Carnival Cruise Line's latest deployment might shock guests. For the first time, an Excel Class ship will offer short getaways to The Bahamas.
Starting May 22, 2027, Mardi Gras will no longer sail on weeklong Caribbean cruises. Instead, the 180,800-gross-ton ship will offer 4- and 5-night cruises to The Bahamas from Port Canaveral, focusing on Carnival's private destinations.
The 4-night sailings will call at Celebration Key and RelaxAway, Half Moon Cay, while the 5-night cruises will add an extra stop in Nassau.
The move coincides with Carnival Festivale's arrival in Port Canaveral, Florida. The next-gen Excel Class ship will presumably take over the weeklong Caribbean itineraries previously sailed by Mardi Gras.
This will give guests more options for longer and shorter voyages to meet their vacation needs. Not only that, but Carnival Celebration will continue to offer weeklong cruises to the Caribbean from Miami, Florida, through at least April 2028.
"With a new Excel class ship on its way to Port Canaveral in 2027, we’re excited to offer more ways to experience these fabulous ships our guests love, with new shorter itineraries on Mardi Gras for the first time," said Christine Duffy, President of Carnival Cruise Line.
"Mardi Gras introduced a number of new entertainment and dining options along with the first roller coaster at sea, so it’s fitting that this ship will take on another first for us as the largest-ever to sail short cruises. This will give our guests more variety as they choose their next family vacation – whether that’s a short getaway on Mardi Gras from Port Canaveral or a week-long sailing on her beautiful sister Carnival Celebration from Miami."
Looking for the cheapest short cruise on Mardi Gras in 2027? Pricing starts at $439 for a 4-night cruise in December. Earlier sailings, such as those in May and June, are more expensive, with the cheapest costing at least $654 per person for a standard interior stateroom.
Following the success of Royal Caribbean's short cruise boom
Last year, Royal Caribbean launched its first-ever ship purpose-built for the short cruise market, and it has been a huge hit.
Utopia of the Seas, which also sails from Port Canaveral, Florida, set sail in July 2024. Unlike other brand-new ships, Utopia hit the ground running with 3- and 4-night cruises to The Bahamas — all of which include a stop at Perfect Day at CocoCay.
Comparatively, most new ships begin with longer sailings, as cruisers want time to explore all the onboard amenities without feeling rushed.
However, Royal Caribbean saw an opportunity to cater to travelers seeking shorter getaways while still giving them the best possible experience, rather than stuffing them on older ships with fewer amenities and outdated cabins.
They're transitioning more and more newer ships to the short cruise market, too. For example, Wonder of the Seas, the second-newest Oasis Class ship, will begin offering short cruises in August 2025.
Although Mardi Gras isn't Carnival's newest ship, it's part of the ground-breaking Excel Class, which revolutionized Carnival's onboard experience with innovative features like the first roller coaster at sea and more dining options than ever before.
Elizabeth Wright
Elizabeth graduated from New York University's Arthur L. Carter Journalism Institute with her M.A. in Journalism in May 2023. Growing up, she traveled frequently with her family and fell in love with cruising after sailing on the Oasis of the Seas during her freshman year of high school. Having sailed on over 30 cruises across different lines, including Royal Caribbean, Carnival, MSC, Margaritaville at Sea, and Princess, she loves sharing her insight and expertise on all things cruising!
