Mitsugirly takes great PRIDE in bringing her Spring Break extreme review

[beachnsnowbunny]

Aww, how neat...getting married on the Pride. I have always wondered about that. I assume you get married in the little chapel/church they have on board correct? Where will the reception be? I know when we first got on the Pride we were roaming around and we headed into the butterflies lounge and was coming down some steps and they stopped us to tell us there was a wedding party going on at the moment. It warmed my heart. <3 Congrats in advance on your wedding and I hope you have a blast!

 

Thank you! We are hoping to have the chapel for the ceremony and the ivory piano bar for the reception. We asked for those two venues, but the only bad thing is that we are not the only wedding party that day and we won't know our venues until 2 weeks prior to the cruise. *fingers crossed* 😄

[MistyRo76]

Great review! I rarely read reviews beginning to end...I mean to but get distracted and forget to go back and finish 'em up! But I found your very entertaining and informative. We're taking our daughter on her first cruise in Oct and she'll be 14 months. We're on the Breeze which I believe also has the Seuss stuff. I'm excited to take our little one to the brunch and parade and story time. Also, your pictures were great! It's probably been asked already but I didn't go thru all the comments so I'm gonna ask it again...what kind of camera did you use? Looking to possibly get a new camera before this cruise. I love taking pics too and I'm sure I annoy the heck outta my family and friends too! But they deal with it!

 

Thanks again for sharing your vacation!

 

Aldo, your daughter is absolutely adorable!

 

Misty

[Gailerina]

Still reading....but yeah....welcome to driving in Baltimore ;)

 

(Born and raised here)

 

It didn't take us long before we headed back down to the desk and ask if we could go to the mall. Of course the kids wanted to go swimming, but the adults decided heading to the mall while it was still daylight out would be the best idea to get that done and over with for the day.

 

The driver immediately pulled up. Well that's service!!!

 

Now I have to tell you about this driver. I don't think I have ever rode in a shuttle for any hotel, or any taxi, or even the nascar wanna-be's in Cozumel that scared me as much as this driver did. He was crazy I'm telling ya. Slamming on breaks at the last minute, cutting over in lanes with no warning (for us or the driver next to him in the lane he was trying to get over in), almost missing an exit, and that last ride was a doosey! He slammed on the breaks so fast that I think it even scared him thinking he wasn't going to stop in time. I'm throwing up my hands across the kids and praying that not only he doesn't hit the car in front of us but that the unexpected driver behind us doesn't slam into us. Yes, tires squealing and the whole 9 yards as the saying goes. Yes, it was his fault...it's not like the traffic came to a dead stop. It was all him not paying attention. Anyone staying at this place, fear for your life if you driver is Nahmed! Just saying... Nice man, just scary.

 

We told Nahmed that we needed to go somewhere so that we could get pop for the cruise. "Um, what?" You know, SODA. He took us to Walmart. He was nice and ask if we were just running inside to get that and if we would be right out, he'd wait outside for us. He said he would pull somewhere out of the way and when he seen us, he would pull up and get us.

 

We hurried as fast as we could, but of course it's Easter weekend and it was a mad-dash, Wally World style to get all the left-overs on the shelf for the teeth rotting goodness for the precious munchkins in the family. The lines were long and every register was open. You had to rely on your motherly instincts to determine which line was going to move the quickest. Or course after 4 kids, you would think my motherly instincts would be superb, however, I'm normally 99.9% wrong in my choice of line. This would be no exception...."but I swear there was a sign saying this was on sale" arguments with the cashier line.

 

When we were done, we found Nahmed actually waiting right outside, blocking traffic, sitting in the pedestrian lane, as if he was the only one that existed out there. We climbed in, he abruptly pulled out from his privileged parking spot, cutting someone off as they tried to maneuver around him and off we went.

 

He told us that if we wanted to do some shopping at the mall, he would gladly take our "soda" back to the hotel for us so that we wouldn't have to lug it around in the mall with us. (We always bring a gym bag type bag, on wheels, with a retractile handle just for our pop to be put in). We were excited that we would be able to spend a little more time here and possibly get some lunch.

 

He dropped us off at one of the entrances and told us to remember where we are at and when we called for the return ride, we would need to tell them our "number" at the entrance. I had no idea why and would later find out.

 

[mainepaddler]

Thanks so much for your detailed review. We are booked on a similar itinerary on the Pride next February and it was great to see all your pictures.

 

Take care.

[tropicaledrink]

For your next Carnival cruise, you might look in to the Freedom. They have newly revamped Camp Carnival - dubbed Camp Ocean and Dr. Suess's Bookville - both of which may be right up Sakari's alley. Not sure what itineraries she is running now that she is in Galveston - but worth looking at!

[Gailerina]

Its Fort Carroll

 

 

And it is officially been de hatred a historic sure, so developers and others can leave it alone!

 

Many of the buildings are still there. Last I heard it was also a bird Sanctuary.

[#55worktoplay]

Hi there, thanks again for a great review I love reading about your family adventures and have enjoyed each one of your reviews. They have all been excellent including this one. Sakari is growing so much and she is still so adorable as is Kendra and Brayden. Can't wait for baby to start cruising,

 

I have yet to cruise NClL on the bucket list and will make it someday but Carnival and Royal keep giving me casino offers. Having said that I am really wanting to go on the breeze too. Do you know she also sails 8 days?

 

Have a great Bermuda cruise can't wait to read all about it.

[kimba9615]

I loved this review!!!! We are sailing the same itinerary on the Pride in June and we have one daughter, 9 years old. This review was perfect timing and has gotten me so excited for our cruise. I don't know that we would have signed up for the Dr. Seuss brunch before reading this ... now we will not miss it! Thank you for writing such a detailed review!

[mitsugirly]

Thank you SO much for your wonderful review !! We have been on the Pride previously, but were interested in the 2.0 upgrades !! We can't wait to try the Guy's burger !!

 

If you ever cruise on Carnival again and find that your bed is too hard, just ask your steward for an eggcrate topper - but do it early because they only have so many !

And when hungry in the evening when there is not much open- don't forget room service - they have some great selections !

Thanks again !

Jane

 

I know I should have ask for the egg crate topper. They have them on NCL as well, but I just didn't think about it at the time. Well, I would think about it every morning when I woke up and then it would slip my mind thinking about the fun day to come. :p :D

 

I really wish I would have known about the room service. I know I had read just a week or so prior to our cruise that the room service was changing and they would be charging. I just didn't realize that they would still have certain items on the menu for free. Darnit!!

 

I always enjoy reading your reviews - you pack a lot of useful info into them - I don't know if you realize what an important service you provide to this community' date=' even to a lurker like me! We went on a NCL cruise 3 years ago and I unfortunately forgot my passport and had to fly to Belize to catch up to the ship and my family. At the cruise terminal in Tampa I handed over my folder of detailed info on our excursions to the most responsible member of my family - my then 14 year old son. In it were printouts of your review of Roatan and where to snorkel. The 14 yo is soon to be a hs grad and we are going on the Dawn to Bermuda to celebrate. We're on the 6/12 sailing so I don't think you'll have your review up in time to help me on this one but you can be sure I'll be looking at your posts before hand to see if you find out any useful info - also be sure I won't forget my passport this time!

 

And please tell Kendra I wish I looked as good as her before I had my kids let alone months after giving birth - she's gorgeous![/quote']

 

Aww :o people like you are why I do them. I'm so happy when I have helped someone out with something in my review. Thank you so much for the compliments.

 

No, I'm pretty sure that I won't have the review even started by then because we won't return until the 12th. So I will be getting off the ship the day you are getting on. :D

 

Kendra is just so use to being super duper thin (like 110 pounds) and any extra weight just feels weird. I know how she feels. I was the same way up until I started school 5 years ago. Between school and my cruising habit, I have managed to pack on 40 pounds. :o :(

[mitsugirly]

Hi! I know you have your own snorkeling equipment that you bring with you when you cruise. I'm interested to know what kind you have and where you purchased it?

 

Also, does it take up much room to pack? We pack pretty light, and I'm wondering if it's worth it to buy our own even though it will take up a lot of precious suitcase space??!!!

 

I have the US Divers snorkeling kit. It's the smaller fins that are travel size and look like this:

 

 

It comes in a bag that carries everything (which I also keep our snorkel vest, lens defogger and my snorkel socks inside there as well-so it doesn't take up any more room).

 

 

My hubby has the same thing...but of course not hot pink. ;) His is gray and black.

 

 

 

Ok I think you got me pretty convinced to book this ship next april! Just back from the Sunshine , actually just yesterday! Had a great cruise and now ready to book one for our 20th Anniversary next yr, and being from RI, Baltimore , not really that far away! Awesome pics and review, Thanks so much for taking the time!

 

It's an awesome ship. Did you like the Sunshine? I have been eyeballing it since it became the Sunshine. There's just so many mixed reviews. I KNOW we would have a good time. I'm just concerned with people saying that this ship seems so packed all the time. The only other thing I have noticed is the prices are outrageous for this ship for everything I have looked at. Maybe it will come down in the future and I'll book it. It looks like a wonderful ship to sail.

[mitsugirly]

Thank you! We are hoping to have the chapel for the ceremony and the ivory piano bar for the reception. We asked for those two venues, but the only bad thing is that we are not the only wedding party that day and we won't know our venues until 2 weeks prior to the cruise. *fingers crossed* 😄

 

Well I'm keeping my fingers crossed for you too. I hope you get the Ivory Piano Bar. It's pretty and neat as well. :)

 

Great review! I rarely read reviews beginning to end...I mean to but get distracted and forget to go back and finish 'em up! But I found your very entertaining and informative. We're taking our daughter on her first cruise in Oct and she'll be 14 months. We're on the Breeze which I believe also has the Seuss stuff. I'm excited to take our little one to the brunch and parade and story time. Also, your pictures were great! It's probably been asked already but I didn't go thru all the comments so I'm gonna ask it again...what kind of camera did you use? Looking to possibly get a new camera before this cruise. I love taking pics too and I'm sure I annoy the heck outta my family and friends too! But they deal with it!

 

Thanks again for sharing your vacation!

 

Aldo, your daughter is absolutely adorable!

 

Misty

 

Thanks for the comments and glad you could stick with the review. :D

 

I have 2 cameras. They are both Olympus Tough and 1 is a 620 and the other is a 830. I love them both. I use to have a Canon D10 (2 of them) and when they played out, I switched over to the Olympus because it has so many nice added features that the Canon does not. :)

[mitsugirly]

Still reading....but yeah....welcome to driving in Baltimore ;)

 

(Born and raised here)

 

So you are a crazy driver too? :p :D :eek:

 

It was only the 1 guy that drove like this. I know the other driver didn't and most of the cars on the road were doing just fine...until he came by. LOL

 

Thanks so much for your detailed review. We are booked on a similar itinerary on the Pride next February and it was great to see all your pictures.

 

Take care.

 

Thanks for the comments and I hope you have a wonderful cruise on the Pride next year. :)

[mitsugirly]

For your next Carnival cruise, you might look in to the Freedom. They have newly revamped Camp Carnival - dubbed Camp Ocean and Dr. Suess's Bookville - both of which may be right up Sakari's alley. Not sure what itineraries she is running now that she is in Galveston - but worth looking at!

 

Thanks for the info. I'm going to have to do a search and see what each ship offers (probably looking for things such as Seuss, Guys, waterpark, which I know I'll be lucky to find everything on 1 ship like this one was). :)

 

And it is officially been de hatred a historic sure, so developers and others can leave it alone!

 

Many of the buildings are still there. Last I heard it was also a bird Sanctuary.

 

It's pretty neat. After I was given the name of it, I looked it up and man it has a lot on it and some neat buildings/structure. From the cruise ship, it looks so small. LOL I was shocked to see what it was used for and how many acres it really was. :)

[mitsugirly]

Hi there, thanks again for a great review I love reading about your family adventures and have enjoyed each one of your reviews. They have all been excellent including this one. Sakari is growing so much and she is still so adorable as is Kendra and Brayden. Can't wait for baby to start cruising,

 

I have yet to cruise NClL on the bucket list and will make it someday but Carnival and Royal keep giving me casino offers. Having said that I am really wanting to go on the breeze too. Do you know she also sails 8 days?

 

Have a great Bermuda cruise can't wait to read all about it.

 

Aww, thanks so much for the comments. I really appreciate it and I'm glad you liked the review(s). Kendra has talked about taking the baby, but I'm not so sure it would work out too well. She'd definitely have her hands full at all times with her and Brayden. I just can't even begin to imagine. We didn't take Sakari with us until she was 3 and I was a little unsure about that even back then. But, she did so well and had such an amazing time that she was hooked even back then. The non-stop talking about her experience on that cruise with zip lining, tubing and swimming with the dolphins...we just knew we had to take her again. Things only get better each time. We are so lucky to have a little one that loves it as much as well do.

 

NO!!! I did not know that the Breeze did 8 day cruises. I will have to check that out and see when it is. Every time I try a date I'd like to go, it's only 6 days. :o Thanks for the info.

 

I loved this review!!!! We are sailing the same itinerary on the Pride in June and we have one daughter, 9 years old. This review was perfect timing and has gotten me so excited for our cruise. I don't know that we would have signed up for the Dr. Seuss brunch before reading this ... now we will not miss it! Thank you for writing such a detailed review!

 

 

Glad I could help you out. Carnival should cut me a commission. LOL :p :D

[Gailerina]

So you are a crazy driver too? :p :D :eek:

 

It was only the 1 guy that drove like this. I know the other driver didn't and most of the cars on the road were doing just fine...until he came by. LOL

 

 

 

Thanks for the comments and I hope you have a wonderful cruise on the Pride next year. :)

 

 

I drive by that mall a lot as I'm 10 minutes from it and most drivers are like your driver, but it only became bad when the casino open.

 

I do speed, probably too much but no cutting people off. Ibe almost been hit wayyyyy too many times :)

[Gailerina]

It's pretty neat. After I was given the name of it, I looked it up and man it has a lot on it and some neat buildings/structure. From the cruise ship, it looks so small. LOL I was shocked to see what it was used for and how many acres it really was. :)

 

 

Yeah, it's a nice little island. Technically it's illegal to go on it, but I'm sure you found all kind of photos people have taken. The state just worried someone getting hurt.

 

It's been a few years but there were talks of 1) destroying it or 2) selling it to a developer for who knows what.

 

Upset a lot of people and that's why now it's been listed as a historic site.

 

If you ever cruise out if bmore again and in the fall, you daughter might like the Renaissance fair near here!

[Jenner9]

 

NO!!! I did not know that the Breeze did 8 day cruises. I will have to check that out and see when it is. Every time I try a date I'd like to go, it's only 6 days. :o Thanks for the info.

 

I was going to tell you that Breeze did 8 day cruises as well but then I figured you knew but the dates didn't fit with your schedule. I believe it does 8 day Eastern and 8 day Southern. I am going on Carnival Breeze 8 day in Jan to the Southern Caribbean. I am really looking forward to the ports and the extra day!

 

Thanks for an awesome review! I love reading them as always. Question about how you type them - do you type right on CC or do you type in word and copy and paste to CC?

[Angela61280]

So every time I'm in cruise mode, I read ALL your reviews! Lol, you've probably seen a stray post or reply here and there.. Your little one is just a tad older than mine. Anywhooo.. So yesterday I was sitting at the casino bar wondering, hmmmm. What should I drink, when I had an AHA! moment.. Omg, yes, dirty banana.. I understand.. Completely and unequivocally

 

 

We got back today, but sailing away again in a couple weeks (on the Breeze 8 day southern actually lol).. and I have a new drink. ;)

Edited April 27, 2015 by Angela61280

[mitsugirly]

I drive by that mall a lot as I'm 10 minutes from it and most drivers are like your driver, but it only became bad when the casino open.

 

I do speed, probably too much but no cutting people off. Ibe almost been hit wayyyyy too many times :)

 

It's ok. I was just kidding with ya. Those drivers are in every city. :D

 

Yeah, it's a nice little island. Technically it's illegal to go on it, but I'm sure you found all kind of photos people have taken. The state just worried someone getting hurt.

 

It's been a few years but there were talks of 1) destroying it or 2) selling it to a developer for who knows what.

 

Upset a lot of people and that's why now it's been listed as a historic site.

 

If you ever cruise out if bmore again and in the fall, you daughter might like the Renaissance fair near here!

 

It would be really cool if they had day tours there. :)

[mitsugirly]

I was going to tell you that Breeze did 8 day cruises as well but then I figured you knew but the dates didn't fit with your schedule. I believe it does 8 day Eastern and 8 day Southern. I am going on Carnival Breeze 8 day in Jan to the Southern Caribbean. I am really looking forward to the ports and the extra day!

 

Thanks for an awesome review! I love reading them as always. Question about how you type them - do you type right on CC or do you type in word and copy and paste to CC?

 

Thanks for the comments.

 

Ohhhhh, I would love to do a southern cruise. I guess I never figured it out because I would just estimate when I would like to go and it always came up as a 6 day cruise. Now I'm going to have to look at all of them to see. :D

 

So every time I'm in cruise mode, I read ALL your reviews! Lol, you've probably seen a stray post or reply here and there.. Your little one is just a tad older than mine. Anywhooo.. So yesterday I was sitting at the casino bar wondering, hmmmm. What should I drink, when I had an AHA! moment.. Omg, yes, dirty banana.. I understand.. Completely and unequivocally

 

 

We got back today, but sailing away again in a couple weeks (on the Breeze 8 day southern actually lol).. and I have a new drink. ;)

 

Awww, I'm honored that you read mine.

 

That dirty banana...ahhh, love them!!!

 

 

You people are just rubbing in this cruising on the Breeze now. It's getting a little annoying. (Just kidding, I'm jealous) :D

[ZoeyVictoria]

 

The other thing we planned which I am thrilled about is booking a boston whaler (small easy boat) from Sommerset watersports.. It's 145 for up to 4 people total for 4 hours off on our own.. Being able to boat around, jump in and out of the water.. Private beaches.. Bread to feed the fish by a sunken ship.. Looks so awesome and it's the same price if we had done a excursion with NCL for much less time.. Supposedly they give you a detailed map where the best snorkeling, sightseeing, etc.. The reviews on tripadvisor are great as well.

 

You are going to be so happy with this decision. I did the same thing in 2012 and it is still my favorite port day in 37 cruises, in spite of my now ex-husband stepping off the Boston Whaler into waist deep water with my camera in his pocket. I took along a twin-size sheet, purchased drinks and snacks at the gas station close to Somerset Watersports, and had a picnic lunch on a small island. I was able to hand feed small fish bread on the island, after standing motionless in thigh deep water for a while. You will have a wonderful time.

[1959kar]

Thanks for both the compliment and the Bermuda pictures. :eek: :D

 

Can you tell me why they aquarium is a "must stop"? Just wondering and it definitely wasn't on my "to-do" list. We have been to so many aquariums and well, after awhile, once you've been to them, they just all seem the same. Also once you have been in the ocean with them, it DEFINITELY does not give you that exciting feeling when you see them behind a glass enclosure. Just my thoughts. So, I thought I would ask what is so special about this one?

 

its not only an aquarium, "Bermuda Aquarium, Museum and Zoo" its a small place, but worth seeing, seeing sea life in the ocean is the best I agree

[pghsteelerfan]

I just want to let you know that I really, really, really enjoyed your review and always love your pictures, absolutely beautiful. Grand Turk and the conch graveyard...I think I'm the one who told you to go around the point to the other side but so glad to know that there are still nice shells in the actual "graveyard" before the point. I'd seen comments earlier that there was not much left, so maybe they continuously "replenish" it. :D So glad that you were able to find some nice ones and that Sakari will have a beauty to add to her collection. She is adorable, by the way. People complain about kids on cruises but even though we don't have kids, we don't mind cruising with them. It's their vacation too and it's so nice of you to take her with you to share those experiences with you, experiences that I'm sure she will remember and cherish for a lifetime. And with your pictures, it's just so obvious how much she enjoys cruising and how much fun she's having. Kids deserve that - they're only little for a short time and it goes by so fast. I was an adult the first time we cruised (honeymoon) and vacations with my family were to Nags Head, NC, but those are some great memories we have and some that we still get a great laugh from, those were in the 80's. We actually flew over Nags Head in May 2013 coming back from San Juan from our Valor cruise - so cool to see it from the air.

 

Thank you again for taking the time to do another review. I saw your Dream review and have also read some of your Ports of Call reviews (love that you do that) and have ideas planned from some of them next time we get to those places. Now I'm going to have to go back and read some of your other reviews from the other cruise lines.

[shealea]

Thanks for the information on the type of snorkeling equipment you use. We want to go to Mexico on Carnival's Miracle this coming fall, so I will order the snorkeling stuff before we go.

 

I have never, ever been snorkeling. I have always wanted to do it. Any super tips for a first timer snorkeler??? I can just picture myself sputtering and choking ......... lol!!!!

[mitsugirly]

its not only an aquarium, "Bermuda Aquarium, Museum and Zoo" its a small place, but worth seeing, seeing sea life in the ocean is the best I agree

 

I looked into it more and read up on the animals they have there. Who knows and it's up to the family if they want to go and if we have time. If not this time, then maybe next. But, I'll definitely keep it in mind. :)

 

I just want to let you know that I really, really, really enjoyed your review and always love your pictures, absolutely beautiful. Grand Turk and the conch graveyard...I think I'm the one who told you to go around the point to the other side but so glad to know that there are still nice shells in the actual "graveyard" before the point. I'd seen comments earlier that there was not much left, so maybe they continuously "replenish" it. :D So glad that you were able to find some nice ones and that Sakari will have a beauty to add to her collection. She is adorable, by the way. People complain about kids on cruises but even though we don't have kids, we don't mind cruising with them. It's their vacation too and it's so nice of you to take her with you to share those experiences with you, experiences that I'm sure she will remember and cherish for a lifetime. And with your pictures, it's just so obvious how much she enjoys cruising and how much fun she's having. Kids deserve that - they're only little for a short time and it goes by so fast. I was an adult the first time we cruised (honeymoon) and vacations with my family were to Nags Head, NC, but those are some great memories we have and some that we still get a great laugh from, those were in the 80's. We actually flew over Nags Head in May 2013 coming back from San Juan from our Valor cruise - so cool to see it from the air.

 

Thank you again for taking the time to do another review. I saw your Dream review and have also read some of your Ports of Call reviews (love that you do that) and have ideas planned from some of them next time we get to those places. Now I'm going to have to go back and read some of your other reviews from the other cruise lines.

 

Thank you so much for the compliments and glad you enjoyed the review.

 

You probably are the one that guided me to the graveyard. I'm definitely happy to report that there's plenty there for sure. Next time I go, I will definitely go all the way to the end and up some...just to do it and check it out. :D

 

I wouldn't have it any other way (cruising with Sakari). I know she cherishes these cruises just as much as we do and has such a great time on them. She would never let me live it down if we went without her. :p :D