TerReuv

On 6/17/2024 at 7:15 AM, cruiserNC said:

From what I have seen from recent utube Mardi Gras videos, if you arrive on parking deck 3 before 10:00am, it is blocked, and you are asked to wait on the ground level. I would guess you could stay in your vehicle until that time or speak with the person managing the blocked area. 

That's a good idea.  We can do that for sure. I have watched several, but can only find a couple that are less than 6 months old.  I know things can change in that amount of time. We've only cruised out of Canaveral a couple of times, and never on the Mardi Gras.  When we last cruised out of there it was on the Magic and just the two of us.  We literally parked where we got out of the car & the crosswalk was right there to the terminal. This time with my son & his family (2 & 4 yr old) and my DIL's grandmother I feel that I need to be even more prepared. In case you couldn't figure it out, I am the planner.  🙂

On 6/15/2024 at 9:23 PM, cruisinqt said:

We’ve been on the Celebration twice, the Mardi Gras twice, and the Jubilee once. And I can say for absolute certain that Cucina Del Capitano is NOT open for lunch on embarkation day on the Excel class. If it was open it would be my first choice for lunch. The reason it’s not open is because it’s being used for muster drills on that first day. So is Chibang, it’s closed for the same reason. Cucina has the free lunches all week long too, just not on embarkation day. 

Thanks.  That at least makes sense.  It's always such a nice option on Embark and leaving the crazies on the lido deck.  LOL  We will definitely go for lunch during the week & the make your own bowls at Chibang sound like the Mongolian Wok.  

I've heard several different answers about this.  Can anyone confirm who (if anyone) can use the bridge on level 3 of the parking deck for Mardi Gras?  Our group has 2 cabins that have FTTF & someone using a walker that will have wheelchair assistance to get on the ship (pre-arranged).  Don't want to choose the wrong level to make it easier on our one with the walker.  

Thanks!

This is crazy.  On the ships that have it, we have always had lunch at the Captain's Pasta Bar (Cucina) on embark as it is so much quieter and nice to be served. I asked the question about Cucina being open for lunch on Mardi Gras and got so many different answers.  Some said it was open, some said only on sea days and some said not at all for lunch.  No idea what is right at this point.

6 hours ago, Knights on the Beach said:

Diamond, suites, Platinum and Faster to the Fun have priority. It will be shown on your boarding pass and luggage tags if you have priority.

Does that include handicap?  Two of our cabins have FTTF, but we didn't get it for the handicap one since they get on before FTTF. 

On 6/12/2024 at 2:24 PM, Knights on the Beach said:

 

Yes, I agree with this. Some of these replies make me wonder if they're even talking about the Mardi Gras garage at terminal 3??

That was what I was wondering.  I saw a video showing people driving in and them taking the luggage inside the parking garage before you park.  

10 hours ago, Elaine5715 said:

Apparently knowing someone's booking number and last name means you can cancel their cruise.  

 

I believe I read she posted all her details online, is that correct?  I can't imagine why anyone would post their booking number online.  I don't even post we are going on a cruise until after we return. 

20 hours ago, tytanbri said:

I do this every cruise. We cruise typically with three rooms. Each room books on their own and then our PVP links them. Once they are linked, I add the other two cruises to my cruise manager. You just need their booking number to do this. On check in day, I check in all three rooms at the same time. I have never had to log in to their accounts. They will go in after they are checked in to complete the remainder of their information (passports/credit card info). We can each print out our own boarding passes or they can be printed out by one person. 

 

Hope this helps!

Thank you!  That was my thought since I could actually pay on their account if I wanted to.  I can see all their details in my cruise mananger page. Glad to hear others have been able to do this.

17 minutes ago, finoky said:

The people I did it for do not have accounts. The reservations were linked. I could see everything from my login. I did it all for them. There would be no other way possible they could do this on their own. They are not capable. 

Mine can do it, justr trying to make it easier. We are listed as Cruise Companions, but our PVP actually linked the reservations.  I'm hoping that makes a difference.  It just seemed that if I could see their actual account balances and pay on their cruise if I wanted to, then I should be able to check them in.  

Thanks for both answers.  Hope to hear from a few others to see if there is a trend.  I figured it would be easier for me to do everyone, and only one person would have to be up to do it.

18 minutes ago, Old Fart Cruisers said:

 

Just having them linked won't allow you to do their check-in.  You will have to log in with their account information and password.

I could make a payment on their account if I wanted to. But, I can't do their check-in?  I thought if I could make payments, I could do their check-in.  Thanks for the info.

We are cruising with my son & his family & my DIL's grandma.  We are all linked together and I can see their booking information.  I am assuming that since I can see their information (billing, etc), I will be able to do the online check-in for all three bookings.  Is that correct?  Do I have to choose my own port check-in time first and save, then do theirs or can I do all three at the same time and then save.  I hope that makes sense.  Just trying to figure out how to do all three so we have the same port check-in time.  Then they can go in the next day and complete all the remaining info & sign the kids up for camp, etc.  Do I have it right?  Any tips from those who have done this?

Thanks for any help!

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!