Pride to Mexican Riviera- need advice

[javafreek]

We are sailing in August and taking teens 13-19. What attire should we have them pack (including appropriate dinner attire for teens)? Are the formal nights super formal or can we rebel and wear very nice button down shirts and slacks?

What other advice for keeping the drink (non-alcohol and alcohol for the adults) bills down- can we bring our own sodas and stuff?

 

What are absolute essentials to bring other than standard clothes and toiletries? We have never sailed Carnival before....

[Calicruiser101]

We are sailing in August and taking teens 13-19. What attire should we have them pack (including appropriate dinner attire for teens)? Are the formal nights super formal or can we rebel and wear very nice button down shirts and slacks?

What other advice for keeping the drink (non-alcohol and alcohol for the adults) bills down- can we bring our own sodas and stuff?

 

What are absolute essentials to bring other than standard clothes and toiletries? We have never sailed Carnival before....

I will warn you sometimes these questions start a very heated debate. So, on that note I will simply give you my advice if it were me. We will be sailing on the Pride next weekend, it will be our second tome. My DD (age 10) will be wearing sun-dresses or capris in the dining room on Non-formal nights. She will not be wearing any of her regular tank-tops (Like from the Gap) only ones are halter style etc. On one of the formal nights she is wearing a very nice dress and strappy sandals. The second formal night we plan to go to David's Supper Club, so she will be eating w/ Camp Carnival. My DH will be wearing a black suit w/ white shirt and tie to match my dress. He is wearing the same suit twice, just changing the tie and shirt to match me. One night I will have on a cocktail style dress, halter style w/ empire waist w/ beading and high strappy shoes. The other night I will have on a longer simple dress. I would not "rebel" but that is just me, you will hear all sorts of advice on here, so you will have to decide what works for you and your family. I think the slacks and button down shirt are fine, however I would throw on a tie.:D

[southbayer]

Well the nice button down shirts and slacks while look nice, most, even 12 yr olds wear suits... So, while acceptable, your kids will most likely be the only ones dressed like that. I know someone's gonna reply and say thats not really the case - but thats what "I saw" anyway.

 

I see many people bring soda aboard. Not really a huge quantity, prolly a 12 pack. A soda card is the best way to go, but it can get pricey, like $35-$45 for a 7 day, and depending if its for a kid or an adult.

 

In the stateroom bathroom, they always have soap, in the shower they have shampoo, and body wash. I've always seen a mens razor in mine. I've recieved a small fat tube of lotion, or mouthwash, deodorant, dental floss, energy drink mix... These items you may, or may not get, its definetly hit and miss. But yeah, you can scratch off shampoo, hand soap, and body wash off your list for sure - that is unless you have your own stuff you prefer to use.

We are sailing in August and taking teens 13-19. What attire should we have them pack (including appropriate dinner attire for teens)? Are the formal nights super formal or can we rebel and wear very nice button down shirts and slacks?

What other advice for keeping the drink (non-alcohol and alcohol for the adults) bills down- can we bring our own sodas and stuff?

 

What are absolute essentials to bring other than standard clothes and toiletries? We have never sailed Carnival before....

[harleygirl4rb]

We just sailed in June with our 12 yr old and 18 yr old. We saw maybe a few kids in suits on both formal nights. My son wore dress pants with a long sleeve shirt and tie only. And he fit right in with the others, and I would say most kids didnt even have ties. My husband also brought one suit and changed the shirt and ties for each night, and I wore long evening gowns. Our 18 yr old daughter wore a black cocktail style short dress each night and also fit right in. You will see a very wide variety, at least we have each time we sailed. In fact this last time there were people with shorts on formal night, as we overheard them tell the staff they didnt pack anything but shorts.

For the other evenings in the dining room you will see almost everything from jeans to pants for the men/boys, at least we did. There is a night that will be noted on your capers that is casual night and you can wear shorts. But we saw plenty wearing shorts on the others as well.

Just be yourselves and be comfortable...and most of all enjoy!

[Legg]

We will be sailing on the Pride next weekend, it will be our second tome. My DD (age 10) will be wearing sun-dresses or capris in the dining room on Non-formal nights. ...

 

Are you leaving tomorrow? We are... My DD (age 9 11/12) will be hanging out in the Camp Carnival. Hope our kids get to meet.

[vbecky]

I am thinking of booking a mex. riv. cruise on the pride next summer we have two boys ages 10 & 14 are there plenty of activities on board the Pride? Thanks

[principessa1180]

We are sailing in August and taking teens 13-19. What attire should we have them pack (including appropriate dinner attire for teens)? Are the formal nights super formal or can we rebel and wear very nice button down shirts and slacks?

What other advice for keeping the drink (non-alcohol and alcohol for the adults) bills down- can we bring our own sodas and stuff?

What are absolute essentials to bring other than standard clothes and toiletries? We have never sailed Carnival before....

 

 

when in august are you going? we are going on the 5th.

[johnaricka]

Hi there. Just off the Pride last month and have teens. So I might be able to help you with this one. Please to all others, no flaming.:)

 

 

We are sailing in August and taking teens 13-19. What attire should we have them pack (including appropriate dinner attire for teens)?

My fourteen year old daughter took her closet. We limited her to one large suitcase. Take all the shorts and tanks possible. What you wear during the day you will not want to wear at night. And we didnt re-wear anything. It is hot in the summer in the Mexican Riviera. Your first two ports will be oppressive heat. Bring bathing suits for all days. There are nights you can wear shorts to the dining room. It will be listed on the capers. Nice shorts and a nice top/tank is ok. The other nights we wore capris and my husband wore the same pair of pants. Right after dinner he would ditch them for shorts and a tee. On dressy night, my daughter dressed up very for the first one and a sun dress for the last one.

Are the formal nights super formal or can we rebel and wear very nice button down shirts and slacks?

There was very few dressed to the hills for the last formal. Every one was in Cabo playing for the day and crisp. My son wore dickies and a button shirt the first formal and the same pair of pants with a polo for the last. I didnt meet one person on the boat that cared about anyone elses attire. This is only an issue on the board not the boat.

What other advice for keeping the drink (non-alcohol and alcohol for the adults) bills down- can we bring our own sodas and stuff?

We tried. We brought water in the suitcase, we brought alcohol and we still spent an arm and a leg. If I had to do it again, I would bring more water. I stuffed a case in all the available areas and it was gone by the second day. I never realised how much water we drink. We never used the smuggled alcohol. It was too much of an inconvience to go back to the room to make drinks when we were in the casinos or a club dancing till dawn. The refrigerator did not keep our stuff cold enough either. You want a cold beer not a cooler than warm beer.

What are absolute essentials to bring other than standard clothes and toiletries? We have never sailed Carnival before....

I packed a plastic box (small) that would hold our shampoo, conditioner, soaps, razors, etc. I did this to keep them in one area in the small shower. It was a life saver. They gave us razors and toothpaste but I didnt count on any of it. Pack on shampoo conditioner for the family to share.

Hope this helps

[javafreek]

THANKS for all of the advice (we are going on the 5th). Actually, my oldest just turned 21 and lives on his own, so can't really afford to buy clothes he will not be able to rewear (and too proud to have us buy something). One formal night is fun, but honestly on vacation I don't want to dress up twice, but don't want the hassle of eating in the room. We don't care that we are not as formally dressed as others (not a fashion show to us), but we also don't want to spoil it for others on the cruise that look forward to formal nights. It sounds like if we dress respectfully (not in sandals and shorts) then it shouldn't bother anyone, right?

[javafreek]

Also just wanted to clear something up- bringing your own water, wine, and soda on board is perfectly allowed, right? I don't want to do something that is against policy or sneaky.

[johnaricka]

THANKS for all of the advice (we are going on the 5th). Actually, my oldest just turned 21 and lives on his own, so can't really afford to buy clothes he will not be able to rewear (and too proud to have us buy something). One formal night is fun, but honestly on vacation I don't want to dress up twice, but don't want the hassle of eating in the room. We don't care that we are not as formally dressed as others (not a fashion show to us), but we also don't want to spoil it for others on the cruise that look forward to formal nights. It sounds like if we dress respectfully (not in sandals and shorts) then it shouldn't bother anyone, right?

Nobody cares. The swim suits we rewore but everything else was just gross. tell him to bring all he can. Lots of shorts and tees.

Now I thought the food in the dining room tasted better than the buffet. We missed dinner in the dining room a couple nights though. One night I had the best pasta on the buffet. didnt know there was a guy that would custom make it for you. So if you see a sign stating the pasta of the day, there are choices you dont know about. I had pesto with olives and chicken, extra garlic. Yum.

[johnaricka]

Also just wanted to clear something up- bringing your own water, wine, and soda on board is perfectly allowed, right? I don't want to do something that is against policy or sneaky.

yes and no. If you pack it in what gets checked in you will be fine but you cant carry it on in your carry on bag. there were no signs that said you couldnt. I heard from other ships that it was an issue but it never was for us.

[javafreek]

so if you don't dine in the dining there are other options besides room service? Are they included or extra cost?

[johnaricka]

so if you don't dine in the dining there are other options besides room service? Are they included or extra cost?

 

all included! You can eat at the buffet, pizza counter, or dining room. I dont know what ship you are taking but the Pride has a sushi place too. really good. The only place you pay for foor is if you go to the 'starbucks' counter or the 'dessert' shop which has extra special treats but we didnt. there is ice cream 24 hours a day at the soft serve counters (there were four on the pride, I think). Go get a deli sandwhich one day for lunch. so good. the best pastrami or corned beef. Yumm