Carnival’s fleet of "FUN" ships attracts millions of passengers each year. Whether you're craving a juicy burger, want to enjoy lively entertainment, or simply relax on the Lido Deck, there's something for every type of cruiser to enjoy.
However, not all of Carnival's ships were designed the same way, and the onboard experience varies significantly depending on the vessel. Newer ships, for example, are packed with cutting-edge amenities, while older ones have a more classic, laid-back feel.
Mardi Gras, the cruise line's first Excel Class ship, changed the game for Carnival. It launched with innovative features like the first roller coaster at sea, brand-new dining options, and a more neighborhood-style layout, which marked a major shift in how the brand approaches onboard experiences.
As such, Mardi Gras brought the cruise line more in line with mega-ships offered by its biggest competitors — namely Royal Caribbean International — while maintaining its signature vibe.
If you're thinking about sailing on Mardi Gras, you might be wondering how the experience compares to other ships in the fleet. Having just returned from a seven-night Eastern Caribbean voyage aboard the ship, I have plenty of firsthand insights to share — from what stood out to whether it's worth paying for more.
Carnival's Mardi Gras cruise ship feels crowded
Mardi Gras is one of the largest ships in Carnival's fleet, coming in at 180,800 gross tons with a passenger capacity of over 5,200 at double occupancy and 1,735 international crew members, according to the cruise line.
By comparison, Royal Caribbean's Oasis of the Seas measures 226,838 gross tons and has a passenger capacity of 5,602 at double occupancy with a crew of 2,109.
Although Oasis of the Seas is larger, the mega-ship has a slightly better crew-to-guest ratio, meaning there are more crew members available per passenger compared to Mardi Gras.
This can make it harder for crew members to deliver personalized service. For example, dinner in the main dining room was often slow, and we never really felt like we formed a connection with our servers.
Not only that, but many public spaces feel crowded, too. While, as a whole, Mardi Gras was designed to better distribute guests across the vessel, we inevitably encountered long lines at popular venues like Guy's Burger Joint and Big Chicken.
Passengers also start lining up early for entertainment. If you want a good seat at the Punchliner Comedy Club, Center Stage, or Piano Bar 88, my best advice is to arrive early — preferably around one hour to 45 minutes before showtime.
The entertainment is unique and unlike standard Playlist Production shows
Carnival's entertainment department lacks in comparison to competitors like Royal Caribbean and Disney Cruise Line. In fact, I overheard loyal fans say how, after a few Carnival cruises, you've likely seen the same "America Rocks," "Flick," and "Studio VIP" shows in the main theater.
However, you shouldn't miss shows in the Center Stage theater. The outward-facing atrium is home to some of the most unique entertainment on the ship, with high-energy performances, live music, and interactive events that take advantage of the multi-deck space.
For example, "Voodoo Moon" is perhaps one of the best original productions I've seen on a Carnival ship, featuring stunning vocals and high-flying aerialists.
Beforehand, there's a lively tribute to New Orleans right in the ship's atrium, with energetic live jazz music, colorful costumes, tons of crowd participation, and even a special king and queen who are paraded through Deck 6.
If traditional stage shows aren't your thing, you'll still find plenty of live music and entertainment throughout the ship. The Punchliner Comedy Club is always a hit, offering both family-friendly and R-rated shows.
There's also a piano bar that fills up quickly. Just a heads up: the environment gets noticeably more adult-oriented after 10:00 p.m., so the later performances are best suited for cruisers who don't mind edgier humor and a livelier late-night crowd.
Live game shows are also a standard part of Carnival's onboard entertainment offerings, with interactive favorites like Deal or No Deal and Family Feud drawing large crowds.
You won't go hungry on the Mardi Gras ship
One of my favorite parts about any Carnival cruise is the food, and the dining options on Mardi Gras did not disappoint. From fan favorites like BlueIguana Cantina and Guy's Burger Joint to Big Chicken and the main dining room's new menus, the variety and quality (for a mainstream ship) were pretty solid.
With nearly a dozen complimentary dining choices, it's impossible to go hungry on the ship. For us, Big Chicken was a hit, with its crispy chicken tenders, sandwiches, spicy slaw, and crinkle-cut potatoes consistently hitting the spot.
However, you can't go wrong with tacos from BlueIguana Cantina, a juicy burger from Guy's Burger Joint, saucy meats from Guy’s Pig & Anchor Smokehouse, or rotating daily snacks from the food-truck-style Street Eats. And yes — that's all included!
I was pleasantly surprised by Carnival's new dining room menus, too. Overall, the options felt more elevated than expected, with only a few dishes leaving something to be desired. For example, I was impressed by the Kung Pao Chicken, Fiesta Chicken Enchilada, and Barbecued Beef Brisket.
That said, cruise food is rarely healthy, so be prepared to be more indulgent than you usually would. Although I was able to find lighter options in the buffet and dining room, they began to feel repetitive quickly.
As such, I spent more time actively walking the ship, exceeding my daily step count to justify all the yummy dining choices.
Certain specialty restaurants are included
Mardi Gras also has a handful of specialty restaurants available for an extra charge, including Bonsai Sushi, Bonsai Teppanyaki, Fahrenheit 555 Steakhouse, and Rudi's Seagrill. However, two specialty restaurants are included free on your first visit: Cucina del Capitano and Chibang.
Cucina del Capitano is available on most ships in the fleet and focuses on serving up authentic, fresh Italian dishes on Deck 8 in La Piazza. On the flip side, Chibang features two cuisines, with a menu blending popular Asian and Mexican dishes into one menu. You can mix and match however you want, going from nachos to sweet & sour shrimp in one meal.
You don't need reservations for either restaurant. Instead, all you have to do is check in through the HUB app (like with Carnival’s flexible dining) and wait for a notification when your table is ready.
Read more: Carnival Cruise Line Specialty Dining Guide
The staterooms received a much-needed design refresh
Standard cruise rooms are far from luxurious — even on the newest, most modern vessels at sea. Rather, they're designed with comfort and functionality in mind. As such, you can expect cabins to be smaller than regular hotel rooms and come with limited amenities (i.e., no hand lotion or conditioner).
That said, Carnival's Excel Class staterooms feel noticeably more modern and inviting, with brighter color palettes, improved lighting, and a better bathroom layout.
Still, despite its pros, there's no denying that my cabin, 4285, was small, coming in at under 160 square feet. What's even more shocking is that the stateroom was designed to accommodate up to three guests with a pullman bed. It was cramped enough with just two people in the cabin!
Plus, a lot of otherwise usable space was taken up by the connecting door, so there wasn't any extra room for a small chair or loveseat. Moreover, the overall storage space was somewhat limited and not very versatile since there wasn't a dresser.
The only available storage space was the two closets, and although all our clothing fit, it was not very organized. While there was ample hanging space for dresses and shirts, the two wire racks, which served as the room’s only "drawers," quickly became cluttered. The folded items on the shelves were piled loosely and toppled over, creating a disorganized mess.
That said, the bathroom was modern with a spacious shower. Although the bathroom is smaller than on Conquest and Vista Class ships, it ditches the dreaded shower curtain for a much-improved design.
Overall, my Mardi Gras stateroom was fairly basic. However, modern design touches, including ambient lighting, a redesigned shower, and an abundance of power outlets, made it feel more comfortable than cabins on older ships, even if space and storage were limited.
There are ship-exclusive bars with special menus
Carnival's Mardi Gras has a top-tier beverage program. Alongside the basic fleet menu, there are several ship-exclusive bars with creative, one-of-a-kind menus, including the Brass Magnolia and Fortune Teller Bar.
The Brass Magnolia, for example, serves up New Orleans-inspired cocktails, with the Praline Truffle martini standing out as a rich, sweet favorite. Other elevated cocktails include the Bayou Lemonade, Bourbon Street, and A La Louisiane.
On the flip side, the Fortune Teller Bar is known for its mysterious ambiance and whimsical cocktails, like the Crystal Ball, Abracadabra, and Air of Mystery.
Regardless of what bar you find yourself at, don't overlook Carnival's zero-proof options. The mocktail selection goes beyond basic soft drinks, offering well-crafted drinks with the same creativity as the standard alcoholic options — minus the buzz.
Read more: Carnival Cruise Drink Prices & Menu
The best pool is hidden on Deck 8
The Mardi Gras ship has tons of pools to choose from, from the Lido Deck to the adults-only Serenity Deck and more. However, the most underrated of the pools is tucked away at the aft of Deck 8.
The Patio is an expansive outdoor space with lounge chairs, a wake-view pool, and multiple hot tubs. During our seven-night trip, it seemed relatively undiscovered.
Although it's further from dining venues like Guy's Burger Joint, BlueIguana Cantina, and the Lido Marketplace, it's conveniently located near Guy's Pig & Anchor Smokehouse, which serves complimentary lunch on sea days. Plus, there's a soft-serve ice cream machine inside — so you get all the perks of a cruise ship pool deck minus the crowds!
Make your BOLT rollercoaster reservation early
Mardi Gras was the first cruise ship to feature BOLT, an innovative, first-of-its-kind roller coaster at sea. This thrilling attraction is located within the Ultimate Playground area of the Excel Class ship and comes with an extra charge of $15 per person.
Personally, I thought the ride was worth the price. However, I'm an adrenaline-junkie and love roller coasters. That said, if BOLT is on your must-do list, I'd recommend making a booking early on during the sailing, as it frequently closes due to weather conditions like high winds.
For example, my partner and I initially made a 10:00 a.m. reservation on our first sea day. When we arrived, we were informed that they would try to get BOLT up and running by 1:00 p.m. However, due to ongoing inclement weather conditions, the ride remained closed for the rest of the day, and we ended up rebooking our ride for a port day.
Read more: Is the Carnival cruise roller coaster worth $15?
There's so much to do (or not do) on the Mardi Gras ship
Compared to older Carnival vessels, Mardi Gras is filled from bow to stern with things to do, from the WaterWorks aqua park to the ropes course, BOLT roller coaster, mini-golf course, Center Stage production shows, Punchliner Comedy Club, and more.
With so many activities spread across the ship, it's easy to stay busy from morning to night without ever feeling like you've run out of things to do.
Plus, beyond the commercial-worthy attractions, there are plenty of quieter spaces to relax and catch up on your "TBR" (to-be-read) list, including the Serenity adult-only deck and other tucked-away lounges.
The adult-only area was poorly designed
Speaking of the Serenity Deck, I was disappointed with its overall design. Although having an adult-only pool and hot tubs is definitely a plus, the space itself is not as relaxing as you'd expect.
On sea days in particular, it can get extremely windy up there since it's located on one of the top decks at the front of the vessel, which makes it less comfortable for lounging or reading.
One afternoon, the wind was so strong that it kept rattling the metal chains keeping the sun visors in place, which created a constant (and annoying) clanking sound.
Should you book the Carnival Mardi Gras cruise ship?
Overall, I enjoyed my seven-night vacation on the Mardi Gras and would recommend the ship to anyone looking for a laid-back atmosphere, good food, and solid entertainment. The vessel itself isn't anything fancy, but it's definitely a step-up from older Carnival ships that feel stuck in the 90's or early 2000's.
Book the Carnival Mardi Gras ship if...
- You want a modern mega-ship with lots of amenities
- You enjoy a lively, high-energy atmosphere
- You want good value with plenty of included dining options
Skip the Carnival Mardi Gras ship if...
- You prefer smaller ships with a more intimate atmosphere
- You're an itinerary-focused cruiser (Mardi Gras only visits The Bahamas and Caribbean)
- You don't enjoy crowded pool decks or having to arrive early to claim your spot for onboard shows
Elizabeth Wright
Elizabeth graduated from New York University's Arthur L. Carter Journalism Institute with her M.A. in Journalism in May 2023. 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!
In addition to writing for Cruise.Blog, Elizabeth has bylines in Business Insider, Royal Caribbean Blog, and Cruiseshipfood.com.
