Mardi Gras
Sails from Port Canaveral, Florida · Fly into MCO
Page updated
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.
Ratings
- 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.
| Ship | Year | Gross tons | Guests | Space | Rating |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Mardi Gras this ship | 2021 | 4.0/5 | |||
| Carnival Jubilee | 2023 | 4.0/5 | |||
| Carnival Celebration | 2022 | 4.0/5 | |||
| Carnival Festivale | Debuts May 2027 | — | |||
| Carnival Tropicale | Debuts Apr 2028 | — |
Deck plans & cabin locations
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.
On this deck: Combined forward and aft diagrams

On this deck: Combined forward and aft diagrams














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.
Photos

Mardi Gras off Hoek van Holland on her first visit to Rotterdam, December 2020Photo: Kees Torn, CC BY-SA 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons
Where she sails
- CaribbeanEastern, Western and Southern Caribbean islands, sailing year-round from Florida, Texas and Puerto Rico
- Bahamasshort trips from Florida, often with a day on a line's private island
Home port: Port Canaveral, Florida.
Flying in for your cruise?
Mardi Gras sails from Port Canaveral, Florida. The airport is Orlando International (MCO), with 6 lounges to wait in before you board.
- Plaza Premium LoungeMCO Terminal C4.7 ★
- The Club MCO (Airside 4)MCO Terminal B4.5 ★
- American Airlines Admirals ClubMCO Terminal B4.0 ★
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.
Related news about Mardi Gras
- 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
- 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
- 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
- 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