Just Back From Pride May 23 - A Long Review

[RLM77]

This is a review/comparison of our just-concluded 7-night cruise on Carnival Pride sailing from Baltimore on May 23, 2009. We are in our early 50’s; Marlee is somewhat mobility-limited due to MS but has thus far avoided a wheelchair or scooter except for long distances. This was our 12th cruise; most of our time at sea has been spent on the “premium” lines Celebrity and Holland America, with a few days on Princess and Regent thrown in for good measure. This was our first cruise in the non-premium part of the mass market, although we plan to be on Royal Caribbean in October.

 

I will cut right to the chase and state conclusions up front: We will cruise Carnival again. Of all the lines we have experienced thus far, Carnival is by far the best in terms of articulating a clear, easily understandable vision (“fun ships”) and then successfully executing to that vision across the entire product. On competing lines the vision is less clear, thus the quality of execution is more difficult to evaluate. On Carnival, those components of a cruise that directly contribute to fun receive the most attention; other aspects of the cruise experience are not emphasized to the same extent.

 

A Carnival cruise is great for those interested in having a fun, relaxing, laid back, and casual experience. Those who are concerned about dress codes, thread counts of the sheets, padding on loungers, formal place settings, impeccable service, pillow-top mattresses, an extensive wine list, and an overall atmosphere of sophistication to the point that they cannot have a good cruise without these things would be better served by Holland America, Celebrity, or one of the luxury lines. Carnival is not for you.

 

Carnival is all about a state of mind – having fun. Unfortunately, most reviews (including this one) cannot easily capture anything that intangible, focusing instead on individual details. Thus, parts of what follows may seem unduly critical of Carnival. Per my comments above, please understand that that in this case the whole is greater than the sum of its parts. Check your critical nature at the gangway, kick back, and just enjoy the “fun ship” vibe. Plenty of time for fine dining, fine wines, and fancy clothes on your next cruise! Come as you are, come to have fun, and c’mon aboard!

 

Embarkation: We drove from our home in Ohio and arrived at the port at 11:45. The port is located a short distance from an I-95 interchange, the entrance is well marked. Drivers make one circuit of the lot to drop off baggage and then a second circuit to park. Parking is $15.00 per day, payable in advance. Check-in was very smooth with no surprises.

 

The ship does not arrive at Baltimore until 9:30. This pushes embarkation back a few hours; it does not begin until sometime after 1:00-1:30. Due to Marlee’s reduced mobility we boarded on A-Deck instead of using the main gangway to 2-Deck. This was a great arrangement; I have seen this done on other lines but only with a very few individuals who were severely disabled. It was very helpful to have the opportunity extended to us and to others who are not confined to a wheelchair full time.

 

The cabins were ready around 2:45 and our luggage was delivered before 3:15, in record time. The safe was left closed by the previous occupant. Although we waited on hold for over 10 minutes to reach guest relations, once we got through someone was at our cabin door to reset it within five minutes. Most impressive.

 

Pride is a visually arresting ship inside, with an Italianate Renaissance styled atrium that rises from the main lobby on 2-Deck all the way to David’s Supper Club on 10-Deck. The atrium is capped by a red-tinted skylight that extends from the base of the funnel. An Italian-Renaissance theme pervades much of the ship, dominating Decks 2 and 3 and visible in portions of the lido and pool area as well. The placement of and approach toward much of the décor suggests that the designers did not intend their approach to be taken too seriously, contributing to the “fun ship” ambiance.

 

As others have noted, some of the Renaissance art that is reproduced on the ship includes nudes. Neither of us found this the least bit distasteful, but those who could be concerned or offended by such should choose another ship.

 

Dress on Carnival is among the most casual of the cruise lines, a plus in this era of airline fees for each checked bag and additional fees for “overweight” bags. Shorts are permitted at dinner in the MDR every night except the two “elegant” nights. Even on elegant nights there were almost no tuxes and gowns. Many of the men wore sport jackets or suits with a good percentage of ties. Women tended toward cocktail dresses or dressier separates. The most common outfit for the younger women (those with the figures to carry it off at least) was some variation on the little black dress. We were easily able to fit everything into one large bag, with jewelry and toiletries in a carry-on. Since Carnival has laundry rooms available ($2.00 for the washer, another $2.00 for the dryer), one bag would still be enough for us even if we booked a B2B (we normally prefer cruises of 10-15 days and Carnival does not offer many of these, leaving a B2B as the only option).

 

Pride is a mid-sized ship by today’s standards, approximately the same size and layout as Holland America’s Vista-class, though with about 12% more passenger carry. We had a diverse passenger group on this cruise. Lots of young couples. Many families with children, particularly younger (age 10 and under) children. A sizable number of pax in their 40’s, 50’s, and early 60’s. Younger singles were certainly represented but perhaps in smaller numbers than Carnival’s freewheeling past might suggest. Compared to nearly all our previous cruises there were far fewer folks age 65+. From a socio-economic perspective this was very much a beer, pretzels, and parasol drink crowd as opposed to a wine, cheese, and cognac crowd.

 

Cabins: We booked a standard wake-view balcony cabin (category 8I) on 4-Deck. From a functionality standpoint this was one of the best standard cabins we have ever been in, although at 185 square feet (plus a balcony of about 65 square feet) it is average or slightly below average in size.

 

Carnival’s designers made the most of the available space. Storage space was excellent. There were three standard sized closet sections, one with four shelves, the others for hanging clothes. There were 26 theft-resistant hangers available, although surprisingly there were no skirt hangers. There were five drawers available in the desk unit (one partially consumed by a hair dryer), a somewhat shallow cabinet near the end of the bed, and more storage inside the night tables. The safe is located under the TV rather than tying up part of a shelf in the closet. It is also near eye-level, a plus. A credit card is required to lock and unlock the safe, an inconvenience compared to a combination format. Luggage fits easily under the bed. Lighting was among the best we’ve had on any ship, and (also unlike other ships) all of it was in working order.

 

The bed was comfortable but not luxurious. There is no foundation, simply a mattress on a metal platform. It was comfortable enough and we slept well. The covering was a duvet over both top and bottom sheets, with four pillows. There is enough space between the end of the bed and the cabin wall to walk past the bed without turning sideways. This is not the case on some other lines, even when the cabins are billed as having greater square footage. The balcony had one full lounger, two chairs, and a small table.

 

The bathroom, though not large, was also extremely well designed. There were six shelves mounted above the counter (next to the mirror), which is more space then we have had on any ship except Regent’s. Even our Princess mini-suite had less storage in the bathroom itself. The counter-top itself was also larger than average, providing even more space for bathroom items. This more than compensated for the lack of any storage under the counter. Given the choice, storage on and over the counter top is more accessible and convenient than under-counter space. The shower was not large, but was designed to accommodate folks up to about 6’4” height. It looked as if it could handle those of larger than average width as well. The shower head was detachable from the wall to allow to easier washing and rinsing of those hard to reach areas. Body wash and shampoo are provided but neither produced much lather; we will bring our own on future Carnival cruises.

 

One last item worth mentioning: Soundproofing was excellent. Cabins at the stern tend to be quieter than most to begin with, which is one reason we prefer them. But the soundproofing in this cabin was so good that we could barely hear the PA announcements coming over the speakers in the corridor. By far the least noise of any line we have been aboard thus far. The price for this was that the cabin door was heavy; Marlee referred to it as “the airlock”. The elderly or infirm might have some difficulty getting it open.

 

Overall this was the most practical, user-friendly standard cabin we have ever been in and a strong plus for the line. For us, practicality will top glitz every time.

 

Food: The headline is that except for the Supper Club, food is not one of Carnival’s strongest points. Though perfectly adequate, most meals were generally neither gourmet nor particularly exciting. It appears that Carnival’s affiliation with Georges Blanc has ended. IMO, although it may not perfectly fit the fun ship vision, the line would do well to seek another affiliation with an accomplished chef. There was little effort to mix interesting flavors and/or textures; little thought seemed to be given to selecting side dishes to accompany each entrée. In fact, on one night of the cruise green beans were an accompaniment to every single entrée other than the pasta dish. Pasta was cooked past the point of being al dente, but the ingredients and flavors in the pasta dishes were good.

 

Don’t take this the wrong way – food quality was good and everything tasted fine. There was also a Veal Parmesan that we both enjoyed, the lamb chops were good, and the prime rib was decent. But just as the cabin design was very good, the menu design was lackluster. Wine selections were fine but there was not much unusual or exciting on the list. Wine prices were a bit higher than I expected but not egregiously so.

 

There were some worthwhile exceptions. We enjoyed the desserts more on Carnival than on other cruise lines. The salad bar on the lido had an excellent selection of accoutrements and dressings – as good as Celebrity’s and far better than Holland America’s. Burgers were good, as were some of the selections at the lido Deli (although the Reuben is overrated, IMO).

 

Then there is the Supper Club (“David’s” on the Pride). This is predominantly a steakhouse and, within that genre, is everything that the MDR is not. There are gourmet appetizers such as Beef Carpaccio (excellent) and there are fine wines. The steaks are USDA Prime and are as good or better than anything you can bring home from Whole Foods. Tender and flavorful. For those seeking something other than steak there is also sole, lobster tail, and rack of lamb. For those who appreciate a good steak in a more elegant atmosphere the $30 charge (plus gratuity) is well worth it. A far better experience than, say, the Pinnacle Grills on Holland America ships.

 

The lido has trays, a big plus. I understand why most of lines have eliminated trays from their lidos, but there is no doubt that it creates an inconvenience for guests – a major inconvenience when one’s spouse is mobility-limited and one is gathering two meals instead of one. Although it seems crazy to choose cruises based on such seemingly small details, now that most lines have (or will soon have) some version of open dining, I can start looking at these smaller details when choosing a cruise line. I definitely will give at least some preference to those lines that still have trays in their lidos when choosing future cruises.

 

In contrast to much of the food, the mixed drinks on Carnival are great. We ordered Margaritas on one of the early days of the cruise. When I received the bill for two “Signature Margaritas” I was initially concerned by the high price – $9.50 each. Then we tasted the drinks. Ole! These Margaritas were made with a good, stiff pour of reposado tequila, unlike the Celebrity and HAL versions where someone may have placed a tequila bottle somewhere in the general vicinity of the location at which the (alleged) drink was mixed. Measured by the amount of tequila, $9.50 is a bargain compared to those other cruise lines. It tasted wonderful too. Highly recommended, but be careful if you feel your alcohol easily.

 

Service: Mixed. Our cabin stewards were great. On the first day of the cruise we asked them to make up our room early in their shift and they always did so. We also received ice both in the morning and at turn-down. Dining room service varied. We had open dining, which we love. On most nights we requested a table with the same serving team who had waited on us the first night and this was usually not a problem for the staff. When there were fewer people in the section, service was good. When the section was full, as it was most nights, service was a bit slow and pacing was a bit uneven. I suspect that service teams may need to cover more tables than has been the case in the past, which contributed to the issue.

 

Surprisingly, bar servers were hard to find on occasion, both on the pool deck and in the lower deck lounges. This struck me as odd, since one would think that maximizing bar revenue is a priority for the cruise lines. On a few occasions I ended up going to the bar myself rather than continuing to wait for a server. Some will no doubt find a less aggressive bar staff a plus; I would have preferred them to be a bit easier to find than they were.

 

Those responsible for cleaning tables in the lido and around the pool were much slower than their counterparts on other lines. In the MDR we also noticed that Assistant Maitre’ Ds did not pitch in to help when things got hectic. On a Westerdam cruise last October even the Dining Room Manager was carrying plates and cleaning tables during peak periods. That attention to detail was lacking on Carnival.

 

Entertainment: One huge plus and one huge negative. The plus is that there is live music all over the ship, which is very important to us. On sea days, live music starts on the pool deck at 11 AM and is nearly continuous at one or more venues until late at night. On port days live music begins at sail-away and continues through the evening (and beyond). There are at least 5-6 different acts to choose from, though not all play every night.

 

The significant negative is the incredibly high volume level in the main theater and the cabaret lounge, which is located immediately below the theater on Spirit-class ships. The decibel level literally drove us away. Too bad, as the combo in the cabaret was playing standards such as “Mack the Knife” which is from an era we enjoy. Some have suggested ear plugs, but then we can’t talk to each other or those around us. This must be one of the (relatively few) holdovers from Carnival’s party-boat days. Perhaps management will eventually recognize that fewer decibels will not lessen the entertainment value of the act.

 

Odds and ends: Information on the ports is very abbreviated (except for shopping opportunities). I suggest researching your options ashore before you embark.

 

The television in the cabin automatically mutes itself when there is a PA announcement, but I was unable to find a TV channel that broadcast the announcement inside the cabin.

 

There is no future cruise desk. IMO this is extremely odd, as this is a productive source of future revenue. I wonder what the strategy is here? This is the only line we’ve seen with no future cruise sales desk.

Guest services personnel are less well informed than aboard some other ships on which we’ve sailed.

 

The selection of TV stations is better than on most other cruise lines and includes CBS, ABC, NBC, and Fox. Strangely, all of these networks were carried by way of their Denver affiliates. This means that programs started two hours later than the norm for eastern time. And we got the local news for the Denver area. Guess I didn’t know that Denver was so near the ocean!

 

English is a challenge for some members of the service staff. This was especially noticeable for us, due to 28 fairly recent nights on Holland America. HAL’s service crew, all Indonesian and Filipino, are required to complete fairly extensive training, including English proficiency, before ever boarding a HAL ship. Clearly, this level of training does not exist on Carnival.

 

Disembarkation: We docked at Baltimore at almost exactly 9:30 Saturday morning. Because Marlee is able to walk short distances we were able to utilize "self-assist debarkation" where you carry all your own luggage off the ship. Those confined to wheelchairs need to wait for regular debarkation to begin. Self-assist began shortly before 10 AM; our deck was the third one called. We were off the ship and through customs by 10:30, just an hour after the ship tied up.

 

Conclusion: We will cruise Carnival again. Enthusiastically. The laid back, casual vibe (and dress code); high availability of live music; trays in the lido; well designed, quiet cabins; and especially, THOSE WONDERFUL MARGARITAS, more than make up for mild disappointments with the food and service. Not everyone is willing or able to “go with the flow” (my mother-in-law, for example). But if you are one of those who can kick back, hang loose, and just enjoy, you will like this line despite a few shortcomings. And the price makes it easy on the wallet, too.

[papanh]

RLM77, what a great review, open minded review which is refreshingly good to see. Glad you enjoyed your sailing on the Pride.

Papanh

[green eyed lady]

RLM,

Thanks for the great review :D We will be on the Pride for New Years and can't wait! My kids are happy about the shorts in the dining room ;)

[vacruizer]

Thank you for your review. It's so nice to read one from a different perspective! Glad you had a good time and were happy with Carnival!

[MMastell]

Excellent Review!

 

I sailed the Pride in November and again last month and I agree with everything, both positive and not so positive, you have stated.

 

I had the same issues with the muting of the TV that you had and I really liked the fact that Carnival shows network affiliates. I have no problem watching Denver TV.

 

The food between my November '08 cruise and April's cruise was a bit lower in overall quality and I wonder if the change in culinary management has effected it.

 

Once again, thanks for the wonderful review. I know many people will find this helpful.

 

Take care,

Mike

[nccruiser24]

Thanks for the honest detailed review!

[flag fan]

Thank you - thank you - thank you!!! I am in the process of making plans for a spring 2010 cruise and thought the Carnival Pride would be a great way to try Carnival. Like you I am in my 50s and have traveled primarily on premium lines (Celebrity, Cunard, Crystal, Princess), but wanted to try Carnival. When I learned that the Pride was going to be leaving from Baltimore I decided that would be a great opportunity to try Carnival; I live in Washington, DC and Baltimore in incredibly convenient--a great way to avoid the hassle of airline travel. My travel agent was leery of my plans in light of the lines I've been on in the past and I had my own doubts, mainly about the other passengers--would it be a party-hearty crowd--definitely not my thing. Your review has convinced me I can have a nice relaxing cruise while enjoying some good entertainment (one of my favorite things on a cruise).

 

Although I have no trouble dressing up for formal (and even not-so-formal) nights, I like the idea of at least one cruise with more casual dressing and less luggage and having laundry rooms on the ship means even less need to overpack. Although gourmet-level food is nice, simple food suits me fine, too. I assume it will be about the same level as NCL on which I cruised once and had no problem enjoying what they had to offer. Even the expanded tv stations sounds nice -- a little extra benefit I didn't expect (lying in my cabin watching a little tv between returning from an excursion and getting ready for dinner is one of the most relaxing parts of the day).

 

I was about to talk myself into booking yet another Caribbean cruise leaving from Florida despite the extra cost for the airline and pre-cruise hotel stay (to ensure I make it to the ship in case of airline delays) and the bother of flying there and back with luggage filled with more clothes than I really want to take. Now I can go back to Plan A--a spring cruise on the Carnival Pride.

 

Thank you very much for a helpful and timely review.

[read52]

Thank you for the review. We have been on 5 cruises on Royal Carribean but thought we would try Carnival. We are in Maryland right outside of DC (Silver Spring) so Baltimore is great. We went out of Baltimore once on the Grandeur. But we have been on the Grandeur 3 times and wanted something different (and different ports too). We are both 57. My husband has some health issues so we usually board with the disabled although he is not in a wheelchair. We are about 45 minutes from Baltimore so I am trying to decide when to leave our house. We are morning people so we will probably leave early and get lunch somewhere.

 

 

If anyone needs help around Baltimore, we can help since my husband used to work up in Baltimore.

[Jansen]

Thank you for a balanced and very well written review! And refreshing to see not one mention of the chocolate melting cake (although I am too a big fan). We were on Pride during her inaugural season out of Canaveral years ago and are looking forward to seeing her again this July.

[afcj1]

Wonderful, well written and very insightful review. In fact, I'm going to make a copy of it and give it to me sister who's only cruised on Celebrity and rolls her eyes when I mention CCL:rolleyes:. She'll be on the DREAM with me for NYE, so it'll be interesting to hear her thoughts.

 

Again, thank you for your honest review. BTW, I was on the Pride in Oct08 and loved it.

[shellann]

Wow, you did a great job on this review! You hit pretty much all our highs and lows with a conclusion similar to ours, The Carnival Pride is a wonderful asset for local cruising. I loved this ship! I wish they would do a true Caribbean itinerary though -the Bahamas just don't do much for us. Or a Bermuda run. Maybe Carnival will add that eventually. Until then, our only other option is the Grandeur out of Baltimore which is a beautiful ship in a totally different way than the Pride. So nice to have a choice now!

[WhansaMi]

Thank you for the review. It is refreshing to see someone write about the positives -- and the negatives -- of their trip with a sense of proportion and priority.

 

And, please let me know when you and Marlee are going to travel again -- you sound like exactly the kinds of people we love to hang out with! :-)

[firefly4423]

thanks for sharing. very good read.

[Nacwolin]

Great review! Very informative and balanced - thank you for taking the time to post this. Are you going to submit it to the review page?

 

I do have one question concerning your comment about cabin safes:

 

A credit card is required to lock and unlock the safe, an inconvenience compared to a combination format.

 

Does this mean there is an extra fee for using the safe? Not a big deal - just like to know and prepare for all incidental costs. :D

 

Thanks again for your time and effort!

[ManyMore]

I enjoyed your review very much. It isn't often that I will take the time to comment after reading a review but this one certainly warrented it.

[RLM77]

Thanks, everyone for your kind words. We've enjoyed cruises of many types, and recognize that everyone has their own cruise preferences. My hope in providing details and comparisons is that it will help others choose the line that best fits their vision of a great vacation.

 

And, please let me know when you and Marlee are going to travel again -- you sound like exactly the kinds of people we love to hang out with! :-)

 

WhansaMi, we're always interested in meeting interesting folks on our cruises.:) Check out our signature which includes our future plans. Economy and health willing, Liberty of the Seas is a definite and Constellation is highly probable, despite being so far in the future. Equinox is more of a question mark due to the April departure date. We may substitute a late February or early March Carnival B2B (possibly Valor) or perhaps a longer Princess cruise. Stay tuned.

[dkathi]

Outstanding and fair review, makes me wish I was there, oh, I was. Sorry, I missed the margaritas .Did you make it to the meet & greet. Since I am disabled and use a scooter, I had a problem with the seating in the T M showroom. There are only 2 designated wheelchair seats. I went the 1st day to Guest Relations to find out if there were designated seats and was told there weren't any and I could sit anywhere I wanted by the GS agent (NOT TRUE) and I had to leave the showroom on the 6th night by Jamie because I was considered to be obstructing the aisle at the total rear of the theater. I had been 40 minutes early waiting for the show and had been there before the people came who took the 2 wheelchair seats came in but of course since I had been misinformed by GS, I didn't know there were such spots, 2 spots for 1050 potential patrons. Also the public handicapped bathrooms are a problem if one is required to use one like the final morning while waiting for debarkation. One door goes out and one door goes in and requires 2 sharp turns. I needed the help of 2 generous female strangers to get me in and out even though I drive under my own power. I found the duvet to be extremely heavy to keep on top of me while sleeping. Glad you and Marlee had a good time. Kathi

[michelle1836]

Rich- thanks so much for a great review. we'll definitely have to try the margaritas when we sail in July!:D

[idlenote]

Excellent review. Thank you for posting it.

[bcs819]

Rich - it was nice meeting you, sorry we didn't get to meet Marlee. Thanks for the review. Mine is coming, I haven't had the energy yet!

[cschultz]

Great review! Very informative and balanced - thank you for taking the time to post this. Are you going to submit it to the review page?

 

I do have one question concerning your comment about cabin safes:

 

 

 

Does this mean there is an extra fee for using the safe? Not a big deal - just like to know and prepare for all incidental costs. :D

 

Thanks again for your time and effort!

 

Though I am not the original poster, I can answer this question. There is not any extra fee to use the safe. And you do not need to use a credit card. You need to use a card that has a magnetic strip on the back that also HAS YOUR NAME ON IT. Something like a library card, or a casino card from any casino that you might frequent, or a credit card from somewhere like a local department store is what I usually use. I like to lock my main credit card in the safe, and use a library card to lock it with. The exact same card must be used to unlock it. We usually take that card with us, or hide it in our room somewhere where we both know it will be. That way either person in the room can open the safe without the other one being present. (As I said, the card must have a name associated with it...

a plain gift card with a magnetic strip will not work)

[ducklovemama]

Thanks for a great review !!!!

I have been on several cruiseline ships. I think that each cruiseline offers a special thing that sets them apart from each other. Carnival is a fun cruiseline. Holland America best buffet (to me ) Princess 24 hr. buffet etc.To me any cruise is a good cruise . Also its what we make of it. (IMO):)

[Sheilateak]

This was the most thorough review I have read. Very well-rounded and informative. Excellently written, you covered it all. Thanks. :)

[LynneL]

Wonderful, detailed, and fair review! Can't wait until our family's 8/14 sailing.

[vacruizer]

Though I am not the original poster, I can answer this question. There is not any extra fee to use the safe. And you do not need to use a credit card. You need to use a card that has a magnetic strip on the back that also HAS YOUR NAME ON IT. Something like a library card, or a casino card from any casino that you might frequent, or a credit card from somewhere like a local department store is what I usually use. I like to lock my main credit card in the safe, and use a library card to lock it with. The exact same card must be used to unlock it. We usually take that card with us, or hide it in our room somewhere where we both know it will be. That way either person in the room can open the safe without the other one being present. (As I said, the card must have a name associated with it...

a plain gift card with a magnetic strip will not work)

 

We've always used an old used-up gift card and it's worked fine on 7 cruises now so I really don't think your name has anything to do with it. :)