I would chose the Mardi Gras’ Havana Experience for an adult’s only escape but also recommend the ship for great family fun and activities as well! The ship is an excellent choice for your next cruise! I’m hopping its itinerary will include Carnival’s new private island, Celebration Key, starting in 2025. Carnival has a way of making cruisers feel appreciated and therefore they are well taken care of. I read a review after our recent cruise which sums it up… “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.”
Embarkation
5 out of 5
One of the quickest embarkation experiences I’ve encountered over four different cruise lines I’ve sailed on.
Ship experiences
Food and Dining
4 out of 5
While we did not sample any specially dining we heard everyone who did speak very highly of it. The main dining room is a must when time allows… especially Seaday Brunch. The buffet is limited compared to other cruise lines I’ve experienced but with so many other options like Chibang and Cucina del Capitano (first visit), Guy's Pig & Anchor Bar-B-Que Smokehouse, BlueIguana Cantina, Guy’s Burger Joint, Big Chicken, Street Eats, Piazza Panini and Pizzeria del Capitano included it is more than adequate.
Onboard Activities
5 out of 5
There is so much for the young and older cruisers to do on the Mardi Gras! While we skipped the outdoor activities such as mini-golf, waterslides and its famous “Bolt” roller coaster (we watched though), we attended multiple events (White and 80’s parties) game shows (Deal or No Deal, Family Feud and Love and Marriage) and comedy routines (family or adult comedy in different venues). Mardi Gras’ multiple venues (main theater, mid-ship stage and comedy clubs) provide lots of entertainment options!
Entertainment
5 out of 5
The stage shows, musicians and performers were top notch! Walking along the 8th deck (our home floor) we often caught parts of the mid-ship performances without sitting on Deck’s 6 or 7. My fellow traveler was more sensitive to the volume so we did not attend many. I would highly recommend attending though.
Children's Programs
We did not travel with any children
Service and Staff
5 out of 5
Carnival’s staff are friendly, efficient and want to make your cruise experience the best it can be!!
Ship Quality
5 out of 5
The ship is well maintained and clean. Deck 8 is a main hub (you can walk all the way through) with many food opportunities and easy access to seating for center stage performances there or taking the stairs to deck 7. Our adults only Havana experience (front of the ship) was on deck 8. I highly recommend trying it on the Mardi Gras.
Cabin / Stateroom
5 out of 5
My fellow traveler and I woke up in port on a different cruise line in the Caribbean last spring with the Mardi Gras docked along side. When we saw the Havana balconies on the ship we knew that was a future cruise we wanted to experience. We researched Carnival’s handful of ships offering the Havana Experience and landed on that exact ship. The balcony rooms furtherest away from the front offer shared loungers right off the room or there are plenty in the bar area. We opted for the port side opposite the bar area and weren’t disappointed. The balcony has a swing and two chairs to lounge there if you like. I didn’t find privacy to be an issue and one day while relaxing in the bar area we were gifted a “duck” from above. The pool is small but adequate to sit and sip or just cool off. Serenity’s adult only area on deck 18 in the front of the ship has a pool and two whirlpool spas.
Ship tip
Carnival’s HUB app is a must while on the ship… it tell’s you what current food options are available, the entire agenda (you can change the day at the top), allows you to mark favorites so they show up in your planner and even notify you of the event and lets you book a realtime restaurant reservation if you have anytime dining. If the wait is longer than you one you can cancel and select another. Also, restroom doors are touchless… when using single rest rooms (either solo or within a shared restroom) use the touch less wall sensor to lock… not the toggle switch as it won’t lock. It takes 20 seconds for those doors to close… be patient. Great for disabled travelers!!
If you liked the Havana experience on Mardis Gras, you should try it on a Vista class ship. My wife and I had a cabana room in the Horizon and absolutely loved it!
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