Carnival Cruise Line Takes Delivery of Mardi Gras

Carnival Cruise Line finally took delivery of its highly anticipated new ship, Mardi Gras during a live virtual signing ceremony at the Meyer Turku Shipyard in Turku, Finland.

New Mardi Gras officially joins the Carnival fleet. 

When Mardi Gras begins cruising in April 2021, the 180,000-gross-ton vessel will be the most innovative ship in North America. Not only will it be powered by  liquefied natural gas (LNG), the new ship will also feature BOLT, the first roller coaster at sea. 

Mardi Gras will 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. 

Dining onboard Mardi Gras

The ship’s venues, dining and entertainment are found in six distinctive zones, with a new New Orleans-themed restaurant by celebrity chef Emeril Lagasse. 

Also, there’s Carnival’s first-ever Big Chicken by Shaquille O’Neal, two dining venues from Guy Fieri, and a new restaurant concept by master chef Rudi Sodamin. 

The centerpiece of the ship features a breathtaking three-deck-high atrium with floor-to-ceiling windows and movable LED screens that open up to a stunning ocean view. 

“We 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,” said Christine Duffy, president of Carnival Cruise Line. “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. Next we will work on the development of her sister ship, Carnival Celebration, which arrives in 2022 and has sold very well since inventory opened in October.”

Now that the official delivery is complete, Carnival bids bon voyage to Mardi Gras as it departs from Turku to begin the voyage to North America. The ship will offer seven-day Caribbean itineraries from Port Canaveral, Fla., and depart from a new, specially designed cruise terminal. The inaugural voyage for Mardi Gras is scheduled for April 24, 2021.

Carnival Cruise Line’s new Mardi Gras made its first port call in Rotterdam, The Netherlands, for refueling its innovative Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG) propulsion system for the first time since its delivery.