Chrissandra's 2012 Carnival Pride Review May 27 - June 3 (lots of pics)

[Anung Un Rama]

Hi my friends!!! So excited to see a review already! You guys always do a fantastic job!

 

Aww, hi Jen. Thank you! You'll have to let us know how it is leaving in the middle of summer. I like it warm, but that might be too much for me.

[Anung Un Rama]

We were both pretty spent by this point and headed back to the HP side of the park. I knew I wanted a special mug that you could only get from the Hog's Head and they'd only fill it with beer. Twist.

 

 

 

 

[Anung Un Rama]

We closed out the day by doing the other side of the Dragon Challenge (this time about a 25 minute wait) and then some shopping.

 

 

Stroke the Spine ;)

 

 

 

 

[Anung Un Rama]

Cass got a quick picture with the Conductor of the Hogwart's Express and then it was back to the bus.

 

 

Oh, one more photo op

 

 

Now, my rant. It was a pretty warm day down there, 91 to be exact. We had a full bus and left around 4:30. The driver never turned on the AC until we were 5 minutes from port. It was so miserable on that thing and I was so irritated and agitated it took all my restraint to not snap. I couldn't wait to get off that bus and into customs and AC.

[Anung Un Rama]

We were back on the ship by 5:40 and I took some time to relax and get some pictures of the port and ship.

 

 

Disney Magic docked there with us.

 

 

Our room was near the 3rd tier entry to Taj Majal.

 

 

And the always deserted Sunset Garden was right below us on the 3rd floor.

 

[ardnassac79]

Totally loving your review!!

 

I'll be on the pride in 19 days!! Quick question. When you docked in Port Canaveral, how quickly did they let you off the boat? We're going to Magic Kingdom and because we have annual passes, we're renting a car and just trying to figure out what time for planning purposes. Thanks!! And keep up the great review!!

 

Thanks!! The boat docked around 7, and I would guess they were letting people off around 7:30am (ballpark). Our excursion tickets said to meet at the busses outside the ship by 7:45, and there was a bus leaving already when we got there - and our bus left at 7:40 - so around then you should be good to go.

 

Hi my friends!!! So excited to see a review already! You guys always do a fantastic job!

 

Hey Jen!! Thanks! Not too much longer for you now!

[gapearl]

Yay, another fun review from you guys! Loving it!!! :D

[Anung Un Rama]

We were planning on making this a quiet night and maybe watching a movie on my kindle up on Serenity. That way we could hit the gym early :rolleyes:, and be rested for Atlantis Aqua Adventure on Thursday. We did dinner on Lido, I had pizza and Cass had lamb (which was very fatty) and some pork over rice. Went down to the casino where we saw a couple that had played with us the previous nights and started chatting. They were Chris and Lauren from Virginia and lucky me, Cass had found a drinking buddy.

 

 

The table was cold so we got up and invited them back to the room to make a drink. We all became quick friends and ended up talking (and making another drink) for an hour before heading up to Lido for some air. We ran into Mike and Emily who had just come from the Mexican Fiesta (each carrying 4 Carnival light up shot glasses :eek:). They invited us back to their room for drinks and to check out what a handicap cabin looked like. I knew at this point there would be no gym in the morning but at least we didn't have to get off the ship until 11:30 so I figured what the hell. I regrettably only got a picture of the handicap bathroom and not the room itself.

 

 

It was about 12:30 when we headed back up to Lido only to find Chris and Lauren still there chatting with some other friends from the roll call. We were all up there just talking about this and that when I realized it was after 2 and we should really call it a night. Even though it turned out nothing like we had planned, it was a great night and we knew a good friendship had been made.

[Anung Un Rama]

OK, finally done with Wednesday. Thank you for all the kind words everyone. It really makes it worthwhile to see so many people enjoying our review. I had no intention of doing Wednesday tonight but I'm glad I got it out of the way. Now to do some chores. Cass has most of Thursday written up but it will also be picture heavy (and embarrassing :o)

[jrmende63]

Loving your review! I am also a Harry Potter fan! Loved the pics of the park! I have to go one day! We also have did the aqua adventure at Atlantis...loved it!

[sunshinecruiser62]

Loving your review, can't wait for more!!

[birdistasty]

Woo new review! As you guys saw, I already shared it - can't wait to read the rest!!!

[saltybones]

Can't wait for more....... Love your review:D

[michelle1836]

Tuesday - Fun Day at Sea

 

 

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I think there was a miscount as Slytherin should clearly be in the lead. Me and Cass both got sorted to Slytherin in Pottermore. She was upset but I told her it was because we were destined to be together.

 

Cass forgot the password to Dumbledore's office so we continued on.

 

 

LOL! so as I am reading and looking at the pictures, my 16 year old son walks by and says "oh thats the points for the house cup" and then named the bowl thing Pensive (sp?) funny.

 

I think we may be staying out of the Starry Night lounge if it is indeed way too smokey!

[SouthKakalaki]

Thanks for sharing your review and sorry for your loss. I enjoyed the Harry Potter pics, our family vacationed in Orlando at Islands of Adventure back in '10 as well and was pleasantly surprised that they were testing the HP ride before the grand opening. We were able to ride all of the HP rides that day and can't wait to go back. I agree that the HP ride is the best and spider man a definite 2nd. I look forward to the rest of your review.

[Spudder]

Great review guys, always enjoy them, thanks for sharing.

 

A lot of HP dorks out there, including me....:D

[All4fun&fun4all]

Love your reviews. Subscribing!

[ardnassac79]

LOL! so as I am reading and looking at the pictures, my 16 year old son walks by and says "oh thats the points for the house cup" and then named the bowl thing Pensive (sp?) funny.

 

I think we may be staying out of the Starry Night lounge if it is indeed way too smokey!

 

Nice! Yep you spelled it right :D.. and yeah unfortunately Starry Nights is one of the only indoor places for smokers now, and it usually always has a sheen of smoke in it.

 

Thanks for sharing your review and sorry for your loss. I enjoyed the Harry Potter pics, our family vacationed in Orlando at Islands of Adventure back in '10 as well and was pleasantly surprised that they were testing the HP ride before the grand opening. We were able to ride all of the HP rides that day and can't wait to go back. I agree that the HP ride is the best and spider man a definite 2nd. I look forward to the rest of your review.

 

Thanks! Wow that's awesome you got to ride it as a test!

 

Great review guys, always enjoy them, thanks for sharing.

 

A lot of HP dorks out there, including me....:D

 

Thanks!! Good to know we aren't the only ones - Chris asked me last night, "how picture heavy should I go with the HP stuff?" I told him to let our dorkness shine :D

[ardnassac79]

Love your reviews. Subscribing!

 

Aww, thanks! I was actually in the middle of reading your recent one right before we left - I'll have to get back to it! All week we used your reference to the kid hot tub as "Kid Soup" lol it cracked us up!

[ladytonya]

Starry Nights was ridiculously smokey! Tim likes to do karaoke but there was just no way. We did do Superstar Live in Butterflies one night and that was really fun but nowhere near as many people as I saw in SN.

 

My only other smoke complaint on this ship was the casino. Even though the signs all said smoking only allowed at select machines, most of the times I think select machines = all machines! Even the walkway through the casino often reeked of cigarette smoke. I only tried the casino vault once and never did any table games because I just couldn't stand it. I usually avoided it altogether but sometimes you can't. It really was quite ridiculous.

[ardnassac79]

Starry Nights was ridiculously smokey! Tim likes to do karaoke but there was just no way. We did do Superstar Live in Butterflies one night and that was really fun but nowhere near as many people as I saw in SN.

 

My only other smoke complaint on this ship was the casino. Even though the signs all said smoking only allowed at select machines, most of the times I think select machines = all machines! Even the walkway through the casino often reeked of cigarette smoke. I only tried the casino vault once and never did any table games because I just couldn't stand it. I usually avoided it altogether but sometimes you can't. It really was quite ridiculous.

 

Hi Tonya! Yes I agree - I think the walkway through the casino was bad because they allowed smoking at the slots right there along the main pass-through. I agree they should move the smoking machines all to one area, and have them be along the walls more.. but at least I can say it was better than before they limited the smoking in there. It used to be awful.

[crewsweeper]

Finally stumbled on to this. Somehow missed it earlier. Great fun review guys! Chris, you're right the HP stuff was a bit dorky, but in a fun way:D Love the mug!

 

Your Sox may be in the cellar but they're not too far behind the Rays ( who got hammered by the Yanks on a rebound last night). That's a pretty competitive division this year too!

 

Waiting for the rest of the review.

[ryanpatricksmom]

Starry Nights was ridiculously smokey! Tim likes to do karaoke but there was just no way. We did do Superstar Live in Butterflies one night and that was really fun but nowhere near as many people as I saw in SN.

 

My only other smoke complaint on this ship was the casino. Even though the signs all said smoking only allowed at select machines, most of the times I think select machines = all machines! Even the walkway through the casino often reeked of cigarette smoke. I only tried the casino vault once and never did any table games because I just couldn't stand it. I usually avoided it altogether but sometimes you can't. It really was quite ridiculous.

 

The smoking in the Casino was the worst that I've seen in 9 sailings on the Pride. I think that the issue was that they booked a VIP sailing from the Meadows Casino, so that brought a lot of avid gamblers (who were apparently chain-smokers as well). DH and I were both taking allergy medicine at night, and really thought that our clothes might be ruined. I'm usually not opposed to smoking, but I agree, it was absolutely ridiculous that sailing.

[crazy4dis]

Im sailing on the Pride in July Loving your review!!

[cantwaittocruise12]

LOVING your review! I was also pleasantly surprised to see another review from you two so soon...I also really enjoyed your last review.

 

My family and I are on the pride in 25 days, so it is really exciting to see this now! Looking forward to the continuation!