If you’ve cruised on the Mardi Gras, what is your favorite free (included) food venue? And if you haven’t cruised on Mardi Gras yet what included food venue are you most looking forward to?
Hello! I love this video! We sailed Mardi Gras almost 1 year ago. We really liked all the included food. I was a vegetarian at the time (not any more) and fell in love with ChiBang and the Champion Tacos! Now I hear that ChiBang is only free for the time now and a paid venue afterwards.
@@Kellman9 Thank you! I have enjoyed Chibang and was said to see that additional visits are paid, BUT it is still great that you can eat there, included, once! I’ll be on Celebration later this month and I’m looking forward to all the included food!
Thanks for this EXTENSIVE info. I have gone on 9 cruises...8 with Royal Carribbean! I am looking forward to crising on Mardi Gras in Fen 2024. My gd daughter is getting married on the ship. This review is extremely helpful; esp since I eat at the FREE venues that are included with your cost of cruise. This ship has an extened choice of free dining, which is very encouraging. There is NO NEED for me to pay for ANY food on this ship! HAL-LE-LU-JAH!
I love that! I’m in the exact OPPOSITE position as you-after many cruises with Carnival, I’m taking my very first Royal Caribbean cruise next month! I was a little worried about the free food choices (Wonder of the Seas) so I splurged for the Unlimited Dining Package, but was a little miffed that I felt I had to do that. But there is truly no need to pay for food on the Mardi Gras-you’ll love it! And CONGRATULATIONS on your gd daughter’s wedding!
Thank you so much; I’m glad you appreciated that, reviews for me just don’t work unless I have an idea on the reviewer’s perspective; food is such an individual thing!
We cruise on the Mardi Gras for the first time next month (November) and I can't wait to try some of these venues. Your video was very informative and well presented. Just from your presentation I believe the Serenity Salad Bar, Shaq's Big Chicken, Guy's Burger Joint and Pizzaria del Capitano will be my main go to's. Thank you!
So glad it was useful for you, and have a GREAT time on the Mardi Gras in March! I’m going to be on the Jubilee in March, and I’m so excited to try another one of these Excel class ships! I’ll be sure to report back on the food.
We LOVED the selections on the Mardi Gras! We were surprised with the free options at Java Blue and thought that was a great new addition! Thank you for sharing this since I am taking my husband in September and this gives him an idea of what his options are offered to help with planning our trip! Thank you!
You are very welcome! I decided to do the video because after my first Mardi Gras cruise, I realize I had missed a bunch of these options. I was much better prepared for my recent Mardi Gras cruise, so I wanted to share the information! If you’ll be stopping in Amber Cove on your trip, I have a brand new video up with all the info about that cruise port, which is one of my favorites ruclips.net/video/cHWaKqKGw4g/видео.html
Thank you! I forgot to mention that they have a small breakfast buffet in the mornings with some hot options-really great if you are staying on a lower floor and don’t want to go all the way up to the Lido!
Thank you for your comprehensive video. It’s helpful knowing the location of the venue and sea day availability. I am looking forward to the MDR and Chabang. More to follow after I return from my cruise.
This is crazy amount of included options, wow! We are wait listed for early dining on the Mardi Gras right now but I’m thinking on this ship might change to My Time. Hmm…
The amount of included food options has totally ruined me, because I always compare other ships to this now! This was the first ship I ever did My Time dining, because I really wanted ultimate flexibility, especially for Chibang! and Cucina. Definitely something to think about.
The grab and go granola cereal is wonderful. Italian is okay and good portions. Not like my mother's sauce but very good. You covered everything and it was a great informative review. Going on Mardi Gras tomorrow for our tenth time. Love that ship. Your review is up-to-date as we learned Chinese-Mex is complimentary first time and $8.00 thereafter, which is reasonable, as well as the Italian.
10th time 😀 how wonderful! And glad that you enjoyed the review and thought it was informative and accurate, with all of your experience on the ship! I’m hoping to get back to Mardi Gras, but in the meantime I’ll be checking out her sister ship the Jubilee in March! ENJOY your cruise!
We are headed to the Mardi Gras in July this year. We cannot wait to try the new food areas. Street Eats looks to be my favorite snack area. I am also a "HOT" food type of person. On embarkment day my "must have" is a shrimp burrito at Blue Iguana. My wife LOVES guy's burger! Shaq's and also Cha Bangs looks very interesting. You did a wonderful job in your VLOG!
Street Eats is the best; be sure to watch their daily hours in the Fun Times or on the app each day, as they vary. Love the shrimp burritos and tacos at Blue Iquana! Also just one embarkation quirk-since Street Eats//Blue Iguana and Guys are on different decks, if people are getting different things for embarkation or lunch, its hard to get what everyone wants and then have it all hot when you sit down to eat together. Enjoy your Mardi Gras trip, and thank you for your kind words on my Vlog; much appreciated!
Just got back from a Royal Carribean Cruise and going on the Mardi gras end of september to early October and Royal Carribeans food is such a let down..can't wait to be back on Carnival..enjoyed the food so much more prior to covid and imagine I will again when I return can't wait! All of royal carribean is about trying to make you pay extra for decent food now.
You are going to love it! I’m actually going on my first ever Royal Caribbean cruise in October. I’ve seen a few bad reviews recently of the MDR and Windjammer buffet, and so I panicked and purchased the Unlimited Dining Option for the specialty restaurants when it was on sale. But that is stressful because they don’t let you make reservations until you are on board! Going to be on Carnival for the Jubilee early next year and since it should be similar to Mardi Gras, I can’t wait! Enjoy your return to Carnival!!
@@CruisingWithDee The windjammer was much better than the main dining room. Ate in the windjammer most nights splurged on port side bbq one night it was really good though! Went on Oasis of the seas out of Miami. They do let you sometimes make reservations prior depending on the ship just make sure to check in exactly 45 days before at midnight so you get the earliest possible boarding time and you can sometimes book those shows early once you checkin.
Thanks I will mark that on my calendar! Good to know about the Windjammer. Oh yeah, and show reservations are also a bit stressful, and not something I’m used to on Carnival and the other lines I’ve been on, so I don’t want to miss getting some of those online before I board.
It’s SO good! That time I walked by and just HAD to have it,and it was so satisfying when I did. I don’t eat a ton of casual//fast food, but when I do I want it to be GOOD and it is!!
Thank you for the video. Gives me an "updated" version of what we (my wife and I) have already experienced on the Mardi Gras back in Dec 2021. Back then the Street Eats, Chi-bang, and Italian restaurants were paid options, however we did eat at the Italian place once with friends and it was free (but that was towards the end of the cruise and we didn't go back). I thought the Pig and Anchor was back in the sports bar area?? I've been on the Liberty and Magic and I thought on those ships the P&A was on the side of the ship. Food was very good. Favs were definitely Guy's Burgers and Blue Iguana. MDR food has gone down in my opinion, plus it's not unlimited anymore (I think you can have 2 main entrees, but each after that is $5). I get it, trying to cut costs due to waste. Buffet is just that, a buffet and same as any other ship, HOWEVER, I was surprised when you mentioned that bacon is served every other day. I did not know that as it seemed that every time I went to the buffet breakfast they were not serving bacon. I'll remember that for our next MG cruise this December 2023. Thank you Dee for a very nice video!!
Thank. you! Emeril’s is not included because this vlog is about the free food and Emeril’s is a paid food option. That said, I really do love Emeril’s! I will do another vlog on the paid food, including Emeril’s Seafood Shack, Steak House, Rudi’s Seagrill, Bonsai Sushi and Teppanyaki, Chef’s Table, etc.
I was just on Jubilee for Spring Break. After the first day (big line at Guy’s etc). I found there to be very few lines at all. These ships really spread everyone out-even exiting the ship at ports was quick.
Me, my husband and our 8 and 10 year old just went on our first cruise last month! It was on royal Caribbean Oasis of the Seas. It was absolutely incredible and we fell in love with cruising. However the free food options kinda stink. The pizza is good and the taco place..but the bbq and taco place close super early in the day. The buffet was pretty bad in my opinion. The specialty dining was all amazing, but expensive. I definitely recommend the unlimited dining plan. We already booked 2 more cruises though haha. One for just my husband and I on Anthem of the Seas and then another family one on Carnival Celebration...i figured that and Mardi Gras are similar enough which is what brought me to this video! Im super, super excited about all the dining options on Celebration!
I love finding a new channel to binge watch... I also love being an early subscriber to an up and coming youtuber. I DONT like that youre so new, Ive already watched all of your videos! I cant wait to see all of the content you've got upcoming! Keep up the good work!
Thank you for all of the wonderful information! I think that after the first meal at ChiBang, there’s an $8 charge per adult. Let me know if you find this not to be true.
I hope you have a fantastic cruise! I’m going to be on the Celebration in November and the Jubilee March 2024; I can’t wait to report on Mardi Gras’s Excel sister ships!
Cucina Capitano is included for lunch and your first dinner-additional dinners are $8 per person. as for Guy’s Barbecue, I believe dinner is included as well, but certain entrees such as Prime Rib have an additional charge.
It’s the Carnival Hub App, which you should download to your phone prior to boarding your cruise. Besides making dinner reservations and ordering room service, you can plan your daily activities, order photos, and much more!
The biggest thing my wife complained about is that she could no longer have the smoked salmon n bagel delivered for free to the room at breakfast. Now you have to actually get dressed & go to the dining room 😂
Your wife is SO right! I even mentioned this in the video; the lox and bagels, for free, from room service used to be my favorite. I’d sit on my balcony and have that and think I was in heaven. Dining room lox and bagels nice, but not the same!
@@DashleyBrooks Oh no! Its the wings they added, with the prices. Its so confusing. I hope you were able to try lots of the other food venues at least!
It really is confusing, i dragged my husband there because i thought it was included then i saw a sign with prices and i said "oh never mind i misunderstood something ". Yes i did try almost everything, some things i loved more than others. I loved your video by the way😊
You are right about the Decks-I will add that in a pinned comment! As for the times they change, even day to day, but I’ll add which ones have extended hours
If you’ve cruised on the Mardi Gras, what is your favorite free (included) food venue? And if you haven’t cruised on Mardi Gras yet what included food venue are you most looking forward to?
Hello! I love this video! We sailed Mardi Gras almost 1 year ago. We really liked all the included food. I was a vegetarian at the time (not any more) and fell in love with ChiBang and the Champion Tacos! Now I hear that ChiBang is only free for the time now and a paid venue afterwards.
@@Kellman9 Thank you! I have enjoyed Chibang and was said to see that additional visits are paid, BUT it is still great that you can eat there, included, once! I’ll be on Celebration later this month and I’m looking forward to all the included food!
I've been watching different videos but yours was the best I've found. We're sailing out next Saturday and I'm looking forward to it
Thank you so much! Love the Mardi Gras-have a fantastic time!
Thanks for this EXTENSIVE info. I have gone on 9 cruises...8 with Royal Carribbean! I am looking forward to crising on Mardi Gras in Fen 2024. My gd daughter is getting married on the ship. This review is extremely helpful; esp since I eat at the FREE venues that are included with your cost of cruise. This ship has an extened choice of free dining, which is very encouraging. There is NO NEED for me to pay for ANY food on this ship! HAL-LE-LU-JAH!
I love that! I’m in the exact OPPOSITE position as you-after many cruises with Carnival, I’m taking my very first Royal Caribbean cruise next month! I was a little worried about the free food choices (Wonder of the Seas) so I splurged for the Unlimited Dining Package, but was a little miffed that I felt I had to do that. But there is truly no need to pay for food on the Mardi Gras-you’ll love it! And CONGRATULATIONS on your gd daughter’s wedding!
Excellent video! You should go far. I really like how you explained your perspective as it applies to your tastes. Helped me greatly!
Thank you so much; I’m glad you appreciated that, reviews for me just don’t work unless I have an idea on the reviewer’s perspective; food is such an individual thing!
One of the best comprehensive reviews I've found! Thank you!💜
You are very welcome!
We cruise on the Mardi Gras for the first time next month (November) and I can't wait to try some of these venues. Your video was very informative and well presented. Just from your presentation I believe the Serenity Salad Bar, Shaq's Big Chicken, Guy's Burger Joint and Pizzaria del Capitano will be my main go to's. Thank you!
You are very welcome! Those are my main go-tos as well, plus Street Food, which I love!
Thank you so much Deefor doing this!...I've been looking for a review w just the complimentary meals on the Mardi Gras. We're going in March.
So glad it was useful for you, and have a GREAT time on the Mardi Gras in March! I’m going to be on the Jubilee in March, and I’m so excited to try another one of these Excel class ships! I’ll be sure to report back on the food.
We LOVED the selections on the Mardi Gras! We were surprised with the free options at Java Blue and thought that was a great new addition! Thank you for sharing this since I am taking my husband in September and this gives him an idea of what his options are offered to help with planning our trip! Thank you!
You are very welcome! I decided to do the video because after my first Mardi Gras cruise, I realize I had missed a bunch of these options. I was much better prepared for my recent Mardi Gras cruise, so I wanted to share the information! If you’ll be stopping in Amber Cove on your trip, I have a brand new video up with all the info about that cruise port, which is one of my favorites ruclips.net/video/cHWaKqKGw4g/видео.html
I also heard guy bbq offers breakfast sailing 5/24 so excited
Thank you! I forgot to mention that they have a small breakfast buffet in the mornings with some hot options-really great if you are staying on a lower floor and don’t want to go all the way up to the Lido!
OMG 🎉🎉🎉 Love It, Y'all Are Too Much Fun 🤗🤗🤗 Thank You For Sharing 👍👍👍
Thank you Lydia! What is cruising if not FUN! I am on the Carnival Venezia right now and having a BLAST! 🎉🎉
That is so tough!! I think it depends on mood/time of day! This ship is jam packed with delicious options!
So true-I have trouble answering my own question! For me though I’d have to say Street Eats-I love the variety each day!
@@CruisingWithDee yes, so delicious!! And great portions to sample and share!
Thank you for your comprehensive video. It’s helpful knowing the location of the venue and sea day availability. I am looking forward to the MDR and Chabang. More to follow after I return from my cruise.
You are very welcome! Can’t wait to hear what you think when you’ve returned from your cruise!
Haven't been on the Mardi Gras yet, going in October. Thanks for the cruise tips. 😊
You are welcome! Hope you have a great time; it’s a wonderful ship!
This is crazy amount of included options, wow!
We are wait listed for early dining on the Mardi Gras right now but I’m thinking on this ship might change to My Time. Hmm…
The amount of included food options has totally ruined me, because I always compare other ships to this now! This was the first ship I ever did My Time dining, because I really wanted ultimate flexibility, especially for Chibang! and Cucina. Definitely something to think about.
Thank you so much for this great video! Super excited to try all of this in a couple of weeks on the ship🤩
You are welcome! Have a great time on your trip; let me know what you end up liking the best!
@@CruisingWithDee Thank you! Will do :)
The grab and go granola cereal is wonderful. Italian is okay and good portions. Not like my mother's sauce but very good. You covered everything and it was a great informative review. Going on Mardi Gras tomorrow for our tenth time. Love that ship. Your review is up-to-date as we learned Chinese-Mex is complimentary first time and $8.00 thereafter, which is reasonable, as well as the Italian.
10th time 😀 how wonderful! And glad that you enjoyed the review and thought it was informative and accurate, with all of your experience on the ship! I’m hoping to get back to Mardi Gras, but in the meantime I’ll be checking out her sister ship the Jubilee in March! ENJOY your cruise!
@@CruisingWithDee Thanks, Dee. We will enjoy, The entertainment is a bit disappointing because of little variety. Do love that ship.
We are headed to the Mardi Gras in July this year. We cannot wait to try the new food areas. Street Eats looks to be my favorite snack area. I am also a "HOT" food type of person. On embarkment day my "must have" is a shrimp burrito at Blue Iguana. My wife LOVES guy's burger! Shaq's and also Cha Bangs looks very interesting. You did a wonderful job in your VLOG!
Street Eats is the best; be sure to watch their daily hours in the Fun Times or on the app each day, as they vary. Love the shrimp burritos and tacos at Blue Iquana! Also just one embarkation quirk-since Street Eats//Blue Iguana and Guys are on different decks, if people are getting different things for embarkation or lunch, its hard to get what everyone wants and then have it all hot when you sit down to eat together. Enjoy your Mardi Gras trip, and thank you for your kind words on my Vlog; much appreciated!
Thank you. Going on MG Saturday. Was on it last year, but great summary!!
Enjoy-the second trip I took on her was even more fun! Enjoy!
We are sailing July 1st can’t wait we just did the Disney wish last weekend amazing ship
Have a great trip; I am curious to hear how Mardi Gras is during the summer! I haven’t sailed on Disney yet but would love to.
Just got back from a Royal Carribean Cruise and going on the Mardi gras end of september to early October and Royal Carribeans food is such a let down..can't wait to be back on Carnival..enjoyed the food so much more prior to covid and imagine I will again when I return can't wait!
All of royal carribean is about trying to make you pay extra for decent food now.
You are going to love it! I’m actually going on my first ever Royal Caribbean cruise in October. I’ve seen a few bad reviews recently of the MDR and Windjammer buffet, and so I panicked and purchased the Unlimited Dining Option for the specialty restaurants when it was on sale. But that is stressful because they don’t let you make reservations until you are on board! Going to be on Carnival for the Jubilee early next year and since it should be similar to Mardi Gras, I can’t wait! Enjoy your return to Carnival!!
@@CruisingWithDee The windjammer was much better than the main dining room. Ate in the windjammer most nights splurged on port side bbq one night it was really good though! Went on Oasis of the seas out of Miami. They do let you sometimes make reservations prior depending on the ship just make sure to check in exactly 45 days before at midnight so you get the earliest possible boarding time and you can sometimes book those shows early once you checkin.
Thanks I will mark that on my calendar! Good to know about the Windjammer. Oh yeah, and show reservations are also a bit stressful, and not something I’m used to on Carnival and the other lines I’ve been on, so I don’t want to miss getting some of those online before I board.
My favorite is Shaq’s Big Chicken.
It’s SO good! That time I walked by and just HAD to have it,and it was so satisfying when I did. I don’t eat a ton of casual//fast food, but when I do I want it to be GOOD and it is!!
Great video, thank you!
You are very welcome; thanks for watching!
Thank you for the video. Gives me an "updated" version of what we (my wife and I) have already experienced on the Mardi Gras back in Dec 2021. Back then the Street Eats, Chi-bang, and Italian restaurants were paid options, however we did eat at the Italian place once with friends and it was free (but that was towards the end of the cruise and we didn't go back). I thought the Pig and Anchor was back in the sports bar area?? I've been on the Liberty and Magic and I thought on those ships the P&A was on the side of the ship. Food was very good. Favs were definitely Guy's Burgers and Blue Iguana. MDR food has gone down in my opinion, plus it's not unlimited anymore (I think you can have 2 main entrees, but each after that is $5). I get it, trying to cut costs due to waste. Buffet is just that, a buffet and same as any other ship, HOWEVER, I was surprised when you mentioned that bacon is served every other day. I did not know that as it seemed that every time I went to the buffet breakfast they were not serving bacon. I'll remember that for our next MG cruise this December 2023. Thank you Dee for a very nice video!!
I think you missed Emeril's/ Very informative and thanks for sharing!
Thank. you! Emeril’s is not included because this vlog is about the free food and Emeril’s is a paid food option. That said, I really do love Emeril’s! I will do another vlog on the paid food, including Emeril’s Seafood Shack, Steak House, Rudi’s Seagrill, Bonsai Sushi and Teppanyaki, Chef’s Table, etc.
@@CruisingWithDee my bad, I forgot about the cost included with Emeril’s.
It was wonderful meeting you today on the Celebration.
Same here!! I hope the rest of your cruise is fantastic!. I’ve subscribed to your channel, Stress Free Cruising Squad!
@@CruisingWithDee thank you!
We are sailing next week on the Mardi Grass
Have a great trip! I’ve never sailed her in the summer; report back and let us know how it was after your trip!
Looked great during startup. We are worried about the lines everywhere now that ships are sailing over the two to a cabin numbers
I was just on Jubilee for Spring Break. After the first day (big line at Guy’s etc). I found there to be very few lines at all. These ships really spread everyone out-even exiting the ship at ports was quick.
Me, my husband and our 8 and 10 year old just went on our first cruise last month! It was on royal Caribbean Oasis of the Seas. It was absolutely incredible and we fell in love with cruising. However the free food options kinda stink. The pizza is good and the taco place..but the bbq and taco place close super early in the day. The buffet was pretty bad in my opinion. The specialty dining was all amazing, but expensive. I definitely recommend the unlimited dining plan.
We already booked 2 more cruises though haha. One for just my husband and I on Anthem of the Seas and then another family one on Carnival Celebration...i figured that and Mardi Gras are similar enough which is what brought me to this video! Im super, super excited about all the dining options on Celebration!
You are going to love it! I am excited about my first Royal Caribbean cruise-I did get the UDP because I didn’t want to be disappointed.
We are booked for a B2B next year.
I hope you love it as much as I did! I have another Celebration cruise booked, but would like to add another Mardi Gras cruise.
I love finding a new channel to binge watch... I also love being an early subscriber to an up and coming youtuber. I DONT like that youre so new, Ive already watched all of your videos! I cant wait to see all of the content you've got upcoming! Keep up the good work!
Thank you! I’m going to have a ton of new content from my just ended cruise to South America and Antarctica so stay tuned!
I booked this ship for October thank you
You are welcome! Hope you have a fantastic cruise!
FYour review makes me want to go on the Mardi Gras!
You should give her a try; I loved her so much I’ve been on her twice already!
Thank you for all of the wonderful information! I think that after the first meal at ChiBang, there’s an $8 charge per adult. Let me know if you find this not to be true.
Yes, this is currently how it is-an $8 charge for the second meal at Chibang (or at Cucina del Capitano).
I am going on this boat in December and I have been on the original boat to
The original Mardi Gras? That is so cool!!
Oct 2024!! can't wait
I hope you have a fantastic cruise! I’m going to be on the Celebration in November and the Jubilee March 2024; I can’t wait to report on Mardi Gras’s Excel sister ships!
@@CruisingWithDee thanks ! Heck yea!
Do the Guy's BBQ serve dinner and is it included as well? Could you tell me more about the Italian restaurant is it included just for lunch?
Cucina Capitano is included for lunch and your first dinner-additional dinners are $8 per person. as for Guy’s Barbecue, I believe dinner is included as well, but certain entrees such as Prime Rib have an additional charge.
Thanks very much!
You're welcome!
New subscriber from Oklahoma
Welcome!! I appreciate it!
What is the app you mention
For meals so scheduled and room service
It’s the Carnival Hub App, which you should download to your phone prior to boarding your cruise. Besides making dinner reservations and ordering room service, you can plan your daily activities, order photos, and much more!
aaay! I made an appearance in this one!
You look great!! Special guest appearance. You make a brief appearance in the short I just posted too (it’s on the Graycliff Hotel in Nassau).
What about regular fries?
I assume you can get the Time Fries without toppings added; there are also regular fries available at Guy’s.
The biggest thing my wife complained about is that she could no longer have the smoked salmon n bagel delivered for free to the room at breakfast. Now you have to actually get dressed & go to the dining room 😂
Your wife is SO right! I even mentioned this in the video; the lox and bagels, for free, from room service used to be my favorite. I’d sit on my balcony and have that and think I was in heaven. Dining room lox and bagels nice, but not the same!
I wish i watched this before going😩i didn't had the time, it's been in my watch later. I saw prices and thought street eats was not included 😐
@@DashleyBrooks Oh no! Its the wings they added, with the prices. Its so confusing. I hope you were able to try lots of the other food venues at least!
It really is confusing, i dragged my husband there because i thought it was included then i saw a sign with prices and i said "oh never mind i misunderstood something ".
Yes i did try almost everything, some things i loved more than others. I loved your video by the way😊
@@DashleyBrooks Thank you! ❤
I really like Guy's Pig and Anchor. I'm not a fan of a heavy vinegar bbq sauce.
I wish I had tried a few more things there; I’m definitely going to do that on the Carnival Celebration next month!
Great note for reviewer bias!
Thank you! I just think it’s important to know where the reviewer is coming from, point-of-view wise!
Have you cruised Princess?
I have not cruised Princess yet! It is on my list and would love to cruise with them.
I grew up eating vinegar based barbecue.
Yum! North Carolina?
Should of names the decks it’s on and times
You are right about the Decks-I will add that in a pinned comment! As for the times they change, even day to day, but I’ll add which ones have extended hours
Emerald's