For our first full day on the ship, a sea day, we slept in and had late breakfast on Deck 8 Aft at Guy’s Pig and Anchor. It was a just a small version of what’s available at the Lido Marketplace buffet. It was a little less crowded at the time we went – about 10:30 a.m.. Yes, all the buffets are fully back to normal with all guests helping themselves. But remember, the ship passengers are 95% vaccinated.
They held a nice little event for Diamond members hosted by Carnival Ambassador John Heald. The ship captain and the president of Carnival Cruise Lines, Christine Duffy, were also there. Christine and John are onboard since it’s the inaugural cruise.
My husband, Matt, was at an event for the media about the making of the ship. He later shopped at the stores midship and bought some cool Bolt roller coaster merchandise.
We had an Italian lunch at the Cucina del Capitano restaurant. They offered pizza, lasagna and Tuscan Brick Chicken. But we opted for the made-to-order pasta bowls. You pick from a choice of pastas, sauces, and toppings. It was good and seemed small at first, but it was just enough for lunch. For dessert, they offered two different gelatos and a Lemoncello Marscarpone Torta.
We went up to Loft 19 to relax for a bit after lunch. It’s an upcharge area for relaxing on the top deck. Guests staying in Excel-level suites have free access to Loft 19, and get priority cabana reservations. Others can pay for access. It’s a nice upgrade some people are willing to pay for. The area is more private and a lot less crowded. It’s perfect for us. We found a couch in the shade and relaxed with a frozen margarita.
Next it was time to head to the room for a nap. Matt walked around for a bit. I rested until dinner. Although the dress style was elegant that evening, we decided not to dress up because I had a spa treatment booked. We had dinner in the Lido Marketplace. It was good, but nothing special .
My spa treatment was very nice. It was my first one since the pandemic began. I opted for an hour massage and a facial. My shoulders were tense and my skin needed some attention. I prefer to get an evening treatment so I am relaxed and can just go to bed after. I didn’t try the thermal suite. But I heard from other guests that they were a bit disappointed it did not have a view.
The only downside to my spa treatment was that it was close to the main theater and I could hear the rock music beats from the show in my treatment room and around the spa. They said they had done a sound check before the cruise and couldn’t hear it, so they may just need to adjust the volume in the theater a bit. But keep this in mind when choosing a time for your treatment.
Matt was at the show. He said was a typical cruise theater production with dancing and singing to popular songs of the ’60s. He said that the crowd seemed to enjoy it.
Click here for Day 3 of our cruise. Be sure to go back and read from the start with Day 1.
Are you looking forward to cruising on the Mardi Gras? Will you #ChooseFun? Leave your questions and comments below.
