Embarkation Day | Port Canaveral | Carnival Mardi Gras
The Excitement of Embarkation Day
There’s something special about embarkation day. It’s the official start of a vacation where you trade deadlines and laundry for sunsets and soft-serve. For us first-time cruisers, everything felt like an adventure waiting to happen.
We had our Sail & Sign cards ready, boarding window booked, and the cruise countdown app had been taunting us for weeks. But nothing—nothing—prepared us for the beautiful madness that is Port Canaveral on cruise day.
Port Canaveral: Where Dreams (Almost) Hit Traffic
Our assigned boarding window was 1:00–1:30 PM. So we aimed to be fashionably prompt and rolled in at 1:30 PM sharp, thinking we had this whole cruising thing down.
Wrong.
Traffic leading into the terminal was… let’s just say glacial. Cars were at a standstill. The red light at the terminal entrance might have had a personal vendetta against us. No staff were around to direct anyone, and confusion reigned.
People started jumping out of their cars and dragging luggage across the lanes like a weird luggage-themed Olympic event. We joined them. First-timers, sweating, dodging bumpers, wondering how this could possibly end well.
By the time we got to the terminal? 2:30 PM. Yup. The exact time Carnival Mardi Gras was supposed to set sail. Panic? Oh yes. Drama? Absolutely.
DIY Bellhops and Smooth Sailing
With the porters long gone, we dragged our bags to the entrance and did our best to impersonate professional bellhops—minus the hats, plus the fluster. But the moment we stepped inside the terminal, it was like someone flipped a switch.
Check-in was a breeze. No lines, no fuss. We headed straight to our stateroom, where our Sail & Sign card was already waiting for us, neatly posted by the door—our golden ticket to everything onboard.
The staff greeted us with smiles, and the air conditioning? Absolutely glorious. Within minutes, we had everything we needed and were walking the gangway like victorious cruise warriors.
The stress melted the second our sandals hit the ship’s deck. Carnival knows how to turn “frazzled” into “fabulous.”
Our Stateroom: Compact But Clever
Our cabin wasn’t huge, but it was cleverly designed. The bathroom? Tight but functional. Honestly, we didn’t mind being close to each other. It gave us the perfect excuse to slow down, laugh, and play a few rounds of cards before heading out to explore.
We dropped our bags, grabbed our sunglasses, and headed straight to…
Deck 16: The Sail Away Party That Saved the Day
The Lido Deck was already alive. Music thumping, drinks flowing, people dancing like they hadn’t just spent the past two hours in gridlock.
The DJ was hyping everyone up as the ship pulled away from the dock. We clinked glasses, let the salty breeze wash over us, and watched the coast slowly fade into the horizon.
And just like that—it hit us: We made it. We’re really doing this.
But first, burgers.
We grabbed a quick bite at Guy’s Burger Joint—because nothing says “vacation has officially started” like a juicy burger, crispy fries, and zero responsibilities. Refueled and recharged, we were ready for whatever the cruise had in store next.
Dinner: A Delicious Surprise
We’d chosen early dining, which meant the same table and same servers all week. At first, we weren’t sure how we felt about that. But one meal in, we were sold.
The dining room buzzed with energy—first-night outfits, excited chatter, and some seriously good food. But the real magic happened after dessert.
Suddenly, our servers burst into song and dance, turning the dining room into a cruise-themed flash mob. It was joyful, unexpected, and exactly the kind of quirky fun that makes a cruise unforgettable.
Evening Entertainment: Showtime in Grand Central
We wrapped up the night at the Grand Central Theater for the welcome show. The performers brought big energy, the lights dazzled, and the crowd (especially the kids) was loving every second.
It was a great way to end what had started as a very stressful day.
Final Thoughts: Day One Takeaways
Would we recommend arriving right at your boarding window?
Nope. Learn from us—show up at least an hour earlier than your window.
Would we do it all over again?
Absolutely.
By the end of the night, the chaos of the afternoon already felt like a distant memory. That’s the magic of cruising: one good sunset, one fun show, and one frozen drink can reset everything.
Tomorrow? We explore the ship, and maybe even conquer the Bolt roller coaster. (Or at least take a picture near it.)
CARNIVAL – MARDI GRAS