soulsistah007

1 hour ago, Chief93 said:

I loved cruising out of San Juan.  It was a fun place to be pre and post cruise, you got to see different ports, and on my first one I made an observation that allowed me to bring unlimited bottles on board in my carryon.  Which I did on that one and the next one.  

Yes! The multiple bottles to bring on pre-cruise was another bonus! Carnival had wonderful itineraries from San Juan. It was busy with the lack of sea days, but so worth it. 

3 hours ago, Saint Greg said:

I think people are taught to waive at the train because everyone does it.

 

Great catch! They are highly encouraged too! The government believes that integrating citizens into the experience of tourism is key distinguishing itself from other islands. They created a training program to help citizens understand the positive impact of tourists and offer it to everyone https://sustainabletravel.org/project/st-kitts-destination-guardians/

Wonderful pics! Hope you enjoyed!

Have a wonderful cruise! Interested in seeing how a super bowl cruise is and I'm looking forward to your port reviews. My parents are from St. Kitts and I have family in St. Maarten so those ports are dear to my heart. Both are beautiful places so I hope you enjoy! 

Beautiful pics! Enjoying your review!

Port. Looking at deck plans and reading left to right, I just get stuck on the left side. Plus, I like even numbers.

I don't know about an inside Havana but yes, you can certainly use the loungers with Havana access. I just recently shared my experience (I absolutely loved it!!). You can read on for further details: 

Just off the 10/1 sailing of the Mardi Gras. I greatly appreciated all past reviews of this ship on this forum as all the insights were incredibly helpful. I thought I would add my perspective on the Havana Staterooms as it was hard for me to find specific reviews on this cabin/experience type so away we go! 

Background info: We booked this during covid and thus, before the ship first set sail. This cruise was to celebrate our 10th anniversary so we wanted something other than our typical oceanview room. Since we would not be bringing our kids, we figured this was a great opportunity to go for a Havana. While we could only rely on the deck plan instead of pics and videos, knowing that it was different than the Vista class, I had certain criteria I knew I wanted from our cabin selection. I wanted minimal foot traffic so opted to not be on the side of the bar and pool, and wanted to be as close to mid ship as possible.

Room: We had room 8284. Plenty of storage space, bed was comfy, bathroom was tiny, shower pressure and temperature was fine. The robes were comfy! 

Patio: Patio furniture was good and is a decent sized space. I spent lots of time out here relaxing, reading, and just simply watching the ocean and enjoying nature. It was so peaceful! Our neighbors were great, we barely saw either of them, and if we did, we had quick pleasant conversations. Everyone on our side was respectful of the space in that no one was overly loud. As for foot traffic, there was barely anyone that walked by and if they did, they didn’t linger. I found that most people barely used the deck chairs outside of the patio. The only time there were lots of people out and by lots, I’m talking no more than 10, was during sail away. It would have been nice to have lights on the porch for night time. There are some underneath the patio chairs in the open area but none on your actual porch.

Privacy: While I’ve read that privacy is a concern for some with Havana’s, it was never an issue for me. I don’t and wouldn’t do anything private out in the open to begin with. The windows are not tinted and if you are standing outside, you can see into the room, not clearly but you can still see in (depending on the glare from the sun). Simply close the curtains when you want and you’re fine. When I was standing outside, I could see into the balconies above so nothing is ever truly private.

Havana Bar & Pool: The bar itself was good. The staff do support both the indoor and outdoor bar but service was never slow. The pool is small but nice to take a quick dip in. I did hear there were some folks that were hogging the pool but I never saw it. When the events were running in the Havana bar, they weren’t checking wristbands so anyone could have walked to the outdoor area but I didn’t see it. If people were outside, they were staying in Havana’s as well as we saw them regularly out there. We only used wristbands the first night.

Location: Being on deck 8 was perfect! It was super close to everything and a quick walk across all the great things deck 8 offers or down to the lower decks. 

Overall, Mardi Gras is a great ship! Lots to see, lots to do, and lots to eat! We loved the Havana as it was exactly what we wanted. We would book again if the price was right. We never had a price drop but over the 18 months from when we first booked, prices increased by at least $600. Hope this helps and happy to answer any questions. 

10 hours ago, Retiredmedic said:

Leave on the Mardi Gras this Saturday, still showing us going to Grand Turk. My girlfriend has social media and it is being reported that this weeks sailing is going the Nassau instead of Grand T urk.

I'm on this sailing and that's correct. Our itinerary completely changed so its now San Juan, which was today, Amber Cove tomorrow, and Nassau on Friday.

11 minutes ago, csm5986142 said:

 

No, but on Mardi Gras the Havana area is at the front of deck 8 and Pig & Anchor (8 aft - a short walk) has a full breakfast buffet (including omelet station).  It was so nice, after the first morning when when the lido was chaos, we always went there instead.

That's great to know! We'll be on in a couple weeks and we're also in a Havana. We also booked during the pandemic and the price increased significantly overtime. I think we'll enjoy the patio and use it a lot so the quiet atmosphere will be worth it for us. 

How was the surf and turf? It looks like a small portion. Was the whole meal filling?

I commented earlier in this thread and I'm still waiting for my cruise lol. Only a few weeks away though! I will say that while we booked about 18 months out, the price for Havana's  never went down and increased as much as $800. I guess it pays to book these cabins early. Up until last week, there were 3 Havana's still available and now, I assume with the ease of testing restrictions, they are all sold out along with the entire sailing. A packed ship so I'm definitely looking forward to our quiet space. 

I was just looking into this but hopefully someone else can verify. You would have to download your vaccine certificate from the provincial portal. I'm in Ontario so ours has the QR code, lot numbers, etc. Perhaps have the print out plus have it digitaly available as well if they need to scan it. Here's the info from Carnival: https://www.carnival.com/Legal/covid-19-legal-notices/covid-19-guest-protocols?icid=advisory_cruisehealth_040122 There may also be info on the Canadian board here.

42 minutes ago, Colorado Cruzer said:

Not very many islands are requiring testing anymore!  Yay!

https://www.travelweekly.com/Caribbean-Travel/Caribbean-readies-for-a-wave-of-reopenings

Yes, which I hope is taken into consideration for the next phase. My upcoming cruise is a 7 day with none of the ports requiring pre testing. 

Sounds great, thank you! Looking forward to your thoughts.

Can you share your thoughts about your experience with the Havana area? We'll be on the Mardi Gras soon in a Havana.

You're on the right track with choosing the first two decks. Low and mid ship is the most ideal. 

Thanks for such an insightful post! Glad to hear you both had a great time and congrats on your winnings!! We're they from playing slots or the tables?

We don't go on the Mardi Gras until the Fall. I was hoping covid restrictions wouldn't be in place by the time we sail (we booked last Spring) but I guess we have to start preparing what to do/expect upon traveling so your breakdown and tips give us a good lay of the land. A few other quick questions; after landing in Orlando, did you take a taxi or uber to the port? Was it a fairly easy process? What's your best tip for experiencing the ship (I.e. Best thing to do, eat, see, etc.). 

2 hours ago, SNJCruisers said:

The other classes on Carnival are in my rearview mirror.  I currently have B2B's on the Mardi Gras for February and August and a 5 day on the Celebration next January.  Glad that Carnival has upped their game and this class of ship is more in tune with their competition, even though those with Carnival blinders on would disagree with me.

I will definitely keep an eye out on your posts about your experiences! We haven't cruised in years (kids, covid, etc.) but with the many things this ship offers, we already think it will be a game changer for us. 

1 hour ago, keels81 said:

 

Having a game plan DEFINITELY helps. The only dinner options we didn't experience were the main dining room and Pig & Anchor dinner (we did lunch, though!). 

 

Because of my food allergy, we didn't plan on initially doing Rudi's but it ended up being a casino comp and my girlfriends really wanted to go, so we went. They enjoyed it but I'm not sure it would be a repeat for us if it ends up on the Celebration when we cruise on her next year. 

 

My husband is pretty meh on Carnival as a cruise line (lack of bars and food options), but he was so jealous of everything on the Mardi Gras that I'm taking him to experience the ship in July for our anniversary.

 

Personally, I would sail this class of ship and not even care about the itinerary -- that's just how much greatness there is to experience! I miss the lounge pods on the Serenity deck almost daily.

Oh that's awesome to hear you like this ship class! I'm so jealous lol...You'll be on again before me. We go in October for our anniversary too so still a long wait. We have never been on a ship this big. Reading posts helps build excitement and passes the time lol

4 hours ago, keels81 said:

 

Michael's craft sessions: I've texted her to get pictures and more details, but I know one day they made little photo books (notecard sized) that were ocean/vacation themed and were really cute. The other was a hanging decoration -- think like a wooden ornament -- that was also ocean/beach/vacation themed. It's free and she really enjoyed it when they were offered!

 

Bonsai Teppanyaki: So, it's more personal preference (and allergy experience!) than anything else but I also really like teppanyaki restaurants. We always go to Teppan Edo at EPCOT when we do Girl's Trips to Disney, so I basically compared it to that ... and I find the quality to be WAY higher at Bonsai than at Disney, with the price at Bonsai being more than half of Disney or Benihana when the final bill shows up.

 

Someone mentioned the cost and how they would go to Rudi's -- I have a shellfish and mollusk allergy and they were able to accommodate me way more than Rudi's was -- Rudi's was like "Would you prefer the steak or the pork chop". Rudi's said they were able to do macaroni and cheese without shellfish, but when it arrived (in a different color crab bowl) it had a distinct fish smell to it, so I avoided it. 

At Bonsai, they were able to offer me an off-menu combination of steak and chicken for my entree along with vegetables and udon that usually accompanies the tofu -- and they actually cooked all of my items first and separate from the rest of the group without making it seem like I was the problem child at the table.

 

I also thought the appetizer and dessert bento box were FANTASTIC.

 

For an appetizer, I had the Spicy Tuna on the Rocks and it was fresh, bright and I would eat an entree order of this if they were ever to allow it. Look how pretty!

 

And here's the dessert bento box ... I don't have my notes, so I'm trying to remember what everything was -- top row, left to right, green tea ice cream, mochi, sake; bottom row, left to right, asian-style creme brulee, flourless chocolate torte, chocolate covered strawberry.

Thanks so much for taking the time to respond! Very helpful! I do lots of crafts so I would definitely like to check that out on the ship. The food looks yummy! Thanks for the pics. Glad to hear they were better accommodating to your needs.  Sounds like there are lots of food options so I don't want to miss out!

6 hours ago, SNJCruisers said:

Teppanyaki is 32.00 pp, about the same as my local establishment, so I personally see no value to it.  But many live in areas of the country where they don't have access, so it will appeal to them.

The steakhouse or Rudi's, both at 38 are a much better value, IMHO since you can't get a quality meal like that at the price point they charge at home.

That makes sense. We've always enjoyed the steakhouse so we'll look to do that when we're on board. 

20 hours ago, keels81 said:

1) Do the ships offer the behind the scene tours?

They didn't offer them on our Oct. 2, nor did the Chef's Table feature a galley tour. Obviously, things change, but better to plan for them to be excluded and be surprised if they return!

 

2) Other than needing a covid test prior to boarding, is everything else the same? Any changes with the new protocols?

Obviously masking and they'll be very specific about when it's required (elevators, theatre shows, Punchliner, etc.)

 

3) What restaurants are a must on the Mardi Gras?

I did not try the MDR or Emeril's (I live in New Orleans, so I go to his OG restaurant all the time). LOVED: Chef's Table, Steakhouse, Big Chicken, Salad on Serenity Deck, Panini Press, grab-and-go at Java Blue. CONSISTENT: Blue Iguana, Guy's Burgers, Shawarma on the buffet, Pizza, Pig & Anchor.WORTH THE SPLURGE: Bonsai Sushi, Bonsai Teppanyaki SKIP: Chibang, Rudi's Seagrill (I couldn't eat anything there and my dining companions didn't think it was worth the expense).

 

4) Do we need tennis shoes for any of the activities on board?

You MUST wear closed-toe shoes AND shorts for Bolt. If you're in a dress/skort, they will make you show that you have shorts under your dress or skort. I hate that it isn't listed in the massive series of restrictions so it was a little embarrassing for both us and the Fun Squad member that asked us to show shorts under our skorts.

 

5) Are the spas doing any really good deals on board?

I didn't really see any. I had the Thermal Spa pass and ended up springing for a pedicure after I won pretty big in the casino on the first night. The pedi was really great, not much more than what I pay on land ... I just hate the upsell of products and I always end up buying something because I know that's how the spa workers truly make money. I want to say my pedicure (non gel) with tip and the soak I bought ended up being like $120.

 

6) What are the posts on Facebook about cheap alcohol at the fun shop?

N/A

 

7) What activities are a must do and not to be missed?

* I really loved mornings on sea days in Grand Central to watch "The Wave" talk show. Also, "Deal or No Deal" is fun -- even if you don't buy cards! My favorite show was "Celestial Strings" but I also REALLY enjoyed "Broadway Beats" as it includes very many modern Broadway numbers. The band at night in Grand Central was always freaking amazing.

 

* For bars, Brass Magnolia >>>>>>>> Alchemy Bar. Fortune Teller is also better than Alchemy, but is smaller and very crowded. 

 

* Trivia is held mostly in the Limelight Lounge (which also has karaoke) and the trivia staff do such a great job. There was one trivia game where the host just read the lyrics to a song and you had to name the song ... sounds easy, but SO MUCH HARDER THAN YOU THINK! Definitely worth a check in.

 

* With a group of 11, I feel like y'all HAVE to go try out for "Family Feud". We would've done it, but there were only three of us and the tryouts start so early in the cruise we didn't have time to bond with a pair to fill out our squad.

 

* We also really enjoyed doing pictures every night at all the different photo setups. We're glad we did because one of us ended up winning a Pixels package in "Deal or No Deal" as an audience member, so we got to get digitals of all of our silly pictures! And the photographers were SO GREAT. After the second night, they all knew our personalities and it felt really special to have them photograph us -- and the photos conveyed that!

 

* I don't usually do Bingo, but I won a Bingo package in "Deal or No Deal" ... and I will do it on the Excel-class ships from now on. It's held in Grand Central so all the windows are all "open" for you to see the ocean and sky -- it's just so awesome how bright and sun-shiney that area gets and I love it so much. Jackpot Jake is really great -- I imagine he'll be a CD soon like Andy (he was the Punchliner Host that is taking over as interim CD on the Magic at the end of the year). 

 

* If anyone in your group likes/loves karaoke ... plan to go to sessions at the Limelight Lounge versus the Havana Club. The acoustics are WAY better and the crowd is smaller, more committed to watching performances versus coming and going to the bar.

 

* The early-riser of my traveling party took part in the Michael's "craft time" event every morning it was offered. It was free and she was excited to do a little project each morning that resulted in a fun take-home souvenir from the trip (this was her first-ever Carnival cruise).

 

* I'm back on the Mardi Gras (this time with my husband) in July for an Eastern route, and I'm definitely planning to add a session or two in the Carnival Kitchen. OK, probably two -- either cake or cupcake decorating and pasta or sushi making. We got to see the space they host the cooking classes in during our Chef's Table experience and the set-up is so cool. Plus, I've got OBC.

Thanks for providing great insight! Yours is the first I've read about Tappanyaki being worth the splurge. Can you share more about your experience with this? We're the portion sizes reasonable? Also, the Michael's session....what kind of crafts did they offer?

@WhaleTailFlCruiser Your thoughts on Teppanyaki? Was the food good? Worth the surcharge?

Amazing photos! I feel like I'm right there with you.

Beautiful pictures! I still have over 400 days to go so all mardi gras reviews are fine by me!