The Carnival Mardi Gras is the Excel-class flagship and the first cruise ship in the world to carry a roller coaster. BOLT runs along the top deck at roughly 40 mph, which is legitimately fast for an at-sea attraction. The dining program is the most varied in the Carnival fleet: Emeril’s Bistro 1396 is the only Emeril Lagasse-branded restaurant at sea on a Carnival ship, Rudi’s Seagrill handles upscale seafood, Shaquille’s Pizza operates as a casual grab-and-go alongside the standard Guy’s and Cucina lineup. The Seaday Brunch cocktail bar is a Mardi Gras-exclusive concept that draws consistent foot traffic on sea days. Both a full Punchliner Comedy Club and a separate general Comedy Club run programming, which means the comedy schedule rarely repeats itself across a seven-night sailing. The Ultimate Seacoaster water coaster and the Center Stage theater fill out the entertainment calendar, and the thermal suite in Cloud 9 Spa is among the larger wellness facilities in the fleet.
Carnival