MIAMI, Dec. 18, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- Carnival Cruise
Line today took delivery of its highly anticipated new ship,
Mardi Gras, in a live virtual
signing ceremony at the Meyer Turku Shipyard in Turku, Finland.
When Mardi Gras begins
guest operations in April 2021, the
180,000-gross-ton vessel will be the most innovative ship in
North America as it will be the
first ship to be powered by liquefied natural gas (LNG), boast a
suite of new technology, and BOLT, the first-ever roller coaster at
sea.
The ship's venues, dining and entertainment will be dispersed
throughout six distinctive zones, and include a new restaurant by
celebrity chef Emeril Lagasse, the line's first-ever Big Chicken by
Shaquille O'Neal, two dining venues
led by Food Network star Guy Fieri,
and a new restaurant concept by master chef Rudi Sodamin. The centerpiece of the ship
is a breathtaking three-deck-high atrium with floor-to-ceiling
windows and movable LED screens that open up to a stunning ocean
view.
Mardi Gras will
accommodate more than 5,200 guests and a crew of 2,000.
Guests will have the choice of more than 2,600 staterooms and 180
suites across 11 categories.
"We have been working tirelessly this year to get to this
exciting day to take delivery of this beautiful ship, and the team
at Meyer Turku has been an outstanding partner throughout this
process," said Christine Duffy,
president of Carnival Cruise Line. "I cannot wait for our
guests and crew to see and experience Mardi Gras. Notwithstanding the delays
related to the pandemic, there is tremendous enthusiasm and pent-up
demand for this ship. Next we will work on the development of
her sister ship, Carnival Celebration, which arrives in 2022 and
has sold very well since inventory opened in October."
"We are delivering a beautiful and highly advanced ship with
world-class technology such as LNG propulsion, to name just one.
With these sophisticated systems, she will be one of the most
environmentally friendly ships to sail the North American waters. I
am very proud of our team of shipbuilders and would like to thank
everyone involved of their dedication during the building process",
CEO of Meyer Turku, Tim Meyer,
states.
Duffy said Mardi Gras will
depart from Turku later this month
to begin her voyage to North America. The ship will operate
seven-day Caribbean itineraries
from Port Canaveral, Fla., and Carnival has worked closely Port
Canaveral to build a new cruise terminal to accommodate the
Excel-class ship and also facilitate the new LNG fueling
process. The inaugural voyage for Mardi Gras is scheduled for April 24, 2021.
Mardi Gras facts:
Gross
tonnage: 180,000
Guests: 5200+
Staterooms: 2600+
Length: 340 m/1115 ft.
Beam: 42m/138 ft.
Decks: 19
Crew: 2,000
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SOURCE Carnival Cruise Line