Our Marvelous Mardi Gras B2B (with pics!) - April 23rd, 2022

[Jamman54]

We hung out in the cabin until after 6pm, when we decided to just go up to the Marketplace and grab something to eat there. Afterwards, we made our way to Center Stage, Deck 6, to watch Deal or No Deal…..

 

 

The cards were being sold for $25 each, or two for $40. We bought the two cards. The object is to match the exact dollar amount under the case that the contestant picks. For example, if the contestant picks case #10 and it’s value is $5, if case #10 on your card also is $5, you have a match. The more matches, the bigger the prize that you will win. Your card also has a number on the bottom, and if it’s called you get to be the on stage contestant……

 

 

The show is hosted by Lee, the Cruise Director…..

 

 

 

 

This is the Deal or No Deal case board…..

 

 

The rich banker’s yacht…..

 

 

The first contestant chooses case #13……

 

 

Lee’s talking to the banker about the next offer…..

 

 

The game progresses down to the last four cases…..

 

 

The banker offers her $217 and she takes it…..

 

 

For the rest of us, here are the final Prize Board results……

 

 

We didn’t win anything this game, but during the second game Patti won $30 in casino fun play. We enjoyed watching and playing along. Afterwards, we went back to the cabin for the night, where we found today’s towel creature…..

 

 

Coming up next:  Our day at Amber Cove!

[cruisinsly]

Awesome review and pictures.  Excited for the rest of it.

[Donna1127]

On 5/25/2022 at 3:23 PM, Jamman54 said:

Here is the last page of pictures as we bid goodbye to San Juan, Puerto Rico…..

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

To be continued…..

 

On 5/25/2022 at 3:23 PM, Jamman54 said:

Here is the last page of pictures as we bid goodbye to San Juan, Puerto Rico…..

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

To be continued…..

 

[Donna1127]

Love love the San Juan pics.  We were supposed to stop there but we were changed to Bahamas.  Whatever!  I'm still going to be on a cruise ship, right??

[Jamman54]

2 hours ago, cruisinsly said:

Awesome review and pictures.  Excited for the rest of it.

 

Thanks! Glad to have you with us. I will be posting more later tonight. 

 

4 minutes ago, Donna1127 said:

Love love the San Juan pics.  We were supposed to stop there but we were changed to Bahamas.  Whatever!  I'm still going to be on a cruise ship, right??

 

That's the Spirit! 

[Green4me]

Thanks again, yes I was referring to the hot dogs with spicy sauce, I'll have to watch the street eats better next trip!

[Jamman54]

Day # 5  (April 27th)  -  Amber Cove, DR  (9am – 6pm). 

 

We were up at 7am as the Mardi Gras cruised along the coast of the Dominican Republic on her way to Amber Cove. Here is our view from our balcony looking forward and aft……

 

 

 

The weather is going to be cloudy with passing showers early this morning, before becoming sunny later in the day. Here are today’s “Fun Times”…..

 

 

 

We can see Amber Cove in the distance…..

 

 

The Mardi Gras is docked in Amber Cove by 8:30am. We head up to Big Chicken for breakfast. I had a chicken & biscuit, and the three egg omelet which was big, fluffy, and packed with cheese. Patti also had the three cheese omelet and grabbed some potatoes and bacon from the buffet line. Sorry, we don’t have any pictures as we left the camera in the cabin.

 

The gangways today are on Deck 3, forward and mid ship, on the port side. From our balcony we can look down on the mid ship gangway…..

 

 

We got off the ship around 9:15am in a light drizzle…..

 

 

We utilize the pedal-cabs to get us to the end of the pier. we always tip $10 each way…..

 

 

As we are being pedaled to the end of the pier, Patti gets these shots of the Mardi Gras stern, the Ocean Cabanas, and the Water Equipment Rental dock…..

 

 

 

 

To be continued…..

[Jamman54]

Once dropped off at the end of the pier, if you look up you will see musicians playing up on the roof….

 

 

We’re looking up at the Sky Bar. We’ll be heading up there a little bit later…..

 

 

 

Here we are checking in for our Pool Cabana……

 

 

Our buddy Ramires, who took good care of us the last time we were here, leads us to our Pool Cabana…..

 

 

We have the same Pool Cabana that we had the last time. It’s the Tambora Cabana, which is the second cabana from the left…..

 

 

 

 

This is the inside of our cabana…..

 

 

 

Here I am with my buddy Ramires…..

 

 

To be continued…..

[Guest BasicSailor]

I thought they closed the Sky Bar for a while now ?

[Jamman54]

15 minutes ago, BasicSailor said:

I thought they closed the Sky Bar for a while now ?

 

It was closed when we were there last August, but I understand it reopened in October or November. 

 

[bunnyette]

Did you book the cabanas through the cruise ship?

[Jamman54]

3 minutes ago, bunnyette said:

Did you book the cabanas through the cruise ship?

 

It is a Carnival excursion. I booked about a year out as soon as it became available. They sell out quickly as there are only 4 Pool Cabanas. 

[willdra]

Hola brother from another mother!👋🏾 I’m love love loving your review. Patti’s pictures are priceless. ♥️♥️♥️♥️ Can’t wait to read the rest! 

[Jamman54]

4 minutes ago, willdra said:

Hola brother from another mother!👋🏾 I’m love love loving your review. Patti’s pictures are priceless. ♥️♥️♥️♥️ Can’t wait to read the rest! 

 

Hey girl! Thanks for dropping by! It was a pleasure meeting you and W at Paradise Beach in Cozumel. Looking forward to your review. We want to know what you guys were up to that we didn't bump into you aboard the ship! 

[Jamman54]

Our cabana comes with some snacks and drinks…..

 

 

 

 

We have a safe…..

 

 

This is our deck and chairs…..

 

 

 

We also get floats and pool noodles…..

 

 

The hammock and loungers by the pool are ours as well…..

 

 

 

A zipliner passes by overhead.....

 

 

The staff does a good job keeping non VIP’s from entering the VIP area…..

 

 

To be continued…..

[Jamman54]

We decide to take a walk, or should I say climb, to the Sky Bar…..

 

 

The bottom of the water slide is right next to the pool cabanas…..

 

 

 

 

The surrounding countryside looks like a scene out of Jurassic Park…..

 

 

 

This is the view from the top of the water slide…..

 

 

We’ve made it to the top of the zip line…..

 

 

 

Looking towards the bottom of the zip line…..

 

 

 

Here are the zip line rules…..

 

 

To be continued…..

[Jamman54]

We pass a couple of the Hillside Cabanas…..

 

 

 

Patti took a few pictures of the flora and fauna along the way…..

 

 

 

 

We have made it up to the Sky Bar……

 

 

Here are the Sky Bar menus…..

 

 

 

I’m enjoying my first beer of the day…..

 

 

Patti ordered a Pina Colada……..

 

 

Here’s a view of the Mardi Gras and me…..

 

 

To be continued…..

[Jamman54]

The Freedom has joined the Mardi Gras here in Amber Cove…..

 

 

 

 

Here are some great views from up on the Sky Bar…..

 

 

 

 

 

 

Patti zooms in on the Mardi Gras…..

 

 

 

You can see Center Stage and the Havana Pool…..

 

 

 

To be continued…….

[Guest BasicSailor]

I knew these towel animals were starting to look familiar 🙃

[MistyRo76]

14 hours ago, willdra said:

Hola brother from another mother!👋🏾 I’m love love loving your review. Patti’s pictures are priceless. ♥️♥️♥️♥️ Can’t wait to read the rest! 

Anxiously awaiting another Willdra cruise report as well! 🙂

[wardwhitty]

We love the Cabanas at Amber Cove.  Jefferson is our favorite server.  We are sailing June 18th and the Cabanas were already booked so we will wing it when we get there.  How crowded was Amber Cove with two ships in port?  Both times we have been there was only one ship and reduced capacity.

[cruisin4Becky]

I have been reading your review with great pleasure and Im looking forward to seeing more! Ive sailed from PC several times and it is one of my favorites. in fact Im on the Freedom in September. Your review makes me want to switch to the Mardi Gras.

[Jamman54]

2 hours ago, wardwhitty said:

We love the Cabanas at Amber Cove.  Jefferson is our favorite server.  We are sailing June 18th and the Cabanas were already booked so we will wing it when we get there.  How crowded was Amber Cove with two ships in port?  Both times we have been there was only one ship and reduced capacity.

 

We love the Pool Cabanas at Amber Cove. We book far in advance, so getting one is not usually a problem. With two ships in port, the pool area does get a bit crowded, but not unmanageable, as you will see from pictures I will post later today. If I couldn't get a cabana, I would rent the comfy loungers with umbrellas in the VIP area for around $100. Plenty of servers there so there is very little wait for food or drinks. 

[Jamman54]

10 minutes ago, cruisin4Becky said:

I have been reading your review with great pleasure and Im looking forward to seeing more! Ive sailed from PC several times and it is one of my favorites. in fact Im on the Freedom in September. Your review makes me want to switch to the Mardi Gras.

 

Thanks for reading! I'll be posting some more shortly. The Mardi Gras is a great ship. Keep your Freedom cruise and book the Mardi Gras next time! 

[kelkel2]

16 minutes ago, cruisin4Becky said:

I have been reading your review with great pleasure and Im looking forward to seeing more! Ive sailed from PC several times and it is one of my favorites. in fact Im on the Freedom in September. Your review makes me want to switch to the Mardi Gras.

Because of the freedom fire, maybe you can switch to MG on carnival’s dollar. I wonder if it will be done with repairs by then and if carnival would let you switch!