PHOTO REVIEW: H goes Solo Cruising on the Carnival Pride ( TONS of food porn )

[ProfCruise]

Yessss! I had given up all hope that Guy's had a veggie burger. This made me soo happy! :D I'm not quite a vegetarian because I occasionally eat seafood but I really wanted to try all the fun toppings and was so sad I couldn't from everything I was able to find out on the forums etc. What did mom think of it? Was it homemade or like a frozen boca burger type thing?

 

Yes! You just have to ask for it and it takes about 10 minutes to cook. I thought it was very good -- made from grains and veggies (didn't taste frozen). Mom liked it too. I don't know if you're going to Half Moon Cay, but they also have a veggie burger at the BBQ on the island (again, you just have to ask for it).

 

Have fun and have a Guy's VEGGIE burger for me ;)

[MysticMiss]

Very much enjoying your review! I have to say that I might be willing to shell out 5 bucks for the chicken quesadilla. Yummy!

[ProfCruise]

SEADAY BRUNCH

We’re a family that loves brunch (if it’s Sunday, there’s, like, a 150% chance you’ll find us at one), so naturally the Seaday Brunch is something mom and dad really enjoy about Carnival. I prefer the Cat in the Hat brunch, myself, but at least this thing had pancakes. The service was good each time we attended and the food was excellent, with one exception (I know you’ve all been practicing “waiting patiently” for me to reveal the second dessert mom didn’t like…it’s coming).

Depending on whether you go in the morning or afternoon (it’s open from 8:30-1pm on…sea days, duh) you’ll either get a basket of these on the table:

 

Or these:

Mommy loves the popovers. If you’re antisocial and want both a private table AND a private dining room (and you want the awesome popovers versus the so-so pastry basket), go more towards 1pm. Here’s what we ordered:

Flamin’ tomatoes soup

Fresh fruit platter with cottage cheese (or plain)

Funnest French toast (with honey nut Cheerios)

Hey pork chop

To be continued...

[ProfCruise]

SEADAY BRUNCH CONTINUED

Pappardelle “Principe di Napoli”

 

 

Fat stack pancakes (available plain or with chocolate or blueberry topping)

 

 

I really enjoyed those pancakes. Hope you packed the stain stick, mama.

 

 

Mac 'n Cheese

 

 

And the two best desserts of all time (or at least that particular hour):

 

Banana cream pie

 

 

And

 

Caramelized cheesecake

 

 

Now, stay tuned for the worst dessert of all time. But first, I need to distract mommy so I can sneak something from the fridge, I'm starving.

[PurdueChefAmber]

Come on H! What was it? haha

[ProfCruise]

SEADAY BRUNCH CONTINUED AND THE WORST DESSERT OF ALL TIME

 

I'm getting to the worst dessert of all time (Let this 2 year-old teach you some patience, Amber. Plus, it's gross. And not in a fun, spread all over the walls way). First enjoy some hen alla diavola.

 

So, mom wondered why no one ever talks about the “double chocolate brownie” on the brunch menu. She’s never even seen a photo of it (and she spends, like, 40 hours a day looking at food porn…intervention time). This brownie is sort of a chicken or the egg dilemma. Does it become the worst dessert of all time because no one ever orders it and it gets all dried out and rock hard or does it start out as the worst dessert of all time and that’s why no one ever orders it? Either way, thank mommy for providing a photo and description so you don’t have to order it to find out.

Warning: don't look directly at it.

 

Okay, glad that's over with. Up next? What heaven looks like to a 2.5 year old.

 

[ProfCruise]

GREEN EGGS AND HAM BREAKFAST

"If I were invited to a dinner party with my characters, I wouldn't show up." -- Dr. Seuss

Dr. Seuss would not be joining us for this breakfast, because 1) he’s been dead for nearly 25 years (RIP) and 2) Cat in the Hat, Thing 1 and Thing 2, and Sam were invited. Even if the good Dr. would not enjoy dining with his characters, he would surely be happy to know the joy that experience brings to so many, both the young and the old and weird (mom), I mean, young at heart.

There were two times available, 8am and 9:45am on the final sea day. Yeah, like I was going to wait until 9:45 -- I’ve already waited a week! We signed up right after embarkation at a table near the guest services desk. The cost was $5 per person (I like to charge as much as I can to mom’s Carnival credit card while on board to help her earn double points toward more cruises – I’m helpful like that).

So, the day of the brunch came and I was both sad that it was our last day on the “big boat” and happy (being sad and happy, usually several times in the same minute, isn’t unusual for me) for one of the things I’d most been looking forward to.

My mom’s decorating style is “subtle.” Read as “boring and bland” -- I wish she would decorate my room to look like the Green Eggs and Ham breakfast! With a fresh character ice sculpture daily! Check this:

 

 

 

 

 

 

To be continued...

Edited July 14, 2015 by ProfCruise

[ProfCruise]

GREEN EGGS AND HAM BREAKFAST CONTINUED

The service for brunch wasn’t the best (it was slow and much of our order was delivered incorrectly), but that didn’t distract from the fun – I was most interested in meeting him…

 

 

and him…

 

 

and him…

 

and also playing “peak-a-boo” with him…

 

 

The food (even if it wasn’t exactly what we ordered) was full of sugar and artificial food coloring – my two favorite ingredients.

 

Here's the menu:

 

To be continued...

[ProfCruise]

GREEN EGGS AND HAM BREAKFAST CONTINUED

 

Funny food porn:

Green Eggs and Ham

 

 

The Who’s fruit and cottage cheese

Funny Belgian waffles

Fox in Socks steak and eggs

Cheddar grits

 

 

You can think about yogurt parfait Schlopp

 

 

To be continued...

[ProfCruise]

GREEN EGGS AND HAM BREAKFAST CONTINUED

 

Action shot of the yogurt parfait

And finally, the Truffula Tree pancakes

 

The Green Eggs and Ham Breakfast is Thing 2 (because I'm 2, get it?) approved!

 

 

And because it's the law that every dad be humiliated at the Green Eggs and Ham Breakfast:

 

 

Next up, afternoon tea (warning, I wasn't there so this section is going to be super boring and, likely, poorly written).

 

[ProfCruise]

AFTERNOON TEA

 

 

“If you never did you should. These things are fun and fun is good.” --Dr. Seuss

Mom wanted to try at least 3 new things on the Pride. This was one of them (stay tuned for the other 2).

The way mom explained afternoon tea to me went something like this: Blah, blah, blah, blah, the Queen, best manners, and you have to wear a shirt. Um, no thank you. So I hit camp. Mom and dad provided me with their notes for this section.

Afternoon tea takes place at 3pm on sea days in the MDR. There were 10 or so tables for 2 available and several large shared tables. Mom and dad were at a shared table with some really lovely people who didn’t mind that daddy was wearing gym shorts (only on Carnival), that mom walked in 10 minutes late (that had nothing to do with me) and that neither of them knew tea drinking etiquette. NEVER hold your cup with your pinkie finger extended or lift up your saucer if seated or look around at other guests while drinking (that’s how you ended up with hot tea down your dress), MOM! And she was worried about MY manners?

Anyway, several servers came around with a selection of teas or coffee and a cart of finger sandwiches and delicious desserts. I wish mom had told me about the desserts (it’s almost as if she didn’t want me there).

Mom and dad felt very fancy and enjoyed this very much.

 

[Singer4Him]

 

 

My absolute favorite dessert with Carnival!! Although I'm interested in the new American Table, I'm disappointed that this dessert isn't available there. :(

[mips]

hello H I always enjoy your reviews.

 

Now that fruit and chocolate tart at Tea time is pretty much my favorite thing about Carnival.

[ProfCruise]

BONSAI SUSHI

Dad loves him some sushi with his wasabi, so he was excited to try Carnival’s specialty restaurant, Bonsai Sushi. Mom doesn’t eat fish (although the “tofishy” is her sandwich of choice at her favorite vegetarian restaurant – yeah, laugh), but is obsessed with Asian desserts (well, desserts from all cultures, really – but she’s particularly fond of those flavored with green tea, red bean, and taro), so she was really looking forward to trying the green tea cupcakes and yuzu custard. She also loves Japanese décor (and tea pots, especially) because it reminds her of a life-altering trip she took to Japan as a youngster (many, many, many, many years ago).

Dad hit up the place solo first to make sure mom would approve (at least that’s what he told her when she was like, “Why did you go without me?!?!”). He ordered two different rolls, a bunch of sashimi, the green tea cupcakes and Yuzu custard and thought it was all very good. He preferred the tempura roll to the tuna roll, though.

Complimentary green tea (mommy LOVED this tea pot)

Complimentary edamame

Spicy tuna roll

 

Tempura roll

 

To be continued...

[ProfCruise]

BONSAI SUSHI CONTINUED

 

Ebi, sake, manguro, and hamachi sashimi

 

Green tea cupcakes

 

Yuzu custard (lucky dad snapped a shot of this – it’s all mom ever saw of it!)

 

Mommy joined daddy for the second trip and ordered this:

 

 

Bonsai noodle salad

 

 

Miso soup

 

 

Green tea cupcakes

 

 

You’ll note there’s no photo of the yuzu custard, which was the one thing mom wanted most in the world. She ordered it but they ran out right before she was to get hers. If you want the yuzu with lunch, better get there before 2:00pm. They said they’d have more by dinner, but mom had other plans and it was the last day, so she never got to try it. What a shame, she’ll have to book a future trip on the Pride! She liked her soup and noodles, although she probably wouldn’t pay to have them again (very, very, small, even for just $2 each). The green tea cupcakes were excellent and definitely worth the $2.

 

To be continued...

[ProfCruise]

BONSAI SUSHI CONTINUED

Finally, mom and dad shared the sake. Mom thinks it tastes like gross, warm beer and always regrets ordering it.

 

 

In summary...

 

Mom hates spending extra on food because there's SO MUCH great free stuff available. Daddy definitely thought this was worth it, though, and mommy wishes she had those green tea cupcakes about now. And me? I don't even know when all of this happened. Must have been after they gave me the tequila fruit.

 

Up next, specialty coffee shop.

Edited July 14, 2015 by ProfCruise

[ProfCruise]

My absolute favorite dessert with Carnival!! Although I'm interested in the new American Table, I'm disappointed that this dessert isn't available there. :(

 

I love someone passionate about their desserts! Mom wishes she would have discovered this one sooner!

[ProfCruise]

hello H I always enjoy your reviews.

 

Now that fruit and chocolate tart at Tea time is pretty much my favorite thing about Carnival.

 

Mom LOVED the tart! Thanks for reading! :D

[SFplusP]

SEADAY BRUNCH CONTINUED AND THE WORST DESSERT OF ALL TIME

 

I'm getting to the worst dessert of all time (Let this 2 year-old teach you some patience, Amber. Plus, it's gross. And not in a fun, spread all over the walls way). First enjoy some hen alla diavola.

 

So, mom wondered why no one ever talks about the “double chocolate brownie” on the brunch menu. She’s never even seen a photo of it (and she spends, like, 40 hours a day looking at food porn…intervention time). This brownie is sort of a chicken or the egg dilemma. Does it become the worst dessert of all time because no one ever orders it and it gets all dried out and rock hard or does it start out as the worst dessert of all time and that’s why no one ever orders it? Either way, thank mommy for providing a photo and description so you don’t have to order it to find out.

Warning: don't look directly at it.

 

Okay, glad that's over with. Up next? What heaven looks like to a 2.5 year old.

 

 

I agree! Had it last year on the Glory, and although it did not look nearly as pretty as this one, it was the worst. I'm a brownie lover and I pulled a daddy and spit mine into my napkin. Nastiest thing ever. The brownies off the kids menu in the MDR are about the same. Nasty nasty nasty.

[kids1stcruise]

Shrimp tempura roll looks good! Think I'll try it sundayyyyyy⚓️

[Selva]

Bestest review ever H. Big high five to you. But I'm so sad that I've reached the end. Please tell your mom that you will be skipping your naps, early bed times, baths, picking up toys, and any other time wasting activities so you can have more time to devote to your review. And please tell your mommy and daddy to get second and third jobs so that they can take you are on more cruises! I hope that you are getting all the orange sherbet and cheese you can eat as payment for your wonderful review!

[godspoetry]

Thanks for the scoop! I definitely enjoy the freshly made bean type of veggie burger more than the processed soy kind so that's just an extra perk on top of being able to enjoy that huge topping bar and still get some protein in.

 

That room service menu looks way worse, ew! I haven't even tried that mushroom sandwich and I already miss it. Room service seemed better from Carnival and that's one of the main reasons I thought about booking them as opposed to another line. They took away half of the food options and then added things that cost money that look good, but they cost money! Not gonna pay for good food when I can get slightly less good food for free. Maybe I'll get lucky and they won't have rolled out the new room service menu yet on the sunshine. :confused:

 

Do you have any idea if the new menu's sandwiches still come with "Potato Salad, Coleslaw, Potato Chips or Pretzels" or are they just served by themselves.

 

This is quickly becoming my favorite thread on the forums. Seriously. All those great food pics make me so hungry. I cannot wait to get on my ship!

[SFplusP]

Thanks for the scoop! I definitely enjoy the freshly made bean type of veggie burger more than the processed soy kind so that's just an extra perk on top of being able to enjoy that huge topping bar and still get some protein in.

 

That room service menu looks way worse, ew! I haven't even tried that mushroom sandwich and I already miss it. Room service seemed better from Carnival and that's one of the main reasons I thought about booking them as opposed to another line. They took away half of the food options and then added things that cost money that look good, but they cost money! Not gonna pay for good food when I can get slightly less good food for free. Maybe I'll get lucky and they won't have rolled out the new room service menu yet on the sunshine. :confused:

 

Do you have any idea if the new menu's sandwiches still come with "Potato Salad, Coleslaw, Potato Chips or Pretzels" or are they just served by themselves.

 

This is quickly becoming my favorite thread on the forums. Seriously. All those great food pics make me so hungry. I cannot wait to get on my ship!

 

New menus as of now are only on 3 ships.

 

What do you see missing? I only see a couple things missing from the original- the mushroom sandwich, the steak sandwich, shrimp roll, some yogurt I think, but for the most part it's the same from what I have seen. Of course we only order 2-3 things off the room service menu anyway, so I always forget what they have lol

[godspoetry]

New menus as of now are only on 3 ships.

 

What do you see missing? I only see a couple things missing from the original- the mushroom sandwich, the steak sandwich, shrimp roll, some yogurt I think, but for the most part it's the same from what I have seen. Of course we only order 2-3 things off the room service menu anyway, so I always forget what they have lol

Do you know what three ships? I am sure I'll end up on the Pride soon since I live in the DC area, but my upcoming cruise is on the Sunshine so maybe I've temporarily lucked out?

 

For me, as a vegetarian (that occasionally eats fish), I went from five main dish options (if you count grilled american cheese and pb&j which are really kid foods) down to three (one if you don't count the above options), so that's a pretty big jump. Especially since a shrimp roll and the mushrooms were by far the most appetizing of the options I was able to consider choosing from. If you're a true vegetarian like the mom of the beloved poster in this thread you've eliminated the only adult friendly vegetarian option. An interesting decision on Carnival's part, especially since cruises seem like they're becoming MORE veggie friendly in general.

 

I wonder if it's worth sending them a note about at least the veggie sandwich? If enough people give feedback maybe they'll understand that it's a good idea to be inclusive and add it back?

Edited July 15, 2015 by godspoetry

[SFplusP]

Do you know what three ships? I am sure I'll end up on the Pride soon since I live in the DC area, but my upcoming cruise is on the Sunshine so maybe I've temporarily lucked out?

 

For me, as a vegetarian (that occasionally eats fish), I went from five main dish options (if you count grilled american cheese and pb&j which are really kid foods) down to three (one if you don't count the above options), so that's a pretty big jump. Especially since a shrimp roll and the mushrooms were by far the most appetizing of the options I was able to consider choosing from. If you're a true vegetarian like the mom of the beloved poster in this thread you've eliminated the only adult friendly vegetarian option. An interesting decision on Carnival's part, especially since cruises seem like they're becoming MORE veggie friendly in general.

 

I wonder if it's worth sending them a note about at least the veggie sandwich? If enough people give feedback maybe they'll understand that it's a good idea to be inclusive and add it back?

 

That's understandable, I was just curious if I had missed more things getting cut. I compared the menus at one point, but only saw a few things missing, but I'm not vegetarian so I didn't care too much about the veggie sandwich. What was on it, if you don't mind me asking? Now I'm intrigued. I bet if you call room service and ask for a veggie sandwich they could make it, it just must not have gotten ordered much =/