I stayed in an $850-per-person inside cabin on the Carnival Mardi Gras cruise ship. Here's what it's like

Would you spend $1,700 on a spring break cruise on one of the rowdiest ships at sea?

I recently did just that, sailing aboard Carnival's Mardi Gras ship to the Eastern Caribbean. The price was steep, especially considering that I was in a windowless interior cabin. 

However, Mardi Gras is part of Carnival's Excel Class, meaning that the vessel is packed with amenities from bow to stern — including the first-ever roller coaster at sea, a mini-golf course, waterpark, ropes course, adult-only pool, and more. 

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At the end of the day, all I needed was a place to rest between activities and port days. The cabin wasn't anything fancy, but it was clean, modern, and functional. 

Here's an in-depth review of my Carnival Mardi Gras interior room and why, although it was fine enough, I would be hesitant to book it again. 

Inside cabins are the cheapest on a cruise ship

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When my partner and I booked our spring break cruise, we knew we didn’t want to spend a fortune on a cabin because we have a few bigger trips planned for later this year. As such, an interior stateroom felt like a smart trade-off: we could take a weeklong getaway without breaking the bank. 

At the time of writing, the least-expensive inside cabins for Mardi Gras' 2027 itineraries start at about $415 per person for a four-day cruise from Port Canaveral, Florida, to RelaxAway, Half Moon Cay™ and Celebration Key™, Carnival's private destinations in The Bahamas. 

Comparatively, a balcony cabin starts at $585 per person, or about $146 per person per day, on the exact same itinerary. Although that isn't a drastic difference, it's another expense that can quickly turn your budget-friendly vacation into an expensive trip, especially once you factor in onboard spending, shore excursions, transportation, and more. 

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I've sailed in plenty of interior rooms before, even on Mardi Gras' sister ship, and don't mind the sacrifices when it means I have more money to put toward memorable experiences versus a place to sleep. 

My inside cabin was tiny and had a connecting door

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Interior staterooms are typically the smallest cabins aboard a cruise ship. However, my cabin, 4285, on Mardi Gras was even smaller than expected, measuring under 160 square feet. 

For two people, the layout felt cramped. I can't imagine how a third person could comfortably stay in the room since it was designed to accommodate up to three guests with an additional pullman bed. 

Because it had a connecting door, even more usable wall space was taken up than usual. This meant that there was no room for a small chair or loveseat. 

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The connecting door was a nuisance during our voyage, as we shared a wall with an unhappy couple who frequently argued. We could hear one of the passengers often screaming at the top of her lungs! Their fighting woke us up at 4:00 a.m. on multiple occasions, too. 

Moving on, the vanity was not very large. It offered just enough surface area for one person to get ready. As such, getting ready was a coordinated effort that involved strong communication skills. 

That said, I did love the vanity's large mirror and LED lighting. It was also nice that the stateroom phone was affixed to the wall, rather than taking up valuable space. 

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Moreover, there were an abundance of outlets in the cabin, ranging from standard American plugs to USB ports. 

We used the stateroom's mini-fridge during our voyage, too, keeping Sprite Zero and Alani energy drinks cold. And yes, we did have to disappoint some teenage girls and inform them that no, the ship did not have any pink slush Alanis available — we packed them in our carry-on on embarkation day. 

Read more: I have been on Carnival Cruise Line’s oldest and newest ships: Here are my top 11 tips

Storage felt limited 

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The vanity area didn't have any drawers for storage, just small shelves hung on the wall. They were definitely deeper than I initally gave them credit for, which was nice since we did not have any other convenient spaces to store miscellaneous items like medication and charging cords.

This meant the only available area to unpack and settle in was the two closets. For two people, this wasn't a huge deal. We packed more than we usually would for a seven-night itinerary since we tacked on a weekend post-cruise visit to Universal Studios. Still, all our clothing fit without making the closets feel stuffed. However, it wasn't the most organized situation. 

There was plenty of hanging space for dresses and shirts, but between the two wire racks, which served as the stateroom's only drawers, a lot of clothing was just thrown onto the shelves, toppling over as the days progressed. 

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Throughout the week, I found myself constantly tidying up to keep everything neat and accessible. Leaving too much clutter on the vanity, for example, made the already small cabin feel even more cramped. 

The bathroom was modern and had a nice shower

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One thing I love about Excel Class ships is that they got a much-needed bathroom upgrade. Although they feel more cramped than older ships, they're functional and got rid of the god-awful shower curtain. 

In terms of amenities, Carnival stocks its bathrooms with wall-mounted shampoo, body wash, and a small bar of hand soap. There is no conditioner or body lotion — so be sure to bring your own!

Bathroom storage felt fairly average for cruise ships, with two shelves that comfortably fit our makeup bags and everyday toiletries. I also brought along my hanging toiletry organizer to help keep smaller items easily accessible and organized. 

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That said, I was disappointed with the water pressure in the shower. It was on the weaker side, which was frustrating when trying to rinse out shampoo and conditioner. 

Overall, Mardi Gras' stateroom is basic yet comfortable. It isn't a luxury cabin and offers just enough space and amenities to unwind

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In terms of décor, there wasn't much. However, that wasn't necessarily a bad thing. The accent wall over the bed was lined with ambient lighting, and there was one beachy, minimalistic piece of artwork on the wall. 

The neutral light brown and blue hues made the space feel brighter and larger than it actually was, which is a nice comparison to older Carnival ships, which typically feature darker wood and color palettes. 

Overall, I wasn't mad at our price, paying just around $850 per person for our seven-night spring break cruise to Turks & Caicos, the Dominican Republic, Nassau, and Carnival's brand-new private destination in The Bahamas. 

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Sure, there are larger rooms better suited for passengers who prioritize having access to private, open-air spaces with ocean views. However, Mardi Gras is such a large ship that you likely won't spend much time in your cabin anyway. 

Inside, you're better off relaxing on the Lido Deck, playing a round of mini-golf, catching a mesmerizing aerial show at Center Stage, trying your luck in the expansive casino, or enjoying all the delicious dining options on board. 

Still, our interior stateroom wasn't perfect, and between the limited storage and annoying issues with our neighbors in the connecting room, I'd be hesitant to book the same cruise cabin again.