When my sister and I booked a 7-night cruise on Carnival Mardi Gras, I already had high expectations. We had recently sailed on her sister ship, Carnival Celebration, and loved the restaurants, entertainment, and overall feel of the ship. I was excited to spend another week onboard a ship in Carnival’s Excel class!
Even so, our Mardi Gras cruise managed to exceed my expectations. We ate plenty of chicken tenders from Big Chicken, enjoyed some excellent shows, and treated ourselves to a cabin that was much nicer than what we normally book.
There’s plenty to keep you busy on Mardi Gras, but you don’t have to do it all to have a great cruise. My sister and I found a good balance between trying new things and making time for the places we enjoyed most.
Here are 12 things I did on Carnival Mardi Gras that made my cruise even better than I expected.
1. I arrived early for the shows I wanted to see
One of the biggest improvements I’ve noticed on Carnival’s Excel-class ships is the entertainment. I’ve always enjoyed the cruise line’s comedy shows, but the production shows on some of my earlier Carnival cruises hadn’t impressed me quite as much.
Mardi Gras was a different story. The ship’s Center Stage venue hosts performances with singers, dancers, aerialists, and impressive visual effects. Seeing acrobats perform in an atrium built into the side of a cruise ship is pretty incredible!
However, these shows were very popular. Although we generally found that Mardi Gras handled its crowds well, entertainment was one area where we noticed just how many people were sailing with us.
Arriving early for the shows we wanted to see was worth it. Rather than showing up right before a performance and trying to find somewhere to sit, we gave ourselves extra time to get settled.
This was also important for Punchliner Comedy Club shows and popular game shows. When there was something I really wanted to see, I was happy to make it a priority for the evening.
2. I splurged on a suite instead of booking my usual inside cabin
I normally book an inside cabin when cruising to save money. These rooms are affordable and have all the basics I need, especially when I expect to spend most of my time exploring the ship or visiting ports.
For this sailing, though, we decided to splurge on an Ocean Suite. The inside cabin we considered was around $1,500, while the suite was approximately $3,000. Doubling our cabin budget was a big decision, but the price was tempting for a week in a suite.
From the moment we walked in, we were thrilled with the extra space. We had a large couch, plenty of storage, a balcony, and a bathroom that was way roomier compared to the tiny cruise bathrooms I’m used to.
My sister and I also needed to do some remote work during the trip. Having a sitting area separated from the bed by a heavy curtain meant I could get up early and work while she continued sleeping.
We ended up spending more time in our cabin because we actually enjoyed being there. Having somewhere comfortable to sit after a hot day in port made a bigger difference than I expected.
Priority disembarkation was another perk we really appreciated. With a noon flight out of Orlando, I was a little anxious about getting off the ship and to the airport. Being escorted off the ship ahead of a long line of passengers made the final morning much less stressful.
I wouldn’t say a suite is necessary to enjoy Mardi Gras. However, for this trip with my sister, we felt the upgrade was worth what we paid. If you have wiggle room in your budget, I would highly recommend splurging.
3. I took advantage of the included dining options
One of my favorite things about Mardi Gras was how much good food we could enjoy without paying extra.
Carnival does casual dining especially well, and we had plenty of places to choose from throughout the week. Between burgers, chicken sandwiches, tacos, pizza, and sit-down meals, there was always something that sounded good.
Our favorite was Big Chicken. My sister and I went back multiple times, and I’m not embarrassed to admit that chicken tenders became a regular part of our cruise diet. After spending the day exploring a port, crispy chicken and fries really hit the spot.
We also loved Cucina del Capitano. The pistachio pesto pasta was a highlight for me, and we enjoyed the restaurant enough to return for lunch on our last day. Chibang gave us another option for a sit-down dinner, with separate Chinese and Mexican menus that let us mix and match dishes.
Dining inclusions and additional-visit charges can change, so I would check the current terms before sailing. During our trip, being able to enjoy so much variety without constantly adding to our onboard bill was a huge perk.
There were more restaurants than we had time to try! Even still, I was perfectly happy going back for another meal at a place I already knew I loved, like Big Chicken or Guy’s Burger Joint.
4. I made time to relax in the adults-only Serenity retreat
Mardi Gras has a lot going on, especially around the main pool. Between music, activities, and people enjoying their sea days, the atmosphere can be lively. I enjoy that energy, but I also like having somewhere to relax. Serenity ended up being one of our favorite places onboard!
The adults-only area had padded loungers, daybeds, a pool, hot tubs, and its own bar. It gave us a comfortable place to spend time outside when we wanted a quieter afternoon.
We were pleasantly surprised that we didn’t have trouble finding somewhere to sit during our sailing. On a ship with so many passengers, I hadn’t necessarily expected that.
Of course, availability will depend on when you visit and how busy the ship is. For us, making time for Serenity gave the week a nice balance between busy evenings and more relaxed days.
5. I didn’t skip the Sailaway Party
Carnival knows how to start a vacation, and the sailaway party on Mardi Gras was one of the biggest I’ve seen at sea!
As we headed off toward Nassau, the pool deck was full of people dancing, singing, and celebrating the beginning of their cruise. There’s something so fun about being surrounded by people who are all excited for the same reason.
Was it crowded? Absolutely. This was one of those moments when the size of the ship’s passenger count was very noticeable. But I was glad I joined in. After the travel and logistics of getting onboard, it felt good to finally be sailing away!
The sailaway celebration was a fun way to kick off our week and I recommend making time to attend. It’s very popular though, so be prepared for the crowds!
6. I gave the main dining room a chance
With so many restaurants to try on Mardi Gras, the main dining room wasn’t the first place we headed for dinner. We eventually ate there on two evenings, and I actually wished we had visited sooner.
The service was excellent, and we enjoyed all of the dishes we ordered. After plenty of casual meals around the ship, it was nice to sit down for a more traditional cruise dinner.
II would definitely recommend making time for the main dining room while sailing on Mardi Gras. Even though there are so many options for food, the slower meal and elevated dishes made for a nice change of pace from chicken tenders, burgers, and ice cream.
And, of course, there was Carnival’s chocolate melting cake! I’ve had it on plenty of cruises, and it’s still something I look forward to ordering. Consider ordering the chocolate cake with a side of peanut butter for extra pizzaz!
7. I enjoyed breakfast sandwiches from JavaBlue
I love a good latte, so finding my morning coffee spot is always a priority when I board a cruise ship. While I didn’t get a latte every morning, I did enjoy visiting JavaBlue Cafe in Grand Central and think it’s an overlooked spot for food.
Although I stopped by for a specialty latte, we discovered that the cafe also served complimentary breakfast sandwiches and other grab-and-go snacks. These are some of the best breakfast sandwiches that I’ve ever had on a cruise, so I highly recommend making time to visit JavaBlue Cafe.
You can also order boozy milkshakes and other fun treats from JavaBlue Cafe, along with extra specialty dessert items for purchase.
8. I unpacked as soon as we settled into our cabin
I’m a big believer in unpacking on a cruise, even when I’m traveling with only a carry-on. As soon as we finished looking around our suite, my sister and I put our clothes away and found places for our bags. We had so much storage that we barely used some of the drawers and shelving.
In fact, we fit our clothes into one closet and used the other for our suitcases and backpacks. Even with all that space, I was glad we unpacked. Between getting ready for dinner, changing after a port day, and grabbing things before heading to the pool, a cabin can get messy quickly.
Putting everything away at the beginning made it easier to find what we needed and kept our room comfortable throughout the week.
9. I treated myself to breakfast at Emeril’s Bistro
Although we enjoyed plenty of included food, I was happy to spend a little extra at Emeril’s Bistro 1396. We had loved Emeril’s on Carnival Celebration, so I was excited to try the Mardi Gras location in the French Quarter.
The bananas Foster crepe and breakfast bayou croissant sandwich were favorites. At the time of our sailing, the dishes we enjoyed were priced around $5, making breakfast here a relatively small splurge.
I don’t need an elaborate breakfast every morning, but it was fun to change things up with a meal that felt a little more special. With so many dining options available, we were a little more selective about where we wanted to spend money on food. I am so glas we tried Emeril’s!
10. I skipped Bolt after trying it on Carnival Celebration
Bolt is one of the most recognizable features on Mardi Gras, as a roller coaster on top of a cruise ship is hard to miss!
My sister and I had already ridden it on Carnival Celebration, and we had a blast. As roller coaster fans, we were surprised by how much it felt like a real ride rather than a small novelty attraction.
However, I didn’t feel the need to ride it again on Mardi Gras. We had already experienced it, and there were plenty of other things we wanted to do during our week onboard. Skipping it was an easy choice for this sailing.
At $15 per person for two quick loops, it wasn’t worth another ride for us. Instead, we prioritized the ropes course to try, as it was free!
This doesn’t mean I wouldn’t recommend trying Bolt. I thought it was worth the charge when we rode it on Carnival Celebration, especially for thrill seekers. But having enjoyed it once, I was happy to leave it off the agenda this time.
11. I spent evenings enjoying the French Quarter
The French Quarter was one of my favorite areas on Mardi Gras. The New Orleans-inspired decor and live music gave it so much personality and made it feel like its own little corner of the ship.
I especially enjoyed spending time there in the evening, when the musicians really added to the atmosphere. It was a lovely place to relax rather than immediately head off to the next activity.
We also visited the Fortune Teller Bar, which is a signature bar on Mardi Gras, and loved trying the Crystal Ball cocktail. The presentation was definitely part of the fun, and it fit the magical setting perfectly.
Between the food, drinks, and music, the French Quarter was somewhere I was happy to return to during the week.
12. I ordered complimentary room service for breakfast
I needed to get a little work done most mornings on Mardi Gras, and ordering breakfast to our cabin made those early starts much more enjoyable.
A few mornings, I ordered coffee, an English muffin, and some yogurt. This is my go-to breakfast at home, but having it delivered to our room felt like a treat. My English muffin arrived warm and fresh, and the coffee came in a thermal carafe that kept it warm while I worked
Carnival offers complimentary continental breakfast through room service from 6 a.m. to 10 a.m. You can order by calling room service from your cabin phone at extension 8000. Some breakfast selections cost extra, so check the menu when ordering.
This was so much better than navigating the hectic buffet or finding a table in a busy restaurant before I’d even taken my first sip of coffee. It was such a relaxing way to start the morning, and I love that it’s included.
