Carnival’s New Mardi Gras Floated Out

Carnival Cruise Line’s Mardi Gras was floated out at the Meyer Turku shipyard in Finland in anticipation of its debut later this year, the cruise line has announced.  

Following the float out, Mardi Gras was repositioned to a new location at the yard to finalize its interior and exterior outfitting, including the installation of BOLT, the first roller coaster at sea, part of the Ultimate Playground outdoor recreation area. 

The ship’s more than 2,600 staterooms, including 180 suites across 11 different categories, have been installed and workers will begin putting the finishing touches on these accommodations, Carnival said.  

Mardi Gras' six themed zones are also beginning to take shape with the interior build out of spaces like Emeril’s Bistro 1396 created by famed chef Emeril Lagasse and a groundbreaking new atrium concept with spectacular three-deck-high floor-to-ceiling windows and moveable LED screens.

Mardi Gras will also be the first cruise ship in North America powered by liquefied natural gas (LNG), part of Carnival Corporation’s green cruising platform.

Mardi Gras is set to debut from Port Canaveral, FL, operating year-round seven-day cruises to the Caribbean and Bahamas beginning November 14. The ship is the first in Carnival’s new XL class, and when it launches it will be the largest vessel in the cruise line’s fleet. In addition to the roller coaster and Emeril restaurant, the ship will also sail with a restaurant concept by Carnival’s “chief fun officer,” Shaquille O’Neal, and new, premium Carnival Excel suites, which will offer select amenities and access to a new resort-style, open-air enclave called Loft 19. Also planned is a new-to-the-fleet Family Feud Live experience, bringing the classic game show onboard via an exclusive partnership with Fremantle.

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