Welcome to Your Favorites, where you have the opportunity to share your travel experiences with fellow Internet Travelers around the world.

Carnival Cruise Line

MS Carnival Pride

Your Rating:
Reviewed by: Don Carl
Date of Trip: July 6, 2002
# previous cruises: 10+
Itinerary: Caribbean - Eastern

The ship "Carnival Pride" was wonderful, a very large (88,000 tons), new, Panamax sized ship. Panamax means the largest possible ship able to transit the Panama Canal. This was a clean, beautiful ship that is a pleasure to visit. Quite good food, friendly efficient crew. I'd guess about 2,500 passengers. Azipod propelled - essentially electric outdrives beneath the stern, replacing the gear boxes, shafting, and rudders - very quiet and efficient. This was the prettiest ship my wife and I have ever seen by far. Not at all the usual Joe Farkus' Carnival glitz! I only wish the itinerary was comparable. This ship can be recommended to anyone, anytime.

Many, large, comfortable public areas. My wife was glad to see there were many smoking lounges. The only smoke that ever bothered me was when someone in an adjacent seat in the casino lit up. The walkways between the public areas were wide and easily traveled by many people at once. The casino and staff was outstanding.

Food was very good in the main dining room. Lido buffet had a very good selection and was surprisingly good. The wait staff in the main dining room could have done a better job, however, their friendly, outgoing personalities more than made up for any deficiencies. Freestyle dining would be an improvement.

Very good cabin. Category 8C, with extended balcony. Three closets, four drawers, three large shelves, two night stands, space next to safe for storage. Large hardside suitcases easily fit under the beds. Mattresses very hard, housekeeping staff could not provide foam "eggcrate" to soften bed - other cruise lines provide this. Sofa, table and desk were very adequate. Air conditioning causes a cold draft directly on sleepers heads all night - a hand towel stuffed into the appropriate side of the air conditioning plenum fixes this problem.

Shows and entertainers - good. Cruise staff - very good.

Our cruise holiday was somewhat different than the usual. Our itinerary was supposed to be visits of a private island "Half Moon Key", the islands of St. Thomas and St. Martin and three "sea days". The private island had too much wind for tendering passengers ashore so a few hours one evening at San Juan, Puerto Rico was substituted - somewhat of an improvement, casinos in exchange for a beach picnic. I suspect the Captain has a girl friend in San Juan.

Then we visited St. Thomas, U. S. Virgin Islands (enjoyable once or twice, we've been there probably 12 or 15 times) Crowded tourist shopping on a very crowded island. We only did a little shopping right at the dock. We were told the port at St. Martin was closed due to high winds so we and at least two other cruise ships went elsewhere - we later were told the port closure was due to an unsubstantiated bomb threat against a cruise ship at St. Martin. This didn't make much sense - anyhow, we went to Nassau, Bahamas for a few hours. This was another port that we've visited at least 12 or 15 times versus only once to St. Martin. Oh well, more casino visit time. Could the Captain have a girl friend in Nassau also?

An eclectic mix of people from the deep South and Yankees. We stayed with our own group throughout the cruise.