Carnival Pride 3/13/2011 review...never again

[serene56]

The last two times I have sailed it was on Pride and there was not a towel animal on the first night. Must be a time or laundry thing. I must say I missed it both times. I am glad they did not stop it altogether, that would make me sad!

 

 

actually the reason we get no towel animals that first night-- the cabin stewards are the ones responsible to get the luggage to the cabins. (I say that getting luggage is more important then getting a towel animal.)

 

We got them the rest of the week too

[reno3]

So sorry that your cruise got off to a bad start..... hopefully it gets better!! Thanks for posting your review even though it was not up to your standards.

 

I have never cruised Disney but my understanding comparing Disney to Carnival is like comparing apples to oranges. Maybe one day I will get to find out for myself!

 

I have cruised Disney and this statement is dead on....also twice the price:rolleyes:

[bigcraig]

4 Adult women in a quad cabin with only one bathroom? How in the world did you manage that???:eek:

[JaniceB]

Jasmine8 you said "Some simple salt, pepper, seasonings would have been nice" don't they have salt and pepper on the table? I bet they chefs leave that to the diners to apply to their food. You can't take seasonings off but you can add them later.

[Crusing Nut]

Disney Wonder has some of the largest standard cabins in the cruise indurstry, so it may not be fair to criticize Carnival for the small cabin based on your experience on the Wonder. In fact, Disney itself has reduced the cabin size on the Dream to be more in line with other main stream cruise lines. If you think Carnival cabins are small, wait till you cruise on Norwegian.

 

As for confusing layout, I have never sailed with Disney, but I find Carnival Pride pretty easy to navigate. Theater at the front, dining room at the back, atrium in the middle, and one path links all three together with bars, lounges, casino, and shops to the side. Pretty straight forward if you ask me.

 

As for the food, that is a matter of personal taste. I like the food for the most part, but I do wish the entrees could be hotter instead of luke warm.

 

 

Wait until the Oasis....we always book balcony cabins. We found Carnival's cabin size to be good for the two of us. Less closet space on the Oasis and less drawer space.

[2thesea]

I have cruised Disney and this statement is dead on....also twice the price:rolleyes:

 

Couldn't agree more! Disney offers the extra space in the cabins and you notice that "extra" on your credit card statement :rolleyes: We have sailed on 10 Disney Cruises and loved them all BUT their food is NOT always 100% either, just sayin'

 

Love Carnival and the experience it offers. Every ship and cruise line offers something new and you have to accept the good, the bad and sometimes the ugly. BUT I would much rather be on a cruise with my family and enjoying the time off than sitting home or at work! A bad cruise is always better than a good day a work:p

[jerseyralph]

Couldn't agree more! Disney offers the extra space in the cabins and you notice that "extra" on your credit card statement :rolleyes: We have sailed on 10 Disney Cruises and loved them all BUT their food is NOT always 100% either, just sayin'

 

Love Carnival and the experience it offers. Every ship and cruise line offers something new and you have to accept the good, the bad and sometimes the ugly. BUT I would much rather be on a cruise with my family and enjoying the time off than sitting home or at work! A bad cruise is always better than a good day a work:p

 

We have sailed on both the Pride and the Wonder. I am a Disney maniac and have left many thousands of dollars on Disney ships and in parks , hotels and restaurants. The food was an issue on the Wonder and more than 300 of we upscale Disney-philes left Castaway Cay with food poisoning. Sometimes you get less than you pay for............Even on Disney! Generally speaking our food experience with Carnival has been very good. We have sailed on multiple Carnival ships over the years and have never had a problem.

 

OP....... you should have done more research on cabin choice. Sorry you got off to a bad start. I hope it got better as the week sailed on.

[laumicmah]

I have cruised Disney and this statement is dead on....also twice the price:rolleyes:

Yes it is!! That's why we won't cruise Disney again. I'd rather do 2 CCL cruise than 1 DCL cruise.:)

[Crusin Karen]

4 Adult women in a quad cabin with only one bathroom? How in the world did you manage that???:eek:

OY! I would jump over board! :eek: Have never been on the Pride, but as you can see, I have been on her sister ships a bunch of times (Spirit, Miracle and Legend) Also various other CCL ships. Love them all, but the Spirit class is the best. Looking forward to the rest of your review. BTW, it was very nice of you to treat everyone to this cruise! I will be your BFF if you want lol! :D:rolleyes: Also, tell me, PLEASE, that you at least liked the chocolate melting cake! :rolleyes:

[cruisin73]

I'm sorry you didn't have a good start to your cruise expecially since you paid the entire bill. Couple of tips for you for next time

1. don't put 4 woman in 1 cabin. You should have gotten 2 cabins. Sounds like you had an inside cabin too. That's does save lots of money but with 4 people I can't even imagine how you managed. We always get a balcony cabin does cost a little more but with the balcony makes it feel like the cabin is bigger.

2. Don't get on ship and go right to the buffet. Big Big Big mistake. 99.99 % of the people do that. We typically walk around the ship and try to figure out where everything is. Get a drink. see if we can get in our room. Then when most people are doing what we just did then we go to the buffet. But never go directly to the buffet.

3. Always check what is above your cabin. sounds like you had the MDR or the galley?

4. I haven't been on a carnival cruise in 20 years but it's hard to believe you couldn't find anything good to eat. Maybe next time you can try more than one entree . 20 years ago when I went I didn't like anything on the menu plus I was seasick the waiter gave me a burger instead. There very accomadating to your wants and needs just ask.

Sorry you had a bad start hope the rest was better.

[pork917]

I really do wonder what the OP must be smoking because I was on the same sailing and the food was wonderful, and on par with every other cruise I have taken. Lido deck food was always warm when I had it including on the first day, and nothing that I ate in the MDR was ever bland. There were no towel animals on the first night but with the crew having to clean and change the linens in every cabin this is understandable. And your room situaion was all your fault for not researching your cabin location. Who goes on a vacation without doing any research??? The first thing I do as I'm sure most people here when booking a cabin is to look at the deckplan and see what's above and below my cabin.

[Crusin Karen]

I read, and have since confirmed after looking at the deck plans, that on decks 5, 6 and 7 you can book a balcony cabin all the way forward with a CONNECTING inside cabin. This might have been an option...something to remember for the next time! ;)

[mag]

We had one of those forward balcony cabins with a connecting inside for my kids. The biggest surprise was when my DH went out on our balcony to find out it was a double balcony! I had no idea when I booked...with the doors open it was like having a suite and there was plenty of room on the balcony for the 4 of us. We were in 6112 and 6108.

 

Another thing we always do when we first get on - we went to our cabin 9it wasn't ready) and they let us put our carry ons in the closet so we didn't have to shlep them around. Also, we don't go to the muster drill at 3:45 if it is at 4 - we go right before 4 so we are in front and not squished in the back.

[carl731]

Hello,

 

I was on the same cruise as you. The food was a bit bland and the matrie d(bad spelling) was not very nice. We had a group of 10 that was supposed to sit together but it was 8 and 2. He wouldn't even try to change it for us. As a result, no tip. Davids was incredible but what annoyed me was that the dress is supposed to be formal in there and there were people dressed in jeans and a t-shirt. Other than the food, it was an awesome cruise. The best of the 4 I've been on.

[Luv2Travelnow]

I'm a very picky eater, but I loved the food on our last cruise, on the Elation...I can't imagine the Pride being that far worse!

 

I gained 10 pounds on the last cruise, and I'm a health nut!!! :D

[wilfros]

The last two times I have sailed it was on Pride and there was not a towel animal on the first night. Must be a time or laundry thing. I must say I missed it both times. I am glad they did not stop it altogether, that would make me sad!

We sailed in February and had an animal towel each night except the first and last. This was something we did not see on Princess.

 

Proof:

 

(Cross-eye 3D) just slightly cross your eyes and relax and it should start to view in 3D.

 

BTW: We found the food at least as good as Princess and we loved the cruise. JMHO

[trptplayer22]

Third Pride sailing this coming Sept. First year no towel animal the first night but last year there was one.

 

Loved the food both times. We usually eat in MDR sea days and Lido buffet when we are in Port.

 

Just my DH and myself so a balcony room is plenty for us. I do know if I went on a cruise with my 3 daughters I'd want 2 rooms.

 

OP it was very nice of you to pay for the cruise for everybody. And I am sorry you were not happy with it.

[MissDiva1]

Hello,

 

I was on the same cruise as you. The food was a bit bland and the matrie d(bad spelling) was not very nice. We had a group of 10 that was supposed to sit together but it was 8 and 2. He wouldn't even try to change it for us. As a result, no tip. Davids was incredible but what annoyed me was that the dress is supposed to be formal in there and there were people dressed in jeans and a t-shirt. Other than the food, it was an awesome cruise. The best of the 4 I've been on.

 

Davids is not formal. However if it was cruise elegant night then that would be the dress code. All other nights jeans are allowed.

[carl731]

The night we went was on Sat night(not a formal night) and on the invitation slipped under my door it said cruise elegant for the dress.

[MissDiva1]

The night we went was on Sat night(not a formal night) and on the invitation slipped under my door it said cruise elegant for the dress.

 

 

 

 

 

http://www.carnival.com/Funville/blogs/faqs/archive/2010/04/07/which-carnival-ships-have-the-steakhouse.aspx

[Jazmine8]

Day 2 – 3 were much the same. Wake up around 9:30am, get dressed, and eat breakfast in Mermaid’s Grill on Deck 9. Between the 4 of us we ate scrambled eggs, bacon, potatoes, French toast, waffles, had coffee and lemonade. The coffee was not good and was not all that hot coming from the machine. I thought it was since I saw some steam but was wrong. If you use artificial sweeteners, bring your own Equal. Carnival fancy’s “Sweet Thing” brand sweeteners which you have to use more of (although in the main dining room you can get your hands on Equal there just ask for it). I think scrambled eggs on any cruise, Disney included, may not be the best. The bacon was either under cooked or cooked beyond consumption. There was always cereal and fruit available each morning. The fruit wasn’t ripe yet so the cantaloupe and honeydew wasn’t good. The apples, pears, grapefruit, oranges, bananas, peaches, watermelon were all good. I also saw on the buffet various Danishes, croissants and muffins too. But we survived and this is how breakfast was most every morning. So I won’t bother to repeat it for the other day’s reviews.

After mastering the ships layout, we strolled around and chatted with other cruisers. Went to the shops to see what goodies we may find to bring home. By the end of the cruise I had purchased some discounted items like jewelry, shoulder wraps and a nice big white sun hat to have on Freeport day. We also found the arcade and my niece and I played a round of air hockey, played the race car and motorcycle racing games. To play the games in the arcade you’ll need to swiped your sail and sign card or insert cash into a machine to get coins like those found at Chuck E. Cheese. We only went once but should’ve went back a second time. It was fun to play games like a kid again. Arcades have long since gone away in my area. Passing back through the Casino area a young girl was playing the piano over there and she was fantastic to watch. Later the next day an older lady was playing the piano in the Florentines Lounge and sounded awesome.

Day 2 was our first elegant night so we got dressed up and went to dine in the Normandie. I ate the stuffed mushrooms and those were surprisingly good. For my main entrée I ate two lobster tails and a jumbo tiger shrimp. My family ate the infamous Carnival Melting Chocolate cake and didn’t care for it too much. It had a little cake on top and when the spoon broke the barrier underneath was all hot liquid pudding. It would have been nice to have more cake surround the melting center than not. It was funny to see my family order it night after night and find it to be baked differently each time. No consistency at all. Some nights it was good and other nights hot jello pudding in a dish. I’ve had it before other places so opted for ice cream and the diet cake, a chocolate cake with cherries. Just say no to the diet cakes. Oh I almost forgot to add that we forgot to bring our own sodas aboard and my mom ordered a coke and my niece a Mr. Pibb and both can sodas were flat. We took formal pictures and those turned out very nice. I didn’t look all washed out in the photos and we bought the one photo.

Afterwards we watched the Beyonce’s to be sing their hearts out at Karaoke. I would have to say it was very entertaining. My mom and niece sat inside while my BFF and I sat outside at the very pretty fountain sharing a huge slice of carrot cake. It was decent but not great. You see I have a thriving cake business and pastries are my thing so I’m very particular about cakes and other desserts.

We ordered room service late that night using the order by TV option. My niece had never order from room service in her life so since it’s free or should I say included we did. That was fun and I made sure to tip the room server. We ordered the chocolate chips cookies, N.Y. cheesecake and crème caramel because I wanted t know what it was. The order arrived after 45 mins and I found out that the crème caramel was flan, which I hate. The cookies were good but the cheesecake my BFF’s palate couldn’t take. I tried some of it and was shocked that it was so bad.

Day 3 the weather warmed up since we were closer to FL by this time and folks were out at the pools enjoying the free ice cream and laying out on deck. I didn’t really feel up to laying out myself nor did anyone in my party. So the bathing suits never came out the entire trip…so sad. The ice cream was okay more icy than creamy like I’d hoped it to be.

Went to play Bingo in the Taj Mahal but didn’t read the fine print o see you had to pay to play and at $20 per person I opted not to spend my money that way for 4 people. Although there where a lot of people willing to pay for Bingo. Carnival should be ashamed to act as if they were giving away a $500 cash prize. Nope they got that $500 from those that paid to play. That certainly covered the $500 tab. I saved my mullah for the ports of call and my ressie at David’s Steakhouse on the last evening of the cruise.

[Jazmine8]

I really do wonder what the OP must be smoking because I was on the same sailing and the food was wonderful, and on par with every other cruise I have taken. Lido deck food was always warm when I had it including on the first day, and nothing that I ate in the MDR was ever bland. There were no towel animals on the first night but with the crew having to clean and change the linens in every cabin this is understandable. And your room situaion was all your fault for not researching your cabin location. Who goes on a vacation without doing any research??? The first thing I do as I'm sure most people here when booking a cabin is to look at the deckplan and see what's above and below my cabin.

How rude to suggest what must I be smokin for one. I have my opinions and you have yours so no further comment is needed from your simple mind. You may just be one of those persons that always shows up to eat when the food is put out no matter where it came from or who cooked it. I had to change my room via a Carnival rep to add a fourth person. My initial room was on another deck. So that wasn't my choice. Know all the facts before you open your pie whole.

 

I'm sorry you didn't have a good start to your cruise expecially since you paid the entire bill. Couple of tips for you for next time

1. don't put 4 woman in 1 cabin. You should have gotten 2 cabins. Sounds like you had an inside cabin too. That's does save lots of money but with 4 people I can't even imagine how you managed. We always get a balcony cabin does cost a little more but with the balcony makes it feel like the cabin is bigger.

Ummmm, I never said 4 women in 1 room was a problem and it wasn't for us and we managed great! I had a balcony not inside room for the record.

 

I'm sure another Carnival ship or another crusie line all together might have been better but I had to work with the factors given as I've stated. This is my story.

[Jazmine8]

Jasmine8 you said "Some simple salt, pepper, seasonings would have been nice" don't they have salt and pepper on the table? I bet they chefs leave that to the diners to apply to their food. You can't take seasonings off but you can add them later.

 

A good chef should know how to season the food properly before it's served. If it's done correctly no salt or pepper shakers should even be on the table. I do however understand dietary restictions.

[NYcruzzer]

Thank you for sharing your experience. I am confused by your title. When you say never again is that on the Pride or Carnival in general ? I only ask because even if there were some dissapointments on this trip why write off the Pride or Carnival all together ? Some of the things you complained about are common on all the mainstream lines. If you try Royal Carribean and NCL I suspect you will have similar complaints..

[Jazmine8]

I read, and have since confirmed after looking at the deck plans, that on decks 5, 6 and 7 you can book a balcony cabin all the way forward with a CONNECTING inside cabin. This might have been an option...something to remember for the next time! ;)

Thanks.

OY! I would jump over board! :eek: Have never been on the Pride, but as you can see, I have been on her sister ships a bunch of times (Spirit, Miracle and Legend) Also various other CCL ships. Love them all, but the Spirit class is the best. Looking forward to the rest of your review. BTW, it was very nice of you to treat everyone to this cruise! I will be your BFF if you want lol! :D:rolleyes: Also, tell me, PLEASE, that you at least liked the chocolate melting cake! :rolleyes:

 

I always pay for the most part. I paid an all expense 2 week trip for 5 to Disney and a lot of character dining, both Universals, Seaworld, The Holy Land experience, and all things on I-Drive for my mom, brother his two girls and myself 3 years ago. We had our own rental minivan and a 5 bedroom vacation home rental too. Pricey oh yeah but I wouldn't have traded that time with my family for anything. 2600 pictures later and 4 movies I put together, we all still laugh about that time together.