TerReuv

18 hours ago, PinaCarada said:

Here's the info from the Carnival site about the hours and about kids dinner. We have cruised 5 times this past year with our kids (4 and 6 years old) and have found this info to be true on all of the cruises.

 

Thanks. I saw that, but it didn't say if they took the kids back after dinner.  I appreciate you actually answering my question.  We were trying to eat an earlier dinner so we could either see a show or do something with them.  Plus, the later times were taken already when I went to book.

1 minute ago, bg2310 said:

If you want to avoid crowds on Lido deck for embark day, I recommend the BBQ stall outside from Guy's Pig & Anchor on deck 8.

 

I went there on the Celebration (same class) embark day after boarding and there was very few people once outside on the deck at it, no line at all. It was pretty decent and had a variety of meats and options.

 

They are open for lunch including the day you embark.

Thanks.  Forgot about the lunch area for P & A.  

31 minutes ago, IntrepidFromDC said:

Sorry I can't remember, but Mardi Gras offers lots of new lunch alternatives the pre-Excel ships didn't, in case you want to try - I'll name a few but I'm sure others can add some I'm not thinking of... Shaq's Chicken, Shawarma, etc.  Here's a link to a previous similar thread, and it incudes the Fun Times lunch offerings...

 

 

Thanks.  We were just hoping to avoid the Lido deck on embark day for lunch.  First time that our son & his family will be joining us, which includes the grandkids almost 3 & 4.  Just figured it would be a bit less overwhelming when we first get on to have lunch in a quieter area. 

Appreciate the link.  It's a big help.

We're sailing on the Mardi Gras for the first time and we love going to the Captain's Pasta Bar on embark day as it usually not crowded like the Lido deck is.  Can anyone who's been on Mardi Gras confirm if the Pasta Bar is in Cucina for lunch?

Thanks!

This will be our first time cruising with our son & his family.  There are 2 little ones (almost 3 & 4 1/2 by cruise).  The adults wanted to do the steakhouse without the kids.  How does it work with the kids clubs and them having dinner with the group? I understand they have a section of the lido blocked off for them, but can they be in the club and be taken to dinner then back to the club, or do we drop off in the lido? Do we have to make them a reservation? We would like to book the steakhouse ahead of time, but just are not sure about the times.  We're going to be on the Mardi Gras.

Any information would be appreciated.  We've been on several cruises & a few with my parents, but this is the first time with little ones.  Thanks in advance!

Two lunch quesrtions. Is Cucina open for the free Pasta Bar for lunch on Maradi Gras? And is there a free stir fry lunch anywhere like the Mongolian Wok or the lunch at JiJi's?

Thanks!

On 11/17/2023 at 9:29 AM, rainbowflag said:

Seriously though, I do think Carnival asks the crew to do too much at times. Telling an oiler in the engine room after their shift they have to parade around on stage in the main lounge in front of guests, for example. 

Do you know that Carnival makes them do that or is that possibly something that is an option for them? Maybe they ask for volunteers from the crew who want to participate?

On 11/9/2023 at 3:56 PM, txcruiser1234 said:

I know it's a port authority thing, but these enhanced drug searches occur inside the Carnival embarkation process and affect the beginning of the cruise experience. I've been pulled out of line 2 out of our last 3 Carnival cruises (both from Galveston). The first time I chalked up to happenstance, but two out three seems like a trend. Both times, they were pulling about 1 person a minute into the interrogation area. None of the 50 or so searches I witnessed turned up anything. Seems like they are casting a very wide net. 

 

****************

My cruise survey comment to Carnival:

 

Great cruise... would have been a 10 if not for the needless embarkation drug search. I know it's a port authority thing, but it nonetheless affects the overall cruise experience. It turns our normally great priority boarding experience into a questionably invasive pre-boarding interrogation. Having your neatly packed bags tossed in front of you, the groping head to toe (and everything in between) pat down and having to answer personal questions about non-existent drug use are off-putting to say the least and the 30-40 minutes of wasted time are unrecoverable. The fact that the 25 other cruisers pulled into the detention area with me had no prohibited substances (we were all sent on our not so merry ways) leads me to question the methods used to rope folks into these searches. This was the second time in our last three Carnival cruises that this has happened. Together, I've witnessed about 50 of these searches and no one had anything. At the rates they are pulling people into these searches, it's an inefficient and ineffective process that puts hundreds of targets and their traveling companions in foul moods to kickoff the cruise.

*****************

 

Anyway, just wondering if this is something others have noticed or experienced recently...

Considering that you know it is a port authority thing, not a Carnival thing, why would you even complain to Carnival? They can't do anything about it. If you really wanted to complain, why not complain to the actual port where it occured instead of wasting time & energy complaining to Carnival?

On 10/24/2023 at 3:02 PM, staceyglow said:

If it means anything, I have been following this board for awhile and I don't recall anyone bringing this issue up before.  I have also never heard of anyone getting "hacked" on the ship, either.  

 

If you want to steal data by hacking a network, it would be pretty inefficient to do it on a cruise ship app that has very little (if any) valuable information.

I was going to say the same thing.  I have been on this site for a little over 10 years and am on several FB pages that are relevant to Carnival and also have never seen anyone report someone hacking their phone.  I would think if it happened, someone would have posted about it somewhere. 

Anyone been on the 6 day Mardi Gras since the new menus and have the order & pictures?  I'm trying to figure out the order and the elegant night(s).  We haven't been on a 6 day so not sure how many elegent nights.  Also wanting to see when we want to book specialty dining, but need the order of the menu's for the 6 day.  

BTW - I've searched and have found the new menus and the order for a 7 day, but it's likely not the same order for a 6 day.

Thanks in advance!

On 6/1/2023 at 6:01 PM, Lvwindstar007 said:

We were just notified that for our Horizon cruise departing Miami 8 June(next week), NO water and NO wine can be brought aboard, even in you caryon.  FWIW: Jack in Reno NV

Who notified you?  You haven't been able to take on water (except in cartons) for quite a while.  But, I haven't heard anything about wine.  Where are you sailing out of?

On 5/24/2023 at 4:00 PM, Knights on the Beach said:

 

We found the wait to be very short if we checked in right when it opened. Keep an eye on the app because it often opened for check in about 10-15 minutes before those restaurants actually opened.

Thank you!

On 5/21/2023 at 4:15 PM, CruizinSusan70 said:

As a side note, if you enjoy a snack before bed, a good tip is to go to the deli and get a cold sandwich and then put it in the frig in your cabin.  After 10:00, the only options are pizza or sometimes a mini buffet opens up at Guy's but the lines at both were long on our last MG cruise.  Had the turkey on a pretzel roll and it was good.

Great idea!  Thanks!

1 hour ago, jsglow said:

I'll suggest Cucina del Capitano (Italian) for their pasta lunch.  They are physically bigger than JiJi's so you'll all fit nicely.

I second the Cucina for lunch.  So many are busy packing the lido buffet that it gets missed on embark day.  It's usually a sea of calm compared to the buffet.  The menu below is from 2022, but you basically sit down and check what you want, hand it to the wait staff and wait for your food to be delivered.  No standing in line or finding a place to sit because it usually (at least my experience) isn't crowded on embark.

Thanks.  I figured they would, but better to ask to be sure.  This will be our first time on the Mardi Gras.  Looking forward to all the dining options and checking out this huge ship. 

 Hijacking my own thread...I'm still figuring out how it works with ATD, ChiBang & Cucina for dinner.  It sounds like if I want to eat at one of the alternates, I just need to check in on the app like I would for the dining room.  Then just go when called.  We just have to wait until the MDR is opened before we can check in.  Is that right?  

I know that the sandwiches are pre-made, but can you get one without someting?  For example, can I get the grilled Ham & Cheese without the mustard or with mayo instead of mustard?  I would image that the condiments aren't already on the sandwichs or they would get soggy.

Thanks!

On 4/17/2023 at 11:08 AM, ObstructedView2 said:

 

Hi @zanydoc🙂

 

On Horizon, on Embarkation day, JiJi's & Cucina do not open until 5:30.

 

 

 

 

 

🍹

It's listed as the Mongolian Wok and Pasta Bar.  

On 4/12/2023 at 5:22 PM, staceyglow said:

Go to either Ji JI's, Cucina del Capitano, or Pig and Anchor for lunch on embark day

 

They are usually uncrowded because people haven't discovered them yet.

This!!!!  It is so serene compared to the buffet on embark day.  Plus, you get waited on vs. standing in line with your carry ons.  Oh, and they're all free for lunch.

On 1/24/2023 at 3:22 AM, Pellaz said:

 

Cucina does indeed have the free/included lunch menu and does indeed do the pasta-bowl for lunch.  

 

Chibang! has a much larger menu than Jiji's or Mongolian Wok, but it DOES include the stir-fry bowl options as on other ships.  Sit-down service as opposed to waiting in a line like the Wok.   Stir-fry is one of my immediate go to's; I'm a FIEND for it.  🙂  

 

Both were awesome, and alas, both were not open on embark day.   We were brutally disappointed.  (But somehow we survived.  😄 ) 

Thank you!  I also love stir fry.  Disappointed to hear they weren't open on embark day.  We always enjoy going to Cucina because most people still don't know they can eat there.  Much nicer than the lido deck.

Can anyone tell me if on the Mardi Gras does Cucina have the lunch menu?  Also, is there a bowl lunch menu like Mongolian Wok?  

Thanks!

35 minutes ago, CajunOyster said:

 

Just curious, but what drinks are you getting 16oz of at a 12oz price?  I'm trying to think of a drink that's sold in a 12oz size and honestly drawing a blank...

 

12 oz is the size of the regular cups they put frozen dinks in.  There is always some left in the blender.  When you use the tervis 16 oz cups, the entire amount is poured into your cup.  I can't even put the lid on it until I drink some down.  Also the drinks last longer in the tervis cups.

On 1/20/2023 at 11:53 AM, Eli_6 said:

Is this at all the bars or just the Red Frog and Blue Iguana?  That seems like a good deal since you are basically getting 33 percent more every time you get a drink plus you are getting a glass to take home. 

 

One time we bought a souvenir fish cup (looked like a fish) on Carnival and that was a good deal (same thing where you got 16 ounce for the price of the 12 ounce), but I have no idea where it is now and it seems like we probably lost some of the pieces to it because it had about 4 pieces you had to keep up with...fish head, fish tale, cup inside and straw.

Any bar.  I brought both of the cups I bought 4 years ago and used it all cruise long at every bar I went to on the ship.  No issues,  16 oz at 12 oz price.  It's a great deal since you can use the cup over and over.  Just rinsed them out with hot water & a little soap each evening (or if switching drinks) and leave to dry on wash cloth overnight.

So, we have a cruise we have put on hold and the promo expires today.  It looks like our PVP is off as her message on her VM is from the Thursday before Christmas.  I have left a message and sent an email.  Can anyone tell me if the promo will still be honored if we have the cruise on hold for 48 hours?  I hate to book it myself and not let her get credit for it.

TIA.

This is our first time sailing out of Miami.  We will be on the Horizon which I believe is Terminal D.  Looking at the map of the port, it seems that it is one way on each side of the parking decks.  Do we drive through to let them take our luggage and then (from what I can tell) you basically have to circle the parking deck again to get in to park?  It looks like if you drive to drop off luggage, the exit from the actual terminal is past the entrance to the parking deck so you have to circle.  Can anyone confirm any of this?  Or even give me some more information.  

Thanks!

9 hours ago, BarbieGee said:

This is off my original topic but... What are the benefits of MTD vs MDRx2? Does the fixed time place your party at the same table each time one dines? (we will be a party of 4) I experienced this on Royal Caribbean. MTD... different table each time you reserve? That was the case on Norwegian.

You can reserve using the hub app.  When you get to the MDR, you can ask for the same waitstaff and they can usually accommodate you. We've only not been able to do that once.  We love YTD.

On the Carnival website you can go to Manage your Cruise and then go to your Booking & Order Details.  Scroll down and under Your Bookings you will see where you can change your dining choice (as long as it is available).  It's to the right of your bed set up.