For years, I felt like Carnival Cruise Line’s ships looked dated compared to the newest vessels debuting for other cruise lines. While competitors continued building bigger and more innovative cruise ships, Carnival’s approach remained relatively consistent. Each new class felt similar to the last, with only a few modifications to accommodate a larger vessel.
That all changed when Mardi Gras entered service in 2021.
Mardi Gras debuted as the first ship in Carnival’s Excel class, ushering in an entirely new era for the cruise line. Although Mardi Gras is no longer Carnival’s newest ship, she remains one of the most modern and innovative vessels in the fleet.
According to Carnival, the ship measures 180,800 gross tons and accommodates 5,270 guests at double occupancy. Mardi Gras was later joined by sister ships Carnival Celebration and Carnival Jubilee.
I had previously sailed on Carnival Celebration and was blown away by the Excel class. The ship felt light-years ahead of Carnival’s older vessels, so I could not wait to see how Mardi Gras compared.
Of course, I was equally excited to cruise on this incredible class of ships again.
Mardi Gras is divided into six themed zones: Grand Central, the French Quarter, Summer Landing, La Piazza, Lido and the Ultimate Playground. Each area has its own restaurants, bars, entertainment and distinct design.
Here is a look inside Carnival Mardi Gras, including photos of the ship’s public spaces, restaurants, attractions and cabins.
Grand Central is the dramatic heart of Mardi Gras
Grand Central is one of the first spaces that made Mardi Gras feel completely different from Carnival’s older ships.
The three-deck atrium is built into the side of the vessel with massive floor-to-ceiling windows overlooking the ocean. During the day, natural light pours into the space and provides beautiful views of the sea.
This is not the dark, enclosed atrium found on some older cruise ships. Grand Central feels open, airy and incredibly modern.
In the evening, the space transforms into one of Mardi Gras’ main entertainment venues. High-tech screens become part of the stage, while performers use multiple levels of the atrium for immersive productions.
During our cruise, we watched aerialists perform in shows like “VooDoo Moon” and “Vegas Nights.” These headliner productions were a huge step up from anything I had previously seen on Carnival Cruise Line.
However, the design does have a few drawbacks. Center Stage is surrounded by bars, restaurants, shops and walkways, making Grand Central one of the busiest areas onboard.
Seating is also spread across multiple levels, and not every chair has an unobstructed view. If you want a good spot for one of the evening productions, I recommend arriving early.
Regardless, Center Stage is one of the most impressive spaces on Mardi Gras. Carnival transformed the traditional cruise ship atrium into a beautiful and functional entertainment venue.
JavaBlue Café became part of my morning routine
Every morning, I started my day with coffee from JavaBlue Café on the lowest level of Grand Central.
As someone who loves lattes, this was one of my favorite stops onboard. JavaBlue serves specialty coffee drinks for an additional charge, along with pastries and other snacks.
During our sailing, the cafe also offered complimentary breakfast sandwiches. My go-to order was a breakfast sandwich with fruit, which was an easy way to start the day before heading ashore.
Because JavaBlue is in such a central location, it can become busy in the morning. However, the surrounding area has plenty of places to sit while enjoying coffee and watching the ocean through Grand Central’s windows.
Other venues surrounding the atrium include Bonsai Sushi, Bonsai Teppanyaki, Piano Bar 88 and the Punchliner Comedy Club.
With so much happening in one area, we found ourselves walking through Grand Central multiple times each day.
The French Quarter transported us to New Orleans
One of our favorite areas on Mardi Gras was the French Quarter on Deck 7. Inspired by New Orleans, this zone leans heavily into the city’s jazzy atmosphere. The design, music, restaurants and bars make the French Quarter feel distinct from the rest of the ship.
It is almost like taking a quick trip to New Orleans without stepping off Mardi Gras.
The Fortune Teller Bar is one of the most eye-catching venues in the French Quarter. The bar serves creatively themed cocktails, many of which come with elaborate presentations.
I ordered the popular Crystal Ball cocktail, which was just as fun to photograph as it was to drink. If you enjoy unique cocktails, the Fortune Teller Bar is worth visiting at least once during your cruise.
The French Quarter is also home to Brass Magnolia, where live jazz music adds to the New Orleans-inspired atmosphere.
In the evenings, this entire area felt lively without having the same crowded pool-deck energy found elsewhere on Mardi Gras.
Emeril’s Bistro was worth the additional charge
Another highlight of the French Quarter was Emeril’s Bistro 1396, developed in partnership with famed chef Emeril Lagasse.
My sister and I had already enjoyed Emeril’s Bistro while sailing on Carnival Celebration, so we knew we wanted to return on Mardi Gras.
The restaurant is not complimentary, but the dishes were reasonably priced during our cruise. Prices can change, so I recommend checking the current menu in Carnival’s app once onboard. During our cruise, most selections were around $5 each.
We particularly enjoyed the bananas Foster crêpe and the breakfast bayou croissant sandwich. The restaurant was a great alternative to the busy buffet, especially in the morning.
Emeril’s Bistro also serves lunch and dinner dishes inspired by New Orleans cuisine. Combined with the nearby bars and live musicians, the restaurant helps make the French Quarter one of the most immersive areas onboard.
Summer Landing felt like a backyard celebration at sea
At the back of Mardi Gras is Summer Landing, which reminded me of a relaxed Fourth of July backyard party.
This zone has indoor and outdoor seating, a small pool, a bar and Guy’s Pig & Anchor Smokehouse | Brewhouse. The casual design makes Summer Landing feel like a place where you can sit down, watch a game and stay for a while.
The Heroes Tribute Lounge honors military service members and veterans while offering couches and televisions for watching sports. There is also a nearby Swirls station with self-serve ice cream.
Guy’s Pig & Anchor serves barbecue created in partnership with Guy Fieri. During our cruise, we enjoyed the barbecue buffet for lunch and also stopped by for sit-down dinner, which was included in our cruise fare.
Summer Landing also has an outdoor pool and The Watering Hole bar. Compared to the main Lido pool, this aft area felt more relaxed and was a great place to enjoy the ocean views.
La Piazza brought a taste of Italy onboard
Another themed zone on Mardi Gras is La Piazza, which is inspired by Italy.
The area is home to Pizzeria del Capitano, Piazza Panini, Bar della Rosa and Cucina del Capitano. Italian-inspired artwork and decor help distinguish La Piazza from other parts of the ship.
Pizzeria del Capitano serves freshly made pizza, while Piazza Panini offers hot sandwiches. These were convenient options when we wanted a quick meal without visiting the buffet.
We also had dinner at Cucina del Capitano, Carnival’s family-style Italian restaurant. I ordered the pistachio pesto pasta, and it was incredible!
At the time of our sailing, we were able to dine at Cucina del Capitano without paying an additional charge. However, Carnival now limits guests to one complimentary visit before charging $8 for an additional meal.
Even with the additional charge, La Piazza remains one of the best areas to visit if you love Italian food—or just want a change of scenery!
Mardi Gras had more food than we could try in one week
There was so much food on Mardi Gras that we did not have enough time to try everything during our cruise.
Along with the restaurants found in each themed zone, Mardi Gras has several Carnival favorites and newer venues introduced with the Excel class.
One of these is Chibang, which serves both Mexican and Asian dishes from two separate menus. I ordered the beef and broccoli, and it was delicious. One meal at Chibang is included in the cost of your cruise, while each additional meal incurs a small charge.
Our favorite casual restaurant was Big Chicken, created through Carnival’s partnership with Shaquille O’Neal.
The restaurant is located at the back of the Lido deck and serves chicken sandwiches, tenders and fries. We visited Big Chicken for breakfast, lunch and dinner.
In the morning, the restaurant served biscuit sandwiches, while the crispy chicken tenders and fries made for a perfect afternoon snack after exploring a port.
Guy’s Burger Joint was a close second. The burgers were made fresh and could be customized with a variety of toppings.
We also ate dinner twice in the Palm Restaurant, one of the main dining rooms. The service was excellent, and everything we ordered was great.
In fact, I wished we had tried the main dining room sooner.
Of course, you absolutely have to order Carnival’s famous melting chocolate cake. This dessert is available every night in the main dining room, and it is delectable. Carnival has perfected this one!
The Lido zone was the center of the action
Mardi Gras still has a traditional Lido deck, but the area is larger and offers more dining options than those found on Carnival’s older ships.
BlueIguana Cantina was a convenient place to grab tacos or burritos while sitting near the pool. The restaurant also serves breakfast burritos in the morning, which are perfect to take with you before an excursion or busy port day.
Other Lido options include Big Chicken, Guy’s Burger Joint, Seafood Shack and Street Eats. Because there are so many choices spread around the deck, we did not always need to rely on the main buffet.
RedFrog Tiki Bar overlooks the pool and spans two decks. It was a great place to order a piña colada or fruity cocktail during the Sailaway Party.
Carnival is known for its classic sailaway celebrations, and Mardi Gras hosted one of the biggest parties I have seen at sea.
As we waved goodbye to reality and set sail toward the Caribbean, everyone was dancing, singing and drinking to the start of vacation.
The main pool deck remained busy throughout the cruise, especially on sea days. Carnival hosted line-dancing classes, competitions and other activities around the pool.
Even with thousands of guests onboard, we could usually find loungers nearby. The area certainly felt crowded at times, but it was not impossible to find somewhere to sit.
Serenity offered a quiet escape from the busy pool deck
When we wanted a quieter atmosphere, we headed to the adults-only Serenity retreat.
Serenity is located at the front of Mardi Gras and has plush loungers, daybeds, a small pool and its own bar. The space feels entirely different from the lively Lido deck.
Surprisingly, we never had much trouble finding somewhere to relax, even when the ship was busy. This quickly became one of our favorite outdoor spaces.
Serenity also has Fresh Creations, a build-your-own salad bar that is open for lunch.
With so many burgers, chicken tenders and desserts available onboard, I appreciated having a lighter option.
The retreat provided a much-needed balance to the high-energy atmosphere found elsewhere on Mardi Gras. I love Carnival’s lively pool-deck activities, but I do not necessarily want to participate in them all day.
The Ultimate Playground looked like an amusement park at sea
At the opposite end of Mardi Gras is the Ultimate Playground, which houses most of the ship’s family-friendly thrills.
The area includes Carnival WaterWorks, a miniature golf course, a basketball court and a ropes course. Kids and teenagers were constantly playing golf or basketball during our cruise, although the attractions are not exclusively designed for children.
The ropes course takes participants high above the top deck through a series of obstacles, including a short zip line. Best of all, the course is complimentary and open to both adults and children who meet the requirements.
My sister wanted to try the course after missing her opportunity on Carnival Celebration.
Because the ropes course is weather-dependent, I recommend trying it early in the cruise. Do not wait until the final day, only to discover it has closed because of wind.
The biggest attraction in the Ultimate Playground is BOLT: Ultimate Sea Coaster. Mardi Gras introduced BOLT as the first roller coaster at sea, and riders can control their speed while traveling around the elevated track.
BOLT requires a reservation and carries an additional charge. Because pricing can change, I would check the Carnival Hub app rather than relying on older prices posted online.
My sister and I had previously ridden BOLT on Carnival Celebration. As longtime roller-coaster fanatics, we were surprised that it felt like a legitimate ride rather than a kiddie attraction.
The experience is short, but it is certainly unique. You cannot ride a roller coaster on many cruise ships!
Mardi Gras had plenty of places to spend the evening
Once the sun went down, Mardi Gras offered a wide selection of bars, lounges and entertainment. One of Carnival’s signature venues, the chemistry-themed Alchemy Bar, served some of the best cocktails onboard.
The bar is conveniently located near Limelight Lounge, making it easy to order a drink before trivia, karaoke or another activity.
Carnival also hosted comedy shows throughout the cruise in the Punchliner Comedy Club. We attended several of the roughly 30-minute performances and enjoyed seeing different comedians throughout the week.
Other evening options included live music, piano performances, game shows and the large productions in Center Stage.
Mardi Gras might carry thousands of passengers, but the range of venues helped spread people around the ship. Some spaces became crowded before popular events, but there was almost always something else happening nearby.
Our Ocean Suite became our home away from home
At the end of each day, we found solace in our Ocean Suite. The suite featured a king bed, a separate living area, an upgraded bathroom and an extended balcony.
After spending years booking inexpensive inside cabins, having so much extra space felt luxurious.
The balcony was easily my favorite feature. We could step outside in the morning to check the weather or sit together while watching the sunset as Mardi Gras pulled away from port.
Because the ship itself was so busy, I appreciated having a quiet and spacious cabin where we could decompress.
We did not need to search for an open lounger or quiet corner when we had our own private balcony.
Staying in a suite was fabulous. We enjoyed the additional space so much that it would be difficult to return to an inside cabin, although my budget might have a different opinion!
Mardi Gras changed how I viewed Carnival Cruise Line
Before sailing on the Excel-class ships, I never associated Carnival with words like modern, trendy or innovative. Mardi Gras totally changed my perception!
The ship still offers the lively atmosphere, casual dining and playful personality associated with Carnival Cruise Line, but everything feels elevated.
For instance, Grand Central is more impressive than a traditional atrium with dazzling entertainment, bars, and restaurants. I really liked the six themed zones that give the massive ship some organization. And of course, the dining variety is difficult to beat!
All that to say, Mardi Gras is not perfect. The ship can feel crowded, Center Stage has limited unobstructed seating and one week was not long enough to experience every restaurant and attraction.
However, I would not hesitate to sail on Mardi Gras again!
The ship successfully combines Carnival’s familiar style of fun with modern design, innovative entertainment and enough restaurants to keep even the most ambitious cruiser busy.
More importantly, Mardi Gras no longer feels like Carnival is trying to keep up with the rest of the industry.
