Astronomer’s Carnival Pride Review, sailing 6-25-06 Part 1

[moonmullins]

Leaving in 4 days! Great review keep it coming!!!

[Astronomer]

I wont be done before you leave, like everyone says, you board with a great attitude, and the vacation cannot miss.

 

Get ready for a fantastic ( but very hot and humid ) Cruise.

 

It was overcast a couple of days, but we didnt let that bother us.

 

We loved everything about it.

[texas greeneyes]

Astronomer, excellent review. Keep it coming...and please do not make any attempts at brevity...the more the better! :D

[cruzindad]

Astronomer,

 

One of the best reviews I've read! It brings back a lot of memories, and it is helping me manage to get through the next couple of weeks before we set sail again.

 

Many thanks and looking forward to the next installment.

[tickles]

When are you going in November? we are scheduled for the pride on November 26 and just can't wait !!

[JGB]

I have said this before---my most pleasurable part of cruising(other than being with my wife and family) is being on deck just after first light. The stillness and peace of the world,it seems is upon me-the cool breezes ease around me.

 

Hey where are those capers?

 

John

[wercruzin]

I got a chance to look thru your pictures.. and this one sticks out in my eye as beautiful..

 

 

I can hardly imagine the excitement you must have felt seeing her make her turn!!

[Astronomer]

Yeah, that moment was very special to me, I was standing outside on the lawn of the Long Beach Coast hotel, Moondance beside me watching that great hulking beast make this dainty and perfect spin.

 

There is just something wrong about a gigantic cruise ship that can turn on a dime. :rolleyes:

[pppiglet]

Thanks.....glad you are posting all in one thread!

[Curt Jerome Wild]

Curt, have you found the picture that we took just for you yet?

:D Squuueeeeee!:D

http://www.dwightandhelene.smugmug.com/gallery/1627869/13/79375876

Diet Dr. Pepper just spit out on the monitor!:p

The funny thing is...

I was in Las Vegas this past long weekend, and everytime I saw the new Hooters Hotel and Casino, I thought of you guys on the cruise.:)

I am SO glad that you had a great time, but with both of your great attitudes, I knew that you would have a blast.

CJW

PS I am SO honored!

[Astronomer]

As soon as we saw the Hooters in PV, Moondance and I just had to buy one and take that picture, we thought of you immedeatly. :)

[VICKIVICKI]

I'm just loving this review! It's perfect!except, except, the food! Can we hear more about the food? Pleez! This way I can enjoy all the succulent dishes through your writing, without gaining weight!

[Moondance]

I'm just loving this review! It's perfect!except, except, the food! Can we hear more about the food? Pleez! This way I can enjoy all the succulent dishes through your writing, without gaining weight!

 

Funny you should mention food. In my journal I wrote down what we ate each meal... it was that memorable.The lamb I had the first night was the finest I've ever had. And the desserts... well I don't know where to begin. I bought the chef's cookbooks (including the drink book with all those drinks of the day) and he autographed it for me. I was thinking Preetie should have signed the drink book since she's the one who handed them out to me each day LOL.

 

There was a chocolate cake/berry dessert that was euphoric in it's flavor and the bread pudding with hard sauce served in the buffet was yummmmy. They also have a different napoleon every day. Veal parmesan was great but the lamb was the best!

 

ps the reason I slept in was the comfortable beds. I usually can't sleep in the morning due to fused discs in my back which get stiff and sore as I sleep. On the Pride I slept like the innocent. I'm not sure if it was the great mattresses, pillows and comforters or the gentle boat rocking but I haven't slept that well in over 10 years. I was ready to go out and buy the bed(they do sell them). I think an even better idea is to live on a cruise ship the rest of my life :D

[Astronomer]

David’s topped it all for me dear, that was easily the best Lobster I have ever had. It was the first time I didn’t want to dip the Lobster in the garlic butter, it was so good on its own I didn’t want to take away from the taste.

And the desert, I thought I was ordering some simple desert, what they brought me was this amazing tray with 3 very different amazing dishes.

If you go on the Pride DO DAVID's SUPPER CLUB!!!!!!!!!

( I recommend Tuesday evening so you don’t miss the Formal dinners in the main dining room )

[Caribbean Dad]

Astronomer

 

 

What a simply fantastic review so far. Thank you for putting so much effort in to it. And with your attitude........no wonder you two had such a great time. ;)

 

BTW, I've figured out why UB owes you a free cruise........it is therapy for your new found "cruise addiction" that his company caused......yeah, that's it. ;) :D

[Ms_Pammy]

Astronomer

 

 

What a simply fantastic review so far. Thank you for putting so much effort in to it. And with your attitude........no wonder you two had such a great time. ;)

 

BTW, I've figured out why UB owes you a free cruise........it is therapy for your new found "cruise addiction" that his company caused......yeah, that's it. ;) :D

 

Wow I agree so much!! I cant wait to read the rest:)

[SheilaS]

Thanks for taking the time to do this review. My favorite part so far was about Mr & Mrs Chair Hog. I can just see you and your wife walking by them, waving hello and then the elbow in your ribs as you get a little loud with the Mr & Mrs. Chair Hog title rolling off your lips and a little "hhumph" at the end, as you try to catch your breathe. :D

 

Sheila<--------------also met "Ms Everything about this cruise Stinks" a time or two:)

[big_duck]

 

Sheila<--------------also met "Ms Everything about this cruise Stinks" a time or two:)

 

Me to. Which is why I invented the Ejection deck lounger:

 

 

"TWANG!!"

[Timmys_mom]

PS Looking forward to the great lengthy reviews, and who wants to start taking bets on how long before they start planning their next cruise?

 

I've got news for you...... they already are. :D

[Timmys_mom]

http://www.dwightandhelene.smugmug.com/gallery/1627869/9/79379251

 

Isn't the backdrop in this picture the grand staircase from the Titanic?:eek:

[VICKIVICKI]

I am so enjoying this cruise! When it's over do we have to tip?

[enj174]

I'm enjoying this review so much. We were on the Pride the week of June 18. There was so much to do that it limited my time in the piano bar. Augustin was great in there huh. I wish he played till 3am...on the last night he was nice enough to play till after 2.

[gypsyrose]

Absolutely love the review. Moondance, I know what you mean about sleeping so well. My DH and I both said we had never slept so well before. Didn't know if it was the comfort of the bed or being rocked to sleep every nite, or both. Whatever, we loved it and I agree, we should live on a cruise ship;)

[Astronomer]

I've got news for you...... they already are. :D

 

Unfortunatly that Idea fell through, but yeah, we will be cruising again. It would be nice to do a CC cruise but most of those sail during the shcool year.

 

I will try to post part 3 today.

[Astronomer]

Before I continue with part 3 there are a couple of things I realized I left out of the first day at sea.

At 11am at the Poseidon Bar we had agreed to meet with other CC folks from our roll call thread, however the only ones that showed up were Dawn ( Victory_Bound and her DH ) and ourselves. We had hoped to meet Cruzinmama,, Procruizer, and the Jam couple from Monterey.

I made a bit of a fool of myself wandering around and asking if anyone was from the Cruise Critics forum, but no luck.

The other thing I left out was that after the formal dinner we went to the show that night. It was a show about singing around the world, the costumes were great, the singers were good and it was fun, not great, but it was fun. The shows are much better than high school productions but not quite the level of say a Vegas show.