PlanoTim

There is a Flowrider in Costa Maya and it was running last week. It is in the back behind the shops. I didn't see anyone in/on it when we walked past on the way to a taxi. I didn't take note of the price either - sorry.

I didn't think it tasted of coffee. I don't like coffee at all (a mild tiramisu is about my limit) and thought the duck was tasty.

We weren't thrilled with Teppanyaki on Carnival Jubilee last week. It was okay, but way down the list of our favorite dinner experiences that week. I think an experience like Teppanyaki is more dependent on your fellow diners and your cook than other venues (Chef's Table might be the exception to that, though). There are 10 seats at each grill and on our night 6 of those were one family (all adults). They didn't seem to enjoy it at all and were sort of sticks in the mud. The other couple we were seated next to was fun and helped improve the atmosphere. The food was okay. The lobster/steak/shrimp were all cooked well, but I thought the flavors were kind of monochromatic. They may be willing to substitute something for the shrimp appetizer if you ask. I bet they get patrons who are allergic to shellfish. The host asked about allergies when we were seated. I was a little surprised how quick the dinner seemed. Not really rushed, but it was over quicker than I expected. I hope that helps some. Tim

I thought the Coffee Roast Duck was tasty on Carnival Jubilee last week. But it looked like they carved it from the bird, whapped it on the counter a couple of times, and then served it. Tenderized after cooking, maybe. 😛

Our Pig & Anchor dinner on Carnival Jubilee last week was included and served inside. You pencil in your selections on a form and they bring them out to you. My wife thought the salmon was a bit too sweet. They have two prime rib selections (by size). I couldn't finish the smaller one - but I wasn't super hungry either. One bonus is that the excellent Backyard Band was playing there when we ate. We returned to see them a few times during the week. Hope that helps some. Tim

We had dinner at Pig & Anchor on Carnival Jubilee last week. I had a prime rib and my wife had the smoked salmon. I'm not sure they have those items at lunch.

The music wasn’t horrible, but it did get old for me. There was plenty of non-English being spoken by the other guests, so maybe it is popular among Europeans. I got the feeling that some of the afternoon arrivals (at the beach) were people that were staying there. One other thing we liked was the abundance of shade. I like a palapa as much as the next guy, but shade from palm trees just seems nicer. Nobody introduced themselves as the owner, so I’m not sure if he was there. The staff seemed pretty attentive, so maybe he or a good manager was there. We will return the next time we visit Costa Maya.

We went to Malecon21 last week and enjoyed it. We did the AI option. It was very chill. The food & drinks were very yummy and service were great. My wife loved the spicy margarita and the Pina Coladas I had were superb - not icy at all. There was a good selection of drinks that we could choose from (and 5-6 beer selections). It's a small thing, but I like that the drinks were served in a real glass. The food was not your normal grilled chicken and rice, quite tasty. There were a few beach vendors, but it wasn't bad. It was deserted till around 11:30, and never got more than 50% full - probably less. The one downside for me was the French psych-punk type music that was played (la Femme, Lockhart, etc.). It was mostly in the background and my wife didn't mind it. But it isn't what I think of as beach music. We really enjoyed our day.

The FTTF logo was in the upper left corner of our boarding passes when we cruised a week ago. It was also on our luggage tags.

That's what I thought, and was my prior experience. But for our upcoming cruise it didn't open till midnight at the departure port. Maybe Carnival has changed their ways.

We had the same issue early this month trying to check in for our cruise out of Galveston. Everyone on out roll call had the same problem. We all tried to check in at midnight Eastern Time and were getting the “Undefined Days Till Sailing” message. 😭 We continued trying on a PC and phone every few minutes. It started to work shortly after midnight – departure-port time. Seems like check in was always at midnight Eastern Time in the past. Oh, well. We got a 10:30-11:00 arrival time. 🙂

We received this notice regarding our upcoming Carnival Jubilee cruise. I thought it might be of interest to you. It seems like it was sent to everyone since we don't use a scooter. The letter gives the number for their Guest Access team. GUEST ADVISORY SCOOTER REMINDER April 9, 2024 Dear Carnival Guest, This message is being sent only to guests booked in specific staterooms and is intended only for those traveling with a scooter.* If you will not be traveling with one, you may disregard this advisory. Otherwise, please read this message in its entirety as we have important information regarding your stateroom and its accessibility features for guests traveling with a scooter. The stateroom you have secured does not accommodate all types of scooters. If you or another guest in your stateroom will be traveling with a scooter, it must collapse for safe storage in a designated area inside the stateroom. If the scooter does not collapse, please contact our Guest Access team at 1.800.438.6744, ext. 70025, to discuss options. The team is available Monday through Friday from 9:00 AM to 9:00 PM (ET). Failure to choose one of the options below, will result in denial of boarding. Guests may: Travel with a collapsible scooter or without one. Change ship and/or sailing date(s) to secure a stateroom that can properly accommodate the scooter. Cancel and receive a full refund. Please be aware that: Scooters cannot be stored in corridors or public areas. Guests must be able to collapse or fold them for storage in a way that allows for safe exit from the stateroom. Guests who travel with multiple scooters in the same stateroom, must purchase a fully accessible stateroom with a wider doorway (32"), or rent a smaller scooter appropriately suited for their stateroom. Guests may be required to have their scooters sized at the time of check-in to ensure it fits in the stateroom. Scooters that do not fit will not be allowed on board. Should a guest be unable to make alternate arrangements to rent a smaller scooter or travel without one, boarding will be denied, and a refund issued to the original form of payment. Thanks for your cooperation and understanding. Our team is looking forward to hosting you for a FUN and memorable cruise. Sincerely, Colleen Oliverio VP, Guest Services - Contact Centers *Sailing List: Carnival Celebration: April 14, 2024 & April 21, 2024 Carnival Jubilee: April 20, 2024 & April 27, 2024 Mardi Gras: April 20, 2024 & April 27, 2024

I think they wait to see how many Diamond/Platinum folks they have on the cruise. I saw it become available for my upcoming Carnival Jubilee cruise about a month before we sail.

I’m enjoying your review, dctravel. Was there any dancing in the Pig & Anchor while the Backyard Band was playing? It’s hard to tell from the deck plans if there is a dance floor. Thanks, Tim

Yep, they are limited. But, I’ve never been disappointed with the bar selections during the time the ship is in Texas waters. They always have a beer I like and the spirits they have for the cocktails I like seem just fine for the few hours through sail away. 🍹