Mardi Gras ship stats

  • Price:

    $$$$
  • Size:

    XL
  • Total Passengers:

    6,338
  • Total Crew:

    1,745
  • Passenger to Crew Ratio:

    3.63
  • Built:

    Aug 2020
  • Number of Decks:

    15
  • Total Cabins:

    2,646
  • Cabin Categories:

    55
  • Gross Tonnage:

    183,900
  • Length:

    1,129
  • Beam:

    42

Mardi Gras overview

By Cruiseline.com Staff - Updated Mar. 9, 2020

With a maiden voyage scheduled for summer 2020, Mardi Gras will be Carnival’s newest and largest-ever ship. Sharing a name with Carnival’s first vessel launched back in 1972, Mardi Gras will continue the cruise line’s reputation for laidback fun with revolutionary new amenities, including BOLT, the first-ever roller coaster at sea. And while the ship includes classic Carnival favorites such as Alchemy Bar, Fahrenheit 555 Steakhouse, and the Serenity adults-only retreat, brand new experiences that are still in the works haven’t even been announced yet.

Mardi Gras is divided into six themed zones, each offering passengers a unique onboard experience. For a dose of adventure, cruisers can visit the family-friendly Ultimate Playground, which boasts the fleet’s largest WaterWorks water park and Carnival’s SportSquare athletic area, while travelers looking for a cooler vibe should check out the New Orleans-inspired French quarter, which includes jazz clubs, funky boutiques, and creole cuisine at Emeril’s Bistro 1396.

Designed with family appeal, Mardi Gras offers plenty of activities for the kids. Young cruisers can enjoy supervised fun at Carnival’s Camp Ocean, while Circle C provides a hangout for tweens. For teens, Club O2 offers opportunities to socialize and even attend an onboard prom.

Carnival’s Mardi Gras will sail year-round from Florida’s Port Canaveral, offering 6- to 15-day cruises to popular Caribbean ports. Cruises will alternate between eastern and western Caribbean destinations, with additional voyages to the southern Caribbean. Ports of call on eastern Caribbean voyages may include San Juan, Grand Turk, and Amber Cove, while western Caribbean trips take cruisers to Cozumel, Mahogany Bay, and Costa Maya. Southern Caribbean cruises stop at St. Thomas, St. Kitts, Aruba, and Curacao.

Carnival Mardi Gras is best for

With its wealth of activities, entertainment, and dining options, Carnival Mardi Gras is for cruisers who crave variety and casual fun, along with families and multigenerational groups.

Carnival Mardi Gras ship highlights

  • Six themed Zones: Grand Central, French Quarter, Summer Landing, La Piazza, Lido, and Ultimate Playground
  • SportSquare: SkyCourse ropes course, SkyFitness gym, miniature golf, sports courts, and a jogging track
  • BOLT: Ultimate Sea Coaster
  • Kid-friendly activities: Camp Ocean, Club O2, Circle C, Dr. Seuss Bookville
  • Serenity adults-only retreat
  • Big Chicken by Shaq
  • WaterWorks water park featuring three spiraling slides
  • Cloud 9 Spa
  • Punchliner Comedy Club
  • Casino
  • RedFrog Tiki Bar
  • Emeril’s Bistro 1396
  • Playlist Productions’ themed musicals
  • Havana cabins with exclusive bar and pool
  • Family Harbor cabins with exclusive lounge
  • Carnival Excel Suites with Loft 19 sundeck access
  • Five swimming pools and five whirlpools

You should know

With up to 5,282 passengers, Mardi Gras won’t appeal to cruisers looking to avoid crowded spaces and booked venues. The ship’s sheer size may also be a put-off to travelers who prefer their amenities within a short walking distance.

Mardi Gras ratings:

  • Cabin / Stateroom 4.5
  • Children's Programs 4.0
  • Entertainment 4.3
  • Food and Dining 4.2
  • Onboard Activities 4.3
  • Service and Staff 4.6
  • Ship Quality 4.5

Mardi Gras cabins

2646 cabins and 55 cabin categories.

Inside Cabin

Inside

(78 Reviews)
Avg. Size: 164 sq. ft. Avg. Cost: $130/night
Oceanview Cabin

Oceanview

(22 Reviews)
Avg. Size: 257 sq. ft. Avg. Cost: $163/night
Balcony Cabin

Balcony

(267 Reviews)
Avg. Size: 202 sq. ft. Avg. Cost: $176/night
Suite Cabin

Suite

(26 Reviews)
Avg. Size: 377 sq. ft. Avg. Cost: $280/night

View All Mardi Gras Cabins

Mardi Gras dining

Pizza Delivery

Pizza Delivery

5.0
(3 Reviews)
Carnival Kitchen

Carnival Kitchen

4.9
(9 Reviews)
La Piazza

La Piazza

4.8
(15 Reviews)
Swirls

Swirls

4.8
(11 Reviews)

View All Mardi Gras Dining Options

Mardi Gras onboard activities

Dreams Studio

Dreams Studio

5.0
(3 Reviews)
Loft 19 Cabana & Pool

Loft 19 Cabana & Pool

5.0
(4 Reviews)
Alchemy Bar

Alchemy Bar

4.9
(43 Reviews)
Brass Magnolia Bar

Brass Magnolia Bar

4.8
(30 Reviews)

View All Mardi Gras Onboard Activities

Mardi Gras deck plans

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1393 Mardi Gras Reviews

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Enjoyed Almost Everything by MoeCruises

Sail date: / Traveled as: Couple
Ship: Mardi Gras

Everything was great except the excursion in Grand Turk.

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3 Comments

Much to do and spacious rooms by cschapker

Sail date: / Traveled as: Large Group
Ship: Mardi Gras

Clean, spacious, quiet rooms. Brought wine and soft drinks and kept in fridge and drank from our own packed insulated cups. Many activities to do. Busy, laid back, whatever you wish to do many areas to sit by pool, quiet areas and busy. Great options for many.

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Was this review helpful? 5
6 Comments

Another nice cruise with carnival by daunz

Sail date: / Traveled as: Couple
Ship: Mardi Gras

Second time on this ship, came back because we really liked it. The shows and the comics were really good…food is decent, not gourmet, but so many options (most are included) you could find something you liked. Saw lots of reviews on social media saying food was terrible! Not true! I’m a pretty good cook , I was in the restaurant business,and we live in an area known for great Italian food amongst other cuisines. Not everything is exactly how I would prepare it, but the cruise line has to accommodate tastes of people from all over the country and we all have different ideas of what’s good so I’m content with what they prepare….for 7000 passengers. I bet some of the negative remarks come from people raised on frozen and fast food (yuck). No one complains about the quantity though!

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Was this review helpful? 9
6 Comments

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