My Cruise Review, Thoughts and Opinions on my 10/23/2021 Mardi Gras Cruise. (Sorry, No Pictures)

[Sensenigr]

Just got off of our 7 night Carnival Mardi Gras vacation yesterday. We departed Port Canaveral on 10/23/2021 and arrived back on 10/30/2021. Overall, this ranks as my favorite cruise ship to date. I have been on a total of eight cruises, five of them with Carnival. This review will be very detailed, for all of those who enjoy details; however, it will not include any pictures.

 

Please feel free to ask any questions! My cruise history is as follows:

2007 - Carnival Triumph

2008 - Ruby Princess

2010 - Caribbean Princess

2011 - Carnival Miracle

2015 - Carnival Breeze

2017 - Carnival Vista

2019 - NCL Bliss

2021 - Carnival Mardi Gras

 

BACKGROUND:

 

My name is Ryan, and I am currently 41 years old. I was traveling with my Husband, AndyMike who is 36 years old. We reside in Southern California. This is my eighth cruise and his fourth cruise.

 

OUTGOING FLIGHT:

 

My outgoing flight was a daytime flight on 10/21/2021 from LAX to MIA on American Airlines

 

THE DAYS BEFORE THE CRUISE:

 

We arrived in MIA early in the afternoon on 10/21/2021. I rented a car from Budget, which it is quite easy to get to the car rental center from the terminals at MIA. Renting with Budget was painless and very quick. The Car Rental Center at MIA is very organized and you shouldn't have a very difficult experience.

 

We got married in the Fort Lauderdale area a couple of years ago.  We went reminiscing to some venues that provided us services during our wedding such as The Plunge Beach Hotel, Funky Buddha Brewery, Mojo Donuts, etc...   We stayed Thursday night at the Hampton Inn Fort Lauderdale Airport/Cruise Port South. It rated as an average 5/10, not that nice in my opinion.  You can always search for my review of this property on TripAdvisor. 

 

On Friday 10/22/2021 we drove from Fort Lauderdale up to Port Canaveral and stayed the pre-cruise night at Home2Suites by Hilton Port Canaveral.  It was a great property and I would give it a 10/10.  We had dinner near the port that evening and returned my rental car to a local Budget location in town. 

 

TRANSPORTATION TO THE PORT:

 

We pre-requested an Uber (on the app) a few days before for pick-up at 11am from our hotel to the Port Canaveral Terminal where Mardi Gras was docked.  We know that pre-requesting an Uber is not always a guarantee; however, it seemed there were plenty in the area that morning and we were picked up promptly at 11am and the ride was about 5-7 minutes to the port.  The fare was only about $8.00 plus gratuity.  There is currently no shuttle from Home2 Suites

 

EMBARKATION:

 

This embarkation was the easiest embarkation I have ever experienced at any cruise port.  We were dropped off, gave our bags to the porter and walked up the ramp.  We went through security and then had a documentation check for our identification, vaccination cards, negative COVID test, ect.  We had the 11:30am - 12noon check-in time. We arrived at 11:15 and were immediately accepted into the terminal.  Once we had our documentation check, we immediately walked on board and were on the Lido Deck by 11:40.  Your sail and sign cards are now delivered to your room, so you do not have to wait on those in the cruise terminal. 

 

A BIT ABOUT COVID:

 

We found the test that Carnival recommends you purchase online to be so fast and efficient.  It is a guided test, with immediate results and proof of those results.  You can purchase the tests for about 2 for $60.00.  You do not open the test until you are ready to do so.  You download an app to your phone.  You connect to a representative through a computer or phone and they guide you through the test.  The whole process takes about 20 minutes and you are sent the results immediately.  

 

As far as safety during Covid, we felt completely safe.  As safe as we would feel visiting anywhere else in public during the pandemic.  Masks were required in indoor venues (not outdoors) and I would say about 85% of people were abiding by the rules.  There were a lot of reminders; however, Carnival was not necessarily doing a lot of enforcing.  Wear yours and you will be fine.

 

OVERALL IMPRESSION/DECOR

 

The Mardi Gras capacity is about 5,400 (I could be off by a bit) based on double occupancy. The ship was at about 85% capacity during this cruise and overall it felt rarely crowded to us.  This was the official naming ceremony cruise.  Onboard were a few special guests, along with the President Christine Duffy, Brand Ambassador John Heald and Carnival Corporation President as well.  

 

The ship is beautiful. The ship has only been in service since the end of July this year. The ship is in GREAT CONDITION, as all of our cruises have been.

 

STAFF OVERALL

 

The staff of this ship is simply amazing. Remember, treat people the way you want to be treated. That was our motto and is always our motto. The staff overall was very friendly. I will talk about some individual staff members in other parts of my review; however, I will talk about the Cruise Director, John Pack here.  John was a good cruise director.  He seemed to be around all the time, attending most events.  He is not my personal favorite.  My personal favorite has left Carnival cruise lines; however, John is still great.  

 

TIPPING:

 

Tipping is a personal thing; however, let me take time to remind you that this wonderful hard working staff on these ships work very hard and many of the staff members do not get paid a lot. I encourage you to celebrate and applaud the hard work that they do by tipping appropriately. My personal way of tipping is that I leave the suggested gratuities of Carnival on my Sail and Sign Account (which I believe is currently about $15.00 per person per day), and I give additional cash gratuities to individual staff members during the middle of my cruise, if I feel that there service is excellent. 

 

STATEROOM:

 

Our room was available by 1:30PM which was the promised time and the time that we decided to check on our room. We went down to our room and our keys were in the mailbox. We were also pleasantly surprised that our luggage was delivered by 3:30pm. We had room 11207 which is a Forward Facing Extended Balcony.  The Stateroom was really my only complaint during the entirety of the cruise.  At first, I was a little weary about the wind on a forward balcony, and yes it was very windy as we were traveling on the sea (particularly if you were standing at the balcony rail); however, that was not the main issue that we had.

 

First of all, I enjoy looking at the ocean while on my balcony.  However, this stateroom, as well as all forward state rooms, look down onto the crew member smoking area.  I felt like I was being watched all of the time.  Trust me, I love interacting with the crew; however, this is not the way I want to interact with the crew.  It was just a poor area to enjoy your balcony.  There were no noise issues, as the door to the balcony is pretty much sound proof from all outside noise; however, the constant smell of smoke, the crew members looking up at you while they are smoking and just the whole setup is poor. 

 

The room itself (except the bathroom) was great.  The design is nice with the couch, two twin beds pushed together equal almost a King, a nice refrigerator, ottoman with storage, nice mirror in the room, and plentiful closet space.  Currently you get service once per day by your steward (either morning or evening -- your choice). 

 

The issue with the design of the room was the bathroom.  The bathrooms on Mardi Gras are SIGNIFICANTLY SMALLER than the bathrooms on other Carnival ships.  The plus side is the showers now have glass shower doors (which is nice); however, the rest of the bathroom is super, super small.  Please make sure you are comfortable in this environment before booking.  

 

Our stateroom steward, Pilan was very nice and kept everything very tidy throughout the stay.  There were always fresh towels and beach towels available on the days that we did not hang our towels up to be reused. 

 

Just remember, slide your empty luggage under the bed after putting everything away! There is plenty of storage drawers and closet space. We had plenty of hangers which was so nice! The safe in the room was put to good use.  The shower did have both body wash and shampoo in the dispenser with plenty of shelf space in the bathroom as well. This cabin had several outlets in the room and USB ports by each side of the bed.  There is a relatively large flat panel TV on the wall in front of the bed area. On this TV, besides several channel options available to you, there is also ship cameras, your sail and sign account and other features.

 

MUSTER:

 

The muster drill is much improved.  No more life jackets in the cabins and reporting to muster stations.  Once you get on board and before departure time, you have to briefly check in to your muster station (at your convenience) for a brief life jacket demonstration (about 2 minutes).  Then, you do have to listen from anywhere on the ship (including your cabin) to the general emergency information announcement (about 10 minutes).  It is so much better than having to stack into a common area to listen to the announcements.

 

PORTS:

 

We did excursions in two of our three ports.  On this trip, we booked both directly through Carnival. 

 

San Juan - We were in San Juan on a Tuesday from 8:30AM - 4:00PM. Here we had a walking food tour in Old San Juan. This port was very organized and we were walked a short 5 minute walk down the pier and out to our meeting location.  We met our guide and took a walking tour including four food/beverage stops though the city.  Personally, I would only give this tour a 6/10.  The food and beverage stops were not that great and are not stops you would think of going to when visiting San Juan.  Our guide was also not that informative and didn't have that great of a personality.  Once we were back, we walked around the Old Town area for a bit before getting back on the ship.

 

La Romana, Dominican Republic - We were at this port on a Wednesday between 9am - 4pm. For this port we booked a Snorkeling excursion. The port here is beautiful.  We were checked in within the port and then taken to a bus where we took a 45 minute ride to Puerto Plata where we boarded a boat.  The boat ride is about 30 minutes to the snorkeling stop, 45 minutes snorkeling, 45 minutes on the boat eating, dancing and enjoying and then a 45 minute ride back to the beach where we got back on the bus for the 45 minute ride to the port.  We would have enjoyed a bit more snorkeling time; however, overall I would give this excursion a 9/10.  The staff onboard the boat was great!  

 

Nassau - We decided not to disembark at this port, as it was our final cruise day, and we prefer our final cruise day to be a sea day.

 

FOOD:

 

I'm going to rate each venue that we ate it, and give my comments. I feel that everyone can find something good to eat on this ship. There are so many great options.

 

MAIN DINING ROOM AND HUB APP:

 

Food 9/10 and Service 10/10.

 

We ate in the main dining room for dinner on only 2 of our 7 nights plus for one Sea Day Brunch.

 

We were on Your Time Dining in the Palm Dining Room. There are two dining rooms on the ship; however, the Palm is predominantly your time dining.  We select anytime dining because we do enjoy varying our dining times based on what other activities we want to attend in the evening. You now check into all venues on the Hub App.  At first, I was hesitant to be using my phone for these types of things on the ship; however, it is VERY CONVENIENT.  You literally select the restaurant you want to dine at.  Check-in virtually, select if you want to sit with others or not, and then just wait (usually under 10 minutes).  We usually checked in from a bar near the dining venue and then just walked when we were notified it was ready.  You have 10 minutes to go to the venue once your table is ready and you just give your table assignment number to the hostess and you will be seated immediately.  It is a great improvement compared to waiting in line.

 

LIDO BUFFET

 

Food 9/10

 

We found the food at the Lido Buffet to generally be very fresh and flavorful and just all around excellent. We ate at the Lido Buffet for breakfast a couple of days and lunch some days. The options and the presentation of the foods were fabulous. The Lido Buffet on the Mardi Gras is smaller than other buffets on other ships, because there are so many other lunch options around the ship.  In addition to the regular buffet food, there is a salad bar station, dessert and gelato, Sea Dogs and some other areas.  Although the size of the buffet was reduced, the seating in the Lido is still plentiful and they really haven't reduced that at all.  Juices are available during breakfast, coffee and hot chocolate anytime, and iced tea and lemonade during non-breakfast hours. 

 

FAHRENHEIT 555 STEAKHOUSE

 

Food 10/10 Service 10/10

 

We had dinner on our first night at the Steakhouse. The Steakhouse is a $35 upcharge and is most certainly worth it. On the first night, they do still give you a free bottle of wine which is wonderful! The menu is great, and you will not leave hungry by any stretch of the imagination. There was not just one server; however, the entire team of servers worked well together and you had a taste of the team effort at each and every table. The overall experience was awesome. There are so many amazing choices, that we left very happy.

 

CHEF'S TABLE

 

Overall experience: 9/10

 

I highly recommend trying out the Chef's Table on at least one cruise. This was our third time trying it, and definitely will not be our last. On this ship, they do it every night and it is held in the Carnival Kitchen on Deck Six.  It is limited to about 25 people per night. We previously did it on the Breeze where it was at a table in the middle of the galley. On the Vista, they have a separate and private room right next to the galley. Here on the Mardi Gras it is done in the Carnival Kitchen which is not part of the galley.  We are a little sad we didn't get to do a galley tour; however, that appears to be a temporary Covid restriction.  The Chef's Table is a $95 upcharge per person, but worth every penny. It is approximately 15 courses or so, and we really couldn't finish everything by the end. It also includes unlimited wine! You begin with some appetizers in a prep area of the kitchen. We had three different appetizers that night with Champagne. After that you are seated and are served some delicious bread with multiple courses of various dishes. Each one is discussed by one of the head sous chefs. All of the dishes served at Chef's Table are unique and cannot be found anywhere else on the ship. The presentation is amazing, the gastronomy is amazing, and the service is amazing. You also get to take a home a photograph of the experience. DO THIS!

 

GUY'S BURGERS

 

Food: 8/10

 

There are lots of good burgers in the World today. This is one of them. However, although we agreed it was good, it is by far our favorite.  Yum! You can order it several different ways, and there is a toppings bar with lots more options to customize it just the way you want. This area can get particularly busy at times; however, be patient as the lines moves fairly quickly.

 

BLUE IGUANA CANTINA

 

Food: 9/10

 

We ate here for breakfast one morning.  They have some great breakfast burritos, and if you visit during lunch some great tacos.  You select your tortilla, toppings, protein, ect and then there is also a toppings/salsa bar for you to further customize your burrito.

 

PIZZA

 

Food: 10/10

 

We enjoyed the Pizza. We ate here three times late at night. They certainly pump out a lot of pizza in that kitchen. We had the Pepperoni, White Pizza, and Proscuitto.  They are open around the clock.  The lines can sometimes get long; however, it moves very quickly thanks to the hardworking crew members. 

 

CHIBANG

 

Food: 10/10

 

This restaurant is complimentary on the Mardi Gras.  It is an Asian inspired and Mexican Inspired restaurant (not a fusion).  You can order mix and match from either side of the menu.  The dining room is quite large and we had great service and food.  

 

GUYS PIG & ANCHOR BBQ

 

Food: 9/10

 

This restaurant is usually open on sea days, as well as Day #1. We ate here the first day for lunch and loved it. There is a menu with about 10 or 11 different options and you simply tell them what you want and they will plate it up for you! All the food we had at this restaurant was really good and the sauce bar is something you will not want to forget. We noticed that some things did some a little bit charred/burnt; however, most things were awesome. The lines also move fast at this location

 

SHAQ'S BIG CHICKEN

 

Food 10/10

 

This is on Deck 16 near the Aft.  A new addition to Carnival, it serves chicken sandwiches for breakfast and lunch.  We absolutely loved it here and ate here WAY TOO MUCH!  I'm sure you will enjoy it.  We personally enjoyed it more than Guy's Burgers.

 

CUCINA DEL CAPITANO

 

Food 10/10

 

We ate here for dinner on two evenings.  It is also complimentary on the Mardi Gras, and the dining room is much larger than versions on other ships.  We had outstanding service and we had great food.  We particularly loved the Meatball appetizers and Arancini appetizers.  YUM!

 

STREET EATS

 

Food 10/10

 

We had this as part of our lunch on three days.  There are three walk-up counters with a different item each day.  One of the days we went it was beef kebabs, chili cheese fries and steamed pork buns.  Definitely a good option.

 

I think I covered everything that we had. Unfortunately, we did not get to do Bonsai Sushi, Teppenyaki, Pig and Anchor Pub, Tea Time, Rudi's Seagrill, Emeril's,  Gosh --- so many food options!

 

ENTERTAINMENT AND ACTIVITIES

 

Seriously...if you cannot find something to do on this ship, it is your own dam fault! Read your FunTimes...  There are paper versions at guest services and it is always available on the Hub App.  There is an awesome activities staff onboard this ship, that is always present everywhere you go. Wow! Get involved people!

 

LIDO AREA:

 

The two pool areas are great. The Main pool area can definitely get crowded, especially during sea days; however, if your goal is just to find a chair and relax then trust me, they are easily found. If you can't find one right in front of the pool there are plenty more on the decks right above.  The pools themselves, including the aft pool are great. There are several jacuzzi's including two on the aft and two in the Serenity area, which is only for adults. The Serenity area is huge on this ship and has its own pool as well.  

 

WATERWORKS, SPORTSSQUARE. BOLT COASTER:

 

You certainly don't need to be a child to enjoy this area. However, I am a child at heart. I am sad I didn't get to do the waterslides this time (there is just too much to do).  We did do the mini-golf which is a nice course for a ship.  We also did ride Bolt.  Bolt is $15.00.  It is a quick ride, two laps around the track (about 1 minute total); however, totally worth doing at least once.  I believe that eventually the price will probably drop to $10.00; however, you should try it at least once at $15.00.  It is a blast! There is a walking track on this deck, a basketball court, a ropes course and plenty of fun things to do.

 

SPA AND GYM

 

Sorry folks, I didn't use the gym. We all have plans to and that usually falls through; however, it is very spacious with a lot of equipment.  Much larger than other ship gyms I have used or seen.  We did use the spa quite a bit.  We booked two massages (75 minutes each) and they were excellent.  We also bought a thermal spa pass for two for the duration of the cruise.  The thermal spa has a steam room, salt room, aroma steam room, nice locker rooms, heated beds, lounge chairs and a thalassotherapy pool.  It should be a little bigger than it is, as it is definitely a bit small; however, the only time we couldn't find a lounger or chair was on one of the days it rained.  The decor of the Cloud 9 spa is very intriguing and inviting. 

 

CASINO

 

The casino is lovely and large on this ship. This ship is set up with the bar in the center and yes, it is still smoky (however, I have come to expect that in any casino). The Casino was very crowded on most evenings. I personally spent about $300 in the casino. I had a lot of fun; however, did not win anything major on this cruise.  There is a non-smoking side was is relatively free of the smell of smoke on that side.  

 

MAIN PRODUCTION SHOWS/ MARDI GRAS THEATER

 

On this cruise, there were two main production shows. I attended the shows called Broadway Beats and Rock (I forget the name).  We found both of the ones we saw to be excellent. The singing, choreography, dancing and lighting were excellent.  The sight lines in this theater are great.  One staggered level (Enter on Level 7) and all seats are good.  There were also other shows here including Family Feud Live and Love and Marriage show, which we watched.  

 

GRAND CENTRAL

 

There was so much entertainment in Grand Central. This is an inviting place (previously the main atrium) that spans Decks 6, 7, & 8.  There were always activities, live music and alternate shows here.  It is great having more than one big production show at one time in different places on the ship.

 

COMEDY:

 

On this ship, there is a dedicated Punchliner Comedy Club. They had at least 2 or 3 shows per night.  Most people can be accommodate in the Punchliner; however, they sometimes had comedy shows in the Mardi Gras Theater.  Excellent, Excellent, Excellent. We wish we would have sent to see more.

 

LIVE MUSIC:

 

The excellent job with live music continues throughout this ship. There are top quality options almost all day long. During the day, the music is primarily centered on the Lido area; however, by late afternoon and late into the night you got live music in the main atrium (Grand Central), Pig & Anchor,  Piano Bar, Havana Bar, Fortune Teller, Brass Magnolia and more. 

 

BARS/BEVERAGES:

 

One of the things we love the most about Carnival is the alcohol and beverages.  We did have the Cheers Package.  We appreciate the fact that most of the cocktails are not pre made. Yes, you may have to wait a few extra minutes; however, we loved the craft cocktails on this ship.  We really loved the Alchemy Bar, Brass Magnolia and Fortune Teller.  We also loved the Grand Central Bar. Some of our favorite bartenders were here!

 

OTHER ACTIVITIES:

 

There are so many other activities on board. There is the nightclub which we did not get to try. There is also Dive-In Movies by the main pool, which we did not try. There are daily activities including Trivia, sports activities, pool activities, spa seminars, shopping, Q&A sessions, special interest group meetings, photo ops, piano bar and much much more!

 

I'm sure I missed some things; however, I hope this gives you a starting point about some of the options available on this great ship.

 

PLEASE ASK QUESTIONS if you would like to know anything else.  I will try to answer them to the best of my ability.

[disneygirl]

This is such a fabulous review!   Thank you so much!  I haven't cruised on Carnival for a few years.  I became a bit of an NCL fan ( mainly because it sailed out of NYC ) I enjoyed the Freestyle cruising.  My new Husband has NEVER cruised so after some discussion we chose the Mardi Gras!  I have 2 questions for you: 

1) We aren't big drinkers, BUT when comparing the Drink packages the Cheers package includes everything including Coffee an we can drink 2-3 Iced Coffees a day, those are included correct?  Did you feel the cost was worth it?

 

2) How much was the Thermal Pass for the week?  I am VERY excited about that and while it does look smaller than other Cruise line spas, I must try it out!

Thank you and so glad for this review, it made my husband even MORE excited to Cruise!

[IntrepidFromDC]

Really GREAT review, both content and style!  Just to clarify, when you say the casino was smoky you mean ONLY on the smoking side, which from the deck plan looks much smaller than the non-smoking side, right?  THANKS!!!

[eileen11]

Thank you...great review!!

[SNJCruisers]

1 hour ago, disneygirl said:

1) We aren't big drinkers, BUT when comparing the Drink packages the Cheers package includes everything including Coffee an we can drink 2-3 Iced Coffees a day, those are included correct?  Did you feel the cost was worth it?

You get unlimited non alcoholic drinks, including coffee and espresso based drinks as well as bottled water (still & sparkling), unlike what you get on NCL.  You also get milkshakes, Pure Leaf bottled iced tea, Starbucks bottled iced coffee and canned Pepsi products.  They also have cold brew coffee at the JavaBlue Cafe.  Alcoholic drinks are capped at 15 per day and the best places on the Mardi Gras for nighttime drinking are the Fortune Teller Bar, the Brass Magnolia Bar, and the Alchemy Bar.  Day time drinking would be the Pig n Anchor and the two story Rum Tiki Bar.  If purchased ahead of time, you get a 10% discount.

[Sensenigr]

10 hours ago, disneygirl said:

This is such a fabulous review!   Thank you so much!  I haven't cruised on Carnival for a few years.  I became a bit of an NCL fan ( mainly because it sailed out of NYC ) I enjoyed the Freestyle cruising.  My new Husband has NEVER cruised so after some discussion we chose the Mardi Gras!  I have 2 questions for you: 

1) We aren't big drinkers, BUT when comparing the Drink packages the Cheers package includes everything including Coffee an we can drink 2-3 Iced Coffees a day, those are included correct?  Did you feel the cost was worth it?

 

2) How much was the Thermal Pass for the week?  I am VERY excited about that and while it does look smaller than other Cruise line spas, I must try it out!

Thank you and so glad for this review, it made my husband even MORE excited to Cruise!

 

I personally felt the Cheers Package was worth it for my situation.  If you are just getting iced coffees, it would not be worth it; however, if you are getting 2-3 iced coffees a day plus maybe four drinks, it would definitely be worth it.  I believe if you prepay for the Cheers Package online, it is about $52 per day plus gratuity/tax (don't quote me on the exact amount).  Mixed drinks/cocktails are usually about $9 - 12.  Just calculate it based on an average $10 cocktail drink plus your iced coffee and see if it is worth it to you.

 

We were charged $229 for two for the week.  The price is subject to vary a little bit.  My recommendation would be take the spa tour (on embarkation day).  They will give you the price at that time.  And although it is smaller, we still enjoyed it.  We went most days around 3:30 or 4 and found that by that time it wasn't too bad. 

 

I hope you have a great time!

[Sensenigr]

9 hours ago, IntrepidFromDC said:

Really GREAT review, both content and style!  Just to clarify, when you say the casino was smoky you mean ONLY on the smoking side, which from the deck plan looks much smaller than the non-smoking side, right?  THANKS!!!

 

Yes, it wasn't too smoky on the non-smoking side.  Now, there is no hard barrier, so you might smell a little particularly when you get close the casino bar; however, it really isn't bad.  And yes, the smoking side is currently much smaller than the non-smoking side.

[mondello]

Thought the cruise director's name is Mike Pack, not John?

[Sensenigr]

42 minutes ago, mondello said:

Thought the cruise director's name is Mike Pack, not John?

You are absolutely right, it is Mike Pack.  I must have been in a rush to get this done before bed last night 🙂

[audcc77]

Thanks for taking the time to review MG.  Also, really appreciate your take on the excursions.  
 

We go January 2 and I’m really looking forward to it. Great review. 👍

[Tippyton]

First review in almost 2 years that makes me want to get back on a boat right now.  Thanks.👍

[patches33]

Thanks for taking the time to write your review. Loved the format and all the great info. Glad you enjoyed your cruise. 

[stellarose]

thank you for your review.  getting nervous.  I have 3 tests scheduled. just in case.  all I want is to have my family tougher on the boat watching the sunset. 

 

oh and eating a blue iguana breakfast burrito. 

[Theo1429]

Thanks for your review great info we will be their April 22, 2022. Can't wait thanks again

[Sensenigr]

On 11/3/2021 at 12:34 PM, stellarose said:

thank you for your review.  getting nervous.  I have 3 tests scheduled. just in case.  all I want is to have my family tougher on the boat watching the sunset. 

 

oh and eating a blue iguana breakfast burrito. 

I know it is hard not to be nervous; however, just try to be calm.  I also did two tests (One at Quest and one of the Binax Home Guided Tests.  If I were to do it again, I would do the Binax Home Guided One First and then cancel the rest if you get a negative result. It was so easy and painless.

[loray]

On 11/2/2021 at 11:47 AM, Sensenigr said:

 

I personally felt the Cheers Package was worth it for my situation.  If you are just getting iced coffees, it would not be worth it; however, if you are getting 2-3 iced coffees a day plus maybe four drinks, it would definitely be worth it.  I believe if you prepay for the Cheers Package online, it is about $52 per day plus gratuity/tax (don't quote me on the exact amount).  Mixed drinks/cocktails are usually about $9 - 12.  Just calculate it based on an average $10 cocktail drink plus your iced coffee and see if it is worth it to you.

 

We were charged $229 for two for the week.  The price is subject to vary a little bit.  My recommendation would be take the spa tour (on embarkation day).  They will give you the price at that time.  And although it is smaller, we still enjoyed it.  We went most days around 3:30 or 4 and found that by that time it wasn't too bad. 

 

I hope you have a great time!

$229 seems really low if it’s $52 a day

[SNJCruisers]

1 hour ago, loray said:

$229 seems really low if it’s $52 a day

They received a target marketing promotion that entitled them to get it at a reduced price. They were the lucky recipients of the algorithm that gave them the opportunity to save money

[Sensenigr]

On 11/13/2021 at 9:16 PM, SNJCruisers said:

They received a target marketing promotion that entitled them to get it at a reduced price. They were the lucky recipients of the algorithm that gave them the opportunity to save money

That's actually incorrect.  There was no promotion...I was just off by a few dollars.  The purchase price for anyone (if you buy it online prior to embarkation) is $54.95 per person per day plus tax and gratuity.  

[Sensenigr]

On 11/13/2021 at 9:16 PM, SNJCruisers said:

They received a target marketing promotion that entitled them to get it at a reduced price. They were the lucky recipients of the algorithm that gave them the opportunity to save money

 

Edited November 22, 2021 by Sensenigr
Duplicate

[Sensenigr]

On 11/13/2021 at 7:18 PM, loray said:

$229 seems really low if it’s $52 a day

I was off by a few dollars.  It is actually $54.95 per day plus tax and gratuity.

[Sensenigr]

On 11/13/2021 at 9:16 PM, SNJCruisers said:

They received a target marketing promotion that entitled them to get it at a reduced price. They were the lucky recipients of the algorithm that gave them the opportunity to save money

Where in Southern NJ are you?  I lived in Collingswood for about 2 years and then in Philly for about 8 years before moving out West.

[SNJCruisers]

7 minutes ago, Sensenigr said:

That's actually incorrect.  There was no promotion...I was just off by a few dollars.  The purchase price for anyone (if you buy it online prior to embarkation) is $54.95 per person per day plus tax and gratuity.  

There is no tax on Cheers. And there was indeed a RU 1-2-3 promotion that many received to reduce the price of Cheers.

[jldixon62]

On 11/1/2021 at 11:58 PM, Sensenigr said:

Just got off of our 7 night Carnival Mardi Gras vacation yesterday. We departed Port Canaveral on 10/23/2021 and arrived back on 10/30/2021. Overall, this ranks as my favorite cruise ship to date. I have been on a total of eight cruises, five of them with Carnival. This review will be very detailed, for all of those who enjoy details; however, it will not include any pictures.

 

Please feel free to ask any questions! My cruise history is as follows:

2007 - Carnival Triumph

2008 - Ruby Princess

2010 - Caribbean Princess

2011 - Carnival Miracle

2015 - Carnival Breeze

2017 - Carnival Vista

2019 - NCL Bliss

2021 - Carnival Mardi Gras

 

BACKGROUND:

 

My name is Ryan, and I am currently 41 years old. I was traveling with my Husband, AndyMike who is 36 years old. We reside in Southern California. This is my eighth cruise and his fourth cruise.

 

OUTGOING FLIGHT:

 

My outgoing flight was a daytime flight on 10/21/2021 from LAX to MIA on American Airlines

 

THE DAYS BEFORE THE CRUISE:

 

We arrived in MIA early in the afternoon on 10/21/2021. I rented a car from Budget, which it is quite easy to get to the car rental center from the terminals at MIA. Renting with Budget was painless and very quick. The Car Rental Center at MIA is very organized and you shouldn't have a very difficult experience.

 

We got married in the Fort Lauderdale area a couple of years ago.  We went reminiscing to some venues that provided us services during our wedding such as The Plunge Beach Hotel, Funky Buddha Brewery, Mojo Donuts, etc...   We stayed Thursday night at the Hampton Inn Fort Lauderdale Airport/Cruise Port South. It rated as an average 5/10, not that nice in my opinion.  You can always search for my review of this property on TripAdvisor. 

 

On Friday 10/22/2021 we drove from Fort Lauderdale up to Port Canaveral and stayed the pre-cruise night at Home2Suites by Hilton Port Canaveral.  It was a great property and I would give it a 10/10.  We had dinner near the port that evening and returned my rental car to a local Budget location in town. 

 

TRANSPORTATION TO THE PORT:

 

We pre-requested an Uber (on the app) a few days before for pick-up at 11am from our hotel to the Port Canaveral Terminal where Mardi Gras was docked.  We know that pre-requesting an Uber is not always a guarantee; however, it seemed there were plenty in the area that morning and we were picked up promptly at 11am and the ride was about 5-7 minutes to the port.  The fare was only about $8.00 plus gratuity.  There is currently no shuttle from Home2 Suites

 

EMBARKATION:

 

This embarkation was the easiest embarkation I have ever experienced at any cruise port.  We were dropped off, gave our bags to the porter and walked up the ramp.  We went through security and then had a documentation check for our identification, vaccination cards, negative COVID test, ect.  We had the 11:30am - 12noon check-in time. We arrived at 11:15 and were immediately accepted into the terminal.  Once we had our documentation check, we immediately walked on board and were on the Lido Deck by 11:40.  Your sail and sign cards are now delivered to your room, so you do not have to wait on those in the cruise terminal. 

 

A BIT ABOUT COVID:

 

We found the test that Carnival recommends you purchase online to be so fast and efficient.  It is a guided test, with immediate results and proof of those results.  You can purchase the tests for about 2 for $60.00.  You do not open the test until you are ready to do so.  You download an app to your phone.  You connect to a representative through a computer or phone and they guide you through the test.  The whole process takes about 20 minutes and you are sent the results immediately.  

 

As far as safety during Covid, we felt completely safe.  As safe as we would feel visiting anywhere else in public during the pandemic.  Masks were required in indoor venues (not outdoors) and I would say about 85% of people were abiding by the rules.  There were a lot of reminders; however, Carnival was not necessarily doing a lot of enforcing.  Wear yours and you will be fine.

 

OVERALL IMPRESSION/DECOR

 

The Mardi Gras capacity is about 5,400 (I could be off by a bit) based on double occupancy. The ship was at about 85% capacity during this cruise and overall it felt rarely crowded to us.  This was the official naming ceremony cruise.  Onboard were a few special guests, along with the President Christine Duffy, Brand Ambassador John Heald and Carnival Corporation President as well.  

 

The ship is beautiful. The ship has only been in service since the end of July this year. The ship is in GREAT CONDITION, as all of our cruises have been.

 

STAFF OVERALL

 

The staff of this ship is simply amazing. Remember, treat people the way you want to be treated. That was our motto and is always our motto. The staff overall was very friendly. I will talk about some individual staff members in other parts of my review; however, I will talk about the Cruise Director, John Pack here.  John was a good cruise director.  He seemed to be around all the time, attending most events.  He is not my personal favorite.  My personal favorite has left Carnival cruise lines; however, John is still great.  

 

TIPPING:

 

Tipping is a personal thing; however, let me take time to remind you that this wonderful hard working staff on these ships work very hard and many of the staff members do not get paid a lot. I encourage you to celebrate and applaud the hard work that they do by tipping appropriately. My personal way of tipping is that I leave the suggested gratuities of Carnival on my Sail and Sign Account (which I believe is currently about $15.00 per person per day), and I give additional cash gratuities to individual staff members during the middle of my cruise, if I feel that there service is excellent. 

 

STATEROOM:

 

Our room was available by 1:30PM which was the promised time and the time that we decided to check on our room. We went down to our room and our keys were in the mailbox. We were also pleasantly surprised that our luggage was delivered by 3:30pm. We had room 11207 which is a Forward Facing Extended Balcony.  The Stateroom was really my only complaint during the entirety of the cruise.  At first, I was a little weary about the wind on a forward balcony, and yes it was very windy as we were traveling on the sea (particularly if you were standing at the balcony rail); however, that was not the main issue that we had.

 

First of all, I enjoy looking at the ocean while on my balcony.  However, this stateroom, as well as all forward state rooms, look down onto the crew member smoking area.  I felt like I was being watched all of the time.  Trust me, I love interacting with the crew; however, this is not the way I want to interact with the crew.  It was just a poor area to enjoy your balcony.  There were no noise issues, as the door to the balcony is pretty much sound proof from all outside noise; however, the constant smell of smoke, the crew members looking up at you while they are smoking and just the whole setup is poor. 

 

The room itself (except the bathroom) was great.  The design is nice with the couch, two twin beds pushed together equal almost a King, a nice refrigerator, ottoman with storage, nice mirror in the room, and plentiful closet space.  Currently you get service once per day by your steward (either morning or evening -- your choice). 

 

The issue with the design of the room was the bathroom.  The bathrooms on Mardi Gras are SIGNIFICANTLY SMALLER than the bathrooms on other Carnival ships.  The plus side is the showers now have glass shower doors (which is nice); however, the rest of the bathroom is super, super small.  Please make sure you are comfortable in this environment before booking.  

 

Our stateroom steward, Pilan was very nice and kept everything very tidy throughout the stay.  There were always fresh towels and beach towels available on the days that we did not hang our towels up to be reused. 

 

Just remember, slide your empty luggage under the bed after putting everything away! There is plenty of storage drawers and closet space. We had plenty of hangers which was so nice! The safe in the room was put to good use.  The shower did have both body wash and shampoo in the dispenser with plenty of shelf space in the bathroom as well. This cabin had several outlets in the room and USB ports by each side of the bed.  There is a relatively large flat panel TV on the wall in front of the bed area. On this TV, besides several channel options available to you, there is also ship cameras, your sail and sign account and other features.

 

MUSTER:

 

The muster drill is much improved.  No more life jackets in the cabins and reporting to muster stations.  Once you get on board and before departure time, you have to briefly check in to your muster station (at your convenience) for a brief life jacket demonstration (about 2 minutes).  Then, you do have to listen from anywhere on the ship (including your cabin) to the general emergency information announcement (about 10 minutes).  It is so much better than having to stack into a common area to listen to the announcements.

 

PORTS:

 

We did excursions in two of our three ports.  On this trip, we booked both directly through Carnival. 

 

San Juan - We were in San Juan on a Tuesday from 8:30AM - 4:00PM. Here we had a walking food tour in Old San Juan. This port was very organized and we were walked a short 5 minute walk down the pier and out to our meeting location.  We met our guide and took a walking tour including four food/beverage stops though the city.  Personally, I would only give this tour a 6/10.  The food and beverage stops were not that great and are not stops you would think of going to when visiting San Juan.  Our guide was also not that informative and didn't have that great of a personality.  Once we were back, we walked around the Old Town area for a bit before getting back on the ship.

 

La Romana, Dominican Republic - We were at this port on a Wednesday between 9am - 4pm. For this port we booked a Snorkeling excursion. The port here is beautiful.  We were checked in within the port and then taken to a bus where we took a 45 minute ride to Puerto Plata where we boarded a boat.  The boat ride is about 30 minutes to the snorkeling stop, 45 minutes snorkeling, 45 minutes on the boat eating, dancing and enjoying and then a 45 minute ride back to the beach where we got back on the bus for the 45 minute ride to the port.  We would have enjoyed a bit more snorkeling time; however, overall I would give this excursion a 9/10.  The staff onboard the boat was great!  

 

Nassau - We decided not to disembark at this port, as it was our final cruise day, and we prefer our final cruise day to be a sea day.

 

FOOD:

 

I'm going to rate each venue that we ate it, and give my comments. I feel that everyone can find something good to eat on this ship. There are so many great options.

 

MAIN DINING ROOM AND HUB APP:

 

Food 9/10 and Service 10/10.

 

We ate in the main dining room for dinner on only 2 of our 7 nights plus for one Sea Day Brunch.

 

We were on Your Time Dining in the Palm Dining Room. There are two dining rooms on the ship; however, the Palm is predominantly your time dining.  We select anytime dining because we do enjoy varying our dining times based on what other activities we want to attend in the evening. You now check into all venues on the Hub App.  At first, I was hesitant to be using my phone for these types of things on the ship; however, it is VERY CONVENIENT.  You literally select the restaurant you want to dine at.  Check-in virtually, select if you want to sit with others or not, and then just wait (usually under 10 minutes).  We usually checked in from a bar near the dining venue and then just walked when we were notified it was ready.  You have 10 minutes to go to the venue once your table is ready and you just give your table assignment number to the hostess and you will be seated immediately.  It is a great improvement compared to waiting in line.

 

LIDO BUFFET

 

Food 9/10

 

We found the food at the Lido Buffet to generally be very fresh and flavorful and just all around excellent. We ate at the Lido Buffet for breakfast a couple of days and lunch some days. The options and the presentation of the foods were fabulous. The Lido Buffet on the Mardi Gras is smaller than other buffets on other ships, because there are so many other lunch options around the ship.  In addition to the regular buffet food, there is a salad bar station, dessert and gelato, Sea Dogs and some other areas.  Although the size of the buffet was reduced, the seating in the Lido is still plentiful and they really haven't reduced that at all.  Juices are available during breakfast, coffee and hot chocolate anytime, and iced tea and lemonade during non-breakfast hours. 

 

FAHRENHEIT 555 STEAKHOUSE

 

Food 10/10 Service 10/10

 

We had dinner on our first night at the Steakhouse. The Steakhouse is a $35 upcharge and is most certainly worth it. On the first night, they do still give you a free bottle of wine which is wonderful! The menu is great, and you will not leave hungry by any stretch of the imagination. There was not just one server; however, the entire team of servers worked well together and you had a taste of the team effort at each and every table. The overall experience was awesome. There are so many amazing choices, that we left very happy.

 

CHEF'S TABLE

 

Overall experience: 9/10

 

I highly recommend trying out the Chef's Table on at least one cruise. This was our third time trying it, and definitely will not be our last. On this ship, they do it every night and it is held in the Carnival Kitchen on Deck Six.  It is limited to about 25 people per night. We previously did it on the Breeze where it was at a table in the middle of the galley. On the Vista, they have a separate and private room right next to the galley. Here on the Mardi Gras it is done in the Carnival Kitchen which is not part of the galley.  We are a little sad we didn't get to do a galley tour; however, that appears to be a temporary Covid restriction.  The Chef's Table is a $95 upcharge per person, but worth every penny. It is approximately 15 courses or so, and we really couldn't finish everything by the end. It also includes unlimited wine! You begin with some appetizers in a prep area of the kitchen. We had three different appetizers that night with Champagne. After that you are seated and are served some delicious bread with multiple courses of various dishes. Each one is discussed by one of the head sous chefs. All of the dishes served at Chef's Table are unique and cannot be found anywhere else on the ship. The presentation is amazing, the gastronomy is amazing, and the service is amazing. You also get to take a home a photograph of the experience. DO THIS!

 

GUY'S BURGERS

 

Food: 8/10

 

There are lots of good burgers in the World today. This is one of them. However, although we agreed it was good, it is by far our favorite.  Yum! You can order it several different ways, and there is a toppings bar with lots more options to customize it just the way you want. This area can get particularly busy at times; however, be patient as the lines moves fairly quickly.

 

BLUE IGUANA CANTINA

 

Food: 9/10

 

We ate here for breakfast one morning.  They have some great breakfast burritos, and if you visit during lunch some great tacos.  You select your tortilla, toppings, protein, ect and then there is also a toppings/salsa bar for you to further customize your burrito.

 

PIZZA

 

Food: 10/10

 

We enjoyed the Pizza. We ate here three times late at night. They certainly pump out a lot of pizza in that kitchen. We had the Pepperoni, White Pizza, and Proscuitto.  They are open around the clock.  The lines can sometimes get long; however, it moves very quickly thanks to the hardworking crew members. 

 

CHIBANG

 

Food: 10/10

 

This restaurant is complimentary on the Mardi Gras.  It is an Asian inspired and Mexican Inspired restaurant (not a fusion).  You can order mix and match from either side of the menu.  The dining room is quite large and we had great service and food.  

 

GUYS PIG & ANCHOR BBQ

 

Food: 9/10

 

This restaurant is usually open on sea days, as well as Day #1. We ate here the first day for lunch and loved it. There is a menu with about 10 or 11 different options and you simply tell them what you want and they will plate it up for you! All the food we had at this restaurant was really good and the sauce bar is something you will not want to forget. We noticed that some things did some a little bit charred/burnt; however, most things were awesome. The lines also move fast at this location

 

SHAQ'S BIG CHICKEN

 

Food 10/10

 

This is on Deck 16 near the Aft.  A new addition to Carnival, it serves chicken sandwiches for breakfast and lunch.  We absolutely loved it here and ate here WAY TOO MUCH!  I'm sure you will enjoy it.  We personally enjoyed it more than Guy's Burgers.

 

CUCINA DEL CAPITANO

 

Food 10/10

 

We ate here for dinner on two evenings.  It is also complimentary on the Mardi Gras, and the dining room is much larger than versions on other ships.  We had outstanding service and we had great food.  We particularly loved the Meatball appetizers and Arancini appetizers.  YUM!

 

STREET EATS

 

Food 10/10

 

We had this as part of our lunch on three days.  There are three walk-up counters with a different item each day.  One of the days we went it was beef kebabs, chili cheese fries and steamed pork buns.  Definitely a good option.

 

I think I covered everything that we had. Unfortunately, we did not get to do Bonsai Sushi, Teppenyaki, Pig and Anchor Pub, Tea Time, Rudi's Seagrill, Emeril's,  Gosh --- so many food options!

 

ENTERTAINMENT AND ACTIVITIES

 

Seriously...if you cannot find something to do on this ship, it is your own dam fault! Read your FunTimes...  There are paper versions at guest services and it is always available on the Hub App.  There is an awesome activities staff onboard this ship, that is always present everywhere you go. Wow! Get involved people!

 

LIDO AREA:

 

The two pool areas are great. The Main pool area can definitely get crowded, especially during sea days; however, if your goal is just to find a chair and relax then trust me, they are easily found. If you can't find one right in front of the pool there are plenty more on the decks right above.  The pools themselves, including the aft pool are great. There are several jacuzzi's including two on the aft and two in the Serenity area, which is only for adults. The Serenity area is huge on this ship and has its own pool as well.  

 

WATERWORKS, SPORTSSQUARE. BOLT COASTER:

 

You certainly don't need to be a child to enjoy this area. However, I am a child at heart. I am sad I didn't get to do the waterslides this time (there is just too much to do).  We did do the mini-golf which is a nice course for a ship.  We also did ride Bolt.  Bolt is $15.00.  It is a quick ride, two laps around the track (about 1 minute total); however, totally worth doing at least once.  I believe that eventually the price will probably drop to $10.00; however, you should try it at least once at $15.00.  It is a blast! There is a walking track on this deck, a basketball court, a ropes course and plenty of fun things to do.

 

SPA AND GYM

 

Sorry folks, I didn't use the gym. We all have plans to and that usually falls through; however, it is very spacious with a lot of equipment.  Much larger than other ship gyms I have used or seen.  We did use the spa quite a bit.  We booked two massages (75 minutes each) and they were excellent.  We also bought a thermal spa pass for two for the duration of the cruise.  The thermal spa has a steam room, salt room, aroma steam room, nice locker rooms, heated beds, lounge chairs and a thalassotherapy pool.  It should be a little bigger than it is, as it is definitely a bit small; however, the only time we couldn't find a lounger or chair was on one of the days it rained.  The decor of the Cloud 9 spa is very intriguing and inviting. 

 

CASINO

 

The casino is lovely and large on this ship. This ship is set up with the bar in the center and yes, it is still smoky (however, I have come to expect that in any casino). The Casino was very crowded on most evenings. I personally spent about $300 in the casino. I had a lot of fun; however, did not win anything major on this cruise.  There is a non-smoking side was is relatively free of the smell of smoke on that side.  

 

MAIN PRODUCTION SHOWS/ MARDI GRAS THEATER

 

On this cruise, there were two main production shows. I attended the shows called Broadway Beats and Rock (I forget the name).  We found both of the ones we saw to be excellent. The singing, choreography, dancing and lighting were excellent.  The sight lines in this theater are great.  One staggered level (Enter on Level 7) and all seats are good.  There were also other shows here including Family Feud Live and Love and Marriage show, which we watched.  

 

GRAND CENTRAL

 

There was so much entertainment in Grand Central. This is an inviting place (previously the main atrium) that spans Decks 6, 7, & 8.  There were always activities, live music and alternate shows here.  It is great having more than one big production show at one time in different places on the ship.

 

COMEDY:

 

On this ship, there is a dedicated Punchliner Comedy Club. They had at least 2 or 3 shows per night.  Most people can be accommodate in the Punchliner; however, they sometimes had comedy shows in the Mardi Gras Theater.  Excellent, Excellent, Excellent. We wish we would have sent to see more.

 

LIVE MUSIC:

 

The excellent job with live music continues throughout this ship. There are top quality options almost all day long. During the day, the music is primarily centered on the Lido area; however, by late afternoon and late into the night you got live music in the main atrium (Grand Central), Pig & Anchor,  Piano Bar, Havana Bar, Fortune Teller, Brass Magnolia and more. 

 

BARS/BEVERAGES:

 

One of the things we love the most about Carnival is the alcohol and beverages.  We did have the Cheers Package.  We appreciate the fact that most of the cocktails are not pre made. Yes, you may have to wait a few extra minutes; however, we loved the craft cocktails on this ship.  We really loved the Alchemy Bar, Brass Magnolia and Fortune Teller.  We also loved the Grand Central Bar. Some of our favorite bartenders were here!

 

OTHER ACTIVITIES:

 

There are so many other activities on board. There is the nightclub which we did not get to try. There is also Dive-In Movies by the main pool, which we did not try. There are daily activities including Trivia, sports activities, pool activities, spa seminars, shopping, Q&A sessions, special interest group meetings, photo ops, piano bar and much much more!

 

I'm sure I missed some things; however, I hope this gives you a starting point about some of the options available on this great ship.

 

PLEASE ASK QUESTIONS if you would like to know anything else.  I will try to answer them to the best of my ability.

Thanks for a great review!

[crewsweeper]

Appreciate your succinct review.  Always nice to hear from Los Angelians as we lived there for almost 20 years. 

We're boarding Saturday.  But Western C.  I'm hoping to skip the MDR altogether but DW loves Sea Day brunch and Elegant nights.  So glad to hear the MDR food and service aren't as bad as others have opined. 

Did you hang out at the Serenity or Summer landing?  Crowded? Any room on deck for someone on deck to take pictures of another riding the BOLT?.

[GB Chicago]

Fantastic review, thank you!  The Jan 2nd sailing is our first cruise after 9 reschedules and i am definitely getting excited!  Did they do an 80's and white night?