Thenagers

So I just got back Saturday from the Mardis Gras. My friend did not get a Wifi plan and just got the chat feature. Her imessages worked for 50 percent of the cruise. Then it just quit working. She used the clat feature to contact the 1 person in our group who added it and then that person texted us. It was a pain! The chats were a delay of about 10 minutes? Not a big deal unless you are contacting people to check in for dinner or something. 10 minutes can make a difference. We will take up a donation to get her Wifi next time!

I just debarked from Mardis Gras in PC last saturday. We had a suite and our letter told us to meet in the Palm dining room at 7:30 for self debark. We noticed others going downstairs and went at 7 instead. We told the people directing we were a suite and walked right off. We were through custums and in our car by 7:12. Never stopped moving except for the facial recognition.

With the new $5 bonus spots on Mardis Gras I assume you could bet $5 on BJ and $5 on the bonus. I always bet $10 on the BJ spot and still $5 on the Lucky Ladies. The dealers said all the ships will be going to the new $5 and $10 bonus spots soon. Only on the newer ships so far.

Mardis Gras was packed last week as well. I did play $10 blackjack but it was only the ones that have the sucker bets and pay 6-5 on blackjack. If you wanted 3-2 than you had to play the $25 table. A lot of nights that was the only one with empty seats.

Mardis gras had the new tables with only $5 or $10 bonus bets. The dealers said only the newer ships have them now. I miss the $1 bonus bet! It really adds up. I did hit 2 five card straights and a full house over last week on let it ride so got some back. But I know it is a sucker bet.

The villas have a private bathroom although our toilet had flushing issues!

I have a cabana booked at HMC for my August cruise. I just looked at excursions and they are now $699! I booked last month for 479? I understand them raising them but that price is more than a small price hike. Also interesting that they have more than 1 left with only 3 1/2 months to go? They are usually all booked up?

We traveled with other families but personally had 2 cabins. One was an Ocean suite on deck 12 and an interior across the hall. We wanted to make sure we all got to board together so we bought faster to fun for the interior room. We had 10:30 appointments for both cabins but could have gotten earlier since I set my alarm and did check in as soon as it opened up. They let both Cabins to board together with the faster the fun boarding group. Our friends without it boarded 10-:15 after us? Our suite was clean and ready when we boarded but the faster to fun cabin wasn’t ready. Since we had the suite cabin ready we didn’t leave anything in the faster to fun cabin. Priority luggage didn’t happen. None of our bags got there before 3:30? Our friends without either faster to fun or a suite go theirs a little earlier than us? We were able to get our room keys and go to guest services before the 1:30 max rush. Had to get extra keys so my daughter and husband could switch rooms. Used shorter guest services line for that but otherwise never went back there? Overall not sure faster to fun worth it for us. I do think a tender port might have made a difference? But we had most of these perks by having a suite. It was definitely worth it in 2019 on horizon. Grand cayman tender port. Cabin actually ready? Daughter kept losing her card so many trips to guest services. These are just my experience on Mardis Gras on a sold out sailing. Might be worth it another time?

the fun 21 and lucky ladies is now $10 because they have a new bonus table and the bonus minimum is $5. So you can bet $5 on each like you used to do $5 on BJ slot and $1 bonus. All the bonuses on Mardis gras have either a $5 or $10 option. It really adds up on the carne games but you will be kicking yourself if you hit simething and not betting it!

I was on and found plenty of $10 blackjack tables. $5 ultimate, let it ride and 3 card. I do know the craps table was $15 though, Did not try roulette. I only gambled on the non smoking side.

We ate at all 3 specialty places this past week on Mardis Gras. Rudis was our least favorite. Personally the food was best at the steakhouse but if we were only doing 1 we would choose the teppanyaki. The show alone was great and the food good and $10 less per person. I still got filet and lobster.

It depends on where you are in the casino for smelling it. The non smoking side is way bigger and if you walk past the casino bar to the other side there o smoke smell. I loved it.

I think it is the huge price change? I rented one in 2018 for $400 ish per day. The cabanas were around 299? Both have increased dramatically.

The hammock and misters were awesome! I took a great nap!

Here is my overall feelings of the trip. Easy to get on once you get through the line for parking/drop off. Ocean Suite was ready at boarding. Faster to fun really didn’t do anything extra except the shorter guest services line. Might have gotten on ship 10 minutes earlier and already could have dropped bags in Suite room. Faster to Fun could use faster guest services line and suites couldn’t so if having issues that is worth while. Neither Suite or Faster to fun got priority luggage. Friends without it got theirs faster. Probably not worth the $149 but want our interior to be able to get on with us. Food was good. I tried all the restaurants except street eats/serenity salad bar and guys pig and anchor. All were good. Wish I got 1 more guys burger and probably would skip Rudis next time. Would book steakhouse on 1st formal night again because of the wait times. Teppanyaki was fun. Our Ocean suite was nice. Had 12278 and it was the layout with the bed 1st/closet in the middle. It was nice when our daughter wanted to nap/come in our cabin for more space from her tiny interior. I think it would be a great choice for a family of 4 with small kids or even 3 adults. Deck 12 was convenient to most things but would probably prefer more central or lower for seasickness issues next time? Also would have liked to be closer to summer landing next time. We booked a loft 19 cabana and it was money well spent. $1750 plus gratuities for the week and since we had our suite and interior with a casino offers we spent 1000s less than even booking an excel suite. No casino offers with those cabins for me. My daughter and I both did Bolt. Worth doing. Make a few appointments for the week just in case. We had no rain all week so it ran every day without issues but I know it does cancel for a few hours after any rain. I’m surprised the winds on our costa maya and Roatán port days didn’t cancel it but I didn’t see it cancelled? Speaking of winds, this ship rocks. I have never gotten sea sick and I have even had aft balconies. I was miserable 2 separate nights. Recommend bringing bonine and at least taking overnight if you are even slightly prone to seasickness. My husband had no issues. Love the non-smoking casino. Made a few bucks and hopefully got enough points to keep getting offers. Debarkment was easy especially if you can handle your own bags and have a passport. I loved the newness and overall offerings on Mardis Gras and although it was a sold out sailing we never felt too crowded except on embarkation day and the last day for bingo. I would definitely sail Mardis Gras again. My husband swears this is his last one but said he didn’t hate it. He might have a different opinion if we didn’t have Loft 19. Perfect area to get away from the crowds.

It was a nice area. Kinda wish we did the sloths and explored the island more.

It was a nice area. Kinda wish we did the sloths and explored the island more.

On the way home. We got a letter for suite debarkment. We chose self debarkment and it said to meet in Palm restaurant at 7:30. Noticed others already headed out so we went down at 7. They were already allowing priority off and we joined the line. Never stopped moving except for the facial recognition for passports. We were in the car and pulling out of the garage by 7:12. Very easy process if you can carry your luggage. We did have to carry them down to 6 from 12 and then up to 2 in the garage. Definitely doable even though we totally overpacked! Now the 8-9 hour drive home.

Another good seaday. Did seaday brunch at 10am and it was less than a 10 minute wait to be seated. We even had 8 people. Food was okay but came out sporadically? Hung out at Loft 19 for a hour or 2. Did Bingo again even though I swore I wouldn’t. It was WAY too crowded and we had to watch/play from deck 8. Considering how many people are playing they should have bigger prizes. I wasted $48! Went to the casino and played and then went to RUDIs for dinner. It was good but I don’t think we would do all the specialty dining in the future. Teppanyaki I’d probably our favorite for the show. Steakhouse probably the best food although my husband didn’t like his sea bass. I actually really liked Cucina and plan on trying the paid version on Sunshine this summer. I ended the trip up a little and got 7500 points playing table games. I definitely would sail Mardis Gras again. We have a long drive home so we are doing self debarking tomorrow.

I only got the value plan for WiFi so it has been kinda spotty. A lot of times I tried to upload stuff or s report and it didn’t load. Need premium next time if I’m going to try and do a live.

Great sea day. Had Emirils for breakfast. Liked the sweet potato waffles and shrimp and grits. Also got the beignets. My daughter and her friend tried Bolt. I did it the 1st sea day but of course the teens needed to sleep in! We then spent most of the afternoon at Loft 19. Went to bonsai teppanaki for dinner. Totally worth the money.

Loved Roatan. Beautiful ,lush island. Enjoyied our cabana and my husband and daughter went kayaking. Next time in Roatan I want to do the Sloths! Ate dinner at Cucina again. So far it is one of my favorites on the ship. Have Teppanyaki tomorrow and Rudis Friday night. Continuing thd bonine because this ship rocks. Every has commented on the rattling of the clothes hangers. I definitely will book a lower floor closer to the middle next time.

Love having the ocean suite. We have enough room our our balcony 2 chairs, a table and a lounger. Bathroom is nice. Not as big as ocean suites on other carnival ships but the shower is nice. Not a double sink but plenty of counter space.

Menus for cabana area.