Same cruise, different experience

Item: Mardi Gras
Rating: 4.6
Author: byhisgrace

Mardi Gras Cruise Review

byhisgrace

Contributor Level: Captain

12 Days Till Next Cruise

Cruises: 4-6 cruises

Reviews: 7

Helpful Votes: 100

Overall rating:

4.6 out of 5

7 Night Western Caribbean (Port Canaveral Roundtrip)

Sail date: April 16, 2022

Ship: Mardi Gras

Traveled as: Couple

Reviewed: 2 years ago

Review summary

This was our 2nd time on this cruise and it was a very different experience. We sailed the first time in January of this year and it was great with less people. The wait for food was long, this time has way more kids and it was so hard to find a seat, they were grabbing food from the buffet with their hands, knocked down a staff member running through the hall. Some parents just kinds let their children run wild with little to no supervision. We had a different cruise director and it wasn't as entertaining. Overall, it was a decent time but it did not compare at all to the first one

Embarkation

5 out of 5

Embarkation was pretty quick considering the boat arrived 3 hours late

Ship experiences

Food and Dining

4 out of 5

Onboard Activities

3 out of 5

Our first time on the ship, it was sailing at half capacity and this time we had 5800 passengers and we could tell. Pools were overcrowded, serenity deck was taken over by kids, but we enjoyed love and marriage, family fued, and the production shows

Entertainment

4 out of 5

We really enjoyed the production shows. You had to get there about 45 before it started to find a seat. The DJ was okay for the most part, great songs but played repeatedly.

Service and Staff

5 out of 5

The staff did an outstanding job especially considering they were extremely short staffed. I was extremely disappointed in the way some guest were treating them. We tipped the staff in the MDR extra because they were stretched so thin. Carnival in my opinion should not allow guest to yell at or talk down to the staff. I wanted to address it with the people but I didn't want to escalate it issue anymore than it already was.

Ship Quality

4 out of 5

Ship design is beautiful and the layout was fine. I saw staff cleaning all the time

Cabin / Stateroom

5 out of 5

We had a balcony cabin and I love having ny own piece of peace. Someone near us was smoking on their balcony. The room wasn't near any venues so there wasn't any noise or traffic.

Ship tip

Keep in my that bigger ship doesn't include bigger everything. The staterooms are smaller and I don't think that we would be comfortable in an inside cabin on this ship.

Thumbs up

Ports of call

Mahogany Bay, Roatan, Bay Islands, Honduras

5 out of 5

Mahogany bay was also beautiful.

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Disembarkation

4 out of 5

Fast and easy with scan and go

11 Comments

Ramsey1986 2 years ago

I am glad that you enjoyed your cruise. Thank you for taking the time to share your review. “byhisgrace” is a great screen name. 😎🚢☀️🩴🏝🪸🐠🌺

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Pheznt55 2 years ago

Thanks for the review

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moraimavt 2 years ago

Thank you for the review!

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Frogboo95 2 years ago

I would be very careful trying to accuse some one of smoking on their balcony. Make sure you know it's them. We had someone do that to us. Thankfully the staff believed us not the accusers. It was actually the next cabin over, as we saw them. Did we tell on them, no. We did tell them and ask them not to. They were very kind, apologized and did bot do it again. I could never get enjoyment from getting someone fined, or worse, be wrong. I am just happy to be on a Cruise. And yes, I lost both of my Parents to Cancer, but not afraid of a little puff of smoke in the outside air. That kind of thought would keep me from ever rolling down my car windows or driving a convertible. And no, I don't smoke.

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jiminnevada 2 years ago

So correct Ssh813. Report the smokers. I’m a cancer survivor and smoke affects me severely. I report and take pictures. They sure do get upset when they get the fine. When there repeat offenders and blow off the warning from security.

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Gwbigdog 2 years ago

Thanks for sharing your cruise with us.

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javawoody 2 years ago

Appreciate your observation of the two cruises

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yk07us 2 years ago

I thought Serenity was adults only area.

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Frogboo95 2 years ago

Sounds great

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AuntPinkie 2 years ago

Appreciate your feedback and comparisons with an earlier sailing. I wish they’d increase the staffing as quickly as the increase in passengers.

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Shh813 2 years ago

Next time pick a cruise that’s not during school vacation and there won’t be as many kids. Or pick a cruise on Holland America, Princess or Celebrity. Usually older clientele and no water slides. As far as people smoking on their balcony, that is not allowed and you should have reported them. They could get fined and taken off the ship. Cruising is the best vacation ever. Hope your next will be better.

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