Jump to content
Cruise Critic Community

You are looking LIVE... Mardi Gras 11/19 Thanksgiving

TxTeach79

By TxTeach79,
in Carnival Cruise Lines

 Share

Recommended Posts

jimbob22

jimbob22

Posted
Posted (edited)
10 hours ago, TxTeach79 said:

Another crowd plus - I was worried RFTB was going to be slammed the whole trip, but I was always able to get a spot. The second level especially, there was always seating. 
 

Guys Burger Joint always had a huge line, but that’s just the popularity of it. They couldn’t do much more than they did, it’s up on 17 away from the pool and big crowds, it’s a HUGE space…. It’s just that popular! Luckily the line moves fast. 
 

Never had to wait long for Big Chicken, and the Lido Marketplace was an easy walk up any time. Only time I saw a crowd of any note in there was the standard port day breakfast rush. 

we just got home from the same sailing, have enjoyed reading your report.  Sometimes, the line at Guy's was not bad at all (but definitely long at other times), same for BC.  Our thought was that all of the quickserve places could have used one more person to keep things moving faster, but overall the lines were not too bad.  Lines were even shorter at the 'street eats' area, but there were enough people on the ship that people were going there too, which is good to see (on smaller ships, I'm not sure if the 'international' concepts are as popular).

 

In many ways our take is that Carnival really hit a home run with this ship.  We are a different demographic than you (we are just a basic dull family with 2 teens.  We don't get drink package b/c we don't drink nearly enough to make it worth it, we don't gamble but are not offended by any of it of course).  We enjoy some outdoor time, going to shows, trivia, and not having to cook.

 

Loved all the quick serve food places.   Actually got some paninis last night, put them in ziplocs in our fridge to have some lunch for our drive home.  Great looking ship, lots of people spread out into different 'fun zones', so the crowds were never actually bad for anything we were doing.  Casinos were packed.

 

We ate at chibang twice, but figured out for second time: everything there is 'tapas' sized.  Any adult with normal appetite should order a minimum of 2 or 3 apps and 2 entrees.  Carnival is now (by default) often serving dinners that are like 350 calories...

 

Carnival is now often putting icecream and sides in those little metal ketchup holders.  This annoys me.  Last night, we wanted to try P&A for dinner, it was a very disorganized setup but someone did eventually arrive at front to seat us.  Since *supposedly* you can get 2 entrees, I filled in that I wanted the salmon (I like salmon and was curious to try it) and brisket. The guy came back to me and said I could not get both. So I went with just the salmon.  It was good--but not big.  And I got a ketchup-container of collards, same of baked beans, and normal serving of slaw (same as Shaq's slaw).  So my dinner was like 300 calories.  I had to scavenge off of the rest of the family (or I probably could have gone through an entire re-seating, re-ordering).  Why wouldn't the guy just bring the salmon and the brisket? They shut down at 9:30, 5 minutes later, and seemed to still have a ton of food on the ambiguous 'not-self-service' buffet, where guests kept walking up and either serving themselves or asking to be served, but it was just for the worker to use to fill the orders.  

 

So in general I noticed that Carnival sort of ruined the 'predictability' of the sit-down family dinner.  In MDR, some meals were normal sized (TG turkey dinner), and others were half size (TG shrimp and grits).   

 

We ate at the Italian place one night and overall liked it. We really liked how they put olive oil, balsamic, and good parm on the table--but then they never offered seconds on bread.  Skimping out on the bread is duly noticed.

 

And the ketchup-sized servings are NOT saving them money.  Here's what I notice: many people seem to put like 4lbs of food on their plates at the buffet, then they only eat about 2 lbs of it.  *This* is where the food loss is.  

 

So I mention all this partly to vent and also give insight to people who have not yet gone.  Overall, we had a great time, but everyone should be aware that chibang is ALL small-sized portions, and everyone should assume that the standard single app+single main in the MDR will only be like 350-400 calories.  The desserts seemed pretty normal (except for when they put ice cream in the ketchup containers).

Edited by jimbob22
  • Like 2
Link to comment
Share on other sites
EngIceDave "Live from...." Rare

EngIceDave

Posted
Posted (edited)

MCO is a nice airport, it's my home airport.

Very simple

 

I have stayed in the Hilton in airport, had a super early flight, no big deal really, everything shuts down about 10'ish and it's a ghost town accept for late arrivals

Edited by EngIceDave
  • Like 1
Link to comment
Share on other sites
TxTeach79 "Live from...." Rare

TxTeach79

Posted
  • Author
Posted
13 hours ago, jimbob22 said:

we just got home from the same sailing, have enjoyed reading your report.  Sometimes, the line at Guy's was not bad at all (but definitely long at other times), same for BC.  Our thought was that all of the quickserve places could have used one more person to keep things moving faster, but overall the lines were not too bad.  Lines were even shorter at the 'street eats' area, but there were enough people on the ship that people were going there too, which is good to see (on smaller ships, I'm not sure if the 'international' concepts are as popular).

 

In many ways our take is that Carnival really hit a home run with this ship.  We are a different demographic than you (we are just a basic dull family with 2 teens.  We don't get drink package b/c we don't drink nearly enough to make it worth it, we don't gamble but are not offended by any of it of course).  We enjoy some outdoor time, going to shows, trivia, and not having to cook.

 

Loved all the quick serve food places.   Actually got some paninis last night, put them in ziplocs in our fridge to have some lunch for our drive home.  Great looking ship, lots of people spread out into different 'fun zones', so the crowds were never actually bad for anything we were doing.  Casinos were packed.

 

We ate at chibang twice, but figured out for second time: everything there is 'tapas' sized.  Any adult with normal appetite should order a minimum of 2 or 3 apps and 2 entrees.  Carnival is now (by default) often serving dinners that are like 350 calories...

 

Carnival is now often putting icecream and sides in those little metal ketchup holders.  This annoys me.  Last night, we wanted to try P&A for dinner, it was a very disorganized setup but someone did eventually arrive at front to seat us.  Since *supposedly* you can get 2 entrees, I filled in that I wanted the salmon (I like salmon and was curious to try it) and brisket. The guy came back to me and said I could not get both. So I went with just the salmon.  It was good--but not big.  And I got a ketchup-container of collards, same of baked beans, and normal serving of slaw (same as Shaq's slaw).  So my dinner was like 300 calories.  I had to scavenge off of the rest of the family (or I probably could have gone through an entire re-seating, re-ordering).  Why wouldn't the guy just bring the salmon and the brisket? They shut down at 9:30, 5 minutes later, and seemed to still have a ton of food on the ambiguous 'not-self-service' buffet, where guests kept walking up and either serving themselves or asking to be served, but it was just for the worker to use to fill the orders.  

 

So in general I noticed that Carnival sort of ruined the 'predictability' of the sit-down family dinner.  In MDR, some meals were normal sized (TG turkey dinner), and others were half size (TG shrimp and grits).   

 

We ate at the Italian place one night and overall liked it. We really liked how they put olive oil, balsamic, and good parm on the table--but then they never offered seconds on bread.  Skimping out on the bread is duly noticed.

 

And the ketchup-sized servings are NOT saving them money.  Here's what I notice: many people seem to put like 4lbs of food on their plates at the buffet, then they only eat about 2 lbs of it.  *This* is where the food loss is.  

 

So I mention all this partly to vent and also give insight to people who have not yet gone.  Overall, we had a great time, but everyone should be aware that chibang is ALL small-sized portions, and everyone should assume that the standard single app+single main in the MDR will only be like 350-400 calories.  The desserts seemed pretty normal (except for when they put ice cream in the ketchup containers).


I’m definitely a fan of the quick service dining, and I think Carnival has it darn near down to a science. When I’m solo, that’s essentially all I do (only real exception this trip was Emerils, and honestly I consider that quick service adjacent even though it has a fee). 
 

On the NYE cruise I’m sure we’ll do ChiBang/Cucina and report back on some of the specialty options. Thanks for your report!

 

did you ever try the ChiBang lunch? Some of the bowls looked interesting, and I love the pasta Bella bowls at Cucina. 

  • Like 2
Link to comment
Share on other sites
jimbob22

jimbob22

Posted
Posted
15 minutes ago, TxTeach79 said:

did you ever try the ChiBang lunch? Some of the bowls looked interesting, and I love the pasta Bella bowls at Cucina. 

we did not do chibang or cucina for lunch.  Nothing against those, we just seemed to gravitate toward Guy's or BC, although amazingly I never had a Guy's only b/c the timing of what/when we were eating, and on certain days I had quite a bit for breakfast and didn't want to force down a big lunch...   Rest of family said that Guy's was good (as always). Wife and son had done cucina on a different ship, pre-covid, and said it was good, a very substantial sized lunch.  But at this point, who knows how big the portion will be.   If you do the Cucina lunch, I'd make sure they know that you want at least a normal to somewhat large amount...

  • Like 1
Link to comment
Share on other sites
TxTeach79 "Live from...." Rare

TxTeach79

Posted
  • Author
Posted
8 minutes ago, jimbob22 said:

we did not do chibang or cucina for lunch.  Nothing against those, we just seemed to gravitate toward Guy's or BC, although amazingly I never had a Guy's only b/c the timing of what/when we were eating, and on certain days I had quite a bit for breakfast and didn't want to force down a big lunch...   Rest of family said that Guy's was good (as always). Wife and son had done cucina on a different ship, pre-covid, and said it was good, a very substantial sized lunch.  But at this point, who knows how big the portion will be.   If you do the Cucina lunch, I'd make sure they know that you want at least a normal to somewhat large amount...


i think the Cucina lunch was the usual Pasta Bella pasta checklist like on other ships. That menu was on the Hub app anyway. Not sure if there’s more. 
 

I never had a Guy’s burger either! Crazy! I just didn’t prioritize it because I always have a couple on every cruise, and there was so much else I wanted to try (like whatever was at Street Eats or SEADOGS that day)

  • Like 3
Link to comment
Share on other sites
TxTeach79 "Live from...." Rare

TxTeach79

Posted
  • Author
Posted

Already updated! It’s crazy to me that Carnival updates past sailings in one day but it takes my Marriott Bonvoy app like 3-4. 
 

A96FED3A-54B7-4223-A3D4-277993FCD454.thumb.png.76105970b75ddddb62e8b8898888da68.png

 

okay. So by my math, I have MG NYE to get to 181, a 12 night Pride in May to 193, and an 8 night Dream in July to 201 and the magic number. That said, I’m not ruling out finding a 7 over spring break in March if something pops open, but that’ll be a later post holidays call

  • Like 5
Link to comment
Share on other sites
ericrz

ericrz

Posted
Posted (edited)

Paul, thank you so much for writing this review!!  We were on this same cruise, and hit many of the same spots you did.  Frankly, I was surprised not to see familiar faces in the background of some of your photos!!

 

This was a family cruise, me and my brother and sister in law (all in our 40s), my mom (in her 70s) and my nephew and daughter (teenagers).  We had three balcony cabins in a row on deck 11.

 

Amazing that this was the highest passenger count on any Carnival ship, ever.  With very few exceptions, it didn't feel like it.  As you mentioned, I think the quick service places could use one or two more employees each.  There were times when there were only two people working at Big Chicken, and they were slammed.  Serving customers, but also serving as runners back to the kitchen for more food when they ran out.  That's too much to put on two people.  I saw a similar setup at the pizza place.

 

(Side note: I wish the pizza place didn't sell sodas/bottled water.  There are plenty of other places to get drinks on the ship, and it slows down the line SO MUCH when one of the employees has to ring someone up.)

 

First time I've ever had the Cheers! package, and I'm sold.  With the break even point being 6-7 drinks per day, it's really a no brainer.  Between you and I (and my brother) we drained a lot of the Woodford supply on this ship!

 

I also spent some time in the casino (like you, I'm a Vegas guy).  Taught my mom how to play roulette, which was fun.  My SIL also saw the $18K jackpot you mentioned (assume it was the same one).

 

Did you ever make it to the piano bar?  Keith was amazing.  That dude plays for 3+ hours straight, never takes a single break.  Unbelievable.

 

Anyway, thanks again for writing this.  Fabulous review.

Edited by ericrz
typo fixes
  • Like 2
Link to comment
Share on other sites
TxTeach79 "Live from...." Rare

TxTeach79

Posted
  • Author
Posted
3 minutes ago, ericrz said:

Paul, thank you so much for writing this review!!  We were on this same cruise, and hit many of the same spots you did.  Frankly, I was surprised not to see familiar faces in the background of some of your photos!!

 

This was a family cruise, me and my brother and sister in law (all in our 40s), my mom (in her 70s) and my nephew and daughter (teenagers).  We had three balcony cabins in a row on deck 11.

 

Amazing that this was the highest passenger count on any Carnival ship, ever.  With very few exceptions, it didn't feel like it.  As you mentioned, I think the quick service places could use one or two more employees each.  There were times when there were only two people working at Big Chicken, and they were slammed.  Serving customers, but also serving as runners back to the kitchen for more food when they ran out.  That's too much to put on two people.  I saw a similar setup at the pizza place.

 

(Side note: I wish the pizza place didn't sell sodas/bottled water.  There are plenty of other places to get drinks on the ship, and it slows down the line SO MUCH when one of the employees has to ring someone up.)

 

First time I've ever had the Cheers! package, and I'm sold.  With the break even point being 6-7 drinks per day, it's really a no brainer.  Between you and I (and my brother) we drained a lot of the Woodford supply on this ship!

 

I also spent some time in the casino (like you, I'm a Vegas guy).  Taught my mom how to play roulette, which was fun.  My SIL also saw the $18K jackpot you mentioned (assume it was the same one).

 

Did you ever make it to the piano bar?  Keith was amazing.  That dude plays for 3+ hours straight, never takes a single break.  Unbelievable.

 

Anyway, thanks again for writing this.  Fabulous review.


sounds like y’all had a great time! I’m glad! She’s one heck of a ship and I thought the crew did an awesome job. 
 

man, I never did make the Piano Bar! I talked to more than one person that said Keith was a show all by himself, I wish I had now! My gf is a big piano bar fan, so I figure we’ll be in there at some point on the NYE cruise, but it looks like it’ll be another fella. 

Link to comment
Share on other sites
ericrz

ericrz

Posted
Posted
1 minute ago, TxTeach79 said:

man, I never did make the Piano Bar! I talked to more than one person that said Keith was a show all by himself, I wish I had now! My gf is a big piano bar fan, so I figure we’ll be in there at some point on the NYE cruise, but it looks like it’ll be another fella. 

 

"A show all by himself" is a great way to describe Keith.  Energy level off the charts.  You can find a few clips of him on YT.  If you get a chance to see him on some other ship, highly recommended!!!

  • Like 1
Link to comment
Share on other sites
IntrepidFromDC "Live from...." Rare

IntrepidFromDC

Posted
Posted
3 hours ago, TxTeach79 said:


i think the Cucina lunch was the usual Pasta Bella pasta checklist like on other ships. That menu was on the Hub app anyway. Not sure if there’s more. 
 

I never had a Guy’s burger either! Crazy! I just didn’t prioritize it because I always have a couple on every cruise, and there was so much else I wanted to try (like whatever was at Street Eats or SEADOGS that day)

When I did cucina first or second day of my Mardi Gras cruise in January, I had the linguine with fresh clams still in shell, with white wine and garlic/butter sauce.  It was fantastic, and I'm an Italian food "snob" (foodie).  It was the only time I had pasta on Carnival that was al dente perfetto.  I recommend this dish for lunch next time.

  • Like 1
Link to comment
Share on other sites
ericrz

ericrz

Posted
Posted
On 11/24/2022 at 12:30 PM, crewsweeper said:

is the flowrider up and running? 

 

 

Sadly, it is not.  Our cabana waitress told us that they've been waiting for repair parts "for a long time."  My 13-year-old nephew was super bummed.

  • Thanks 1
Link to comment
Share on other sites

Please sign in to comment

You will be able to leave a comment after signing in



Sign In Now
 Share
Go to topic listing
  • Forum Jump
    • Categories
      • Welcome to Cruise Critic
      • New Cruisers
      • Cruise Lines “A – O”
      • Cruise Lines “P – Z”
      • River Cruising
      • ROLL CALLS
      • Cruise Critic News & Features
      • Digital Photography & Cruise Technology
      • Special Interest Cruising
      • Cruise Discussion Topics
      • UK Cruising
      • Australia & New Zealand Cruisers
      • Canadian Cruisers
      • North American Homeports
      • Ports of Call
      • Cruise Conversations
×
×
  • Create New...