Cruising : Carnival Cruise Line has 23 cruise ships adding two new largest vessels

Mardi Gras will be a game changer for the cruise industry as it will be the very first cruise ship to have a roller coaster on the top deck.

Carnival Cruise Line’s new Excellence class ships will come in at 183,900 gross tons in size. They will be significantly larger than their current largest, Vista class, at 133,000 gross tons. Here is everything you need to know about the two new cruise ships coming to Carnival Cruise Line.

Mardi Gras

Carnival Cruise Line is naming their next new cruise ship after their very first vessel, Mardi Gras.  Mardi Gras is scheduled to begin cruises in February 2021 but the exact date is technically up in the air due to the cruise shutdown. Mardi Gras will be the only ship in their fleet to not have Carnival in the name.

Mardi Gras will be a game changer for the cruise industry as it will be the very first cruise ship to have a roller coaster on the top deck. BOLT will have an 800 foot track that will race at up to 40 miles per hour around the top deck of the cruise ship. 

BOLT will take center stage in the Ultimate Playground, one of Mardi Gras’ six themed zones, spanning Decks 18-20 and home to the largest WaterWorks aqua park in the Carnival Cruise Line fleet featuring three unique heart-racing slides designed for all-ages fun.

Mardi Gras will have the following six exciting and distinctive zones:

• Grand Central (Decks 6-8, mid-ship)

• French Quarter (Deck 6, aft)

• La Piazza (Deck 8, mid ship)

• Summer Landing (Deck 8, aft)

• Lido (Deck 16-17, aft)

• The Ultimate Playground (Decks 18-20, aft)

• View Prices on Cruises on Mardi Gras

The ship will have a plethora of dining, beverage, and entertainment options including restaurants from Emeril Lagasse, Guy Fieri, and Shaquille O’Neal.

Family Feud Live will make it’s debut at sea on Mardi Gras. Family Feud Live will feature the same format and signature set as the TV show. Two five-person teams will battle it out in rounds including Face Off and Fast Money by naming the most popular answers to survey questions for a chance to win a host of prizes in a high-energy gameplay.

Mardi Gras will have 2,600 staterooms and will carry up to 6,500 passengers at maximum capacity.

Carnival Cruise Line will be debuting their new Carnival Excel Suites and a new resort style Loft 19 Enclave.  The ship will feature 180 suites including the 32 Carnival Excel Suites.

Guests staying in the Carnival Excel Suites will have unlimited access to Loft 19 as well as  special perks that range from upgraded bathroom amenities to guaranteed specialty dining times.

Located on the highest deck, Loft 19 is a brand new concept for Carnival Cruise Line – a secluded retreat modeled after the world’s finest resorts with full bar service, a private pool surrounded by sun loungers and spacious cabanas, available for rent.

Cabanas are fully stocked with beverages, plush robes and chilled towels, fresh fruit, lunch delivery and dedicated concierge service. Carnival Excel suite guests will receive priority when reserving Loft 19 cabanas.

Mardi Gras will sail from Cape Canaveral, Florida and sail week long cruises to the Caribbean.  View Cruises on Mardi Gras

Carnival Celebration

Carnival Cruise Line’s second Excellence class ship, Carnival Celebration will also be named after one of the cruise line’s first cruise ships. 

Being a sister ship to Mardi Gras, Carnival Celebration will have many of the same features including the roller coaster BOLT.  While the basic layout of the ship will remain the same, Carnival usually makes slight tweaks to restaurants and features to sister ships.

While Carnival hasn’t given many details about Carnival Celebration, they have said that the ship will have the same six zones as Mardi Gras.

Carnival Celebration will sail out of the Cruise Capital of the World, PortMiami.  The cruise ship is currently scheduled to debut in late 2022 and sail six to eight night cruises to the Eastern and Western Caribbean.

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