Carnival Cruise Lines - Pride Mexican Riviera Review

As a first time cruiser, I didn't know what to expect initially.  Here are a list of my pros and cons I experienced on this cruise:

Pros:

The all-inclusive aspect was great.  Don't have to worry about food, transportation, lodging, entertainment costs while on the ship.

Staff on the Pride were excellent.  Courteous room stewards and very attentive dining staff. 

Good dining selections and overall food quality ranged from pretty good to excellent. 

Port locations were all fun, my advice would be to save money by not booking excursions through Carnival.  Look into smaller businesses who advertise their excursions online, or be adventurous and create your own excursions when you leave the ship.

Balcony rooms are well worth the extra $$!  Interior rooms are not at all bad either, and keep in mind that you probably won't spend much time in your room.

Cons:

$$ of spa treatments.  There are usually special deals on certain days, however.

Decks and pool areas CROWDED every day.  Very small chance to grab a chair pool side later than 10:00 a.m.

If you're not a smoker, you may be bothered by the many smoking areas allowed throughout the ship.