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

[Jamman54]

Day # 6  (April 28th)  -  Grand Turk  (7am – 4pm). 

 

We were up at 6:30am just as the Mardi Gras was pulling into Grand Turk…..

 

 

 

 

It’s going to be a beautiful day. The sun is rising in the east…..

 

 

 

Here are today’s “Fun Times”……

 

 

 

Here are some views of the Cruise Center and Margaritaville taken from our balcony…..

 

 

 

 

To be continued…..

[Jamman54]

Here are some beach views all the way down to Jack’s Shack……

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The excursion boats are anchored offshore…..

 

 

There’s a U.S. Coast Guard boat docked in the distance…..

 

 

They started letting people off the ship at 7am. There is only one gangway open today, and that’s on Deck 3 forward. We are going to skip breakfast today, as we have rented a Pool Cabana, so we want to get off the ship as soon as possible to pick our cabana and get settled in.

 

As we were in the elevator lobby waiting to board an elevator down to Deck 3, our Cruise Director Lee made the announcement that the gangway was going to be closed in about five minutes, because the Carnival Freedom was about to arrive and the pier had to be cleared. We were one of the last few to get off the ship before they closed the gangway. After this picture was taken, security made the photographer and us, clear the area…..

 

 

Here comes the Carnival Freedom……

 

 

To be continued…..

[Jamman54]

As the Carnival Freedom approaches, security quickly clears the pier of guests…..

 

 

 

 

 

We are walking on the pier towards the Cruise Center. It’s hard to believe that it’s been almost exactly four years since we’ve been here. We’re used to being here two or three times a year!

 

 

The Whale Exhibit is off to the right…..

 

 

We are glad to be back!

 

 

At this point, I will head over to Margaritaville to get our Pool Cabana. Patti knows where to meet me, so she begins her picture tour by strolling across the nearly empty Plaza. With the Freedom currently docking, no one will be getting off the ship for at least a half hour…..

 

 

 

To be continued…..

[Jamman54]

Patti checks out the Craft Market…..

 

 

 

 

 

We are here!

 

 

Patti is in heaven! She loves taking pictures when there only a few or no people in them. She is approaching Margaritaville…..

 

 

 

This is the porch of indecision…..

 

 

 

Margaritaville Trading Post…..

 

 

 

To be continued……

[Jamman54]

The Poolside Retreats for Two are right next to the bathroom. A month ago they rented for $105, now they are $150 for the day…..

 

 

 

 

Here are some pool and swim up bar views….

 

 

 

 

This is the sidewalk to the Pool Cabanas…..

 

 

This is a beautiful view of the Mardi Gras from the pool area…..

 

 

This is the walk in section of the pool. With my bad legs I appreciate the pools that have these sections…..

 

 

 

The Flowrider will be in operation later in the day…..

 

 

To be continued…..

[Jamman54]

Patti meets me at Pool Cabana # 8, and she is shocked! We have never been in any other cabana except # 9. I wanted # 9, but I was told that #’s 9 & 10 weren’t being rented today. That’s okay, as # 8 will do just fine……

 

 

Views of cabana # 8…..

 

 

 

 

 

 

Here are the food menus. The menu is very limited, as there have been many supply issues here on Grand Turk. We won’t go hungry…..

 

 

 

We meet our server Loretta. She would take great care of us all day…..

 

 

Loretta gets a bucket of Landsharks for me, and some water for Patti…..

 

 

 

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

 

 

To be continued…..

[rwest898]

Do you rent the cabanas when you get onboard and then pick one when you get there?  There is not one assigned when you rent it?  I have never rented one before but considering it.  Thanks for your response.

[Jamman54]

2 minutes ago, rwest898 said:

Do you rent the cabanas when you get onboard and then pick one when you get there?  There is not one assigned when you rent it?  I have never rented one before but considering it.  Thanks for your response.

 

We rent them online under shore excursions, as soon as they become available which is about 10 months out. Most times they will sell out prior to the cruise. You can choose the cabana you want when you check in at Margaritaville, or they will assign one for you.

[rwest898]

26 minutes ago, Jamman54 said:

 

We rent them online under shore excursions, as soon as they become available which is about 10 months out. Most times they will sell out prior to the cruise. You can choose the cabana you want when you check in at Margaritaville, or they will assign one for you.

Thank you I will keep an eye out!

[Jamman54]

Patti heads out to explore and take more pictures. I pour my beer into a plastic cup and head to the pool! Patti begins with the cabana and pool area. It’s still nearly completely empty since they haven’t let anyone from either ship disembark yet…

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Here are a couple pictures of the swim up bar. This area will be packed later on…..

 

 

 

To be continued…..

[Jamman54]

As Patti heads towards the beach, she passes the Flowrider building…..

 

 

 

Here’s the Grand Turk Weather Station…..

 

 

Here are a few views of the Mardi Gras and Freedom docked in Grand Turk…..

 

 

 

 

Here are a couple of beach views……

 

 

 

 

The Beach Bar and Beach Shop…..

 

 

 

To be continued…..

[Jamman54]

Patti heads into the Margaritaville Restaurant…..

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Patti decides to walk down the beach to Jack’s Shack. Here are some views as she heads down the beach…..

 

 

 

 

 

To be continued…….

[Jamman54]

Patti continues her walk down the beach towards Jack’s Shack, taking these pictures along the way…..

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The Mardi Gras completely blocks any view of the Freedom…..

 

 

Patti has made it to Jack’s Shack…..

 

 

 

To be continued…..

[Guest BasicSailor]

OK 😎

 

[blarko]

23 minutes ago, Jamman54 said:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

What are those blue boxes between the loungers?

[Guest BasicSailor]

5 minutes ago, blarko said:

What are those blue boxes between the loungers?

Good eye has my curiosity up as well. Perhaps mini air coolers? Cooled by ice?

[Jamman54]

8 minutes ago, blarko said:

What are those blue boxes between the loungers?

 

1 minute ago, BasicSailor said:

Good eye has my curiosity up as well. Perhaps mini air coolers? Cooled by ice?

 

I think they may be a combination of a cooler and a pool safe. One end has a keypad and I can make out the word "safe" in the writing. Thank goodness Patti takes pictures of everything! 

 

 

 

[Guest BasicSailor]

20 minutes ago, Jamman54 said:

 

 

I think they may be a combination of a cooler and a pool safe. One end has a keypad and I can make out the word "safe" in the writing. Thank goodness Patti takes pictures of everything! 

 

 

 

Dang, I would love one of those. Not going to work under Carnivals cooler rules😉

[Jamman54]

Patti checks out Jack’s Shack before the crowds arrive…..

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

This is the Jack’s Shack Grille menu…..

 

 

To be continued…..

[Jamman54]

A view of the Mardi Gras from Jack’s Shack…..

 

 

Looking towards the Cruise Center from Jack’s Shack…..

 

 

 

This group is lining up for a snorkel excursion…..

 

 

 

Here is some Island Tram Tour information…..

 

 

Patti is back at the beach at Margaritaville…..

 

 

 

Here is the Grand Turk Taxi information….

 

 

One of the Tram Tours is loading up…..

 

 

 

To be continued……

[Indiansbaseball]

WOW ! All the times I’ve been to these ports…I am learning new stuff from you and Patty ! Thanks so much ! 

[ckmedsec]

We were re-reading your older review (Conquest 2018) during the various Covid lockdowns and saw ourselves in your photos at Amber Cove and Grand Turk.   Hope to actually meet you and Patti at some point.   Looking forward to sail the Mardi Gras in the future.

[Jamman54]

54 minutes ago, Indiansbaseball said:

WOW ! All the times I’ve been to these ports…I am learning new stuff from you and Patty ! Thanks so much ! 

 

Thank You! When Patti does her photo tours she tries to document everything. Most times I am not with her, so I learn a lot of new things as well from her pictures! 

[Jamman54]

18 minutes ago, ckmedsec said:

We were re-reading your older review (Conquest 2018) during the various Covid lockdowns and saw ourselves in your photos at Amber Cove and Grand Turk.   Hope to actually meet you and Patti at some point.   Looking forward to sail the Mardi Gras in the future.

 

That's funny! If you ever see us on a future cruise be sure to come up to us and say hello. That goes for everybody! 

[Jamman54]

Patti heads back to the Plaza and checks out a few of the shops…..

 

 

 

 

There’s some live entertainment in the Plaza…..

 

 

Here are a couple flora and fauna pictures….

 

 

 

Patti next heads over to the Friendship 7 Exhibit…..

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

To be continued…..