CarnivalCruiser875

Appetizers:

- All the salads

- All the cold fruit soups

- Calamari

Mains:

- Duet of Filet Mignon and Short Rib

- Spaghetti Carbonara

- Jambalaya

- Beef Wellington

- Crawfish Fettucine

- All the salads

Desserts:

- Chocolate Melting Cake

- Bitter and Blanc

- Grand Marnier Souffle

- Cappucino Pot de Creme

- Creme Brulee

- Sorbets

MDR Breakfast:

- Lighter Fare Yogurt Parfait

- Avocado Toast

- Steak and Eggs

- Broken Egg Sandwich

- Bacon

- Hashbrowns

- All the fresh juices

Hi!

Have only cruised with Carnival since 2008, doing a 12 day sailing on Norwegian Escape. With the trip a few months away, I've had a list of compiled questions I'd rather ask the experts (those reading this thread) instead of getting a sales pitch from NCL. Greatly appreciate answers, feedback, etc!

- Free at Sea+: With my booking I received regular Free at Sea, but have been offered Free at Sea+ for an additional $350. Between the full internet package (to check in with family), premium drinks (not a huge drinker but love a fancy glass of wine at dinner or a cappuccino in the morning), and two additional specialty dining meals, it sounds worth it. Question - Is the upgrade worth it?

- Breakfast Dining: Straight to the point, not a breakfast buffet fan. For Carnival cruisers, I'm a regular at the MDR for the yogurt parfait and fresh pressed juices 😁 Question - What are the breakfast options on the Norwegian Escape/what is your favorite place to eat breakfast?

- Coffee Shop on Escape: I've read some ships have a full Starbucks, but this one does not. Question - Does this coffee shop also offer pastries, hot teas, etc?

- Evening Dining: I've booked Teppanyaki one night, but wondered what other specialty restaurants are a can't miss. Also wondering about the complimentary/main dining room dinners. Question - What is your favorite specialty dining venue/what is your favorite meal in the complimentary venues/main dining room?

- Evening Activities/Entertainment: Some folks have shared to not miss The Newlyweds Game and other theatre productions. Question - What's there to do after dinner for activities or entertainment?

- Port to Airport Transfer: Straight to the point, never used this with Carnival either. Question - Is this a good/viable option to get back to the airport after debarkation? It's currently $37 from NCL.

- What Else?: Any other tips, tricks, secrets, or comments to share for my first time on NCL? Thank you!!

10 hours ago, pc_load_letter said:

That would be surprising. MDR breakfast is something that we will occasionally partake in.

 

I think we would be hearing much more from people if that is\was the case. Seaday brunch is usually pretty packed as well.

 

I am on it next week so I guess I'll find out then!

Look forward to hearing your report back! Have a great time!😎

We eat there at the last night of every cruise - 10/10 recommend!

Saw a comment on Facebook (I know, I know, don't believe everything you read online, hence why I ask the experts here 😁) that Carnival Firenze did not have sit down breakfast on port or sea days, and instead was replaced with another breakfast buffet.

I know the Firenze and Venezia are slightly different from the traditional Carnival fleet, but I'm sailing Mardi Gras in November, and would be really bummed if they go rid of sit down breakfast!

Any insight?

My next sailing is in November 2024, I preordered November 2023 and bought 2 12 packs. Happy to pay it, whether it be $9.95 or $14.95 to have a stocked fridge in our room, water in our backpacks, and on the pool deck. Maybe just me. With everything else going on (and going up), it's not terribly surprising.

Hi all, 

Planning a girls trip in November on the Mardi Gras. I've been the planner/booker for everything, so I've used my credit card for all deposits, excursions, spa reservations, etc.

My friend will be paying me back on what I've done so far, but as for drinks onboard, etc can we add her credit card to her Sail and Sign so her charges don't hit my card? I'd still like to keep my credit card attached to my own Sail and Sign.

Any insight is appreciated! Thanks!

Headed out on the Mardi Gras in a few weeks. We don't do the Cheers package as we wouldn't drink that amount in a week to break even. But between the two of us on our last cruise, we paid as we went and racked up about $500 ($250/pp) in JavaBlue, frozen drinks on the Lido, wine at dinner, soda, etc.

Looking online, there's an option for bar Cruise Cash. Is there any benefit to doing this versus just paying as we go like we've done before?

TIA!!

Headed out on the Mardi Gras for the first time soon! Couple of dining questions...

1.) Is the steakhouse worth the upcharge? I make a great steak at home, but we haven't tried the steakhouse before.

2.) Is Cucina still complimentary for dinner on the Mardi Gras?

Will gladly take any other tips on the MG 🙂

Oooh, love this thread!

Breakfast - MDR Avocado Toast with scrambled egg on top instead of poached, Sea Day 12 hour french toast or steak and eggs.

Lunch - Guy's burger with all the toppings, but no bun. Then I head to the salad bar and get a bowl of lettuce, throw the burger on top and BAM - burger salad. Some people give weird looks, some people see me and then do the same.

Dinner - all the fruit soups (it's melted ice cream, I know, I'm on a cruise, there are no rules!), all the salads, spaghetti carbonara, beef tenderloin, usually all of the Ports of Call apps/mains, penne mariscos, CMCC, buttered popcorn pot de creme, smores partfait, bitter and blanc, and anything at Cucina del Capitano

Now I'm hungry!

Thank you both for the suggestions - I really love the chapel idea, hadn't even thought about that.

Thanks, all! I printed off boarding passes and mine does show I am/will be gold. sparks1093 is right, and I'll take a free MDR drink all day long 🙂

3 minutes ago, groundloop said:

You'll get it on the upcoming cruise in December.

 

 

Thanks, groundloop. Will my card be a gold card, or will I need to switch mid-cruise?

Apologies if this is a "duh" question....but I am 6 "cruise days" away from being Gold. I am going on a 7 day in December. Will I receive Gold perks during the entirety of the cruise, or not until my next cruise?

Thank you!

1 minute ago, mz-s said:

 

How is it made, do they just use a different syrup mix or is it made fresh to order?

I believe the biggest difference is the Caribbean Colada is made with banana. Last time I had a Pina Colada I tasted nothing but fake flavoring. Could have been a one off. But the Caribbean Colada is far superior in taste, to me at least 🙂

This will be the first cruise our family takes since the sudden passing of my mother this year. She was an avid cruiser and we are heartbroken she will not be with us. As I am an only (adult) child, I am taking my father on a 7 day in December. Since we always travelled with her, and this will be the first holiday season without her (my father and her were married 40 years), I want to try and make this vacation an enjoyable one. I've already booked a couple fun shore excursions. Any other suggestions/ideas to make this a less-painful and a more memorable holiday season? 

Caribbean Colada at Red Frog/Blue Iguana. MUCH better than the fake tasting Pina Colada, in my opinion.

Jan 21

Cruising Feb 2021. Wondering if I purchase the drink package now, will it make me pay today, or will this be added to my balance? Same question when adding a Carnival excursion. Just don't want this to hit the card that I paid the deposit with when I hit "Complete Purchase".

Thank you!

7:30pm. Would have wrapped up our 6pm dinner, headed to change into something more comfortable if it was elegant night, and head to the comedy club.

Love this thread!

I know your main question is regarding Anytime Dining, however I am not familiar with this as we always do Early Dining.

However, I can tell you that yes, the Carnival Hub app will show you the MDR menu for the day. If you're curious about a specific day, Guest Services is always happy to provide the week's menus to peruse at the desk. Many people do this to find out when their favorite dessert will be served, or plan what night they'd like to eat at a specialty restaurant if the MDR menu is not appealing to them. Hopefully this helps some.

Prayers for you and your MIL as she goes through her cancer treatments!

Lunch is not typically served in the MDR unless on a Journey's cruise like BlerkOne stated. Most people eat lunch at Guys, Blue Iguana, Cucina, Lido, etc.

Their Facebook page shows they are still open for business. Would you mind sharing the email you received? We were looking at using him as well.

Hi all!!

I'm very careful to post on this site, as I have had a lot of comments removed, I guess for being too direct. However, I must be pretty direct in this request. We are SO looking forward to Aruba as we have never been to this port. As we will be there from 1pm to 11pm, we would like to do two excursions, a snorkeling excursion and a sunset cruise (or 1 long one that combines both). We are experienced snorkelers (read: please do not suggest an excursion to play with stingrays, a sandy bottom, or some other gimmick. Google Image search "Belize Barrier Reef" to see what our "standards" of snorkeling are.) I had done research to visit Mangel Halto, however, the only tour group that does an excursion out to there was almost $400 for a group of 3 for an hour and a half. If that truly is where the best snorkeling is, I'll bite. But if you know where I can have my family snorkeling elsewhere to see just as good coral, marine life, etc, please send me your suggestions!

TIA!

Official Update from Carnival this evening...