Carnival Cruise Line · All Carnival Cruise Line ships · Excel Class

Mardi Gras: ship guide

BOLT, the first roller coaster at sea, and six zones on cruises from Port Canaveral.

Best for: Families and groups who want the roller coaster, the biggest WaterWorks in the fleet and Emeril’s cooking on a weeklong Caribbean cruise from Port Canaveral, or a 4- or 5-day Bahamas getaway from May 2027. Sails from Port Canaveral in 2026 and 2027.

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Mardi Gras
Mardi Gras
180,800gross tons
5,270guests at double occupancy
1,735crew
2021entered service
1,130 ftlong

About Mardi Gras

Mardi Gras launched Carnival’s Excel Class in July 2021 and carries the name of the line’s very first ship, the 1972 TSS Mardi Gras. Built by Meyer Turku in Finland, she was the first cruise ship in North America powered by liquefied natural gas, measures 180,800 gross tons and carries 5,270 guests at double occupancy with 1,735 crew. Carnival organized the ship into six zones: Grand Central, French Quarter, La Piazza, Summer Landing, Lido and The Ultimate Playground.

The headline is BOLT, the all-electric roller coaster that lets riders control their own speed along a track 187 feet above the sea. Beyond it the ship suits families and groups of friends who want variety: Emeril Lagasse’s first restaurant at sea in the French Quarter, Rudi’s Seagrill, the largest WaterWorks in the fleet, a full SportSquare and adults-only escapes at Serenity and the Havana pool. Family Harbor, Havana and Cloud 9 Spa staterooms each come with their own lounge or deck.

Through spring 2027 Mardi Gras sails 7-day Eastern and Western Caribbean cruises round trip from Port Canaveral, calling at Celebration Key, Grand Turk, Amber Cove, Nassau, Cozumel and Mahogany Bay. From May 22, 2027 she switches to 4- and 5-day Bahamas cruises visiting Celebration Key, RelaxAway Half Moon Cay and Nassau, which Carnival says makes her the largest ship ever to sail short cruises.

  • BOLT, the first roller coaster at sea, an all-electric ride where you control the speed
  • Six themed zones: Grand Central, French Quarter, La Piazza, Summer Landing, Lido and The Ultimate Playground
  • Emeril’s Bistro 1396, Emeril Lagasse’s first restaurant at sea, in the New Orleans-inspired French Quarter
  • Carnival WaterWorks with three large spiraling slides, twin racing slides and a giant dumping bucket
  • Grand Central atrium with three-deck floor-to-ceiling windows and Center Stage shows
  • Loft 19 retreat with an infinity whirlpool and rentable cabanas, included for Carnival Excel Suite guests
  • Havana pool and bar for Havana stateroom guests, plus the adults-only Serenity retreat
  • Every 2026-2027 sailing calls at Celebration Key on Grand Bahama

Staterooms and suites

Interior

Standard Interior rooms plus Premium Interior rooms that use the same floor plan as a balcony room with a sofa sitting area; Havana, Cloud 9 Spa and Family Harbor Interior versions add the perks of those programs.

Ocean View

Picture-window rooms, including Family Harbor Ocean View rooms with nautical decor next to the Family Harbor Lounge and Cloud 9 Spa Ocean View rooms with spa access.

Balcony

Standard, Extended and Premium-View Extended Balcony rooms, Junior Balcony rooms with the same balcony and a smaller interior, and Cove Balcony rooms close to the waterline; Cloud 9 Spa balcony and cove versions include thermal suite access.

Havana Cabanas

Havana Cabana and Extended Cabana rooms have a floor-to-ceiling window and a private patio with deck chairs, and Havana guests get exclusive daytime use of the Havana pool and bar; all guests in Havana rooms must be 12 or older.

Family Harbor

Family Harbor Interior, Ocean View and the five-berth Family Harbor Ocean View Suite with a separate bedroom, walk-in closet and second washroom; guests share the Family Harbor Lounge with breakfast, snacks, games and movies, and kids eat free in most specialty restaurants.

Suites

Ocean Suites, Cloud 9 Spa Suites and Havana Cabana Suites sit below the Carnival Excel Suites: the Excel Suite, Excel Corner Suite, Excel Aft Suite with a private hot tub and the Excel Presidential Suite with a separate living room, wet bar and wraparound balcony with hot tub; all Excel Suites include concierge service, Loft 19 access and priority cabana reservations.

Mardi Gras deck plans

Deck by deck, straight from our booking engine: the plan, the stateroom categories on that deck and the public rooms. Pick a deck.

Deck 19 plan

Deck 19

Boarding Area, The Ultimate Playground, BOLT, Pool.

  • Loft 19Loft 19.
  • Bolt : Ultimate Sea CoasterAboard Mardi Gras, you’ll meet BOLTâ„¢: the fastest - and first! - rollercoaster at sea. Strap in and zoom your motorcycle-style speed machine around an open-air course high, high above sea level.
  • The Ultimate PlaygroundThe Ultimate Playground.

Plans are the cruise line’s current drawings as supplied to our booking engine. Layouts change with refurbishments; your SmartCruiser advisor confirms the exact stateroom when you book.

On board Mardi Gras

Zumbini
Zumbini
Zspa
Zspa
White Hot Night Party
White Hot Night Party
Waterworks
Waterworks
Watches
Watches
Volleyball
Volleyball
Video Arcade
Video Arcade
Twister Waterslide
Twister Waterslide
Tides Pool
Tides Pool
The Watering Hole
The Watering Hole
The Ultimate Playground
The Ultimate Playground
The Brass Magnolia
The Brass Magnolia

Dining on Mardi Gras

Main Dining RoomsIncluded

Two main restaurants with a changing three-course menu each night and Seaday Brunch.

Lido MarketplaceIncluded

The buffet on Lido with international stations for breakfast, lunch and dinner.

ChiBang!Included

Chinese and Mexican dishes on one menu in La Piazza, included for your first visit.

Cucina del CapitanoIncluded

Family-style Italian dinner in La Piazza, included for your first visit, with Pizzeria del Capitano and Piazza Panini nearby.

Big Chicken, Guy’s Burger Joint, BlueIguana Cantina and Street EatsIncluded

Shaquille O’Neal’s chicken sandwiches, Guy Fieri burgers, tacos and burritos, and three street-food windows in Summer Landing and on Lido.

Emeril’s Bistro 1396Specialty

Emeril Lagasse’s first restaurant at sea, serving New Orleans Creole and seafood classics in the French Quarter.

Rudi’s SeagrillSpecialty

Seafood from master chef Rudi Sodamin, with courses built around the catch.

Fahrenheit 555 SteakhouseSpecialty

Carnival’s signature steakhouse with aged cuts and a classic wine list.

Bonsai Sushi and Bonsai TeppanyakiSpecialty

Made-to-order sushi and sashimi, and tableside teppanyaki shows.

Guy’s Pig & Anchor Smokehouse | BrewhouseSpecialty

Smoked barbecue and beers brewed on board in Summer Landing.

Entertainment and activities

  • Playlist Productions shows and a rotating lineup on Center Stage in Grand Central
  • BOLT roller coaster above The Ultimate Playground
  • Carnival WaterWorks with three spiraling slides and twin racing slides
  • SportSquare with a mini-golf course, full-court basketball and a ropes course
  • The Punchliner Comedy Club, Piano Bar 88 and Family Feud Live
  • Live jazz at The Brass Magnolia, cocktails at Fortune Teller and espresso by day at Bar della Rosa
  • Serenity adults-only retreat, the Havana pool and Loft 19
  • Cloud 9 Spa with thermal suites and a fitness center

Families and who it suits

Camp Ocean runs supervised programs for ages 2 to 11 in three groups (Penguins 2 to 5, Stingrays 6 to 8, Sharks 9 to 11), with Circle C for ages 12 to 14 and Club O2 for 15 to 17. Family Harbor staterooms share a private lounge with breakfast, snacks, games and movies, and the Ultimate Playground pairs WaterWorks with the BOLT coaster.

Best for: Families and groups who want the roller coaster, the biggest WaterWorks in the fleet and Emeril’s cooking on a weeklong Caribbean cruise from Port Canaveral, or a 4- or 5-day Bahamas getaway from May 2027.

Sails from: Port Canaveral · Regions: Eastern Caribbean, Western Caribbean, Bahamas

Days ashore

Shore excursions in Mardi Gras’ upcoming ports

The ports on Mardi Gras’ next sailings. Pick one to see the tours Shore Excursions Group runs there, book before you sail and skip the line at the pier.

Nassau, Bahamas36 toursAmber Cove, Dominican Republic17 toursCelebration Key4 toursGrand Turk, Turks and Caicos6 tours

Ports from sailings departing Oct 24, 2026 onward; itineraries vary by date and your SmartCruiser advisor confirms the ports for your sailing. Tours are sold and operated by Shore Excursions Group, an independent tour company; SmartCruiser earns a commission on bookings made through these links at no extra cost to you.

Mardi Gras questions we answer every day

How big is Mardi Gras?
Mardi Gras measures 180,800 gross tons and is about 1,130 feet long. Carnival lists 5,270 guests at double occupancy and 1,735 crew. She was the first ship in Carnival’s Excel Class and the first cruise ship in North America to run on liquefied natural gas, built by Meyer Turku in Finland and delivered in 2020 before her maiden voyage in July 2021.
What is BOLT?
BOLT is the first roller coaster at sea. It is an all-electric ride on a track that loops around the top of the ship 187 feet above the water, and riders control their own speed on a two-seat motorcycle-style car. There is a charge per ride and height limits apply, so plan it into your day once you are on board.
Which staterooms are best on Mardi Gras?
Families with young kids gravitate to Family Harbor rooms for the private lounge and the five-berth Family Harbor Ocean View Suite. Couples often choose Havana Cabanas for the patio and the Havana pool, or a Cloud 9 Spa balcony for thermal suite access. The Carnival Excel Suites, topped by the Presidential Suite, add concierge service and Loft 19.
What is included in the fare on Mardi Gras?
Your fare covers the main dining rooms, Lido Marketplace, Big Chicken, Guy’s Burger Joint, BlueIguana Cantina, Street Eats, Swirls and a first visit to ChiBang! and Cucina del Capitano, plus the shows, comedy club, WaterWorks, SportSquare, Serenity and the kids clubs. Emeril’s, Rudi’s, the steakhouse, Bonsai, BOLT, the spa, drinks and Wi-Fi are extra.
Where does Mardi Gras sail in 2026 and 2027?
Through May 15, 2027 she sails 7-day Eastern and Western Caribbean cruises round trip from Port Canaveral, with ports such as Celebration Key, Grand Turk, Amber Cove, Nassau, Cozumel and Mahogany Bay. From May 22, 2027 she moves to 4- and 5-day Bahamas cruises calling at Celebration Key, RelaxAway Half Moon Cay and, on 5-day sailings, Nassau.
What are the six zones?
Grand Central is the atrium and show space with three-deck windows; the French Quarter brings New Orleans with Emeril’s Bistro 1396 and The Brass Magnolia jazz bar; La Piazza is Italian with Cucina del Capitano and Bar della Rosa; Summer Landing has the smokehouse, Swirls and a poolside bar; Lido is the pool deck; and The Ultimate Playground holds BOLT, WaterWorks and SportSquare.

Facts checked against Carnival Cruise Line: Mardi Gras, Carnival Cruise Line: Mardi Gras staterooms, Carnival newsroom: Mardi Gras fact sheet, Cruise Industry News: Carnival announces first short 2027-28 itineraries aboard Mardi Gras on October 13, 2026. Ship details change with refurbishments; your SmartCruiser advisor confirms the current layout when you book.

Live from the cruise line

Every Mardi Gras sailing, priced all-in

Every Mardi Gras departure the cruise line is selling, priced live with taxes, fees and port expenses included. SmartCruiser picks at the top are sailings where booking with us gets you something extra. Stack the filters, then sort by lowest price, best value per night or sail date.

Every Mardi Gras sailing

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Prices are per person, double occupancy, in US dollars, and include cruise fare, taxes, fees and port expenses as published by the cruise line at the moment you load this page. Fares are capacity controlled and change daily; the fare is confirmed when you book. Flights, hotels and transfers are extra unless the line’s offer says otherwise. Onboard credit shown on a sailing is per stateroom and applies to the lowest category offered unless stated otherwise.