Carnival Cruise Line's Mardi Gras has completed a comprehensive dry dock in Marseilles, France. Next, the ship departed from Barcelona on a 15-day transatlantic journey to Port Canaveral, Florida.
The Excel-class vessel received several upgrades during the dry dock, including the addition of connecting doors linking 100 staterooms to accommodate multi-generational families and bigger groups. The ship's Carnival Adventures area was retooled with a new layout designed to streamline the excursion booking process for guests.
The casino was expanded with additional slot machines, and several retail venues received updates, including Tag Heuer, Breitling, Pandora and Swarovski. The ship also underwent accessibility improvements, with redesigned walkways and upgraded features in public areas and guest cabins.
"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 Christine Duffy, president of Carnival Cruise Line. "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."
Upon arrival at Port Canaveral, the 6,400-passenger ship will resume year-round operations from the Florida port, offering seven- to nine-day Caribbean itineraries. In 2027, Mardi Gras will become the first Excel-class ship and the largest vessel in Carnival's fleet to operate short four- and five-day Caribbean sailings.
Editor’s Note: This article was generated by AI, based on a press release distributed by Carnival Cruise Line. It was fact-checked and reviewed by a TravelAge West editor.
