Carnival’s first Excel-class ship, Mardi Gras, is officially back in action – fresh from her very first dry dock in France. This is the ship that started a new era for Carnival Cruise Line: the first in the Excel class, the largest class ever built for the brand, with her sisters Carnival Celebration and Carnival Jubilee following in her wake – and more on the horizon, including an even bigger class already in the works.
I’ve sailed on Mardi Gras many times, and she’s easily one of my favorites in the fleet along with her sister, Carnival Celebrationr. The ships have that perfect blend of modern design (instead of the gaudiness found on older Carnival ships), far more food options, and that high-energy atmosphere that keeps you coming back.
Now, after her tune-up, Mardi Gras is making her way home to Port Canaveral on a 15-day transatlantic sailing from Barcelona with stops in Málaga, Cádiz, Tenerife, and Carnival’s newest private destination, Celebration Key. Once back in Florida, she’ll resume her usual lineup of Caribbean cruises before switching things up in 2027, when she becomes the first Excel-class ship to run short four- and five-day booze cruises itineraries.
So what’s new after her time in dry dock? Not a massive overhaul but definitely some nice enhancements. The biggest change is the addition of more connecting staterooms, which makes a world of difference for families and groups cruising together. If you’re like me and HATE connecting staterooms, it’s more important than ever to check the deck plans when choosing a room! Carnival also expanded the Mardi Gras Casino, added new slot machines, refreshed several retail venues including Tag Heuer, Breitling, Pandora, and Swarovski, and revamped Carnival Adventures with a better layout for booking shore excursions.
Behind the scenes, there were also updates to improve accessibility – wider walkways, upgraded cabin features, and redesigned public spaces. Dry docks like this are also the time when ships get a little TLC that passengers might not see but definitely appreciate: new paint, deep cleaning, mechanical maintenance, and all those technical tweaks that keep her running smoothly.