Mardi Gras

Mega ship Bliss scored

Enjoy cruising out of Port Canaveral, Fla., on the largest ship in the Carnival line. Tour ports of call across the Caribbean including Cancun, Grand Turk, Nassau and St. Thomas. Explore a ship with great restaurants including Emeril's Bistro 1396, Big…

5,282guests
180,000gross tons
12cruises now
$400fares from

Mardi Gras sails mostly seven-day round-trip sailings through the Western Caribbean.

At a glance

Mardi Gras is a mega-size cruise ship operated by Carnival Cruise Line, in service since 2021. It carries 5,282 guests and 1,745 crew (3.0 guests per crew member) at 180,000 gross tons. It is the 3rd largest of 27 Carnival Cruise Line ships by guest capacity. On Cruiseable's Bliss scale it scores highest for family friendly and party (9/10) and lowest for adventure & nature and cultural (5/10). It is rated 4.5 out of 5 by Cruiseable and 5 out of 5 by Cruise Critic. It has 12 cruises on sale, with lead fares from $400 to $910. 106 of its upcoming sailings dropped in price since the previous weekly fare check.

Builder's plate

Specs

Cruiseable: 4.5 / 5
Cruise Critic: 5 / 5

Guests: 5,282
Crew: 1,745
Gross tons: 180,000
Decks: 17
Length: 1,130 ft
Beam: 137 ft
Maiden voyage: 2021
Space ratio: 3.0; Gross tons per guest
Guests per crew: 3.0
Passenger decks: 17
IMO: 9837444

Bliss scores

What Mardi Gras is best at

Ten dimensions scored by our editors on a 10-point scale. The Cruiseable app ranks every cruise against the mix you care about.

Active 7.0
Adventure and nature 5.0
Cultural 5.0
Dining 7.0
Entertainment 7.0
Family friendly 9.0
Party 9.0
Romantic 6.0
Spa and fitness 7.0
Staterooms 7.0

Our review

Carnival's Mardi Gras has something for everyone

Snapshot

When you step on board Carnival Cruise Line's Mardi Gras, which debuted in July 2021, you will see all the great features you have come to expect from Carnival Cruises and then find all the new treasures on this ship.

Sail the Caribbean and enjoy ports of call such as Grand Turk, Amber Cove and Cozumel. You'll need to be comfortable with a megaship experience, though: Mardi Gras carries 5,282 passengers at double occupancy and 6,465 at full capacity.

Mardi Gras has five entertainment zones with restaurants and activities. Step into Grand Central, the atrium of the ship, with floor-to-ceiling windows for ocean views; it turns into an entertainment venue in the evening. The French Quarter features shops, eateries, bars and jazz with a New Orleans vibe. Summer Landing is a pool deck with BBQ and ice cream. La Piazza gathers all your Italian inspired favorites in one spot. The Lido is the main pool deck with dining choices and activities throughout the cruise.

Activities aboard include the first roller-coaster at sea called Bolt, the Ultimate Roller Coaster. Keep your heart rate up by spiraling down slides in Waterworks, and pit your skills against other passengers during Family Feud Live. Chill out at the Cloud 9 Spa, Serenity Adult Only Retreat and several lounges across the ship.

Mardi Gras is the first of three Excel class ships from Carnival.

Where Mardi Gras sails

Home port: Port Canaveral (Orlando)

Destinations: Mardi Gras generally offers 7-night sailings to such destinations as San Juan, Amber Cove, Grand Turk in the Eastern Caribbean and Cozumel, Costa Maya and Mahogany Bay in the Western Caribbean.

Read the full review

Interested in a cruise on this ship?

If you're interested in a cruise on Mardi Gras, contact a Cruiseable travel consultant at 1-877-322-3773 or by email. We can usually offer a better deal than you can get by contacting the cruise line directly.

SEE ALL MARDI GRAS SAILINGS

On board highlights

WaterWorks Main deck
Heroes Tribute Bar Deck 8
Family Harbor staterooms Decks 11-12

Dining

Where to eat on Mardi Gras

Photos

Inside and out

Dining 9

A rendering of Bonsai, the sushi-and-soy-sauce spot aboard Mardi Gras, Carnival's newest ship.
Carnival’s Mardi Gras will set sail with Emeril’s Bistro, the authentic New Orleans bayou restaurant from chef Emeril Lagasse (rendering).
A look at the Fahrenheit 555 Steakhouse aboard Carnival’s new ship, Mardi Gras (rendering).
A look at the upscale Flamingo restaurant that will debut on Carnival’s Mardi Gras (rendering).
The Palm restaurant, one of the main dining venues on Carnival's Mardi Gras (rendering).
Skilled teppanyaki chefs perform culinary feats nightly at Bonsai Teppanyaki on your Carnival cruise.
Enjoy premium-quality steaks, fresh seafood, salads and gourmet starters at the alternative restaurant Fahrenheit 555 on your Carnival cruise.
For an extra fee, Chef's Table is your chance for a multi-course dinner prepared specially by the executive chef.
Head to Guy's Pig and Anchor Bar-B-Que, featuring smoked beef, pork, andouille sausage and all the sides, during your Carnival cruise.

On board 12

Stop by the Alchemy Bar and let the mixologist whip up a tasty cocktail on Carnival’s Mardi Gras (rendering).
A rendering of the atrium aboard Mardi Gras, the largest ship in the Carnival fleet.
You can get some quality Beach Pool time aboard Carnival’s Mardi Gras (rendering).
Carnival's newest bar concept, the Heroes Tribute Bar, features all-American decor with the logos of the five armed service branches of the U.S. military as well as patriotic and military memorabilia (rendering).
Carnival brings a cruiser favorite, the Pig and Anchor Brewery, to its new ship Mardi Gras when it launches in 2021 (rendering).
Take a wild ride or just splash around on the WaterWorld aboard Carnival’s Mardi Gras (rendering).
Head to the Alchemy Bar on your Carnival cruise, featuring your favorite drinks as well as new and innovative cocktails.
Enjoy a night of gaming at the casino during your Carnival cruise.
Relax in the Cloud 9 Thermal Lounge, where the temperature is always perfect, during your Carnival getaway.
Enjoy music with a Cuban beat at Havana Bar on your Carnival cruise.
Head to the Havana Bar for daiquiris, mojitos and great music during your Carnival cruise.
Choose your show and laugh out loud at Punchliner Comedy Club, one of the entertainment options during your Carnival sailing.