Mardi Gras - Aug. 21 - 28, 2021, 7 Nights - Western Caribbean Live

[kuceramd]

Thanks for the excellent photo review! 😀 Hopefully you'll be posting more shortly upon your return as we're booked on the Mardi Gras, same itinerary as you in two weeks!!

[twangster]

After dropping off luggage It was over to the queue for the terminal check in.

 

First step was up the escalator.  It doesn't look so bad.

 

 

From here we walked left and down the ramp.  Wait, what?  We went up to walk down?  Yep.

 

Have you ever seen one of those photos where the stairs are endless but seemingly end where they start?  

 

After walking down the ramp on the right, turning the corner and walking down the ramp on the left then doing a u-turn and walking back up the same ramp, turning the corner and walking back up the ramp I just walked down I was well on my way back to the level ground where the escalator brought us 30 minutes earlier but still 15 minutes from that point.

 

Wait.  Where did all these people come from?  It was seemingly empty when we went up the escalator.

 

 

From the comments I've heard we are about 50-60% capacity on this sailing.  I am not sure how this will work at 100% capacity.

 

The good news is once you reach the entrance to the terminal there are signs based on if you are vaccinated and within your appointment window or "other".  The weird news is that at this point staff were directing people into any queue.  Signs didn't matter.  If one queue was getting full go in another queue.

 

The great news is the terminal has air conditioning!  PHEW.  

 

 

After a while inching along inside the terminal I was able to look outside and see even more people in the maze outside.

 

 

Looking around me at this point people had check in appointments an hour before me and an hour after me.  I was within my 30 minute window.  Whatever.  Get in line.  How you doin'?

 

Eventually you will divide into one of three zig-zag queues.  Some are longer than others but some have more check in people than others.  Some lines appear to move faster and everyone was now second guessing their choice of queue.  Honestly I don't think it really mattered.  It's like a grocery store and picking the wrong check out lane.  

 

 

Finally I made it to a check in agent who looked at my paperwork and passed me onto another check in agent who took my photo.  Success!  

 

Next up security.  You know the drill.  

 

After security the ship was already boarding so onward and away I went.

 

It seemed a little confusing and chaotic but only took 45 minutes from stepping out of the car to reaching the point where I was going up the ramp and almost on the ship where I took this picture.

 

It felt a lot longer but the timestamps on my photos don't allow me to lie.

 

[twangster]

I put a camera on my hat and walked through terminal 3 and onto Mardi Gras.

 

 

[40yearcruiser]

Thanks for the great photos. I'll be eagerly following your review and am anxious to hear your experience in the ports. We'll be boarding the Mardi Gras in 2 weeks with the same itinerary!!!! 

[twangster]

I'm not going to lie... I had trouble finding the A6 muster station.  There are no signs for it.  More on that later.

 

Spoiler alert - A6 is inside the theater.  

 

Once inside the theater a crew member scanned my paper boarding pass and directed me to sit down.  They let a small group of twenty or so gather before going through the muster speil.

 

 

 

With that done it was time to head up to an outer deck so I can rip off this mask.

 

 

What a beautiful pool deck!

 

 

The ship was taking on fuel so no smoking outside anywhere on the ship.

 

 

 

I had been struggling with the decision what to do first when I boarded.  Since I found myself near Guy's Burgers that's what I went with.

 

 

All seating near Guys was occupied so I headed forward a bit.

 

 

I still had my carry on with me since I am merely gold and cabins would not be ready until 1:30pm so I limited my exploration.

 

 

 

Since I had some time to kill and it was 90° outside I went back inside and down to the Havana bar to wait until cabins were ready.  They needed my folio number which can also be found in the app.  Taxes are charged while in port even if you have Cheers.

 

 

In the app you can verify they have down as completing muster.  That's also where you can see you muster station since not all of them have signs on board.

 

 

With my folio number I was able to log into the wifi plan I had purchased before the cruise.  In port the ship uses cellular assist leveraging local cell towers to speed up the internet onboard.

 

 

[WhaleTailFlCruiser]

Watch those camouflaged steps in the theater @twangster

[twangster]

Cabin Tour!

Deck 12 forward extended balcony.

 

 

 

 

With the curtains open.

 

 

There is a glass partition to reduce wind pressure on the balcony door.

 

 

 

 

 

Looking up.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Curtains closed at night.

 

 

 

 

Pool towels provided in the cabin.

 

 

Desk and beverage cooler area.

 

 

(4) USB, (4) North American style outlets

 

 

Complimentary Mardi Gras inaugural book.

 

 

Very nice bathroom.

 

 

 

 

Door hinges outward engineered to clear everything in the bathroom.

 

 

Wardrobe with full mirror.

 

 

Safe and more space with fold down shelves.

 

 

[WhaleTailFlCruiser]

I didn’t get a book =\
 

Also you are right down the hall from me @twangster

[ProgRockCruiser]

Nice!  We are in a Fwd balcony one deck up, maybe one cabin over, for our cruise in December.  That looks like a great view!  (I don't care if you have to stand up to look over the railing.)

[ProgRockCruiser]

3 hours ago, WhaleTailFlCruiser said:

I didn’t get a book =\

I wonder if it is available from the gift shop (for a nominal fee, of course!).

[Saint Greg]

21 hours ago, twangster said:

After dropping off luggage It was over to the queue for the terminal check in.

 

First step was up the escalator.  It doesn't look so bad.

 

 

From here we walked left and down the ramp.  Wait, what?  We went up to walk down?  Yep.

 

Have you ever seen one of those photos where the stairs are endless but seemingly end where they start?  

 

After walking down the ramp on the right, turning the corner and walking down the ramp on the left then doing a u-turn and walking back up the same ramp, turning the corner and walking back up the ramp I just walked down I was well on my way back to the level ground where the escalator brought us 30 minutes earlier but still 15 minutes from that point.

 

Wait.  Where did all these people come from?  It was seemingly empty when we went up the escalator.

 

 

From the comments I've heard we are about 50-60% capacity on this sailing.  I am not sure how this will work at 100% capacity.

 

The good news is once you reach the entrance to the terminal there are signs based on if you are vaccinated and within your appointment window or "other".  The weird news is that at this point staff were directing people into any queue.  Signs didn't matter.  If one queue was getting full go in another queue.

 

The great news is the terminal has air conditioning!  PHEW.  

 

 

After a while inching along inside the terminal I was able to look outside and see even more people in the maze outside.

 

 

Looking around me at this point people had check in appointments an hour before me and an hour after me.  I was within my 30 minute window.  Whatever.  Get in line.  How you doin'?

 

Eventually you will divide into one of three zig-zag queues.  Some are longer than others but some have more check in people than others.  Some lines appear to move faster and everyone was now second guessing their choice of queue.  Honestly I don't think it really mattered.  It's like a grocery store and picking the wrong check out lane.  

 

 

Finally I made it to a check in agent who looked at my paperwork and passed me onto another check in agent who took my photo.  Success!  

 

Next up security.  You know the drill.  

 

After security the ship was already boarding so onward and away I went.

 

It seemed a little confusing and chaotic but only took 45 minutes from stepping out of the car to reaching the point where I was going up the ramp and almost on the ship where I took this picture.

 

It felt a lot longer but the timestamps on my photos don't allow me to lie.

 

What a mess. Hopefully they decide to enforce arrival times next week.

[WhaleTailFlCruiser]

1 hour ago, Saint Greg said:

What a mess. Hopefully they decide to enforce arrival times next week.

I wouldn’t count on it

[Saint Greg]

4 minutes ago, WhaleTailFlCruiser said:

I wouldn’t count on it

 

Oh I'm not. It can be done. Galveston does it. I've seen New Orleans do it at times. But Fort Lauderdale...they didn't care. I think Long Beach enforced it to the terminal. But once they started boarding it was just a free for all for everyone in the building. Whoever was closer to the door got on first.

 

Edited August 23, 2021 by Saint Greg

[twangster]

Mardi Gras runs primarily on LNG and there is a special tanker that does her refueling.

 

Earlier on my balcony while she was still fueling us the Captain came over the PA system to announce not only is there is no smoking outdoors during refueling but personal electronic devices are also prohibited outdoors.  Oops.  Me and 3,000 other guests have been running around with our smartphones and cameras taking pictures outdoors.

 

Now that refueling is over and the tanker is sailing past us I guess we're in the clear. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

She runs up to Savannah, Georgia to reload then returns to Port Canaveral to "bunker" Mardi Gras.

 

 

Needless to say thanks to the Coast Guard for keeping us safe.

 

 

This black helicopter would be with us for the next several hours.  Word on board is they are capturing marketing material.  Over the next several hours it would be making several passes in various directions.  Cool at first but it kind of made it difficult to enjoy a balcony.

 

[twangster]

Sail away time lapse from my forward balcony...

 

 

[twangster]

Some sail away photos...

 

Elevators are a mask area.

 

 

Sail away party on the pool deck.

 

 

 

 

 

 

I left one camera on my balcony capturing the sail away and ventured around the ship to enjoy from other areas.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Our escort for the next 4 hours.

 

 

It was cool at first but after several hours of thump thump thump helicopter sounds buzzing the ship it got old fast.  However if you see a guy taking pictures in future marketing material that could be me.

 

 

Mardi Gras has a lot really nice areas like this in public spaces available to everyone.  Very zen...

 

 

[sc4125]

I apologize if I missed this, but can you tell me which boarding time you had?  I am on her in 5 more days and have the 10:30 - 11:00 time schedule.  Seeing the hoards of people from your pictures was a bit worrisome.  Should I get there early and join the first line?

[twangster]

Did I mention the helicopter buzzing the ship?

 

THUMP THUMP THUMP THUMP THUMP THUMP THUMP THUMP THUMP THUMP THUMP THUMP THUMP THUMP THUMP THUMP THUMP THUMP THUMP THUMP THUMP THUMP THUMP THUMP THUMP THUMP THUMP THUMP THUMP THUMP THUMP THUMP THUMP THUMP THUMP THUMP THUMP THUMP THUMP THUMP THUMP THUMP THUMP THUMP THUMP THUMP THUMP THUMP THUMP THUMP THUMP THUMP THUMP THUMP THUMP THUMP THUMP THUMP THUMP THUMP THUMP THUMP THUMP THUMP THUMP THUMP THUMP THUMP THUMP THUMP THUMP THUMP THUMP THUMP THUMP THUMP THUMP THUMP THUMP THUMP THUMP THUMP THUMP THUMP THUMP THUMP THUMP THUMP THUMP THUMP THUMP THUMP THUMP THUMP THUMP THUMP THUMP THUMP THUMP THUMP THUMP THUMP THUMP THUMP THUMP

 

WHAT?  I CAN'T HEAR YOU OVER THE THUMP THUMP SOUNDS FROM THAT $%$#!$& HELICOPTER!

 

Not so zen like.  Hope you all enjoy that great marketing material they were capturing.  

[twangster]

19 minutes ago, sc4125 said:

I apologize if I missed this, but can you tell me which boarding time you had?  I am on her in 5 more days and have the 10:30 - 11:00 time schedule.  Seeing the hoards of people from your pictures was a bit worrisome.  Should I get there early and join the first line?

 

My time was 11:30am and I pulled into the drop off area at 11:25am.

 

I've been thinking about it over the past day or so.  For a future cruise in the near term during the pandemic when should I show up?

 

My current thinking is the last available time slot and not a minute sooner.

 

As a mere gold I don't have any concept of priority.  

 

I'm not sure the last time slot will be any better but having sailed her I don't have the "must board as soon as possible to enjoy every single minute" problem to worry about.

 

Perhaps the very first time slot but they might be checking times at that point but I'm not sure about that.  I may drive by in a few Saturdays and survey the crowds later in the process.

 

Honestly I'm not sure there is ever a "good" time but thinking about the future I really don't know how this is going to work with 6,000 trying to board her.  Once I reached a human to show my papers it was under 60 seconds with them so that isn't the bottleneck.   

 

Edited August 23, 2021 by twangster

[sc4125]

3 minutes ago, twangster said:

 

My time was 11:30am and I pulled into the drop off area at 11:25am.

 

I've been thinking about it over the past day or so.  For a future cruise in the near term during the pandemic when should I show up?

 

My current thinking is the last available time slot and not a minute sooner.

 

As a mere gold I don't have any concept of priority.  

 

I'm not sure the last time slot will be any better but having sailed her I don't have the "must board as soon as possible to enjoy every single minute" problem to worry about.

 

Perhaps the very first time slot but they might be checking times at that point but I'm not sure about that.  I may drive by in a few Saturdays and survey the crowds later in the process.

 

Honestly I'm not sure there is ever a "good" time but thinking about the future I really don't know how this is going to work with 6,000 trying to board her.  Once I reached a human to show my papers it was under 60 seconds with them so that isn't the bottleneck.   

 

I am hoping that in the first time slot they will be checking before letting people in.  'Although I do like getting onboard early, it is actually because I think I'm getting a little claustrophobic as I get older and I hate being in the middle of a large crowd. 

 

I have considered being in the last group allowed onboard but I'm a worry wart and am afraid I'd be caught in traffic on I-4, which is notorious for accidents, before I reach the toll road. You're lucky you live so close to the port.

 

I think I'll plan on getting to the port at 10:00, which is 30 minutes before I am scheduled, and hope that the line is manageable.

 

BTW I'm really enjoying your pictures and commentary.  Thanks for taking the time.

[RoperDK]

I'm really enjoying your pictorial review.  Such a great perspective!  Two more months for my turn on MG.

[twangster]

For more of a live thread make sure you check out @WhaleTailFlCruiser thread.

 

https://boards.cruisecritic.com/topic/2797128-whaletail-taking-on-the-biggest-whaletails-of-all-b2b-on-mardi-gras-821-2821-and-828-94/?do=getNewComment

 

Since that user is doing such a great job and in real time I'm going to focus on pictures and slow roll this thread as I enjoy my cruise and time permits.

[twangster]

Time for an Amber.

 

 

This is really a beautiful ship.    So much for me to think about as I plan how to get some pictures of her.

 

 

A few random photos as I explore the ship a little.

 

 

Elevators aren't huge but there are many of them.

 

 

Showing off the guest hallway decor.

 

 

Our friends in the helicopter are still at it.

 

 

Now that we are at sea and well away from cell towers our internet has switched to the old geostationary satellites and the speed is terrible.  At the time I was second guessing having purchased the premium plan.  More to come.

 

 

 

Lots of these little signs at every venue.

 

 

I meant to grab a chicken sandwich by this point.  Alas when i finally made it back there it was closed.  Here's the menu.

 

 

Tides bar outside aft of the Lido Marketplace.

 

 

Eye spy something in the corner.

 

 

Yes!  Ice cream!

 

 

Another infinity style aft pool.

 

 

The Lido Marketplace has handwashing stations in addition to hand sanitizer.

 

 

I was going to just take some pictures of the buffet dinner but... 

 

 

 

I ended up loading up a plate and made this my dinner.

 

 

 

PYOB.

 

 

Salad station.

 

 

Desserts.

 

 

They only had one of these stations open on the starboard side but it never appeared too busy while I was here.

 

 

Lido beverages.

 

 

If you have a drink package it works here for soda.

 

 

 

Coffee station.

 

[twangster]

After dinner I explored a bit at the aft above the Lido.

 

There is a lot of seating up here.

 

 

Great place to hang out with friends and enjoy a beverage.

 

 

 

I thought I'd head down to Summer Landing as the sun was getting lower.  On the way I spotted a car.

 

 

A layer of clouds on the horizon would steal our sunset tonight so this was about as good as it would get.

 

 

 

 

 

Since I was back here I went for walk.

 

 

 

Going forward on the port side it sort of dead ends here and I had to backtrack but I did find a nice quiet sitting area.

 

 

 

Back inside it was time to sample another flavor or two.

 

 

The Backyard Band is seriously good and were belting out the tunes.  

 

 

Now fully dark the pool at Summer Landing was still open.

 

 

As I made my way forward I saw... Pizza!  After several beers at Summer Landing I knew I had to try it.  It's a little bland but not bad.

 

 

In Grand Central our CD The Flying Scotsman was hosting a meet your CD.

 

 

 

Which led to singers performing a sample from four genres of music.

 

 

By this point it was time for another drink and the Grandview Bar was right there so...

 

 

Our progress up to this point:

 

 

[princess76021]

1 hour ago, twangster said:

After dinner I explored a bit at the aft above the Lido.

 

There is a lot of seating up here.

 

 

Great place to hang out with friends and enjoy a beverage.

 

 

 

I thought I'd head down to Summer Landing as the sun was getting lower.  On the way I spotted a car.

 

 

A layer of clouds on the horizon would steal our sunset tonight so this was about as good as it would get.

 

 

 

 

 

Since I was back here I went for walk.

 

 

 

Going forward on the port side it sort of dead ends here and I had to backtrack but I did find a nice quiet sitting area.

 

 

 

Back inside it was time to sample another flavor or two.

 

 

The Backyard Band is seriously good and were belting out the tunes.  

 

 

Now fully dark the pool at Summer Landing was still open.

 

 

As I made my way forward I saw... Pizza!  After several beers at Summer Landing I knew I had to try it.  It's a little bland but not bad.

 

 

In Grand Central our CD The Flying Scotsman was hosting a meet your CD.

 

 

 

Which led to singers performing a sample from four genres of music.

 

 

By this point it was time for another drink and the Grandview Bar was right there so...

 

 

Our progress up to this point:

 

 

Love, !ove, !I've your photos!!!!!

Hugs!!