Carnival Pride, dry dock/refurb Spring 2023?

[kwokpot]

On 2/24/2023 at 3:22 PM, resetjet said:

Just got off her 2/12.  A little rusty on outside,  i need of fixing that which will take time.  Inside is ok, its an old ship.  Its such an ornate ship,  any type of remodeling would be difficult.  My guess is corrosion repair,  engineering stuff and some interior refreshes.  

What they could do is what was done when they added the Alchemy Bar on the Pride. If you take notice they removed alot of the moldings and all the ornate decor, the puffy curtains, and it looks much cleaner and less dated. 

https://www.cruisecritic.com/photos/ships/carnival-pride-190/alchemy-bar-207330/alchemy-bar--v10556111/

vs

https://www.cruisecritic.com/photos/ships/carnival-pride-190/piazza-cafe-211090/piazza-cafe--v10556134/

or

https://www.cruisecritic.com/photos/ships/carnival-pride-190/raphael-lounge-207310/raphael-lounge--v10554231/

[resetjet]

6 hours ago, kwokpot said:

What they could do is what was done when they added the Alchemy Bar on the Pride. If you take notice they removed alot of the moldings and all the ornate decor, the puffy curtains, and it looks much cleaner and less dated. 

https://www.cruisecritic.com/photos/ships/carnival-pride-190/alchemy-bar-207330/alchemy-bar--v10556111/

vs

https://www.cruisecritic.com/photos/ships/carnival-pride-190/piazza-cafe-211090/piazza-cafe--v10556134/

or

https://www.cruisecritic.com/photos/ships/carnival-pride-190/raphael-lounge-207310/raphael-lounge--v10554231/

On the 2/8 sailing they were working very hard and doing some major construction in the fwd port side just ahead of buffett before pool.  I assumed they are totally remodeling that area.  

[Alegeeter]

A little tease from John Heald on Facebook about the upcoming dry dock.

 

”… it’s going to be a fascinating drydock before she starts a European season, and I will be sharing much more about this and actually visiting the ship in Europe to show you before she starts to cruise again. Thanks so much, stay tuned and I’m here if you need anything. Thank you please have a wonderful day and please have a fabulous cruise.”

Surely “fascinating” implies something more than what her sisters got, removed casino bar, updated carpeting, etc. right?

 

[CarnivalShips480]

2 hours ago, Alegeeter said:

A little tease from John Heald on Facebook about the upcoming dry dock.

 

”… it’s going to be a fascinating drydock before she starts a European season, and I will be sharing much more about this and actually visiting the ship in Europe to show you before she starts to cruise again. Thanks so much, stay tuned and I’m here if you need anything. Thank you please have a wonderful day and please have a fabulous cruise.”

Surely “fascinating” implies something more than what her sisters got, removed casino bar, updated carpeting, etc. right?

 

Yes, I would think so. But what could this be? Something like a sport square expansion? Something new? What does everyone think?

[ohioNCLcruiser]

1 hour ago, CarnivalShips480 said:

Yes, I would think so. But what could this be? Something like a sport square expansion? Something new? What does everyone think?

Hopefully it's not a "it is fascinating how many extra cabins we can fit into these former lounges" type of thing 😂 I'm excited to see what the Pride gets besides some TLC.

[Alegeeter]

I’m thinking of what Carnival has added to newer ships that they could move to Pride. 

- Shaq’s chicken

 

- A new specialized bar like the Fortune Teller - Aft on Deck 3 is an underutilized bar (on Spirit it was NEVER opened)

 

- New production shows

 

- Guy’s Smokehouse and Brewhouse - the Red Frog pub is HUGE on this class ship and is also underused

[CarnivalShips480]

1 hour ago, Alegeeter said:

- Shaq’s chicken

That would be fascinating to me! 😋

[mz-s]

I doubt they'll do much besides repaint the hull. That's pretty much all they've done to all the ships they've drydocked since the restart. But this drydock is a little longer than most of those have been so it seems like they've got a little more planned.

[Mallow]

We have been on the Pride many times and always thought it could use another dining option in the Raphael Lounge area on deck 3.  I would assume it would be Cucina and maybe replace the Red Frog pub with Pig and Anchor Brewhouse.

[Tom-n-Cheryl]

We have the Pride booked for Thanksgiving this year. Even though we have one of our favorite aft corner cabins booked (deck 4), we might still pull the plug on this one - if only due to the age and condition of this ship.

 

I really hope that the dry dock is "fascinating", as I'm not too keen on trying to ignore rust, stains, outdated décor, and general disrepair. Even though we got a great casino deal on this, I'm not going to knowingly sail on a tired ship (never again on Fantasy class for us either)!

 

So... to sum it up, when is the dry dock and for how many weeks?

 

I'll keep a watch on this thread 🙂

 

Tom

[CarnivalShips480]

4 minutes ago, Tom-n-Cheryl said:

We have the Pride booked for Thanksgiving this year. Even though we have one of our favorite aft corner cabins booked (deck 4), we might still pull the plug on this one - if only due to the age and condition of this ship.

 

I really hope that the dry dock is "fascinating", as I'm not too keen on trying to ignore rust, stains, outdated décor, and general disrepair. Even though we got a great casino deal on this, I'm not going to knowingly sail on a tired ship (never again on Fantasy class for us either)!

 

So... to sum it up, when is the dry dock and for how many weeks?

 

I'll keep a watch on this thread 🙂

 

Tom

The dry dock is 4/26/2023 to 5/27/2023. A day over a month. I think enough its time for something fascinating.

Edited March 10, 2023 by CarnivalShips480

[Tom-n-Cheryl]

6 minutes ago, CarnivalShips480 said:

The dry dock is 4/26/2023 to 5/27/2023. A day over a month. I think enough its time for something fascinating.

 

Thanks !

 

One of the MOST fascinating things I could think of would be adding a second specialty dining option. That would almost seal the deal on its own. I already have all 7-nights booked in the steakhouse, but that's a lot with the same menu over and over, a little variety would be appreciated. 🙂

 

Tom

[jsglow]

15 hours ago, mz-s said:

I doubt they'll do much besides repaint the hull. That's pretty much all they've done to all the ships they've drydocked since the restart. But this drydock is a little longer than most of those have been so it seems like they've got a little more planned.

While that's been mostly true post re-start, as you noted she's scheduled for a month and JH did just tease more.  He wouldn't have done that for a can of blue paint.

 

I'm hopeful that the improvements are meaningful.  There's little question that both Pride and Legend are the 'signature' ships within Carnival's Spirit Class used for Europe, etc. (although with Miracle getting some exotic Galveston itineraries she's seemingly next).  I'll agree with @Tom-n-Cherylthat adding a Cucina or JiJi's hybrid would be great, perhaps squeezing it in somehow in the dated (and unprofitable) Raphael Lounge area. All four of the Spirit Class ships have that 'dead' space. Makes the engineering/architecture redesign economically more feasible.  

Edited March 10, 2023 by jsglow

[mz-s]

27 minutes ago, jsglow said:

While that's been mostly true post re-start, as you noted she's scheduled for a month and JH did just tease more.  He wouldn't have done that for a can of blue paint.

 

I'm hopeful that the improvements are meaningful.  There's little question that both Pride and Legend are the 'signature' ships within Carnival's Spirit Class used for Europe, etc. (although with Miracle getting some exotic Galveston itineraries she's seemingly next).  I'll agree with @Tom-n-Cherylthat adding a Cucina or JiJi's hybrid would be great, perhaps squeezing it in somehow in the dated (and unprofitable) Raphael Lounge area. All four of the Spirit Class ships have that 'dead' space. Makes the engineering/architecture redesign economically more feasible.  

 

More dining options are definitely needed and should be a no-brainer. There's no reason why they haven't expanded Shaq's Chicken to their entire fleet since the restart for example.

 

Be careful what you wish for regarding renovating lounges. Look at what Carnival did with the lounges on Elation for example.

[CarnivalShips480]

These are great ideas for additions but remember John Heald is dropping everything to record this fascinating thing on Pride

[Eli_6]

Fascinating for me would be properly working showers.

[ChuckF]

My experience on this class of ship (albeit limited) has been that the SkyBox Sports Bar on Deck 2 is almost always empty.  Would like to see them get rid of this and either expand the Red Frog Pub or add a specialty dining option. Don't want to see them get rid of the Red Frog Pub as that is the only venue for a band to play. Or, at least the only venue where I've seen it offered. 

[aztekpm]

As the Blue Iguana closes so early, it would be a good space to share with Shaq's as a late afternoon/dinner option. Or convert one part of the buffet to Shaq's and/or just give a couple options from the menu daily. 

 

I'd also like to see a JiJi Kitchen/Bonsai Sushi combo. On both the Legend and the Pride its usually empty, rarely more than a few in there at any time. Open up the offerings and get more patronage. I'd do JiJi options in a heartbeat!

[Tom-n-Cheryl]

10 hours ago, aztekpm said:

As the Blue Iguana closes so early, it would be a good space to share with Shaq's as a late afternoon/dinner option. Or convert one part of the buffet to Shaq's and/or just give a couple options from the menu daily. 

 

I'd also like to see a JiJi Kitchen/Bonsai Sushi combo. On both the Legend and the Pride its usually empty, rarely more than a few in there at any time. Open up the offerings and get more patronage. I'd do JiJi options in a heartbeat!

 

I was really looking forward to JiJi's on the Mardi Gras, until they pulled a fast one and melded it in with Mexican, and significantly trimmed JiJi's menu at the same time. I have basically no interest in Mexican cuisine, save some guacamole and salsa with my chips and beer/margarita !

 

Tom

[Eli_6]

I vote for a non-smoking casino like on the Breeze, Dream, etc.  Win-win.  The one on the Breeze was always pretty full when I sailed recently.

[jsglow]

12 hours ago, aztekpm said:

As the Blue Iguana closes so early, it would be a good space to share with Shaq's as a late afternoon/dinner option. Or convert one part of the buffet to Shaq's and/or just give a couple options from the menu daily. 

 

I'd also like to see a JiJi Kitchen/Bonsai Sushi combo. On both the Legend and the Pride its usually empty, rarely more than a few in there at any time. Open up the offerings and get more patronage. I'd do JiJi options in a heartbeat!

The way Shaq's is done (see Radiance) is to place it Aft where the Seafood Shack normally is on Conquest/Sunshine/Dream Class ships and move that to the side service counter in the Lido buffet. This isn't possible on the Spirit Class ships as there are no Aft food options out on Serenity and no side counters inside Lido. It MAY be possible to create a deck #10 counter just aft of the Steakhouse but ship mechanicals might be an issue.  They were able to achieve that on Sunrise with Guy's BBQ.

[jsglow]

13 minutes ago, Eli_6 said:

I vote for a non-smoking casino like on the Breeze, Dream, etc.  Win-win.  The one on the Breeze was always pretty full when I sailed recently.

While a nice addition, not my preference at all.  NS casinos are great on 'fully featured' ships but duplication on smaller vessels with limited venues.  That said, follow the money.

[TxTeach79]

On 3/11/2023 at 9:26 AM, jsglow said:

While a nice addition, not my preference at all.  NS casinos are great on 'fully featured' ships but duplication on smaller vessels with limited venues.  That said, follow the money.

 

Yeah, I don't see how that would even be feasible on Spirit class

[Tom-n-Cheryl]

On 3/10/2023 at 8:47 AM, Tom-n-Cheryl said:

We have the Pride booked for Thanksgiving this year. Even though we have one of our favorite aft corner cabins booked (deck 4), we might still pull the plug on this one - if only due to the age and condition of this ship.

...

 

I bailed on the Pride. I'm not waiting around for some "surprise" reveal, only to find it's woefully inadequate (IMO), and then miss out on a good sailing/cabin on another ship. Decided to go with HAL (keeping it within the "family") Rotterdam. Should be new/interesting, that's for sure!

 

Tom

[Old Fart Cruisers]

I assume they will also be removing the casino bar, but I wouldn't consider that “fascinating”.