#1 Mardi Gras tips ?

[Jring]

I havn’t cruised with Carnival for 8 years, my last cruises were with Royal Caribbean’s. What are the things you suggest we should do as soon as we board the cruise ?

Also… carnival tells me to print the boarding passes… I don’t remember having to do this with Royal as long as I checked in with their app. I prefer carry the passes in my phone if it’s not absolutely required to have a hard copy?

[csoud68]

6 hours ago, Jring said:

I havn’t cruised with Carnival for 8 years, my last cruises were with Royal Caribbean’s. What are the things you suggest we should do as soon as we board the cruise ?

Also… carnival tells me to print the boarding passes… I don’t remember having to do this with Royal as long as I checked in with their app. I prefer carry the passes in my phone if it’s not absolutely required to have a hard copy?

Jring, it's just a good practice to have copies in case. Nothing more to it than that. You probably won't need them.

 

And things to do..

1. If you have a suite I'd drop off my carry-on 

2. If you are spa peeps I would Visit spa and sign up for services 

3. If nether of those apply I'd go to summer landing and hang out.

[Tom-n-Cheryl]

Complete the safety briefing at your muster station.

 

Go enjoy a MDE chicken sandwich!

[Knights on the Beach]

You do need your boarding passes printed out or they'll have to print one for you and that just holds up your boarding process.  

 

I'm with Tom - do your muster station check in (super quick) first then head to Shaq's Big Chicken.

 

BEFORE your cruise - select Your Time Dining for the best flexibility so you may have dinner at Chibang and Cucina.  With a set dining time, you wouldn't be able to check in for those two until 7:30 or later.

[Jring]

Great advices Thank you all !

I also have carnival giftcards and OBC but I noticed I can't use them to pre-pay my gratuities online...I can  only use them to purchase excursion/gifts online etc... I'm guess I should be able to use them toward gratuities once I add them to sail and sign while onboard ?

 

1 hour ago, cruisemom2 said:

You do need your boarding passes printed out or they'll have to print one for you and that just holds up your boarding process.  

 

I'm with Tom - do your muster station check in (super quick) first then head to Shaq's Big Chicken.

 

BEFORE your cruise - select Your Time Dining for the best flexibility so you may have dinner at Chibang and Cucina.  With a set dining time, you wouldn't be able to check in for those two until 7:30 or later.

 

[sid_9169]

Run, don't walk, directly to Shaq's Big Chicken and consume a chicken sandwich and fries... Repeat as necessary...

[Knights on the Beach]

12 minutes ago, sid_9169 said:

Run, don't walk, directly to Shaq's Big Chicken and consume a chicken sandwich and fries... Repeat as necessary...

 

And I think the chicken tenders are the best thing they have there for breakfast.  😍

[May1cruiser]

For Mardi Gras, do not eat 7-9 days before cruise. There are a LOT of meal choices and 7 days on board are not enough days to try everything. We decided to get breakfast and lunch from different locations and splitting food to have a chance to sample all of the offerings. Still not enough time...

 

[DebOinKC]

I don't mean to hijack this thread...but is there any place to watch football on Sunday's? (Sailing in October)

[wareaglefan444]

14 minutes ago, DebOinKC said:

I don't mean to hijack this thread...but is there any place to watch football on Sunday's? (Sailing in October)

Yes summers landing Aft. right next to guys pig and anchor. 2 big screen tvs and plenty of couch and chairs. We watched games on Saturday,Sunday, and Monday last October. It was a blast

[Knights on the Beach]

1 hour ago, wareaglefan444 said:

Yes summers landing Aft. right next to guys pig and anchor. 2 big screen tvs and plenty of couch and chairs. We watched games on Saturday,Sunday, and Monday last October. It was a blast

 

And several smaller TVs by the bar and tables in P&A.  We watched football there a couple times in December.

[lazydayz]

Book Rudi's online and use some of that OBC before boarding the ship.  It fills up fast, and for me, the best dining experience in all of my 65+ cruises.  It really is that good.

 

Also, eat at least one meal at Emeril's.  The prices are very good and the food is excellent.

 

Agree with the tip about Your Time Dining (or My time, or whatever).  We enjoyed our dinners at the Italian restaurant but will skip ChiBang this time.  Just not our vibe.

 

If the line at Java Blue is long, go up to Bar Della Rose. Excellent service and drinks without the long wait.

 

If you want to see the shows in the grand atrium, get there early.  The closest seats go fast.

 

If you a gambler, the non-smoking side is huge and totally smoke-free.  

 

Check out the live music all over the ship.  We loved the Brass Magnolia bar and tried to make it there whenever jazz was being played. 

 

And since you are a regular Royal cruiser, check out Guy's Burgers and compare theirs to Johnny Rocket's.  The Guys free burgers are so much better than extra charge ones at JR. 

 

When is your cruise?  We board next Saturday, May 21 and are so excited to get back on the Mardi Gras.  It is a great ship. 

[cruizergal70]

Tip: Don't compare to Royal Caribbean. Let the cruise be its own experience.

[SC2020]

5 hours ago, DebOinKC said:

I don't mean to hijack this thread...but is there any place to watch football on Sunday's? (Sailing in October)

A very important question! I don't know how often it happens or if it varies ship to ship but I've also seen photos of the Sunday night games being played by the pool. 

[Joe817]

1 minute ago, SC2020 said:

A very important question! I don't know how often it happens or if it varies ship to ship but I've also seen photos of the Sunday night games being played by the pool. 

I've seen them in Sports Bars, Heroes Bars, the big screen by the pool(where Dive in Movies are shown), in the Casino Bar...sometimes in Red Frog Pub & Brewery. You just have to check every bar that has a tv going at the time.  Besides, it's good exercise to walk around searching for them.