Carnival Cruise Line takes delivery of Mardi Gras

The first representative of Carnival’s XL-class, Mardi Gras is set to begin guest operations in April 2021 and two more sister ships are set to follow in 2022. At 340 m, the 180,000-gt vessel becomes the largest ship in Carnival’s fleet and the first to be powered by liquefied natural gas (LNG).

Mardi Gras will accommodate over 5,200 guests and a crew of 2,000. Guests will have the choice of more than 2,600 staterooms and 180 suites across 11 categories. The ship’s venues, dining and entertainment will be dispersed throughout six distinctive zones, and include a new restaurant by celebrity chef Emeril Lagasse, a new Big Chicken restaurant by Shaquille O’Neal, two dining venues led by celebrity chef Guy Fieri, and a new restaurant concept by Rudi Sodamin, a consultant master chef at Carnival Corp’s Holland America Line.

The centrepiece of the ship is a three-deck-high atrium with floor-to-ceiling windows and movable LED screens that open up to an ocean view. The vessel will also include BOLT – an onboard roller coaster.

Carnival Cruise Line president Christine Duffy said "We have been working tirelessly this year to get to this exciting day to take delivery of this beautiful ship, and the team at Meyer Turku has been an outstanding partner throughout this process,"

"I cannot wait for our guests and crew to see and experience Mardi Gras. Notwithstanding the delays related to the pandemic, there is tremendous enthusiasm and pent-up demand for this ship. Next we will work on the development of its sister ship, Carnival Celebration, which arrives in 2022 and has sold very well since inventory opened in October."

Meyer Turku chief executive Tim Meyer said "We are delivering a beautiful and highly advanced ship with world-class technology such as LNG propulsion, to name just one. With these sophisticated systems, it will be one of the most environmentally friendly ships to sail the North American waters. I am very proud of our team of shipbuilders and would like to thank everyone involved for their dedication during the building process.”

Mardi Gras will depart from Turku later this month to begin its voyage to North America. The ship will operate seven-day Caribbean itineraries from Port Canaveral, Florida where a new cruise terminal will accommodate the vessel and also facilitate the new LNG fuelling process.

Despite three Carnival Corporation subsidiaries – Princess Cruises, Holland America Line and Seabourn Cruise Line suspending sailings well into 2021, Mardi Gras’s maiden voyage is scheduled for 24 April 2021.