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

[TravelBluebird]

49 minutes ago, crewsweeper said:

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.

 

Yes, they play all over the ship (and we have caught them 2x now; love just hearing them play) but Celestial Strings is a feast for the eyes, with singers, dancers, costumes, incredible digital backgrounds. I LOVED it; maybe my favorite entertainment I’ve seen on a cruise ship ever! More on this a little later

[TravelBluebird]

Officially Good Morning!

 

I woke up to dear daughter bringing me a very good dry cappuccino from Java Blue!

 

Also, I received permission to share one of my daughter’s sketches from the ship with y’all! She is a very talented artist, and when I’m gambling or we are sitting in a bar somewhere, or by the pool, she’s got her sketch book out and her pencils.

 

She asked me to tell you this is just a rough sketch on the fly; sort of like an idea book (so not a finished product.

 

Here is Washboard Joe from the Brass Magnolia:

 

 

[TravelBluebird]

We are off to get some Beignets now; just finished our coffee. 

 

I’ll be attending the Salute to the Military show (main theater) at 11 in honor of my Dad, who served in the Army for awhile in the 1950s. 

 

Then off to (hopefully) find a quiet spot at Serenity to catch up on some of my LIVE reports. Tonight we have the big Mardi Gras Party!

 

Happy Mardi Gras everyone! We are having an amazing cruise on this amazing ship; I couldn’t be happier!

Edited March 1, 2022 by TravelBluebird

[TravelBluebird]

We are currently seated waiting for our Beignets, fancy veggie juices, and a bit more coffee at Emeril’s.  Small line; about 10 minutes. They use the table number system so they will bring our food to us. We are wearing customized Mardi Gras tee-shirts for the journey and we met some ladies who had the same shirts so we had a nice chat while on line.

 

On the way here we photographed the Brass Magnolia since it was empty with some of the trombone light details.

 

 

 

 

 

And Beignets are here!

Edited March 1, 2022 by TravelBluebird

[TravelBluebird]

We are also having the carrot, cayenne, orange and lime juices at Emeril’s. Have to try to be healthy! The juice is fresh and good.

[firstcruise92]

Those beignets look wonderful!

[Saint Greg]

21 minutes ago, TravelBluebird said:

We are currently seated waiting for our Beignets, fancy veggie juices, and a bit more coffee at Emeril’s.  Small line; about 10 minutes.

 

That's going to be a serious adjustment back to full capacity. "small line 10 minutes." It was always no line in August.

[vettprincess]

1 minute ago, Saint Greg said:

 

That's going to be a serious adjustment back to full capacity. "small line 10 minutes." It was always no line in August.

Just wait till next week. Long lines will be the least of the issues. Can hardly wait for this anniversary cruise booked over 2 years ago. Will be fun!

[TravelBluebird]

53 minutes ago, Saint Greg said:

 

That's going to be a serious adjustment back to full capacity. "small line 10 minutes." It was always no line in August.

 

Yes it will be! My last cruise was a 1/3 full Celebrity Equinox, and it took me nearly 2 days to adjust. You’ll get there but especially having been on Mardi Gras before, you’re going to be amazed at all the people. It makes me happy; cruising is BACK and it feels nearly post-pandemic. Wish they let us drop the masks today but I understand (many people already have and they are not being hassled).

[TravelBluebird]

1 hour ago, firstcruise92 said:

Those beignets look wonderful!

They were wonderful! Not greasy; hot and nice powdered sugar. They are hollow in the middle which was great (don’t need a huge dough bomb in my stomach first thing!) One basket definitely enough for 2 people. The other breakfast offerings looked delicious (although we will do the included breakfasts for the rest of the week so won’t sample).. And the Americano coffee I had with the beignets was the best coffee on the ship for me so far!!

[Hogladyrider]

@TravelBluebird...do you and your daughter have Cheers?

[S&DMOM]

Huge favor if you have time- Can you check if they have Muscle Milk on board?  And if it is included in the Cheers Package?  TIA and enjoying your report.

[TravelBluebird]

1 hour ago, Hogladyrider said:

@TravelBluebird...do you and your daughter have Cheers?

 

We do not! We don’t drink enough to get value out of it; although we got coffees and the juices this morning, we may not drink alcohol at all till after dinner tonight (I’m on some medications that make me need to take breaks, and daughter watching her health).  Plus we have $500 OBC on a Casino deal; that is covering lots of the drinks, and I have DOU (Drinks on Us) in the casino. First night casino service was impossible; its been fine the last 2 nights.

[TravelBluebird]

27 minutes ago, S&DMOM said:

Huge favor if you have time- Can you check if they have Muscle Milk on board?  And if it is included in the Cheers Package?  TIA and enjoying your report.

 

We will find out for you; we’ll ask in Java Blue when we are there next.

[Hogladyrider]

@TravelBluebird...thanks for the reply.

 

We are with you on not drinking enough to warrant Cheers.  I do love my Java Blue coffee or any of the coffees from the specialty coffee bars vs the standard Carnival coffee.

 

Although the room service coffee seems to have improved.

 

If you go to the specialty coffee bars they used to offer a punch card, buy so many get one free.  We would fill up a card each cruise and enjoy the free ones!

[TravelBluebird]

Wow. Fun, busy day! I’m definitely what you’d call an “active cruiser;” Always doing something!

 

My plan to blog from the cruise deck didn’t work; we were in direct sun so i could barely see my iPad screen. Back in the room for a break now.

 

After Emeril’s we attended the Military Tribute. I always tear up at that; our Flying Scotsman Chris led a beautiful tribute. For my Dad and any of you who served, I truly thank you for your service. The tribute was held in the Mardi Gras Theater; about 1/2 hour long and very well attended.

 

Then we went up to the Serenity Deck for the first time. The wind is at about 15 knots and we are moving along at a quick clip to get to Dominican Republic; so the main forward part of the Serenity was quite windy. So we decided for a little less serenity but a lot less wind and ended up overlooking the lido (back of Serenity area). Got some nice sun (gosh, I need that during the winter; so cold and damp in East Tennessee which is, after all, a rain forest) and watched/listened to some Mardi Gras festivities. Mardi Gras Games were played (musical rings, freeze frame etc). After that King Cake in honor of Mardi Gras was served on the Lido Deck (I heard the cake was not 100% authentic but good). 

 

Daughter discovered the salad bar up there and enjoyed that. I found the towel check out. It was busy but plenty of loungers available in the area we were in; there were also available loungers on main part of Lido.

 

 

 

 

 

Edited March 1, 2022 by TravelBluebird

[TravelBluebird]

After we had enough sun, we made our way to Shaq’s Big Chicken (finally!). This was a major “cheat” on my diet, but I had to try it given all the great reports.

 

Shaq’s did not disappoint! Big, tasty, juicy chicken, great coating for the fried, nice flavors. I had a couple of the fries to sample them (I like how thin yet wide they are).  I had an Uncle Jerome (Nashville Hot Chicken)n and daughter had Shaq Attack (Pepper Jack cheese and also spicy); hers was grilled.  Only minor improvement could be more spice on the Nashville Hot Chicken, but hot sauces are available.

 

Then...yep...I mean IS Mardi Gras and tomorrow starts Lent...we went looking for the Mardi Gras cakes at the buffet.

 

Cakes were found! Beautifully decorated in Mardi Gras colors I tried the rum cake and daughter the Cherries Jubilee (hers with a side of salted caramel gelatto). We took a couple of bites, went into an excellent sugar coma; the rest of the cakes are in our fridge for a late night snack. 

 

People talk about how much you walk on this ship. They are not kidding! I’ve been averaging 17,000 steps a day. This for me is a personal triumph because I have Rheumatoid Arthritis (something I don’t talk about much in my cruise LIVES or blogging) and a replaced knee. Walking so far and day after day (and dancing!) was not always possible for me. Thanks to medical science and lots of hard work (working out, healthy foods) I truly enjoy every minute of the walking, dancing, etc.

 

Anyway...long intro to the fact that I have a nasty blister on the bottom of my foot. Thought it was healing up but it got larger today. I have no Neosporin (although we do have large band aids); worried about infection esepcially on our beach day and I don’t want it to enlarge from all the walking/dancing so I called medical center. No one picked up (I hope not too busy with patients!). So I asked Guest Services via phone; they said Liquor store might have something. Walked all the way there. Nope. Back to Guest Services and they had a small antibiotic packet and bandages there for me (yay!). I appreciated this and I appreciate Guest Services! They work so hard and get all the problems.

 

Passed by Grand Central; the reharsal for the Las Vegas show later looks promising!

 

Finally, went back and gambled on my favorite machine awhile because all the other gamblers are in playing $5000 Mardi Gras Bingo (daughter was napping. Husband always naps. Now can y’all see why I like that extra little room I get from the suites?). DIdn’t win this time but I played on the house’s money and got lots of points for my card.

 

I’m back in my sitting room//enjoying my balcony. Back in a bit with some more photos from today!

[TravelBluebird]

On tap for tonight:

 

—Rudi’s Seagrill reservations

 

—Flying Scotsman Show (The M Theory is playing tonight but we aren’t magic lovers”

 

—Mardi Gras Party on Lido

 

—Possible Second Line (not a Mardi Gras ship organized event)

 

We’ll be out there with our Mardi Gras Finery (someone left beads outside their room for people to take; we have masks and light-up Mardi Gras headgear!). My husband is working the kitchen at my church’s Mardi Gras party tonight (raising money for community outreach). I know he’s reading this so I just want to say: that man is a Saint! And I appreciate him.

 

 

[TravelBluebird]

Photos below of the King Cake display on Lifo plus the other Mardi Gras Cakes Available today!  Plus My Uncle Jerome’s from Shaq’s  Big Chicken!

 

 

 

 

Edited March 1, 2022 by TravelBluebird

[TravelBluebird]

Final afternoon report. This afternoon, we got up to the sports deck.  Nicely marked walking track. Mini Golf looks fun (it was packed early afternoon).  Ropes course!  The incredible water slides my GrandKids would LOVE.  And of course Bolt.  We have a reservation for late Thursday!  Daughter is threatening to push to maximum speed.  I may be terrified!  But first roller coaster at sea? I’m there,

 

 

 

 

Edited March 1, 2022 by TravelBluebird

[TravelBluebird]

3 hours ago, S&DMOM said:

Huge favor if you have time- Can you check if they have Muscle Milk on board?  And if it is included in the Cheers Package?  TIA and enjoying your report.

 

Yes there are 2 flavors of Muscle Milk at Java Blue. Chocolate and Vanilla.  And daughter believes that it is included in Cheers (I’ll confirm that later).

[SNJCruisers]

7 hours ago, TravelBluebird said:

 

And Beignets are here!

😥😢😭I have to wait almost 6 months.....sniff, sniff.

[SNJCruisers]

3 hours ago, Hogladyrider said:

 

If you go to the specialty coffee bars they used to offer a punch card, buy so many get one free.  We would fill up a card each cruise and enjoy the free ones!

They had them on our B2B for coffee as well as milkshakes.  They were cranking out the milkshakes big time.  Two days they ran out of vanilla and coffee ice cream.

[IntrepidFromDC]

8 hours ago, TravelBluebird said:

Officially Good Morning!

 

I woke up to dear daughter bringing me a very good dry cappuccino from Java Blue!

 

Also, I received permission to share one of my daughter’s sketches from the ship with y’all! She is a very talented artist, and when I’m gambling or we are sitting in a bar somewhere, or by the pool, she’s got her sketch book out and her pencils.

 

She asked me to tell you this is just a rough sketch on the fly; sort of like an idea book (so not a finished product.

 

Here is Washboard Joe from the Brass Magnolia:

 

 

I remember him!  Washboard Band is great!  Great sketch!

Edited March 1, 2022 by IntrepidFromDC

[Hogladyrider]

@TravelBluebird...from your postings it sounds like you are having a FANTASTIC time.

 

As for the blister, go in the salt water when in port it will help the healing!