Christmas on Pride 2014

[P&B Toronto]

I had read terrible reviews about Costa Maya, we were pleasantly surprised with what we encountered. Here is the port with all the shops

We left the port quickly and took the shuttle in search of a beach and shopping. The first stop on the shuttle was Señor Frogs, no one planned to get out till one of the staff came out and offered unlimited booze and one plate of food for $25; 3/4 of the shuttle took the offer. Not being drinkers we stayed on. we ended up at the Krazy Lobster - Free: chairs, wifi and kayaks with no need to purchase anything. We got natural nachos (try something else if you go) for $10 and a one hour massage for $20. the swimming was good. I swam way out to the reef, it was ok, saw three rays and some fish. I talked to other people who said the swimming at señor frogs was bad and the beer was $2 as opposed to $1 at Krazy Losbster.

[hagges]

Thanks for the positive report. We board the Pride this Sunday.

She has been hammered on various reviews lately.

[P&B Toronto]

Jacmo 24, I agree completely, there are not a lot of activities happening on the ship and the cd was my least favourite of any of the ships I have been on. Maybe he was having a bad week, the show goes on no matter what is happening in their lives. I never once talked to George and hardly saw him around the ship. I did really like Max the assistant CD.

They seemed to have about 4 trivia contests a day, maybe a way to get people to the bars and coffee shop. I did go to one of them, lucked out and got a gold plastic ship.

Other cruises I have been on had lots of organized sports. the only organized sport on the ship was on the last sea day. There was a ping pong tournament, they stopped registration at 30 and left many others on the sidelines.

[P&B Toronto]

Hagges, I am sure you will have a great time.

[P&B Toronto]

It is true what people say about lots of vendors trying to sell you stuff on the beach, a polite no thanks worked every time. The sunset as we left was beautiful.

We were excited to see the show 88 Keys - Billy Joel, Elton John... The show was amazing - the singing, choreography, stage effects...

Sing me a song Mr Piano Man

[Luvtoeat]

We will also be on the Jan 11th sailing. Can't wait, as any cruise is great when you have the right attitude not to let anything spoil your fun. Just wish the cruise was longer but any ship that sails from Tampa normally does 7 days or less.

[abcsteward]

Glad you had a nice vacation... :)

[walkin2cure]

We are coming in from Maryland this Sunday. Hubby, daughter, SIL, & their 16 month old. Their 1st cruise. Hope it's great 😊

 

 

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[PTAngel]

I also am glad to see a positive review on this ship. We are booked for our first Carnival cruise in March 2016 (14 day Caribbean) & I've been getting a little nervous with all the bad reviews. I have sailed twice & have 2 cruises booked all on RC (before this one) so I was looking forward to something new. Now I feel better. Thanks.

[P&B Toronto]

Luvtoeat, your handle is true of all cruisers isn't it? Attitude does determine a lot. I think that they are starting to do longer cruises. Thanks abcsteward, it was a great vacation. walkin2cure, I am sure you will have a great cruise and thy will love it.

[P&B Toronto]

The most decorated part of the ship was the atrium. It was where they had the Hanukkah lighting every night and the carol sing on Christmas eve.(Btw lots of people decorated their cabin doors) The atrium was packed for the carolling.

Highlights of the carolling - an excited crowd, Carnival handed out santa hats and jingle bells, it snowed in the atrium. Lowlight - the two singers leading did not know the songs (words and tune on one), they did 3 songs, none of them were religious carols.

[P&B Toronto]

[P&B Toronto]

The week before the cruise I took some pictures in Toronto. The first two were taken inside an amazing greenhouse.

 

This picture was taken two days later outside the greenhouse, notice the guy sleeping on the park bench. I volunteer at a meal program for the poor and homeless. I had gone out to invite people to come for lunch. I have not seen the guy on the bench before or since, he declined the invitation. I'll be home for Christmas you can count on me, please have snow... The thing about Christmas is that lots of people are not home for Christmas, they are alone and lonely. Yet Christmas is about the fact that we are not alone, Immanuel - God with us, he moved into the neighbourhood. When I was young my parents always had people at our family Christmas dinners, people who had no one to be with. At times I didn't like the 'intrusion'. It wasn't until later when I got to know moms past that I understood her passion to include lonely people. Her favourite verse was -God sets the lonely in families... Psalm 68. So 2,600 passengers were not home for Christmas, but what's to complain about? The crew looked after every need and want that we had. Some of the complaints on cc really are first world problems to the max.

Edited December 30, 2014 by P&B Toronto

[P&B Toronto]

I love Roatan the green hills, blue seas and the reefs! This is one of the two wrecks in Mahogany Bay.

 

 

We had a leisurely breakfast and left the ship at about 9. We took a cab to see the West End of the island ($80 for the three of us), I think this is where one of the excursions goes for beach and snorkelling. The drive is beautiful, when we got to West Bay it was too rough to swim and when we got to West End it was even rougher and it started to rain. The benefit of not being on an excursion, we left immediately and headed back along the coast to Mahogany Bay and into the sunshine. I had read really bad reviews about Mahogany Bay, in particular about the snorkelling. I had noticed from aerial pictures it looked like there was a reef offshore. There are lots of pics on cc of food porn, here is reef porn :)

 

 

 

No reef huh. Don't believe everything you read on cc

 

 

Cool looking lion fish

[P&B Toronto]

 

I didn't realize that it had gotten cloudy, the pics are a bit dark

 

 

On the outside of the reef there was a huge drop off. Couldn't see the bottom, just darkness and colder water.

 

 

I was out close to the channel markers when we got hit by a deluge of rain.

 

 

The rain ended the snorkelling. We got a body power wash on the way back to the ship. After about an hour the rain stopped. The beach at Mahogany Bay is packed! Walk over close to the pier to avoid some of the crowd. The water is completely calm, kids loved it.

[P&B Toronto]

After a full day of touring and snorkelling we were wiped and decided to skip the 4:30 show. We wish we hadn't, they actually sing 4 carols and crew come in at the end with candles singing Silent Night. Later that night they had an ugly Christmas sweater contest. There mommas definitely dress them funny ;)

 

[P&B Toronto]

My overall impression of the shows was good. 88 Keys was my favourite, the Hasboro show wasn't good, Getaway Island was fun. Here is a picture from Getaway

 

 

In order of my preference - 88 Keys, getaway Island, 80's show (forgot the name), Heart and Soul, Hasboro is way down the list.

[P&B Toronto]

The last time I went to Cayman was 38 years ago on either the Sunward, Starward or Southward. Anybody else sail on on of those ships. The tendering process was a bit chaotic. Even with faster to the fun it took us 45 minutes to get on a tender. We got off and booked a sting ray and snorkelling trip. It is an amazing experience.

 

 

There are probably a few dozen rays swimming around a sandbar miles offshore

 

 

[ebear22]

We were on this sailing too. We thought the CD was one of the worse we've had. We really enjoyed chatting with Nicole, one of the entertainment staff. Every night she would see us and stop to chat for 20 minutes.

We had read bad reviews but other then a bad dining staff was surprised by the friendly crew. We thought the ship was pretty clean too.

 

We had a great cruise and would cruise the Pride again if we had the chance.

 

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[hinestravel1]

Thanks for the great review! We sail on the 25th.

[ravenhunt60]

We will be on the JAN 11TH CRUISE. After a disaster Sunshine Cruise over Thanksgiving...........I am bringing a positive attitude to the Pride thanks to your great review.............

[P&B Toronto]

ebear22, I agree about the CD. Maybe he was having an off week? I found the staff friendly. Nicole's dad asked people on the roll call to wish her a merry Christmas. I did and she said a number of other people had as well. I found the ship clean as well.

 

Hinestravel1 and ravenhunt60 I wish U was going on the cruise with you as well. Have an awesome cruise.

[P&B Toronto]

After the sting rays we hopped on the boat for a short ride to the corral gardens to snorkel, the waves were too big at the other sites.

 

 

 

There really isn't much of a reef, but the fish were pretty and there were a couple of rays around.

[gck1249]

Great review, love your pictures, my Iphone sure doesn't take pictures like yours, must be me!!

 

We were on 2 weeks back and would like to sail out of Tampa again before she leaves for Baltimore. It is a nice ship with good ports., fun times.

I am not sure why so many bad reviews but we agreed with you. The ship was clean (other than the balcony which was dirty), food good, and the crew so very friendly. The CD was hardly there during our week also so maybe he is having a bad week every week, who knows. Thank goodness he has a good asst CD and the rest of his staff were nice and friendly because he certainly doesn't appear much during the week or plan a lot of activities at all. All in all we had a great cruise, and a fun week.

Edited December 31, 2014 by gck1249
didn't finsh

[birdy]

OP, did you use your Iphone for the underwater pics as well? Is it the new 6? I agree my 5C doesn't take pictures anywhere close to yours :) Glad you had a great time. We are one her Feb 15 sailing.