Who sailed the Carnival Mardi Gras?

This string was started in 2010, and I believe I responded a few years back, but just in case...

We took our honeymoon cruise on the Mardi Gras, a seven day sailing out of Miami, departing Sunday, March 19, 1978. Ports were San Juan, St. Thomas, and Barbados as I recall. Had a great time. Didn't have a chance to take another until 21 years later as the kids started to arrive shortly after. Still have the documents, brochure, receipt, etc. We were fortunate enough to get one of the few rooms with a porthole AND a double bed which was a priority for a honeymoon (the bed, not the porthole). :-)

My first Cruise! Baked Alaska brought through the dining room on fire and on top of the waiter's heads....

Sailed the Mardi Gras 1981. San Juan St Thomas and Bahamas First cruise ever Having trouble getting credit for it. Sent 2 photos taken by the ship with ship name on it. Sailing out if San Juan next month

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I just discovered this website and am thrilled with what I've read. I was a 3rd purser in the Purser's Office of the Mardi Gras from June to August, 1972. I was 18 years old and on summer break from college up in Pennsylvania. It was a wonderful job. Someone said that Micky Arison would visit the ship once in a while. Well, while I worked on the ship, Micky actually opened a teeny, tiny casino onboard (only slot machines) and that was his job: to take care of the casino. His dad, Ted, was the one in charge of everything. I have a picture standing with the two of them, standing on the dock in Miami (Dodge Island). At the time, the Mardi Gras was the largest ship leaving out of Miami (technically, it was NOT a cruise ship, but rather, an ocean liner.) The Mardi Gras did 7 day cruises, from Miami to San Juan, St. Thomas and Montego Bay, Jamaica; although on one trip, our hydraulics went out, and we were towed to Nassau and skipped Montego Bay entirely. If anyone was familiar with the ship in 1972, I'd love to talk to someone about it. Hey, we had a passenger, an old guy, who actually "lived" on the ship. He had a cabin right across from the Purser's office, never got off the ship to see the islands, and used to walk out of his room in a bathrobe. A really nice guy. Great ship. I still keep, in my bedroom, a framed picture of a water color of the Mardi Gras I got from the ship. Not sure how to post it, but I would, if anyone is interested.

Thanks for the post. Welcome to cruise critic.

I sailed the Mardi Gras in 1981. St Thomas Puerto Rico and Bahamas out of Miami

I cruised on the Mardi Gras with my ex-husband in 1980. In those days they had midnight buffets, and people really dressed up on formal nights. Baked Alaska had real lit candles in the cakes, on the heads of waiters, parading around. Those were the days!

I remember those days exactly like that!!!!

I just discovered this website and am thrilled with what I've read. I was a 3rd purser in the Purser's Office of the Mardi Gras from June to August, 1972. I was 18 years old and on summer break from college up in Pennsylvania. It was a wonderful job. Someone said that Micky Arison would visit the ship once in a while. Well, while I worked on the ship, Micky actually opened a teeny, tiny casino onboard (only slot machines) and that was his job: to take care of the casino. His dad, Ted, was the one in charge of everything. I have a picture standing with the two of them, standing on the dock in Miami (Dodge Island). At the time, the Mardi Gras was the largest ship leaving out of Miami (technically, it was NOT a cruise ship, but rather, an ocean liner.) The Mardi Gras did 7 day cruises, from Miami to San Juan, St. Thomas and Montego Bay, Jamaica; although on one trip, our hydraulics went out, and we were towed to Nassau and skipped Montego Bay entirely. If anyone was familiar with the ship in 1972, I'd love to talk to someone about it. Hey, we had a passenger, an old guy, who actually "lived" on the ship. He had a cabin right across from the Purser's office, never got off the ship to see the islands, and used to walk out of his room in a bathrobe. A really nice guy. Great ship. I still keep, in my bedroom, a framed picture of a water color of the Mardi Gras I got from the ship. Not sure how to post it, but I would, if anyone is interested.

I too worked on the Mardi Gras back in 1980-1981 - I started off on the Carnivale in the gift shop & then transferred to the Mardi Gras as Asst. Gift Shop Manager and then the Festivale as Gift Shop Manager.

My cousin (Larry Cross) was the chief purser on the Carnivale at that time - wondered if you ever worked for him. Also, my ex (Manny Cadavid) was a purser at the time you worked. Manny & I later left Carnival and moved to Pacquet Cruise Lines - he was Chief Purser and I too started as a Third Purser.

I worked on Carnival ships for about 2 years - it was by far the most fun I've ever had. We had a blast - back then other than the casino staff, us "gift shop girls" were in high demand!!!

So glad someone revived this thread. Our first cruises were on Mardi Gras in 1992 and 1993 and she still holds a special place in our hearts. One thing we remember were the HUGE delicious room service sandwiches. We did have the small room with the toilet/shower the first year but the next year we had an actual bathroom with a separate shower. She started our love of cruising. Great memories.

I'd like to see some pics of the inside if anyone has any.

The Baked Alaska was good too! The real thing. They'd dim the lights and out they'd come like a parade.

I sailed on her in 1978 with my entire family. Sailed out of Miami and went to Nassau, San Juan, and St. Thomas. Great ship!!! Nice intimate casino and great show room. Lots of live music.

We sailed her to Nassau in 1992 on a "3 day tour" when she stayed in port til 3am. The ship was a bit tired and the whole trip a bit of a let down. BUT we will never forget it, including the welded single beds to the wall, toilet paper you had to remove before you took a shower, the engine that they had to have a part shipped in before we could leave, the only menu item that was available at dinner was "chikin"... all else was "out that evening".

All said we talk more about that cruise than any other, most memorable, the other cruisers were great, the woodwork was unbelievable AND we swore never again an INSIDE cabin! We still had a great time, heck we were on a cruise and not working.

One of the few that can shout and clap when she is shown at the PGP....

Wow, although this thread was started 5 years ago, I just saw it and remembered what I now refer to as that 'old tub'....the Mardi Gras. I sailed at Thanksgiving in 1988 with my grandmother (R.I.P.) during Thanksgiving. The waters were so rough on Thanksgiving day that I was one of the few people in the dining room, having turkey and dressing. Seems everyone else, including my grandmother, were seasick in their cabins. And what a cabin...we had an upper and lower bunk. The 'bathroom' was a combo toilet/shower--the shower head was just above the toilet and as someone else mentioned, you had to remember to remove the TP before showering. I dug into my closet and found a few photos....OMG, what memories. I only remember being in Nassau, I think that was it as far as ports went.

My grandmother didn't get off the ship in Nassau, she was still feeling pretty woozy after being seasick all night:

Docked in Nassau:

our cabin....my bunk was folded up above.....

and then that toilet/shower....OMG! It was a sliding door because there

wasn't enough room for a regular door to open in or out.

Such memories....makes me laugh to see the photos again.

The tomatoes were super delicious!

"I too worked on the Mardi Gras back in 1980-1981 - I started off on the Carnivale in the gift shop & then transferred to the Mardi Gras as Asst. Gift Shop Manager and then the Festivale as Gift Shop Manager.

My cousin (Larry Cross) was the chief purser on the Carnivale at that time - wondered if you ever worked for him. Also, my ex (Manny Cadavid) was a purser at the time you worked. Manny & I later left Carnival and moved to Pacquet Cruise Lines - he was Chief Purser and I too started as a Third Purser.

I worked on Carnival ships for about 2 years - it was by far the most fun I've ever had. We had a blast - back then other than the casino staff, us "gift shop girls" were in high demand!!!"

"I too worked on the Mardi Gras back in 1980-1981 - I started off on the Carnivale in the gift shop & then transferred to the Mardi Gras as Asst. Gift Shop Manager and then the Festivale as Gift Shop Manager.

 

My cousin (Larry Cross) was the chief purser on the Carnivale at that time - wondered if you ever worked for him. Also, my ex (Manny Cadavid) was a purser at the time you worked. Manny & I later left Carnival and moved to Pacquet Cruise Lines - he was Chief Purser and I too started as a Third Purser.

 

I worked on Carnival ships for about 2 years - it was by far the most fun I've ever had. We had a blast - back then other than the casino staff, us "gift shop girls" were in high demand!!!"

Hmmmm, Manny....is he an Hispanic guy? There were 5 of us in the Purser's Office. The Chief Purser was a guy from Brooklyn, NY and was quite a hot-head! There was another guy from a southern state (I remember his accent). And then, there was a guy who spoke Spanish; maybe he was from Colombia? Not sure, but could this have been Manny?

There were two 3rd Pursers in the office; we were the newest to be hired after Carnival started sailing some months before.

The name, Larry Cross, doesn't ring a bell, unless he was the one from Brooklyn, but like I said, it doesn't sound familiar. Here's a picture of all of us in the Purser's office: http://www.kerryhead.com/mardigras.html

No, but we did go on the Celebration way back when.

The old Carnival Celebration is now the Grand Celebration doing two day cruises between Port of Palm Beach and Freeport, we are going on her next month.

Mardi Gras was my very 1st cruise, in July 1989. My then son-in-law paid for our cruise, and we were in one of the best cabins.

Best, meaning we had a window. The cabin was probably a bit larger than most, I didn't get to see any of the others.

Ours had 2 reg twin size beds, on the floor,in 1 half, and 2 pull down bunks from the wall, in the other half. There was a pull across curtain, to seperate the 2 area's. My daughter and I got the beds, and the guys took the bunks.

The bathroom was across 1 end of the cabin. It was in 2 parts. 1 part had the shower only, and the other had the commode plus the sink. We didn't have to worry about getting the toilet paper wet. lol. Plus 2 people could use the bathroom at the same time. This worked out very well.

Mardi Gras was such an old tub, but she gave me a love of cruising that I still have today. To me she was beautiful.

When I read on CC, a few years ago, that she was being cut apart for scrap, I was very sad. She deserved better than that.

My first cruise back in 1991. It was our Honeymoon cruise.. Didn't set foot on another ship until 10 years later.

I just sailed my 19th cruise with Carnival last month.

My first cruise in 82 - loved it!

Nobody else remembers the amazing tomatoes???

Nobody else remembers the amazing tomatoes???

No....but I do remember the Baked Alaska parade in the main dining room with the waiters carrying the cakes with sparklers ablazing........I still have photos of that. Please tell us about the tomatoes....it might jog a memory.

No....but I do remember the Baked Alaska parade in the main dining room with the waiters carrying the cakes with sparklers ablazing........I still have photos of that.

Now that was a sight! Always wondered about open flames on a ship at sea...