Carnival Pride Review
Carnival Pride, Baltimore to Bahamas, Oct. 3-10, 2010
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We returned home yesterday from our first Carnival cruise, the Pride, Baltimore to Bahamas, 7-night itinerary. This was our 10th cruise, so we are experienced cruisers. Since this was our first time on Carnival, we went in to it with an open mind, and actually excited to see what another cruise line had to offer. We traveled with my sister and brother-in-law, also experienced cruisers.
We booked this cruise a couple of months ago because I wanted to slip in another vacation this year, and this sailing met our requirements. We wanted to stay on budget, and sail close to home (we live in suburban Baltimore.) This cruise succeeded on both points. Our friend dropped us off at the terminal at 1 p.m. and the check in process was smooth and efficient. However, due to problems with the previous week's sailing (I was told on the ship that it was late departing from Freeport, therefore delaying their arrival in Baltimore the day of our sailing.) We sat in the terminal until 3:30, which is when we were allowed to board. Because of the delay in boarding, everyone on board was given $15 OBC, which I though was very nice.
Initial impressions upon boarding the ship. OK, here's what my first impression was: WHAT WERE THEY THINKING??? I know the theme of the ship is Renaissance art, but come on!! We walked onto the ship into the Atrium and it is so dark, and not open feeling at all. I think the designer had to have been clinically depressed to design such a dark and closed in feeling atrium. I had a hard time getting past that all week. I'm accustomed to atriums being light and airy--which is what you want on a vacation. While I have an intellectual appreciation for the Renaissance art period, it is not my favorite, and I had a hard time appreciating the design aesthetic of this ship. That said, there were other areas of the ship where the design was much more attractive, boarding on whimsical, such as Beauties (the disco), Starry Nights lounge, Ivories Piano bar, Butterflies lounge, and the Sports Lounge. Those were terrific spaces. The main show lounge, the Taj Mahal Theater, in my opinion, looked very tacky and unattractive.