Carnival Mardi Gras Adds Family Rooms After Dry Dock Upgrade
Carnival’s Mardi Gras Ship Gets Major Upgrades After Dry Dock
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Carnival Cruise Line’s biggest party ship is back and better than ever. The Mardi Gras just finished a major makeover in France and is ready to wow guests again.
The massive vessel spent time in dry dock in Marseilles, France getting some serious improvements. Now she’s sailing from Barcelona on a 15-day trip across the Atlantic Ocean back to her home base in Port Canaveral, Florida.
New Features for Families and Groups
The ship’s upgrades focus heavily on making cruises better for families traveling together. Carnival added connecting doors to 100 staterooms during the renovation. This gives multi-generational families and larger groups more options when booking their cabins.
The changes make it easier for grandparents, parents, and kids to stay close while still having their own space. Large friend groups will also love having rooms that connect.
Better Shore Excursion Booking
Carnival Adventures got a complete redesign during the dry dock period. The new layout makes booking shore excursions much easier for guests. The streamlined process means less time waiting in lines and more time enjoying your vacation.
More Fun and Shopping Options
Casino lovers will find expanded gaming options when they step aboard. The ship added new slot machines to give guests more ways to try their luck.
Several high-end retail shops also got fresh new looks. Tag Heuer, Breitling, Pandora, and Swarovski all received updates during the renovation. Shopping enthusiasts will have plenty of places to browse for souvenirs and luxury items.
Better Accessibility Throughout the Ship
Carnival made important changes to help guests with mobility needs. The cruise line redesigned walkways to make getting around easier. They also upgraded features in public areas and guest cabins to improve accessibility.
These changes show Carnival’s commitment to making cruises enjoyable for all guests, regardless of their physical abilities.
What Carnival’s President Says
Christine Duffy, president of Carnival Cruise Line, is excited about the improvements. “Mardi Gras was a game-changer when she debuted as our first Excel-class ship, and now she’s setting the pace again as the first in her class to complete a dry dock,” said Duffy.
She added, “These updates not only enhance the onboard experience for families and groups but also signal the exciting direction we’re heading in with future fleet enhancements.”
The Return Journey
Guests on the current sailing get to experience something special. The 15-day transatlantic trip from Barcelona to Port Canaveral includes stops at several amazing destinations.
The ship will visit Málaga and Cádiz (Seville) in Spain. She’ll also stop at Tenerife in the Canary Islands. The final port of call before reaching Florida is Carnival’s brand-new private destination, Celebration Key.
Future Cruise Plans
Once Mardi Gras reaches Port Canaveral, she’ll resume her regular Caribbean schedule. The 6,400-passenger ship will offer seven to nine-day cruises to popular Caribbean islands year-round.
Carnival has big plans for 2027. The Mardi Gras will become the first Excel-class ship to offer shorter four and five-day Caribbean cruises. She’ll also be the biggest ship in Carnival’s fleet to offer these quick getaway options.
Why This Matters for Cruise Travelers
The Mardi Gras upgrades show how cruise lines are listening to guest feedback. The focus on family-friendly features reflects the growing trend of multi-generational cruise travel.
The accessibility improvements also demonstrate the industry’s commitment to inclusive travel. More cruise lines are making ships welcoming for guests with different mobility needs.
These enhancements set the stage for similar upgrades across Carnival’s Excel-class fleet. Future dry dock projects will likely include similar family-focused and accessibility improvements.
The Mardi Gras renovation proves that even newer ships can benefit from thoughtful upgrades. The vessel only debuted a few years ago but already received meaningful improvements based on guest experiences and feedback.
