This morning, Mardi Gras is docked at Amber Cove, Dominican Republic. We did not book any excursions on this sailing so that we would have more time to cover the ship, and when most guests are off on excursions it gives us a better opportunity to shoot photos and videos of the ship.

We did, however, disembark Mardi Gras here so that we could get some photos of the ship and of Amber Cove. Unfortunately, the Captain backed into the docking pier so we were unable to get a shot of the bow.

Rickee poses with Mardi Gras in the background at Amber Cove

After a brief visit to some of the shops at Amber Cove and a little souvenir shopping, we re-boarded Mardi Gras in time for lunch. Today, we decided to try the sandwiches at Piazza Panini (Deck 8 aft). Rickee tried the grilled ham and cheese and I had the roast beef with onions and both sandwiches were delicious. Our only suggestions would be the addition of chips (crisps for our British friends) to go with the sandwiches.

After lunch, we walked back to Pig and Anchor for some trivia with Brandon, one of the cruise staff. Trivia is much harder on this cruise than on past cruises. That, or we are getting dumber, not sure which. Nevertheless, it was fun and quite well attended.

After trivia, we decided to walk ourside to see Deck 8 aft where the Patio Pool is located and you can get incredible views of the aft section of the ship. The Aft Excel Corner Suites look quite appealing from here!

At 5:30, we met our media group for a ride on Bolt, the first and only roller coaster on a cruise ship. Rickee’s back has been hurting her, so she decided against the ride. I went solo following Chelsea, our Carnival media host for the week, on the car, or Bolt, in front of me.

First, I HATE roller coasters. I have not been on a roller coaster since I was a teenager. They scare the crap out of me. So, imagine my apprehension at climbing aboard Bolt, more than 200 feet above the ocean. When Bolt takes off, it is like being shot out of a cannon. This thing is FAST! The ride around the track is intense and a real thrill. If you love roller coasters, this is a ride you will have to try. Two laps around the track was enough for me, but I will probably ride Bolt again on a future Carnival cruise, given the opportunity.

The Bolt team took a moment to let us take photos of them. They do a great job of keeping everyone safe while enjoying the experience. In my opinion, Bolt is a bargain at $15. You get 2 laps around the twisty track for that price. Each lap only lasts about 30 seconds, but it is the most thrilling 30 seconds you will ever experience.

For dinner this evening, our Carnival host, Chelsea, has invited us to join her and the rest of the group for dinner at Rudi’s Seagrill. This restaurant is one of the alternate dining venues and has been created in cooperation with celebrity Chef Rudi Sodamin.

As luck would have it, Rickee and I were seated directly across from Carnival Brand Ambassador, John Heald, and our Carnival host, Chelsea Stromfield. We enjoyed hearing John’s stories about his many years of experience as a Carnival cruise director and Brand Ambassador.

The menu at Rudi’s leans heavily toward seafood, as you would expect from the name, but there are other offerings as well. Even though we are not big seafood lovers, Rickee and I did decide to try the recommended dishes here.

Everyone was brought an Amuse Bouche of a carbonated tomato with a kiwi sphere. The single bite was refreshing and different. For my starter, I ordered the Lobster Mac N’ Cheese which was presented in a bowl shaped like a crab (I think). The dish was delicious and was filled with large chunks of sweet lobster meat. I highly recommend it.

For my soup course, I chose the Seafood Bisque, which was a velvety smooth broth with pieces of shrimp, lobster and crab. This is another dish I recommend.

For my main course, I ordered the Crab Stuffed Lobster Tail Imperial. The lobster tail is split open and filled with a delicious crab meat stuffing and served with a side of drawn butter. The lobster was perfectly cooked and delicious.

Before our dessert course was served, Chef Rudi came out to introduce himself to everyone.

For dessert, I ordered the Key Lime Pie, which was presented on a whimsically decorated plate using white and milk chocolate. The pie was very good.

All in all, I would say that Rudi’s Seagrill gets two thumbs up from us. And, if you love seafood, you are definitely going to want to make a reservation here. The meal was most definitely worth the $38 cover charge.

After dinner, we had time to catch the last half of Celestial Strings, tonight’s show held at Center Stage. The show was as good as we remembered from Carnival Panorama with excellent vocals and musical arrangements.

Tomorrow is another day at sea, our last day at sea on this cruise.

Carnival Mardi Gras

Day Five - Amber Cove (Bolt and Rudi's Seagrill)

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