Carnival Mardi Gras returns to Port Canaveral following drydock
Carnival Mardi Gras Returns Home with Major Upgrades After European Drydock
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Get ready, cruise fans! Carnival Cruise Line‘s popular Mardi Gras ship is coming back to Port Canaveral this week. The massive vessel just finished getting some serious upgrades during its time in a European shipyard.
Back Home to Florida
The Mardi Gras is currently sailing across the Atlantic Ocean from Spain. She’s expected to dock at her home port in Central Florida on October 30, 2025. Once she arrives, the ship will get back to her normal routine of Caribbean and Bahamas cruises.
First Cruise Back Features Five Stops
The ship’s comeback cruise is going to be special. This nine-night Eastern Caribbean adventure will take up to 5,200 guests to five different destinations. That’s more stops than most week-long cruises offer.
Passengers will visit some amazing places during this trip. The itinerary includes Amber Cove in the Dominican Republic and San Juan in Puerto Rico. The ship will also stop at Philipsburg in St. Maarten and Charlotte Amalie in St. Thomas.
New Private Island Stop
Here’s something exciting for Carnival fans. The Mardi Gras will visit Celebration Key, which is Carnival’s brand-new private destination in Grand Bahama. This gives passengers a chance to experience the cruise line’s latest tropical paradise.
Regular Schedule Returns
After the special nine-night cruise, things go back to normal. The 2021-built ship will offer her usual seven-night trips to either the Western or Eastern Caribbean. Every single cruise will include a stop at Celebration Key.
Other popular ports on these itineraries include Nassau and Grand Turk. Western Caribbean cruises typically visit Cozumel and Mahogany Bay too.
Major Ship Improvements
The Mardi Gras didn’t just sit around during her time at Chantier Naval de Marseille in France. The ship received routine maintenance and safety inspections, but that’s not all.
One of the biggest changes affects families traveling together. The ship now has connecting doors across 100 staterooms. This makes it much easier for big families and groups to stay close while still having their own space.
Enhanced Guest Experience
Carnival made several changes to improve the onboard experience. The Carnival Adventures shore excursion counter got a complete makeover with a fresh new design. The casino also grew bigger with additional slot machines for gambling fans.
Shopping lovers will notice upgrades too. Popular retail stores like Tag Heuer, Breitling, Pandora and Swarovski all received refreshed looks during the shipyard visit.
Better Accessibility Features
The cruise line also focused on making the ship more accessible for all guests. Workers redesigned walkways throughout the vessel and upgraded features in public spaces. Guest cabins also received accessibility improvements to help more people enjoy their cruise vacation.
These changes show Carnival’s commitment to welcoming passengers of all abilities. The upgrades make it easier for everyone to move around the ship and enjoy all the amenities.
The Mardi Gras is one of Carnival’s newest and most popular ships. Her return to Port Canaveral means more cruise options for travelers looking to explore the Caribbean from Florida’s Space Coast.
