LIVE Labor Day on the Mardi Gras (8/31/24 - 9/8/24)

[KarmaCruisers]

Getting this started a day or so early because it's going to be a whirlwind here these last couple days with household chores and packing

WHO:

Me, solo; sadly. (or not I guess?)

WHEN:

Saturday August 31st 2024 through Sunday September 8th 2024

WHERE:
Sailing on the Mardi Gras out of Port Canaveral

ITINERARY:
Sea Day

Grand Turk

Amber Cove

Puerto Rico

St. Thomas

Sea Day

Sea Day

[KarmaCruisers]

BACKGROUND:

I actually booked this using a "ComeBackSoon" offer from this trip:

The offer was a "Free" balcony plus Drinks-On-Us-Everywhere

Life situation has changed a bit since we've last talked; the "wife" stopped seeing red and we've agreed on some things and it's kind of just in a state of "pause" right now. (Better than the alternative!)

My health journey has kept improving, I am now down to 211 (at writing of this post), from a high of 250 on 2/1/24. So about half way to where I want to be (at a goal of 175)

It'll be tough to eat "healthy" on the ship; but I'll try my best and also I plan to put in the miles of walking and stairs, while on the ship.

[KarmaCruisers]

TRAVEL PLANS:

Taking a Delta red-eye out of OAK Friday night, with a quick layover in ATL, then on to MCO.

Have reservations with Cruise Control Transportation, to get shuttled to/from MCO<>Port Canaveral.

Coming back on Southwest with a layover in STL.

[KarmaCruisers]

PORT PLANS:
I have booked the HomeSweetHome excursion again for Grand Turk (absolutely loved it a couple months ago!)
No Plans for AmberCove (probably won't get off the ship)

Going to just walk around in Old Town San Juan on my own.

In St. Thomas I'm going to take an open-air taxi over to Crown Bay Marina, and hop on the water shuttle over Water Island; where I can go over to Honeymoon Beach.

I'll actually be "WorkingFromShip" during the cruise; but I did take PTO on the Grand Turk and St. Thomas days.

[KarmaCruisers]

I still need to do a ton of stuff around the house.

My aunt is coming next week on Wednesday to make sure Bailey (cat) has enough food & water, and also to clean his litter box. So I've gotta clean up around the house so when she comes over, she doesn't think I live in a pig sty. 

I also need to wash clothes and pack them...I've packed my sundries and medicine already, but I don't own but only 7 sets of clothes, so I need to wash them probably tonight, so they can hang-dry and I can pack them tomorrow night.

(This is why I'm starting this report earlier than usual; as I've got a ton of stuff to do prior to taking the red eye on friday)
I also need to go get a haircut tomorrow and clean shave, so I can look "so fresh and so clean, clean" on the boat. (Gotta try to "impress the ladies" haha)

I know I have the free drink package; but being on my health journey I probably won't really indulge (just empty calories!) But there are a COUPLE drinks I'd like to try from the Mardi Gras different bars.

This will be my first time on the Mardi Gras, but I have sailed on her sister, Celebration, a few times now.

This voyage will combine two of my favorite ports (Grand Turk and St. Thomas); so I just hope the weather cooperates!

[mikayla73]

Have a great trip! 

[KarmaCruisers]

21 minutes ago, mikayla73 said:

Have a great trip! 

Thanks!

[TravelE]

Have a great cruise! I am always interested to hear about your gambling strategies. Do you have a plan for this one?

I am a terrible gambler. As soon as I lose $20 bucks, I shut it down and walk away. Very low risk tolerance with gambling. 

[KarmaCruisers]

42 minutes ago, TravelE said:

Have a great cruise! I am always interested to hear about your gambling strategies. Do you have a plan for this one?

I am a terrible gambler. As soon as I lose $20 bucks, I shut it down and walk away. Very low risk tolerance with gambling. 

In the process of buying $14,000 worth of gift cards.

not going to play them through like I did last time, just going to wash them and collect the 10%. (I realize I have to play a certain number of points per $1000 download into the machine…the challenge this cruise is to see just how FEW points I need to earn per $1000; I’m suspecting 20 points)

LOL I for the WF ActiveCash card for 2% cashback..but apparently either they or AARP is blocking me, as I was able to only buy one “load” (5 cards) per AARP Account I have. (Mine and my “wife’s”)

Might just have to buy $5000 per day for the next couple days 

[TravelE]

9 minutes ago, KarmaCruisers said:

In the process of buying $14,000 worth of gift cards.

not going to play them through like I did last time, just going to wash them and collect the 10%. (I realize I have to play a certain number of points per $1000 download into the machine…the challenge this cruise is to see just how FEW points I need to earn per $1000; I’m suspecting 20 points)

LOL I for the WF ActiveCash card for 2% cashback..but apparently either they or AARP is blocking me, as I was able to only buy one “load” (5 cards) per AARP Account I have. (Mine and my “wife’s”)

Might just have to buy $5000 per day for the next couple days 

I think AARP limits how many you can buy each month per account. 
 

You buy $14,000 in gift cards, pay $12,600 for them since they are at a 10% discount, and get $252 in cash back credits from your cc. 

That’s a $12,348 investment. How much of that will you come home with?

[KarmaCruisers]

44 minutes ago, TravelE said:

I think AARP limits how many you can buy each month per account. 
 

You buy $14,000 in gift cards, pay $12,600 for them since they are at a 10% discount, and get $252 in cash back credits from your cc. 

That’s a $12,348 investment. How much of that will you come home with?

They limit you to $12,500 per account per month (so technically I could buy $25,000)

The AARP site is just being stupid and not letting me buy more, quickly. I’ve gotten 20 bought so far ($10,000) one and a half purchases more to go.

Thanks for the quick math..I also got a bonus of $200 for my first $500 purchase; so technically a $12,148 investment.

I’m hoping to come back with all $14,000…I plan to earn my points on the GameMaster video blackjack machines. (Lowest house edge, but takes $5 per point)

I’ll play $5 hand at a time.

The juice is worth the squeeze if I wanted to earn more points to get free cruises..but with the ex squeezing me for alimony and also 50% of everything…I need every nickle I can get right now! 

[KarmaCruisers]

I’ve been pushing really hard lately on my health journey;

dropped my daily calories to 1500, and been walking an 18-minute mile every other day.

I WANTED to get down to 202 before labor day..which would take me out of the “obese” BMI category and just into “overweight” but I don’t think I’m going to make it..I MIGHT get at least do 209.9 before I get on the ship…

I honestly haven’t been under 220 in at least 10 years! And probably not under 200 in 20 years!

Edited August 29 by KarmaCruisers

[ohioNCLcruiser]

10 hours ago, KarmaCruisers said:

They limit you to $12,500 per account per month (so technically I could buy $25,000)

The AARP site is just being stupid and not letting me buy more, quickly. I’ve gotten 20 bought so far ($10,000) one and a half purchases more to go.

Thanks for the quick math..I also got a bonus of $200 for my first $500 purchase; so technically a $12,148 investment.

I’m hoping to come back with all $14,000…I plan to earn my points on the GameMaster video blackjack machines. (Lowest house edge, but takes $5 per point)

I’ll play $5 hand at a time.

The juice is worth the squeeze if I wanted to earn more points to get free cruises..but with the ex squeezing me for alimony and also 50% of everything…I need every nickle I can get right now! 

I have bad breaking news for you from talking to the casino manager on another ship last night and from a casino group on another page. This loophole has now been closed and I wouldn't buy those gift cards quite yet. People who have been flagged doing this will notice the moment the casino opens, their accounts are automatically "disabled from charging to the account" and Holland America will no longer allow any gift cards to go towards casino advance charges. The real funny thing though? You (and others) being so open explaining how you do this on Cruise Critic is what caused the change, along with money laundering worries. So assume you are on the banned for life charging list and hope for the best. People on these lists can ask the Casino Manager to be allowed up to $500 to charge. All changes happening this week.

[Shaded Lady]

13 minutes ago, ohioNCLcruiser said:

I have bad breaking news for you from talking to the casino manager on another ship last night and from a casino group on another page. This loophole has now been closed and I wouldn't buy those gift cards quite yet. People who have been flagged doing this will notice the moment the casino opens, their accounts are automatically "disabled from charging to the account" and Holland America will no longer allow any gift cards to go towards casino advance charges. The real funny thing though? You (and others) being so open explaining how you do this on Cruise Critic is what caused the change, along with money laundering worries. So assume you are on the banned for life charging list and hope for the best. People on these lists can ask the Casino Manager to be allowed up to $500 to charge. All changes happening this week.

@ohioNCLcruiser you mentioned Holland America- does this apply to Carnival as well? OP is sailing on the Mardi Gras... I ask because I have about $500 left over from a canceled cruise and was hoping I could cash some of that in to spend in ports... anyone know if that's still allowed on Carnival?

[ohioNCLcruiser]

2 minutes ago, Shaded Lady said:

@ohioNCLcruiser you mentioned Holland America- does this apply to Carnival as well? OP is sailing on the Mardi Gras... I ask because I have about $500 left over from a canceled cruise and was hoping I could cash some of that in to spend in ports... anyone know if that's still allowed on Carnival?

As of now it still is. Can't say in the future though. Guessing there will be a grace period if it changes. 

[princess76021]

thanks for inviting us!

hugs from texas!

[KarmaCruisers]

1 hour ago, ohioNCLcruiser said:

I have bad breaking news for you from talking to the casino manager on another ship last night and from a casino group on another page. This loophole has now been closed and I wouldn't buy those gift cards quite yet. People who have been flagged doing this will notice the moment the casino opens, their accounts are automatically "disabled from charging to the account" and Holland America will no longer allow any gift cards to go towards casino advance charges. The real funny thing though? You (and others) being so open explaining how you do this on Cruise Critic is what caused the change, along with money laundering worries. So assume you are on the banned for life charging list and hope for the best. People on these lists can ask the Casino Manager to be allowed up to $500 to charge. All changes happening this week.

I guess we’ll find out…I know on the celebration last time I lost $7000; so I doubt my account got “flagged”.

I will definitely report what I find though

[KarmaCruisers]

1 hour ago, princess76021 said:

thanks for inviting us!

hugs from texas!

Glad you’re along for the sail 🙂

[zencruisers]

I will be following along. Enjoy your cruise and congrats on the weight loss.

[KarmaCruisers]

9 minutes ago, zencruisers said:

I will be following along. Enjoy your cruise and congrats on the weight loss.

Thanks!

Saw 210.9 on the scale today! So close to the 20x’s!

[Roscoe13]

4 hours ago, KarmaCruisers said:

Thanks!

Saw 210.9 on the scale today! So close to the 20x’s!

Awesome!!  Keep up the great work!!

[KarmaCruisers]

17 minutes ago, Roscoe13 said:

Awesome!!  Keep up the great work!!

Thanks!

It’s going to be tough on the cruise to LOSE weight..but hopefully I don’t GAIN it

[Hogladyrider]

2 hours ago, KarmaCruisers said:

Thanks!

It’s going to be tough on the cruise to LOSE weight..but hopefully I don’t GAIN it

Watch the sugar intake!

[KarmaCruisers]

1 hour ago, Hogladyrider said:

Watch the sugar intake!

On Carnival that's pretty easy; they don't really have any desserts I like (I skip the "dessert" at the MDR and get a fruit plate)

[KarmaCruisers]

posting this just so I can remember it..I already planned out my dining.

 

Night 1 dinner:

Appetizer: Mixed Lettuce Salad

Entree: BBQ Salmon

 

Night 2 dinner:

Guys BBQ or Cucina

 

Night 3 dinner:

Appetizer: Caesar Salad

Entree: Braised Lamb Shank

 

Night 4 dinner:

Appetizer: BBQ Beef Spring Roll

Entree: Bronzed Fish (Bass)

 

Night 5 dinner:

Appetizer: Mixed Greens

Entree: Oven Roasted Turkey or Beef Wellington

 

Night 6 dinner:

ChiBang

 

Night 7 dinner:

Appetizer: Spinach Salad

Entree: Salmon + Lobster Tail

 

Night 8 dinner:

Guys BBQ or Cucina

Edited August 30 by KarmaCruisers