Carnival Pride
New Year's Cruise, 2010
by Vincent
Age: 60
Occupation: Architect
Number of Cruises: 5
Number with Carnival: 2
Background: We chose this cruise because
we live in Northern Virginia and the Baltimore departure didn’t
require the additional expense of airfare. Our two daughters and
their friends joined my wife and me on the cruise. We chose three
obstructed view (lifeboats in your face) rooms so that all six of us
would have adequate bathroom access. We were not disappointed.
Boarding: Embarkation was tedious; it
seemed as though the Baltimore Port Authority was learning how to
load a cruise ship for the first time. Directions for passengers
were non-existent and a working process was not apparent. Once the
gauntlet was passed, all was smooth sailing (so to speak).
Ship: Overall, the ship is well
maintained and meets the expectation s of most experienced cruisers.
I’m not sure how the haunted house décor supports the “fun ship”
theme Carnival advertises; the interior of the Pride is dark and
encrusted with “embellishments.” By the end of the cruise I finally
stopped trying to see if my fellow passengers had reflections in the
mirrors on the ship.
Food: The Normandy Dining Room was
excellent for breakfast, lunch, and dinner; the food was varied,
well-prepared, and professionally served. The Lido Grille was
crowded, confusing, and crowded with aggressive feeders. We took all
our meals in the dining room and were perfectly satisfied. Breakfast
was the same each day, but lunch and dinner offered enough choices
to keep any palette satisfied. Our evening wait staff were both
friendly and professional (we were greeted with our names the first
night), and the staff at other meals were uniformly courteous and
efficient.
Entertainment: We enjoyed the production
shows; dancing and singing were memorable. Comics, magicians, and
jugglers are not “our cup of tea.” New Year’s Eve was great.
Carnival provided several venues tailored to different tastes; we
baby-boomers were treated to the sounds of the 70’s to usher 2011;
so we “danced the night away.”
Sea Days: This itinerary is divided
evenly between sea and port days (3 each). Sea days offer the
opportunity to relax and enjoy the freedom of “doing nothing.” Since
most of the on-board activities are inane, we chose to “do nothing”
and enjoy the relaxation. Unlike typical Caribbean cruises, the
Baltimore departure positions the first and last day in the “not so
temperate” weather of the mid-Atlantic. Our first day at sea was
quite cold with high winds; passengers were restricted to indoor
areas. As a result, the public areas were very crowded and our
fellow passengers were not at their best.
Port Days: We booked itineraries through
Carnival because we were on vacation and had no desire to worry
about anything. At Port Canaveral we chose the Air Boat Excursion
(with Coco Shopping) – the Air Boat was absolutely great; shopping
kept the distaff members satisfied. Nassau brought Atlantis – the
over-the-top water park and resort experience (Disney World for
adults); everyone should try this at least once. In Freeport, we
chose the kayak and nature hike – very enjoyable day with a small
group paddling through mangroves, enjoying a beautiful, completely
deserted beach, and seeing bizarre caves used by the ancients.
Experience: Great cruise for families
and groups. Don’t expect to meet interesting people; the typical
Carnival cruiser is as interesting as white bread. The staff is
cordial, friendly, and efficient; accommodations are well-suited for
a week’s vacation, and everything is geared to an effort-free
holiday.
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