This past month I sailed on Carnival Cruise Lines brand new ship, Mardi Gras. I thought I would bring you five tips for sailing on Mardi Gras to make your cruise even better.
1 Explore The Ship Even if you have been on several Carnival ships like myself, you will need to find your way around. Mardi Gras is different from any Carnival ship and it takes some time to get your bearings. On the first day, spend some time exploring to find the dining room, all of the pools and some fantastic food options. 
2 Shows
One of the cool things about this ship is the entertainment scattered throughout the ship. One thing different from other ships, is they have two areas they perform shows. One is in the main theater and the other is the main stage in Grand Central. Be sure to check your app for the times of the shows if you want to see both and be there early. They fill up fast.
3 Coffee If you are like me and like to have that cup or tow of coffee in the morning and maybe one later in the day, you will be happy to find coffee in several places on the ship. For the free coffee, you can get it on deck 8 in The Piazza, in the lido marketplace and in the Java Blue Cafe in Grand Central. Now if you are craving that specialty coffee, you can get it at Java Blue all day or at Bar Delarosa in The Piazza in the mornings. They may have it all day, not sure. 
4 Dining
The Mardi Gras is unique to Carnival with the way main dining works. You have four options for your main dining experience, the main dining room, ChiBang!, Guys Smokehouse or Cucina Del Capitano. If you have Your Time Dining, when you check in on the app, you will have the choice of the four different restaurants or you can check in for first available. On formal night, you can even get the lobster in Cucina Del Capitano or Chabang but as I learned, not the Prime Rib. for those in traditional dining, I believe you can only go after 8pm to the three but of course the main dining room would be your set time.
5 Fresh Creations
Unless you know about it, you might not realize there is a salad bar in the Serenity Area on deck 18. Located next to the bar is Fresh Creations where you can get a fresh salad with all the toppings including chicken and shrimp. Its open on sea days during lunch and its complimentary. So if you are in Serenity and not wanting to head down two decks to get food, this is your place whether it be lunch or first lunch as it was for me.
Bonus
This was something I did not notice for a couple days but it was very helpful, On the inside of the elevator doors, there are arrows pointing you towards the aft and forward of the ship and believe me, this comes in handy. Also there are great maps in each elevator bay with a list of the venues and their location. Michael Miller
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