LIVE Labor Day on the Mardi Gras (8/31/24 - 9/8/24)

[Hogladyrider]

27 minutes ago, KarmaCruisers said:

On Carnival that's pretty easy; they don't really have any desserts I like (I skip the "dessert" at the MDR and get a fruit plate)

Hmmmm mixed drinks are loaded with SUGAR!

[KarmaCruisers]

6 minutes ago, Hogladyrider said:

Hmmmm mixed drinks are loaded with SUGAR!

Indeed they are; that’s why I avoid drinking.

Although I may have one, just to try it.

and it’s more simple than that..calories in - calories out..easy enough.

a fat man like myself, my BMR is like 2200 calories a day.

[KarmaCruisers]

I think I’m finally all packed up.

check-in for the flight isn’t until 10:54pm unfortunately.

All that’s left to do tomorrow is run to the bank to get cash to thank my aunt, clean up around the house, change Bailey’s litter box, and we should be gooood.

Will charge the car up to 100% tonight, as I think driving to Oakland tomorrow night will consume around 40% of the battery. (It’s about 85 miles)

[KarmaCruisers]

Hooray!

checked in last night and didn’t actually get screwed on not paying for a seat selection (ended up with an aisle seat)

Today is travel day!

Just got a little bit of work, then household chores. The plane boards at 10:15pm, so I figure I’ll leave the house at 7:00 (it should be around a 2 hour drive). That’ll give me time to park and get my bag checked.

[KarmaCruisers]

In other news; the gal at great clips MESSED my haircut up hahaha. It’s an 8 on top like I asked but the fade to a 1 is alll wonky.

Luckily, it’s hair..it’ll grow back out..but I definitely won’t be styling and profiling on this cruise 😞

[ledges1]

Great job on the weight loss! It takes perseverance, but you will get to your goal. I understand there is an exercise facility on the front of the ship. Most people do not know about it because there is not a bar or food pavilion.

[TravelWith FunShips]

Please post daily funtimes please

[Mommapadraig]

22 hours ago, KarmaCruisers said:

Thanks!

It’s going to be tough on the cruise to LOSE weight..but hopefully I don’t GAIN it

Your results have been amazing.you obviously know what you are doing so just keep doing! Again…Congratulations!

Edited August 30 by Mommapadraig

[KarmaCruisers]

3 hours ago, ledges1 said:

Great job on the weight loss! It takes perseverance, but you will get to your goal. I understand there is an exercise facility on the front of the ship. Most people do not know about it because there is not a bar or food pavilion.

Thanks! Yeah..the gym is oddly SMALL for a ship of this size; but I usually just walk my 18-minute mile as science shows that walking is the absolute best form of exercise for obese people like myself.

[KarmaCruisers]

3 hours ago, TravelWith FunShips said:

Please post daily funtimes please

ok. I'll get post photos (I usually look at the one on the app)

[KarmaCruisers]

22 minutes ago, Mommapadraig said:

Your results have been amazing.you obviously know what you are doing so just keep doing! Again…Congratulations!

Thank you. Yup..it's just a waiting game really. I can't expect huge results overnight..or even in a month's time..it's the long game.

That's why I don't see it as a "diet", but a lifestyle change as this is just how I'll be from now on. (Well, I will eat a LITTLE more calories, as to maintain a healthy weight I'll need 2000 per day instead of 1500)

[KarmaCruisers]

WHEW! Minor scare..Original flight got bumped an hour later, which caused it to miss the connection in ATL; so it bumped me down to a flight that had me getting into MCO at 2:15..waaaay too late

I called in and the dude (who was in America, surprisingly) found me a flight from ATL -> MCO that will get me to MCO at 9:45; still PLENTY of time to make my 11:30 shuttle reservation.

Thank GOD..I was about to have a fit!

[lazydayz]

We just got off the Mardi Gras on Sunday.  Great ship.  But avoid the Late Night Eats.  It was so disgusting I went to the cabin, got my husband and said you have to see this.  He agreed.  Disgusting. 

[Jamman54]

28 minutes ago, lazydayz said:

We just got off the Mardi Gras on Sunday.  Great ship.  But avoid the Late Night Eats.  It was so disgusting I went to the cabin, got my husband and said you have to see this.  He agreed.  Disgusting. 

Pictures?

[lazydayz]

1 minute ago, Jamman54 said:

Pictures?

 

No, way too ugly for pictures.  

 

Mardi Gras is interesting.  The food with an extra charge was always delicious - whether from room service, Emeril's, steak house or Rudi's.  The included stuff was mostly blah, but the free room service breakfast and Late Night Eats just were not worth the calories.  My only exceptions to free wasn't good was ChiBang for lunch and pizza for late night. 

[KarmaCruisers]

50 minutes ago, lazydayz said:

We just got off the Mardi Gras on Sunday.  Great ship.  But avoid the Late Night Eats.  It was so disgusting I went to the cabin, got my husband and said you have to see this.  He agreed.  Disgusting. 

I've seen it before on the Celebration and the Panorama...I agree..sad..the latest I go is 11, to the Deli; but now, eating healthy, dinner is LATEST at 8pm and that's it, no more food after that.

[lazydayz]

Just now, KarmaCruisers said:

I've seen it before on the Celebration and the Panorama...I agree..sad..the latest I go is 11, to the Deli; but now, eating healthy, dinner is LATEST at 8pm and that's it, no more food after that.

Smart!  I am hoping you have a wonderful cruise!

 

Our recent Mardi Gras cruise was an Elite cruise, and for the first time ever, I hit four jackpots.  The casino was hopping and the regular casino hosts were on the ball.  They were the ones who approached me for most of my comps (not the Elite hosts).  I spend under $2,000 and got two free massages (Elite offering), dinner for two at the steakhouse, dinner for two at Rudi's with a bottle of wine, $50 for Emeril's, and $40 for the gift shop.  So that was a pretty good return for the money. 

[KarmaCruisers]

35 minutes ago, lazydayz said:

Smart!  I am hoping you have a wonderful cruise!

 

Our recent Mardi Gras cruise was an Elite cruise, and for the first time ever, I hit four jackpots.  The casino was hopping and the regular casino hosts were on the ball.  They were the ones who approached me for most of my comps (not the Elite hosts).  I spend under $2,000 and got two free massages (Elite offering), dinner for two at the steakhouse, dinner for two at Rudi's with a bottle of wine, $50 for Emeril's, and $40 for the gift shop.  So that was a pretty good return for the money. 

Nice!

This is also an “elite” cruise (reading from folks comments on Meta). 
My CBS offer was better as it included DOUE (water bottles and Gatorade Zero’s add up)

I actually bought $2000 more of gift cards today; so now I have $16,000 to play though. (8 days; so $2000 a day..I realize the last day doesn’t count)

[lazydayz]

1 hour ago, KarmaCruisers said:

Nice!

This is also an “elite” cruise (reading from folks comments on Meta). 
My CBS offer was better as it included DOUE (water bottles and Gatorade Zero’s add up)

I actually bought $2000 more of gift cards today; so now I have $16,000 to play though. (8 days; so $2000 a day..I realize the last day doesn’t count)

Hoping the casino hosts and machines are good to you, and that you have a fantastic cruise.  Spend some of those gift cards at Emeril’s.  For value, I think it is the best food on the ship. 

[KarmaCruisers]

28 minutes ago, lazydayz said:

Hoping the casino hosts and machines are good to you, and that you have a fantastic cruise.  Spend some of those gift cards at Emeril’s.  For value, I think it is the best food on the ship. 

The gift cards aren’t for spending 😉

[KarmaCruisers]

Also the flight saga continues..

so CONTINUED delta delays..I think I may not even make the new flight my guy put me on..so I booked a refundable southwest one-way for $350 to make SURE I make it to Orlando by 11.

HOPEFULLY I make the original connection..but I called and the new person who helped me said she doubted it.

i asked if my checked bag would make it even if I didn’t and she said yes the bag won’t fly on a connector but a direct so it will get there earlier than I do. (Which is what I was worried about)

I’m on my way to OAK now

[lazydayz]

Safe travels. 

[KarmaCruisers]

35 minutes ago, lazydayz said:

Safe travels. 

Thanks 

 

and holy crap! OAK parking went way up!

$25 per day!! That’s.l going to be freaking $225!!!

[KarmaCruisers]

Breezed through security; now just waiting for the flight to arrive. (FlightAware says 11:23pm) which might get us closer to a jump of 11:45; to make my original connector.

[KarmaCruisers]

They actually brought out water bottles and snacks (smart pop and rice Krispy treats) for us all.

And in better news, the plane just landed here in OAK..let’s gooooo baby.

Im damn tired, so I should be able to sleep on the plane (hopefully)

it’s been a helluva week at work, with the system my team maintains coming under new SOX compliance regulations…so they’re basically sticking a microscope up our butts and asking a million questions.

Im READY for this cruise.

i can’t wait for the Pad Thai at Street Eats!