Got back on and found our seats for the rest of the day in Serenity. It was such a great weather day!

 

Ended up haveing one to many martinis that night.. I had to be "put to bed". Hey I was on vacation!

 

Saturday I felt like I had 1 too many LOL. It was cloudy and a little cooler. I got up real early and took a nap in Serenety. Then at 8 git towels and laid there some more. We spent the morning there but it got cloudier and started to rain a bit. We had a little lunch - finally tried the tacos.

Took care of the drinks guy from the dining room while he was working the Lido. then went and relaxed in different areas of the ship. Packed up and decided to have dinner the last night in David's again.

 

The Casino was not kind to us at all - we have never done so badly ona cruise. But it was fun.

 

Sunday came - we were in our car by 11:15 and home by about 2:45. North Jersey Traffic!

 

This was our second time on the Pride and had an awesome time. My one complaint would be that there is no where indoors to have a cigar! Not sure if it's that way on all CCL ships now but I missed it. I enjoy my scotch and a cigar. I was able to on the Lido in the small smoking section, but it was in no way relaxing.

 

That's about it - not very detailed but will answer questions if I can.

[sjn911]

Thank you so much..fun overview...and I just love the "Serendipity" area...

 

Two fav's of my youngest sis now 45..lOL...

 

I want some of those "ON I ON" crackers.

 

Coming back from pool and swimsuit talk...hey what is a "line buster" anyway?

 

Happy Monday...Sarah

[NatsFan15]

Thanks for the review! Counting down to my next visit on the Pride (47 days and a wakeup) So any review I see of her I pounce on.

 

Glad your trip was a great one.