sunkey1

Another thing to keep in mind is whether you want to get to a port with 4000 passengers (Bliss) or 2000 passengers (Sun). The majority of the ports are pretty small and you really notice those extra couple of thousand people.

Totally depends on if you have kids with you or not, in my opinion. With kids absolutely Paradise Beach. For a relaxed, less crowded and less hectic atmosphere, absolutely Nachi.

Who's stereotyping now? Why are folks like you always thinking that someone expressing an opinion is "obsessing"? AND oh, by the way, I do go to shows (at night) AND observe the scenery, AND participate in activities - I just don't feel the need to share it with the entire world while I'm doing it. Snarky much?

You got that right!! We LIVED life instead of worrying about sharing every waking moment with every one of our 2000+ "friends".

RD4, agree with you again! For years we would take one cruise a year with our young kids and then take one for just the two of us and would leave the kids with the grandparents - good for them, good for us. They had an emergency number to reach us and if we hit a US port we would check in. SOMEHOW WE MANAGED. 😉 I can't get over going on cruises now and seeing people with their heads buried in their phones while the most magnificent scenery or even just a beautiful ocean is sitting right there. So many people are so obsessed with recording every moment of their lives that they aren't really experiencing them anymore.

100% agree! I still remember seeing Hello Dolly, My Fair Lady and Sea Legs on the Norway. Those productions rivaled anything I've seen in Vegas or on Broadway. Guest artists were also of Vegas level. Shows now are definitely NOT of the same caliber. We have an upcoming cruise on the Getaway and it may well be our last with NCL. Carnival was slacking for so many years but with their new ships (Mardi Gras, others), they have stepped up their game with tons of shows, entertainment and music and may well take priority over NCL for us. Even RCCL and Princess are still managing to have shows and music and they went through COVID as well.

We have a MS/Club Balcony booked for upcoming Getaway cruise. What was disappointing about the cabin?

Have been on her twice and she was rock solid in the water both times.

To be honest, I never knew that I could order an app PLUS a soup or salad, so this is actually MORE food than I was used to ordering. Totally fine with it as it's always too much food for us anyway.

Yep, post covid we cruised in October of 2021 and April, June and October of 2022. Felt as safe on any of those from getting sick as I did going to the mall or a local restaurant. No issues at all.

That is the case on many of Carnival's older ships. While the cabins on the Mardi Gras were beautifully decorated we did find them rather tight in some areas. They seemed narrower than many balconies that we've stayed in previously.

Recently went on the Carnival Mardi Gras twice, we liked it that much. The shows are absolutely the difference for me. While the Mardi Gras had the best entertainment that I've seen on that line I still think NCL has the edge on the production shows and the guest acts. Carnival relies too much on comedy shows and game shows for MY taste. Otherwise the lines really are more alike than different. We book NCL under the promotion that gets us free drinks and two meals at specialty restaurants plus we get two more meals for being platinum. Having dinner outside, at sea, on the "Waterfront" beats just about any dining experience I've had in over 30 years of cruising.

It also depends on the size of the people - we were typically in with a total of about 9 and while snug it was certainly not unbearable for a short trip.

Have been on both and without any hesitation I would choose Mardi Gras. Just took our two (adult - 20's) kids on and they had a blast.

Dang, am ready to book and don't see the offer either.

I go waaay back like some others: Sunward Norway (11x) Southward Seaward Wind Sun Dawn Epic Escape Jewel Sure wish I could have gotten credit for some of those early cruises, would be way higher in status.

I love that they still use tablecloths. Carnival has pretty much done away with them and it really does make a difference visually.

I think he may have read that you were trying to get $200 since you have 200 shares. Yes, you should be able to get your $100 OBC for stock ownership in addition to the OBC you have from the cancellation.

Yup, was looking at the Prima but really wanted to get some input from people who have sailed on her, so thank you!!!!

Just back from our 2nd cruise on the Mardi Gras and still love the ship. It is large but we figure we're working off some of the food that we are taking in so not a big deal for us. Crew was all so friendly, dining room food was delicious, as it was at all of the venues we tried. Different strokes for different folks, that's the beauty of cruising.

It seems to totally depend on who is checking you in. Last cruise we went on, they did ask to see Verifly, glanced briefly at dates and we were checked in in about two minutes.

On the Mardi Gras last October they were enforcing this in the Serenity deck area. Attendant would leave a sign and come back later, if people hadn't returned he would take their belongings to the towel stand. We were there one morning and saw four loungers lined up with random objects thrown on them. They were empty for at least two hours before the attendant placed the sign, the people finally got there about an hour after that and were royally pissed. Too late, their chairs were taken by then.

It really does vary from cruise to cruise it seems from reading the boards. We sailed the Mardi Gras last October and the Magic in April. I loved the Mardi Gras (many don't) for a lot of the new features, huge number of bars and dining venues and entertainment options. The Magic was okay but as it's an older ship I noticed a lot of areas that needed repairs. I actually got locked out on my balcony due to a broken handle. As far as the run, I prefer the Magic's as I love St. Maarten and St. Kitts. I thought the lines/waits were pretty evenly matched on both my cruises, at some times had considerable waits for drinks, dining, at other times next to no waits, on both ships.

And this is just more proof of "different strokes for different folks". We were on both the Breeze and Dream and did not care for them at all, but loved the Mardi Gras. This is why lines need variety, everyone is looking for different things.

Another member posted a bunch of Fun Times that includes both eastern runs (w/San Juan or Nassau) and a western run. https://www.saintgregtravel.com/fun-times/