Carnival's Biggest Fun Ship Ready for Her Maiden Voyage
Listen to the Gigi in the 561 podcast about Mardi Gras
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By GERRY BARKER
North Palm Beach Life July, 2021. PORT CANAVERAL_The sheer joy of the moment couldn't be overstated. Not only was Carnival about to debut the largest cruise ship in its fleet, but also this port was about to see its first ship depart in 16 long months. Not to mention Pam and I were about to set foot on our first cruise ship in about the same amount of time. Happiness was evident all around, and nowhere moreso than on the face of Carnival President Christine Duffy, who welcomed a select group of guests, travel agents and media onboard to preview Mardi Gras, Carnival's latest and greatest, one day before her maiden voyage on July 31. We spent a full day touring this new megaship, the first in America powered by eco-friendly LGN (liquified natural gas). Weighing in at 180,000 GT, she can accommodate up to 6,500 passengers, with a crew of 1,800. And did I mention she's also the first ship to feature a roller coaster? The first of three planned, Excel-class ships, her long-delayed launch is a big deal for Carnival, in every sense of the word. READ MORE AT ALL THINGS CRUISE |
Fun FactsGross tonnage: 180,000 Length: 1,130 feet Full guest occupancy: 6,465 Normal occupancy: 5,282 (based on 2 per cabin) Total officers and crew: 1,745 Passenger decks: 17 First ship in North America to be powered by Liquified Natural Gas (LNG) Bolt: First roller coaster at sea |
You board Mardi Gras at Port Canaveral's New Terminal 3 ...
The port's entry point.
Inside the terminal.
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Terminal 3 was built at a cost of over $160 million, and it shows. It's a beautiful facility.
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Go this way to the ship.
They have a special waiting area
for guests with Suites. Nice! |
We were welcomed aboard by a cheering crew...
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Invited guests cheered in the Grand Atrium as Carnival President Christine Duffy, right, addressed the crowd. Mardi Gras is the first ship to have its atrium on the side of the ship. |
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Our first stop was at Bolt, the first roller coaster at sea...
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Bolt Facts
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Strap yourself in and jet around the track twice in the new Bolt roller coaster. Tickets are $15, and rides typically last less than 60 seconds. But what a thrill! |
Now it was time to check out the ship's dining options ...
Our first stop was Big Chicken, exclusive to Mardi Gras, featuring Carnival's ambassador of fun, Shaq, towering over Pam and I. You can sample chicken several ways, and try Shaq's secret sauce as well. We loved it all, including the potato salad and pickles. |
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On Deck 16 we found Street Eats, also exclusive to Mardi Gras. Along with Steam Dream and Mad Sizzle, there's Time Fries, too. Below left is satay from Mad Sizzle and a pork dumpling from Steam Dream. 
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Let's see ... Chinese or Mexican? How about both! That's ChiBang!, where those two culinary groups come together in one place. We sampled a lettuce wrap and a taco. We were
hungry for more. 
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We scored some delicious
donuts at Javablue Cafe |
The Palm is one of two main dining rooms
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Seating area at The Palm
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Emeril's Bistro 1396 will be a popular destination in the ship's French Quarter. Exclusive to Mardi Gras, it's like a trip to New Orleans. We sampled Emeril's signature Jambalaya (left below), his Natchitoches meat pie, center, and roasted duck and andouille sausage gumbo. All we need now
is an order of beignets! 
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Another new restaurant making its debut is Rudi's Seagrill, an upscale, specialty seafood eatery from master chef and author Rudi Sodamin. We weren't able to give it a try , but we're betting guests will love it. |
We made a stop at the Culinary Kitchen, where guests will be able to take a variety of cooking classes. The cost is $30 for a one-hour course. Today they were making macaroons with sorbet. But we only had 10 minutes, so we had to watch while they cooked. |
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We also got a look inside some of the staterooms ...
Over a thousand staterooms have balconies
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Plenty of room to relax in this suite
This area is reserved for
guests in the Havana staterooms |
Book the Presidential Suite and get this outdoor hot tub
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Of course, seeing the pool area and the spa is a must ...
The pool topside is part of the ship's Ultimate Playground zone
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Serenity is their adults-only area
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This is the infinity pool at The Patio
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The Cloud 9 Spa spans two decks, and has everything you might need to find nirvana at sea. |
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Here are more places of interest ...
The new Heroes Tribute Lounge honors our military and their families.
Pam wants to take this Vespa home!
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This plaque shows the original Mardi Gras, launches in 1972, compared with the new ship. Pretty dramatic!
Your favorites are here too, like their Italian restaurant
Speaking of favorites, we love what they create at the Alchemy Bar
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Later in the day, we got a demo of the atrium transformation...
Too soon, it was time to leave ...
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We said goodbye to Mardi Gras at the Brass Magnolia Bar, where we enjoyed a perfectly prepared French 75. An added bonus was the band playing there -- the Beelays, from Ontario, Canada. They'll be on the ship for the next five months. Be sure and catch their act -- they're great -- and tell them hello from us. |
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