The Pride or Princess Dawn to the Mexican Riviera?

[ljkool]

I am looking for advice for a Mexican Riviera Cruise for an April 20th departure. I am looking at the Pride out of LA and the Princess Dawn out of San Diego. Our 25 Anniversary is that week so it will be for 2 adults. I am torn between the newer Pride and the Dawn. I like the promenade and observation lounge of the Dawn, but the nightlife of may last cruise on the Fascination was lively. Is the Dawn showing its age? And is the food/serve going to be better on the Princess ship?

[dclark]

I haven't been on the Pride, but I was on the Dawn last month.

Food? Compared to my previous cruise a year before, not as good, about comparable to my last CCL , on the Valor two years ago. Cutbacks are the order of the day- for example, not only was the lobster the size of my thumb, we were limited to two each!

For some reason, the ship felt smaller than the Fantasy class ships I have been on even though it is a bigger ship with fewer people- go figure. For example, the main theater is way smaller.

At 11:00, the Dawn goes to sleep.The ship was very well maintained and was the cleanest ship that I have ever been on.

Overall, all things considered, I prefer Princess to CCL. But, if it came down to the Pride vs the Dawn, I'd pick the Pride.

[ljkool]

Thanks for the input. I am not one to go looking for night life but on the Fascination the flow from the casino past the martini bar and lounges to the karioki lounge made for a lot of fun. It was my first Carnival cruise and to my pleasure, the ship was much like you found the Dawn, spotless.

[cathyz]

I've never been on the Dawn, but we were on the Pride last year with a group of friends and had a great time. The ship is spotless and beautiful and we loved the food, we would definitely do this cruise again and in fact are cruising her sister ship, Spirit, next year. Check out the pics of the Pride in my signature.

[VentureMan_2000]

I enjoyed the Pride enough to sail her twice within two years. It's a beautiful ship... and the 12th Century Renisance theme is fantastic.

 

I can't speak to Princess as I've only sailed Carnival.

 

Best of luck. :)

[Another Cruise]

We have actually done both the Dawn and the Pride to Mexico. Hands down I would pick the Pride. Rooms on the Dawn, unless you have a mini suite are very small and balconies are very small. We both thought the food on the Pride was better. The supper club on Pride is much better than Sabatini's. We really like Princess and are Platinum there, but the Dawn was a dissapointment. One other point to consider would be the ports of call. The Dawn stopped in Acapulco and I don't know if it still does, but that, for me would be a reason to pick the Pride.

[ljkool]

The Pride sounds a bit nicer but the rate I was quoted today for a outside unobstructed view is much less on the Dawn. The Dawn now has the same itinerary as the Pride, just reversed. Am I wrong assuming that the Dawn has any kind of observation lounge not part of the Horizon food court ie: RCCL ships?

[dclark]

I was on the Dawn and didn't see anything that could be called an observation lounge. I did have an inside and boy it is smaaalll! Once nice thing was that it was never the front of the shi, where there was a good area to observe, if that is what you mean.

The Dawn, since it leaves out of SD, gives you more time in port than the Pride.

If it is a lot cheaper, then definitely do it! As for food, hey, I loved the king crab legs they have on princess, you'll never see those on CCL!

When I booked my New Years cruise on the Dawn, it was about $300 pp less for an inside than the Pride.

[ljkool]

Thanks for the input. Go figure but to take advantage of a super cheap flight on Jet Blue out of Long beach, I went with the Vision of the Seas. It gets back to port at 7am which will allow me to take advantage of a 10:30 am flight. Booking short notice on a budget always demands a open mind.

[dclark]

Thanks for the input. Go figure but to take advantage of a super cheap flight on Jet Blue out of Long beach, I went with the Vision of the Seas. It gets back to port at 7am which will allow me to take advantage of a 10:30 am flight. Booking short notice on a budget always demands a open mind.

 

That's cutting it way too close. Just because the ship gets in at 7:00 am doesn't mean that you'll be off at 7:00am.You might not be able to get off until after 8:00am, or even later.

[shankiko]

The Pride by far!! Our first cruise was on the Pride and we had the most wonderful time. We are going again in May. I can hardly wait.

Shankiko

[maxamuus]

We just got off the Pride on sunday and had a WONDERFUL time. Ship was spotless, staff was helpful and friendly, food was great.

 

Only complaint i have is I got home and my jeans shrunk i think because they are all tight!

[SweetpeaOne]

We are going on the Pride for our 20th anniversary in Jan 09...

[kdr69]

We sailed the Dawn Mexican Riviera last April and the ship was nice. Food was so so. Loved the ports. Nice cruise. That being said the ship was very dead at night and not alot of things to do after 11:00. They also varnished all the deck railings including the ones on the pool deck during the cruise, revarnished the kids camp pool splash pool deck and changed out the wood deck on the running track while we were cruising. Complained to Princess and was told minor maintenance is always happening during a cruise. Minor maintenance I understand being a Facility Manager but to me that means behing the scene things not having no hand rails to hold onto or lean on especially around the pool decks. The varnish brought masses of hornets that would swarm the ship everytime we docked. This was all done during the cruise when at the end of our cruise the ship had a 2 week maintenance scheduled to replace carpets. Enjoyed cruise but was not happy with the "minor maintenance part" as in our mind we did not pay money to live in a renovation zone for 12 days.

[bcs819]

Thanks for the input. Go figure but to take advantage of a super cheap flight on Jet Blue out of Long beach, I went with the Vision of the Seas. It gets back to port at 7am which will allow me to take advantage of a 10:30 am flight. Booking short notice on a budget always demands a open mind.

 

BE VERY CAREFUL with that...our longest wait to get off the ship was in Long Beach - and customs were real sticklers. You can't do "walk-off" with luggage there, either (at least you couldn't when we were there) so that slows things up a lot, too.

 

That being said, the Pride is my favorite ship ever :)

[maxamuus]

You can't do "walk-off" with luggage there, either (at least you couldn't when we were there) so that slows things up a lot, too.

 

That being said, the Pride is my favorite ship ever :)

 

Must have changed as I walked off on sunday with my luggage in tow.

 

Yes, customs was a pain. Took about a hour or so to get thru the customs lines.

[Sirwinston]

ljcool: I hope you make your flight. The ship may dock @ 7:00, but you may be on a few more hours. Also I am sure that the Pride will dock before the 9:00 shown on my ticket.... I would never book any flight before noon. But I was off the Paradise last year about 8:30....:D Jet Blue rocks...

Anyway too late to cancel RCI as I am sure you are way into the penatly period...

 

Everyone else thanks for all the great Pride comments. I sail in 9 days.....:D

 

Tom in Long Beach

[bcs819]

Must have changed as I walked off on sunday with my luggage in tow.

 

Yes, customs was a pain. Took about a hour or so to get thru the customs lines.

 

If I recall, the ride was almost an hour. So for a 10:30 flight, you need to be at the airport by 9, be in a cab by 8. If the ship is even a few minutes late, even if you can walk off with your own luggage, the OP is S.O.L....

[mjbearit]

I have never been on the Pride, well actually I've never been on either ship; however, yesterday we stepped off the Spirit after having donee the Mexican Riviera on her. Since the Pride is her sister ship, I would not hesitate to take the Pride! It was a fantastic time! We certainly were anything but bored! I wrote up a review of our trip and it is already posted in the Review section:

http://www.cruisecritic.com/memberre...?EntryID=39286

Two of the three excursions we really enjoyed, the third was just okay. Nothing to really write home about. Have a great time! Happy Anniversary!