It’s Cruise Ship Monday!
Today brings us Carnival Cruise Line’s Excel-class–Mardi Gras (2021), Carnival Celebration (2022) and Carnival Jubilee (2023).
Carnival Cruise Line’s three Excel-class ships weigh in just over 180,000 tons–almost 40% larger than any other Carnival ship. They have more eateries, lounges, bars and attractions than any other Carnival ships. This class of ship also has the largest array of suites for Carnival Cruise Line which it will need for the more than 5,400 guests sailing at a time.
Roller coasters on the top deck of the Excel-class ships was a cruise industry first when Bolt: Ultimate Seas Coaster debuted. Carnival Cruise Line’s Excel-class ships were also the first North American ships to run on liquified natural gas (LNG), a cleaner, more environmentally friendly fuel.
Emeril Lagasse introduced his Emeril’s Bistros at Sea, Chef Rudi Sodamin introduced Rudi’s Seagrill, and Carnival Cruise Line’s Chief Fun Officer, Shaquille O’Neal, introduced his fast-casual chicken restaurant, Big Chicken at Sea aboard the Excel-class ships. Also, exclusive to the Excel-class ship is Chibang!–a hybrid menu blending Chinese and Mexican cuisines.
Each Excel-class ship has a spot exclusive to itself. Mardi Gras has a nod to New Orleans with its French Quarter zone which offers Emeril’s Bistro 1396, The Brass Magnolia and the Fortune Teller Bar. Carnival Celebration features a Miami-themed zone named 820 Biscayne, the address of the cruise line’s original headquarters in Miami. Guests will find Bar 820, Deco Deli and Miami Slice in this unique zone. Carnival Jubilee is unique in that it was specifically built for the Texas market, complete with a Texas star on its bow. Guests will find elements that reflect the culture of the Lone Star State throughout the ship.
In April, Carnival Cruise Line announced two new Excel-class ships arriving in 2027 and 2028. They will be named Carnival Festivale and Carnival Tropicale continuing Carnival’s tradition of reusing names of retired ships. They are currently under construction at the Meyer Werft shipyard in Germany.
Mardi Gras sails from Port Canaveral throughout the Caribbean offering 2- to 9-night itineraries. She will also sail two 14-day transatlantic Carnival Journeys to and from Barcelona, Spain. Carnival Celebration sails from PortMiami throughout the Caribbean offering 2- to 9-night itineraries. Lastly, Carnival Jubilee sails from the Port of Galveston offering 2- to 9-night voyages to the Bahamas and throughout the Caribbean.