Overall Score

BERLITZ'S RATING
	Possible	Achieved
Ship	500	427
Accommodation	200	154
Food	400	234
Service	400	270
Entertainment	100	86
Cruise	400	293

How this score is created

Carnival Pride (sister to Carnival Legend, Carnival Miracle and Carnival Spirit, all of which can transit the Panama Canal) is the 17th new ship for this very successful cruise line. The ship, whose bows are extremely short, has the distinctive, large, swept-back wing-tipped funnel that is the trademark of Carnival Cruise Lines, in the company colors of red, white and blue. The ship is longer than the company’s larger quintet (Carnival Conquest, Carnival Destiny, Carnival Glory, Carnival Triumph, and Carnival Victory, all of which measure over 100,000 tons), and only a hair’s breadth shorter than Cunard Line’s Queen Elizabeth 2 (which the Carnival Corporation, Carnival Cruise Lines’ parent company, owns).

The lobby is immense, spanning eight decks, and the decor includes lots of larger than life women’s breasts, bums, and nude men – all reproductions from the Renaissance period. The atrium lobby has a stunning 37-ft high (11-meter) reproduction of Raphael’s Nymph Galatea that is best seen from any of the multiple viewing balconies on each deck above the main lobby floor level. There’s no question about it – the surroundings are quite stunning.

The decor is extremely artistic (eclectic, in fact), with art being the theme throughout the ship – even elevator doors and interiors display reproductions (blown-up, over-grainy photographic copies) of some of the great Renaissance masters such as Gauguin, Matisse and Vignali.

There are two whole entertainment/public room decks, the upper of which also has an exterior promenade deck – something new for this cruise line. Although it doesn’t go around the whole ship, it’s long enough to do some serious walking on. There is also a jogging track outdoors, located around the ship’s mast and the forward third of the ship.

A small wedding chapel is forward of the uppermost level of the two main entertainment decks, adjacent to the library and internet center. Other facilities include a winding shopping street with boutique sections for brands such as Fendi, Fossil, Tommy Hilfiger, plus Carnival logo items. There’s a photo gallery, video games room, an observation balcony in the center of the vessel (at the top of the multi-deck atrium), and a large casino, with gaming tables, slot machines, bar and entertainment.

The information desk in the lobby is quite small, and can become congested. You need a credit card to operate the personal safe, an inconvenience. You’ll endure a stream of flyers advertising daily promotions, while “artworks” for auction are strewn throughout the ship. Many pillars obstruct passenger flow. Those in the dining room, for example, make it difficult for proper food service by the waiters.

Books and computers are cohabitants in the library/ internet center, but to get a book you have to lean over those using a computer – an awkward arrangement. Public toilets are spartan and could do with some cheering up.

Berlitz Guide © Apa Publishing 2008