Our Carnival Cruise

 Over the school break last week we surprised the kids with a vacation. A seven-day cruise on the Carnival Pride. We love cruising. It's the perfect way for all four of us to do what we like on vacation. Together but apart. 

  Kids Clubs are always a big deal for us. This ship was no exception. Riley loves to hang out there but this time he tired of it....for no apparent reason. The first three or four days though he really enjoyed it and came out happy and tired. Unlike Norwegian Cruiseline's club, which closes for mealtimes, the staff would take the kids to the buffet for dinner. They ate together in a cordoned off area and had a special buffet line with their food that was not accessible to others. Safety first.

  Alex was in the 11-13 age group....I love how they separate them in small age groups as do the other two cruiselines we've traveled with. And boy did we get our monies worth this time! The hours were staggered...early afternoon then opens again at 8:30 til 1:00-1:30.Video games, sports and movies were on the agenda most days. The counselor was easy going and while the kids were free to come and go without permission, he kept them engaged and they wanted to hang out with him. 

  This ship was smaller than others we've sailed on but still very pretty and interesting to walk around and admire. The glass elevators allowed you to people watch and see some of the artwork on your way to your room or the pool. There is a small art gallery and some shops. The candy store, Cherry On Top, is a must visit. Riley bought the company blanket that is another level of soft! 

  The bars are everywhere and most had live music daily. Vibe Nation played by the pool daily and were definitely the best band on board. They could, and did, take any song and give it an island vibe. The bar beside the pool, made margaritas by the pitcher that were very enjoyable. Even more so when enjoyed on a sofa in the adults only area, watching the island coastline.

  While the weather wasn't what we had hoped for, the ship was equipped with a retractable roof over the pool area which extended the warmth on the return journey. That gave us an extra day of pool time which was greatly appreciated. 

  The Blue Iguana made awesome burritos and tacos. Guy's Burgers is there too with limited hours and long lines but worth the wait. I thought Alex would try the burger made out of bacon but he passed. With only one sit down restaurant included in the cruise fare, evening meals are fairly boring. The food is very good and the menu changes nightly but it's the same restaurant. 

  Our stateroom was clean and larger than on newer ships. Dated but that's to be expected. Lots of closet space though and, I would bet, a brand new mattress that was very much appreciated. Our attendant was Wayman who showed up twice a day with fresh towels and a smile on his face. Amazingly, from day one he called us by name and anticipated our every need. They work harder than anyone for you.

  I have only two complaints about the entire week. Excluding the weather of course....no one has control over that. The first is the teeny tiny non-smoking area of the casino. After a very short period of time, I came out of there reeking of smoke and in need of a shower. I did win $500 so I didn't mind the smoke that much ;)

  My second complaint is the debarkation. This is not only an issue for Carnival but also for both Norwegian and Disney. But having to carry your bags down a flight of stairs is unacceptable. This is, of course, only if you are trying to get off early. But the staff handled it badly and if someone complained they were brought to the elevators and brought to the lower level. Leaving the rest of us angry, frustrated and standing in a very long, unmoving line. Those who complained and made a scene were compensated. That is the easiest way to leave a bad taste in passengers mouths.

  Overall we would give it an 8 out of 10! That's not bad.

  Ang