The Carnival Mardi Gras Casino And Serenity Deck Pool Are Standouts
Other highlights include the casino, which is by far the largest on Carnival, taking up a significant portion of Deck 7. The Havana Pool is exclusive to Havana stateroom guests, but is more of a hot tub than a pool. The adults-only Serenity Deck now has a full pool, as well as two hot tubs, a bar and a salad bar.
What it all adds up to is a Carnival cruise experience that delivers the affordable Fun Ship experience that people love, with a dash of sophistication that never crosses the line into snooty.
Behind the scenes, Mardi Gras is the first cruise ship in North America powered by liquified natural gas , making it a cleaner burn .
Pools And Hot Tubs On Carnival Mardi Gras
Nothing beats relaxing by a pool with a nice drink in hand as you feel the fresh sea breeze pass by you. The problem is that with thousands of people on a ship, there’s not always room. If you want to spend all day in a pool, a cruise might not be the right choice. You would have a much better bet choosing a resort with a huge pool complex. That being said, a quick dip in the pool can be nice on a hot day.
The Carnival Mardi Gras has a total of 6 pools and 7 hot tubs.
Tired of loud kids and splashing? 1 of the pools and 2 of the hot tubs are adults only. 2 of the pools are exclusive access, which means there’s either an extra charge to access them or you need to book a certain class of cabin to have access to them.
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Other Best Ship Awards
has also won several other Best Cruise Ship acknowledgements, including best new ship of the year in Cruise Hives own Cruise Ship Awards 2021.
The Excel-class vessel was also awarded the title of Best New Cruise Ship for 2021 in USA Todays 10 Best Readers Choice Awards, and in 2020, Mardi Gras was named Most Anticipated New Cruise Ship by Cruise Hive.
While the entire ship is stunning and well-deserving of its Best Ship honors, other parts of are also award-winning and attracting plenty of attention from cruisers, engineers, culinary experts, and more.
The ships hottest and most innovative attraction, BOLT, the first roller coaster at sea, received the Best of Whats Newengineering award from Popular Science Magazine, Best Cruise Ship Feature of 2021 in Cruise Hives awards, and Most Innovative New Ship Attraction from The Points Guy Awards.
The popular eatery Guys Burger Joint has been winning awards for years, including several mentions in different years of Cruise Hives awards, beginning with 2015. On , Guys Burger Joint is located on the port side of deck 17, near the Red Frog Tiki Bar.
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Waterworks On Carnival Mardi Gras
massive onboard waterpark is currently the largest in Carnivals entire fleet. Located in the ships Ultimate Playground zone, the waterpark is a go-to spot for fun-loving kids and families, thrill-seekers, and the young at heart.
WaterWorks features three water slides the 312-foot Blue Lightning, the 229-foot Orange Thunder, and the 265-foot spiraling Carnival Twister waterslide.
Zipping down these splash-tastic water slides definitely hits the spot on a hot day. Theres also a 150-gallon PowerDrencher tipping bucket and a splash zone for kids with lots of cool water elements.
All About The Carnival Mardi Gras
The Carnival Mardi Gras is a fairly new ship, being built in 2021. It’s considered a large size ship. Coming in at 1,130 ft long and 137 ft wide, it’s roughly the length of 3.1 football fields, as wide as 2.6 tractor trailers, and the same height as a 17-story building. The Mardi Gras pays homage to Carnival’s first ship, also named the Mardi Gras. It’s the first ship to have a roller coaster at sea.
The Carnival Mardi Gras can hold 5,282 based on double occupancy and more when you take into account 3rd and 4th passengers. When you compare the total tonnage of the ship to the number of passengers, the Mardi Gras has a space ratio of 35. Depending on the ship, this number can range from 30 to 52 so this ship has less space per person than average.
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The Mardi Gras is one of three Excel-class ships currently sailing with Carnival. Excel-class ships are Carnival’s newest and largest ships. Some signature features are the BOLT roller coaster, a LOFT 19 suite area, the exclusive Havana. They’re Carnival’s first ships that run on LNG, a cleaner burning fuel. They’re known for their six-distinct zones, all with a different theme, that make the ship easier to navigate and breaks up the large crowds. The Mardi Gras is very similar to its sister-ships Celebration and Jubilee, although each ship may have some differences.
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Included With Your Cruise Fare:
- Main dining rooms, buffet, and Lido deck restaurants .
- Sandwiches at Piazza Panini, Pizza at Pizzeria del Capitano.
- Sandwiches and select pastries at Java Blue.
- A handful of specialty restaurants on a limited basis .
- Ropes Course
- Serenity adults-only pool and sundeck
- All pools other than Loft 19 and Havana
- All evening entertainment and most daily activities
- Fitness center and jogging track
Carnival Kitchen Cooking Class
Want to improve your pizza-making skills or upgrade your BBQ game? Take a Carnival Kitchen cooking class on and learn from Carnivals culinary pros.
A wide range of classes are available from sushi-making to cake workshops. A limited number of classes are held each week sometimes two or three per day for groups of 18 or less.
Theres also an evening workshop class that includes making a delicious dinner that could include Carnivals famous Warm Chocolate Melting Cake.
Classes are available for guests ages 12 and older and prices vary depending on the class. Make sure to sign up online as early as possible they sell out fast!
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Things To Do On Carnival Mardi Gras
Carnival debuted in summer 2021 as the flagship of Carnival Cruise Line and is spending her inaugural season sailing from Port Canaveral.
Carnivals biggest cruise ship is divided into six themed zones and offers a number of fun attractions and innovative features, including the first-ever roller coaster at sea.
With more than 20 dining options and nearly the same number of bars and lounges, its easy to let the good times roll on this new Carnival Fun Ship.
Theres so much to experience on Carnival Mardi Gras, so weve rounded up a series of must dos for those planning their cruise.
While sailing on in late October, I asked Carnival executives, journalists, crew members, and dozens of guests to name one or two dont miss experiences on board.
Here are 21 things to do on Carnival Mardi Gras that were named most often, along with some insider tips:
Grand Central Atrium Shows & Entertainment
The innovative three-deck-high Grand Central Atrium space is one of Carnival Mardi Gras six themed zones and its a winner.
The atriums huge 3,000 square-foot glass panels built into the side of the ship provide guests with beautiful sea views. Its a wonderful place to relax and listen to live music or take part in games and contests.
At night, the Grand Central Atrium transforms into a multi-story venue for spectacular shows with talented performances, aerial acrobatics, and special effects. The Grand Central Atriums 16 massive LED screens can display videos, lasers, and other unique effects providing an ever-changing backdrop.
Dont miss the ships New Orleans Celebration with its Mardi Gras-style parade and incredible Voodoo Moon performance. Its one of the most amazing entertainment experiences Ive seen at sea.
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Carnival Mardi Gras Cruise Ship: Overview And Things To Do
What you need to know about the Carnival Mardi Gras cruise ship, with things to do, all the venues, and plenty of facts.
The much-awaited Carnival cruise ship, the lead ship in Carnivals Excel class, is currently the largest cruise ship in Carnivals fleet and, as such, is filled with all the bells and whistles, amenities, and activities that you expect from a mega-ship geared toward family fun in the sun.
If youre planning to book a cruise in the near future or are just interested in what could offer you and your traveling family keep reading. Were breaking down everything you need to know about this mammoth cruise ship.
Health And Safety Protocols
In addition to Carnival’s existing rigorous daily cleaning regimen and standards, Carnival has established additional sanitation/disinfection/cleaning measures:
Carnival’s onboard Medical Centers are staffed to handle a wide variety of staff and crew medical situations. Any guest or crew member who exhibits symptoms of influenza or upper respiratory infection with fever is strongly encouraged to visit the medical center for a complimentary medical consultation.
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Carnival Celebrates 6 Months Of Mardi Gras
Carnival Cruise Line has announced that today marks the six-month anniversary of its ship Mardi Gras, which welcomed her first guests from Port Canaveral on July 31, 2021.
According to a press release, to date, the Mardi Gras the first of Carnivals new Excel class has welcomed more than 110,000 guests.
To celebrate the six-month mark, as well as looking ahead to the arrival of her two sister ships the Carnival Celebration and Carnival Jubilee Carnival released a video.
According to the press release, the Mardi Gras is the first cruise ship in the Americas powered by liquefied natural gas technology. The Mardi Gras is also the first ship to feature a roller coaster at sea, BOLT. So far, guests have enjoyed more than 30,000 BOLT rides, Carnival said.
The Mardi Gras also includes dining options that include several new venues onboard, like Emeril’s Bistro 1396, Shaq’s Big Chicken, Chibang! and Street Eats.
Nearly one million guests have taken a cruise vacation with Carnival since the restart on more than 400 sailings, according to the cruise line. This fall, Carnival will also mark Carnival Celebrations arrival at PortMiami.
Carnival’s next Excel-class ship will include all the features found onboard the Mardi Gras, like BOLT, as well as some exclusive features.
A third Excel-class ship, the Carnival Jubilee, will begin operations from its homeport in Galveston in the fall of 2023 and will also feature unique aspects. The ship opened for sale last week.
Taking Staterooms To Another Level
At launch, Carnival hyped the s staterooms and suites and now we totally see why. Turns out, luxury comes in all shapes, sizes, and décor. The launch of the marked the introduction of better comfort, storage, and lighting in their rooms.
- Snooze with Exclusive Benefits step it up a notch when you reserve your resort-style stay on the The Havana, Cloud 9 Spa, and Family Harbor staterooms and suites offer exclusive amenities, unique designs, and quick access to amazing discounts and locations like the .
- Interior Staterooms Love the affordability that inside cabins bring? The Interior Staterooms dont cut corners on comfort, even while saving you money!
- Ocean View & Balcony Staterooms Get a little more space and a way better view with these rooms. Youll love the breathing room after a big day of fun in the sun.
- Suites Ready to feel like a VIP? Then youll definitely want a suite on the Not only are these rooms the best on board, they also come packed with perks.
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What Happened To The Original Mardi Gras Cruise Ship
Originally named the RMS Empress of Canada, the ship began service in 1960 as an ocean liner, regularly traversing the transatlantic route between Liverpool and Canada for more than a decade. Carnival Cruise Lines purchased the ship in 1972 and, after a few modifications and change of color scheme, renamed her Carnival sold the vessel in 1993, and it was scrapped in 2003.
First Roller Coaster At Sea
One of the most talked-about features aboard is the first roller coaster at sea, dubbed BOLT and part of the ships open-air recreation area, called the Ultimate Playground.
BOLT, with its all-electric, motorcycle-style vehicles, features an electric bolt theme . It traverses an 800-foot track that climbs and crawls, dips and swings over the deck at up to 40 miles per hour, sometimes reaching as much as 187 feet above the ocean. A unique feature allows guests to choose their own ride speed, allowing for greater personalization of the experience.
But below BOLT, cruisers will find the Ultimate Playground, which is one of the six themed zones on the ship .
The Ultimate Playground will include the largest WaterWorks water park in the entire Carnival fleet, with three water slides, including the 312-foot Blue Lightning, the 229-foot Orange Thunder, and the well-known Carnival Twister water slide.
The Ultimate Playground also includes a SportSquare sports complex, a 600-foot ropes course , a mini-golf course, basketball court, and outdoor fitness areas.
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The Original Mardi Gras: The First Carnival Cruise Ship
In only a short two months Carnival Cruise Line expects to launch its newest member of the Carnival Family: . It will be the ultimate fun ship, and one of the most ambitious that Carnival Cruise Line has attempted.
Back in 1972, it was a whole different challenge that Ted Arison was about to undertake when he purchased the RMS Empress of Canada. It would be a ship that changed the history of cruising forever and whose name lives on today.
Ted Arison certainly had an eye for choosing the right ship the RMS Empress of Canada was a well-maintained vessel and certainly in better shape than some pre-war vessels offering cruises from Miami.
RMS Empress of Canada was an ocean liner built in 1961 by Vickers-Armstrongs, Walker-on-Tyne, England, for Canadian Pacific Steamships Ltd. The liner sailed in the trans-Atlantic trade between Liverpool and Canada.
So when Arison bought the ship, there wasnt much to do. Which, it turns out, was a good thing.
Oh The Places You’ll Cruise
When you cruise from Port Canaveral, you know that youre going to be soaking up sunshine in the Caribbean. And the offers all of the best places to go.
Currently on the schedule are 6-day, 7-day, and 8-day cruises to the Eastern, Western, and Southern Caribbean. You can plan to enjoy the beautiful island beaches and serene sights at Nassau, San Juan, Grand Turk, Amber Cove, Cozumel, Aruba, and even more popular locales!
Is the travelling to your favorite Caribbean destinations?
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Carnival Mardi Gras Onboard Costs
Another way to gauge the cost of a cruise is to consider how much you’ll spend on board. Even though a lot is included in the base cruise fare, you may still spend money on things like spa treatments, specialty dining, drinks, and excursions. In addition, guests can also have to pay for things like gratuities and tips.
Typically guests can expect to spend about 25 – 40% of the cost of the cruise on onboard expenses. In other words, if the cruise fare is $1,000 per person, you might spend between $250 and $400 on extra expenses.
The table below will help you understand what you might spend onboard a Carnival ship.
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How Big Is Carnival’s Mardi Gras Cruise Ship
At the time of writing, is the ninth-largest cruise ship in the world. The vessel is over 180,000 gross tons with a length of 1,130 feet, a beam of 137 feet, and a height of 19 decks. The 2,641 onboard staterooms can carry a maximum of 6,500 passengers at maximum capacity and a crew of 1,745 individuals.
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Cloud 9 Spa Thermal Suite
Getting a Cloud 9 thermal suite pass for the day or week is the ultimate way to spend the day if you dont want to get off the ship or are not a sun person. There is a mineral pool, heated tile loungers, steam, and dry heat chambers, and rainfall showers to wash your stress away.
This is area is capacity controlled, meaning they only sell a certain amount of passes per week until it is declared sold out.
In addition to these 21 must do suggestions, an additional recommendation was made by numerous guests book again. Its impossible to experience everything available on this cruise ship in a single sailing.
With so many great features, Carnival Cruise Lines new keeps guests coming back for more.
Carnival Mardi Gras Ship Tour
Health & Safety On Carnival Cruise Ship Mardi Gras
The Carnival Mardi Gras ship sails under a requirement to have 95 percent of its passengers vaccinated against COVID-19. All passengers 12 years of age or older are required to be fully vaccinated. At the time of writing, capacity on the ship is being capped at 70 percent. As protocols and requirements are constantly evolving, we recommend consulting the Carnival Cruise website for the most up-to-date information.
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Best New Cruise Ship Based On Ratings
This latest award Best New Cruise Ship of 2021 from Cruiseline.coms 2022 Member Choice Awards is a culmination of more than 4,000 rankings from the websites members, based on community-generated reviews. The reviews used to calculate the winning tally were posted from the industry restart in June 2021 through the end of the year.
debuted on July 31, 2021 with her inaugural sailing from Port Canaveral. The ship is now offering 7-night Caribbean itineraries, with both Eastern and Western ports of call on different sailings.
In the past eight months, the ship has been honored at a variety of maiden visits to popular ports throughout the Caribbean, including Amber Cove in the Dominican Republic, Nassau in The Bahamas, and Costa Maya in Mexico.
Several of the ships initial visits have had even more significance, such as being the first cruise ship to visit San Juan, Puerto Rico since the global industry shutdown, and being the first ship in the Carnival Cruise Line fleet to return to Nassau.