LIVE! Mardi Gras on the Mardi Gras 2/26 - 3/5. Let’s Cruise!

[TravelBluebird]

We just returned from Nassau; would have stayed an hour longer but its been raining on and off (hard) and another big cloud was gathering, and we were a bit soggy from our walking tour already. When we left the ship this morning, it was bright and sunny. Started pouring when we left our first tasting stop on the tour.

 

We woke up early (for us) and used the door-hanging breakfast room-service card the night before to get some fresh fruit, yogurt and coffee (all included) We wanted to keep it light because of our Food tour.  Came right on time, which we appreciated.

 

One small thing that could be improved; we didn’t wake up early enough to hear the arrival announcement about Nassau (where to get off the ship, what time to be back on the ship, documents needed especially due to COVID, mask rules). We couldn’t find anything on the TV, and no papers in the room. I think a paper delivered to the room the night before with all this information (and maybe weather too) would be nice, especially for new cruisers). 

 

Getting off the shop at the port was super easy; just show your card. Easy to walk out into Nassau; because the port is (still) under construction, no maze of little shops to navigate. 

 

We had time before our scheduled tour and shopped a bit in Festival Plaza; daughter needed some sun glasses. I decided to wait for Dominican Republic to buy souvenirs for the grandkids. I had heard horrible stories of aggressive vendors in Nassau, and honestly, they were not that bad (if you said no that was it) and no one grabbed us, and no one offered us drugs or anything unsavory. We met 3 “debbie reynolds” that offered hair braiding.  There was  one really annoying lady where we met our tour in Rawson Square that kept offering us tours and taxis, although we told her 3 times we were already on a tour, but that was about it.

 

Some photos of the morning, and next up our review of Tru Bahamian Food Tours “Nassau Food Tasting and Cultural Walking Tour.” 

 

[HxFx]

21 minutes ago, TravelBluebird said:

 

Wow; we think the Brass Magnolia is BEAUTIFULLY designed. We love the trumpet detaills in the lights and the colors used feels like old New Orleans. And our drinks there have been plenty strong!  And yep, the live music has been fantastic and for some crazy reason its never full; its become our go-to spot on the ship for a pre or post-dinner drink. We want to do the Martini tasting at the Alchemy bar (and we will at some point) but its always crowded.

I loved the Brass Magnolia French 75 (pretty low carb too)!

[TravelBluebird]

2 minutes ago, HxFx said:

I loved the Brass Magnolia French 75 (pretty low carb too)!

ooh thank you for the tip; I’ll try that!

[TravelBluebird]

First up from this morning, here she is, and she’s a beauty! My first “full length” image of the Mardi Gras. Such a big girl; hard to get her all in one photo!  We are in port today with the Celebrity Edge, Celebrity Reflection, and MSC Divina.

[Saint Greg]

6 hours ago, crewsweeper said:

Adding that Viktoria was from Ukraine, so if she's still on board, wishing her and her family the best.

 

Yes she was in the Brass Magnolia when I was on Mardi Gras....And in the Pig & Anchor when I was on Panorama in 2020.

[TravelBluebird]

Second sone views from our balcony this morning and our room service light breakfast and coffee:

[Hogladyrider]

We use room service all the time and they appreciate the few dollars tip we always provide.  I've even used it in the evenings for sandwiches but most definitely each morning for coffee!  ENJOY!

[TravelBluebird]

Next up the food tastings that we did on our walking tour, with my full review to follow. This is a little backwards but I’m going back and forth on my phone and iPad so bear with me.

 

Missing  is the chocolate tasting and rum cake (pictured is the rum cake stall) pictured:  Conch Fritters with calypso sauce, and traditional Bahamian cuisine tasting plate (steamed chicken, rice with pigeon peas, macaroni pie, plantain) all from Bahamian ‘Cookin’ Kitchen. Conch Chowder from Athena restaurant, Rum Punch from Townsend Hotel. We also had a Conch Slider—That and the chocolates from the Graycliff resort complex.

 

I’m going to take a little rest then will follow with my review of the tour!

 

 

 

 

 

 

Edited February 28, 2022 by TravelBluebird

[TravelBluebird]

19 minutes ago, Hogladyrider said:

We use room service all the time and they appreciate the few dollars tip we always provide.  I've even used it in the evenings for sandwiches but most definitely each morning for coffee!  ENJOY!

Yes, we tip too and we sometimes get a little hungry if we have dinner early (since we stay up so late); don’t always want pizza so I’ll have to check late evening room service out! I think we’ll order a pot of coffee each morning from now on, no matter what our breakfast plans are.

[TravelBluebird]

Just want to correct something I said above; the rum punches on the tour were at the Towne Hotel NOT the Townsend Hotel. The Towne hotel had varied art from local artists in the lobby, and a 35 year old macaw! 

 

And while i’m on the subject of booze on the tour, you could buy an additional 2 drinks for $17. No one (8 people; small group tour) took them up on that; we all felt 1 strong rum drink so early was enough!

[TravelBluebird]

Ok; now I’m really going to rest and finish this later! Once you start me talking or blogging. hard to stop...which I guess is a good thing since I’m doing a LIVE! 

[TravelBluebird]

Had to do the Lido Line Dancing at 3:45. Yes, if possible, I go to every Lido line dancing, dance lessons and dance parties on the ship. Its my thing and also great exercise. I was trained in Jazz and tap as a kid and did years of musical theater, so I like to dance. I was sad last night to miss the Latin dance lessons in the Havana Bar (my favorite type of dancing!) so I hope its offered again. Tonight is the 80s dance party and you bet I’ll be there!

 

You cannot mind people watching you at the Lido Line dancing sessions, cause there you are in the front of the pool. I don’t mind; heck I people watch all week and I expect others to people watch me back so its all good!  I do wish they had designed a larger area for the dancing//deck parties on this ship.

 

Oh, and by the way, one must do the Cupid Shuffle and the Wobble at every Carnival Lido dance event. It is the law!

 

 

[RenoNanaOz]

On 2/25/2022 at 10:26 AM, sid_9169 said:

I'll give you twenty bucks to mail me a Shaq's Big Chicken sandwich...

I would love to try one! We were in Nashville a few weeks ago and tried Chicken "Guy", not impressed. Bun was the same as his burgers on the ship, which I love. Sauces were good but the star, the chicken was super dry.

[RenoNanaOz]

On 2/25/2022 at 11:31 AM, ninjacat123 said:

I'm staying in Las Vegas mid April and I am extra happy because there is a Big Chicken there!!

Oh there is? I'll be there in May and will definitely have to try one.

[TravelBluebird]

3 hours ago, RenoNanaOz said:

Oh there is? I'll be there in May and will definitely have to try one.

 I’m finally going to try Shaq’s Big Chicken tomorrow—we are going to have it for lunch!

[TravelBluebird]

I know I owe everyone a review of my Nassau excursion, and you will get it, most likely tomorrow while I’m laying around the Serenity Pool (since we haven’t been up their once yet! Tomorrow is a Sea Day.

 

I’ve got just a little time before I run up to the 80s Rock -n- Glow Party on Lido. So, instead I shall discuss The Case of The Curious Chibang Martinis.

 

We love Martinis and haven’t had a chance to have even one so far. So when we saw a Green Tea Martini and a Lychee Martini (my favorite!) on the Cocktails Menu for Chibang this evening, we knew we had to have them.

 

Daughter ordered the Green Tea Martini and I, of course, the Lychee one.

 

The drink server came over with a giant platter of many drinks including several Martinis. She sets these two Martinis in front of us:

 

 

Us:  No, we ordered two different Martinis.

Server: Yes, these are different.

Us: No , we ordered a Green Tea Martini and a Lychee Martini (neither, we think, are going to come with a slice of lime on the side!)

 

Server: Yes, this is what you got.

 

We tasted them, and neither one had any Green Tea Flavor, and neither did either one taste like a Lychee Martini.

 

We then ask our waiter. He simply calls over the server and we go through the entire dance again.

 

SO, either we were served the wrong drink entirely x2 (maybe the Jade Stone?) Or these actually WERE the Lychee Martini and the Green Tea Martini, which would perhaps call into question the skills of the bartender.

 

I have included the drinks menu we ordered from so you all could take a look. Has anyone ordered these drinks and do they really both look exactly the same?

 

 

Edited March 1, 2022 by TravelBluebird

[TravelBluebird]

Then when we got the bar bill at the end of the meal, it was for 1 Green Tea Martini and 1 Beer. I wanted to straighten it out (the beer was cheaper, obviously) but we knew we’d never get seats for Celestial Strings (show was at 8:30; it was already 8 so we signed the bar bill and left; I guess I’ll head to Guest Services to straighten it out tomorrow.

 

BTW, the wait for Chibang was 80-90 minutes estimated, it was actually about 70 minutes. We put in for 6 expecting to eat 7ish and that ended up being about right.

 

Rest of meal was good, but not great. It is a good thing we had “first dinner” tonight (for the first time in my cruising career, we went up to eat some buffet food since we were starving and it originally looked like a 90 minute wait). The portions in Chibang are REALLY small. And you know I don’t mind small portions normally, but my entree was 5 TINY shrimp (about the size you get in the shrimp cocktail) with a sauce and that was it. I made the mistake of not ordering rice due to low carbing, and was able to get a small bowl because I didn’t want to be starving and eat pizza later tonight.  Flavor was good; just not enough food even after my “first dinner” snack of a nicely spiced chicken leg/thigh from buffet.  For my appetizer I got the lettuce wraps, which were good although not a ton of filling, but the flavors were excellent.

 

Daughter got the Super Loaded Nachos (OK) and the Pescado Frito, crispy fried snapper, and that was VERY good, great crispy outside and a good portion too. We ended with the Chocolate C-Bang, which to me was a more cakey chocolate melting cake, but a very good one. We neglected to get the photo of the Snapper,

 

Celestial Strings lived up to its reputation; we LOVED it; more about that later tonight or tomorrow by Serentiy..

 

[ninjacat123]

We were not a big fan of Chibang's...wish it was JiJi's.  The drinks don't look green enough for Midori to have been added, IMO.  Thanks for your live review!

[TravelBluebird]

31 minutes ago, ninjacat123 said:

We were not a big fan of Chibang's...wish it was JiJi's.  The drinks don't look green enough for Midori to have been added, IMO.  Thanks for your live review!

 

Thanks! I guess they were just weak//misguided Martinis then!  We will have to go the Alchemy Bar tomorrow for some proper Martinis.

 

And I think I agree with you regarding Chibang; also the room was very loud unlike the MDR. We did enjoy the performing festival Chinese dragons though at Shhhowwtimme!

 

Edited March 1, 2022 by TravelBluebird

[SNJCruisers]

8 hours ago, TravelBluebird said:

Yes, we tip too and we sometimes get a little hungry if we have dinner early (since we stay up so late); don’t always want pizza so I’ll have to check late evening room service out! I think we’ll order a pot of coffee each morning from now on, no matter what our breakfast plans are.

One thing I could suggest is to go to Piazza Panini and get a sandwich before they close at 1000 and put it in your frig.  Got the turkey on a pretzel roll twice and it was good.

[TravelBluebird]

1 hour ago, SNJCruisers said:

One thing I could suggest is to go to Piazza Panini and get a sandwich before they close at 1000 and put it in your frig.  Got the turkey on a pretzel roll twice and it was good.

 

That sounds very tasty! As others have mentioned, it would be nice to have more late night options for snacks.  

[TravelBluebird]

The 80s Glow Dance Party was fun! And very well attended. We got there too late for the glow sticks, but that was OK. Some people dressed up in 80s outfits.  Enthusiastic crowd, and Tyler continues to be a good leader for the dance activities. 

 

The good news is I then proceeded to win tonight at the casino!  Pulled myself away from a great machine  because A. I wanted to leave up to cover my earlier losses and B. I was tired and don’t want to ruin our sea day tomorrow!

 

The bad news is that the rest of today’s information will definitely happen tomorrow at Serenity Deck. I hope the at-sea Internet Gods are with me.

 

Good night all from somewhere in the Caribbean; mostly smooth seas tonight but a bit more motion than the last 2 evenings.

[KmomChicago]

6 hours ago, SNJCruisers said:

One thing I could suggest is to go to Piazza Panini and get a sandwich before they close at 1000 and put it in your frig.  Got the turkey on a pretzel roll twice and it was good.

 

I agree with this. We didn't do it often enough and ended up with pizza instead. Sandwiches are better imho and pizza line can get pretty long late night.  I felt the pizza guys were among the most mistreated, bossed around and overworked food service workers on the ship. Late night hangry people can get testy.

 

Chibang being just okay with portions slightly too small and room slightly too bleh, too crowded (at times) and too noisy for a nice dining room experience, and the general lack of late night food offerings are pretty consistent comments so far about this otherwise excellent ship across its inaugural season.  

Edited March 1, 2022 by KmomChicago

[crewsweeper]

Seconding (or thirding) thoughts on ChiBang.  We won't be doing that one again next January.  

Celestial Strings played all over the ship.  Very good.  No need to rush for a special seating.

Edited March 1, 2022 by crewsweeper

[TravelBluebird]

3 hours ago, KmomChicago said:

I felt the pizza guys were among the most mistreated, bossed around and overworked food service workers on the ship. Late night hangry people can get testy.

 

Good morning! Yes when we got the pizza some horrid person came and slammed down their half-eaten plate and yelled at the pizza crew at how horrible it was. I was aghast—first of all, they are trying to keep the area sanitized so they had to whisk it away and scrub down. Second, I think the pizza is delicious, but even if I didn’t, I would never behave that way. The pizza guys work HARD; never seen any place turn out the pizza so fast like they do!