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International carnival newcomers promised to return for Jamaica carnival next year, crediting the experience, cultural and family ties, and the Jamaican people as the main reasons for 'playing mas'.

Jamaica-born, London-based sisters, Nathaliya and Annie McDonald, shared that they didn't want their first carnival experience to be anywhere else but Jamaica.

"We're from the diaspora and our family is Jamaican so it had to happen. We come to Jamaica so often and we're carnival goers so had to be the first island experience," Annie shared with THE STAR.

"It's my first time going carnival in general so I thought my first carnival experience had to be at home in Jamaica. [The experience] is amazing, the weather, the people, the food - everything in general," Nathaliya added.

Annie expressed how much she "loves" the Jamaican carnival experience as it is more "organised" than the experience in London.

The McDonald sisters were decked out in their gorgeously decorated Dream Girls costume designed by Nikitha Cornwall from Trinidad and Tobago and the Pink Panther outfit, designed by Jamaican Sherice Dixon. The movie themed costumes gave life, vibrancy and a whole range of different styles and personalities, which the ladies said really perfected their experience.

"I'm already coming back and I'm bringing a bag a people with me because everyone missed out and now that they are seeing the videos, they're like 'Oh, we didn't realise' and I'm like, 'Girl, please, of course Jamaica was gonna do it right'. So now everyone wants to come," Annie shared.

Likewise, Nathaliya said "all my girls are ready to come so I'm really excited for next year".

The 'Yardies' who were jumping with the Yard Mas band, said after seeing their favourite soca singer Destra's performance at the I Love Soca event on Easter Monday, they were excited about seeing all the other performers for carnival as they are just here to have a good time.

New Yorkers Roxanne Ballantyne and Michelle Melvin touched down in Jamaica more than a week ago to share in all the experiences leading up to the carnival. However, Melvin said her first carnival experience wouldn't have been possible if it wasn't inspired by her friend.

"It's great, it's wonderful and I will do it again," Melvin expressed. "It's my first time ever playing mas and I got to thank my Roxy [Roxanne] for that because she definitely have the bump for the carnival. She said, 'Let's try it' and I was like 'Okay' and here I am having some fun on the road and enjoying some hot weather, because coming from New York it's very cold up there, so the weather here is very nice," she said. Ballantyne described it as a phenomenal experience.

"I've got time so I [went] to a lot of events and so far it's good and the experience is amazing. The people are wonderful and everybody is friendly and nice, I absolutely love it,"she said.

The Jamaicans who reside in New York also shared that their costume selection process also adds to making the experience "wonderful". Melvin, who was adorned in the Lion King designed costume said "as soon as I saw it, I loved it" while Ballantyne comfortably rocked her Justice League design.

The ladies shared that they enjoyed "vibing to all the performers [because] music is music and it's one Caribbean".