Mardi Gras
Excel (XL) class · Caribbean & Bahamas
Carnival's first LNG-powered ship, launched in 2021 as the first Excel-class (XL) vessel. Its signature feature is BOLT, an electric roller coaster running above the ship. The interior is divided into six themed zones, with restaurants and bars lining an open promenade through the center. Despite its capacity of about 5,000 guests, the detailed zoning makes it easy to move between the lively pool deck and calmer adults-oriented areas. Based at Port Canaveral, it mainly operates seven-night eastern and western Caribbean cruises; from the 2027/28 season, four- to five-night Bahamas itineraries will also be offered, broadening the choices for first-time cruisers.
Current position (external site)View on VesselFinder (IMO 9837444)External site. Position information has not been checked by Cruise Atlas.
For travelers from Japan
A guide to public baths, Japanese food and language support, payment in yen, smoking, dress codes and power outlets, based on available official and other sources. Details may vary by itinerary and season. Check the official website for current information.
Similar facilities, such as a thermal suite
No Japanese language support
Payment in yen not accepted
English text in preparation.
Official: confirmed by the cruise line or another official source / Secondary source: confirmed by other sources / Estimated: inferred by Cruise Atlas / Not stated: no information found in official sources
At a glance
What is included and what costs extra
- Meals (main restaurants)Included
- AlcoholExtra charge
- GratuitiesExtra charge
- Wi‑FiExtra charge
- Specialty diningExtra charge
- Shore excursionsExtra charge
Main dining and buffet meals are included. Alcohol, Wi-Fi, automatic gratuities, and paid specialty restaurants require separate payment or package purchase.
- Extra chargeDrinks (one beer)$8
- Extra chargeSoft drinks and water$3.75
- Extra chargeDrink packageCheers! beverage package: $69.95/day when purchased in advance to $74.95/day when purchased after boarding.
- Extra chargeWi‑FiSocial $20.40 (pre-purchase)/$22.00 (onboard); Value $23.80 (pre-purchase)/$26.00 (onboard).
- Extra chargeGratuities (automatic service charge)$17.00/day (suites: $19.00/day)
- Extra chargeSpa (60 minutes)$199+
- Extra chargeLaundryExcel-class ships have no coin-operated self-service laundry. Only paid laundry and pressing services are available.
- Shore excursionsShore excursions in the Western Caribbean cost extra and are optional.
Prices are shown in the onboard currency; no currency conversion is applied.
Boarding, atmosphere, and links
- Japan departures: No
- Home ports: Galveston (Texas, USA, year-round home port)
- Departure ports: Galveston
- All ages
- Launched in 2021 as the first Excel-class ship. A large family ship with varied facilities, including BOLT, a water park, and six zones. The atmosphere is casual, lively, and distinctly Carnival.
- Mainly operates Western Caribbean cruises from Galveston, attracting families from the southern and central United States. Many casual travelers and repeaters also sail.
Mardi Gras uses a dual-fuel engine powered primarily by LNG (liquefied natural gas), designed to significantly reduce SOx and particulate-matter emissions.
Ship character
- • Families
- • First-time cruisers
- • Attraction-focused travelers
- • People seeking short, affordable trips
- • Travelers seeking a quiet ship
- • Travelers needing Japanese-language support
- • People seeking a small-ship atmosphere
Cruise stories and videos on external sites
4 linksThese are articles and videos by other publishers, not Cruise Atlas. Their content is their own and has not been reviewed by us. Links open in a new tab.
- YouTubeEnglishAffiliate links disclosedCarnival Assigned Me the Worst Room on Mardi Gras! (Full Cruise Review)
youtube.com · Link checked Oct 5, 2026
- ArticleEnglishOctober 2022: Carnival Mardi Gras Eastern Caribbean Cruise Embarkation Day - Alo Japan | AloJapan.com
alojapan.com · Link checked Oct 4, 2026
- Personal blogEnglishCarnival Mardi Gras Cruise Ship Review
barelycruising.blogspot.com · Sailed Jan 8, 2022 · Link checked Oct 4, 2026
- ArticleEnglishPR / hosted trip disclosedMardi Gras Naming Ceremony - CruiseReport
cruisereport.com · Sailed Oct 23, 2021 · Link checked Oct 4, 2026
Sources
- Officialcarnival.com
- Secondary sourcecarnival-news.com
- Secondary sourcecruiseindustrynews.com
- Secondary sourcecarnival-news.com (2)
- Officialcarnival.com (2)
- Officialcarnival.com (3)
- Officialcarnival.com (4)
- Officialcarnival.com (5)
- Officialcarnival.com (6)
- Encyclopediaen.wikipedia.org
- Secondary sourceeatsleepcruise.com
Source: Wikipedia “Mardi Gras (ship)” (CC BY-SA 4.0)
Cabins by category
| Cabins | Size | Occupancy and beds | Features | Links |
|---|---|---|---|---|
Interior Stateroom The lowest-priced category onboard, at about 160 square feet (about 15 m²) as standard. It follows the same layout as sister ships and also offers a Premium Interior option. Distributed across decks 4, 5, 8, 11, 12, and 14–17 (mainly low to mid levels) | 14–17 m² (151–183 ft²) | 2-4 people Queen bed (convertible to twin beds) + sofa bed or ceiling-mounted pull-down bed; some cabins accommodate up to 4 people. | Connecting | Mardi Gras cabin information |
Ocean View Stateroom These rooms have no balcony but feature ocean-view windows, with about 245 square feet (about 23 m²), providing more space than Interior rooms. Decks 4–5 (mainly low levels) | 17–20 m² (183–215 ft²) | 2-4 people Mainly twin beds (can be joined into a queen depending on room type); some cabins accommodate up to 4 people with a sofa bed or Pullman bed. | WindowConnecting | Mardi Gras cabin information |
Balcony Stateroom The most numerous standard category across all rooms. As on sister ships, the lineup includes Standard, Junior, and Cove variations. Decks 9–12 and 14–17 (mainly mid to high levels). Some are Cove balconies on Deck 8 (lower level; budget type with partially restricted views) | 18–24 m² (194–258 ft²) | 2-4 people Twin beds (can be joined into a queen) + sofa bed. Extended balcony types are also available. | BalconyConnecting | Mardi Gras cabin information |
Ocean Suite / Excel Suite / Excel Corner Suite / Excel Aft Suite Several tiers are included, centered on Ocean Suites and extending to Excel Suites, Excel Corner Suites, and Excel Aft Suites with hot tubs. Benefits and layouts are equivalent to those on sister ships. Decks 9–12 and 14–17 (seaside suite area) | 28–56 m² (301–603 ft²) | 2-5 people (varies by cabin type) King bed (convertible to twins) + sofa bed. Higher-level types have an additional pull-out or upper bed. | BalconyConcierge | Mardi Gras cabin information |
Excel Presidential Suite The largest top-tier suite in the Excel class. It offers about 474–476 square feet indoors plus a balcony of about 645–646 square feet, totaling about 1,120 square feet (about 104 m²), with a living room, dining area, and wraparound balcony with a hot tub. 2 cabins / Deck 17 forward (top-tier area, only 2 cabins) | 104 m² (1,119 ft²) | 2-4 people King bed (convertible to twins) in the bedroom, sofa bed in the living room. | BalconyConcierge | Mardi Gras cabin information |
Approximate figures from official and reliable sources. Cabins vary by ship, category, and sailing.Links generally lead to official pages; some have not been verified.
Families, adults-only areas, and practical information
- • Camp Ocean — A free kids program for children aged 2-11, divided by age group. Late-night care is available for an additional fee.
- • Casino — A casino with slot machines, blackjack, roulette, and other games, limited to guests aged 21 and over.
- Onboard currency
- USD
- Gratuities
- Automatic gratuities are added to your onboard Sail & Sign account for each night of the cruise. The amount can be adjusted, including reduced, at the Guest Services desk.
- Payment
- Cashless onboard
- Voltage
- Both 110V (North American standard) and 220V (European style) are available at cabin outlets.
- Formal nights
- 1 "Cruise Elegant" night is scheduled on cruises of 5 nights or fewer, and 2 on cruises of 6 nights or more. Most are held on sea days (such as day 2 or the last sea day).
- Medical facilities
- Every ship has a permanent medical center, with 1 to 2 doctors and 3 to 5 nurses on board depending on ship size, available 24 hours. It follows CLIA/ACEP standards. Consultations, medication and tests are private-pay (non-insured) services charged separately, and insurance generally cannot be used at the counter; you pay first and then claim.
- Bringing items onboard
- Guests aged 21 and over may bring one unopened 750 ml bottle of wine/champagne per person in carry-on luggage, on embarkation day only (fortified wines over 15% alcohol are not allowed). A corkage fee of $15 per bottle is charged if you drink it in public areas such as the main dining room or bars, but there is no charge for drinking it in your cabin.
- Mobile and connectivity
- Through the maritime roaming partners of major carriers, you can make calls, send SMS and use data on the high seas with your own phone and phone number (displayed as "Cellular at Sea" and the like). Many flat-rate plans are excluded and billed by usage, so checking in advance is essential. To keep costs down, it is common to switch to Wi-Fi calling via a Wi-Fi package.
- Japanese support
- Staff —Menus —Announcements —
Dining
One of the main dining rooms included in the fare. Guests can choose either fixed seating or flexible dining times when booking.
Hours: Breakfast, sea-day brunch, and dinner (fixed or open seating)
Another main dining room included in the fare. Mardi Gras's first main dining room, named Expression onboard, with the same rotation setup as on its sister ships.
Hours: Breakfast and dinner centered
A large, complimentary buffet. It has the highest usage rate as a casual dining venue.
Hours: Breakfast, lunch, and dinner (open most of the day)
A complimentary Guy Fieri supervised burger stand.
Hours: Lunch through afternoon
A complimentary Mexican casual dining stand.
Hours: Breakfast and lunch
A Japanese restaurant where guests can enjoy sushi, sashimi, ramen, and more à la carte. Offered on all Excel-class ships.
- California roll$9
- Spicy roll$10
- Ramen$8
A steakhouse centered on high-quality beef dishes. Offered on all Excel-class ships.
- Appetizer + main + up to 2 side dishes + dessert course set
- Wine pairing (add-on option)+$23
A seafood restaurant supervised by chef Rudi Sodamin. Exclusive to Excel-class ships (Celebration, Jubilee, and Mardi Gras).
- Set course of appetizer + main (choice of lobster, scallops, crab-stuffed lobster tail, steak, etc.) + dessert
A New Orleans restaurant supervised by Emeril Lagasse. Since Mardi Gras is based in Galveston, this venue name is the most suitable.
- Boudin ball (appetizer)$6
- Emeril's jambalaya$7–12
- Fried shrimp and oyster po'boy$7–12
Facilities and activities
An electric roller coaster said to be the first at sea. Installed on all Excel-class ships. Riders must be about 132-196 cm tall and weigh 136 kg or less.
A casino with slot machines, blackjack, roulette, and other games, limited to guests aged 21 and over.
A free kids program for children aged 2-11, divided by age group. Late-night care is available for an additional fee.
A paid spa offering thermal suites, massages, and facials.
Main theater offering free original shows and live performances.