Pride 12/05-12/12/2010---Review

[rrraydon]

The plan was......the plan never seemed to go as planned..lol..like our trip to Atlantis the previous evening didn't go as planned as it continued to rain.....anyway, the plan was to hit the straw market for a few minutes and then head over to the beach and lay out. It was finally sunny and warm and I just wanted to hit the beach.

After about a half an hour, I got tired of watching these girls shop...I'm not much of a shopper :)...finally i gave them directions to the beach and told them where I would be laying.

Now, as with most places in the caribbean the locals walk the beach trying to sell their wares....I find Freeport to be the most swarmed with these vendors. They constantly come over to ask you to buy something...from Tshirts, jewelry, towels, wraps, banana boat rides, snorkeling, hair braiding, water bottles, marijuana...and this time even some "bahama blow"...there isn't 3 min that doesn't go buy where someone is asking you to buy something...after about an hour...they stop bugging you. I don't care if you're laying there dead asleep they WILL wake you up until you respond...and when you don't take from them, they take from you...this one guy must have aked me to buy 5 different things..including the drugs and when I didn't buy anything from him...he bummed a couplke of cigarettes from me. I'm thinking..let me get this straight...you have pot and coke..but don't have a cigarette....he cracked me up. And it's funny how their prices change for items or services depending on who they are talking to...

Anyway...after about an hour Laura showed up carrying about 5 large bags filled with stuff from the market....I said, how the hell are you gonna get all this stuff off the boat you keep buying from all the ports???...I'm all about putting my 2 bags outside the door on the last night and walking off the ship with only my purse....I'm thinking, there's no way I'm helping these girls carry all this junk off the ship on Sun morning...why don't they think ahead...( they did make it off though to my surprise...loaded down like packed donkeys...lol).

Laura and I layed on the beach until the very last minute before we had to meet the scheduled taxi at noon over by the market....and we got a nice tan!

[rrraydon]

Did not mean to hit the same post twice....

[rrraydon]

When we got back on the ship, we watched us being escorted out of Freeport by the pilot boat....

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

[MSBfan]

Thanks for your review. We have room 6232 in June so I much appreciate the room pics!! Any others are welcome too! Overall how would you rate the room/balcony? For 3 people do you think it will work good? 2 adults and one 6 year old?

[rrraydon]

Thanks for your review. We have room 6232 in June so I much appreciate the room pics!! Any others are welcome too! Overall how would you rate the room/balcony? For 3 people do you think it will work good? 2 adults and one 6 year old?

 

 

 

I think the room is perfect...especially the extra long balcony for the 6yr old.

Have a great cruise!

[serene56]

Thanks for your review. We have room 6232 in June so I much appreciate the room pics!! Any others are welcome too! Overall how would you rate the room/balcony? For 3 people do you think it will work good? 2 adults and one 6 year old?

 

 

We have that cabin in February- we have two adults and a 5 year old.

She wants the upper bed. So I will leave a note to have the upper bed made up that night and to leave it out during the week incase she wants a nap. THis will also free up the sofa if the adults are not ready for bed.

[rrraydon]

We spent the next couple of hours walking around and checking out the Christmas decorations.....

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

[rrraydon]

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

[rrraydon]

Laura and I checked the evenings menu for the MDR on the TV and decided we'd rather go to the steakhouse for dinner this night.

Laura called to see if they had any openings and since it was a Fri night they didn't. I thought I'd call Tina and see if she could do anything for us....she got us in at 8:30, which was perfect since I had a spa appt at 4:00. I do my spa stuff on port days when they run the best specials. I did the milk wrap and full body for $120 plus tip. I went a little early to see if they could remove my red nail polish that was starting to look ragged. I usually never wear color but when I had my manicure done before I left I let the nail specialist talk me into color. I asked what the fee would be to just have my polish removed and the girl at the desk searched the computer and she told me $3.45. Well, later when I looked at my receipt they charged me $15 to remove nail polish!

[rrraydon]

Okay...let me finish this review...

Saturday we spent the day doing a lot of nothing and they girls spent a lot of time figuring out how they were going to get all their stuff in bags.

Kelly had to buy 3 large bags, one on wheels, in Freeport to haul all of her stuff!

We docked in Baltimore on time at around nine and planned the hurry up and wait game as we went through the same problems as the previous passengers with the gangways and the wind.

We didn't get off that ship until around noon.

Customs was a breeze and once we got through there it was no problem grabbing my 2 bags out of my zone. Jeff was waiting for me right outside of the building and he grabbed my bags from there. The other girls required porters and carts. Laura's stuff kept falling all over the place and the other girls told her they'd meet her at Kathleen's car. So, Jeff just grabbed all her stuff from the porter and took her with us.

All in all...we had a great time...and I can't wait until we get back on the Pride in Feb to our aft balcony...never had one of those yet!

[rrraydon]

BYW...if you interested in the Funtimes from this cruise...here's a link to the thread where I uploaded them.

http://boards.cruisecritic.com/showthread.php?t=1322596&highlight=pride+funtimes

[jmrothermel]

Great review! Just a few questions if you don't mind!

 

Where is the free beach in Nassau, and what is the best way to get there?

 

When you get off the boat in port, what documentation must you have with you? I've been there before, but don't remember what we took! Was it just the S&S card? Or do you need the whole birth cert and whatnot?

 

Thanks again!

[coldinerie]

Thank you for the posting of the daily schedule. Going in Feb and this was very helpful!

[richstowe]

Thanked you for your Fun Times thread and thankyou again for this one.

With all respect ,hoping the cabins near us don't have smokers using the balcony's.

(if they do ,well it is their right)

Great pix.

Can you take the 10 jitney in Nassau direct from the Wyndham to the Atlantis ?

[rrraydon]

Great review! Just a few questions if you don't mind!

 

Where is the free beach in Nassau, and what is the best way to get there?

 

When you are getting off the ship they will give you a map of Nassau so it will be clearer for you when you see it. There is a road that runs inbetween the straw market and senior frogs. Just walk along that road and keep following it around...it's about 3-4 blocks up on the right.

When you get off the boat in port, what documentation must you have with you? I've been there before, but don't remember what we took! Was it just the S&S card? Or do you need the whole birth cert and whatnot?

 

S&S card and driver's license is all that is required....I still take my BC with me though...never know if you might need it.

Thanks again!

 

No problem :)

[rrraydon]

Thanked you for your Fun Times thread and thankyou again for this one.

 

With all respect ,hoping the cabins near us don't have smokers using the balcony's.

Must say I think everyone wants it to be peaceful for them in some way shape or form while they're on their balcony....for instance...our neighbor enjoyed keeping his balcony door open whenever he was in his cabin, but due to the noise that brought he needed to turn his TV up full blast...so, all you heard constantly out on the balcony was his television full blast.

(if they do ,well it is their right)

 

Great pix.

 

Can you take the 10 jitney in Nassau direct from the Wyndham to the Atlantis ?

 

I don't think you can. I would check with Scubagirl on the Bahamas boards.

 

 

 

Have a great cruise!

[rrraydon]

Thank you for the posting of the daily schedule. Going in Feb and this was very helpful!

 

 

No problem...enjoy your cruise!

[jimbo5544]

Very nice review and pictures. I especially liked the ones of the Chefs table. Have not seen any post before yours. Nice job and thanks

[serene56]

I am getting so excited.

[rrraydon]

I am getting so excited.

 

Me too...I didn't do a lot of the things I wanted to do on this cruise because I'm saving them for when we go in Feb and Jeff and McKenzie are there.

I hope the weather is better this time around..especially in Port Canaveral when we go to Sea World...and in Nassau, to swim w/ the dolphins..and in Freeport, jeep driving and lunch on the beach...and..and...LOL:p.

[rrraydon]

Very nice review and pictures. I especially liked the ones of the Chefs table. Have not seen any post before yours. Nice job and thanks

 

 

I can't describe exactly how beatuful it was when we walked into the disco and looked down to the blue neon lights with that table set up.

And they chefs were so attentive..constantly at your elbow checking to see how you liked the dish..you could see in their face how proud they were of the dish as they waited in anticipation for your approval.

I would love to go again in Feb, but it's not my husband's thing. :(

[roscoegirl]

Hi Donna,

 

First, I really enjoyed your review! My hubby and son with sail with me on the Pride next Sunday. (finally, getting excited:)) Just a couple of questions:

 

1. When the Chef met you guys @ the Atrium, how long of a walk was it to the Galley? And was there any chance of sitting on a stool during the Galley talk? (I have a bad back and sometimes walking and/or standing in one place is challenging for me)

 

2. I'm thinking of going to the Port Lucaya area in Freeport. What else is there with the shopping/beach? any good places to eat or sightsee?

 

Thanks so much...glad you had a great time...we are hoping to do the same with this itinerary but a little concerned about weather/temps. BTW: we are in an aft cabin this time...aft wrap! Hope we will get to enjoy using it--weather!!:)

[bluehenfan]

Loved every minute of your report. Thank you so much for taking the time to do such a great one. I have been to Freeport 2 or 3xs but never do much beyond shops close to the ship. When you got your cab to shopping area, was there a lot of walking to get to the beach? Only 3 weeks until we're in 6232 on the Pride. I really love this ship, but sure wish they could change the itinerary more. i'm just not crazy about the Bahamas. Getting ready to go back and look at your pictures again.

[rrraydon]

Hi Donna,

 

First, I really enjoyed your review! My hubby and son with sail with me on the Pride next Sunday. (finally, getting excited:)) Just a couple of questions:

 

1. When the Chef met you guys @ the Atrium, how long of a walk was it to the Galley? And was there any chance of sitting on a stool during the Galley talk? (I have a bad back and sometimes walking and/or standing in one place is challenging for me)

 

The walk was from midshift to aft and down a few flights of stairs. Also, when you get to the disco it is down a spial staircase.

As far as the stool...I doubt it because the table is in the kitchen where all of the waiters are running around with trays and getting food. But, you never know...you could always email Tina in the steakhouse and ask prsteakhouse@carnival.com.

2. I'm thinking of going to the Port Lucaya area in Freeport. What else is there with the shopping/beach? any good places to eat or sightsee?

 

I never really walked around anywhere other than the market and the beach area..sorry. Only because all of my stops ther were only from 8-2 and there really wasn't more time for more than that and I prefer to just layout on the beach and have a few pina coladas (sp) from the tiki bar.

 

Thanks so much...glad you had a great time...we are hoping to do the same with this itinerary but a little concerned about weather/temps. BTW: we are in an aft cabin this time...aft wrap! Hope we will get to enjoy using it--weather!!:)

 

I'm hoping the aft wrap prices drop significantly for my Feb cruise..I'm too poor...lol.

[rrraydon]

Loved every minute of your report. Thank you so much for taking the time to do such a great one. I have been to Freeport 2 or 3xs but never do much beyond shops close to the ship. When you got your cab to shopping area, was there a lot of walking to get to the beach?

Two blocks tops from the Casino/straw market area.

 

Only 3 weeks until we're in 6232 on the Pride. I really love this ship, but sure wish they could change the itinerary more. i'm just not crazy about the Bahamas. Getting ready to go back and look at your pictures again.

 

I heard they were adding Bermuda to the Pride run..I would love to go back to Bermuda for a week!