Carnival names new ship after first vessel

Carnival Cruise Line will name its largest new ship, Mardi Gras, after its first-ever vessel.

The new 5,200-passenger ship is due to join Carnival’s fleet in 2020, weighing in at 180,000 tons – more than six times the size of the original, which entered into service in 1972. It will be Carnival’s biggest ever ship and the first in North America to be powered by Liquified Natural Gas (LNG), which is part of parent company Carnival Corporation’s green cruising platform.

Carnival reports that the ship will boast unique features and will operate from a new state-of-the-art terminal at Port Canaveral in Florida.

Itineraries will be announced in January and are due to go on sale later that month.

Christine Duffy, president of Carnival Cruise Line, said: “Our first ship Mardi Gras was a historic vessel, introducing a brand new style of cruising to the vacationing public. What better way to pay tribute to our company’s nearly 50-year history of creating wonderful vacation memories than by naming this groundbreaking vessel after our original and beloved ‘fun ship’. The new Mardi Gras will follow the trailblazing lead of her predecessor, introducing features and technological innovations that have never been seen before on a cruise ship while setting a new standard for seagoing vacations.”