Pretty but too big

Mardi Gras Cruise Review to Caribbean - Eastern

Cruises: 7+ cruises
Reviews: 13
Helpful Votes: 345

Overall rating:

3.3 out of 5
Mardi Gras

7 Night Eastern Caribbean (Port Canaveral Roundtrip)

Sail date: January 15, 2022

Ship: Mardi Gras

Cabin type: Balcony

Cabin number: 15227

Traveled as: Couple

Reviewed: 2 years ago

Review summary

We have cruised Carnival a lot over the years. I was disappointed with the cabin size and layout of the ship. It is very different from the other ships we have sailed and was missing the fun vibe of previous cruises.

Embarkation

3 out of 5
We stood in line for almost an hour in the hot sun. We arrived just before our designated time and and were told we had to stay outside in the sun.

Ship experiences

Food and Dining

3 out of 5
MDR good, the "biscuit" with the chicken at Shaw's was wierd and inedible, the Blue Iguana food was dried out even though we were there first thing when they opened. The BBQ has been much better on other ships, and huge portions don't make up for bland dry meat.

Onboard Activities

3 out of 5
We mainly relaxed on sea days and wandered looking for live music.

Atrium

1 out of 5

Should be zero as there is NO atrium. The odd center area of the ship doesn't count for seasoned cruisers

Entertainment

3 out of 5
The shows looked good but we're close to impossible to see as they were in the odd area in the center of the ship and not in the theater. That area is mainly a bar with limited sight-line seating. USE the theater!!!!

Children's Programs

No kids with us.

Service and Staff

5 out of 5
The crew was incredible as usual, working really hard even though obviously short staffed.

Ship Quality

3 out of 5
Sorry! Hate the layout! I will be booking on the more traditional ships. Leaving this one to the kids! We also hated the slow close non- locking public restrooms. I was walked in on several times in the ladies single restrooms, and treated to open views of men at urinals as the doors took way too long to close as crowds passed by. It became a joke with everyone. The ship is too big to always get back to your cabin. MAJOR redesigns needed on the restrooms!!! Kept really clean by a busy crew.

Cabin / Stateroom

2 out of 5
Much smaller than previous balcony cabins. Hard the get past the bed to reach the balcony area and sofa. There is no chair in the cabin, only a stool that is hard to move close to the desk for computer use. We check in on family every day. No bedside table for storage. Those tiny shelves are almost useless. Smaller balcony and the bathroom is a joke. Smallest I have ever used, even in a family RV. The previous ships were much more livable, and we do relax in our cabins every day.

Ship tip

Plan on walking miles to any thing you want to access, and get to the center area an hour or two to get a seat to see the shows.

Ports of call

Port Canaveral, Florida

5 out of 5
Great embarkation port.

Nassau, Bahamas

1 out of 5
Wandered a bit to the outdoor market. Been to Nassau many times. Need to develop some good excursions.

Amber Cove (Puerto Plata), Dominican Republic

4 out of 5
Nice pool. Needs beaches near the development. We had previously done excursions and just wanted a beach with more than 2 hours on the sand and long rides on a bus.

Grand Turk Island

4 out of 5
Love Gran Turk but the beach has badly eroded since our cruise in. 2019. Very hard to get in and out of the water for kids especially.

Disembarkation

4 out of 5
Quick.
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6 Comments

Frogboo95    2 years ago

Thanks. Now I know I want to go.

sfcvan    2 years ago

It's amazing how some people allow the small things spoil their vacation and times spent with friends and family. Just enjoy the time you have and love laugh and live.

AuntPinkie    2 years ago

Sorry this cruise didn’t meet your expectations. Glad it didn’t ruin your enjoyment of cruising.

Leonardw2021    2 years ago

I agree with the previous comment people seem to love or hate this ship. I will be on Mardi Gras in 2 days my fingers are crossed that I am on the love it side

PattiHawaii    2 years ago

Thank you for your review. Mardi Gras seems like a mix of opinions. Guess we will need to be prepared for long walks to get anywhere.

CruzeFan    2 years ago

Thanks for the review. People seem to either love or hate Mardi Gras. Luckily there are lots of other ships and cruise lines to choose from, so hopefully you can find one that you enjoy.

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