Mardi Gras

Mardi Gras is the lead ship of Carnival's Excel class, debuting in July 2021 and based at Port Canaveral. It made history as the first cruise ship in North America powered by liquefied natural gas and as the first vessel to feature a roller coaster at sea, BOLT. About 35 percent larger than the class before it, the ship pioneered Carnival's six-zone layout that its sisters Celebration and Jubilee later inherited, anchored by a striking multi-deck atrium.

Day to day, the experience centers on choice: close to 20 dining venues (many included), an enormous nightly entertainment slate, the WaterWorks aqua park and BOLT as the marquee paid thrill. Staterooms draw praise as clean and modern with good storage. The trade-offs are crowding and scale — lines form at popular venues, several entertainment spaces are too small for demand, service can be inconsistent, and pool decks and bars attract rowdier groups on shorter sailings.

As the original and most-reviewed Excel ship, Mardi Gras is the proven choice for cruisers who want the full big-ship Carnival experience from Florida. It holds a 4.4 of 5 rating on U.S. News Travel from 1,570 guest reviews — the most of any Carnival ship and good for a #1 fleet ranking. Versus its newer Galveston-based sister Jubilee, Mardi Gras offers a far deeper track record and the LNG/lead-ship pedigree, though its 2021 finishes show a bit more wear; pick it for the Port Canaveral homeport and the most-vetted Excel-class sailing.