Mousey's Pride Review of 7/29 Cruise

[mousey]

I was going to wait until tomorrow to post this but I figured I'd get it over and done now so as to be able to answer any questions for the next group of CCer's sailing to the Pride.

 

Negatives:

 

Only one for us...we didn't get our Carnival pins as Gold level cruisers! When I called the service desk to ask where to go to get them we were told that they didn't have any more. What?!:confused: Then I asked if they would be getting more in the future and they said , "No." What?! How can they not have not have enough pins for the amount of people that were on the cruise when they had promised them as part of the new VIFP program! Duh! Whatever! No big deal really and it most certainly did not affect our cruise in any real negative way. Just say'n..get it together will ya!

 

Positives:

 

Just about everything else!:D

 

We liked the Pride. We enjoyed going out on the Serenity Deck. Well, most of the time. Do not go there for quiet during the day as that seems to be where the loud-mouthed, adult drunks hang out. It did not bother us as we found them pretty funny, annoying, but funny nonetheless. They need to come up with a new name for that deck because Serenity is a true msmomer! We enjoyed walking on the decks at night and sitting, talking with newly made friends.

 

We also enjoyed the adults only comedy shows. We enjoyed the casino a couple of times. We liked the Piano Bar sing-a-longs with Roger. Tea Time was time for some great sweet treats! Loved the pasteries they served. I don't drink tea, but I loved the snacks they served. Yummy!

 

Our room steward and his crew were awesome. We had some really great towel animals every night. We had fresh ice every day and anything we wanted or needed was provided immediately and we never had to ask twice for anything. Amad (SP?) emptied both the contents of our room cooler and the one in our kid's cabin on the first day so that we could put our own stuff in there. Great service.

 

We especially loved eating in the MDR. We had a great group of people serving us. Innocenti was our head waiter (what a lovely person), Ronald was his head assistant (he was so sweet and adorable), and the third person on the team was Karl who was quiet but very nice and very efficient. These guys are an asset to Carnival and we can't say enough good things about them. They catered to our every whim and need. We looked forward to our dinners in the MDR every night because of the staff, the lovely couple that sat next to us, and the food itself was plentiful, delicious, and all that we hoped it would be. No complaints whatsoever about the MDR from us. Us, included, the DH, SiL, DS (17), his BF (18) and myself.

 

The food in the buffet, although not as varried in choices as the MDR, was very good and we never had a bad meal there. We usually ate there off and on during the day as we had the late seating in the MDR and we were always stopping off at the buffet for snacks. Rarely, did we have to stand in a very long line, except for some reason on the day we got back on board from Freeport. I think maybe that was because we had to be back on by !p and everyone waited to get back on for lunch. That would be my guess. But even then we were still able to fine seating. We never, ever did not find a table or booth right away in the buffet area and there were tons of people on our cruise. We have no complaints whatsoever about the buffet or the food or service therein.

 

The desserts in both the buffet and MDR were awesome and plentiful and there was a large variety of choices. I really don't get how anyone could complain about the food on the Pride. I'm extremely picky and I found tons of good food to eat and enjoy. Okay, so maybe I was not impressed with their pizza...I would give it a YUK! But the DH and the kids loved it so there ya go.

 

I wouldn't waste money on a cabana in Grand Turk as we mostly were in the pool and didn't really use it much. I would recommend that if you can afford it or can find someone to chip in with you that renting a cabana in Half Moom Cay is well worth the money. Especially if it's a hot day or a rainy one as it was during our visit. Not much for us in Freeprt. I think I'm pretty much done with cruising to the Bahamas. Been there, done that too many times for it to be interesting to us. Have nothing bad to say about the Bahamas, just tired of that itinerary.

 

The guys, did Snuba, rode horses in the water at Half Moon Cay, and we went on the stingray excursion. The SIL and I hit the pool in Grand Turk and did some shopping at the straw market in Freeport. Swimming in the ocean on Grand Cay was awesome!

 

I would say the best part of the trip were the people we met at our roll call meet and greet. A shout out to Don't Tread On Me, Drew, and Rita for all the work they did. The people we met, especially Don't Tread On Me and his lovely signifcant other, were so much fun. Our staff in the MDR were fantastic as were all the staff on the Pride. From the young men who made me my special sandwich everyday at lunch in the buffet to our bar waiter Aries in the MDR who had my favorite drink waiting for me every night, the staff on the Pride were just wonderful.

 

If anyone has any questions about the Pride or the ports, I would be happy to answer any questions you have as best I'm able.

 

Happy sailing to all!:D

[starlight0229]

Thanks so much for the review. I'm part of the next batch of cruiser on the Pride (only 6 days to go). I'm glad to hear that you enjoyed the ship and the food and had an enjoyable time overall!

[Silent Penguin]

We'll be on the Pride 5 weeks from yesterday. No questions. I've been reading all the Pride reviews I can find because our cruise in September will be our first Carnival cruise. I'm glad to hear you had no trouble with long lines or finding a place to sit. The latter isn't always easy as a family. We're traveling as a couple this time, so I'm hoping that will make things even easier except if we both get up from the table at the same time and our table is cleared (it's happened to us). It sounds like you had a great trip, but it also sounds like you have a great attitude. Funny, loud drunks. Free entertainment? The glass is half-full.

[mousey]

I hope all of you have as good a time as we did on our cruise. We really did luck out with the staff and meeting some wonderful new people that we'll hopefully be friends with for a long time to come.:D If you take a good attitude with you, you can't go wrong on the Pride. There were lots of kids on our cruise because it's summer, but they were no problem to us at all. Even the drunken adult party people were part of the entertainment...kind of gross...but funny!:D

 

Happy sailing to all!:D

[Tcas1]

I have a question. Some friends of mine went on the Pride in June. They told us that the buffet was not open during the day (said it was only open 2 days). They said that the only options available at lunch were sandwiches or pizza. I found it hard to believe.:confused:

 

Is this true?

[emjay]

I have a question also, do you remember what the shows were? We have sailed on the Pride for the last 2 yrs so I was hoping they may have changed. Glad you had a good time I know we always do:)

[daisitroy]

Glad you enjoyed your trip. I will be on the Pride in a couple of weeks, so I have been trying to read everything I can about. Thank you for taking the time to post!

Dot

[bluehenfan]

I have a question. Some friends of mine went on the Pride in June. They told us that the buffet was not open during the day (said it was only open 2 days). They said that the only options available at lunch were sandwiches or pizza. I found it hard to believe.:confused:

 

Is this true?

 

Don't know what ship your friends were on, but this is not true. Lots of choices for lunch.

[crazy4dis]

Mousey it was a pleasure meeting you, Drew and all the peeps who showed up for the meet and greet!!! Excellent review I didnt know you did not get your pin :mad:. Im glad me drinking mad you laugh I felt bad the next day LOL. I was so nice hanging with you in Half Moon Cay xoxoxox

Rita Kathleen

[novinha]

I do have a question about Grand Turk. I know there are threads to look up but I want fresh info. You say that you were in the pool at Grand Turk. I've read that there are a few places folks can go for fun in the sun there. Are these places free or is there a cover charge? Were you at Margueritaville or Jack's Shack?

 

I'm glad you had a good time. We have the same itinerary in Nov. I can't wait.

[Tcas1]

Thank you Bluehenfan -

 

I didn't actually believe it, but since I wasn't there how can I argue that they're crazy? I had never heard of such nonsense. May have to go on the Pride with them one day and show them the buffet.

[retiredgram]

Thank you Bluehenfan -

 

I didn't actually believe it, but since I wasn't there how can I argue that they're crazy? I had never heard of such nonsense. May have to go on the Pride with them one day and show them the buffet.

It might be possible that they went during the change from breakfast to lunch. Happened to me one time. They were just changing to the lunch menu. Also, they had one side closed, but the other side was open. Maybe that is what they saw. Still love the Pride.

[Cruiseprotobe]

I do have a question about Grand Turk. I know there are threads to look up but I want fresh info. You say that you were in the pool at Grand Turk. I've read that there are a few places folks can go for fun in the sun there. Are these places free or is there a cover charge? Were you at Margueritaville or Jack's Shack?

 

I'm glad you had a good time. We have the same itinerary in Nov. I can't wait.

 

We went to Margaritaville at Grand Turk and just picked out two seats under an umbrella. No one said a word to us. We swam in the large pool which was nice and I did eventually cave in and bought myself a $10 piece of Key Lime Pie. They really didnt bother you to much about buying drinks but they were around if you needed something. Enjoy!! We did:)

[vivavegas]

Welcome Back! Glad you had a good cruise! Thanks for sharing your experiences with us!:)

[novinha]

We went to Margaritaville at Grand Turk and just picked out two seats under an umbrella. No one said a word to us. We swam in the large pool which was nice and I did eventually cave in and bought myself a $10 piece of Key Lime Pie. They really didnt bother you to much about buying drinks but they were around if you needed something. Enjoy!! We did:)

Was the key lime pie good? I was in Key West this last year and had awful pie there! Go figure.

[starlight0229]

Was the key lime pie good? I was in Key West this last year and had awful pie there! Go figure.

 

I'm hoping to hear that it was more like the pie from Key West. I prefer my key lime pie to not be an overly commercialized, overly sweetened green pie.

[mousey]

I have a question. Some friends of mine went on the Pride in June. They told us that the buffet was not open during the day (said it was only open 2 days). They said that the only options available at lunch were sandwiches or pizza. I found it hard to believe.:confused:

 

Is this true?

 

 

None of that is true unless there was something horribly wrong on that cruise! We ate in the buffet at all times of the day and night and there was always a nice variety of food options there. We ate everything from sushi, italian, asian, sandwiches, pizzas, salads, fruit, all kinds of breakfast foods and a nice variety of desserts:D, etc., etc.

[mousey]

I'm hoping to hear that it was more like the pie from Key West. I prefer my key lime pie to not be an overly commercialized, overly sweetened green pie.

 

 

My SIL and I loved the Key Lime Pie! It was really sweet but awesome!:D

[mousey]

I have a question also, do you remember what the shows were? We have sailed on the Pride for the last 2 yrs so I was hoping they may have changed. Glad you had a good time I know we always do:)

 

 

I'm sorry but aside from the comedy shows and the Piano Bar we didn't go to any of the shows. Sorry I can't help you on this but maybe one of the posters on here can.

[mousey]

Glad you enjoyed your trip. I will be on the Pride in a couple of weeks, so I have been trying to read everything I can about. Thank you for taking the time to post!

Dot

 

 

You are most welcome! I hope you have as fun a time as we did on the Pride!:D

[mousey]

Mousey it was a pleasure meeting you, Drew and all the peeps who showed up for the meet and greet!!! Excellent review I didnt know you did not get your pin :mad:. Im glad me drinking mad you laugh I felt bad the next day LOL. I was so nice hanging with you in Half Moon Cay xoxoxox

Rita Kathleen

 

 

Rita, you were a blast and I hope we meet up on another cruise sometime! You're family was really sweet and I enjoyed rooming next to them!:D

[mousey]

I do have a question about Grand Turk. I know there are threads to look up but I want fresh info. You say that you were in the pool at Grand Turk. I've read that there are a few places folks can go for fun in the sun there. Are these places free or is there a cover charge? Were you at Margueritaville or Jack's Shack?

 

I'm glad you had a good time. We have the same itinerary in Nov. I can't wait.

 

 

You can swim for free in the pool. It's all part of Margaritaville and has a swim up bar. It is huge and I loved it! There is also the beach, which of course is free. There are plenty of chairs and no need really to rent a cabana unless you are going to be there for a very long time.There is no fee for the pool, chairs, or the beach. The wait staff is efficient and not pushy at all. I found them to be very friendly and accommodating. I wish that we had had more time there as we really enjoyed the cruise center. I thought if was lots of fun!:D

[mousey]

It might be possible that they went during the change from breakfast to lunch. Happened to me one time. They were just changing to the lunch menu. Also, they had one side closed, but the other side was open. Maybe that is what they saw. Still love the Pride.

 

 

That's a great observation and may actually be what happened. There are times when one side of the buffet is closed and the other is open. So, maybe that's what they saw and commented on. I think you may be right about what they might have seen.

[erewhon]

Thank you for your review.

Glad you had a great time.

[Cruiseprotobe]

Was the key lime pie good? I was in Key West this last year and had awful pie there! Go figure.

 

It was average piece of key lime pie. Tasted like Key lime at least, LOL.

I attached a photo of it