ArmchairQB

We arrived at CT3 on the Mardi Gras on Aug 13th. We don't like to rush off the ship so I booked a 10:30 shuttle to MCO with Cruise Control. They kicked us off the ship at 9:30AM and we had our 1 checked bag and were through Customs and outside 20 minutes later. We waited right where they let you out of the terminal. At around 10:15 we started receiving texts and calls from our driver about a pickup. He said he was at #6 (where is that) and asked where we were (no #'s so no idea). He figured out where we were and we were off right at 10:30. Less than hour later we were at MCO. I figured out that each parking stall at CT3 is numbered. Walk out to the laneway that loops around the terminal and look back at the stalls - they are numbered. #6 would be near the front by where the Rental car pickup is. #22 is around to the back near where the Go Port busses park. I would highly recommend this service as they were cost effective ($100 for 4), communicative, pleasant, on time and best of all they use small transport vans, so there are no lineups and no crowding.

This was our experience on Aug 4th, 2023. We arrived at MCO around 4PM. Picked up our 1 checked bag and was in our rental 15 minutes later. (I am AVIS Preferred). Really nice Kia Carnival. We stayed out near Disney in Flamingo Circle. This is a new subdivision and everything is brand new. We shopped at Target and then headed to Downtown Disney for dinner and more shopping. We left early on the 5th at 8AM. We had a 10:30AM checkin at CT3 on the Mardi Gras. No traffic and 3 cash tolls later and we were at Port Canaveral shortly after 9AM. We thought we were too early, so we drove around for 15 minutes or so. We then headed to CT3 at around 9:30AM to drop off the family and the luggage (taking advice from others on Cruise Critic). HUGE line of cars, very chaotic! It took us about 30 minutes to get to the front and instead of driving through they directed us to 2 parking spots out front. They packed a second car behind us and I had to keep saying that I wasn''t staying. Turns out this was one of the Rental Car pick up spots. I dropped the family off and left them to figure out where to go (never sailed out of PC before) gave the checked bag to the Porter and then waited for the car behind me to clear. While waiting a mother and son were in a heated discussion with the AVIS pickup driver as he filled his van somehow skipping over them. So I said I was going to AVIS to drop off the van and to hop in. Off we went. Finding the AVIS location was easy. There is a 7-11 with gas right next door. But they had no gas. So I had to drive back towards the port to get gas. When I dropped off at around 10:30AM, there were easily 35 people standing under the canopy all with large amounts of luggage. (do they not read Cruise Critic. lol). There were 10 people in line inside waiting to pick up cars. I waited for about 10 minutes and the owner/manager asked if I was the person who drove in and he took me aside and checked me in. (I guess they needed the van). He then said to go outside and get shuttle 8. 5 minutes later shuttle 6 came by, filled up, and the driver started asking which ships and I heard Mardi Gras. I asked if he was going to the Mardi Gras and he said yes, but he only had 1 seat and no room for luggage. I said great, I am alone with no luggage. 10 minutes later I was at CT3.

We were on the SeaCow on Aug 9th. I echo everything Manatee Man has stated. Arno was the Captain. Our guides were Joyce, Martina and Lars. They had also engaged a private a photographer (Brooke) who offered an optional photo package. I have snorkelled in Anguilla, Key Largo and Cozumel and this was my best experience. I would add that the equipment used was very good and they have prescription goggles. This reef is in good shape and is very alive. Bonarians are very proud of how well they manage it. We were snorkelling over divers and had a pod of dolphins play with the boat on our way back. We walked to the meeting point from the port. It took about 25 minutes and was really easy. Just follow the water (there is a path) past the Klein Bonaire water taxis until you reach a private gated property. Then turn right to get to the main road (look left and you will see masts). Turn left and follow the road to the far side of the marina and use the public entrance there. They were docked just inside the entrance. As others have said, you will be returned near the ship. P.S. Try the raisin bread!

We were on the Mardi Gras and stopped in Aruba on Aug 8th. We took a cab from the port (more on that in a sec) to Manchebo for $15USD plus tip. The Top Drive rep. popped in a few minutes later (I'm not sure if he just came over for us or if he was always there) and we were on our way 10 minutes later. Getting a cab at the port was a challenge. There is a taxi stand on the Main Street (cross the street from the Port, near the I Love Aruba sign) but it was 1:30PM and taxis were full of visitors going to hotels from the airport so they were not stopping. Some helpful gentleman (not sure if he was employed by anyone) starting flagging cabs for those us waiting to head north. We realized later that there may have been a taxi stand right as we stepped off the ship. Top Drive gave us a map. We toured the sights and tried some of the "back roads" but there were just too rough. We returned the jeep around 6PM or so (we had it until 8PM as we arranged - could have been later) and we walked 10 minutes to the south edge of Eagle Beach and watched the sunset. We also had a dip and ate some sand. (if you've been there you know what I mean). Around 7:30 or so we walked back to Manchebo (after looking to see if we could get a cab at Eagle) and the front desk called us a cab. We waited about 15 minutes. BTW, do NOT gas up the jeep at the gas station near the port. It is a zoo and is hard to get in and out of.

Ship - Carnival Mardi Gras Deck - 11 Stateroom # - 410 (11410) Starboard or Port Side - Port Quiet Stateroom? (With comments on problems) – Yes, very quiet. Was stateroom a connecting stateroom? - No Balcony View - Give comments on view, noting if location of any obstructions was an issue. – No obstructions. Great view. Balcony Size? Normal or oversized for class? - Normal Was wind a problem? - No. Some difficulty opening/closing balcony door. Wind tunnel effect. If an aft cabin, was soot a problem? - NA Any specific problems with this cabin? - The bed is in the middle of the room. We were a party of 4 and were stepping over each other quite a bit. Any other comments? - New shower glass door is great. Midship location - busy elevators. But elevators and stairs are really close - no noise.

We found that we received notifications (imessage, Office 365 email) without internet. But you can't read them in the apps and you couldn't send. Weird.

Unless you have Anytime Dining you cannot make a reservation for Chibang or Cuchina until after 8PM. We didn't eat at Cuchina but Chibang was always packed for dinner. The app was not working and we had to stand in line for a person to add us to the waitlist on a tablet. We only ate at Chibang once as we didn't find it to be that unique and service was minimal (because it was packed).

Thanks. I will make note of this as I also often have trouble with my iPhone redirecting.

I have a MacBook Air. Opening a browser (Chrome and Safari) and entering Google.com for example, did not work. Carnivalhub.com also did not work. Nor did CarnivalWiFi.com (as the back of the Stewards card stated) Thanks.

Just an FYI, for those who need wifi access on a laptop and don't want to go insane trying to get online. The (apparently) secret website to type into your browser is "login.com". At least it is on the Mardi Gras. Enjoy!

Thanks Manatee Man. We are reserved with SeaCow on our cruise there in early August. We are looking forward to the trip.

We are in port on the Aug 8th from 1PM until 11PM. It seems that the UTV rentals all want you back by 5 or 6PM. I figure by the time we get off the ship and get the rental papers sorted out, it will be 2PM at the earliest. If we need 30 minutes to gas up and return the UTV, we are not left with much time to tour. I was thinking of touring around the island with a long stop at Arashi Beach. 2.5-3.5 Hrs doesn't seem to cut it. Is anyone aware of a rental that goes to 7 or 8PM? Or is it that they don't want UTV's on the road after dark? Thanks.

Thank you S&S. Good advice.

Thanks. I was wondering how long we could stretch out being on the ship given we are in no hurray. Thanks for that detail. Hanging around the airport is seeming less and less appealing. Thanks.

Thanks SteerageJoe. I had thought we would depart PC around 10:30 and just hang around the airport. Domestic flight, so there would be about 3 Hrs to explore. I did look into day passes but they seem fairly pricey for a few hours. When you say ask about a private van, did you have any suggestions? Thanks.