The Love Boat: Carnival Sets Sail
- Stan Hecht
- Jul 2
- 12 min read
Updated: Jul 7
I am the last person I ever thought would like a cruise. And, I was also sort of a snob about cruising, too. I want to go to National Parks and hike around, enjoying the sites from as high up as I could hike, see as many beaches as possible, walk in the sand and commune with the ocean. I want to see the Northwest and explore an area I’ve read about. I want to go to Maine and see the Northern Lights. I need to go to New York City and watch Broadway shows. I want to go back to Europe and explore the cities I haven’t yet been. I want to jump on and off the trains with a backpack visiting countries and cities with unique, amazing food (read: as much chocolate and yummy wine as possible). I want to see islands I haven’t been to and fall asleep on the beach with a pina colada in my hand.
So, it surprised me as much as anyone who knew me when I began talking about going on a cruise. No way. Never going to happen, I thought. I’ll listen, I’ll ask questions and then I won’t have to commit. Instead, it was suggested that we try a BIG boat on Carnival and the more I heard the more I was intrigued. A bigger ship would offer more opportunities for fun, food, and sun. The only drawback or advantage-depending on your perspective-I would not have access to the internet. The daily cost of $15 inspired me to go off-line for the week. Would this be challenging or would I love it?
Turns out there are a LOT of people who love cruising. And there is an art to cruising. Speaking with my sister’s friend Barb who is a routine cruiser, sailing a few times every year, I had the opportunity to talk with Barb’s contact Max Jimenez, Elite Personal Vacation Planner with Carnival Cruise Line who came through with flying colors. The Mardi Gras was the ship we were looking at-because of the timing, the price, and the destinations. Barb and my sister Staci also saved me with their suggestions of ear patches and Sea Bands. I had ear patches on the entire sail and wore the Sea Bands at night. I didn’t have one issue with sea sickness, but I was prepared.
Years before I was on a different cruise line with small children staying in an inside room with two sets of bunk beds. It was so dark inside there, we had no idea if it was daytime or nighttime. We sailed to Cozumel and swam with the dolphins. An experience I will always remember as the dolphins do not care if you change your mind. My kids laughed when I got out of the ocean asking, “Mom, did you know you were screaming the entire time?”
This time I was going with a group of friends, still in an inside room, however, I was assured the cabins had been updated. In addition, Max put us in a cabin directly under the Serenity deck, which on The Mardi Gras was on the front of the ship. Think Titanic and King of the World.
I was a newbie and asked many questions. Once on board I realized I had a lot to learn. But what I did figure out quickly was that the Serenity Deck was empty at sunrise, one of my favorite parts of the day. We flew down to Orlando and made our way to Port Canaveral at our appointed time. Once you book, you are assigned a boarding group and report to your Muster Station. Our Muster Station was in the casino, which would be the only reason I would go there.
It took a while for us to find our floor and our cabin. It was on the front of the ship, which meant you had to walk outside past the pool to the main elevators and ship. Finding our cabin, I thought it was lovely. Not spacious, but big enough to move around. I didn’t know about the magnets to bring for the walls, so we ended up hanging wet clothing everywhere.
After unpacking we had lunch and tried to get our bearings. You know you are on board when you have gelato for lunch.
We were set to sail in the afternoon and that evening we would be at sea as well as the next day. Changing into swimsuits, we ordered Pina Coladas on deck and got ready to push off.
I had no idea what to expect, but I did know I would be able to see a sunset before dinner which was lovely.
Dinner that evening was Italian and very good. Carnival has a relationship with St. Jude’s Hospital for Children, and we happened to find one of the displays on ship wandering around.
We found Ben, the Piano Man in the Piano Bar 88 and had a fun evening of singing along with the crowd, using props, and enjoying Ben’s quick humor. Ben found out we were from St. Louis and loved that as he was from Kansas City. He also taught us to sing, “I need a bartender….” when needed.
The first morning at sea, I awoke early enough for sunrise. In order to know what time, it is, you must be on “ship’s time,” and you have to remember to adjust. Before we left, I googled sunrise for the countries we would be stopping in as well as in between stops. The ship also provides an activity list for the day which includes sunrise and sunset time. I found this to be more accurate than my guesses!
Our cabin attendant Daniel left us towel animals each day.
What I found most interesting about Daniel is that he knew all our names, our comings and goings and he was one of the kindest people I’ve ever met. He actually MADE our trip more enjoyable and friendly. I always knew if I ran back to my cabin, Daniel would somehow be around with a friendly smile.
Sea Day is a special treat which I would love from minute one. There is no land to be seen. Everywhere you look is ocean. As far as you can see. Ocean. The Mother Ship. I found myself staring into the ocean from every vantage point I could find. Not only was I fascinated, but I was also completely at ease. The ocean breeze, the sunshine, the ocean.
On our first day at sea, I found the salad station, planted myself on the Serenity Deck for the day and listened to the plans for an early dinner. That evening, I was able to enjoy the sunset from a spot I found on deck which was stunning. From every angle.
We decided to have a quick dinner so that we could watch the Super Bowl with our 3000 friends on board. Watching on a giant screen against the backdrop of the night ocean was quite an experience. Here we are motoring along in the middle of the ocean watching the Super Bowl! While we could watch the game, there were no Super Bowl commercials. That was a drawback. However, we were sailing in the MIDDLE of the ocean watching the Super Bowl on a giant screen. I am not complaining.
The next morning, we woke up in the Nassau, The Bahamas. How the Captain managed to parallel park this giant ship in the slip in the early hours of the morning is beyond me. Again, there were very few of us on deck for sunrise, and once more, it was gorgeous.
We decided to stay on board sunning ourselves and finding a mudslide. That evening we went to the Palm Restaurant, for an early dinner which turned out to be an excellent choice.
The service, food (chilled cucumber soup, steak and lobster) and wine (Malbec) were excellent-you can order as many appetizers as you want! – and I was introduced to the Carnival Chocolate Melting Cake. Hello! Why wasn’t this part of the marketing package?!!! And yes, I did have a Carnival Chocolate Melting Cake EVERY SINGLE night. I also ordered a second dessert. No judgement. You weren’t there! Also. There wasn’t any way I was going to skip the Carnival Chocolate Melting Cake. I still dream about it.
We also found the Backyard Band at the back of the ship in Guy’s Pig and Anchor. They played every evening and were great fun. They spoke very little English but sang like they were born knowing it. Over the week, they got to know this week’s passengers, and I think they enjoyed when we all
danced. It was a party every night!
The next morning, Sea Day! I slept in and missed sunrise. Given that we stayed out dancing until midnight, I just couldn’t get up. We went to the back of the boat where you could see our wake and took a few photos. I couldn’t resist tree pose, after all, I try to get a tree pose wherever I happen to be in the world.
Then our group wanted to try the pool at the back of the boat for the day. It was fun, more populated, and livelier than the Serenity Deck. We enjoyed cocktails and a jacuzzi, too.
Sunset that evening was spectacular. I have no idea where we were, the Captain kept us abreast of our location, and honestly, I didn’t care. I love Sea Day and thoroughly enjoyed this sunset.
It was back to the Palms Restaurant, and this evening, we ordered the Carnival Chocolate Melting Cake and two more desserts! No judgement.
We went back to see Ben the Piano Man and enjoyed another evening of comedy, music, and fun.
The next day, our fifth day we anchored at Amber Cove, Dominican Republic-once more HOW did the Captain park us?!!!
We decided to explore off ship. Our first stop was an interesting sculpture of a sea turtle near the ocean. The signs gave facts, and I was fascinated by the intricacies of the artwork. (Do not harass the sea turtles!)
We walked around Amber Cove and found a little place that served yummy drinks and even better beach music. We even saw one of the guys from the night before at the Piano Bar enjoying a meal with his lady friend.
Walking around, we found a Dominican outdoor museum, and I figured out that because we were docked, I might have internet. I did! I quickly took myself off airplane mode and texted my sister to let her know I was okay, and I sent friends cruise photos. A few answered and that was fun to hear from them. I also tried to make reservations for gym classes back home, although I’m not sure I was successful. As fast as I could I went back to airplane mode, but not before AT&T texted and told me that they were updating my plan for International calls and texts. Being the smart girl I am, I didn’t answer and once I returned home, my sister and I let them know we did NOT want that plan and we were not charged. Walking around local shops, we found this handsome man making every ladies day.
We also found ConcienciArt, and I spoke with the young artist. Turns out, this organization is on the look-out for artists so that they have the support and opportunity to make art and make a living.
Everything is recycled including the wood which comes from the ocean. ConcienciArt creates exclusive handmade crafts which make you smile.
After picking up gifts of chocolate for friends, we headed back to the ship to change for an early dinner and dance. We were only looking at our phones for the time, and didn’t adjust to the ship’s time so we were an hour early! Not to worry. We found a bar on the ship facing the ocean and tried a new drink: Mermaid Fun (or something like that!) and sat outside enjoying the evening breeze before dinner. Two desserts later, yes, the Carnival Chocolate Melting Cake-no judgement-we took our bottle of champagne to the deck and enjoyed the ocean and the night air on deck.
The next day we docked in Grand Turk and spent the day on the beach. There was also a Margaritaville, however, if the beach is an option, that is where you will find me. We did, however, enjoy lunch in a tiki hut on the beach.
Back on board the ship, we enjoyed dinner at The Palm Restaurant and yes, I had two desserts including the Carnival Chocolate Melting Cake-no judgement. We decided to enjoy a comedy show, then headed to the Backyard Band for music and dancing.
Our next day was our last Sea Day and Valentines Day. Sunrise was spectacular this Friday.
If I failed to mention activities aboard Carnival’s Mardi Gras, let me just say, if you wanted you could be busy all day and night. The activities on both the app (yes, Carnival has its own on-board app where you can register for activities and find out everything you need to know) and a FUNTIMES newsletter on our cabin door every evening including every activity you can dream up. The friends I cruised with are big trivia lovers. They enjoyed many a trivia game and I joined for TV Theme Songs. I realized that if you didn’t have fun on the Mardi Gras it was because you didn’t want to! It’s like summer camp for grown-ups.
On this Sea Day, there were trivia games which I skipped in favor of “Groove for St. Jude” on the Lido deck. I joined a few hundred people including our Cruise Director Sara T. to dance it out and support
Carnival’s collaboration with St. Jude. I danced for my friend Susan’s sister Lisa and for my friend Diane’s son, Christopher. I danced because I could, and I danced because it was important to me to contribute to this cause.
In addition, I am a fan of The Love Boat, and I had to meet Sara T., our Julie McCoy. I mentioned this to her, and she laughed because, she said, she’s heard this a few times. Sara T. was kind and friendly and I continue to be a fan.
We spent the afternoon on the Serenity Deck after receiving disembarkment instructions. Carnival makes it easy and I was pretty sure I understood how to exit the ship.
I’m not sure I mentioned the towel game. Each cabin has an allotment per person. I always need more towels on lounge chairs for my back, so it was a constant endeavor to secure additional towels every day.
Being a new cruiser there was much I found out by trial and error. I didn’t know that the salad bar was only for Sea Days. I learned the ins and outs of the ship’s layout by getting extremely lost. One other thing I learned on our last night. The mirror in our cabin lit up and boy that made a difference!
We decided on The Palm Restaurant for another delicious dinner including our bottle of Malbec. While I cannot tell you what I had for dinner, I know for sure that my meal ended with the Carnival Chocolate Melting Cake. It would be my last until I returned. Of all the things I loved about the Carnival Cruise-Sea Days, the activities and music, the beauty of the ocean, the spectacular sunrises and sunsets and the kindness of the crew, with all of my heart, I loved the Carnival Chocolate Melting Cake. If you are keeping count, yes, I had one every single evening I could-that makes five Carnival Chocolate Melting Cakes on a 7-day cruise. No judgement. You weren’t there!
After dinner we headed to Pig and Anchor for our last night with the Backyard Band. Along with a fun crowd we sang and danced with abandon.
We also met professional/substitute dance instructors Autumn Coffey and her husband Zachary who willingly danced with us. By day Autumn is a nurse, and Zachary is an engineer. However, when the music starts-they are gifted, fun, inclusive dancers!
Wow, that was FUN!
Our next morning, we were scheduled to dock in Port Canaveral, and I was surprised to find that I had mixed feelings.
I had enjoyed my week aboard Carnival’s Mardi Gras and could see myself cruising again. Not getting seasick was a huge plus. There had been one or two times in the cabin, once in the shower, that I could feel the ship moving, but overall, I had been fine. I found that I was intrigued by cruising and those that cruised, often using the ship as a way to explore new places. I loved that Carnival is called, “The Fun Ship” because it really is. It felt like a week and then it didn’t. It was refreshing to only use my phone for photos. And I loved that I couldn’t check email. After a day or so, I realized that it was peaceful to be unconnected.
I got up early for sunrise, once again enjoying the rising sun over the ocean. I also watched how the Captain docked us. HOW does he do that?!!!
Saying goodbye to Daniel and following the crowds off the ship to waiting Ubers, I realized that I still want to go to National Parks and see as many beaches as possible, walking in the sand and communing with the ocean, getting to the Northwest and Maine and being amazed at the Northern Lights, traveling to Europe, backpacking and jumping on and off trains, and exploring Tropical islands falling asleep on the beach with a pina colada in my hand. I also understood how cruising could be a part of that plan. I
learned that I could live (contently) without the internet and the ability to be connected to my people. I could and did try new things, learning from those around me.
Most importantly of all. When I cruise again, there will be the Carnival Chocolate Melting Cake to enjoy. No judgement.
Thanks to the group of cruising friends on this trip especially Stan Hecht and Donna and Rick Worthen for all the fun we had. Including using a ship card for any and all expenses and introducing me to the Carnival Chocolate Melting Cake.
Expect Good. Defy Gravity. Sparkle ON! All aboard The Love Boat!
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To reach Max: MJimenez@carnival.com Feel free to tell him I sent you!
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