January 25, 2019.
Carnival Cruise Line today revealed the first look at design details for the highly anticipated Mardi Gras, the line’s most innovative ship set to debut in 2020 and the first cruise ship in North America powered by Liquid Natural Gas (LNG). Mardi Gras will offer an extensive array of Carnival guest favorites along with new experiences highlighted by six themed zones.
The accommodations on Mardi Gras will include over 20 different stateroom categories and multiple levels of suites. Mardi Gras will also include the most expansive open decks on any Carnival ship, and an atrium that will serve as the hub of the ship as well as a focal point where guests will be welcomed on board.
Six Distinctive Zones
The six areas will be themed around Grand Central, French Quarter, La Piazza, Summer Landing, Lido and The Ultimate Playground and highlights include:
- Grand Central (Decks 6-8, mid-ship): Grand Central takes the traditional atrium concept to new heights, combining a day-to-night entertainment complex with three-deck-high floor-to-ceiling windows and a bar overlooking the starboard side of the ship. Nearby are Bonsai Sushi and Bonsai Teppanyaki which will be expanded from designs on existing ships to reflect their popularity with guests. There’s also the first-ever dedicated Punchliner Comedy Club and the always popular Piano Bar 88.
- French Quarter (Deck 6, aft): In a nod to the New Orleans’ culture that combines lively entertainment with an unparalleled food scene, French Quarter will be lined with new bars, music and eateries that perfectly capture the spirit of the Big Easy. And since the spirit of New Orleans is so closely tied to the jazz scene, this neighborhood is linked via a two-deck-high promenade leading to a traditional New Orleans jazz club with live entertainment and hand-crafted libations. More details on these new dining and entertainment choices and the introduction of a new Carnival celebrity partnership will be revealed this spring.
- La Piazza (Deck 8, mid-ship): La Piazza features Italian cuisine from the casual family-style Cucina del Capitano and 24/7 Pizzeria del Capitano to a new Mediterranean-themed seafood restaurant. There’s also a bar where guests can have cappuccino by day or classic Italian cocktails at night, while roaming musicians keep everyone entertained.
- Summer Landing (Deck 8, aft): Summer Landing will be home to an expanded Guy’s Pig & Anchor Smokehouse Brewhouse with smoked-on-board barbecue favorites created by longtime Carnival partner Guy Fieri, along with the line’s exclusive ParchedPig craft beers brewed right on board. There will be a pool and whirlpools, a new bar, the lunch counter for the Smokehouse Brewhouse along with ample lounging spaces and hang outs.
- Lido (Deck 16-17, aft): Carnival is already known for its varied casual poolside restaurants and Mardi Gras’ expanded Lido will take this to a whole new level with existing Carnival favorites like Guy’s Burger Joint, the New England-inspired Seafood Shack, and BlueIguana Cantina Mexican eatery, along with some new concepts to be announced at a later date that are sure to inspire foodie fans.
- The Ultimate Playground (Decks 18-20, aft): The Ultimate Playground will span Decks 18-20 and offer guests sea vistas highlighted by the largest and most elaborate Carnival WaterWorks aqua park in the fleet, along with an expanded SportSquare. The Ultimate Playground is also where guests will find the much-anticipated BOLT: Ultimate Sea Coaster, the first rollercoaster at sea announced in December 2018, where riders race along an 800-foot-long track achieving speeds of nearly 40 miles per hour.
Mardi Gras will also incorporate all of the line’s most popular signature features from its nearly completed $2 billion fleet enhancement program that has brought a consistent level of experiences to the more than five million passengers who annually sail on Carnival, such as Alchemy Bar, Fahrenheit 555 Steakhouse, and the Serenity adult-only retreat, among others – many of which will offer an exciting twist, along with a variety of new innovations exclusive to this vessel.
Additional information on Mardi Gras, along with specifics on each of the six themed areas will be revealed in the coming months.
Reservations for Mardi Gras will be open for sale on Jan. 30, 2019. Carnival Cruise Line fans who want to be the first to book on Mardi Gras can get a head start by clicking here where they can register up until Jan. 27, 2019 to get a “first to know” alert and special promotional offer when reservations open.