Skip to content

Mardi Gras

Sails from Port Canaveral, Florida · Fly into MCO

Page updated

Add to your passport
Mardi Gras off Hoek van Holland on her first visit to Rotterdam, December 2020

Mardi Gras off Hoek van Holland on her first visit to Rotterdam, December 2020 · Photo: Kees Torn, CC BY-SA 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons

About Mardi Gras

Mardi Gras is a Carnival Cruise Line cruise ship of the Excel class, in service since 2021. She measures 181,808 gross tons and carries 5,282 guests with a crew of 2,000. She sails Caribbean, Bahamas itineraries. We rate her 4.0 out of 5.

Mardi Gras is the lead ship of Carnival's Excel class, part of Carnival Corporation's larger Excellence class, built by Meyer Turku in Finland and named after the line's first ship of 1972. Delivered in December 2020, she began sailing in July 2021 after pandemic delays as the first LNG-powered cruise ship based in North America. At about 181,800 gross tons with some 5,280 guests, she is organized into six themed zones and introduced BOLT, the first roller coaster at sea, and Emeril's Bistro 1396. A 2025 dry dock in Marseille added connecting doors to 100 staterooms. She sails year-round from Port Canaveral.

Ship facts

Guests
5,282
Crew 2,000 · 1:2.6
Entered service
2021
Refitted 2025
Length
344 m
Longer than 96% of 575 ships
Decks
15

Mardi Gras is bigger than 95% of the 418 cruise ships in service on Cruise Frog with a tonnage on record, and carries more guests than 98%. At 34.4 gross tons per guest she is tighter than 68% of 416; the median ship is 39.4.

Cabins
4/5+0.9, fleet average 3.1
Dining
3/5, fleet average 3.0
Entertainment
5/5+1.0, fleet average 4.0
Service
4/5, fleet average 4.0
Pools & decks
3/5, fleet average 2.9
Value
5/5, fleet average 5.0

Editorial scores, 1 to 5 per metric; the overall is their average, not an average of reader reviews. Ticks mark the Carnival Cruise Line fleet average across 29 rated ships in service.

Sister ships: Excel class

Mardi Gras is one of 5 Excel class ships. Carnival Jubilee (2023) and Carnival Celebration (2022) are in service, and Carnival Festivale (due May 2, 2027) and Carnival Tropicale (due April 15, 2028) are on the way.

ShipYearRating
Mardi Gras this ship20214.0/5
Carnival Jubilee20234.0/5
Carnival Celebration20224.0/5
Carnival FestivaleDebuts May 2027—
Carnival TropicaleDebuts Apr 2028—

Deck plans & cabin locations

Open dedicated deck-plan page

Official colour deck plan - reviewed October 2026 · Published edition. Confirm the edition for your departure with the cruise line.

Explore the deck plans

What’s above your ceiling matters as much as the view. Compare the decks around your cabin, then use the location notes to build your shortlist.

No exact sailing-date window is supplied for this download. Confirm the cabin category, connecting doors, accessibility, view and refurbishment changes for your departure. Layout-based noise cautions are not confirmed disturbance reports; explicit obstructed-view flags are identified separately as operator-listed.

All decks

Official colour deck plan - reviewed October 2026 · bow to the right

Cabin-number search becomes available as verified cabins are mapped. All published deck diagrams are available below.

Check accommodation above public venues
Deck 19Deck plan

On this deck: Combined forward and aft diagrams

Mardi Gras, Deck 19: official cabin and venue layout
Deck 18Deck plan

On this deck: Combined forward and aft diagrams

Mardi Gras, Deck 18: official cabin and venue layout
Deck 17Deck plan
Mardi Gras, Deck 17: official cabin and venue layout
Deck 16Deck plan
Mardi Gras, Deck 16: official cabin and venue layout
Deck 15Deck plan
Mardi Gras, Deck 15: official cabin and venue layout
Deck 14Deck plan
Mardi Gras, Deck 14: official cabin and venue layout
Deck 12Deck plan
Mardi Gras, Deck 12: official cabin and venue layout
Deck 11Deck plan
Mardi Gras, Deck 11: official cabin and venue layout
Deck 10Deck plan
Mardi Gras, Deck 10: official cabin and venue layout
Deck 9Deck plan
Mardi Gras, Deck 9: official cabin and venue layout
Deck 8Deck plan
Mardi Gras, Deck 8: official cabin and venue layout
Deck 7Deck plan
Mardi Gras, Deck 7: official cabin and venue layout
Deck 6Deck plan
Mardi Gras, Deck 6: official cabin and venue layout
Deck 5Deck plan
Mardi Gras, Deck 5: official cabin and venue layout
Deck 4Deck plan
Mardi Gras, Deck 4: official cabin and venue layout
Use Zoom plan to enlarge a diagram.Full ship PDF

Cabins to avoid & quieter candidates

  • Deck 10 where accommodation overlaps vertically

    Start with cabin sections on Deck 10

    Compare a central room with cabins immediately above and below, away from lifts, stairs, connecting doors and service access. Check the exact three-deck footprint; category colour alone does not identify a quiet room.

    Why we flag this

    The ship-specific colour plans show substantial accommodation on Decks 9, 10 and 11. This is a layout-based starting point, not measured sound data or a guarantee of quiet. Check the source plan.

  • Deck 15 under occupied parts of Deck 16

    Check Deck 15 beneath pool and buffet activity

    Match the cabin with pools, outdoor seating, buffet/marketplace dining and public routes above. Ask about furniture movement and early setup where the room actually overlaps those areas.

    Why we flag this

    The ship-specific Deck 16 diagram shows pools and dining/open-deck facilities above portions of the Deck 15 accommodation. The upper deck also has forward accommodation, so rooms beneath other cabins need a different assessment. Check the source plan.

  • Deck 9 over occupied Deck 8 areas

    Check accommodation above public venues

    Compare the room with dining, lounge, theatre, casino or promenade spaces where labelled below. Verify exact venue hours and vertical overlap if you are an early sleeper.

    Why we flag this

    The official plans place substantial public areas on Deck 8 beneath portions of the Deck 9 accommodation. Individual venue names and footprints come from this ship's PDF, rather than a substituted sister-ship map. Check the source plan.

Location-based guidance, not measured noise or a guarantee of quiet. Flags identify areas to investigate, not every cabin on a deck. Check the exact room, connecting doors, accessibility and the plan for your sailing date. Native per-deck artwork extracted from the ship-named official PDF colour/category plan, checked 21 October 2026. Forward and aft diagrams are combined on a single deck image when the source splits that level. The full PDF retains category legends and any additional accessibility overlay.. Reviewed 2026-10-21.

Read the full cabins-to-avoid guide

Photos

1 photo

Where she sails

Home port: Port Canaveral, Florida.

Flying in for your cruise?

Quick answers

Which cruise line operates Mardi Gras?

Mardi Gras is operated by Carnival Cruise Line and belongs to its Excel class.

What are Mardi Gras' sister ships?

Mardi Gras is one of 5 Excel class ships. Carnival Jubilee (2023) and Carnival Celebration (2022) are in service, and Carnival Festivale (due May 2, 2027) and Carnival Tropicale (due April 15, 2028) are on the way.

How big is Mardi Gras?

Mardi Gras measures 181,808 gross tons and 344 metres in length, with 15 decks.

How does Mardi Gras compare in size with other cruise ships?

Mardi Gras is bigger than 95% of the 418 cruise ships in service on Cruise Frog with a tonnage on record, and carries more guests than 98%. At 34.4 gross tons per guest she is tighter than 68% of 416; the median ship is 39.4.

How crowded does Mardi Gras feel?

Mardi Gras has a passenger space ratio of 34.4: 181,808 gross tons for 5,282 guests. Ratios over 50 feel spacious and under 30 busy, so Mardi Gras feels comfortable for her size.

How many passengers does Mardi Gras carry?

Mardi Gras carries 5,282 guests at double occupancy, with a crew of 2,000 (about 2.6 guests per crew member).

When did Mardi Gras enter service?

Mardi Gras entered service in 2021 and was last refurbished in 2025.

Where does Mardi Gras sail?

Mardi Gras sails Caribbean and Bahamas itineraries. Her home port is Port Canaveral, Florida.

Which airport should I fly into for Mardi Gras?

Mardi Gras sails from Port Canaveral, Florida. Fly into Orlando International (MCO), which has 6 airport lounges listed on Lounge Frog.

Where can I find the deck plans for Mardi Gras?

Carnival Cruise Line publishes the deck plans for Mardi Gras; this page links to Deck plans (PDF).

How is Mardi Gras rated?

Cruise Frog rates Mardi Gras 4.0 out of 5 overall, the average of 6 editorial scores. She scores best on entertainment (5/5) and lowest on pools & decks (3/5).

Which cabins are good choices on Mardi Gras?

For the “Official colour deck plan - reviewed October 2026” plan, start with these quieter-location candidates: Deck 10 where accommodation overlaps vertically: Compare a central room with cabins immediately above and below, away from lifts, stairs, connecting doors and service access. Check the exact three-deck footprint; category colour alone does not identify a quiet room. Compare the exact cabin with the decks above and below, nearby lifts and connecting doors. These are layout-based suggestions, not a guarantee of quiet.

Which cabins should I avoid or check carefully on Mardi Gras?

For the “Official colour deck plan - reviewed October 2026” plan, review these flagged locations before booking: Deck 15 under occupied parts of Deck 16: Match the cabin with pools, outdoor seating, buffet/marketplace dining and public routes above. Ask about furniture movement and early setup where the room actually overlaps those areas. Deck 9 over occupied Deck 8 areas: Compare the room with dining, lounge, theatre, casino or promenade spaces where labelled below. Verify exact venue hours and vertical overlap if you are an early sleeper. These flags are not measured noise reports or a warning about every room on a deck. Read the sourced cabin advice for the evidence and any explicit operator warnings.

How can I check whether a cabin is under a pool, nightclub or theatre?

Find the cabin on the selected plan, then compare the same fore-and-aft position on the deck above and below. Check the full venue footprint, including outdoor seating, stages, service areas and entrances. Nearby activity can be a reason to investigate, but does not by itself prove a cabin is noisy. Use the cabin advice and its sources to distinguish layout cautions from operator warnings.

Where can I find Mardi Gras deck plans?

Use this guide’s deck selector to compare the decks around your cabin and open available diagrams in the zoom viewer. The full ship PDF and source links are listed for each plan edition.

Which deck-plan edition applies to my sailing?

Select your sailing date before comparing cabin locations. Editions can change after a refit. These answers use “Official colour deck plan - reviewed October 2026”, reviewed 2026-10-21. No exact sailing-date window is supplied for this download. Confirm the cabin category, connecting doors, accessibility, view and refurbishment changes for your departure. Layout-based noise cautions are not confirmed disturbance reports; explicit obstructed-view flags are identified separately as operator-listed.

Traveller reviews

What people who've been say. One review each; you can update yours.

No reviews yet. Be the first.

Related news about Mardi Gras

  1. Cruising solo on Carnival Cruise Line: no single cabins, but the easiest ships in the world to make friends on

    Carnival charges solo guests a supplement on a standard cabin. What it gives back is a short, cheap, loud vacation where nobody stays a stranger for long.

    Cruise lines

  2. Pack a cruise charging kit for the ship's rules, not your home office.

    Carnival's electrical-item guidance distinguishes allowed equipment and use conditions. Check the exact items before they go into your bag.

    Cruise lines

  3. Carnival gratuities belong in the trip budget, whether you pay before sailing or onboard.

    Compare the full sailing cost and check your confirmation for prepaid gratuities. The timing of the payment does not make the expense disappear.

    Cruise lines

  4. Your cruise carry-on has a different job from your suitcase. Pack for the first afternoon.

    Carnival says to carry documents, valuables and medications personally. Pack a small boarding bag for the hours before checked luggage arrives.

    Cruise lines