My wife and I sailed as part of a family cruise, on an itinerary my folks had sailed twice before. (Last run was Sept 2010) We were nervous about sailing Carnival, since we'd heard it was down-market and less enjoyable. In the past, I've described Carnival as being for "dope-smoking teenagers," based on what I've seen in ports. The folks are experienced cruisers, though, and assured us they'd had a pleasant time on their previous cruises.

The departure terminal is fine, with efficient porters you pull up to, and the usual rip-off parking was outdoor, but secure. ($15/day, prepay only) The lady guiding us into the facility was rude, abrupt, and yelling. I know it sucks herding a bunch of tourists, but a little good humor goes a long way. Check-in was fast and pleasant, significantly faster than Port Canaveral, though we did pre-print our booking pass, and had nothing unusual about our arrangements. The gangway was stable and sheltered, and boarding went through Deck 2.

The decor of the Pride is Baroque in the extreme, there are no edges left un-filligreed. My wife, of noticeably Italian descent, said the Deck 3 seating area reminded her of every old Italian lady's house, if she didn't have to worry about the cost. All over the ship, seating areas were ample, comfortable, and pleasant. There were some problems with modulating the interior lights on 2 and 3, and they continued all week, with flickering and surging. The game room is a treat, with good sound and well-placed pocket doors, though the chairs are showing significant wear. You can tell that upkeep has been cut back a bit. Read more