Cruise ships · Carnival
Mardi Gras
Carnival · Excel Class
What it's like
- One of the biggest ships at sea, so it usually feels steady, even when the water gets choppy.
- Less room per guest than most ships, so expect busier pool decks and more lines at peak times.
- Refreshed recently (2024), so it has many of the line's newest features.
- A kids' club for families, plus adults-only space for a quieter escape.
Highlights: BOLT Roller Coaster, Family Feud Live, Grand Central atrium shows
At a glance
- Size
- 180,800 gross tons (Mega-resort)
- Guests (two per cabin)
- 5,282
- Space per guest
- 34.2 gross tons per guest (the middle half of ships: 37–42)
- Built
- 2020
- Last major refurbishment
- 2024
- Cabins
- 2,626 (777 interior, 222 ocean view, 1,467 balcony, 175 suites)
- Included restaurants
- 10
- Specialty restaurants (extra charge)
- 9
- Bars and lounges
- 20
- Casino
- Yes
- Kids' club
- Yes
- Adults-only area
- Yes
- Spa
- Yes
Where it sails
- From Port Canaveral · Eastern Caribbean · Western Caribbean · Year-round · 7–8 nights
Routes and seasons, not live availability. We look up real sailings and prices for you.
Where to book your cabin
What's above and around the cabins on the decks where location matters most, read by our team from Carnival's official deck plan. Look up your cabin number.
Already booked Mardi Gras? Check your cabin and get a free report.
Deck 4: the lowest cabin deck
| Cabins | Where | What's above, below and beside | What to expect |
|---|---|---|---|
| 4202–4252 (port, even), 4201–4253 (starboard, odd) | Forward | Cabins above | Quiet; forward, so some pitching in rough seas |
| 4254–4286 (port, even), 4255–4287 (starboard, odd) | Forward | Beside the forward stairs and elevators | Convenient; hallway traffic |
| 4288–4320 (port, even), 4289–4331 (starboard, odd) | Forward-midship | Cabins above | Quiet, low in the ship |
| 4322–4348 (port, even), 4333–4377 (starboard, odd) | Midship | Beside the Family Harbor Lounge and Camp Ocean (the kids' club) in the middle of this deck | Kids' activity beside by day and into the evening |
| 4350–4374 (port, even), 4379–4415 (starboard, odd) | Midship | Beside the middle elevators and stairs | Convenient; hallway traffic |
| 4376–4458 (port, even), 4417–4479 (starboard, odd) | Aft-midship | Cabins above | Quiet, low and central: the steadiest kind of cabin |
Deck 5: under deck 6 (theater, comedy club, bars, restaurants)
| Cabins | Where | What's above (deck 6) and around | What to expect |
|---|---|---|---|
| 5202–5232 (port) and inside 5206–5222 | Forward | Mardi Gras Theater above; Cloud 9 Spa beside them on deck 5 | Show noise above in the evenings; spa traffic by day |
| 5234–5252 (even) | Forward-midship | Back of the theater and stairs above | Some evening noise |
| 5256–5284 (port) and inside 5258–5282 | Forward-midship | Cloud 9 Fitness (gym) above; beside the forward elevators | Early-morning gym noise; hallway traffic |
| 5217–5261 (starboard) and inside 5211–5257 | Forward-midship | The Punchliner Comedy Club above | Late-night show noise above |
| 5286–5302 (port) | Midship | Piano Bar 88 above | Late-night music above |
| 5304–5328 (port), 5273–5349 (starboard), inside 5334, 5338, 5342, 5346, 5350, 5354, 5358, 5362–5376 (even) | Midship | Grand Central and the Center Stage Bar (the atrium) above | Live music and atrium noise into the night |
| 5330, 5332, 5336, 5340, 5344, 5348, 5352, 5356, 5360 (port outer row) | Midship | JavaBlue Café and Cherry on Top above | Daytime traffic above |
| 5392–5414 (port) and inside 5394–5412 | Midship-aft | The Brass Magnolia bar (French Quarter) above; beside the middle elevators | Bar noise into the night |
| 5351–5375 (starboard) | Midship-aft | The Fun Shops above | Daytime shop traffic |
| 5411–5419 (starboard) | Aft-midship | Fortune Teller Bar above | Bar noise into the night |
| 5436–5506 (port) | Aft-midship | Flamingo dining room above; the last rows are beside the aft elevators | Meal-time noise above |
| 5411–5439 (starboard) | Aft-midship | Emeril's Bistro 1396 above | Meal-time noise above |
| 5441–5469 (starboard) | Aft | Carnival Kitchen above; beside the aft elevators | Some daytime noise; hallway traffic |
Deck 9: over deck 8 (bars, La Piazza, Summer Landing)
| Cabins | Where | What's below (deck 8) and around | What to expect |
|---|---|---|---|
| 9201–9284, 9203–9289 | Forward | Cabins below | Quiet; forward, so some pitching |
| 9294–9312 (port) | Forward-midship | ChiBang! restaurant below | Meal-time noise below |
| 9299–9327 (starboard) | Forward-midship | Havana Bar and Havana Bar & Pool below | Bar music below into the night |
| 9338–9378 (port), 9341–9371 (starboard) | Midship | Bonsai Teppanyaki, Bonsai Sushi and the Grand Central atrium below | Atrium noise and live music below |
| 9382–9390 (port) | Midship | The Fun Shops below | Daytime traffic below |
| 9394–9444 (port) | Midship-aft | Cucina del Capitano (La Piazza) below | Meal-time noise below |
| 9383–9395 (starboard) | Midship-aft | Pixels Gallery below | Daytime traffic below |
| 9413–9433 (starboard) | Midship-aft | Bar della Rosa and Pizzeria del Capitano below | Bar noise and late-night pizza traffic below |
| 9448–9474, 9445–9475 | Aft-midship | Rudi's Seagrill, Carnival Adventures and Guest Services below; beside the aft elevators | Mostly quiet; hallway traffic |
| 9478–9500 (port) and inside 9490–9498 (even) | Aft | Guy's Pig & Anchor Smokehouse Brewhouse (Summer Landing) below | Bar and live-music noise below |
| 9475–9499 (starboard) | Aft | Heroes Tribute Lounge and The Watering Hole bar below | Bar noise below |
| 9501–9510 (aft-facing) | Very aft | The Patio and Patio Pool below | Pool-deck noise below; wake views; vibration |
Deck 10: between cabin decks 9 and 11
| Cabins | Where | What's above, below and beside | What to expect |
|---|---|---|---|
| 10201–10215 | Very forward | Cabins below; the front cabins look out over the bow | The most pitching in rough seas |
| 10216–10275 | Forward | Cabins above and below | Quiet; forward, so some pitching |
| 10276–10291 | Forward | Cabins above and below | Quiet |
| 10292–10315 | Forward | Beside the forward elevators | Convenient; hallway traffic |
| 10316–10389 | Midship | Cabins above and below | Quiet; the steadiest part of the ship |
| 10390–10401 | Midship | Beside the middle elevators | Convenient; hallway traffic |
| 10402–10457 | Aft-midship | Cabins above and below | Quiet |
| 10458–10469 | Aft | Beside the aft elevators | Convenient; hallway traffic |
| 10470–10501 | Very aft | Cabins above and below; the aft-facing cabins look over the wake | Wake views; some engine vibration |
Deck 11: between cabin decks 10 and 12
| Cabins | Where | What's above, below and beside | What to expect |
|---|---|---|---|
| 11201–11213 | Very forward | Cabins below; the front cabins look out over the bow | The most pitching in rough seas |
| 11214–11281 | Forward | Cabins above and below | Quiet; forward, so some pitching |
| 11282–11295 | Forward | Cabins above and below | Quiet |
| 11296–11307 | Forward | Beside the forward elevators | Convenient; hallway traffic |
| 11308–11401 | Midship | Cabins above and below | Quiet; the steadiest part of the ship |
| 11402–11415 | Midship | Beside the middle elevators | Convenient; hallway traffic |
| 11416–11469 | Aft-midship | Cabins above and below | Quiet |
| 11470–11479 | Aft | Beside the aft elevators | Convenient; hallway traffic |
| 11480–11512 | Very aft | Cabins above and below; the aft-facing cabins look over the wake | Wake views; some engine vibration |
Deck 12: between cabin decks 11 and 14
| Cabins | Where | What's above, below and beside | What to expect |
|---|---|---|---|
| 12201–12212 | Very forward | Cabins below; the front cabins look out over the bow | The most pitching in rough seas |
| 12213–12277 | Forward | Cabins above and below | Quiet; forward, so some pitching |
| 12278–12291 | Forward | Cabins above and below | Quiet |
| 12292–12315 | Forward | Beside the forward elevators | Convenient; hallway traffic |
| 12316–12399 | Midship | Cabins above and below | Quiet; the steadiest part of the ship |
| 12400–12415 | Midship | Beside the middle elevators | Convenient; hallway traffic |
| 12416–12465 | Aft-midship | Cabins above and below | Quiet |
| 12466–12481 | Aft | Beside the aft elevators | Convenient; hallway traffic |
| 12482–12509 | Very aft | Cabins above and below; the aft-facing cabins look over the wake | Wake views; some engine vibration |
Deck 14: between cabin decks 12 and 15
| Cabins | Where | What's above, below and beside | What to expect |
|---|---|---|---|
| 14201–14211 | Very forward | Cabins below; the front cabins look out over the bow | The most pitching in rough seas |
| 14212–14279 | Forward | Cabins above and below | Quiet; forward, so some pitching |
| 14280–14289 | Forward | Cabins above and below | Quiet |
| 14290–14306 | Forward | Beside the forward elevators | Convenient; hallway traffic |
| 14307–14399 | Midship | Cabins above and below | Quiet; the steadiest part of the ship |
| 14400–14429 | Midship | Beside the middle elevators | Convenient; hallway traffic |
| 14430–14465 | Aft-midship | Cabins above and below | Quiet |
| 14466–14476 (port, even), 14485–14495 (starboard, odd) | Aft | Beside the aft elevators | Convenient; hallway traffic |
| 14467–14483 (starboard, odd) | Aft | Cabins above and below | Quiet; some engine vibration |
| 14478–14523 | Very aft | Cabins above and below; the aft-facing cabins look over the wake | Wake views; some engine vibration |
Deck 15: under deck 16 (Lido: pools, food counters, buffet)
| Cabins | Where | What's above (deck 16) and around | What to expect |
|---|---|---|---|
| 15201–15279 | Forward | Cabins above (deck 16) | Quiet; forward, so some pitching |
| 15281–15301 | Forward-midship | Cabins above; beside the forward elevators | Convenient; hallway traffic |
| 15308–15320 (port), 15319–15335 (starboard) | Forward-midship | Service areas above | Mostly quiet; some early-morning activity |
| 15322–15326 (port), 15335–15339 (starboard) | Midship | BlueIguana Cantina (port), Seafood Shack and Street Eats (starboard) above | Food-counter noise at meal times |
| 15326–15382 (port), 15339–15397 (starboard), inside 15324–15372 (even), 15333–15389 (odd) | Midship | The main pool deck above | Pool-deck noise by day, chairs at dawn |
| 15358–15370 (port), 15375–15387 (starboard) | Midship | RedFrog Tiki Bar above | Bar music by day and evening |
| 15380–15390 (even), 15393–15407 (odd) | Midship | Beside the middle elevators | Convenient; hallway traffic |
| 15392–15444 (port), 15409–15463 (starboard) | Midship-aft | Lido Marketplace (the buffet) above | Early-morning setup noise and meal-time bustle |
| 15446–15452 (even), 15465–15469 (odd) | Aft | Beside the aft elevators | Convenient; hallway traffic |
| 15456–15462 (port), 15475–15481 (starboard) | Aft | Big Chicken (port) and Tides Pool Bar (starboard) above | Food and bar noise above |
| 15458–15499 (aft rows and aft-facing) | Aft | Tides Pool and spa tubs (aft pool deck) above | Pool-deck noise by day; some engine vibration |
Deck 16: forward cabins, ahead of the Lido deck
| Cabins | Where | What's above, below and beside | What to expect |
|---|---|---|---|
| 16201–16249 | Forward | Cabins above (deck 17) and below (deck 15) | Quiet; forward, so some pitching |
| 16250–16279 | Forward | Beside the forward elevators; cabins above and below | Convenient; hallway traffic |
| 16280–16297 | Forward-midship | BlueIguana Cantina, Seafood Shack and Street Eats just aft on this deck, at the front of the Lido | Steps from the pool deck; daytime food-counter bustle nearby |
Deck 17: forward cabins under deck 18 (Serenity)
| Cabins | Where | What's above (deck 18) and around | What to expect |
|---|---|---|---|
| 17201–17221 | Very forward | Open deck edge above | Quiet above; the most pitching |
| 17222–17270 (port), 17225–17279 (starboard), inside 17222–17250, 17227–17263 | Forward | Serenity Adult-Only Retreat above (pool, Serenity Pool Bar, Fresh Creations) | Daytime lounger and bar noise (adults only, so usually calmer) |
| 17266–17293 | Forward-midship | Beside the forward elevators; the deck 17 pool area (RedFrog Tiki Bar, Guy's Burger Joint) just aft | Hallway traffic; daytime bustle nearby |
General tips for any ship
- For the least motion, choose a cabin low and in the middle of the ship (midship), near the central elevators.
- For quiet, avoid cabins directly under the pool deck, buffet, theater or nightclub, and right beside the elevators or service areas.
- Cabins at the very front feel the most pitching in rough seas; cabins at the very back can feel some vibration from the engines.
- Some balcony cabins have partly blocked views (lifeboats, for example); the deck plan marks them, so check before you book.
For the exact layout, see the official deck plan for Mardi Gras on Carnival's website ↗.
Sister ships
Built to the same design (Excel Class), so they feel very similar on board:
Ship facts from the cruise line's official specifications, checked 2026-09-14. Spot something out of date? Let us know and we'll fix it.