Carnival Mardi Gras-We Got a Bigger Boat!!!

Carnival Mardi Gras met her homeport for the first time on June 4^th, 2021, Port Canaveral, FL.   The ship was just 5 months old when we sailed.  We did the Western Caribbean with a group of friends we have been sailing with for 11 years, The Looter Rebels! 

I must admit I was a bit scared about the size of this ship.  The biggest Carnival ship I have been on till then was the Carnival Vista.  The Mardi Gras outweighs the Vista by over 47,000 tons, accommodates 5,282 guests’ double occupancy, (Vista 3,934) and has 285 more crew.  It is only 75 feet longer, there are 2,641 cabins, and 18 passenger decks.  That’s 676 more cabins than the Vista and 4 more passenger decks!  Any wonder I was a tad bit nervous. 

I did get over it quickly, though. The ship is amazing and easy to get around. Never got lost.  Lay out is different than other ships, like Guys Burger and the pizza place are not in the usual spots.  But there are SO many more eating venues that it is understandable that they moved things around. I am always up for a new adventure and the Carnival Mardi Gras did deliver!

Halloween on the Mardi Gras

It was so much fun celebrating Halloween on the Carnival Mardi Gras!  The ship was decorated with a Halloween theme and crew members were handing out candy throughout the ship. And best of all so many amusing and interesting costumes.  I would say a big percentage of the passengers participated and enjoyed.  This was the second time I have done a Halloween cruise and this was definingly the best!

Balcony Cabin

My friends will tell you I am a bit of a balcony snob, although I have had interior and ocen view cabins before.  I do love sitting on the balcony watching the ocean go by, even at night when there is not much to see.  This trip we had 4 senior women in the cabin.  With 4 in a cabin, one is required to climb a ladder to sleep on the top bunk.  That could become a fight but didn’t thankfully.  Between that, and bathroom usage, we have decided no more than 3 to a cabin, ever.  The cabins are a bit smaller than on other ships, more cabins, more passengers. But as always, the beds were comfortable, although too close together.  The shower in the bathroom had a door, no curtain, yeah!  And it was large enough.  We did have plenty of closet and cupboard space to accommodate all 4 of us.

Ports

The Western Caribbean does offer many exciting and fun ports, and this trip the ports were Cozumel, Costa Maya, and Mahogany Bay

Cozumel, Mexico

I have been to Cozumel more times than I can count.  I have done many great excursions, but this trip I chose to just stay on the ship with my sister.  My other friends joined the group at an all-inclusive resort called Nachi Cocom.  I have been there a few times and do love that place, but decided this time to just enjoy the quiet of the ship while most of the guests were ashore.

 It was a wonderful day!!  First, we went up to the Serenity Deck, an adult only area of the ship.  While there really weren’t many kids on this cruise, it is always a comfortable hang out on the Carnival ships.  The pool, however, was ICE cold!  I did get in, almost got used to it! Then we enjoyed laying in the hot sun, until we decided to go into the port for some shopping.  Couldn’t find what I wanted, a corkscrew, so we went back to the ship.  Apparently, they don’t drink much wine in Cozumel. 

My sister is a big fan of the trivia contests on the ship, so that’s where we headed when we got back.  We met up with 2 more couples from our group that had also stayed on the ship.  We really had a great time at trivia, even though I really suck!!  Cleveland Browns do NOT have picture of a helmet on their helmet, who knew!!! Then we went to the Fortune Teller Bar and had some interesting drinks and great conversation with our friends.   I don’t feel like we missed anything staying on the ship.

Costa Maya, Mexico

I had only been to this port once before, probably 17 years ago. The port has gotten A LOT bigger, so many different shops, but still has the swim up bar I remember. We booked a Carnival excurson, Chacchoben Mayan ruins & Uchbenkah Lagoon. Our guide, Jesus, was Mayan, and so full of stories and adventures he shared with us. The bus ride is a tad long, but the ruins are worth it, and Jesus was very entertaining. There is one temple you can climb if you don’t have knee issues. I heard it was amazing up top. Local vendors were near the bus area to shop for souveinirs. The time at the Lagoon was nice, relaxing, but we had our doubts thaat it was a lagoon…river maybe?? Open bar, including beer and well drinks and a simple but good lunch was included.

Back at the port they drop you off so that you will walk through the entire shopping area to get back to the ship.   A lot of shops and bars to spend your money. I always wanted to do the fish foot massage thing, until I found out they don’t change the water much. 

Mahogany Bay, Roatan (island off the coast of Honduras)

Without a doubt, my favorite port, EVER!  Last time I was there, I just did a tour of the island and a little zip lining.  Since then, Carnival has built a new port, also very big and impressive.  We were a bit disappointed that it was raining, merely sprinkling to us Washingtonians, but it didn’t last.  From our balcony, we were able to look toward the end of the island and see a pod of dolphins playing in the surf! 

Coincidently our booked excursion was the Dolphin Swim and Snorkel. We were taken by bus, then a boat to Anthony Key Resort where we got the opportunity to ask questions, touch, and play with the dolphins and take photos. It was an experience of a lifetime that I will never forget! They gave us the gear to snorkel and swim, freely interacting with the friendly pod of dolphins, including a mother and her calf.  You do have an opportunity to buy pictures of your encounter. Great memories. 

Shows:

Mardi Gras Theater

 It is small, so fills up fast.  I wasn’t very impressed with the show I did get to see. The performers were fine, the production lacking.  I missed the first show, but my friend did like it.  And I do usually love the shows, Carnival has had some phenomenal shows, like Epic Rock!

There was a magic show though that was pretty good.  Two of my friends were picked to participate, very fun.

Also, all time favorite is the Love and Marriage show, never disappoints!

Grand Atrium

 A big change on the Mardi Gras was the Grand Atrium where it can be used for a 2^nd theater. And, honestly, I enjoyed the shows here much better than the shows in the theater.  A lot of variety too, games like a lip sync battle, Deal or No Deal, and Family Feud.  Throughout the day just walking through there was always something going on, and the shows were great.  I especially like the one with the crew being introduced by the country they were from, very impressive.  Even without room to sit, you can stand in the back and enjoy for however long you desire.  On a ship like the Mardi Gras, where there is SO much to do and you want to sample a bit of everything, it really works.

Comedy Clubs 

Comedy shows were pretty good and had a good variety of comedians throughout the week.  This ship they have two venues, one for adult comedy, The Punchliner Comedy Club, and a family friendly comedy show. Lines do start forming at least a half hour before doors open. Have to tell you, on our cruise there was a couple that entrained us before the show started……enough said.

Dive in Movies

Out on the deck each night movies are shown on a big screen.  If you have no other plans, or just want to see a movie they are playing, I recommend it.  Low key night.

Dining

The list of restaurants on this ship is endless!  More options for complimentry dinning besides the Main Dining Room and Lido Marketplace (Buffet).  (By the way if you choose anytime dining you need to make reservations through the app)

Others include:

Chibang! My favorite!!  Mexican food was different and delicious. It also has Chinese, weird combo, but fun.

Cucina Del Capitano, the mussels and clams were delicious!

Guy’s Pig & Anchor Smokehouse | Brewhouse, good tender brisket

Big Chicken, very good and tender chicken and breakfast was a fav with my friends

Street Eats, lots of good choices. Taco bar made my order the way I requested!

BlueIiguana Cantina, love the breakfast burrito options.

Guy’s Burger Joint, not a fan, but I’m in the minority on that one.

There is a good variety of restaurants with a charge, my favorite is of course Bonsai Teppanyaki.  Next time I will try the Seafood shack.

I would also like to mention The Chef’s Table.  It is more of an eating experience, rather than just a meal.  Pre-covid you got a tour of kitchen, but it is more limited now.  The dishes are served in about 7 different courses.  I do like strange and different foods, but not everyone enjoys this.  It is $75, last I checked, so if you aren’t adventurous, I won’t recommend it.  I will do it again when I see the menu changes,             

Bars

I do like my wine, and a cocktail now and again.  I don’t do the drink package, but if I did, I would make the rounds of these great bartenders at some very interesting bars!  They really do a good job!  The ones I am familiar with are, The Brass Magnolia (nice atmosphere), Fortune Teller (very exotic drinks) and the Alchemy Bar.  We did spend time at Heroes Tribute Bar and Lounge to watch football. It is conveniently located right next to Guys Pig and Anchor.

Roller Coaster

Up on the top deck there is a roller coaster, no I didn’t do it!  I don’t even do them when they are on the ground.  But there is also Mini Golf, basketball court, and water slides up there to enjoy.

Embarkation

Even though they are not doing priority boarding for Diamond and Platinum, or even have Faster to the Fun currently, we got on the ship quickly, no waiting.  We were a tad late getting to the port, that may have helped.

Debarkation seemed longer and more complicated than in the past.  Lines were long and it seemed a roundabout way of going to get luggage and then through customs, but customs was fast.

Transportation from and back to the airport that we used was arranged by our travel agent, for the entire group. https://www.cortrans-shuttle.com/ .   We did miss our first appointment because of flight issues, and they rescheduled for us and got us to the ship on time.  Highly recommend. 

It was a great cruise with some fun friends.  I already have a cruise booked on the next new ship the Carnival Celebration, in January 2023!!  Can’t wait. 

C