Pellaz

Mardi Gras is unique in its lack of late-night dining options. The panini place (think "deli") closes at 10 pm, not 11 pm as on most ships. After 10 pm there are no included/"free" dining options except pizza...not even Late Night Snacks on the buffet. 😮

While Grand Turk IS a Carnival-built port, it's clear they are allowing other lines to dock there -- and presumably charging a pretty penny for the privilege. And why not? GT is one of the best purpose-built cruise ports around. Might even be some extra revenue for Carnival when they need it. Carnival did this -- and might still be doing this -- with Amber Cove also, another nice port they built in the D.R. Other cruise lines were being allowed to dock there, likely because the new cruise port over by Puerta Plata had not yet been completed. I've been on a Royal ship to Grand Turk, a big music charter (60 bands, 4 stages) on the Indy. At the time the Jack's Shack said it was the biggest ship ever to make port there. It almost looked like the stern of the ship was in front of Jack's. It wasn't....quite. 🙂

Huh, I didn't know that either (but it makes sense). I've always just assumed Carnival's CFAR insurance was higher than other insurers and got mine through InsureMyTrip, but I'll have to look a bit more closely in the future.

Yep, and if they aren't there or you missed one, you can ask them to print out a copy for each cruise-day.

Someone stated in a different online venue that LNG-fueled ships also have to use 10% diesel as some sort of "spark plug." Any truth to that? It sounded, if you'll pardon the pun, a bit fishy.

Wow. Now THAT's kinda terrifying to contemplate.

Let me add that the Mayan Temple part of Aquaventure opens at 10 am, and the Power Tower side (farther away from the Coral Tower entrance) opens at around 11 am, but you may be able to get into the Rapids River ('the Current") a bit before 11. The tube slides on the Power Tower are probably the most thrilling slides in the waterpark...but you must acquire a tube in the Rapids River before going there.

The hotel will issue a pink card for each paid person on the room reservation, including kids AFAIK.

Yes indeed. They are used to this procedure. As soon as you arrive by taxi you can get your pink cards; then you walk over to Atlantis (probably to the Royal Tower lobby, but DO ask and make sure) and get your wristbands.

I usually get in line nice and early, or make a beeline for the Wok as soon as I board the ship. I like it THAT much; I'm a Mongolian BBQ/hibachi FIEND. 🙂 I can't see them doubling the size because I don't think they can increase the linear distance that's used for it along the buffet (i.e., how much counter space it takes up). It also MUST be in close proximity to high capacity wash-sinks, and if you've ever watched the continual dance of the employees as they rotate the woks from the cooking station to the wash-sinks and back, you'll understand why. Many newer ships have Jiji's Asian, which has the same complimentary Mongolian Wok offerings for lunch but in a sit-down, fill-out-the-card-with-your-choices setting, which was awesome. Mardi Gras also includes this at Chibang! as well as an expanded Asian menu. Caveat: Chibang! is not open for lunch on embark day on Mardi Gras, whereas on other ships, Mongolian Wok and Jiji's ARE.

Same here. Even though I have Cheers, I'll fill in a tip, typically $1.00 for alcohol and $.50 for a soda. It's great to see the bartenders' appreciation when they see the tip and their faces light up.