Questions related to Carnival Mardi Gras

[jdkbrim]

I’m sailing on the Carnival Mardi Gras in 3 weeks (first cruise post Covid) and have a few questions I’m hoping to get help with:

 

1)  For the first time we will be sailing with only one child and thus not have to have parents split between two cabins.  Are the Platinum laundry benefits per person or per cabin (i.e., can send out 3 or 6 bags of laundry)?

 

2)  For the Platinum cocktail party, is MG providing drinks at the party or putting the free drink credit on S&S cards before the party?

 

3)  We are not gamblers so I am clueless regarding using the $25 platinum casino funplay credit —

o  Is it automatically on our S&S cards or do we have to ask for it?

o  We’ll probably just play slots.  How do you know when the credit ends (i.e., just want to play the $25 and not any winnings if there are some)?  Are any winnings put on S&S card, or do you have to cash out?

 

4)  I have a teenage daughter who has faced some mental health challenges since the last time she cruised.  She can be around other people and can manage noise to a certain extent, but situations like a large deck party would be too overwhelming for her.

o  Are there any quieter places than the lido deck to watch sail away?  (We have an interior cabin, so a balcony is not an option).

o  Is there a midship outside covered deck with lounge chairs to relax on?  Other ships have had that by going out doors on the Guest Services level.  Wondering if that option is still available somewhere since the Mardi has that wall of windows in Grand Central.

o  How loud are the Production Shows in the theater and shows like “Celestial Strings” in Grand Central?  I’m wondering whether or not regular earplugs will tone the sound down enough for my daughter to enjoy them.

 

Thanks for any help that can be provided!

[LPut714]

23 minutes ago, jdkbrim said:

I’m sailing on the Carnival Mardi Gras in 3 weeks (first cruise post Covid) and have a few questions I’m hoping to get help with:

 

1)  For the first time we will be sailing with only one child and thus not have to have parents split between two cabins.  Are the Platinum laundry benefits per person or per cabin (i.e., can send out 3 or 6 bags of laundry)?

 

2)  For the Platinum cocktail party, is MG providing drinks at the party or putting the free drink credit on S&S cards before the party?

 

3)  We are not gamblers so I am clueless regarding using the $25 platinum casino funplay credit —

o  Is it automatically on our S&S cards or do we have to ask for it?

o  We’ll probably just play slots.  How do you know when the credit ends (i.e., just want to play the $25 and not any winnings if there are some)?  Are any winnings put on S&S card, or do you have to cash out?

 

4)  I have a teenage daughter who has faced some mental health challenges since the last time she cruised.  She can be around other people and can manage noise to a certain extent, but situations like a large deck party would be too overwhelming for her.

o  Are there any quieter places than the lido deck to watch sail away?  (We have an interior cabin, so a balcony is not an option).

o  Is there a midship outside covered deck with lounge chairs to relax on?  Other ships have had that by going out doors on the Guest Services level.  Wondering if that option is still available somewhere since the Mardi has that wall of windows in Grand Central.

o  How loud are the Production Shows in the theater and shows like “Celestial Strings” in Grand Central?  I’m wondering whether or not regular earplugs will tone the sound down enough for my daughter to enjoy them.

 

Thanks for any help that can be provided!

We just got off a Back to back on the Mardi gras about 3 weeks ago

1. We are Platinum and sent out laundry. I believe the benefit is per Platinum guest. So just use different Folio number to gain extra bags. We made sure to get the laundry out before 10am and got it back that evening. But that may vary by room steward.

2. Wine, beer and non alcoholic punch was provided at the Platinum cocktail party. They had the drinks set up outside the theater. Upon exit there were left overs so able to grab an extra. The drink was just added onto our Sign and Sail card. If you have the drink package this allows you one more in your daily total 16 not 15 for that day.

3. We had to go to the cashier and get the $25 added to our Sign and Sail card. You will have to put some money in the slot machine to access your free play. There is a display on the slot machines that will tell you when your free play is used up. If you do win you can just cash out to your sign and sail card. If you want the cash you would then take your Sign and Sail card to the cashier and tell them you want to cash out.

4. There are a wall of windows at Center Stage-decks 6,7, 8 that have many different areas to sit. 

If your daughter is over 18 the Solarium may be an option. There is plenty of seating outside Guys Pig and Anchor Smokehouse on Deck 6 aft. 

We went to Celestial strings twice. Once sitting up on deck 8 and the second time right by the stage on deck 6 (better view) Didn't find the shows were excessively loud but might be good to have ear plugs just in case. 

Hope this helps

[mz-s]

Carnival has partnered with KultureCity to make their ships sensory inclusive. You can check out a bag of sensory needs items from Guest Services.

[Drazil65]

You may want to take a look at the MG deck plans and pinpoint all the locations that may work for your child.  It might help to print them off (or take pix with phone) as well and highlight the area(s) so that you can easily find them.  MG is a very large ship and you can lose or forget your way.  Hope you all have fun!

[Momma1980]

Wide variety of seating options. Just make sure you arrive 35-40 minutes in advance of the show to get the seats that will best suit your daughter. Scope out the options early in the cruise so you will know where the best spot is. 

[jdkbrim]

Thank you everyone that has responded so far.  I didn’t know about a sensory needs bag being available at guest services.  It will definitely be helpful to provide my daughter with some different fidgets to use.

 

Also, thanks for the reminder to scope out seats before seeing a show.  I assume the main theater won’t be much different than what we are used to, but seeing shows in Grand Central will be totally new to us.

[jiggs]

1 hour ago, jdkbrim said:

Thank you everyone that has responded so far.  I didn’t know about a sensory needs bag being available at guest services.  It will definitely be helpful to provide my daughter with some different fidgets to use.

 

Also, thanks for the reminder to scope out seats before seeing a show.  I assume the main theater won’t be much different than what we are used to, but seeing shows in Grand Central will be totally new to us.

search for some photos of the main theater as it is much different from other ships.  Instead of wide rows with small cocktail tables before the next row, it is more like a performing arts center with auditorium type seating across the rows..all that to say it is not nearly as roomy as they've been.

[jcearth]

Note about the sensory bag:  We got one for our 16 year old last month on the Mardi Gras.  Guest Services directed us down to Camp Ocean on Deck 4 to check the bag out.  The headphones in the bag had amazing noise cancellation properties, but were a very loud color (Bright Orange maybe?), so my son wouldn't wear them.  It also contained some fidget items and a lanyard that identified him as having sensory needs.

[jdkbrim]

12 hours ago, jcearth said:

Note about the sensory bag:  We got one for our 16 year old last month on the Mardi Gras.  Guest Services directed us down to Camp Ocean on Deck 4 to check the bag out.  The headphones in the bag had amazing noise cancellation properties, but were a very loud color (Bright Orange maybe?), so my son wouldn't wear them.  It also contained some fidget items and a lanyard that identified him as having sensory needs.

Thanks for the info..My daughter would have the same reaction to the headphones.  She would really benefit from wearing noise canceling headphones, but she always feels they would bring unwanted attention to her and refuses to wear the ones we own (and they are black).

Edited March 14, 2023 by jdkbrim

[Colorado Beach Bum]

On 3/11/2023 at 1:16 PM, LPut714 said:

3. We had to go to the cashier and get the $25 added to our Sign and Sail card. You will have to put some money in the slot machine to access your free play. There is a display on the slot machines that will tell you when your free play is used up. If you do win you can just cash out to your sign and sail card. If you want the cash you would then take your Sign and Sail card to the cashier and tell them you want to cash out.

You do not have to put some money in to play free play.  Just select free play from your player bank and play away.  It’s not super intuitive but once you play your $25 free play, any cash remaining can be cashed out and yours to keep b