Mardi Gras - Aug. 21 - 28, 2021, 7 Nights - Western Caribbean Live

[twangster]

Day Three - Cozumel

 

Since boarding I've been finding my way around the ship and making notes of areas to photograph.  I often find that by getting up early the ship appears empty so that was my plan today.  I set a camera on my balcony in timp lapse mode and went off to take some pictures.

 

This should give you an idea of the decor in the elevator lobbies and staircases.

 

 

The elevators aren't very big but I feel like there are more of them.

 

 

Down to deck 6.

 

 

 

The difference is pretty striking.

 

 

The Piano Bar

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Edited August 24, 2021 by twangster

[CruzCrazy]

I'm really enjoying your photos!  We just moved our Mardi Gras cruise from this December to next December, so this is "tiding" me over 🙂  Thank you!

[twangster]

Continuing on to Grand Central.

 

 

 

 

Javablue is a full service coffee venue but also serves as a beverage station for complimentary coffee and water. 

 

 

 

This is also the lowest level of Center Stage.  More on that later.

 

 

 

 

ATM and bill changing machine.

 

 

Javablue menu

 

Javablue.pdf

[twangster]

Continuing on into the French Quarter

 

 

The Brass Magnolia Bar.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Cool trombone light fixtures.

 

 

 

 

 

The Brass Magnolia menu

 

Brass Magnolia.pdf

 

[KmomChicago]

3 hours ago, twangster said:

Day Three - Cozumel

 

Since boarding I've been finding my way around the ship and making notes of areas to photograph.  I often find that by getting up early the ship appears empty so that was my plan today.  I set a camera on my balcony in timp lapse mode and went off to take some pictures.

 

This should give you an idea of the decor in the elevator lobbies and staircases.

 

 

The elevators aren't very big but I feel like there are more of them.

 

 

Down to deck 6.

 

 

 

The difference is pretty striking.

 

 

The Piano Bar

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Are you using a wide angle lens and are you taking long exposures? Back in the day I used to shoot with a Pentax 35mm and actually understood speeds and apertures and so forth but since the film era ended I don’t have any decent equipment anymore and just use my iPhone. Never bought a quality digital camera and don’t really know how to use one. 
 

You’re obviously talented with great composition and I have to assume you are using equipment to match.

[twangster]

1 hour ago, KmomChicago said:

Are you using a wide angle lens and are you taking long exposures? Back in the day I used to shoot with a Pentax 35mm and actually understood speeds and apertures and so forth but since the film era ended I don’t have any decent equipment anymore and just use my iPhone. Never bought a quality digital camera and don’t really know how to use one. 
 

You’re obviously talented with great composition and I have to assume you are using equipment to match.

 

Old film junkie myself.  The same principles apply except now with digital I can fix many of my mistakes in software.

[emm126]

On 8/23/2021 at 10:21 AM, sc4125 said:

I am hoping that in the first time slot they will be checking before letting people in.  'Although I do like getting onboard early, it is actually because I think I'm getting a little claustrophobic as I get older and I hate being in the middle of a large crowd. 

 

I have considered being in the last group allowed onboard but I'm a worry wart and am afraid I'd be caught in traffic on I-4, which is notorious for accidents, before I reach the toll road. You're lucky you live so close to the port.

 

I think I'll plan on getting to the port at 10:00, which is 30 minutes before I am scheduled, and hope that the line is manageable.

 

BTW I'm really enjoying your pictures and commentary.  Thanks for taking the time.

HI- I was on the 8/7 sailing and had the 1030 check in as well. I arrived at 1030 and I was on the ship at 11am. We also sat for about 10 minutes. I think you should be fine. Have a great cruise!

[twangster]

On Mardi Gras there are a lot of these sitting areas, different areas each with a different feeling and ambiance.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Fortune Teller Menu

Fortune Tellers.pdf

 

[sc4125]

30 minutes ago, emm126 said:

HI- I was on the 8/7 sailing and had the 1030 check in as well. I arrived at 1030 and I was on the ship at 11am. We also sat for about 10 minutes. I think you should be fine. Have a great cruise!

Thank you for the info and the good wishes.  So ready to get back to sailing and can't wait to board this beautiful ship.  I actually worked on the old Mardi Gras as a gift shop manager - my how things have changed!!

[pc2425]

On 8/21/2021 at 11:37 PM, twangster said:

After dropping off luggage It was over to the queue for the terminal check in.

 

First step was up the escalator.  It doesn't look so bad.

 

 

From here we walked left and down the ramp.  Wait, what?  We went up to walk down?  Yep.

 

Have you ever seen one of those photos where the stairs are endless but seemingly end where they start?  

 

After walking down the ramp on the right, turning the corner and walking down the ramp on the left then doing a u-turn and walking back up the same ramp, turning the corner and walking back up the ramp I just walked down I was well on my way back to the level ground where the escalator brought us 30 minutes earlier but still 15 minutes from that point.

 

Wait.  Where did all these people come from?  It was seemingly empty when we went up the escalator.

 

 

From the comments I've heard we are about 50-60% capacity on this sailing.  I am not sure how this will work at 100% capacity.

 

The good news is once you reach the entrance to the terminal there are signs based on if you are vaccinated and within your appointment window or "other".  The weird news is that at this point staff were directing people into any queue.  Signs didn't matter.  If one queue was getting full go in another queue.

 

The great news is the terminal has air conditioning!  PHEW.  

 

 

After a while inching along inside the terminal I was able to look outside and see even more people in the maze outside.

 

 

Looking around me at this point people had check in appointments an hour before me and an hour after me.  I was within my 30 minute window.  Whatever.  Get in line.  How you doin'?

 

Eventually you will divide into one of three zig-zag queues.  Some are longer than others but some have more check in people than others.  Some lines appear to move faster and everyone was now second guessing their choice of queue.  Honestly I don't think it really mattered.  It's like a grocery store and picking the wrong check out lane.  

 

 

Finally I made it to a check in agent who looked at my paperwork and passed me onto another check in agent who took my photo.  Success!  

 

Next up security.  You know the drill.  

 

After security the ship was already boarding so onward and away I went.

 

It seemed a little confusing and chaotic but only took 45 minutes from stepping out of the car to reaching the point where I was going up the ramp and almost on the ship where I took this picture.

 

It felt a lot longer but the timestamps on my photos don't allow me to lie.

 

We were on Mardi Gras 8/14 and it took 45 minutes to an hour for us to go through the whole process and get on the ship. However, it felt very chaotic in the terminal.  There really weren’t clear directions on where to go. Your boarding time means absolutely nothing until they start calling the zones.  They called the zones very quickly.  Really one right after the other.

[twangster]

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

[TNcruising02]

Your photos are fantastic!  The ship is amazing.  Thank you so much for posting pictures of all of the different areas.

[pc2425]

On 8/22/2021 at 1:05 PM, WhaleTailFlCruiser said:

Watch those camouflaged steps in the theater @twangster

Definitely watch those steps! I fell in the Limelight and I knew from these boards to watch them.  We saw several people fall throughout the week!

[twangster]

 

 

 

 

Emeril's Bistro 1396

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Emeril's Bistro Menu

 

Emerils Bistro.pdf

[KmomChicago]

53 minutes ago, pc2425 said:

Definitely watch those steps! I fell in the Limelight and I knew from these boards to watch them.  We saw several people fall throughout the week!

What?? Even with the warning?? I’m sorry to hear that!! 
 

Here it is again, the “Limelight Ledge.” Beware!

 

Sorry to sully your thread with a crappy iPhone pic, @twangster. Can you please get a better photo of this treacherous so-called stair but actual weapon of doom?

Edited August 25, 2021 by KmomChicago

[KmomChicago]

28 minutes ago, twangster said:

 

 

 

 

Emeril's Bistro 1396

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Emeril's Bistro Menu

 

Emerils Bistro.pdf 75.83 kB · 3 downloads

Yeah I swear your lighting looks BETTER than it actually looks in real life. Stunning.

[twangster]

Carnival Kitchen

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

[twangster]

Time to head up one deck to seven.

 

 

To the Alchemy Bar.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Great place to people watch.

 

 

 

Alchemy Bar Menu

 

Alchemy Bar.pdf

Edited August 25, 2021 by twangster

[CoasterGuy]

Your pictures are freaking amazing. Keep em coming and I hope you are having a great time! I'm booked an Mardi Gras for halloween.

[twangster]

Palm Restaurant

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

[twangster]

By this time more and more people were up and moving about so I went back to my cabin to see how my time lapse video worked out.

 

Our arrival into Cozumel.

 

 

[Hogladyrider]

@twangster your photos are spectacular........what time did you get up to be able to take all those photos with no people in them!

 

Carnival needs to hire you as a promotional person!

 

So enjoying your review thanks for taking the time to share it with all of us!

[mrak]

13 hours ago, emm126 said:

HI- I was on the 8/7 sailing and had the 1030 check in as well. I arrived at 1030 and I was on the ship at 11am. We also sat for about 10 minutes. I think you should be fine. Have a great cruise!

Anyone know what time the check-in selection goes live? For instance, if check in is available Nov 4th, is it at the stroke of 12am on the 4th? 

[crewsweeper]

13 minutes ago, mrak said:

Anyone know what time the check-in selection goes live? For instance, if check in is available Nov 4th, is it at the stroke of 12am on the 4th? 

Supposedly -Yes!  However, people arrive earlier and wait and if not busy get let in, which may make you wait if you're not in the right line before Noon.  But unless you have faster to the fun or diamond platinum status you're not getting into your cabin before 1:30P.  

[geaux_aces]

29 minutes ago, mrak said:

Anyone know what time the check-in selection goes live? For instance, if check in is available Nov 4th, is it at the stroke of 12am on the 4th? 

Yes, it is exactly at midnight. I did it this weekend for our Sept 4 Mardi Gras sailing.  We got the earliest time slot by being online right when they dropped.  I'd suggest skipping ahead in the check-in process to secure your time then go back and do the rest.