Carnival Mardi Gras - 1/22 Sailing live

[IntrepidFromDC]

My daughter, Faith, and I are so excited to finally experience Mardi Gras.  I've been memorizing the ship's deck plans and planning meals and activities for weeks and I'm so excited.  Adding to the excitement is that one of Faith's Carnival Crew friends will be on this sailing.  They talk on the phone almost daily, so it's a big deal for her when she gets to see him.  Testing is tomorrow at CVS (insert anxiety meme here).  Friday we fly out of DCA, a short subway ride from home, and arrive MCO around 2pm, then catch a uber to our hotel which is one block from Port Canaveral Cruise Terminal 3.  Friday night we'll be having dinner at Seafood Atlantic at Port Canaveral, also walking distance from the hotel.  We plan to have dinner at a different venue each night of the cruise, and mix free and pay-for lunchtime venues.  For dinner we'll be at Steakhouse, MDR (night 2 for the mini-lobsters and prime rib), Teppanyaki, Cucina, Rudi's, Chibang and then for the last night we'll hope to eat for a second time at whichever one of those six we liked best first time.  We've been to two of the three ports before, Cozumel and Isla Roatan.  I'll be sharing comments and photos here and there every day and when I do I'll look for questions.  Next up, tomorrow: test results (yikes!)

[keels81]

Enjoy! Wish I was joining you on this one, but I'll waive from the Valor!

[hurricane0226]

23 minutes ago, IntrepidFromDC said:

My daughter, Faith, and I are so excited to finally experience Mardi Gras.  I've been memorizing the ship's deck plans and planning meals and activities for weeks and I'm so excited.  Adding to the excitement is that one of Faith's Carnival Crew friends will be on this sailing.  They talk on the phone almost daily, so it's a big deal for her when she gets to see him.  Testing is tomorrow at CVS (insert anxiety meme here).  Friday we fly out of DCA, a short subway ride from home, and arrive MCO around 2pm, then catch a uber to our hotel which is one block from Port Canaveral Cruise Terminal 3.  Friday night we'll be having dinner at Seafood Atlantic at Port Canaveral, also walking distance from the hotel.  We plan to have dinner at a different venue each night of the cruise, and mix free and pay-for lunchtime venues.  For dinner we'll be at Steakhouse, MDR (night 2 for the mini-lobsters and prime rib), Teppanyaki, Cucina, Rudi's, Chibang and then for the last night we'll hope to eat for a second time at whichever one of those six we liked best first time.  We've been to two of the three ports before, Cozumel and Isla Roatan.  I'll be sharing comments and photos here and there every day and when I do I'll look for questions.  Next up, tomorrow: test results (yikes!)

Seafood Atlantic might be a little bit of a long walk from your hotel, but hopefully not, we enjoyed the MG. in November, so many places to eat and drink and relax. Enjoy the cruise, and wish good weather for you all.

[IntrepidFromDC]

1 minute ago, hurricane0226 said:

Seafood Atlantic might be a little bit of a long walk from your hotel, but hopefully not, we enjoyed the MG. in November, so many places to eat and drink and relax. Enjoy the cruise, and wish good weather for you all.

Thanks.  We're not staying at a hotel on Astronaut Blvd., but the Holiday Inn Vacation Club Port Canaveral.  It looks like a 15 minute walk (maybe 20 minutes if we have to dodge/outrun any gators in the streets/canals).  

[hurricane0226]

1 minute ago, IntrepidFromDC said:

Thanks.  We're not staying at a hotel on Astronaut Blvd., but the Holiday Inn Vacation Club Port Canaveral.  It looks like a 15 minute walk (maybe 20 minutes if we have to dodge/outrun any gators in the streets/canals).  

Ok, kool, yes, I was thinking probably staying on Astronaut Blvd. We always stay there at the Raddison, so we drive over to those restaurants on the water, so very nice places.

[Knights on the Beach]

Yay, another Mardi Gras Live!  I can't get enough of that ship.  Cucina was my favorite dinner spot on MG last month and we also liked Emeril's and Guy's Pig & Anchor Smokehouse.  We didn't make it to the steakhouse or Teppanyaki but have reservations for both in March.  The breakfast/lunch I look forward to most?  Big Chicken - so good!

 

Depending on where your room is located at HIVC (it's a pretty good sized resort), I'm thinking it might be closer to 25 minutes to walk to Seafood Atlantic.  Still not too bad as long as weather is good.  Right now, Friday looks OK but we're supposed to get some rain Saturday.  But the rain often skips us here at the beach, so hopefully the rain will miss you.  If it looks iffy Friday night, it's easy to get Uber or Lyft around here now.  

[SummerRoze]

Oh fun! I’ve got my Mardi Gras cruise booked next month, so I’m hoping things will be similar to what you experience this sailing. I haven’t been to any of these ports, so I’m interested in following your port day adventures. Have a safe travel day and welcome to Florida!

[IntrepidFromDC]

1 hour ago, cruisemom2 said:

Yay, another Mardi Gras Live!  I can't get enough of that ship.  Cucina was my favorite dinner spot on MG last month and we also liked Emeril's and Guy's Pig & Anchor Smokehouse.  We didn't make it to the steakhouse or Teppanyaki but have reservations for both in March.  The breakfast/lunch I look forward to most?  Big Chicken - so good!

 

Depending on where your room is located at HIVC (it's a pretty good sized resort), I'm thinking it might be closer to 25 minutes to walk to Seafood Atlantic.  Still not too bad as long as weather is good.  Right now, Friday looks OK but we're supposed to get some rain Saturday.  But the rain often skips us here at the beach, so hopefully the rain will miss you.  If it looks iffy Friday night, it's easy to get Uber or Lyft around here now.  

Very helpful info for an out-of-towner, THANKS!  Big Chicken will be our first stop when we board, after dropping of the carry-ons in the room.  25 minutes is a nice walk to me but maybe we'll catch the uber home after all those butter-drenched middle-neck clams!  Emeril's and Guy's Pig & Anchor will be not-to-be-missed lunch venues for us.  I imagine we'll eat at Big Chicken at least three times.

Edited January 20, 2022 by IntrepidFromDC

[Knights on the Beach]

I hope you enjoy our port area, we love it here.  Honestly, we thought the dinner at Pig & Anchor was much better than lunch - but as a bonus we also got to watch football during dinner.  🙂

[mjrcruiser]

Looking forward to your review!  We'll be sailing her in April and just made all our specialty dining reservations. 😁

[dbrucern]

13 hours ago, IntrepidFromDC said:

My daughter, Faith, and I are so excited to finally experience Mardi Gras.  I've been memorizing the ship's deck plans and planning meals and activities for weeks and I'm so excited.  Adding to the excitement is that one of Faith's Carnival Crew friends will be on this sailing.  They talk on the phone almost daily, so it's a big deal for her when she gets to see him.  Testing is tomorrow at CVS (insert anxiety meme here).  Friday we fly out of DCA, a short subway ride from home, and arrive MCO around 2pm, then catch a uber to our hotel which is one block from Port Canaveral Cruise Terminal 3.  Friday night we'll be having dinner at Seafood Atlantic at Port Canaveral, also walking distance from the hotel.  We plan to have dinner at a different venue each night of the cruise, and mix free and pay-for lunchtime venues.  For dinner we'll be at Steakhouse, MDR (night 2 for the mini-lobsters and prime rib), Teppanyaki, Cucina, Rudi's, Chibang and then for the last night we'll hope to eat for a second time at whichever one of those six we liked best first time.  We've been to two of the three ports before, Cozumel and Isla Roatan.  I'll be sharing comments and photos here and there every day and when I do I'll look for questions.  Next up, tomorrow: test results (yikes!)

Don't forget Emeril's, the food was excellent as was the ribs at Guy's smokehouse

[pblack]

See you on board! I'm awaiting my e-med test results now, but so far it's looking good. 😎

[IntrepidFromDC]

Math question of the day: Is a negative always negative? The product or quotient of two negative numbers is always positive. A negative number taken to the power of a positive integer can be either negative or positive depending on whether the exponent is even or odd.  Two negative tests for Faith and me have us positively cruising Mardi Gras!

[silversneakers]

17 hours ago, IntrepidFromDC said:

Thanks.  We're not staying at a hotel on Astronaut Blvd., but the Holiday Inn Vacation Club Port Canaveral.  It looks like a 15 minute walk (maybe 20 minutes if we have to dodge/outrun any gators in the streets/canals).  

Very close by your location....don't worry!

[Joe817]

53 minutes ago, IntrepidFromDC said:

Math question of the day: Is a negative always negative? The product or quotient of two negative numbers is always positive. A negative number taken to the power of a positive integer can be either negative or positive depending on whether the exponent is even or odd.  Two negative tests for Faith and me have us positively cruising Mardi Gras!

Yayyy! Congrats to both of you! We will expect a full report when you get back. When are you sailing?

[IntrepidFromDC]

9 minutes ago, Joe817 said:

Yayyy! Congrats to both of you! We will expect a full report when you get back. When are you sailing?

This Saturday!  So excited I can't stand it.

[Saint Greg]

1 hour ago, IntrepidFromDC said:

Math question of the day: Is a negative always negative? The product or quotient of two negative numbers is always positive. A negative number taken to the power of a positive integer can be either negative or positive depending on whether the exponent is even or odd.  Two negative tests for Faith and me have us positively cruising Mardi Gras!

 

It was my understanding that there would be no math.

[mkcurran]

Here for the party!

[SenatorsFan]

I'm ready to follow along! 😄

[Jamman54]

Looking forward to following along as we will  be doing a B2B on her in April! 👍🤗

[TravelE]

I am excited to hear more. We loved the Mardi Gras! It's different but in a good way.

 

 

[ninjacat123]

So happy for negative test results!  If Seafood Atlantic doesn't work out, check out Rikki Tikki Tavern at the end of Cocoa Beach Pier.  10 minute Uber from your hotel, yummy food and drinks, great vibe!

[mcgore83]

Looking forward to virtually sharing this trip with you! Enjoy your cruise!

[BTromboneFrack]

Am staying in Titusville tonight and tomorrow.  COVID test tomorrow.  We drove down and went through the weather front that I think will cool things down before our departure, but that's OK, because the Alchemy Bar will warm things back up until we get south of Miami.  See you on board!!!

 

[purpleally]

On 1/19/2022 at 8:20 PM, IntrepidFromDC said:

Thanks.  We're not staying at a hotel on Astronaut Blvd., but the Holiday Inn Vacation Club Port Canaveral.  It looks like a 15 minute walk (maybe 20 minutes if we have to dodge/outrun any gators in the streets/canals).  

It’s a definitely walking distance. Not close but a straight shot.  20 minutes maybe, a nice walk

Edited January 21, 2022 by purpleally