Many thanks to Chelsea Stromfeld of Carnival Cruise Line for supplying photographs!

More photographs of Mardi Gras call at Rotterdam port here

Carnival Cruises has come a long way since their first Mardi Gras, the former Canadian Pacific liner Empress of Canada entered service in 1972.  At the time the company struggled to make ends meet, but today it not only operates the Carnival Cruises fleet of 24 Fun Ships, but also owns an empire of 9 brands like for example Aida, P&O, Costa, Princess, Holland America and Seabourn. In September 2016 Carnival signed a memorandum of agreement with Meyer Werft, Turku to build two 180,000 GRT ships for Carnival Cruise Line, with deliveries planned in 2020 and 2022 respectively. In November 2018, steel-cutting for the first of the new ships started and in July 2019 the keel-laying ceremony took place at Meyer Turku. Her engine room was constructed at Neptun Werft in Rostock (part of the Meyer Group) and arrived in Turku in May 2019. In April 2020 a fire started on board which was quickly under control and luckily caused minimal damage. Delayed sveral times because of the COVID-19 pandemic, she was ultimately delivered in December 2020.

In the American television game show Wheel of Fortune her name was initially revealed as Carnival Mardi Gras, in honour of Carnival’s first Mardi Gras. However her name does not include the Carnival-prefix which is a first since the Fantasy-class ships were introduced. She is one of the Excellence-class ships currently being built for several Carnival Corp. brands.

Mardi Gras is the first Carnival vessel to feature new hull livery: its red-white-blue hull design has been created by naval architects Bluarch Architecture from New York. They are the colors of the US-flag and by using them Carnival wants to emphasize the American roots of the company.

Measuring 181,808GRT, with a length of 344 metres and a lower berth capacity of 5200 passengers Excellence-class ships rank among the largest in the world. Only the 225,000GRT Royal Caribbean Oasis-class vessels surpass them at the moment. Propulsion is by two 37 mega watt azimuth electric motors which are powered by machinery running on LNG (liquified natural gas). Environmental groups but also strict government regulations concerning pollution and greenhouse gasses in particular were the main reasons to prefer LNG-propulsion.

Of course Mardi Gras’ trademark will be BOLT, the ultimate rollercoaster at sea, designed and constructed by Maurer Rides, a German company from Munich. Placed on her top deck aft 57 metres above sea level, it has a length of 244 metres and includes a high-speed turn around her funnel. Two riders compete with speeds up to 64 km/h (40 mph). After the race individual speeds are shown on the scoreboard.

There are 2642 staterooms divided into 22 categories on board Mardi Gras, of which 70% are outside cabins. 600 family cabins are interconnecting (300 pairs); the ship’s most spectacular staterooms are two-level duplex suites. Furthermore guests can choose from 180 suites on board and these include 32 staterooms of the new Carnival Excel class offering several VIP amenities. These Excel cabins consist of different types of staterooms like the Havana staterooms with direct access to an exclusive Sundeck area Havana Outside with lounge chairs, pool and bar (and real palm trees!). Another example are Family Harbor staterooms with direct access to the exclusive Family Harbor Lounge which is -as the name implies- dedicated to families having round the clock complimentary dining, video games, movies, board games and even concierge and babysitting services. Finally Cloud 9 Spa staterooms offer exclusive Spa related amenities, like bathrobes, slippers and high-end Elemis brand toiletries. Excel staterooms were introduced on board the Vista-class vessels and have proven to be extremely popular.

Excel-class staterooms have exclusive access to Loft 19, a premium resort complex located on deck 19, Mardi Gras’ top deck. Guests have a bar, pool and even private cabanas with beverages, bathrobes and towels as well as full concierge service at their disposal. These cabanas can also be reserved by other guests but Excel suite passengers have priority.

All suites offer a VIP package which includes priority embarkation/ debarkation, a direct phone line for concierge services and priority main dining room seating etc.

Mardi Gras’ originally planned 2020 cruise schedule had to be cancelled due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Originally, The cancelled 2020 itinerary program consisted of a 9-day maiden trip from Copenhagen to Southampton visiting Kiel, Gothenburg, Oslo, Rotterdam, Zeebrugge and Le Havre, followed by a two-week Transatlantic crossing from Southampton to New York calling at the Canary Islands of Las Palmas and Tenerife, Funchal, Madeira and Ponta Delgada, the Azores.

After two cruises repositioning her to the Caribbean she should have started her 7-day Caribbean program on October 24, offering two weekly alternating itineraries: The 7-day Eastern Caribbean itinerary from Port Canaveral visiting San Juan (Puerto Rico), Amber Cove (Dominican Republic) and Grand Turk Island. The Western Caribbean itinerary calls at Mexico (Cozumel, Costa Maya) and Honduras (Roatan Island, Mahogany Bay). Port Canaveral will be her homeport for these cruises, she will dock at the new Terminal 3.

This now had to be postponed to May 29, 2021, Carnival has recently announced (mid Janury) that cruises planned through April and May will be cancelled also and an ongoing pause in worldwide cruising could last even (much) longer. This week (week 3, 2021) Carnival stated in a financial call that their financial status allows the company to survive a pause in cruising lasting pretty much through all of 2021…

Mardi Gras will feature 6 themed zones, called neighborhoods: Grand Central, French Quarter, La Piazza, Lido, The Ultimate Playground and Summer Landing.

Grand Central atrium (situated midships on Decks 6, 7 and 8) is a multifunctional space: it is part entertainment venue featuring spectacular aerial performances, stand-up comedy acts, dancing and acrobatics. Guests can watch but also make use of 16 large LED screens (sized 6×14 ft / 1,8×4,3 sqm). It also houses a lounge/ bar overlooking the starboard side of Mardi Gras featuring 3-deck high floor-to-ceiling windows (3000 sqft/ 280-sqm). Punchliner Comedy Club, the Piano Bar 88 and the restaurants Bonsai Sushi, Bonsai Teppanyaki can be accessed from the Grand Central just like the Mardi Gras Casino and The Fun Shops (retail shops with Special Occasions shop selling bon voyage gifts, Carnival cruise packages, gifts and specialty items and also including Cherry on Top being a Carnival signature shop selling all sorts of sweets).

On its top-level, deck 8, the Grand View Bar has floor-to-ceiling windows and features a virtual waterfall displayed on semi-transparent panels. One deck down the Center Stage Bar serves cocktails inspired by the theme of that evening’s entertainment. Finally on its lowest level, deck 6, the Cherry on Top candy shop and the Java Blue Café offering specialty coffees and light food are situated.

French Quarter (deck 6 aft) houses multiple bars and restaurants and gives access to the New Orleans jazz club The Brass Magnolia via a two level promenade. Punchliner Comedy Club is a multi-functional space, used for art auctions, Karaoke and shows, while Piano Bar 88 cocktail bar features a grand piano for intimate performances.

For Italian-style food and drinks visit the La Piazza neigborhood midships on deck 8: Music and drinks are on offer at the La Piazza bar/ lounge, seafood is served at the Cucina del Capitano and a good old fashioned pizza is available at the Pizzeria del Capitano.

Lido (decks 16 and 17 aft), the pool area which no one will leave hungry as it is home to the Big Chicken by Shaq, a take-away food bar and Street Eats (buffet style presented street food), both new eateries within The Carnival fleet and also BlueIguana Cantina, Guy’s Burger Joint and the Seafood Shack.

The Ultimate Playground (Decks 18-20) is the place for the active young (at heart..):  BOLT – Ultimate Sea Coaster” (the first of its kind at sea) can be found here as well as the Water Works aquapark and SkyRide where passengers ride a hanging bike around a 800ft/ 244m suspended track 150ft/ 46m above sea level! SkyCourse, a ropes course and Skyride are part of SportSquare where passengers can also get active with a mini-golf course, playing ping-pong and basketball, do some jogging or visit the Clubhouse.

Summer Landing (aft on deck 8) houses Guy’s Pig & Anchor Smokehouse/ Brewhouse serving BBQ food by Guy Fieri, an American restaurateur, author, and an Emmy Award winning television presenter and where guests can enjoy four different craft beers brewed on board as well as The Watering Hole, an alfresco bar. This neighborhood also features an outdoor deck area with two whirlpools, an infinity pool and a partly outdoors sports bar.

On deck 18 forward, the adults-only retreat Serenity features cabanas, a pool, whirlpools and a salad bar Fresh Creations.

Carnival Cruise Line’s entertainment team has teamed up with producers from Los Angeles (Broadway) and London (West End) which resulted in 3 new signature shows: Celestial Strings, a mix of classical music and pop, Soulbound a New-Orleans inspired R&B music production and finally Vintage Pop, based on Gatsby’s Cotton Club where modern songs are changed into classic jazz interpretations performed live by a jazz band.

The Mardi Gras Theatre is the main show lounge for these spectacular production shows.

Other entertainment venues are:

• The Limelight Lounge for more intimate performances by vocalists, musicians, and stand-up comedians.
• The Havana Bar, an authentic Cuban cafe with live Latin music. After midnight, it transforms into a Latin nightclub.
• Mardi Gras Casino is a Vegas-style gambling casino with its gaming tables and slot machines.

Fancy a drink? Here are just a few possibilities… At Guys Pig & Anchor Smokehouse/ Brewhouse, 4 new craft beers ParchedPig Farmhouse, ParchedPig Farmhouse Ale, ParchedPig Toasted Amber Ale and ParchedPig West Coast IPA can be enjoyed . They were developed by Carnival brewmaster Colin Presby and are brewed onboard. Part of The Patio at Summer Landing, The Watering Hole is a backyard-like designed outdoor bar offering beers and cocktails, while RedFrog Tiki Bar reminds of a tropical South Pacific Island, being a 2-level bar decorated with floral patterns and bright colors. Lanai Bar BQ Bar situated at the Lanai promenade is partly outdoors. Aft on the ship, poolside, we find the Tides Bar and a bar guests absolutely may not skip, is the in a classical style decorated Alchemy Bar, a cocktail bar where professional mixologists, no ordinary bartenders (they are dressed in lab coats!) create handcrafted cocktails and whatever drinks guests desire.

Mardi Gras is the ideal holiday destination for families. Especially for the kids and youngsters on board kids club lounge Circle C, teens club Club O2, Dr Seuss Bookville (a family-themed indoor playground with a kids library), Camp Ocean which formerly was Camp Carnival, the overall youth activities program, the video arcade Warehouse and finally the Creative Cove for kids arts and crafts workshops are available. It is simply not possible to get bored on board Mardi Gras…

When it comes to dining or simply enjoying drinks on board Mardi Gras, there is so much choice that it is impossible to experience it all in a one-week cruise, here is a selection of the wide array of eateries:

• Mardi Gras’ main dining room is the 2-level Palm Restaurant aft on decks 6 and 7,
• Situated in the French Quarter on deck 6 is the specialty restaurant of celebrity chef Emeril Lagasse. This famous chef owns 11 land-based restaurants (4 of them in New Orleans) and is known for his shows on the Food Network TV-channel. New Orleans cuisine and spicy creole specialties are served here,

• The ships main eateries for Asian-style food are Ji Ji Asian Kitchen restaurant and the Japanese specialty restaurant Bonsai Teppanyaki which is part of the Bonsai Sushi restaurant (Promenade-Havana deck). This restaurant features a live cooking show by its chefs,
• For meat lovers: Guy’s Pig and Anchor Smokehouse/ Brewhouse offering BBQ food (smoked on board !) by Guy Fieri and Fahrenheit 555 Steakhouse (partly outdoors),
•  Pizzeria del Capitano (24-hour complimentary pizzeria restaurant), Cucina del Capitano and The Seafood Shack a colonial New England-inspired seafood restaurant, partly outdoors,
• Another specialty restaurant is Rudi’s Seagrill (deck 8 between Summer Landing and La Piazza), a seafood restaurant by Rudi Sodamin, known as Holland America Line’s Master Chef seating 80 guests indoors and also offers alfresco dining on The Lanai, the outside promenade.
• Street Eats is a complimentary eatery located next to Seafood Shack serving street food to go.

• Aft on Lido deck Big Chicken by Shaq (specialty restaurant by basketball player Shaquille O’Neal who created serveral menu items himself or used his favorite recipes.
• Guy’s Burger Joint” (by Guy Fieri),

• As on all Fun Ships, for a fee of $75 gustes can book the Chef’s Table, a VIP dining experience for 12 guests prepared by the Mardi Gras’  head chef. Dinner is erved in a separate room in the galley and includes a kitchen tour.
• And finally the self-service buffet restaurant Lido Marketplace.

As already mentioned, Mardi Gras is an Excellence-class vessel and she will be followed by sister ship Carnival Celebration in 2022. Ships of this series built for other Carnival Corp. brands are Iona (2020) for P&O, Costa Smeralda (2019) for Costa to be followed by Costa Toscana and three Aida vessels AIDAnova (2018), AIDAcosma to follow in 2021 as well as a still unnamed ship in 2023.

Mardi Gras will be homeported in Port Canaveral, Florida and to be able to accommodate her, the existing Terminal 3 was demolished and construction of a new terminal costing over $160 million was started in 2019. For safety reasons, there will be no land-based LNG-tanks, so refuelling will take place with the use of barges.

When cruising will start up again sometime in 2021, and with current bookings for 2022 reportedly already exceeding 2019 levels, Carnival -having disposed of less efiicient units within the fleet- can look to the future with confidence as Mardi Gras and her sister will undoubtedly attract a loyal following!