Carnival Cruise Line today took delivery of its highly anticipated new ship, the Mardi Gras, in a virtual ceremony at the Meyer Turku shipyard in Turku, Finland. When the Mardi Gras begins operations in April 2021, the 180,000-gross-ton vessel will be the most innovative ship in North America, as it will be the first to run on liquefied natural gas (LNG), and will also feature other new technologies and BOLT, the first roller coaster at sea.
The ship's meeting, dining, and entertainment spaces will be spread across six areas, including a new restaurant from celebrity chef Emeril Lagasse, Shaquille O'Neal's first Big Chicken, two gathering venues helmed by Food Network star Guy Fieri, and a new restaurant concept from master chef Rudi Sodamin. The ship's centerpiece is a stunning three-story atrium with floor-to-ceiling windows and movable LED screens that open onto breathtaking ocean views.
The Mardi Gras can accommodate more than 5,200 passengers and a crew of 2,000. Passengers can choose from more than 2,600 cabins and 180 suites in 11 categories.
“We have been working tirelessly this year to reach this exciting day and receive this beautiful ship, and the Meyer Turku team has been an outstanding partner throughout this entire process,” said Christine Duffy, president of Carnival Cruise Line. “I can’t wait for our guests and crew to see and experience the Mardi Gras. Despite pandemic-related delays, there is tremendous excitement and high demand for this ship. From this point forward, we will continue working on the development of her sister ship, the Carnival Celebration, which will arrive in 2022.”.
“We are delivering a beautiful vessel with advanced technology such as LNG propulsion, to name just one. With this sophisticated system, it will be one of the most environmentally friendly ships sailing in North American waters. I am very proud of our shipbuilding team and would like to thank everyone involved for their dedication during the construction process,” says Tim Meyer, Managing Director of Meyer Turku.
Duffy said the Mardi Gras will depart Turku later this month to begin its North American voyage. The ship will operate seven-day Caribbean itineraries from Port Canaveral, Florida, and Carnival has worked closely with Port Canaveral to build a new cruise terminal to accommodate this Excel-class ship and also facilitate the new LNG bunkering process. The Mardi Gras' maiden voyage is scheduled for April 24, 2021.
