First roller coaster at sea is set to sail with Carnival Cruise Line
Carnival Cruise Line has announced plans for its next wave of the summer restart of cruising for guests — including the first cruise for Mardi Gras, which will offer the first roller coaster at sea!
Mardi Gras will begin operating seven-day cruises from Port Canaveral on Saturday, July 31, with pre-inaugural sailings to the eastern and western Caribbean.
“We are very excited to finally welcome guests on Mardi Gras,” said Christine Duffy, president of Carnival Cruise Line. “With our desire to preserve summer vacations for our Mardi Gras guests, we are going to find a later date to formally christen her so that we can operate these pre-inaugural sailings just as soon as we can.”
Carnival Magic will return from her dry dock — with a new hull design — and homeport from Port Canaveral, picking up four- and five-day cruises to The Bahamas and Caribbean that were previously scheduled for Carnival Elation, effective Aug. 7 through Oct. 7.
Guests who already booked on Carnival Elation will be re-accommodated on Carnival Magic; because the Magic is a larger ship, additional stateroom inventory is being made available online and through other sales channels. Carnival Magic will also operate three new six-day cruises and one new eight-day cruise from Port Canaveral between Oct. 11-31.
Carnival Sunrise will enter service from Miami, effective Aug. 14, sailing four- and five-day cruises to The Bahamas and Caribbean.
Carnival Panorama will enter service from Long beach on Aug. 21, sailing her seven-day Mexican Riviera cruises.
“We are excited to resume our West Coast operations and intend to sail Carnival Panorama with vaccinated guests […] We are working with state and local officials to finalize the necessary plans,” said Duffy.
Carnival Vista and Breeze (from Galveston), Carnival Horizon (from Miami), and Carnival Miracle (from Seattle to Alaska) will continue with their cruises through August that are part of the line’s restart plans in July.
Given the above plans, Carnival has extended pause for the following ships through Aug. 31:
- Carnival Pride (Baltimore)
- Carnival Sunshine (Charleston)
- Carnival Dream (Galveston)
- Carnival Ecstacy (Jacksonville)
- Carnival Liberty (Port Canaveral)
- Carnival Conquest (Miami)
- Carnival Sensation (Mobile)
- Carnival Glory (New Orleans)
Carnival plans to operate their August sailings with vaccinated guests.
The cruise line will continue to ramp up more ships and homeports in September and beyond, bringing hundreds of crew on board each week to be vaccinated, complete CDC-mandated quarantine and then begin work to prepare for guests and the return to guest operations.
“Our focus remains on the health and safety of our guests, crew and the communities we serve and visit,” said Duffy. “We are taking a deliberate approach so we can execute with excellence and deliver a fun experience to our guests, who have been tremendously patient and supportive throughout this pause.”
For more information on upcoming cruises, visit Carnival.com.
