Tag Archives: Mardi Gras

Carnival’s Mardi Gras Completes One Year in Service

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The new Mardi Gras from Carnival Cruise Line has just completed its first year in service. As the first ship in Carnival Cruise Line’s XL-Class, the vessel welcomed its first guests on July 31, 2021.

On that day, it departed Port Canaveral on an inaugural cruise to the Eastern Caribbean.

The seven-night voyage included visits to San Juan, Amber Cove and Nassau and three full days at sea.

Continuing its debut season, the 5,200-guest ship offered other cruises in the region over the last year, also visiting the Western Caribbean and other destinations such as Cozumel, Roatán, Grand Turk, Mahogany Bay and more.

As the first LNG-powered cruise ship to be homeport in the United States, the Mardi Gras is considered one of the most eco-friendly vessels sailing from the country.

With several new features, the 183,900-ton ship is also the largest and one of the most innovative vessels ever built for Carnival.

Among its attractions are BOLT, the industry’s first roller coaster, and a selection of new dining venues, including Emeril’s Bistro 1396, Shaq’s Big Chicken, Chibang! and Street Eats.

The Mardi Gras is set to be joined by the second XL-Class vessel later this year when the new Carnival Celebration enters service.

Currently, under construction in Finland, the vessel is set to debut in November, kicking off a program of Caribbean cruises departing from PortMiami.  

Marking the arrival of the XL-Class to Texas, the Carnival Jubilee will be the third ship in the series. Based in Galveston, the ship is scheduled to enter service in November 2023.

In addition to the XL-Class vessels, the Carnival Cruise Line fleet is also receiving three extra ships over the next few years.

Presently sailing for Costa, the Carnival Luminosa will debut for the brand this November, with a series of cruises in Australia.

In 2023 and 2024, respectively, Carnival is also receiving the Costa Venezia and the Costa Firenze.

The Vista-Class ships will operate under the Costa by Carnival label, which combines Costa’s Italian hardware with Carnival’s service, entertainment and cuisine.

Carnival’s New Cruise Terminal in Miami to Open for Celebration Naming

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Carnival Cruise Line is progressing on the project of transforming PortMiami’s Cruise Terminal F in its largest cruise terminal in North America.

Set to open in November, the facility is being redesigned and expanded in order to serve as the homeport of Carnival’s second Excel-class ship, the Carnival Celebration.

According to Christine Duff, Carnival Cruise Line’s President, the new terminal will be ready in time for the ship’s inaugural festivities. 

“We are very excited that we’ll be opening the redesigned Terminal F for Carnival Celebration’s naming ceremony,” she said during a press conference in Miami in late April. 

“It’s a great way to celebrate Carnival,” Duffy added, mentioning the cruise line’s 50th-anniversary festivities.

According to her, like the new Carnival Celebration, the redesigned terminal will also get memorabilia from past Carnival ships.

Also celebrating the company’s milestone anniversary, the new build will feature the Golden Jubilee, a lounge and entertainment area equipped with items and art pieces retrieved from the line’s retired ships, including the recently recycled Fantasy-class vessels.

When completed, Terminal F will become the third cruise terminal dedicated to Carnival operations at PortMiami.

As part of the renovations, the facility is receiving facial recognition technology and other elements which will be used to move guests through the embarkation process.

Originally signed in September 2019, the expansion agreement includes a commitment by Carnival to keep ships at Terminal F for 20 years, with the option of two additional seven-year extensions.

The LNG-powered Carnival Celebration is currently under construction at the Meyer Turku shipyard in Finland.  

After being delivered later this year, the 183,900-ton cruise ship will become Carnival’s largest vessel, along with its sister ship, the 2020-built Mardi Gras.

Following a transatlantic crossing, the 5,200-guest ship is set to launch service from Miami on Nov. 21, kicking off a year-round program of weeklong Caribbean itineraries.

Duffy ‘Thrilled’ to Have Full Carnival Cruise Fleet Back in Service

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With the departure of the Carnival Splendor from the Port of Seattle today, Carnival Cruise Line is celebrating the restart of its entire fleet of ships.

The company said that it becomes the first major cruise line in the U.S. to achieve that milestone.

The Carnival Splendor is the 23rd and final Carnival ship to welcome guests back onboard after Carnival’s resumption of cruising from the U.S. last July.  Guests are set to depart from Seattle, Wash. today on an eight-day Alaska cruise.

The Carnival Splendor’s summer itineraries to Alaska are part of a three-ship deployment, along with Carnival Spirit from Seattle and Carnival Miracle from San Francisco – the largest-ever cruise program Carnival has sailed to Alaska. 

“With Carnival Splendor beginning operations today from Seattle, Carnival Cruise Line is thrilled to have our entire fleet of 23 ships back in service, providing more opportunities for our guests to enjoy our signature fun while travelling to beautiful vacation destinations,” said Christine Duffy, president of Carnival Cruise Line. “We are especially excited to expand our Alaska program this season with three ships bringing more than 100,000 guests – including more than 6,000 this week – from Seattle and San Francisco to awe-inspiring Alaska ports.”

To commemorate the line’s return to service from Seattle with Carnival Splendor, Carnival Cruise Line hosted its “Back to Fun” event at the Port of Seattle to officially welcome the first guests onboard. Duffy checked off Carnival Splendor on a tally board listing the 23 Carnival ships, signifying the completion of the Carnival fleet’s restart.  Today’s departure is one of 49 cruises to Alaska. Destinations include Ketchikan; Sitka; Skagway; Icy Strait Point; Victoria, BC; and scenic cruising through Tracy Arm Fjord (stops vary depending on cruise date).

Beginning with the Carnival Vista restarting service on July 3, 2021, in Galveston, Carnival has completed its full fleet return in just 10 months. Carnival is operating from 12 U.S. homeports including Miami, Galveston, Port Canaveral, Long Beach, Baltimore, New Orleans, Tampa, Charleston, Jacksonville, Mobile, Seattle and San Francisco, providing guests with a wide range of cruising options. Additional seasonal service from Norfolk, Va., and New York City will start in May and June respectively.