Pride 6/13/09 Review with photos

[cyntil8ing]

We just got home yesterday and I have about a million loads of laundry and over 1,000 photos to sort through. We're leaving tomorrow for the beach, so I don't know if I'll get the whole review done, but I'll give it a shot. We had a great time! There were four of us, myself, my husband, our five year old daughter and three year old son.

Day 1: Embarkation

We left home about 11:20, arrived at the port noonish. Passengers were still coming off the ship. We drove right up to drop off the luggage, pay the parking fee and parked in a very close spot. There was less than a five minute wait to get through the metal detectors and fill out the health screening inventory. We waited less than ten minutes to check in and get our sign and sail cards. About half of the waiting area was filled. It never got all the way filled as they started boarding passengers and gave newly arriving passengers those seats. We were onboard around 2:30.

Somehow, our dinner got switched from "confirmed" late seating to your time open seating, so we had to visit the Maitre D' to get it changed. We like the social aspects of dining with the same people and having the same wait staff every day. We got our table assignment the next day but had open seating the first night.

We booked an 8H, extended balcony, room 8162. It was midship, directly under the pool. Other than a few deck chair scraping sounds when the balcony door was open or music when we were out on the balcony, we heard nothing. I was very pleasantly surprised. It was exactly in the middle between the elevators, so we had no hallway traffic at all.









Port photos:

[cyntil8ing]

We visited Camp Carnival to tour and my son was so excited about all the trucks and the big screen tv that he didn't want to leave!



Muster drill was quick and painless. Our cabin steward left the child size and zip front infant size life jackets for us. Based on seeing some of the other kids, I don't think everyone had them.



Sail away was about 20 minutes late, departing about 5:50.





Fort McHenry:

[cyntil8ing]

Approaching the Key Bridge at about 6:30:







Fort Armistead Park, where we went to watch the Pride depart a few weeks ago.

[cyntil8ing]

We then went to the Camp Carnival orientation and returned to our cabin just in time to sail under the Bay Bridge at about 7:45.











We called it an early evening and turned in around 11:00pm.

[madre2]

Looking forward to more of your review, as we will be sailing on the Pride in July also. What are the health screening papers you are referring to before boarding the ship? Thanks for your answer and your review!

[cathyoo]

Ohhh thank you for your pictures and review. Can't wait to read and see the rest. Your little boy is SOOO very cute. And the heck with the laundry.. hurry back with the rest of your review.

[cyntil8ing]

We hung out, spent some time at the pool, the kids went to Camp Carnival and of course, we ate. My daughter and I went to tea time which she really enjoyed! I enjoyed the lunches at the Mermaid Grille. My favorite was the Taste of Nations where the food was a bit different than the norm. Sunday was Mediterranean.

My husband and I went to the Wine Tasting at David's that afternoon. It was fun. One of the wines sampled, by coincidence, was the one that we had chosen for dinner the night before. We brought four bottles with us, but forgot to take one with us the first night.





Sunday was Cruise Elegant evening. It was also the Captain's Cocktail reception, which was very crowded. I also found my "long lost twin". We thought it so funny we were wearing the same outfit.




Our family photo:



And finally, our friend from our cabin and the cookies from Camp Carnival.

[cyntil8ing]

Originally Posted by madre2

What are the health screening papers you are referring to before boarding the ship?

The health screening was just a one page form asking if we had been sick over the past week or two. I think they were looking for H1N1.

Just a few check boxes and a signature.

[cyntil8ing]

Monday was another lazy day. Evidently, even too lazy to take many photos!

The returning guest cocktail party was that evening. It was MUCH less crowded than the Captain's Party and included finger foods. The children took over the stage for dancing.





Evidently, between the dancing on stage and his tuxedo the previous night, my son had become a minor celebrity. People were recognizing him! It was so funny. The rest of the cruise, people would comment, "Oh, that's the little boy in the tuxedo" or "We saw your children dancing on stage".

There was entertainment in the dining room that night.





And dancing up on deck later.

[andychris]

Thank you for the great pictures/review. Glad you had a great time. Looking more forward to it and can't wait to sail in august.

[travelntreats]

There is some question as to what time the casino opened and gambling was permitted after the ship left port. Can you let us all know please !

PS.... GREAT REVIEW and pics !

[cyntil8ing]

I have way too many photos to choose only six (the most Cruise Critic lets me put in a post), but I'll try to do as few posts as possible.

We rented a golf cart to explore the island on our own. It was beautiful, though the damage from Hurricane Ike last September is severe.

Lots of wild animals, we saw donkeys, horses and cows, wandering around everywhere.

[cyntil8ing]

Originally Posted by travelntreats

There is some question as to what time the casino opened and gambling was permitted after the ship left port. Can you let us all know please !

No, I'm sorry I don't know. We're not really gamblers and only spent about an hour playing blackjack one evening. It's just listed in the Capers and 'After drill'.

[scgirlatheart]

Loved your review and the awesome pictures. Thanks for taking the time to post. We're sailing on the Pride in about a year and a half and can't wait! BTW, the travel section in the Sun had a great review of the Pride today.

[cyntil8ing]

Are you sick of these yet?

From our balcony:





I have no idea what the hands are!

[JordanLovesCruisin]

Your children are beautiful!

Looks like you had a blast!

[OReilyBros]

Thank you for posting so many amazing photos. If you have more please keep them coming! My husband and I are sailing the Pride in September, and now my excitement is through the roof!!! Can you tell me what type of ID you needed to board? I thought we needed passports, but my husband called and they said you could use a drivers license and a birth certificate with the raised seal. I'm afraid we're going to get to the boat and be turned away without a passport. Anyway, thanks again. Oh, and you have a beautiful family!

[cyntil8ing]

I promise!

We stumbled on to Conch World, a new attraction that Carnival just added to the excursions. In fact, when we arrived, there was a Carnival group there including one of the ship's officers and his family. Once they left, we had the place to ourselves. I don't think much of it as an attraction, but we didn't do the "tour" with the performing conch!?!?! However, we did try the conch ceviche and it was delicious.

But we couldn't help but wonder if we were eating the wash outs from the training program. It seemed like eating fish at Sea World.









And finally, we saw this family of donkeys that had taken over this house under construction (repair?).

[TakeMeAway1001]

Great review, I can't wait to read/see more

[cyntil8ing]

Originally Posted by OReilyBros

Can you tell me what type of ID you needed to board?

I've read that birth certificates and photos ids (for adults) are sufficient, but don't know for sure so I wouldn't want to answer.

We travel with passports. Our son was internationally adopted so out of caution, we think he should always have a valid US passport.