Mardi Gras is a party that lasts for days, and the 6th day of festivities was no different. The night before I had met up with my friends at a local bar to try and get in on the fun. We were able to catch some beads which we later threw into the crowd during one of the parades.
The will mardi gras happen in 2021 is a question that has been asked for quite some time. Mardi Gras 2019 will be the last one to take place before it ends in 2020.
Every cruise has a moment when you know it’s coming to an end. You don’t want to think about it, yet it keeps creeping up on you.
Perhaps you’re considering who will pick you up when you board the ship, or you realize you only have two more days to book that hard-to-get specialty restaurant reservation.
I’ll confess that after four cruises in a month, I’m eager to spend some time at home… But then, on today, our last sea day (we fly to Nassau tomorrow), I awoke, walked out onto the balcony to take in the vista, and changed my mind.
Home may wait a few days longer. For the time being, I’ll gladly accept breakfast from strangers while gazing out the window at waves that are a bit rougher than most we’ve seen on this journey.
Despite the fact that it was a sea day, it would be extra special since a number of us would be given a behind-the-scenes tour of the ship’s inner workings.
We were interested in viewing the LNG engine as well as some of the machinery utilized to handle recycling and make this ship the most ecologically friendly in the Carnival fleet.
Obviously, having a chance to look behind the curtain like this is uncommon, but it’s something I’ll always take advantage of.
It reminds me of Walt Disney World and the “utilidor” system that runs under the Magic Kingdom in a strange manner. On a cruise liner, though, this area is known as I-95 (like the interstate on the east coast).
Not for nothing, but how awesome are the engine room crew’s job uniforms? I’m not going to lie… I’m thinking about getting one.
Later, there was another Q&A session with Carnival Cruise Line President Christine Duffy. As I’ve mentioned before, she’s been extremely present on this sailing. I’ve been on sailings where an executive is on board for the first day or two and then ducks off the ship to fly home, or where they’re on board but rarely seen. Duffy has been everywhere, talking to everyone. It’s kind of refreshing.
I went over to Big Chicken in search of a quick bite to eat. The fact that this is directly next door to Guy’s Burger Joint — which means I skipped Guy’s in order to get some more Shaq’s chicken — speaks volumes about how wonderful this restaurant is.
Big Chicken, like Guy’s, offers a fixings bar where you may customize your sandwich with different toppings. It’s not nearly as extensive as the Blue Iguana Cantina’s menu, but it gets the job done.
Before meeting friends at Serenity, which is one deck below, I went up to Loft 19 for a drink. Loft 19 is without a doubt one of my favorite areas on the ship. It has a wonderful atmosphere, is seldom busy, and is the ideal location to unwind or, like I do, get some work done.
I spent a few hours one day traveling from my lounge chair to the hot tub and back. These chairs have extra thick cushions and are very comfy. I’d walk down to the Serenity deck to cool down in the pool every now and again, then return to Loft 19.
And, as I stated earlier this week, they do check for wristbands to ensure that no one who isn’t supposed to be there is.
We embarked on a little pub tour after meeting up with folks on the Serenity deck. On a sea day, it’s remarkable how quickly a simple drink can grow into a bunch of people going from bar to bar.
The Tiki Bar, the Tides Bar on 16 aft, and Bar Della Rosa, which is in the La Piazza zone but outside, were among the locations we visited. It’s a great bar with some comfortable sitting nearby and, like all of the ship’s finest bars, a magnificent view of the ocean.
At dinner time, we headed for Guy’s Pig & Anchor Smokehouse/Brewhouse. Remember, on Mardi Gras, this is a complimentary venue.
People obviously haven’t figured it out yet, since there weren’t quite as many people as you’d anticipate. When my friend’s supper came, I had a wonderful piece of salmon with a variety of sides, but wow, was I tempted by the pork chop (shown above).
I was debating whether or not to order it as well.
I rewarded myself with a slice of Mississippi Mud Pie since I didn’t order the pork chop.
We considered going to the comedy performance, but it was fairly crowded by the time I completed an interview with Chris, the cruise director, and we arrived at the Punchliner.
So we went to the Fortune Teller pub for a late-night drink instead… and having our hands read by a bartender
After that, I was starving, so I grabbed a couple of pieces of pizza and a strawberry cannoli, allowing my sweet appetite to take over once again.
It was eventually time to call it a night after that. On many cruises, the last sea day brings the vacation to a close. But, in this instance, we still have one more stop to make, since we’ll be in Nassau tomorrow.
I intend to travel to the Blue Lagoon… I believe I visited this location about 14 years ago, although I am unsure.
In the meanwhile…
Related Tags
- where is mardi gras held
- when is mardi gras 2022
- when is mardigras
