This fall, Carnival will begin using a new cruise port located near the Queen Mary resort hotel in Long Beach, California. Carnival is upping the ante in Mexico cruises, bringing a new ship to Southern California, the impressive, 2100-passenger Pride.

The new ship, and the new port facility, give Carnival a major edge in the Southern California and Western Mexico cruise market. According to Brian Holmberg, Carnival Business Development Manager for Washington State, “Now the Mexico cruise passenger will begin his or her vacation in a state-Of-the-art cruise terminal facility in the shadow of the famous Queen Mary. It will be easy to drop off luggage, check-in for the cruise and then take a water taxi over to the Long Beach Aquarium or to the many fine downtown restaurants across the harbor from the ship.”

The Carnival Pride is a Panamax vessel, just small enough to fit through the Panama Canal. 80% of her staterooms are oceanview, and 80% of those accommodations feature private balconies. And, families traveling together can opt for connecting staterooms.

While the Pride’s seven-day Mexico itinerary captures the highlights of a Mexican Riviera cruise, the ship itself adds a great deal to the vacation experience. Looking for a little fun? The Pride features 12 bars and lounges, from Broadway show size, to an intimate piano bar, to a dance club that often rocks until dawn. A highlight of the Pride is David’s supper club, beneath a skylight atop the 11-story atrium. David’s, with a reproduction of Michelangelo’s famous statue of David looks like it might be a fine restaurant in Florence, Italy, but with a menu which includes stone crabs from famous Joes’ Stone Crabs in Miami Beach.

Of course the Pride has many shops along its Via Veneto, a huge gym and spa, a Nobel Library and Internet Café and a large Winner’s Club casino. There’s even a 24-hour pizzeria for those who might have an urge for a pizza or a Caesar salad anytime of the night or day.

Carnival has worked hard at improving the quality of its food. Comments have come our way about how terrific the choice and quality has become. Carnival has always been a leader when it comes to having fun, and now the food has moved up a notch matching what might be expected from those cruise lines who feature food as a key part of their product.

Value has also always been a Carnival trademark. They remain the only cruise line to offer a complete satisfaction guarantee, and they very rarely ever have to make any refunds! The staterooms are large and roomy, and the service is excellent.

The fall debut of the new Long Beach cruise port and the arrival of the Carnival Pride to the west make for a potent and powerful combination.