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IMO: 9837444

Carnival Mardi Gras

Technical specifications, historical timeline, and comprehensive venue inventory.

Ship Overview → Fleet Overview →
Carnival Mardi Gras — exterior view

The Blueprint

Ship Class
Excel-class
Gross Tonnage (GT)
181,808
Length (FT / M)
1,130 / 344.5
Beam (FT / M)
138 / 42
Decks (Passenger / Total)
17 / 19
Shipyard
Meyer Turku, Turku, Finland
Registry
Bahamas
Godparent(s)
Kimberly Jiménez
LNG Powered
Yes
Class Sisters: Carnival CelebrationCarnival Jubilee

Timeline & Evolution

Inaugural Sail Year
2021
Major Refurbishments
2025
Significant Changes
  • 2025: First routine dry dock, 27 Sep - 16 Oct 2025 at Navantia Shipyard, Cadiz, Spain: general maintenance, safety inspections, machinery overhaul, hull cleaning/repaint; 100 staterooms fitted with connecting doors, Carnival Adventures shop redesigned, Casino expanded with additional slots, retail shops (Tag Heuer, Breitling, Pandora, Swarovski) refurbished.

Registry & Build Record

IMO Number
9837444
MMSI
311001049
Call Sign
C6FA2
Classification Society
RINA (Registro Italiano Navale)
Hull / Yard Number
1396
Maiden Voyage
31 July 2021
Maximum Draft
8.5 m (27.9 ft)

Capacity & Space

Double Occupancy
5,282
Maximum Capacity
6,465
Total Crew
1,735
Passenger-to-Crew Ratio
3.04:1
Space Ratio
34.42

Onboard Inventory

Swimming Pools
5
Hot Tubs / Whirlpools
7
Waterslides
5
Bars & Lounges
15
Complimentary Dining Venues
13
Specialty Dining Venues
5
À la Carte Dining
4
Elevators
22*

* Unofficial count — the cruise line publishes no official total for this figure.

Power & Propulsion

Propulsion
Diesel-electric, dual-fuel (LNG/MGO) with Azipod propulsion
Fuel Type
LNG (dual-fuel with marine gas oil)
Azipod Units
2
Installed Power
57.2 MW (76,706 hp)
Propulsion Power
37 MW (49,618 hp)
Maximum Speed
23 Knots
Engine Configuration
4x Caterpillar-MaK 16VM46DF dual-fuel (LNG/MGO) diesel generating sets
Azipod Detail
2x ABB Azipod XO azimuthing electric pods, ~37 MW combined propulsion (gearless, no shaft lines)

Logistics

Cruising Speed
17 Knots
Designated Smoking Zones
  • Casino
    casino
    Location: Deck 7
    Designated indoor smoking area while gaming.
  • Piano Bar 88
    lounge
    Location: Grand Central
    Designated indoor smoking area.
  • Open deck designated area
    outdoor
    Location: Lido (starboard, aft)
    Cigarettes/e-cigarettes/cigars permitted in marked outdoor area only; prohibited in all staterooms and balconies.

Cabin Summary

Total: 2,641
ADA Compliant: 82
Suites
175
Balcony
1,467
Oceanview
181
Inside
818
The Apex Suite
Carnival Excel Presidential Suite (Cloud 9 Spa Deluxe Vista Suite)
474 SQ FT

The fleet's largest suite category — 2 aboard, forward on Deck 17. ~474 sqft interior plus the fleet's biggest balcony (~646 sqft) with sunbeds, lounging area and outdoor hot tub; also marketed as the 'Presidential Suite'. The Cloud 9 Spa version adds thermal-suite access. Carnival Excel suites include exclusive Loft 19 sundeck access.

Stateroom Taxonomy

Suites
  • Ocean Suite129
  • Cloud 9 Spa Suite6
  • Carnival Excel Suite (Premium Balcony Suite)8
  • Carnival Excel Aft Suite (Deluxe Vista Suite)12
  • Cloud 9 Spa Deluxe Vista Suite2
  • Carnival Excel Corner Suite (Captain's Suite)12
  • Havana Vista Suite (Havana Cabana Corner Suite)2
  • Havana Cabana Suite4
Balcony
  • Standard Balcony1,026
  • Extended Balcony104
  • Forward-View Extended Balcony48
  • Aft-View Extended Balcony34
  • Cove Balcony112
  • Junior Balcony23
  • Cloud 9 Spa Balcony48
  • Cloud 9 Spa Cove Balcony12
  • Cloud 9 Spa Forward-View Extended Balcony8
  • Havana Cabana44
  • Havana Forward-View Extended Balcony8
Oceanview
  • Ocean View130
  • Cloud 9 Spa Ocean View4
  • Family Harbor Ocean View41
  • Family Harbor Deluxe Ocean View6
Inside
  • Interior672
  • Premium Interior41
  • Cloud 9 Spa Interior43
  • Family Harbor Interior22
  • Havana Interior40

Cabin details & Prodigy Picks on the ship overview →

Features & Amenities

Family & Youth

  • Kids Club
  • Teen Club
  • Waterpark
  • Sports Court

Adults & Wellness

  • Adults Only Area
  • Spa
  • Thermal Suite
  • Casino

Entertainment & Culture

  • Production Theater

Thrills & Active

  • Zip Line
  • Ropes Course
  • Roller Coaster

Staterooms & Service

  • Open Seating Dining
  • Self Serve Laundry

Signature Experiences

World's first roller coaster at sea
world first
First LNG-powered cruise ship based in North America
industry first
Largest Carnival ship at debut — lead Excel-class vessel divided into six themed zones
largest
Carnival's first 'Carnival Excel' suites with the exclusive Loft 19 sundeck
fleet first
BOLT: Ultimate Sea Coaster
top-deck attraction
Carnival WaterWorks aqua park
top-deck attraction
SkyCourse suspended ropes course with zip line
top-deck attraction
SportSquare
top-deck attraction
Loft 19 suite-exclusive sundeck & pool
top-deck attraction
Serenity adults-only retreat
top-deck attraction
Beach Pool & Tides aft infinity pool
top-deck attraction

Venues

Complimentary Dining
  • Palm Restaurant
    main_dining_room
    Location: Decks 6-7
    Complimentary main dining room
  • Flamingo Restaurant
    main_dining_room
    Location: Deck 7 aft
    Complimentary main dining room
  • Lido Marketplace
    buffet
    Location: Decks 16-17
    Complimentary self-service buffet with food stations
  • ChiBang!
    restaurant
    Location: Deck 16 / La Piazza
    $ extras
    Chinese-Mexican restaurant; first visit complimentary, repeat-visit upcharge
  • Cucina del Capitano
    restaurant
    Location: Deck 8 La Piazza
    $ extras
    Italian restaurant; first visit complimentary, repeat-visit upcharge
  • Guy's Pig & Anchor Smokehouse
    restaurant
    Location: Deck 8 Summer Landing
    $ extras
    Complimentary smoked BBQ; only the on-board brewhouse beers are an upcharge
  • Guy's Burger Joint
    quick_service
    Location: Deck 17 Lido
    Complimentary burgers and hand-cut fries
  • BlueIguana Cantina
    quick_service
    Location: Deck 16 Lido
    Complimentary tacos and burritos
  • Big Chicken
    quick_service
    Location: Deck 16 Lido aft
    Complimentary fried-chicken concept
  • Street Eats
    quick_service
    Location: Deck 16 Lido
    Complimentary street-food eatery with three rotating kiosks
  • Pizzeria del Capitano
    quick_service
    Location: Deck 8 La Piazza
    Complimentary 24-hour pizzeria
  • Piazza Panini
    quick_service
    Location: Deck 8 La Piazza
    Complimentary hand-pressed deli sandwiches
  • Swirls
    quick_service
    Location: Deck 16 Lido
    Complimentary soft-serve ice cream and frozen yogurt
Specialty Dining
  • Fahrenheit 555 Steakhouse
    restaurant
    Location: Deck 7
    Surcharge steakhouse
  • Rudi's Seagrill
    restaurant
    Location: Deck 8
    Surcharge fine-seafood restaurant (indoor + Lanai seating)
  • Bonsai Teppanyaki
    restaurant
    Location: Deck 8 Grand Central
    Surcharge teppanyaki with chef performance at 8-seat tables
  • Bonsai Sushi
    restaurant
    Location: Deck 8 Grand Central
    Sit-down a-la-carte sushi restaurant
À la Carte Dining
  • Seafood Shack
    restaurant
    Location: Deck 16 Lido
    Waiter-served a-la-carte casual seafood
  • JavaBlue Cafe
    cafe
    Location: Deck 6 Grand Central
    Specialty coffee, shakes and pastries
  • Bar della Rosa
    cafe
    Location: Deck 8 La Piazza
    Italian coffee and patisserie bar (espresso, cocktails, wine)
  • Emeril's Bistro 1396
    quick_service
    Location: Deck 6 French Quarter
    A-la-carte New Orleans counter-service bistro
Bars & Nightlife
  • Alchemy Bar
    bar
    Location: Deck 7
    Cocktail 'pharmacy' bar
  • Casino Bar
    bar
    Location: Deck 7
    Bar serving the casino
  • Center Stage Bar
    bar
    Location: Deck 7 Grand Central
    Atrium stage bar
  • Grand View Bar
    bar
    Location: Deck 8 Grand Central
    Top-of-atrium bar with sea views
  • Fortune Teller Bar
    bar
    Location: Deck 6 French Quarter
    Mystic-themed cocktail bar
  • Piano Bar 88
    bar
    Location: Deck 6 Grand Central
    Sing-along piano bar
  • Punchliner Comedy Club
    lounge
    Location: Deck 6 Grand Central
    Comedy lounge with dedicated cocktail menu
  • The Brass Magnolia
    lounge
    Location: Deck 6 French Quarter
    New Orleans-style jazz lounge
  • RedFrog Tiki Bar
    bar
    Location: Decks 16-17 Lido
    Two-level Caribbean tiki bar at the Beach Pool
  • Tides Bar
    bar
    Location: Deck 16 aft
    Aft Tides Pool bar
  • Havana Bar
    bar
    Location: Deck 8
    Cuban cocktail and coffee bar; Latin music at night
  • The Watering Hole
    bar
    Location: Deck 8 Summer Landing
    Outdoor backyard-style bar
  • Heroes Tribute Lounge
    lounge
    Location: Deck 8 Summer Landing
    21+ armed-forces tribute bar lounge
  • Serenity Bar
    bar
    Location: Deck 18 Serenity
    Waiter-served adults-only retreat bar
  • Loft 19 Bar
    bar
    Location: Deck 19 Loft 19
    Full bar service in the suite retreat
Pools & Aquatics
  • Beach Pool
    pool
    Location: Deck 16 midship
    Main Lido pool beneath the seaside screen
  • Tides Pool
    pool
    Location: Deck 16 aft
    Aft pool flanked by 2 whirlpools
  • Summer Landing Pool
    pool
    Location: Deck 8 aft
    Aft infinity pool with 2 whirlpools
  • Havana Pool
    pool
    Location: Deck 8
    Havana-area pool with live palm trees
  • Serenity Pool
    pool
    Location: Deck 18 Serenity
    Adults-only retreat pool with 2 cantilevered whirlpools
  • Loft 19 Whirlpool
    whirlpool
    Location: Deck 19 Loft 19
    Infinity whirlpool in the suite retreat
  • Carnival WaterWorks
    waterpark
    Location: Decks 18-19
    Fleet's largest aqua park: 3 spiraling slides (Blue Lightning, Orange Thunder, Twister) + a 2-lane racing slide; kids' splash zone and tipping bucket
Active Recreation
  • SkyCourse
    zip_line
    Location: Ultimate Playground
    Suspended ropes course with zip line
  • SportSquare
    sports_complex
    Location: Ultimate Playground
    Open-air sports court / basketball & fitness games
Thrill & Marquee Attractions
  • BOLT: Ultimate Sea Coaster
    roller_coaster
    Location: Ultimate Playground
    World's first roller coaster at sea; ~800-ft electric track, up to ~40 mph, 187 ft above sea level; Maurer Rides
Entertainment Venues
  • Center Stage (Playlist Productions)
    production_show
    Location: Grand Central
    Three-deck atrium main stage; Playlist Productions shows & aerial performances
  • Family Feud Live
    game_show
    Audience game-show experience
Casino
  • Casino
    casino
    Slots & table games (expanded in 2025 refit); designated smoking area
Spa & Fitness
  • Cloud 9 Spa
    spa
    Location: Deck 5 forward
    Thermal suite, thalassotherapy pool, treatment rooms, salon
  • Fitness Center
    gym
    Location: Deck 5 forward
    Cardio & weight equipment, classes
Youth & Teen
  • Camp Ocean
    kids_club
    Ages 2-11 youth program (near Family Harbor)
  • Circle 'C'
    tween_club
    Ages 12-14
  • Club O2
    teen_club
    Ages 15-17
Retail & Shopping
  • Cherry on Top
    sweets
    Location: Grand Central (Deck 6)
    Candy & sweets shop
Leisure & Public Spaces
  • Grand Central
    atrium
    Location: Decks 6-8
    Carnival's largest atrium; three-deck-high windows (3,000 sqft glass), entertainment hub
  • French Quarter
    themed_zone
    Location: Aft Deck 6
    New Orleans-themed zone with bars/eateries and a two-deck Promenade
  • La Piazza
    themed_zone
    Location: Midship Deck 8
    Italian-piazza zone (brick walls, streetlights, vintage Vespa & 1972 Fiat 126)
  • Summer Landing
    themed_zone
    Location: Aft Deck 8
    Aft chill zone with smokehouse/brewhouse, infinity pool, two whirlpools & outdoor stage
  • Serenity Adult-Only Retreat
    adults_only
    21+ retreat: whirlpools, massage huts, Spritz Bar, hammocks, loungers (8am-10pm)
  • Loft 19
    suite_exclusive
    Location: Deck 19
    Carnival Excel suite-exclusive sundeck (bar, pool, cabanas, concierge)

Culinary Intel & dining strategy on the ship overview →

Data Provenance

Last Verified: 2026-06-10