Mardi Gras 10/09 - 10/16 -- lots of good, some bad, and some of the quirky

[KmomChicago]

6 hours ago, 19cruiser59 said:

When do the "free" usually paid options for dining go back to being paid only?

does anyone know?

 

I was thinking about booking Mardi Gras in Nov or Dec 2021.

 

Unspecified but there doesn't seem to be any impending deadline at the moment. 

[ray98]

Great review.  I really don't understand where they are going with the lack of food after 10pm.  Puzzling.

[Pellaz]

On 10/25/2021 at 5:31 AM, KmomChicago said:

We only ate at the Smokehouse once, for "second dinner" on what I believe was our 2nd night aboard, in the last hour of service for the night, after taking our teen to Bonsai Sushi at 5:30 and getting less than ample quantity for an upcharge.   Smokehouse is noisy as you note, and far from what a decent person might call "dining" at all. However, during some kind of break in the evening entertainment, it was a good "last chance" for nighttime vittles before the dreaded Dark Times.  I don't think we were in there much longer than 30 minutes start to end and our meal was definitely okay for that purpose.

I should have pointed out that, since reservations are not required for the Smokehouse for dinner, you CAN eat there as well as at your normal dining spot, whether it's set-time dining or one of the three YTD venues.   

Sorry to hear the Bonsai Sushi place gave "less than ample" quantities.  That's not unexpected for a sushi place -- it always seems to be high-priced anywhere -- but a little jarring when you consider the BIG portions usually offered at Chinese restaurants.  ("Okay, this three-pound to-go container can be THREE meals." 🙂 )   

 

On 10/25/2021 at 5:31 AM, KmomChicago said:

 

To that point I wonder if the Lido will start to experience a big 9:30 nightly rush as cruisers get the hang of, well, the hangries on this ship and the fact that everyone has that little mini fridge in their rooms.

 

"Quick!  To the Lido!   The Dark Times are approaching!"   

 

One thing I forgot to mention was the mini-fridge in the room.  

After seeing photos of glass-doored, inside-light thingies in the cabins on Mardi Gras I thought "Oh no, they've gone back to those weak-kneed 'wine cooler' things that don't get below 50F."  

I'm happy to confirm that, at least in our stateroom, it got plenty cold.  On the last day there was even a little ice on the back wall.  ❤️  

There IS an adjustable temperature dial inside in the back and we dialed ours down to the max.   

 

 

18 hours ago, 19cruiser59 said:

When do the "free" usually paid options for dining go back to being paid only?

does anyone know?

 

I was thinking about booking Mardi Gras in Nov or Dec 2021.

 

It hasn't been mentioned officially.  I suspect that you'd be safe for November or December, though.  

IF they change over at all, I figure it would be maybe at the end of the year, or at the end of the "inaugural season"....whatever THAT means.  

But I wouldn't be at all surprised if they keep it permanent, at least for YTD patrons.  

 

2 hours ago, ray98 said:

Great review.  I really don't understand where they are going with the lack of food after 10pm.  Puzzling.

 

"Welcome to the Mardi Gras!  We have 12 choices for free/included dining for lunch and dinner...and exactly ONE choice* after 10 pm."   

 

It boggles the mind, really.

 

--

*  plus Swirls

Edited October 27, 2021 by Pellaz

[19cruiser59]

Excellent review!  Thank You!  Looks like i will be trying it out in Dec. 🙂

[wareaglefan444]

On 10/18/2021 at 5:54 PM, Pellaz said:

Some ship-stuff:  

 

The first photo shows a Port Canaveral fire-suppression vessel (see the water nozzles on the front?) that was stationed aft of Mardi Gras during LNG fueling.  It's a bit different than regular bunker fueling; please DON'T smoke on the outside decks.  

 

Second photo is the refuelling vessel itself; it had just blown its whistle and they made the "all-clear" announcement for the upper decks.  

 

Third and fourth photos show the Elation departing on her test cruise.  Bon voyage!

 

Fifth photo shows a casino boat returning before we left, and the sixth photo shows the Independence of the Seas, which has been my home for the 70,000 Tons of Metal cruise six times, now redeployed to P.C. from Port Everglades.  

As a metal head myself, just curious how you enjoy the 70,000 tons of metal cruises, My wife and I have always wanted to try it

[tebookie]

Thanks for the review!

Couple of questions for Bolt. 

It looks like you have a seat belt as a restraint. Anything else?

Was there any height or weight restrictions?

 

[SNJCruisers]

6 hours ago, tebookie said:

Was there any height or weight restrictions?

300 lb limit.  Need to be between 4'4" and 6'5".

[ray98]

14 hours ago, Pellaz said:

 

"Welcome to the Mardi Gras!  We have 12 choices for free/included dining for lunch and dinner...and exactly ONE choice* after 10 pm."   

 

It boggles the mind, really.

 

--

*  plus Swirls

 

Yup....on a ship that size especially when it goes to capacity there will be a large amount of people still out that time of night at the bars and shows.  Even if 80% of people are already in their cabins, that leaves a thousand still out and about.

[Pellaz]

16 hours ago, wareaglefan444 said:

As a metal head myself, just curious how you enjoy the 70,000 tons of metal cruises, My wife and I have always wanted to try it

 

They have been absolutely amazing, lots of fun, and with an international roster of bands and passengers that's awesome and diverse....but it's seemingly planned haphazardly right up until the final two weeks or so before sailing.  Communications regarding future cruises have been nonexistent -- they haven't posted anything official since before COVID started -- and past delays announcing all 60 bands have soured many people on the entire process.  

And yet, right at the end before sailing, everything magically comes together.  The bands are booked, travel is arranged, the huge task of loading all of the equipment and the largest open-air structure at sea comes together (loading by crane onto the pool deck), etc.  

It's been held on a Royal Caribbean Freedom-class ship for five sailings, and while the ship is even bigger still than Mardi Gras, I have to say I prefer Carnival's larger ships to it.  

[Pellaz]

16 hours ago, tebookie said:

Thanks for the review!

Couple of questions for Bolt. 

It looks like you have a seat belt as a restraint. Anything else?

Was there any height or weight restrictions?

 

 

10 hours ago, SNJCruisers said:

300 lb limit.  Need to be between 4'4" and 6'5".

 

300 lbs per person, I believe, 600 total.  

 

The only restraint is a heavy-duty seat belt.  After they attach it, it self-tightens to hold you in.  

And glad I am of THAT...it was the only thing holding me in place when I got stuck.  Without the tensioned belt, I'd have eventually let go the handles and tumbled into the side of the funnel. 

"Whale of a guy hits the tail."  😮   

[Ellusionz]

Is there a photo op on Bolt like that normally that we can buy? Was trying to figure out a way to get a friend to grab a picture of me if they didn't.

[SNJCruisers]

1 hour ago, Ellusionz said:

Is there a photo op on Bolt like that normally that we can buy? Was trying to figure out a way to get a friend to grab a picture of me if they didn't.

Yes