I recently disembarked a weeklong Carnival cruise aboard one of the line’s newest and biggest ships. From the long lines to the underwhelming service and packed venues, it lived up to all the usual stereotypes. However, it wasn't all bad.
I am no stranger to Carnival, having sailed on ships like Carnival Elation, Carnival Vista, and Carnival Luminosa. However, some of my experiences have been memorable in all the wrong ways. When on Carnival Elation, for example, the grimy showerhead broke and fell on my partner's head. The entertainment was hit-or-miss at best, and the adult-only deck was covered in soot.
So, when I saw a spring break sailing on Mardi Gras, an Excel Class ship from Port Canaveral, Florida, I decided to give the line another try. I had previously sailed on Carnival Celebration a few years ago and enjoyed my trip, so I was hopeful that Mardi Gras would deliver a similar experience.
I was a little worried that the cruise would be rowdy, since Carnival leans heavily into a high-energy, party-forward atmosphere and is frequently in the headlines for onboard fights. Spring break cruises are also known for large crowds.
In reality, the experience was better than I'd hoped, but it still didn't completely change my mind about Carnival Cruise Line as a whole.
Carnival Mardi Gras size
Carnival's Mardi Gras ship is one of the newest in the fleet, having set sail in 2021. She's also one of the largest, coming in at 180,800 gross tons with a passenger capacity of 5,270 at double occupancy, according to the cruise line.
Comparatively, Carnival Elation, the line's smallest vessel, measures around 71,900 gross tons and has a passenger capacity of 2,190 at double occupancy.
This means Mardi Gras is more than twice the size of Carnival Elation in terms of gross tonnage and carries well over double the number of cruisers.
With her sprawling themed zones, expansive entertainment venues, and wide range of dining options, Mardi Gras definitely has a "big ship" feel.
In other words, she doesn't deliver the same intimate experience that many of Carnival's older ships do. This isn't necessarily a bad thing; it just depends on what you're looking to get out of your cruise vacation.
Read more: Carnival Cruise Ships by Size: Largest to Smallest
Carnival Mardi Gras rooms
Mardi Gras has over 2,640 staterooms divided into four categories: Interior, Ocean View, Balcony, and Suite. Each category is then broken down into multiple sub-categories, which gives guests more flexibility based on budget, location, and other preferences.
On Mardi Gras, for example, there are standard Interior cabins, along with Family Harbor Interior rooms, Premium Interior cabins, Cloud 9 Spa Interior rooms, and Havana Interior cabins.
Unlike other major cruise lines, including MSC, Norwegian, and Celebrity, Carnival doesn't offer its suite guests an exclusive "ship-within-a-ship" experience.
That said, Excel Class suites do include more perks than other vessels in the fleet, ranging from a complimentary Bottomless Bubbles soda package to access to the Loft 19 sun deck, free laundry service, a dedicated concierge phone line, and more.
Mardi Gras is also home to one of the largest suites in the fleet, the Carnival Excel Presidential Suite. This massive enclave offers over 1,000 square feet of living space and also includes access to the Havana Pool and thermal suites.
However, most people will likely find themselves in one of the standard stateroom categories — like myself.
During my seven-night Caribbean cruise, my partner and I stayed in the cheapest stateroom on the Mardi Gras ship: a windowless Interior cabin.
Our stateroom, 4285, was extremely tiny, coming in at under 160 square feet. However, it worked well for two of us, especially since we spent most of our time running around the ship rather than hiding in our cabin.
The biggest gripe we had with our cruise room was that it had a connecting door, which basically gave us a front-row seat to our neighbors' late-night fighting.
Besides that, we found that the stateroom was modern and bright, with a good number of power outlets and ambient lighting that helped keep the space from feeling too cramped.
The bathroom was a highlight, with Carnival overhauling the bathroom layout on Excel Class ships, finally getting rid of the clingy (and gross) shower curtain design.
Things to do on Carnival Mardi Gras
Waterslides, mini-golf, and jam-packed daily schedules are staples on most Carnival ships. However, Mardi Gras takes things several steps further, packing in thrilling attractions and next-level entertainment options.
Starting in the Ultimate Playground zone, you'll find everything from a mini-golf course to WaterWorks aqua park, ropes course, jogging track, basketball court, and the BOLT Ultimate Sea Coaster.
Yep — Carnival's Mardi Gras is one of the only cruise ships in the world to feature a roller coaster on board, along with Carnival Celebration, Carnival Jubilee, and Disney Adventure.
Nearly every amenity in the Ultimate Playground is included in your cruise fare, except the BOLT roller coaster. This attraction costs $15 per person, and reservations can be made in the mobile HUB app after you board the ship.
Based on my experience, I'd recommend booking a timeslot as early as possible. Our initial sea day reservation was canceled due to high winds, which made it dangerous to operate the coaster.
Instead, we rebooked for a port day, and while it wasn't exactly what we had planned, we were glad we didn't leave it until the last day, as we would have had no time to reschedule.
Mardi Gras also offers plenty of space to lounge and bask in the Caribbean sunshine, from the multi-deck pool area to the adult-only sun deck.
The Lido Deck is the liveliest spot, especially on a beautiful sea day, with prime chairs filling up quickly, the DJ blasting tunes, movies playing on the big screen, and drinks constantly flowing at the two-story RedFrog Tiki Bar.
We spent one day here and quickly realized it wasn’t our preferred scene. For the remainder of the cruise, we set up shop on the Serenity Deck instead.
While we liked the laid-back vibe of the adult-only sun deck — complete with its own pool, two hot tubs, and private bar — it was poorly designed and too windy. Still, the plush lounge chairs were a nice upgrade compared to the main pool area, and there was hardly ever a line at the bar.
Beyond the outdoor amenities, Carnival's Mardi Gras had an impressive lineup of evening entertainment, ranging from sing-a-longs in the piano bar to original production shows with high-flying aerialists, comedy acts, late-night parties, live music, and more.
"Voodoo Moon" in the Center Stage arena should definitely be on your must-do list. It was one of the best original shows I've ever seen on a Carnival ship, with strong vocals and daring aerial acts. As someone who loves fantasy storytelling, the plot was right up my alley and easy to follow, with my partner and me constantly rooting for the witch queen.
The Piano Bar was also popular during our sailing, and we spent two late nights listening to Jamie Jones take requests from the audience — and chugging a few gin & tonics along the way. The piano bar is family-friendly before 10:00 p.m., but the environment gets noticeably more adult-oriented afterward. This suited us, but it may not be everyone's cup of tea.
I'd be remiss not to mention the Punchliner Comedy Club, which brings some of the best stand-up comedians right to the stage at sea. Cisco Duran was hilarious and perhaps one of the best comedians we've seen on a ship. In fact, we thought he was so funny that we went to watch his PG-13 show and showcase performance in the theater!
Other entertainment highlights on the Mardi Gras ship included the 80's dance party on the Lido Deck, Family Feud Live, and Deal or No Deal.
If you don’t know where to begin with planning your evenings onboard, you're not alone, trust me. With so much happening at once, it can actually feel a bit overwhelming trying to choose between everything that's going on. Enter the Carnival Fun Times daily planner.
The printed schedule was left outside our cabin every night, giving us a chance to review everything happening the next day in one place. If you're more of a digital person, the daily schedule is also conveniently available in the HUB mobile app.
Read more: 10 things I wish I knew before booking the Carnival Mardi Gras cruise ship
Carnival Mardi Gras dining options
If you're like me, you will quickly work up an appetite on your cruise vacation — and it's hard not to! From the all-you-can-eat buffet to yummy fast-casual options, brand-new dining room menus, and extra-charge specialty restaurants, Carnival Mardi Gras offers something for everyone.
Complimentary restaurants on Mardi Gras:
- BlueIguana Cantina
- Big Chicken
- Guy's Burger Joint
- Main Dining Room
- Guy's Pig & Anchor Bar-B-Que / Smokehouse
- Street Eats
- Chibang (first meal is free, additional visits are $8)
- Cucina del Capitano (first meal is free, additional visits are $8)
- Lido Marketplace
- Pizzeria del Capitano
- Seaday Brunch
- Swirls
Specialty restaurants on Mardi Gras:
- Emeril's Bistro
- Rudi's Seagrill
- Bonsai Teppanyaki
- Bonsai Sushi
- The Chef's Table
- Fahrenheit 555 Steakhouse
Generally speaking, my partner and I were content with the food aboard Mardi Gras. We ate in the ship's dining room every night and had more hits than misses, ranging from the Kung Pao Chicken to the Fiesta Chicken Enchiladas and Barbecue Beef Brisket.
The fast-casual dining was also a plus. There was a wide variety of tasty options available throughout the vessel, though our favorite quickly became Big Chicken. This restaurant is only available on Excel Class ships, along with Carnival Radiance, but I wish it were on more vessels in the fleet!
Open for breakfast and lunch, Big Chicken serves up crispy chicken tenders and sandwiches, as well as chicken biscuits and omelets.
The sauces and sides are just as rave-worthy as the chicken itself. My partner couldn't get enough of the special Shaq Sauce, while I fell in love with the jalapeño slaw and sweet and spicy pickles.
Still, not everything was a home run. One night, I ordered the filet mignon and was served a mostly fatty cut of meat with poorly-seasoned vegetables. The same evening, my partner got the fettuccine alfredo and ended up just ordering a kid's cheese pizza because it was so inedible.
Read more: Carnival foods that cruisers swear are the line's best-kept secrets
Where does Carnival Mardi Gras sail from?
Currently, Carnival Mardi Gras sails exclusively from Port Canaveral (Orlando), Florida, to the Caribbean. Through mid-May 2027, she'll embark on seven-night itineraries weekly on Saturdays.
However, starting May 22, she will begin offering four- and five-night cruises to The Bahamas, focusing on visiting Carnival's private destinations in The Bahamas.
These shorter voyages on Mardi Gras will continue through at least April 2028.
Is Carnival Mardi Gras a good ship?
People love to hate on Carnival Cruise Line. However, I've enjoyed most of my sailings with the cruise line, despite its less-than-stellar reputation. That said, I think if you want to take a Carnival cruise without taking a CARNIVAL cruise, Mardi Gras is a great option, especially while she's still offering longer voyages.
After spending seven nights on the Carnival Mardi Gras ship, I think you should choose it if...
- You like having a lot of dining options
- You want a ship with a lot to do
- You prefer upgraded cruise rooms
- You want high-energy, lively onboard entertainment
However, I think you should skip the Carnival Mardi Gras ship if...
- You want more personalized and attentive service
- You prefer smaller, easy-to-navigate vessels
- You don't want to deal with crowds
- You're more itinerary-focused and have visited The Bahamas and Caribbean before
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.
