Live (Wi-Fi willing) Christmas Mardi Gras Review 12/18- 12/26 Blue Card Perspective

[Fredric22]

31 minutes ago, BennyBrun said:

I totally get it.  I don’t see them chase people at bar about the mask but they do make announcements every 30 minutes or so about mask at the casino and the supervisor is walking around checking mask compliance.  I truly believe they want you to have a good time but they have to enforce the corporate policy.

So are people still sitting at the bars and drinking like normal?  And yea even in July they were making announcements in the casino every 30 mins. 

[BennyBrun]

Day 1

 

the famous melting chocolate cake with two scoops of ice cream… yumm 

[BennyBrun]

14 minutes ago, Fredric22 said:

So are people still sitting at the bars and drinking like normal?  And yea even in July they were making announcements in the casino every 30 mins. 

Pretty much … we all know that they say one thing and people do another and it’s the perfect example on the bars at Mardi Gras.  As long as you have a drink you are not hassled.  However if you walk around without a mask they will ask you to put one on.  You will probably see more pictures and you can see.

[BennyBrun]

Day 1

 

Grand Central …Trop Rockin… they have been rockin all night long !!!

[BennyBrun]

Day 1 

 

Pig & Anchor … lunch time it was self serve, dinner time they serve you.  I wonder why they switch it around since the food is about the same:

[BennyBrun]

Day 1

 

it was an exciting day.  Walked all over the ship and explored each of the neighborhood as much as possible.  It is a beautiful ship and well decorated.  Grand Central is nicely laid out and easy to navigate.  I like how most of the main / specialty restaurants are located in the same area vs Oasis class ships on Royal where it’s more scattered through out.  The food was amazing, but it was difficult to find a little something sweet to munch on after dinner time unless you pay for the desserts at Java.  

 

I did witness someone who thought the candy at Cherry on Top was $3.95 a pound (it’s $3.95 per 1/4 lb) and was shocked at the $16.xx price tag for the bag of candy they purchased.  
 

We were too full and too tired for the Rock Show at the main theater.  Nassau tomorrow instead of Grand Turk.

[BennyBrun]

Being on 17 and all the way forward in the Serenity section it is very quiet.  Not a lot of noise from crew activity and very little foot traffic from neighbors.

[TrqoisWtrs]

18 minutes ago, BennyBrun said:

The food was amazing, but it was difficult to find a little something sweet to munch on after dinner time unless you pay for the desserts at Java.  

There is 24/7 soft serve ice cream in the Heroes bar (next to P&A) and deck 16 aft.  :)

[BennyBrun]

8 minutes ago, cruisin*tigger said:

There is 24/7 soft serve ice cream in the Heroes bar (next to P&A) and deck 16 aft.  🙂

That is a great suggestion.  I was hoping for some cookies and cake.  I guess I will have to plan better on day 2 and smuggle cookies to the room lol.

[ZoeyVictoria]

There is also wonderful bourbon banana pie at Guy’s Pig & Anchor.  I have gone there in the evening just for the pie.

[RhinoMomIL]

11 minutes ago, ZoeyVictoria said:

There is also wonderful bourbon banana pie at Guy’s Pig & Anchor.  I have gone there in the evening just for the pie.

Great idea! Since it's table service for dinner how does this work? Do they seat you even if you have already ate somewhere else or can you get it to go?

[SNJCruisers]

13 hours ago, BennyBrun said:

 Just don’t be upset if I forget a question or two because I might be in a BIG Chicken Food coma.

Make sure you wash down your Big Chicken with a drink from the double decker Tiki Bar.  Try the Wiki Wiki, also known as the Megan.

[SNJCruisers]

9 hours ago, BennyBrun said:

A little pre dinner snack… pizza is better on the Mardi Gras than Sorrento’s.

That statement would not go over too well over on the RCI boards.

[hpugirl27]

3 hours ago, BennyBrun said:

That is a great suggestion.  I was hoping for some cookies and cake.  I guess I will have to plan better on day 2 and smuggle cookies to the room lol.

I believe they still have chocolate chip cookies and chocolate cake on the room service menu for free.  That might be an option?

[ZoeyVictoria]

7 hours ago, RhinoMomIL said:

Great idea! Since it's table service for dinner how does this work? Do they seat you even if you have already ate somewhere else or can you get it to go?

We walked up at 9:37 p.m. and saw that they had closed at (I believe) 9:30 p.m.  I was stopped at the podium by the restaurant manager and said, “Oh, you are closed.  I was hoping to get some of that good banana pie”.  He called someone over and told him to prepare two pieces of pie and  two ice creams.  It was handed to us on a tray, with napkins and flatware, and we found chairs and enjoyed it right there.  We stopped at the podium to thank him again on the way out and was told to let him know if we would like to have it again any other evening.  We did go back again for pie, but got there while they were still open and were seated with no question.

Edited December 19, 2021 by ZoeyVictoria

[jimbri]

Enjoying your review.  Photos are great!

[rwest898]

Thank you for the White Hennessey information.  I remember when it was 2 for $88.  It has gone up but it won't stop me for getting it when I cruise in April. Hopefully it won't have gone up again.  Thanks again, enjoy your cruise.

[BennyBrun]

10 hours ago, ZoeyVictoria said:

There is also wonderful bourbon banana pie at Guy’s Pig & Anchor.  I have gone there in the evening just for the pie.

You are amazing!!!  Best idea ever!!!

[BennyBrun]

8 hours ago, SNJCruisers said:

Make sure you wash down your Big Chicken with a drink from the double decker Tiki Bar.  Try the Wiki Wiki, also known as the Megan.

I am still trying to get near the tiki bar.  That place is packed.  You have to squeeze by just to get to the buffet but I love the vibe and the excitement on the ship!!  I can’t wait to try the Megan.

[BennyBrun]

2 hours ago, ZoeyVictoria said:

We walked up at 9:37 p.m. and saw that they had closed at (I believe) 9:30 p.m.  I was stopped at the podium by the restaurant manager and said, “Oh, you are closed.  I was hoping to get some of that good banana pie”.  He called someone over and told him to prepare two pieces of pie and  two ice creams.  It was handed to us on a tray, with napkins and flatware, and we found chairs and enjoyed it right there.  We stopped at the podium to thank him again on the way out and was told to let him know if we would like to have it again any other evening.  We did go back again for pie, but got there while they were still open and were seated with no question.

The staff on board has been wonderful!  The staff at shops though looks like they really don’t want be there.  I guess they were having a rough day!

[BennyBrun]

6 hours ago, hpugirl27 said:

I believe they still have chocolate chip cookies and chocolate cake on the room service menu for free.  That might be an option?

They updated the room service menu on 12/18 and I don’t see any complimentary options on the hubs menu any more.  The only free ones are the breakfast option.  But that could just be because I am still blue and not Davy enough to find it.  Lol.

[BennyBrun]

44 minutes ago, rwest898 said:

Thank you for the White Hennessey information.  I remember when it was 2 for $88.  It has gone up but it won't stop me for getting it when I cruise in April. Hopefully it won't have gone up again.  Thanks again, enjoy your cruise.

No worries!  You got questions, I will find someone to answer onboard lol.  I am learning all sorts great stuff about Carnival and Mardi Gras.

[BennyBrun]

7 hours ago, SNJCruisers said:

That statement would not go over too well over on the RCI boards.

Lol… I like to try different things and I don’t have any issue saying something is better.  I have had pizza on Sorrentos, Jamie’s, Giovanni’s while they are good (Sorrentos being the best of the bunch) the pizza on the Mardi Gras was exceptional!  The crust was thin, the sauce has flavor and the cheese was great.  Sorrentos cheese still git a little bit of cardboard texture to it.  I am from NJ and have had lots of pizza to know what’s a good pizza and what’s not for myself lol!

[BennyBrun]

Day 2 Nassau

 

Got up early 7:30 AM And went to the gym to work off dinner last night.  The gym was busy and the mask police was in full force at the weights section.  If you are doing cardio you don’t need a mask but everything else mask up.  
 

Palms restaurant was busy busy busy!  The line was formed for people with a table number.  So I guess we will be here for a while.

[BennyBrun]

Day 2

 

The menus are all digital but I need my phone for pictures so I always ask for a paper menu.  I find it to be easier for my dinning experience.