It's Mardi Gras Time in Old San Juan

Carnival's new Mardi Gras made its first-ever call at San Juan today which was significant for the ship, but it was even more significant for the port because it was the first cruise ship to call at San Juan in 16 months. 

   This called for Governor Pedro Pierluisi, Mayor Miguel Romero and other local government officials to join Carnival brass for the event at the port. 

The complete story appeared in the August 3 edition of Cruise News Daily. 

With Mardi Gras serving as a dramatic backdrop, Carnival and Puerto Rico officials pose for a photo – from left Mardi Gras Hotel Director Pierre Camilleri, Captain Giuseppe Giusa, San Juan Port Authority Executive Director Joel Piza, Carnival Cruise Line President, Christine Duffy, Puerto Rico Governor Pedro Pierluisi and San Juan Mayor Miguel Romero.
Have you ever seen people having more fun?

It's Mardi Gras Time!

It's finally time for Carnival's new 181,808-ton Mardi Gras to set sail from Port Canaveral on Saturday, and today they had a “Sip & Sea” party aboard her to let visitors look around for the first time.  Visitors were excited to see the new BOLT rollercoaster and the new specialty restaurants. 

You can make believe you were there by watching the b-roll below from the event. 

The complete story appeared in the July 30 edition of Cruise News Daily. 

A New Place for Pizza

If you're always on the lookout for a new place to have pizza. There will be a new one, but not quite yet. When Carnival's new Mardi Gras boards its first passenger on May 29, one of Carnival's favorites will be aboard, Pizzeria del Capitano, the home to Carnival's famous pizza.

Pizzeria del Capitano will be in La Piazza, one of six themed-zones on Mardi Gras.  

The complete story appeared in the February 9 edition of Cruise News Daily.

Photo courtesy of Carnival Cruise Line. All rights reserved. May not be copied or used without express permission.

Stopping for Gas

Carnival's new Mardi Gras made its first port call today as it makes its way from the shipyard in Finland to its new home port of Port Canaveral. It is calling at Rotterdam today and tomorrow for fueling. Mardi Gras is powered by Liquified Natural Gas, which not only has limited availability, but requires a specialized fueling process.  

The complete story appeared in the December 22, 2020, edition of Cruise News Daily. 

Photo courtesy of Carnival Cruise Line. All rights reserved. May not be copied or used without express permission.

Carnival Again Has a Mardi Gras

Today Carnival Cruise Line took delivery of Mardi Gras, named after their first ship, at the Meyer Turku shipyard in Finland. The 180,000-ton ship is almost seven times the size of the original Mardi Gras acquired in 1972. 

The complete story appeared in the December 18, 2020 edition of Cruise News Daily.

Photos courtesy of Carnival Cruise Line. All rights reserved. May not be copied or used without express permission.

Trying Out Mardi Gras

Carnival's new Mardi Gras left Meyer Turku this morning for 10 days of sea trials. 

Photo courtesy of Meyer Turku. All rights reserved. May not be copied or used without express permission. 

New Atrium Concept to Debut on Carnival's Mardi Gras

Grand Central will be a multi-purpose atrium aboard Carnival's new Mardi Gras. Below are three renderings of the completed venue. The last image is a photo of the nearly-completed room as it looks today under construction. Mardi Gras will debut at Port Canaveral in February 2021.

The complete story appeared in the September 24 edition of Cruise News Daily. 

Photos/renderings courtesy of Carnival Cruise Line. All rights reserved. May not be copied or used without express permission.

Meyer Turku Floats Mardi Gras

Carnival's Mardi Gras was floated out on Friday at Meyer Turku.

Photos courtesy of Meyer Turku. All rights reserved. May not be copied or used without express permission. 

Other Things You'll Want to Know - January 20, 2020

CND subscribers also read about:

• Sun Princess becoming the first ship to resume calls at Australia's Kangaroo Island following the bushfire disaster.
• Carnival's Mardi Gras has been topped off with its funnel at Meyer Turku
• The US Coast Guard performed another expert medevac from Carnival Pride off the coast of Puerto Rico. Video

The Restaurant Where Your Food Can Look Back at You

When choosing the dining experiences for Mardi Gras which will debut next summer, Carnival wanted something new and different for their customers that would be as sophisticated as their steakhouses, and that's when they settled on a seafood restaurant.

Since Carnival is all about fun, who better to create the restaurant, they reasoned, than master chef Rudi Sodamin whose most recent cookbook (the latest of a dozen) is “Food Faces,” which is about making your food into edible “portraits” (faces)?

Details appeared in the November 21 issue of Cruise News Daily.

Mardi Gras Will Be a Real Roller Coaster Ride

Carnival revealed more details today about Bolt, the first roller coaster at sea. It will debut aboard Mardi Gras next August. Carnival made the reveal, appropriately enough, at annual International Association of Amusement Parks and Attractions (IAAPA) Conference in Orlando, because with the addition of Bolt to rest of their outdoor recreation attractions, cruise ships have become something of seagoing amusement parks.

Details appeared in the November 19 edition of Cruise News Daily. 

Eat, Drink and Be Casual aboard Mardi Gras

If sandwiches and snacks are your thing, it sounds like Mardi Gras is your ship. Carnival today revealed more of the food and beverage outlets aboard their upcoming vessel, and it seems most are focused on a delicious take-away type of dining rather than alternative sit-down restaurants.

The complete story appeared in the June 19 issue of Cruise News Daily.

Meyer Starts Mardi Gras Assembly

Carnival Cruise Line's Mardi Gras has begun to move from concept to reality today with the keel laying at Meyer Turku in Finland. The event put the first 750-ton block of the ship, numbered block 3C, into place in the dry dock. In maritime tradition, with it were good-luck coins.

The complete story appeared in the June 18 edition of Cruise News Daily.

The Top of Mardi Gras

Carnival's new Mardi Gras is a year away from entering service, but today Carnival released their selections for the ship's senior officers. They should prove familiar faces to loyal Carnival passengers.

Details appeared in the June 13 issue of Cruise News Daily. 

But Will the Host Kiss the Contestants?

With the success of the Hasbro games on Carnival ships beginning a few years ago, when Mardi Gras enters service next year the line will be turning to classic TV game shows for entertainment and engaging passengers.

Carnival has partnered with Fremantle to bring “Family Feud Live” aboard Mardi Gras.

Details appeared in the April 10 edition of Cruise News Daily.

Rendering courtesy of Carnival Cruise Line. All rights reserved. May not be copied or used without permission. 

Carnival Debuts Excel Suites

Carnival Cruise Line seems to be trying to jump on the luxury suite bandwagon with Mardi Gras when it debuts next year - but they aren't quite going to full “exclusive” route most other mass market lines have.

The line said they would debut four types of Excel suites aboard Mardi Gras when it enters service next year.

The complete story appeared in the April 9 edition of Cruise News Daily. 

Video courtesy of Carnival Cruise Line.

Where You'll Live on Mardi Gras

Carnival Cruise Line today introduced a new cabin design for Mardi Gras by DCA Design International. Now before you panic, it's nothing radical like the wavy walls Norwegian tried out on Norwegian Epic. Mardi Gras' new design seems to be mostly centered around new features passengers will find convenient rather than a new shape or concept.

Beyond that, the design seems to employ features to make the stateroom feel bigger, and it has cleaner lines and lighter colors - but no wavy walls.

The complete story appeared in the March 13 edition of Cruise News Daily. 

Video courtesy of Carnival Cruise Line. All rights reserved.

Emeril Lagasse to Take Creole to Sea aboard Mardi Gras

For almost thirty years, Emeril Lagasse and his restaurant have been a fixture in New Orleans' culinary scene. So who more appropriate to operate a restaurant in the French Quarter of Carnival's newest ship, Mardi Gras?

That's why Carnival Cruise Line announced today they are partnering with Lagasse to bring to his style and his cuisine to Mardi Gras.

The complete story appeared in the March 6 edition of Cruise News Daily. 

Rendering courtesy of Carnival Cruise Line. All rights reserved. May not be copied or used without express permission.

Carnival's Mardi Gras Open for Business

Carnival today began sales on Mardi Gras, which will enter service on August 31, 2020, and become their first ship powered by LNG. It will also be a new class of ship with a bunch of new features and a roller coaster!
   Mardi Gras will debut with four unique cruises that will position the ship at Port Canaveral, its home port, for year round alternating seven-night Caribbean itineraries.

The complete story appeared in the January 30 edition of Cruise News Daily. 

Inside Carnival's Mardi Gras

Mardi Gras is a little more than a year away from entering service, and later this week, Carnival will reveal the ship's homeport and initial itineraries at the same time as they open them for sale. Last week they began to reveal some of the features of the new class' interior features.

The complete story appeared in the January 28 edition of Cruise News Daily.



Renderings courtesy of Carnival Cruise Line. All rights reserved. May not be copied or used without permission.