Carnival Cruise Line took delivery of its newest cruise ship today.
The Mardi Gras was delivered during a live virtual signing ceremony at the Meyer Turku Shipyard in Turku, Finland.
Delivery of Carnival's next new cruise ship has been delayed, but the ship is finally part of the fleet and will begin offering cruises in April 2021 from Port Canaveral, Florida.
Carnival thinks the 180,000-gross-ton vessel will be the most innovative ship in North America because it is the first ship to be powered by liquefied natural gas (LNG), boast a suite of new technology, and BOLT, the first-ever roller coaster at sea.
The ship can accommodate more than 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.
Guests will find navigating the new ship simplified, thanks to six zones that separate the dining and entertainment for easier wayfinding.
Carnival is proud of a variety of new venues onboard including:
- New restaurant by celebrity chef Emeril Lagasse
- Carnival's first-ever Big Chicken by Shaquille O’Neal
- Two dining venues led by Food Network star Guy Fieri
- New restaurant concept by master chef Rudi Sodamin
Mardi Gras also features a three-deck-high atrium with floor-to-ceiling windows and movable LED screens that open up to a stunning ocean view.
As you might imagine, Carnival Cruise Line President Christine Duffy is incredibly happy to welcome Mardi Gras to the fleet, "e 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. "
Mardi Gras will depart from Turku later this month to begin her voyage to North America. The ship will operate seven-day Caribbean itineraries from Port Canaveral, Fla., and Carnival has worked closely Port Canaveral to build a new cruise terminal to accommodate the Excel-class ship and also facilitate the new LNG fueling process.
The inaugural voyage for Mardi Gras is scheduled for April 24, 2021.
With Mardi Gras complete, Carnival's next new ship is Carnival Celebration, which arrives in 2022.
Ms. Duffy confirmed that bookings for Celebration have "sold very well since inventory opened in October."
Matt Hochberg
Matt loves to cruise, and started Cruise.Blog as a place to share different cruise experiences, advice, and what to know before going on a cruise.
He lives in Florida with his wife and two daughters, where he can be found on any given day trying to convince his wife they "need" to book another cruise.
