We never did go to Java blue, it was always packed, we went to bar della Rosa or the Havana bar all the time! I definitely like sitting at the bar and drinking coffee better anyway. 👍
We just got off the Vitsa and you are 100% right about the Havana area. We hardly left the pool area and bar area, it was such a great place to hang out and relax. The Mardi Gras area looks night and day different and worse. That's disappointing.
Rally surprised you didn't talk about he elevators. I haven't sailed on MG yet, but will in April. From most of the videos I see about it, people complain about the elevators. I like using the stares anyway, so hopefully it wont be a problem. Great video though!
Great video Brad!!! It will be interesting to see if they change any those on the Celebration or the Jubilee. We sailing on the Jubilee on it's 2nd sailing out of Galveston.
I’m jealous…I’m booked on the Celebrations but not until NYE next year…and you’ll have already been on the Jubilee. Can’t wait to see all the different tweaks on those two…. As you mentioned
We didn't care for Chibang either, but mostly because the food was not good enough to put ourselves through the chaos of the place. Hands down the LOUDEST restaurant I've ever eaten at. We couldn't wait to get out of there.
It’s interesting that Princess’ new ship is based upon the same hiull as Mardi Gras and so will be similar size. Yet there will only be about 4200 passengers! Makes me think they over packed the MG with rooms. Cannot wait to try Sun Princess😀
Just got off the Mardi Gras and I wanted to see this video to see what I agree with. 5. I don't drink coffee 4. I haven't done slides in a few cruises 3. I surprisingly didn't make it up to the track this year, but that would have bugged the hell outta me 2. I enjoyed the Serenity deck. Pools can only be made so big because of how much the water in it weighs. 1. Didn't do the Havana My biggest beef was all the dead ends. All the times I had to go down/up, across, then back up/down. At one point I was looking for Guy's Burgers and it felt like in Spinal Tap when they got lost backstage.
#1 the elevator was so full you had to go up to go down #2 if you want to see a show show up a hour early for a good or ok seat #3 the comedy club and the piano bar is small so get there super early.
Only two that you listed really affected me, 1 was the track width and length. The other was the Serenity area. They should have extended the pool into the recessed seating area. Liked Chibang, Thing I disliked the most was the elevator size.
Just returned from Marti Gras. Major design flaws in safety, comfort, form and functionality. Going back to the Vista Class. ❤️Vista, Horizon and Panorama: This ship is nothing more than a large container ship. Economy of scale benefiting CCL at the passengers expense. Every single venue or feature simply doesn’t have the capacity to handle the 5300 to 6300 passengers. As a result one ends up waiting, waiting and waiting for everything or so overcrowded it’s simply NOT enjoyable. In fact, 90% of our “awake time” on the ship was waiting or giving up on the venue overcrowding with way too many people. As far as food quality; awful compared to our 50 years of Carnival experience. In fact, we all re-named one eating venue to “Sh*tBang”. Pictures, videos and plenty of case numbers with Guest (NO) Service documenting massive shortcomings and horrible treatment of passengers by staff. If this is Carnival’s future, they will not be in ours and the thousands who stated the same aboard the ship. Mardi Gras is a prototype for the XL class of ships and unfortunately due to the pandemic the November 2022 arrival date of Celebration is a direct carbon copy of this horrible dysfunctional prototype. If there are not major redesigns to the Jubilee , theses ships will need major refitting’s to compete with the 3 Vista Class Ships and will destroy Carnivals loyal customer base just as it has done with us. Never again Carnival.
I can tell it was just a really bad experience for you. I agree with several of the points you made as it relates to seating in Grand Central especially. I will say I had a much more positive response overall, but do empathize with many of the points you made. I was not a fan of Chibang either, but I loved SHAQ’s chicken Well I really hope you have a much more positive experience the next time you try the Xcel class…and again sorry it wasn’t much better for you
@@coachcruise There are two basic issues areas identified on our recent Carnival Marty Gras cruise. 1: The Physical Ship; Safety and functionality design defects of the Marty Gras ship, how did they make such costly basic mistakes? 2: Carnival bad management decisions and employee shortcomings, more easily fixable than physical ship defects of the Marty Gras. I have noted all the above issues in great detail with Carnival giving them over a week now to respond since we returned on Saturday September 24th before going into the shocking details on line. As of October 3rd no follow up from Carnival. How a company deals with their own short comings defines who the company really is. No longer impressed with Carnival as the clock is ticking.
We really didn't like the Mardi Gras. The layout was more confusing than the traditional layout with atrium. Restaurants and bars felt like they were part of the hallway. The big theater didn't have a bar. The carnival drinks have changed. No more fresh ingredients (banana, cream, etc). All syrups and powders. I switched my celebration sailing as a result. Not a fan.
You are correct, we usually book the Havana on the ships that have the pool and hot tubs but decided on a large balcony on Mardi Gras on side instead.
Better choice on excel class, probably less too?
We never did go to Java blue, it was always packed, we went to bar della Rosa or the Havana bar all the time! I definitely like sitting at the bar and drinking coffee better anyway. 👍
Awesome! You didn’t even need the tip
We just got off the Vitsa and you are 100% right about the Havana area. We hardly left the pool area and bar area, it was such a great place to hang out and relax. The Mardi Gras area looks night and day different and worse. That's disappointing.
Yep! Excel class screwed up the Havana experience by comparison almost completely
Rally surprised you didn't talk about he elevators. I haven't sailed on MG yet, but will in April. From most of the videos I see about it, people complain about the elevators. I like using the stares anyway, so hopefully it wont be a problem. Great video though!
Great point, yes the elevators are crazy small compared to other ships, embarkation and debarkation are a big problem as a result
Thanks for taking the time to make a detailed review.
And thank you for watching
@@coachcruise Well worth it. Best of luck.
Can you order the coffee ahead on the app?
Wow great idea, but unless they’ve just added that option, no unfortunately
Great video Brad!!! It will be interesting to see if they change any those on the Celebration or the Jubilee. We sailing on the Jubilee on it's 2nd sailing out of Galveston.
I’m jealous…I’m booked on the Celebrations but not until NYE next year…and you’ll have already been on the Jubilee. Can’t wait to see all the different tweaks on those two…. As you mentioned
@@coachcruise I am jealous that you have already been on the Mardi Gras but I am so glad that we are all getting to cruise, 😀😀
Hey coach do you know if the Havana coffee area is open to all guest or do you have to be staying in the Havana suites to get coffee there?
Yes the bar serves outside and inside…. The inside part of the Havana Bar is open to everyone
We didn't care for Chibang either, but mostly because the food was not good enough to put ourselves through the chaos of the place. Hands down the LOUDEST restaurant I've ever eaten at. We couldn't wait to get out of there.
I did really like the loaded nachos they had the most recent time I went
It’s interesting that Princess’ new ship is based upon the same hiull as Mardi Gras and so will be similar size. Yet there will only be about 4200 passengers! Makes me think they over packed the MG with rooms. Cannot wait to try Sun Princess😀
That’s a great point…I thought Princess ships were smaller to navigate Alaska?
@@coachcruise I believe this new ship will be doing Mediterranean and Caribbean
I mean, kind of makes sense. Different target market with Princess. It’s kind of like the difference between economy and business class.
I have been on 20 plus Carnival cruises. I think the lines, the food and the common areas were subpar.
Appreciate the comment, all the food, or were there certain spots/foods you liked?
Just got off the Mardi Gras and I wanted to see this video to see what I agree with.
5. I don't drink coffee
4. I haven't done slides in a few cruises
3. I surprisingly didn't make it up to the track this year, but that would have bugged the hell outta me
2. I enjoyed the Serenity deck. Pools can only be made so big because of how much the water in it weighs.
1. Didn't do the Havana
My biggest beef was all the dead ends. All the times I had to go down/up, across, then back up/down. At one point I was looking for Guy's Burgers and it felt like in Spinal Tap when they got lost backstage.
Well thought out, great comment! Thank you
#1 the elevator was so full you had to go up to go down #2 if you want to see a show show up a hour early for a good or ok seat #3 the comedy club and the piano bar is small so get there super early.
Great point about the elevators…you would think a gigantic ship might have normal size elevators, but no
Java blue never had lines last week when I went. I really enjoyed the blue and yellow slides. I don’t like the layout.
Good to hear, Mardi Gras is a great ship, miss it
I was hoping to get iced coffee somewhere on the ship. Is that a possibility?
Yes Java does and Bar della Rosa
Only two that you listed really affected me, 1 was the track width and length. The other was the Serenity area. They should have extended the pool into the recessed seating area. Liked Chibang, Thing I disliked the most was the elevator size.
Thanks Will, great comment
@@coachcruise Great video!
Just returned from Marti Gras. Major design flaws in safety, comfort, form and functionality. Going back to the Vista Class. ❤️Vista, Horizon and Panorama:
This ship is nothing more than a large container ship.
Economy of scale benefiting CCL at the passengers expense.
Every single venue or feature simply doesn’t have the capacity to handle the 5300 to 6300 passengers. As a result one ends up waiting, waiting and waiting for everything or so overcrowded it’s simply NOT enjoyable.
In fact, 90% of our “awake time” on the ship was waiting or giving up on the venue overcrowding with way too many people.
As far as food quality; awful compared to our 50 years of Carnival experience.
In fact, we all re-named one eating venue to “Sh*tBang”.
Pictures, videos and plenty of case numbers with Guest (NO) Service documenting massive shortcomings and horrible treatment of passengers by staff.
If this is Carnival’s future, they will not be in ours and the thousands who stated the same aboard the ship.
Mardi Gras is a prototype for the XL class of ships and unfortunately due to the pandemic the November 2022 arrival date of Celebration is a direct carbon copy of this horrible dysfunctional prototype.
If there are not major redesigns to the Jubilee , theses ships will need major refitting’s to compete with the 3 Vista Class Ships and will destroy Carnivals loyal customer base just as it has done with us. Never again Carnival.
I can tell it was just a really bad experience for you. I agree with several of the points you made as it relates to seating in Grand Central especially. I will say I had a much more positive response overall, but do empathize with many of the points you made. I was not a fan of Chibang either, but I loved SHAQ’s chicken
Well I really hope you have a much more positive experience the next time you try the Xcel class…and again sorry it wasn’t much better for you
@@coachcruise There are two basic issues areas identified on our recent Carnival Marty Gras cruise.
1: The Physical Ship;
Safety and functionality design defects of the Marty Gras ship, how did they make such costly basic mistakes?
2: Carnival bad management decisions and employee shortcomings, more easily fixable than physical ship defects of the Marty Gras.
I have noted all the above issues in great detail with Carnival giving them over a week now to respond since we returned on Saturday September 24th before going into the shocking details on line. As of October 3rd no follow up from Carnival.
How a company deals with their own short comings defines who the company really is. No longer impressed with Carnival as the clock is ticking.
@@icare7151 judging by their stock plummeting, investors aren’t either
We didn’t notice crowds any more dense than other classes of Carnival ships. We also never had a wait longer than 20 minutes for anything.
We really didn't like the Mardi Gras. The layout was more confusing than the traditional layout with atrium. Restaurants and bars felt like they were part of the hallway. The big theater didn't have a bar. The carnival drinks have changed. No more fresh ingredients (banana, cream, etc). All syrups and powders. I switched my celebration sailing as a result. Not a fan.
Fair review, thank you
@Eric Lynch all the best
These are some great call outs. I will be on the Mardi Gras in 29 days. Noted stay away from the Jogging track. 😁🍾🥂🛳️🍹🍸
Thank you for the comment
Carnival Miracle had a nice size pool on the serenity deck. 🛳️
Ok good to know, been forever since I’ve been on the Miracle, thanks