We're counting down to the most anticipated new Carnival cruise ship ever!

[OmniTours]

Mardi Gras – It has been five years since Carnival Cruise Line first revealed its plans for its mega-ship, one that would not just be big, but one that would break the rules of cruising as we know it. Mardi Gras arrived in all her splendor in her new homeport of Port Canaveral only weeks ago, and already we could all see she would be something special.

Mardi Gras will sail for her much-anticipated inaugural voyage on July 31, 2021. Each day this week we will take a look at a different aspect of Mardi Gras and what makes her unique, what makes everyone excited to see her sail for the first time, and why this vessel, in particular, received such a warm welcome when she first sailed into a U.S. port. Today, we look at the first-ever rollercoaster at sea, BOLT.

CLICK HERE TO READ MORE (https://www.cruisehive.com/countdown-to-carnivals-mardi-gras-bolt-roller-coaster/53720)

[Stu from NYC]

Seems like it will be a very crowded ship.

[Babubhat]

My first Carnival cruise is also my last. Better off with a more upscale line

[Stu from NYC]

We have enjoyed our cruises with Carnival but these days we want to see the world and other lines have more to offer. For a quick Caribbean cruise they are fine.

[peachpit]

Watch the u-tube video. This is a pretty cool ship. I'm booked for the end of 2022.

[Cranford61]

Watch the u-tube video. This is a pretty cool ship. I'm booked for the end of 2022.
Keep your chiropractor on speed dial if you are using the roller coaster at sea.

[OrangeBlossomBaby]

Our last cruise was a Carnival cruise. SO glad we'd taken cruises on other cruiselines before that one. Carnival was horrible. If it had been our first cruise, if that was the first impression we had of cruising, we never would've bothered with another one.

Food was sub-par, activities were hum-drum, WAY too crowded, noise level everywhere was ridiculous, and in the adults-only solarium, there was a group of 5 teens, maybe 16-18 years old, hopping from one jet-spa to the next, with no one telling them it was adults only. Another couple brought their infant child with them into this adults-only solarium. The bumper cars would've been fun, except three people blocked the turn and refused to move, so we were all stuck there until the operator of the floor walked over and forcibly pushed the cars away from each other. Three times he had to do that, because these kids didn't give a damn that 9 other people were trying to have fun and wanted to actually move.

Our next cruise will NOT be on a ship that was designed with families in mind. Probably will spend the extra bucks and do a river cruise.

[CosmicTrucker]

I’m booked for 08-28. I’ll report back

[crash]

I’m booked for 08-28. I’ll report back

Please do I am scheduled for October they should have the bugs worked out before then

Don’t miss the brew pub they actually brew beer on the ship.

[mydavid]

My first Carnival cruise is also my last. Better off with a more upscale line I served on two aircraft carriers during my time in the navy, one cruise on Carnival and was glad to be back on dry land.

[normanne]

My wife and I sailed on the very first ship carnival had called Mardi Gras. I think it was a converted ferry. Excellent value at the time. Crew were Caribbean and very laidback!

[vinricci]

I agree with orange blossom baby. Was spoiled on Oceania and then tried Carnival. Never again. We have friends who own a cruise travel agency and they won’t even book a Carnival cruise.

[Pginbr]

Tos

[JSR22]

Is this an ad in the member forum section? “OmniTours“ is a travel agency.
There are tons of ads already surrounding all of our posts on every page here, and now they appear like a member post too?
������

They are a sponsor and pay to advertise.

[shortnsassy]

Our last cruise was a Carnival cruise. SO glad we'd taken cruises on other cruiselines before that one. Carnival was horrible. If it had been our first cruise, if that was the first impression we had of cruising, we never would've bothered with another one.

Food was sub-par, activities were hum-drum, WAY too crowded, noise level everywhere was ridiculous, and in the adults-only solarium, there was a group of 5 teens, maybe 16-18 years old, hopping from one jet-spa to the next, with no one telling them it was adults only. Another couple brought their infant child with them into this adults-only solarium. The bumper cars would've been fun, except three people blocked the turn and refused to move, so we were all stuck there until the operator of the floor walked over and forcibly pushed the cars away from each other. Three times he had to do that, because these kids didn't give a damn that 9 other people were trying to have fun and wanted to actually move.

Our next cruise will NOT be on a ship that was designed with families in mind. Probably will spend the extra bucks and do a river cruise.

Are you sure you were on Carnival? Carnival does not have bumper cars on any of their ships, Royal Caribbean has them on a few of their ships

[NoMoSno]

Is this an ad in the member forum section? “OmniTours“ is a travel agency.
There are tons of ads already surrounding all of our posts on every page here, and now they appear like a member post too?
������
It was posted in the "Villages Advertiser Directory" forum.
Not in the general members forum.

[Stu from NYC]

Are you sure you were on Carnival? Carnival does not have bumper cars on any of their ships, Royal Caribbean has them on a few of their ships

Was wondering about that also. Why let facts get in the way if you do not like Carnival.

[Stu from NYC]

I agree with orange blossom baby. Was spoiled on Oceania and then tried Carnival. Never again. We have friends who own a cruise travel agency and they won’t even book a Carnival cruise.

Bet your Oceania cruise cost several times more than the Carnival one.

[OrangeBlossomBaby]

Are you sure you were on Carnival? Carnival does not have bumper cars on any of their ships, Royal Caribbean has them on a few of their ships

Ugh that's right. That Royal had the bumper cars. The rest was all Carnival. Those brats on Royal Caribbean were impossible.

The Carnival cruise we went on was a huge family event, there were like 11 of us including kids. The kids in our group were mostly well-behaved, plus their parents took them on kid-friendly activities while the rest of us did other things on most days. Dinners were not fun, and the food wasn't good. I mean it wasn't bad, but it was just ho hum. The buffet area where you could get food from morning til night was equally ho-hum. Desserts I wouldn't ever even buy at a supermarket.

[OrangeBlossomBaby]

Bet your Oceania cruise cost several times more than the Carnival one.

Of course it costs more. The river cruise we're hoping to go on in the next couple of years will cost a lot more than a Carnival cruise. But I'd rather pay extra for 5 days of quality, than pay anything at all for 7 days of mediocrity.

[waynehal55]

After approximately 100 cruises on multiple different lines. Our favorite is now Viking ocean cruise line.
All the ships are the same size, 930 passengers and NO children under the age of 18 are permitted.
It's 5 star quality in all categories.....No casinos...No shipboard photographers,etc.
Please don't tell too many people. If you like Carnival do not sail with Viking....

[OrangeBlossomBaby]

After approximately 100 cruises on multiple different lines. Our favorite is now Viking ocean cruise line.
All the ships are the same size, 930 passengers and NO children under the age of 18 are permitted.
It's 5 star quality in all categories.....No casinos...No shipboard photographers,etc.
Please don't tell too many people. If you like Carnival do not sail with Viking....

I'd do a Mississippi river cruise for sure. Would need to save up for a year but it's doable! Looks like an amazing trip.

[giorgio1948]

My first Carnival cruise is also my last. Better off with a more upscale line

Look at Seabourn Cruises

[kathyspear]

We have sailed on several dozen cruises on most of the mainstream lines plus Crystal (twice) and a relatively upscale river cruise (AmaWaterways). Yes, there is a big difference between Carnival and Crystal. That said, IMO there are no bad cruises. I have sailed on Carnival multiple times with my nieces because they have no money and I usually pay or at least help with the cost. We always have a wonderful time. Sitting on the beach at Grand Cayman is the same regardless of which ship took you there. I also enjoy being waited on hand and foot on Crystal. It's all good and I can't wait to get back on a ship!

kathy

[VICAR OF DIBLEY]

Please be very careful. Passengers can sail who are not vaccinated but can carry the virus. Children, people with certain illnesses, and the list goes on.
Reports continue on certain ships where the virus became a-Robles.

[jimkerr]

Carnival Cruises are awful. Royal Caribbean is so much better from food to service.

[Stryker]

I have enjoyed Carnival, and can’t wait to sail again, but until they demand proof of vaccination I won’t be signing up.

[kathyspear]

I have enjoyed Carnival, and can’t wait to sail again, but until they demand proof of vaccination I won’t be signing up.

I am not anxious to cruise with unvax'd folks either. Royal Carib decided to work around Florida's recent legislation by saying people could volunteer their vax status (and provide proof) and if they chose not to do so they would be presumed to be unvax'd and treated like the proverbial red-headed step-child on the ship. (i.e. separate section of the dining room for them, not welcome in certain areas such as adult-only solarium ... ) I expect the restrictions will cause most un-vax'd folks to pass on cruising for now.

Apparently, Carnival is doing something similar except that those who choose not to provide proof of vax status will go into a "pot" from which people will be chosen to receive an "exemption". (Exemptions will be limited to 5% of total passengers.)

Since almost everyone on the ship will be vax'd I would be willing to cruise. My only concern is the possibility that the "no masks for the vax'd" might be overturned but I will probably go ahead and book something in the near future.

k.

[RICH1]

Please do I am scheduled for October they should have the bugs worked out before then

Don’t miss the brew pub they actually brew beer on the ship.
Brew pub on ship? Water supply is "treated" ship waste water! How good can anything be that says, Carnival? Entry level cruise line that some of made the mistake of cruising on...

[OrangeBlossomBaby]

Brew pub on ship? Water supply is "treated" ship waste water! How good can anything be that says, Carnival? Entry level cruise line that some of made the mistake of cruising on...

That isn't true. potable water comes from a shoreside water treatment plant, or is generated from seawater with reverse osmosis systems. Pool water is usually seawater.

[kkingston57]

1st cruise was on Carnival. They were described as fun ships. Back in the 90's they were fun and did have a younger clientele.

Next trip was on Celebrity. Comparisons below:

Carnival Celebrity

Beer drinking contest Afternoon tea
Guitarist at dining entrance Harpist at dining entrance
Casino packed Casino almost empty
Fruity rum drinks Martini bar
Conga dancers/servers at Servers in suit or tux
certain dinners

[LiverpoolWalrus]

My first Carnival cruise is also my last. Better off with a more upscale line

Ha ha. I used to kinda like the downscale "low rent" vibe of Carnival. Where else can you see someone chugging champagne from the bottle at an art auction?

But now my criterion is small and uncrowded. No more cattle cars for me.

[Babubhat]

Leave Carnival to the Spring break crowd. We are old, treat yourself better

[OmniTours]

They are a sponsor and pay to advertise.

Thank you so much for your comment! We do pay to advertise on the site, and we only post in our specific category section in the advertiser directory section. Once we post, it does appear in the New Post tab, but members are welcome to scroll on by if a cruise is not for them...we understand cruising is not for everyone. We also understand different cruise lines are not for everyone! We just like to present different options. Thank you for your time, and keep us in mind if you're ever in the market for a cruise vacation!

[OmniTours]

Our last cruise was a Carnival cruise. SO glad we'd taken cruises on other cruiselines before that one. Carnival was horrible. If it had been our first cruise, if that was the first impression we had of cruising, we never would've bothered with another one.

Food was sub-par, activities were hum-drum, WAY too crowded, noise level everywhere was ridiculous, and in the adults-only solarium, there was a group of 5 teens, maybe 16-18 years old, hopping from one jet-spa to the next, with no one telling them it was adults only. Another couple brought their infant child with them into this adults-only solarium. The bumper cars would've been fun, except three people blocked the turn and refused to move, so we were all stuck there until the operator of the floor walked over and forcibly pushed the cars away from each other. Three times he had to do that, because these kids didn't give a damn that 9 other people were trying to have fun and wanted to actually move.

Our next cruise will NOT be on a ship that was designed with families in mind. Probably will spend the extra bucks and do a river cruise.

We understand different people enjoy different cruise lines...as well as price points! Feel free to check out our website
For over 20 years, OmniTours, a division of Ridgebrook Travel, Ltd., has provided exciting group cruise programs with optional pre or post cruise sightseeing programs anywhere in the world.

Cruising offers the easiest way to travel. With ships positioned at ports around the United States, your group may only need a bus transfer to get to the port. And, once on board, unpack and let your “floating resort” move you from place to place while enjoying all your inclusive meals and entertainment and numerous activities.

Our competitive pricing, close relationships with the cruise lines and outstanding service are some of the reasons why every year increasing numbers of group leaders put their trust in OmniTours for their groups’ cruise vacations.
Thanks so much for commenting and have a great day!!!

[OmniTours]

After approximately 100 cruises on multiple different lines. Our favorite is now Viking ocean cruise line.
All the ships are the same size, 930 passengers and NO children under the age of 18 are permitted.
It's 5 star quality in all categories.....No casinos...No shipboard photographers,etc.
Please don't tell too many people. If you like Carnival do not sail with Viking....

Make sure to keep us in mind when you are thinking about planning your Viking cruise! Have a great day!