travelinjess85

Loving your live so far! Living vicariously through you. We are going on the MG next March and it seems so far away 😭 Can’t wait to hear the rest of your trip! 

I’ve definitely been drooling over pics of the food at Emeril’s and can’t wait to try it! Making note of all your suggestions 😋😋

Thanks all for the help and thanks OP for a great review! Helps tide me over til next years cruise haha. Although it also makes me need to book more on some different ships. 

Thanks for the great review! We enjoyed our 3 and 4 day cruises on the Radiance and definitely took advantage of the drink package too haha. Bummer the St Patrick’s Day events were underwhelming but looked like a fun weekend! 

Thanks for the help 🙂 we had thought about walking around a bit (DH is a big guy and I feel safer with him for sure). But maybe will do a mix of taxis and walking. Will see what safety concerns are like at that point too. Thanks again! 

Same as others are saying. I think technically they can say no, but have done it times after being at a bar and getting to know the bartender a bit and them seeing how both cards are in the same room. 

1 hour ago, Butterbean1000 said:

We visit John Whatlings every time we're in Nassau.   The pina coladas are the best.  However, we always take a taxi up there.  We were warned once by a local to not walk. 

I was about to ask if it was safe to do that walk! We are going to Nassau next year and wanted to check that place out. Is it easy to get a taxi? 

Excited to follow along! Have Mardi Gras booked for next year and been looking at the Jubilee for the following year too.  

36 minutes ago, MistyRo76 said:

If you can't find an espresso martini, i highly recommend trying the Tiramisu Martini! It's sooooo good! 

Oooo that sounds amazing! I will need to try that! 

6 hours ago, pblack said:

I was on the Mardi Gras in January of 2022 and while i'm not a seafood fan, the steak I had at Rudi's far surpassed the steak I had at the steakhouse. The rest of my party did order seafood and all raved about their food as well. I would highly recommend!

Awesome thanks for another recommendation! We have $500 onboard credit so might as well use it for some good meals 😝

53 minutes ago, jimbo5544 said:

Pools and hot tubs were open every day.  My experience is March sailings are not as full as February, bit that is just my opinion.  To the best of my recollection, the busiest bars were Serenity (when the weather is nice, Alchemy, Fortune Teller and Pig and Anchor when anything is going on there.  Brass Magnolia, Grand Central and the outside portion of Bar Della Rosa.

Thanks for your help and your great review and pictures!! Was very fun to follow along! 

3 hours ago, jimbo5544 said:

While I asked, I could not get the demographic details of our cruise.  I do know there was over 6,400 and over 1,700 blue card members.  Based on my view at the Diamond Luncheon, I was guess there was a little over 300.  No idea on Plats.  This cruise was packed (knew it goin in_).  The MG does allow some crowd dispersement, but by far, the biggest issue was bars during peak times.  There were times when some were 3 deep.  Simply amazing.  I would guess this was due to cheers participation but have no idea,  It def cut down on us getting a cocktail before(or after) dinner, just in my reticence in waiting to wade in to get one.  I usually like spending some time at Alchemy and the Fortune Teller bar, and as I think back, we might have done it two times….

I definitely am nervous about that on our March cruise next year (it’s unfortunately spring break for me because I’m a teacher , so I know it will be packed). Did you notice any better places to get a drink at times? Were the pools or hot tubs ever open?

I had been thinking about booking Rudi’s for our cruise. It looks delicious! We always love the steakhouse and teppanyaki so deciding if we should do a 3rd specialty dining. 

4 minutes ago, Little Elm said:

Question about the Cove Balcony.  We want to try them.  If you are sitting on the balcony in the chairs can you see the water or does the metal block that view?  Do you have to stand to see the water?

I had a cove on the Panorama and the metal blocked a bit but could still see a lot of water. Standing up was better for some views but could still sit and enjoy a lot!  

Excited to follow along on your trip! Looking forward to going on the Mardi Gras next year. 

Thanks for a great review! We had a great time on the Panorama in August and it was fun to relive it all! Makes me need to book another one haha 

On 1/24/2024 at 4:44 PM, mitsugirly said:

 

Thanks for your thoughts. Great pictures! So they didn't have a problem with you bringing your own camera and taking your own pictures? I'm a picture freak and we carry 2 camera's and a GoPro with us everywhere for my reviews. If they tried to only want us to buy theirs, it would be crossed off my list. lol  Sounds like they will be ok with it. 

When I want they let us take as many as we wanted and even took the ones of both of us at the arch. they just tried to sell theirs at the end. But I was happy they weren’t restrictive at all and some of theirs were great we just didn’t feel like spending the money haha. But I took a ton of pics and videos and they were fine with it. Didn’t hear them say anything about no go pro or anything either so seemed like those were allowed too! 

Thankfully the one we went on and had a cove they didn’t have to close it. Booked for next year in a cove again and fingers crossed! I loved being so close to the water and having a space to be in the shade and feel the spray of the water. 

On 1/23/2024 at 4:08 AM, mitsugirly said:

 

I have seen a lot of people mention the clear glass boat tours and enjoying them. What makes them so great? Tell me more please. I'm just picturing in my head previous tours I've seen on glass bottom boats and the glass is so cloudy it's hard to make out what's down there other than shadows of things swimming by. I looked up Envatours to see their boat and it does look amazing and clear. The price is only $39???? That seems awfully cheap for a tour. Even $468 for a private tour. 😶  Do you know if they have more than 1 boat? This just got me really excited. LOL  Do they allow you off the boat for snorkeling or to go to a beach?

We thought the fully clear glass boat was way cooler than the usual glass bottom. Was worth it for us! Ours was completely clear and just very fun! The guide took photos on our own phones (although they have a photographer also and try and sell them at the end…but thankfully weren't too pushy with it! ) and the views were incredible. They didn’t stop anywhere but not sure if they have different tours available…it looked like they had a few different clear boats not just the one we were on. I think ours was only about an hour so not very long but I would do it again for sure! Here are some of our pics. 

Loving your review! We went on the panorama last summer and had a great trip. Love reliving it as well as getting some good ideas for next time! 

I have Mardi Gras booked for next March and it’s so far away so will enjoy following along with your trip! 

39 minutes ago, NeaNea said:

We have done the Mexican Riviera Cruise many times and the highlight we had was in Puerto Vallarta was The Rhythms of the Night! You go by boat to an island where you have buffet dinner and a live show after dinner. You can book the excursion through Carnival. It was a lot of fun! 

We had thought about that one! Will have to book it next time! 

Just backing up what a few others were saying…I really enjoyed the Panorama and the 7 day cruise we went on last summer. It was very hot and humid when I went but we thankfully had a cove balcony that helped give a quiet shady spot to relax on. 

In PV we did one of their beach/pool excursions that wasn’t my favorite…it went to a place called Sabal Playa which was pretty but didn’t have food to buy like advertised (only were letting you buy a buffet that didn’t look great and was pricey) and the ocean there was pretty rough so we mostly just hung out in the pool. We went to some port shops after but after all the sun were ready to be in a/c. 
 

Mazatlan we got out of the port and hired a taxi to take us around which was perfect for the hot day. Saw a lot then went back to relax on the ship. 
 

We had the short day in Cabo so only had time for a clear class boat tour (it was definitely one of the highlights of our trip!) and then ate appetizers and had drinks at Captain Tony’s (ceviche and margaritas were yummy). The boat was through Envatours and was well worth the money I thought. 
 

Really enjoyed the ship and most of the food (especially Steakhouse and Teppanyaki). And spent most evenings at the piano bar and Alchemy bars. 

Thanks for the fun live review! Long time lurker here on CC and excited to be planning a cruise on the Mardi Gras for next year! Hope to have as much fun as you all did on this one! 

47 minutes ago, ninjacat123 said:

Thanks travelinjess85!! We had a ton of fun and loved the Freedom!  When you are on MG, check out Emeril's (odd hours but sooo worth it!), Big Chicken for lunch (I enjoyed bfast there but others have not been fans of the biscuits), Street Eatz (changes every day) and gelato on Lido (near the Shwarma station, I believe).  I'm glad our time in AC and GT could give you some ideas for your cruise there.  Cruise Critic is a great place for info!!😄

Thank you so much for the tips! Look forward to reading more from you and everyone else here 😊