Newest XL LNG ship to be named Carnival Mardi Gras

[KmomChicago]

As expected (thank you), the debate has heated up here about whether this beautiful new vessel with the beloved throwback name (which side am I on??) is eagerly anticipated or proactively reviled. Now, I may be just a poor girl from Nowhere, Illinois, but it seems to me that I have to stand up here and do the right thing on behalf of my fellow travelers. You're welcome in advance.

 

I've gonna hafta take one for the team, forge ahead and sail upon this vessel FOR YOU.  Yes, all of you.  None should suffer the pain, misery and most of all the indignity of everything that is wrong with the most successful cruise company in the history of human people.

 

I will brave the brand-newness and perhaps also the throw-backness.  I will prepare for battle against the long lines at Guy's Burger Joint and the Punchliner.  I will wade amongst throngs of working class peers of all ages, including pooping, screaming babies, roaming packs of filthy children, stumbling, shoving or dropped drunken adults, and loyalty club members who outrank me by many orders of magnitude.  I will witness hairy chests and find myself later unable to unsee them.  I will meditate and fast for months, nay, years, to prepare for the arduous journey. Well, not that last one. My preparation begins now.

[ProgRockCruiser]

2 hours ago, KmomChicago said:

As expected (thank you), the debate has heated up here about whether this beautiful new vessel with the beloved throwback name (which side am I on??) is eagerly anticipated or proactively reviled. Now, I may be just a poor girl from Nowhere, Illinois, but it seems to me that I have to stand up here and do the right thing on behalf of my fellow travelers. You're welcome in advance.

 

I've gonna hafta take one for the team, forge ahead and sail upon this vessel FOR YOU.  Yes, all of you.  None should suffer the pain, misery and most of all the indignity of everything that is wrong with the most successful cruise company in the history of human people.

 

I will brave the brand-newness and perhaps also the throw-backness.  I will prepare for battle against the long lines at Guy's Burger Joint and the Punchliner.  I will wade amongst throngs of working class peers of all ages, including pooping, screaming babies, roaming packs of filthy children, stumbling, shoving or dropped drunken adults, and loyalty club members who outrank me by many orders of magnitude.  I will witness hairy chests and find myself later unable to unsee them.  I will meditate and fast for months, nay, years, to prepare for the arduous journey. Well, not that last one. My preparation begins now.

 

Nice one!

 

I believe my wife and I will join you on this quest for knowledge and enlightenment...

[eroller]

Well now we have the first floating roller coaster on MARDI GRAS.  I’ve read many comments from Carnival diehards over the years about how they refuse to sail Royal Caribbean because it’s a “floating amusement park”.  Well a roller coaster is about as floating amusement park as you get.  Will they put their noses up at this or decide it’s somehow different because it’s Carnival?   

 

Personally a roller coaster at sea is not enough to get me to book a particular ship, but I do applaud Carnival for trying something different and playing a little catch up with NCL and Royal Caribbean.  Personally I think these “attractions” from all the cruise lines are getting a bit out of hand, but apparently they sell cruises so what do I know.  

 

I still look forward to sailing on MARDI GRAS, but not because of the roller coaster.  

[Thorncroft]

22 minutes ago, eroller said:

  Will they put their noses up at this or decide it’s somehow different because it’s Carnival?   

 

 

 

Yeah, THIS. 

[eroller]

7 minutes ago, Thorncroft said:

 

Yeah, THIS. 

 

 

Pretty much what I would expect.  

[cjknox]

3 hours ago, eroller said:

Well now we have the first floating roller coaster on MARDI GRAS.  I’ve read many comments from Carnival diehards over the years about how they refuse to sail Royal Caribbean because it’s a “floating amusement park”.  Well a roller coaster is about as floating amusement park as you get.  Will they put their noses up at this or decide it’s somehow different because it’s Carnival?   

 

There are 24 other ships in the fleet. I think those of us who don't like this trend will be just fine Ernie. 😉

 

Personally, these things don't stop me from sailing the mega ships; but I could see how others would avoid them. Good news there are hundreds of other cruise ships out there without roller coasters or ziplines and flowriders.

 

In addition, I don't think many have said they would "never cruise Royal Caribbean" because of these things, just specifically the Oasis class, which again is understandable.

[xDisconnections]

2 hours ago, cjknox said:

 

There are 24 other ships in the fleet. I think those of us who don't like this trend will be just fine Ernie. 😉

 

Personally, these things don't stop me from sailing the mega ships; but I could see how others would avoid them. Good news there are hundreds of other cruise ships out there without roller coasters or ziplines and flowriders.

 

In addition, I don't think many have said they would "never cruise Royal Caribbean" because of these things, just specifically the Oasis class, which again is understandable.

Cameron, I would have taken you as a passenger who would want a floating amusement park on Carnival. Guess not.

[cjknox]

14 minutes ago, xDisconnections said:

Cameron, I would have taken you as a passenger who would want a floating amusement park on Carnival. Guess not.

 

Takes one to know one Dave.

Edited December 14, 2018 by cjknox

[xDisconnections]

10 minutes ago, cjknox said:

 

Takes one to know one Dave.

Not Dave, but okay. 

[eroller]

11 hours ago, cjknox said:

 

 

 

In addition, I don't think many have said they would "never cruise Royal Caribbean" because of these things, just specifically the Oasis class, which again is understandable.

 

 

I know many have because I’ve read the comments and even interacted with several.  They tend to lump Royal Caribbean into one category.  Perceptions are strong even if they have no clue what they are talking about.  I’ve never understood blind loyalty to a single cruise line but to each their own.  

[schazzy]

11 hours ago, cjknox said:

 

In addition, I don't think many have said they would "never cruise Royal Caribbean" because of these things, just specifically the Oasis class, which again is understandable.

 

We are trying RC for the first time in 2020, so obviously I have no real aversion to cruising with them. But, I have no desire to cruise on an Oasis-class ship, I'm sure they are lovely and all, but they just don't interest me, ships getting anywhere near that large are not for me.

Edited December 14, 2018 by schazzy

[rukkian]

14 minutes ago, schazzy said:

 

We are trying RC for the first time in 2020, so obviously I have no real aversion to cruising with them. But, I have no desire to cruise on an Oasis-class ship, I'm sure they are lovely and all, but they just don't interest me, ships getting anywhere near that large are not for me.

We loved the Oasis class, but like that there are choices.  

[schazzy]

1 hour ago, rukkian said:

We loved the Oasis class, but like that there are choices.  

 

I like that there are choices too, don't get me wrong, I'm glad that the Oasis class is there for those who want that kind of ship, and I'm assuming that since the cruise lines have been pouring money into updating their older ships, there will still be plenty of other options for the rest of us. :)

[molole]

Does it mean it will depart from NOLA year round?   I was kind of hoping for a Dream class ship out of NOLA, doing the 4 day 5 day sailings. 

[eroller]

1 minute ago, molole said:

Does it mean it will depart from NOLA year round?   I was kind of hoping for a Dream class ship out of NOLA, doing the 4 day 5 day sailings. 

 

 

No.  The name MARDI GRAS is just in recognition of Carnival's first ship.  She will sail out of Port Canaveral year round.  

[tallyho8]

On ‎12‎/‎10‎/‎2018 at 7:28 PM, Saint Greg said:

 

That was my first thought. But honestly, they can send it to Florida and send Breeze or Magic to New Orleans and I’d be happy.

 

Maybe you're right. They should bring the Carnival "Brees" here. Right now there are over a million happy fans who would like to ride on the Brees.

[Saint Greg]

3 minutes ago, tallyho8 said:

 

Maybe you're right. They should bring the Carnival "Brees" here. Right now there are over a million happy fans who would like to ride on the Brees.

 

I’m ready

 

 

[ProgRockCruiser]

So my wife and I have been mulling over booking a cruise for either Dec 2019 or early 2020.  We already have one booked in Sept 2019 and another Dec 2020, so April/May 2020 might be a good middling timeframe that is also a nice time of year to cruise.

 

The Mardi Gras had her first steel cutting in Nov 2018.  She is due to sail "in 2020".  The sister-ship AIDAnova had her steel cutting in Feb 2017, and was handed over for cruising in Dec 2018 (delayed a month or so due to a fire "after transfer from yard to sea") - basically 22 months to build and deliver.

 

The Costa Smeralda had a steel cutting ceremony in Sept 2017, and won't sail until Oct 2019.  That is a longer time frame that AIDAnova at 25 months.

 

P&O Iona steel cutting April 2018, to be delivered May 2020.

 

So that means the Mardi Gras won't be delivered until Sept 2020, maybe Dec 2020 - and that Sept date might be for sailings starting Europe before moving over to Port Canaveral in Nov or Dec 2020 for the (northern hemisphere's) winter season.

 

Thus, I deduce that if we want to book something in the desired timeframe, the Mardi Gras is out of the picture.  

 

Does anyone think there is any chance it might sail sooner than Nov 2020 out of Canaveral?  I just can't see them getting it done much faster, and even if done more quickly than the first three, I can't see Carnival bringing it over to start sailing while still in the middle of hurricane season...

 

Just hypothesizing - while typing this out I came to the conclusion we will probably book a Western Carib out of Tampa in April 2020...

[KmomChicago]

25 minutes ago, ProgRockCruiser said:

So my wife and I have been mulling over booking a cruise for either Dec 2019 or early 2020.  We already have one booked in Sept 2019 and another Dec 2020, so April/May 2020 might be a good middling timeframe that is also a nice time of year to cruise.

 

The Mardi Gras had her first steel cutting in Nov 2018.  She is due to sail "in 2020".  The sister-ship AIDAnova had her steel cutting in Feb 2017, and was handed over for cruising in Dec 2018 (delayed a month or so due to a fire "after transfer from yard to sea") - basically 22 months to build and deliver.

 

Does anyone think there is any chance it might sail sooner than Nov 2020 out of Canaveral?  I just can't see them getting it done much faster, and even if done more quickly than the first three, I can't see Carnival bringing it over to start sailing while still in the middle of hurricane season...

 

Just hypothesizing - while typing this out I came to the conclusion we will probably book a Western Carib out of Tampa in April 2020...

 

Personally If I were in your shoes I would be planning Mardi Gras for your April 2021 cruise, assuming you are sort of working on a one each spring / one each fall schedule. If they rush this ship and manage to have it on the water before Nov 2020 I would still worry it could be in a not-quite-ready condition.  Looking at the following April should ensure she's all finished and will have worked out her opening night jitters as well. 

[ProgRockCruiser]

13 minutes ago, KmomChicago said:

 

Personally If I were in your shoes I would be planning Mardi Gras for your April 2021 cruise, assuming you are sort of working on a one each spring / one each fall schedule. If they rush this ship and manage to have it on the water before Nov 2020 I would still worry it could be in a not-quite-ready condition.  Looking at the following April should ensure she's all finished and will have worked out her opening night jitters as well. 

 

I must completely agree with your logic.  That "new ship smell" needs to be countered with "still working out a few bugs".

 

And yeah, April/May 2021 sounds like a nice timeframe.

 

Our official timeline is supposed to be sailing in Decembers, because that is our anniversary, but the Sept 2019 booking is gonna interfere with that (unless we want to sail just 90 days between cruises, which isn't a bad thing, per se).  Additional cruising other than December is somewhat ad hoc, based mostly on interesting itineraries, ships, and personal time availability.

 

Mardi Gras schedule and bookings supposed to be available in January 2019...we will very likely book something for April/May 2020 before then, and then we'll book MG for one year later.

 

Hmm, maybe we'll hit Platinum faster than I thought, at this rate...

[Eliot Ness]

Guess I'll finally be able to get a Mardi Gras ship hat pin!

 

We sailed on her in 1991, near the end of her days with Carnival, and it was in pretty sad shape by then.  I really can't think of a positive thing to say about the ship or crew except the Camp Carnival folks.  Eventually all of our cabin lights burned out except the bathroom and after repeated calls no one ever replaced them.  It was their first ship that they bought used and I guess I'm glad to have sailed on her, but it made me vow that I'd never sail on Carnival again until a broken rudder in 2000 nixed our cruise out of Houston on the Big Red Boat.  A panicked phone call got us a last minute cabin on the Sensation and we've been with Carnival ever since.

 

That's going to be a big ship with a lot of pax so we may or may not ever sail on her.

Edited January 3, 2019 by Eliot Ness

[KmomChicago]

3 hours ago, Eliot Ness said:

Guess I'll finally be able to get a Mardi Gras ship hat pin!

 

We sailed on her in 1991, near the end of her days with Carnival, and it was in pretty sad shape by then.  I really can't think of a positive thing to say about the ship or crew except the Camp Carnival folks.  Eventually all of our cabin lights burned out except the bathroom and after repeated calls no one ever replaced them.  It was their first ship that they bought used and I guess I'm glad to have sailed on her, but it made me vow that I'd never sail on Carnival again until a broken rudder in 2000 nixed our cruise out of Houston on the Big Red Boat.  A panicked phone call got us a last minute cabin on the Sensation and we've been with Carnival ever since.

 

That's going to be a big ship with a lot of pax so we may or may not ever sail on her.

 

Wow, you don't see a lot of comments here from those of us who were cruising that long ago.  I sailed on Premier's SS Royale and SS Oceanic.  We enjoyed them, but obviously they were a far cry from the ships of today.  Really far. Can't help but chuckle at the image you conjure of the poor old just-about-worn-out Mardi Gras.  I'm sorry if that's unkind but not meant that way.  Picturing each light bulb burning out one by one, the cabin getting darker each night when you returned after dinner.  What else was in questionable condition? Duct tape on the seats in the showroom perhaps? Seems like something out of a sitcom and I hope in a weird way it's a funny memory for you now.

[Eliot Ness]

14 minutes ago, KmomChicago said:

 

........ What else was in questionable condition? Duct tape on the seats in the showroom perhaps? Seems like something out of a sitcom and I hope in a weird way it's a funny memory for you now.

 

Our first cruise was on the tiny PCL Majestic, but it was in beautiful condition and we had a great time.  They had a small movie theater down below and some of the crew would go in at night also.  My daughter still remembers watching movies in there.

 

So our second cruise was on the poor old & neglected Mardi Gras.  I remember all the outside wood on the Majestic constantly being varnished (or whatever they apply) and The Mardi Gras wood was all bone dry.  I also remember the dining room service to be a bit lacking and the Cruise Director was horrible.  At one port we were docked beside the Majestic and my kids asked if we could jump ships

 

I do look back at that cruise fondly because I think it was the last one where I could shoot skeet off the aft of the ship.  I'm glad now that we went on such a historic ship, but this was pre-internet and I had no idea it was Carnival's first ship.  Had I known I would have actually enjoyed and explored her more.   I do have fond memories of her now..... it was very rough seas out of Port Canaveral (I think) and pax were dropping like flies and I had to grab something by the roulette wheel to steady myself in the small casino.

[clevercruiser]

On 1/4/2019 at 12:25 AM, KmomChicago said:

 

Can't help but chuckle at the image you conjure of the poor old just-about-worn-out Mardi Gras.  Seems like something out of a sitcom...

 

"The Unloved Boat", perhaps?!

 

 

 

[jimbo5544]

On 12/26/2018 at 1:35 PM, ProgRockCruiser said:

 

I must completely agree with your logic.  That "new ship smell" needs to be countered with "still working out a few bugs".

 

And yeah, April/May 2021 sounds like a nice timeframe.

 

Our official timeline is supposed to be sailing in Decembers, because that is our anniversary, but the Sept 2019 booking is gonna interfere with that (unless we want to sail just 90 days between cruises, which isn't a bad thing, per se).  Additional cruising other than December is somewhat ad hoc, based mostly on interesting itineraries, ships, and personal time availability.

 

Mardi Gras schedule and bookings supposed to be available in January 2019...we will very likely book something for April/May 2020 before then, and then we'll book MG for one year later.

 

Hmm, maybe we'll hit Platinum faster than I thought, at this rate...

Depending on the delivery date, it does not look like she will have a European season (which logistically makes sense but still a shame).  I love to cruise on a new ship to see her first hand.  I expect we will get more details shortly (this month).  The wife and I will be in New York for a travel awards ceremony later this month and will ask some of the brass that will be there for more info if it does come out in the interim.