Carnival Pride Review

4.0 / 5.0
1,595 reviews

Pride plus Baltimore makes great cruise

Review for the Eastern Caribbean Cruise on Carnival Pride
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bcbigdog
First Time Cruiser • Age 60s

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Value for Money
Embarkation
Dining
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Additional details

Sail Date: Jun 2009
Traveled with children

Embarkation: -  may take some getting used to but I like the later embarkation that Baltimore and the Pride have worked out - allows for flights in that morning without worrying about missing the ship.  Everyone at the cruise terminal was great and the processing / loading went very smoothly.  Added advantage that BWI is a Southwest hub so other airlines keep prices down too - got $110 pp airfare 3 weeks out on another carrier.  Cabin - had an 8H extended balcony right under the lido deck.  Balcony is a good 2 feet wider than normal which is fantastic.  Lido deck overhangs so for those with light complexions like us it is wonderful to be able to sit on the balcony and not worry about the sun most of the day.  We could get sun up on Lido if we wanted and sit in shade and enjoy the day on our balcony if we wanted.  Definitely will do again.  Cruise out - everyone should try Baltimore at least once to enjoy the cruise out via the bay.  Past Ft McHenry and under the bridge - very cool.  Ship - this is my first trip on a spirit class ship and really loved the layout. Unlike some of the larger ships never felt crowded or swamped with people except during first day line up for dinner seating in the single dining room.  Overall more understated than some of the other Carnival ship decor but lots of private / quiet spaces and good traffic flow.  Ship was amazingly clean.   Only downside I saw all week was that at the aft end of the ship lots of vibration from the propulsion system as we were cooking along at about 22 knots.  Not annoying, just noticable.  Crew - obviously a very happy ship.  The crew was friendly and willing to go out of their way.  CD Kirk was good but Assistant CD Jamie and social host Becca were both amazing.  First time on any ship I have tipped a social host.  Cabin Steward and Waiters were trying hard but obviously overworked.  It appears Carnival has reduced staff in those areas and so waiters have 1-2 more tables so missing some of the special attention of the past.  Don't get me wrong they tried hard and were working their butts off but just too busy.  Cabin steward had 25 cabins (we asked) - kept it all clean but just missing those extra touches.  Food - Food was excellent all week.  Buffet on Lido was better than on other ships we have sailed.  Dining room was better than in past too.  Portions slightly smaller but I view that as a good thing.  Could try multiple items or could walk out of dinner not feeling like I was going to explode.  Tried David's one night for our Anniversary and it was wonderful.  Well worth the extra $30 per person for the 2 of us for a special treat.  DW had the Dover Sole which she loved.  I had the lobster tail which was wonderful.  Can honestly say the only bad meal we had all week was off the grill eating chicken tenders with my DS.  Activities:  Fun Ship activities were varied and frequent - especially on sea days.  Could have used a few more on port days.  Entertainment:  Low point of the cruise.  Only 1 of the lounge entertainers could have won the guest talent show.  Fly in shows in the main room were fantastic but production numbers and lounge entertainers basically bad.  Lido deck band needs to tone down the volume if roof is closed on pool deck.  Camp Carnival - we had to fight to get our DS to leave.  Enough said.  Don't know where they find those saints that work in camp carnival!  Activities were varied, fun, and engaging.  It became a fight to get family time vs DS wanting to be in the camp.  Half Moon Cay - our favorite stop always.  Splurge and rent the private cabana.  Powder sand beach, warm water, snacks and soda's in the cabana,  soft lounge chair - just leave me there forever.   Debarkation - Baltimore puts Miami to shame.  Customs lines short, finding baggage a breeze, immigration line short.  from time we left the gangway to the time we were in taxi to airport was a total of about 8-10 minutes.       

Cabin Review

Cabin 8H

Great balcony, quiet location. 

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