The ship was fantastic. Lots of amenities and very contemporary. It was clean and well kept. We really enjoyed it.
Embarkation
4 out of 5
Very odd that cruisers with status get to use the escalator but other passengers have to walk up a ramp. The lines to check in were a bit convoluted. Royal’s Port Canaveral embarkation was much smoother.
Ship experiences
Food and Dining
4 out of 5
We were unable to get early dining so we opted for My Time Dining. We did not like that we had different servers each night. Given the thousands of people they are cooking for, the food was pretty good. It was what we expected. We were not expecting ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️. Breakfast in the dining room was usually cold twice so we stopped going.
Onboard Activities
4 out of 5
I wish they offered lido deck fitness classes but the pool options and fitness centers were good.
Entertainment
4 out of 5
Shows were ok.
Service and Staff
5 out of 5
Melissa at the Brass Magnolia “made” our cruise memorable. It ended up being our nightly “go to” and we met others who made it theirs too. We had so much fun. We wish we could follow the cruise ships she works on (she was only going to be on Mardis Gras through March before she changes ships, after her home leave).
Ship Quality
5 out of 5
The size of this ship was perfect. I like the larger ship so I could get my steps in! The one down side of a larger ship is that we noticed a considerable amount of motorized scooters. A huge amount on this ship compared to a smaller ship. The cruise line may consider limiting the number of these allowed on ship. They seem like they could be a safety hazard. They definitely made getting elevator space a premium.
Cabin / Stateroom
5 out of 5
I really liked the cabin. The under bed bag storage. The extra spaces to store amenities. The shower was spacious and had a door (I dislike curtains).
Ship tip
The shore excursion we booked was a total bust. When we got to the meeting point they told us to sign the back of our tickets. We thought that was the “check in” process. What it ended up being was a release for any obligation due to inability to swim or partake in water activities. The surf was so rough, it was impossible to swim without risking injury. We only stayed at the beach a few hours and left. When we asked for a partial refund, they would not accommodate us, stating “you signed acknowledging that you accepted the conditions”. Shame on us for not asking more questions. The excursion employees were not very forthcoming but we also didn’t ask. Lesson learned! We won’t ever do that again.
Very unorganized after exiting the terminal. The area to pick up the shuttle buses and ride share was jam packed and the signage was not very good. Will definitely get up extra early next time to beat the crowds.
Glad you had a great time! The Mardi Gras is a great ship. I agree in debarkation they are good about getting off the ship, but the terminal and baggage area is a nightmare. Next time I’ll carry my bags off and should t be an issue.
Appreciate your detailed and informative review. Sorry the excursion was so poor. Good for you for taking responsibility. Glad you enjoyed your cruise on the new class of ship.
You can ask to have the same wait staff every night if you like a particular staff. We always choose your time dining and have requested the same wait staff on several occasions.
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