Live From Pride 9/19 - (eMed) Testing, Cruising, Vacationing!

[Anung Un Rama]

20 minutes ago, Steelers0854 said:

I noticed that as well but no I didnt see. My guess is no but I’ll see if I can find out. 

Much appreciated.  That will probably determine what we end up doing in Bimini.

[Jim and Monika]

11 hours ago, Steelers0854 said:

Unfortunately haven’t seen a single menu with the individual liquors mentioned on it. By Ginger do you mean Ginger Ale or Ginger Beer, I know they have Ginger Beer for sure. 

Yes, I'm looking for diet Ginger Ale. It's not listed on the menu, but they might still have it.

[Steelers0854]

Tonight’s dinner was at David’s steakhouse. Before we get into that here is the menu for the MDR tonight:

 

MDR Night 5.pdf

 

TL;DR: despite several issues would definitely go back. 
 

our reservations were for 6, we got there about 5 min early and were seated right away. Got a nice seat right by the window. I’d say the restaurant was already a quarter full when we arrived, maybe a little more. Menu at the bottom. 
 

Anne, the steakhouse manager had greeted us and seated us and let DW know that the chef had her soup ready to go. Anne is wonderful, so attentive, personable and on top of everything in that place. 
 

Our service throughout the night was inconsistent. My water glass sat empty for the majority of the night, and the team looked slightly overwhelmed. I’m gonna chalk this up to it being the second trip for them and then still working out the Cobb webs. 
 

the night started off with an amuse-bouche style special from the chef. It was a hallowed out potato filled with a kind of cheese soup. It was delicious. 
 

 

we placed our order and it took about 35 minutes for the starter to come. The wait for the second starter was much shorter. 
 

DW had a spinach salad (it was ok, no bacon pan drippings like the menu said so that was disappointing) with her French onion soup (it was delicious). I had the pork belly (delicious) and shrimp cocktail (it was good, if I had to do it again I would have gotten something else).

 

 

 

 

 

for entrees DW got the filet, with garlic rapini and a baked potato. Unfortunately despite us asking for them to sauté it in olive oil they brought out steamed rapini with nothing on it. We again asked for them sautée it with garlic and olive oil, they took it back and brought out a new one a few minutes later. They had also forgotten our steak knives so we had to wait a few minutes to get someone’s attention for them to bring it over. DW said everything was great, steak perfectly cooked and full of flavor and the new rapini was just what she wanted. 
 

 

 

 

I ordered the Wagyu beef, mushrooms (prepared so DW could have some) and the mashed potatoes with wasabi.
 

 

I got my meal and tried the steak and it was terrible. I have never had Wagyu beef that didn’t immediately melt in my mouth. This was like shoe leather and had 0 flavor. It was quite literally the worst steak I’ve ever had. I let our server know and the team immediately jumped into action with Anne leading the charge. I asked for a filet with the same sides. She apologized for the issue with the steak and asked no less than 3 times to bring me something while they cooked the filet as it was going to take a bit. I thanked her but declined as I didn’t want to get too full. It didn’t take but 10 minutes and I had a brand new steak and sides.

 

Let me tell you the wait was worth it!  Easily the best steak I’ve had on a cruise ship (We have been to the steakhouses on most of the major lines and most are just ok).  Probably one of the best I’ve had ever. Perfectly cooked, seasoned just right, tender and melt in your mouth delicious. The sides were good as well. The mashed potatoes were a weird consistency but tasted ok. I wouldn’t get them again. The Mac n cheese looked amazing btw. The mushrooms were very good. 
 

on to dessert. DW had mixed berries which she said were good and nice break from the usual fruit plate in the MDR. I got the cheesecake. 
 

 

 

people let me tell you. This cheesecake is worth the price of admission by itself. It’s a MASSIVE piece but sooooooo good. If you like cheesecake in any way, shape or form you gave to get this. I would pay $40 just for the cheesecake (ok I wouldnt really but you catch my drift!). On a side note a table down from us got the art at your table dessert (I had asked about this but was told I couldn’t get it since it was just me and it’s designed for the entire table to eat) and that looks amazing. I would recommend getting that as well as the dessert looked good and it looked beautiful as they painted and laid out everything right in front of you. 
 

So final verdict?  Yes we would and will definitely go back. The food was great and when issues arose they resolved all of them. Can’t ask for much more than that. Also, because it’s been asked the $38 charge includes tip. You will see a line on your final bill that says Optional where the gratuities normally are, we left additional tip as they were wonderful despite a few missteps. 
 

and with that we bid Bimini a good night. 

 

 

Steakhouse-menu.pdfsteakhouse-wine-menu.pdf

[jenny368]

Thanks for your review of the steakhouse.  Food looks wonderful.  

[WhiteOptima]

Does anyone know if the MDR menus are the same each week?
I so appreciate seeing them each day and we are trying to decide on Steakhouse plans or just getting pizza!

[Joe817]

12 minutes ago, WhiteOptima said:

Does anyone know if the MDR menus are the same each week?
I so appreciate seeing them each day and we are trying to decide on Steakhouse plans or just getting pizza!

My suggestion is go to the Steakhouse, regardless of what the MDR menu is. We skipped a formal night on the Vista to eat there, and will do it every time. Love it! 

[Steelers0854]

17 minutes ago, WhiteOptima said:

Does anyone know if the MDR menus are the same each week?
I so appreciate seeing them each day and we are trying to decide on Steakhouse plans or just getting pizza!

Yup they should be the same rotation. Formal nights on Monday and Friday. 

[pogoism9]

3 minutes ago, Joe817 said:

My suggestion is go to the Steakhouse, regardless of what the MDR menu is. We skipped a formal night on the Vista to eat there, and will do it every time. Love it! 

 

I second this. Steakhouse is where it's at

[WhiteOptima]

Thank you!
 

[Steelers0854]

welcome to Freeport. Not the nicest port to pull into in the Caribbean. 
 

 

Quick day today. We pulled in and disembarked the first folks around 7:30. All aboard is 1pm. First time here but DW and I decided early on to make this a ship day especially given the short day. 
 

we grabbed breakfast in the buffet. Sorry this morning will be light on the photos. Was too busy relaxing and completely forgot. Haha. 
 

still had some OBC to burn so we both got massages. DW got the same therapist as yesterday as she really liked her. I had Jennifer today. She was amazing.  Probably the best I’ve ever had. I get a massage every cruise we go on, it’s my thing. Some people like to drink, some gamble, give me some hot stones!  I would highly recommend her if you’re in the market for a massage and will be on in the next 5 months or so. 
 

we grabbed lunch around 12:30. Busiest I’ve seen the buffet all cruise. But still was able to find a table. DW continued with Guys and I grabbed a Buffalo chicken sandwich from the deli. Their deli in the lido is 5 star all day. Great selection and fantastic sandwiches. 
 

Harry Potter trivia is coming up. See you all later!

[jenny368]

27 minutes ago, Steelers0854 said:

welcome to Freeport. Not the nicest port to pull into in the Caribbean. 
 

 

Quick day today. We pulled in and disembarked the first folks around 7:30. All aboard is 1pm. First time here but DW and I decided early on to make this a ship day especially given the short day. 
 

we grabbed breakfast in the buffet. Sorry this morning will be light on the photos. Was too busy relaxing and completely forgot. Haha. 
 

still had some OBC to burn so we both got massages. DW got the same therapist as yesterday as she really liked her. I had Jennifer today. She was amazing.  Probably the best I’ve ever had. I get a massage every cruise we go on, it’s my thing. Some people like to drink, some gamble, give me some hot stones!  I would highly recommend her if you’re in the market for a massage and will be on in the next 5 months or so. 
 

we grabbed lunch around 12:30. Busiest I’ve seen the buffet all cruise. But still was able to find a table. DW continued with Guys and I grabbed a Buffalo chicken sandwich from the deli. Their deli in the lido is 5 star all day. Great selection and fantastic sandwiches. 
 

Harry Potter trivia is coming up. See you all later!

Next time you go to Freeport take a taxi to the other side of the island!  It is beautiful!

[Steelers0854]

@Jim and Monika unfortunately only regular ginger ale. No diet. 

[Steelers0854]

For those wondering how your daily gratuities break down here you go. FYI they hit your account on Day 6. 
 

[Jim and Monika]

7 hours ago, Steelers0854 said:

@Jim and Monika unfortunately only regular ginger ale. No diet. 

Thank You,

Any chance you can get any pictures of the liquors at the bars? Just so we can see what is offered.

Jim

[Sue Goodreds]

Amazing review so far - Thank you so much for taking the time to do it!  Would you happen to know, or could you find out if they offer Grey Goose VX at any of the bars?  I know they did on other ships in prior years, but I was not able to find it on Magic on our Jan 2020 cruise.  November will be my first time on Pride.

[IntrepidFromDC]

4 hours ago, Jim and Monika said:

Thank You,

Any chance you can get any pictures of the liquors at the bars? Just so we can see what is offered.

Jim

Ahhhh, yes, so much fluff on cruisecritic - but Jim has his eyes on the prize.  Well done Jim, well done.

[schinz2]

Can anyone tell me if the water is easier to access and get out of at the public beach than it is at the 360 excursion beach?  I am traveling with my mother and her friend and they have bad knees.  I heard the 360 beach has a steep drop off and is difficult to get in and especially out of.  Anyone try the public beach ocean access?  Thanks!

[ChrisNCruiser]

Hi @Steelers0854, I have one more question before we sail tomorrow: do you happen to recall the time we will be let into our cabins? We have a 2:30 boarding time, so we're assuming we'll be on board by 3-ish. I'm only bringing a carry-on but may still choose to check it if we have to wait too long for access...Don't want to be hauling it around when I am waitng for a Guy's Burger 😛 

 

Thanks again for all of your helpful posts this week...

Edited September 25, 2021 by newpherchris

[Steelers0854]

2 hours ago, schinz2 said:

Can anyone tell me if the water is easier to access and get out of at the public beach than it is at the 360 excursion beach?  I am traveling with my mother and her friend and they have bad knees.  I heard the 360 beach has a steep drop off and is difficult to get in and especially out of.  Anyone try the public beach ocean access?  Thanks!

there is a very steep drop off about 3-4 feet in. My recommendation is check out the public beach or even resort world beach. I can’t say for sure about those but can confirm 360 has that steep drop off. 
 

 

16 minutes ago, newpherchris said:

Hi @Steelers0854, I have one more question before we sail tomorrow: do you happen to recall the time we will be let into our cabins? We have a 2:30 boarding time, so we're assuming we'll be on board by 3-ish. I'm only bringing a carry-on but may still choose to check it if we have to wait too long for access...Don't want to be hauling it around when I am waitng for a Guy's Burger 😛 

 

Thanks again for all of your helpful posts this week...

we boarded at 2pm and our room was ready. Here is our disembarkation info for tomorrow. As you can see we dont start the until very late. That’s probably the reason for the late boarding and departure. 
 

 

[Steelers0854]

Dinner menu for night 6 is below. It’s our second formal night. 
 

DW got a salad and filet. Compared to the filet last night it wasn’t great, but not too bad. 
 

 

 

I got the crab cake (it was good, the apple slaw under it was delicious), and the clam chowder (nothing to write home about). I got the salmon for dinner and it was excellent. Perfectly cooked, and the noodles were delicious. 

 

 

 

 

dessert was the soufflé which was delicious. The chef made DW a “cheesecake” which was excellent!  Wish they had brought this creativity out earlier in the cruise, but again we didn’t ask so it’s really on us. 
 

 

 

 

MDR Night 6.pdf
 

Edited September 25, 2021 by Steelers0854

[Steelers0854]

Very lazy start to our day. We didn’t hit the top deck for our workout until close to 9:30. It was glorious. 😎

 

it was windy as hell which made the workout that much harder. But it’s hard to beat these views. 

 

after our workout we headed down and got ready. We decided it’s so close to lunch we are just going to wait and skip breakfast. We grabbed coffees and sat and relaxed. 
 

pro tip: for coffee go to the coffee bar on deck 2 not at the buffet on 10. Not only do they have more options but they make the drinks the way they are supposed to. DWs latte isn’t all foam like she was getting on deck 10. 

[Steelers0854]

So I’ve had the chance to chat with a couple of the crew this trip about their experience at the beginning of the pandemic.
 

They are all so excited to be back and many are working shorter contracts than usual (6-7 month instead of 9). This allows for more people to come back to work sooner as not all ships are sailing and they are sailing at reduced capacity. 
 

They spoke about their experience in getting home when cruising shut down. It took most I spoke with 3-4 months to finally get home and involved moving sometimes between 3-4 different ships. they said it was a difficult time filled with uncertainty and many restrictions on where and when you had to eat, to where you could go and even who you could have contact with. 

 

The company tried to consolidate everyone by home country on to different vessels to get them home. Then once at a port in their home country flew them to their home cities. They were all so grateful in how Carnival treated them and helped them to get home. 
 

Bless all of these incredibly hard working people all so we can take and enjoy a vacation. It was nice to hear how the cruise lines really stepped up and helped them get home as well. 

[cruisewiththekids]

Enjoying your review.   A couple questions. 

 

We sail on 10/17 and our itinerary says depart Baltimore 5:00.   I assume that's incorrect, it's later?    Do you know the earliest and latest embarkation times?

 

Regarding Bimini,  am I understanding there are 3 beaches on the tram route; 360, Resort World and public?   

[BroadwayGirl]

4 minutes ago, cruisewiththekids said:

Enjoying your review.   A couple questions. 

 

We sail on 10/17 and our itinerary says depart Baltimore 5:00.   I assume that's incorrect, it's later?    Do you know the earliest and latest embarkation times?

 

Regarding Bimini,  am I understanding there are 3 beaches on the tram route; 360, Resort World and public?   

The late sailing was only supposed to be for the first few cruises and they got a letter . The letter did not include 10/17 (I’m on that one too) or the one before. Not that it couldn’t change but so far so good.

[ChrisNCruiser]

1 hour ago, Steelers0854 said:

there is a very steep drop off about 3-4 feet in. My recommendation is check out the public beach or even resort world beach. I can’t say for sure about those but can confirm 360 has that steep drop off. 
 

 

we boarded at 2pm and our room was ready. Here is our disembarkation info for tomorrow. As you can see we dont start the until very late. That’s probably the reason for the late boarding and departure. 
 

 

Excellent news - I'll wheel in my bag! the Disembarkation info is helpful too - my better half isn't a morning person so it sounds like we can sleep in and take our time getting out of the cabin on the last morning. we're staying at the Hyatt Regency Inner Harbor tonight and I'm looking forward to having the time to walk around the area before our 2:30 boarding time. enjoy your night tonight and thanks again 🙂