Carnival Pride: A Fun And Fabulous Cruise Experience?

Carnival Pride is a cruise ship that was built in 2002 and has been refurbished several times since, most recently in 2023. It is one of the oldest ships in the Carnival fleet but has been upgraded to Carnival Funship 2.0 standards, so passengers can expect the popular venues and amenities found on newer ships. The ship has an over-the-top decor inspired by Michelangelo, the Renaissance, and Victorian England, with plenty of artwork, heavy fabrics, and dark colours. It has a range of dining options, from casual spots like Guy's Burger Joint and Bonsai Sushi to more refined venues such as the Normandie Restaurant and Fahrenheit 555 Steakhouse. There are also various entertainment options, including Playlist Productions, Dr Seuss-themed activities, and a spa. Overall, reviews for the Carnival Pride are mixed, with some praising the service and variety of dining and entertainment options, while others criticise the food and claim the ship is dated.

Carnival Pride's dining options

The Carnival Pride cruise ship offers a wide variety of dining options to satisfy any craving. Here is a detailed overview of the dining experience on the Carnival Pride:

Main Dining Options:

The Normandie Restaurant, also known as the main dining room, is a stunning space with windows on three sides and a unique design. It can accommodate up to 1250 diners and offers two fixed dinner seatings or flexible "Your Time Dining." It serves breakfast and dinner, with a sea day brunch option on sea days. The menu includes classics like eggs Benedict and steak and eggs for breakfast and a mix of standard and rotating items for dinner, such as shrimp cocktail and braised rabbit. The "American Table" and "American Feast" menus offer a range of appetizers, entrees, and desserts.

The Mermaid Grille Lido Buffet Restaurant is a casual dining option with 1458 seats and complimentary food stations. It serves breakfast, lunch, and dinner, with a variety of options like country-specific cuisine, comfort food, an extensive salad bar, and a dessert bar. The Lido Deck, located at the ship's stern, also offers various food stations and dining tables for a more relaxed meal.

Alternative Dining Options:

The Carnival Pride also offers several alternative dining spots beyond the main dining room and buffet:

• BlueIguana Cantina: This popular spot serves Mexican fare like made-to-order tacos, burritos, and salads for lunch and custom breakfast burritos.
• Guy's Burger Joint: One of the ship's most popular eateries, serving fresh hamburgers and seasoned French fries with a toppings bar.
• Bonsai Sushi: An entire Asian restaurant, not just a sushi bar, offering appetizers, soups, salads, sashimi, bento boxes, and sushi rolls.
• David's Steakhouse (renamed Fahrenheit 555 Steakhouse in 2023): A fine dining, reservations-only restaurant serving seafood and prime beef steaks. It has a cover charge of $35 per person, which includes an appetizer, entree, dessert, and gratuity.
• Pizza Pirate: Open 24 hours and serving five types of pizza, including pepperoni and margherita, along with Caesar salad.
• The Piazza Cafe: A coffee and pastry bar with specialty coffee drinks, milkshakes, cookies, and cakes.

Special Dining Experiences:

In addition to the regular dining options, the Carnival Pride offers unique dining experiences:

• The Chef's Table: A multi-course meal that starts with a private tour of the galley with the master executive chef. It is available once or twice per cruise, depending on demand, and reservations are required.
• Dr. Seuss Green Eggs & Ham Breakfast: A family-friendly dining experience in the main dining room, featuring Dr. Seuss-themed foods and character appearances. It is usually held on the last sea day, and reservations are required.

Room Service:

The Carnival Pride also offers 24-hour room service, including a continental breakfast, a limited lunch and dinner menu, and a fee-based menu with hot items. However, room service is not available on debarkation day.

Carnival Pride's entertainment options

The Carnival Pride cruise ship offers a wide range of entertainment options for all ages. The ship's decor is inspired by Michelangelo, the Renaissance, and Victorian England, with massive paintings, heavy fabrics, and artistic design elements throughout. Here is a breakdown of the entertainment options:

Entertainment for All Ages

The Carnival Pride has various entertainment venues and activities suitable for all passengers. The main theater, the Taj Mahal Main Lounge, hosts Playlist Productions shows, "Hasbro, The Game Show", the "Love & Marriage Show", and other fun activities like towel folding, bingo, and the "Seuss-A-Palooza Story Time." The Lido Deck is a popular spot for evening deck parties, including the Mega Deck Party, Electric White Night, and the '80s Rock-n-Glow Party. The Renaissance Lobby also features live music, music trivia, and interactive seminars. The Carnival Seaside Theater, located by the midship pool, plays recent family-friendly movies.

Entertainment for Adults

For adult passengers seeking entertainment, there are several options:

• Beauties Nightclub: A two-story nightclub on Decks 1 and 2, with a dance floor, seating, and a large bar.
• Bars and Lounges: Carnival Pride offers a variety of bars and lounges, including the Butterflies Lounge, RedFrog Pub, SkyBox Sports Bar, Renaissance Lobby Bar, Alchemy Bar, Ivory Piano Bar, Raphael Lounge, and more. Each bar has its unique theme and beverage offerings.
• Casino: The Winners' Club Casino offers gaming tables, slot machines, and tournaments for games like Texas Hold'em, blackjack, and slots.
• Serenity Retreat: An adults-only area where passengers can relax and unwind, featuring a pool, hot tub, lounge chairs, and shaded seating.
• Spa: Pride's spa offers a range of treatments, massages, and salon services.

Entertainment for Children

Carnival Pride also provides a variety of entertainment options specifically for children:

• Dr. Seuss-themed Activities: Including the "Seuss-A-Palooza Parade & Story Time," Green Eggs and Ham Breakfast, and character appearances.
• Camp Ocean: A kids' club with activities and games for different age groups, such as arts and crafts, science, and discovery.
• Circle C and Club O2: Programs for preteens and teens, respectively, offering scavenger hunts, karaoke, themed nights, and more.
• Carnival WaterWorks: An aqua park with water slides, sprayers, and a splash zone for children of all ages.
• Real Virtuality Video Arcade: A video game arcade for passengers of all ages.

Dining Entertainment

In addition to the entertainment options mentioned above, Carnival Pride offers a diverse range of dining options, each with its unique atmosphere and culinary delights:

• Normandie Restaurant: A main restaurant with a zen-like simplicity and art deco ocean liner-inspired design.
• Bonsai Sushi: A sushi bar offering Asian cuisine.
• Fahrenheit 555 Steakhouse: A fine dining steakhouse with seafood and prime beef steaks.
• Mermaid Grille: A casual dining alternative.
• Mermaid Bistro: A buffet-style Lido dining option.
• Guy's Burger Joint: Serving casual meals by celebrity chef Guy Fieri.
• BlueIguana Cantina: A Mexican-themed bar and restaurant serving tequila-based drinks and Mexican cuisine.
• Heroes Tribute Bar & Lounge: A venue dedicated to honouring US military personnel, with specialty cocktails and custom-made pint glasses.

Carnival Pride's stateroom options

Carnival Pride has a wide range of stateroom options to suit different preferences and budgets. Here is a detailed overview of the stateroom choices available:

Interior Staterooms

The interior staterooms offer a comfortable and affordable option for passengers. These rooms are ideal for curling up and relaxing after a long day of activities. They feature floor-to-ceiling windows with an obstructed view, providing extra lounging space and a sitting area with a sofa. Each interior stateroom includes a dedicated stateroom attendant, ample closet and drawer space, climate control, and an in-room safe for valuables.

Ocean View Staterooms

The ocean view staterooms provide stunning views of the ocean and destinations that cannot be seen from land. These comfy rooms allow passengers to sail while enjoying breathtaking vistas. Ocean view staterooms offer a personal outdoor oasis, maximising the sea breeze and enhancing the cruising experience. They also include a dedicated stateroom attendant, ample storage space, climate control, and an in-room safe.

Balcony Staterooms

Balcony staterooms are designed to maximise the sea breeze and offer breathtaking views. They provide a seamless indoor-outdoor experience, with spacious balconies that invite guests to relax and take in the fresh air. These staterooms include all the standard amenities, such as a dedicated stateroom attendant, ample storage, climate control, and an in-room safe.

Premium Balcony Staterooms

The premium balcony staterooms offer even more space and comfort. Stepping into one of these staterooms, guests will find a spacious indoor area and an oversized balcony, perfect for kicking back and enjoying the sea breeze. These staterooms may have obstructed views, but they still provide a relaxing outdoor space. They include all the standard amenities, ensuring a comfortable and convenient stay.

Aft-View Extended Balcony Staterooms

These staterooms feature larger balconies, providing more lounge space and offering some of the best stern-side views. Guests can relax on their spacious balcony and gaze upon the ship's gentle wake. The extended balcony staterooms also offer ample indoor space, comfortable furnishings, and plenty of sunlight. They include all the standard amenities for a pleasant cruising experience.

Grand Suites

The Grand Suites aboard Carnival Pride offer abundant space and a range of exclusive amenities. These suites feature a huge balcony, a convenient dressing area with a vanity, and priority services such as priority check-in, boarding, and debarkation. They also include priority Main Dining Room time assignment, two large bottles of water, and all the standard stateroom amenities.

Vista Suites

The Vista Suites are known for their panoramic views. They feature a wraparound balcony that provides a wide-angle perspective of the ocean and destinations. The suites also offer a unique inside view with a wall of windows, bringing the beauty of the outdoors into the room. Vista Suites include priority services, such as check-in, boarding, and debarkation, as well as priority Main Dining Room time assignment and two large bottles of water.

Ocean Suites

Ocean Suites provide a luxurious and private cruising experience. These suites offer more space, both indoors and on the large balcony. They include exclusive amenities such as VIP check-in, a walk-in closet, and a bathroom with a tub. Priority services, such as check-in, boarding, and debarkation, are also included, along with priority Main Dining Room time assignment and two large bottles of water.

Junior Suites

Junior Suites offer a more compact yet luxurious option. They feature a standard-size balcony and include VIP check-in, a walk-in closet, and a relaxing tub. Junior Suites also come with priority services, such as check-in, boarding, and debarkation, as well as priority Main Dining Room time assignment and two large bottles of water.

Carnival Pride's refurbishment

Carnival Pride underwent a month-long refurbishment in 2023, from April 28 to May 27, at the Navantia Shipyard in Cadiz, Spain. The ship received various upgrades, modifications, and new features to improve accessibility for guests with disabilities.

During the refurbishment, Carnival Pride received three new venues: the Heroes Tribute Bar & Lounge, the Carnival Adventures Shop, and the Dreams Photo Studio. The wellness complex, Cloud 9 Spa & Fitness Center, was fully renovated and received new equipment. The hull was cleaned, repainted, and Carnival's new livery—a red, white, and blue design—was added. Various machinery and equipment also received overhauls and upgrades.

Several changes were made to the ship's layout. On Deck 1, the lower level of the Beauties Dance Club was replaced with passenger cabins and the Chef's Table, a VIP dining room. On Deck 2, the Skybox Sports Bar was replaced with the Heroes Tribute Bar & Lounge, and the Crystal Card Room was replaced with the Carnival Adventures Store. The casino was redesigned and expanded. On Deck 3, the Nobel Library/Internet Cafe and the adjacent chapel were replaced with The Warehouse Arcade. On Deck 4, the Real Virtuality Video Arcade was replaced with The Cove, a lounge for teens. On Deck 5, Camp Carnival was renamed Camp Ocean. On Deck 10, the David's Steakhouse was replaced with the Fahrenheit 555 Steakhouse, a two-level dining experience. On Deck 11, an aqua park, Carnival Waterworks, was added. Additionally, 450 cabin balconies were renovated as part of the refurbishment.

The 2023 refurbishment was not the first for Carnival Pride. The ship also underwent major drydock projects in 2019 and 2014. The 2019 refurbishment, from February 3 to 16, included the Fun Ship 2.0 upgrade.

Carnival Pride's dress code

The dress code on the Carnival Pride cruise ship is casual during the day and elegant on formal evenings.

Daytime

During the day, most passengers dress casually and for the sun, wearing items such as shorts, t-shirts, flip-flops, swimsuits, and cover-ups.

Evening

On most nights, dinner in the main dining room is casual, with passengers wearing jeans, khakis, dress shorts, and sundresses. However, during a week-long cruise, there will typically be two elegant nights. On these nights, most passengers wear suits, dress pants with sports jackets, and Sunday dresses. Formal dresses and sequined gowns are less common.

Dining

It is important to note that cutoff jeans, shorts, and swimwear are not permitted in any dining venue except the buffet. While shorts and t-shirts are allowed at the buffet restaurant, they are not well-received at the à la carte restaurants.

Other Recommendations

The recommended attire for cruises to Canada and New England includes pullovers, jackets, and raincoats. For cruises to Alaska, warm clothing, such as pullovers, a raincoat, and an umbrella, are suggested.

Frequently asked questions