CARNIVAL PRIDE funnel.
The "Pride" of Carnival Cruise Lines
by Ernest K. Roller
Carnival Cruise Lines enjoys an exemplary reputation in regards to new ship deliveries. CARNIVAL PRIDE was no exception, and in fact was delivered earlier than expected from Kvaerner Masa shipyard based in Finland. PRIDE’s first official sailing was scheduled for January 12, 2002, but Carnival took advantage of the early delivery date and offered two pre-inaugural cruises. I had the opportunity to sample CARNIVAL PRIDE on one of those pre-inaugural sailings, departing Port Canaveral Florida on January 9, 2002.
For those not familiar with Carnival’s "Spirit Class" ships, they are a new breed of Panamax vessels created for longer itineraries. They are decidedly more spacious then any of their Carnival predecessors, and offer a higher level of finish. Look for them to play an important role in the expansion of Carnival Cruise Lines to more varied destinations. PRIDE is actually the third ship in the series, with COSTA ATLANTICA and CARNIVAL SPIRIT her older sisters. There are several more to follow, with CARNIVAL LEGEND and COSTA MEDITERRANEA already in service.
CARNIVAL PRIDE measures 960 feet in length, has a beam of 105.7 feet and a draft of 25.7 feet. She is registered in Panama and has a gross registered tonnage of 88,500. Her passenger compliment is 2,124 (lower occupancy), which gives her a rather respectable space ratio of 41.7. At a price of $375 million dollars to construct, she is about average in cost when compared to other vessels her size. CARNIVAL PRIDE has been sailing seven day cruises out of Port Canaveral since she was introduced, although more interesting itineraries are coming her way. PRIDE is heading for the Big Apple and will offer a series of 7-day Bermuda sailings beginning on July 16. These cruises are perfect for New Yorker’s looking for a getaway, and in addition two short party cruises are being offered on July 14 and September 5 rounding out the season. It’s likely New York won’t see PRIDE again for years to come, as she heads West this fall to her new home of Long Beach, California sailing weekly to Mexico.
Like all Carnival ships, CARNIVAL PRIDE is based on a theme that prevails throughout the ship. Designed by Joe Farcus, well known for his eclectic and sometimes over the top style, CARNIVAL PRIDE takes passengers on a journey through "Icons of Beauty". One only needs to read the names of the lounges to get the idea; David’s Supper Club, Florentine Lounge, Taj Mahal, Renaissance Atrium, Normandie Restaurant, and so on. The Renaissance era is what you will encounter most, from the reproductions on the elevator doors to a giant mural in the nine level atrium.
Topping the atrium is a full size replica of the statue of David, located appropriately enough in David’s Supper Club. Some say the décor gives PRIDE a darker look and feel compared to other Carnival ships, and I tend to agree. Personally, I think this is a good thing as PRIDE is toned down a great deal from any other Carnival ship I have sailed. The flashing Tivoli lights and blaring neon are for the most part absent. What you will find onboard are quality materials such as Italian marble, uniquely designed chairs and tables, expensive patterned carpets, and custom wall and ceiling treatments.
It had been several years since I last sailed on Carnival, and to be honest the experience left something to be desired. That was all in the past and my aspiration was to sail on the latest offering from the cruise industry’s number one player. My pre-inaugural 3-day sailing to the Bahamas seemed like just the right opportunity to test the waters and see how Carnival has evolved. Many others had the same idea, as my sailing was sold out and filled with many cruise industry notables, including Carnival President and CEO Bob Dickinson and Carnival Corporation Chairman and CEO, Micky Arison. Many other familiar faces were to be encountered during the short cruise, including several other Carnival executives up from Miami and several of Carnival’s top producing agency owners.
My fears concerning Carnival were quickly put to rest. First impressions make lasting impressions and the PRIDE’s atrium does just that. Breathtaking and spacious, with a huge bar and stage that quickly became a favorite watering hole and meeting place. On "Today’s Carnival", a classy string quartet is playing during embarkation, and I had to remind myself I was not boarding a Celebrity ship. One look at the surroundings and I quickly remembered where I was! I was assigned cabin 4134, an outside obstructed view known as category 5A. Rather then a full balcony, the cabin contained French Doors that could be opened for air. The view was completely blocked by a lifeboat but was far superior to an inside cabin, at about the same cost. Furnishings, quality, finish, and soft goods were all first rate.
Carnival has upgraded cabin décor on the Spirit Class ships, and this was a welcome change from the dormitory-like appearance of the Fantasy Class cabins. The usual amenities are provided in the spacious 185 sq ft standard cabins, including safe, TV, mini-bar, full room service (cold items only), couch, ample closets, and even bath amenities that are a new feature for Carnival. Cabin service was excellent, and our unobtrusive room steward kept the cabin in outstanding condition and even provided surprise "towel animals" on a couple nights. Suites are also available and are quite comfortable, but not nearly as opulent as those offered on other lines.
I continued to be impressed by the level of service and detail as the cruise progressed. It seems Carnival has been slowly and quietly improving it’s product, while many so-called premium lines have done just the opposite. In fact, I found the level of food and service superior to most of the premium lines I have recently experienced. CARNIVAL PRIDE offers a variety of options for dining, including the Normandie dining room inspired by the famous liner, and the informal Mermaid Grill offering an assortment of food stations in a casual environment. Both are available for breakfast, lunch, and dinner. For a true culinary experience in the tradition of the finest restaurants ashore, David’s Supper Club is the ticket. This extra-tariff dinner only restaurant is available by reservation only, and is a true supper club complete with it’s own bar, dance floor, and band. The menu featured items from Joe’s Stone Crab in Miami among other offerings. Unfortunately I was not able to secure a reservation at David’s, but I did enjoy drinks at the bar and spoke with several passengers who raved about the experience. This dining option is proving so popular that Carnival will include it on all future new builds. Dining in the beautiful Normandie main restaurant was by no means roughing it, and my table for two on the upper level was the perfect venue to enjoy the atmosphere. The food and service were excellent, and one would be hard pressed to find fault especially considering this was a shake down cruise. Carnival still creates a fun environment in the dining room, and dancing waiters and even a talented singing Maitre d’ were evening highlights. Certainly this is not to everyone’s taste, but every once in a while I had to be reminded this was in fact a Carnival Cruise!
After dinner there were many options to enjoy onboard CARNIVAL PRIDE. Two full-scale production shows were offered on this short cruise in the Taj Mahal show lounge. They were titled "Wonderful World" and "Vrooom!". Both were excellent and keeping with Carnival’s tradition of offering the best production shows on the high seas. It is interesting to note that Carnival still uses a full scale orchestra for the music in its shows, where as many other lines have opted for the cheaper and less appealing recorded music, or "click-track". A second "adult" show is offered each evening in the secondary Butterflies Lounge. If shows aren’t your thing, there are no fewer then twelve bars and lounges onboard CARNIVAL PRIDE. There is pretty much something for everyone, from sing alongs in the Ivory Piano Bar, to sports in the Perfect Game Bar. Dancing can be found in Starry Nights or Beauties nightclub into the wee hours. Carnival offers true discos onboard all their ships, and the sound and lighting rival anything on shore. Of course there are also quiet bars such as the Florentine and Raphael Lounges, as well as the full sized Winners Club Casino for games of chance. Carnival is known for it’s nightlife, and thankfully this tradition remains alive and well.
Daytime activities are typical cruise ship fare, although I felt PRIDE offered above average facilities to accommodate passenger wishes. A full wrap around teak promenade deck is offered for those seeking quiet solitude. Three good sized pools are available, one aft that is relatively quiet, one that can be covered by a glass dome should the need arise, and a main outdoor pool that is the hub of activity. Each of the pools is a step above what Carnival has offered in the past, both by being larger and by offering a surrounding tiled splash zone for those that just want to get their feet wet. What Carnival ship would be complete without a water slide, and in the case of CARNIVAL PRIDE it’s located all the way aft and away from the main pool areas. Additional facilities include an excellent shopping arcade where one can purchase the usual cruise ship merchandise, along with some more interesting articles such as the same Versace plates used in David’s Supper Club. A full-scale fitness center and spa is also featured, and is probably one of the best in design and facilities of any ship afloat. Don’t miss the steam and sauna rooms with floor to ceiling windows overlooking the sea, or the wonderful showers featuring multiple showerheads! You may want to use the fitness center for all your showers after experiencing the feeling of showering in a rain forest.
Other details such as embarkation and disembarkation were handled with ease. This was post-9/11 so security was tight but handled efficiently. Like most lines, Carnival issues a cruise card that acts as your boarding pass, cabin key, and onboard charge card. The card is imprinted with your picture during embarkation and swiped through the A-Pass security system each time you enter and exit the vessel. Nassau was our only port of call during this short sailing, and I finally had the opportunity to tour the Atlantis Hotel on Paradise Island. It was well worth the trip and highly recommended.
CARNIVAL PRIDE left me with a renewed appreciation and fondness for Carnival Cruise Lines. If you haven’t sailed Carnival lately, maybe it’s time to reconsider especially on a Spirit Class ship. The PRIDE will no doubt offer stiff competition no matter where she sails, as she offers a high caliber cruise that Carnival should be proud of and other lines wary of. She impressed me a great deal which I trust you gathered, so much so that I will try her larger and newer fleet mate CARNIVAL CONQUEST later this month.