The Mardi Gras cruise ship, which is currently under construction, has floated out at the Meyer Turku shipyard in Finland.
Mardi Gras Construction Milestone
Mardi Gras, which is Carnival Cruise Line’s largest ever cruise ship, has floated out at the Meyer Turku shipyard in Finland. This is a major construction milestone for the new class vessel as a new phase of its construction and finishing will now begin.
Ben Clement, Carnival’s senior vice president of newbuilds, said:
“We can’t wait for our guests to experience Mardi Gras, a one-of-a-kind ship that is true game changer and continues the evolution of the Carnival vacation experience.”
The massive new Carnival ship floated on to the water for the first time and is being repositioned to another location at the shipyard. The fitting out of all the interior spaces will now become a major focus to make sure she is ready for delivery later in the year.
Carnival Cruise Line released some new photos just before and during the float out:
While the vessel is at her new location the first-ever roller coaster at sea will also be installed. The new feature is part of the Ultimate Playground outdoor recreational area on the open deck. As this is the first feature of its kind on a cruise ship, there is no doubt it will be complex and take some time, and adjustments may need to be made.
Related: Iconic Funnel Installed on Carnival’s New Mardi Gras Cruise Ship
More than 2,600 staterooms including 180 suites across 11 different categories have already been installed. Workers will also be putting the finishing touches on these cabins in the coming months. Interior areas such as Emeril’s Bistro 1396, created by famed chef Emeril Lagasse, are also starting to take shape. The main atrium, which is sure to become a central and important area of Mardi Gras, will also have spectacular three-deck-high floor-to-ceiling windows and moveable LED screens installed.
Mardi Gras was originally scheduled to sail her maiden voyage on August 31, 2020, but due to delays at the shipyard, her first cruise will be departing her new homeport of Port Canaveral, Florida, on November 14, 2020.
Also Read: 20 Reasons to Choose Port Canaveral Cruises
The ship will be powered by Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG) and has a gross tonnage of around 180,000 with a guest capacity of 5,282 at double occupancy. The ship will be sailing year-round 7-day cruises from Florida to the Caribbean and the Bahamas.
