Carnival Cruise Line announced the first eight cruises of the soon-to-launch 180,000 ton Mardi Gras have been canceled.
The reason for the eight Mardi Gras cancellations is due to construction delays at the Meyer Turku shipyard. The new date for the inaugural cruise is now changed to November 14, 2020.
The delay of delivery of 6,630-passenger Mardi Gras means that Carnival will take official possession of their new ship now towards the end of October. The first revenue sailing will instead depart from Port Canaveral on Nov. 14, 2020.
With these changes, the first eight sailings that were scheduled to start from Port Canaveral on Aug. 31 have been cancelled. This includes previously scheduled European, transatlantic, New York-based itineraries and four Port Canaveral itineraries.
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How Carnival plans to compensate those already booked
As a gesture of goodwill, for those booked on the Mardi Gras cancellations, Carnival is offering a twenty-five percent future cruise credit (FCC), in addition to providing a full refund of cruise fare (and applicable fees, taxes and other pre-purchased cruise components). The cruise line is also assisting those booked who have non-refundable airline and hotel reservations already booked.
Plus, if you rebook on any Carnival cruise by February 18, 2020 using the 25% Future Cruise Credit, you will also receive a $100 per person onboard credit for that cruise. Carnival has also stated that travel advisors’ commissions are protected if the individual or group reservations had names and full deposits.
Carnival’s Statement regarding Mardi Gras’ Delay
According to the email sent to travel advisors:
“We have been working closely with Meyer Turku executives to keep the Mardi Gras delivery on schedule, and while we deeply regret disappointing our guests, this change in the delivery date is required to make sure all of the ship’s systems, features and technology will be fully operational, so that we can give our guests the vacation they expect. Our commitment is to deliver a great and innovative ship, and Mardi Gras will definitely be that when it arrives in North America,” said Ben Clement, Carnival Cruise Line’s senior vice president of Newbuild.
Where Mardi Gras will cruise
Carnival Mardi Gras, Carnival’s first ship powered by LNG, (liquified natural gas) will set off on its first cruise on November 14, 2020. The departure from Port Canaveral will include port calls at Cozumel and Costa Maya, Mexico and Roatan, Honduras.
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