Ship Overview
Mardi Gras sails 6-8 night Eastern and Western Caribbean itineraries from Port Canaveral, often including Nassau, Amber Cove or Puerto Plata, and Cozumel. Her large capacity means popular beach and adventure tours can sell out early on shared port days.
Typical Caribbean Itineraries
- →6-8 night Eastern Caribbean with Amber Cove and St. Maarten
- →7-night Western Caribbean via Cozumel and Costa Maya
- →Bahamas combo sailings with Nassau
Common Caribbean Ports Visited
Puerto Plata
Waterfalls & cable car views
Costa Maya
Mayan ruins & lagoon adventures
St. Maarten
Dual-nation culture & beaches
Recommended Shore Excursions
Damajagua Waterfalls
Active waterfall climb and slide experience on Dominican Republic calls.
Chichen Itza or Tulum Express
Mainland Mayan ruin day from Cozumel ferry, best as organized tour with strict timing.
Stingray City and Reef Snorkel
Classic Grand Cayman pairing on tender days; morning slots reduce crowds.
Family Recommendations
Damajagua gentler route
Waterfall adventure with guide supervision when younger children join the climb.
Chankanaab family day
Controlled snorkel lagoon and beach on Mardi Gras Western weeks.
Stingray sandbar family boat
Shallow wildlife encounter; book first tender slot on busy days.
Beach Recommendations
Half Moon Cay ship day
Use Nassau independent beach tours only on dedicated port calls, not private island days.
Mahahual beach club
Relaxed loungers after a disciplined Chacchoben ruins morning.
Seven Mile organized break
Tender-aware transport with lunch included on Mardi Gras Cayman calls.
Snorkelling Recommendations
Cozumel reef snorkel sail
Carnival passengers save by booking Palancar sails through local specialists.
Stingray plus reef combo
Two-stop wildlife morning before afternoon beach recovery.
Roatan West Bay reef
Strong value reef day when Mardi Gras adds Western Caribbean ports.
Private Tour Recommendations
Private Amber Cove driver
Custom Teleférico, waterfall, or beach pacing for Dominican calls.
Private Cozumel two-stop boat
Smaller groups with pier pickup and guaranteed return.
Private Grand Cayman stingray charter
Early departure before Carnival group boats fill the sandbar.
Cruise Planning Tips
- ✓Mardi Gras Dominican Republic calls often use Amber Cove or Puerto Plata; confirm which pier your sailing uses.
- ✓Carnival shore excursion credits apply, but independent operators frequently beat pricing on Cozumel reef trips.
- ✓Grand Cayman tender timing is non-negotiable; return 60-90 minutes before last tender.
- ✓Check ship schedules for Nassau on your date; holiday weeks bring multiple Carnival ships.
Related Ships
Related Cruise Line
Continue planning with the full Carnival Cruise Line hub: fleet overview, all ships, popular ports, and excursion categories.
Plan and Book This Ship's Port Days
Match excursions to your itinerary with the Caribbean Excursion Finder, or open the cruise line shore excursions guide for fleet-wide recommendations.
Frequently Asked Questions
Where does Mardi Gras homeport for Caribbean cruises?
Mardi Gras primarily sails from Port Canaveral on Eastern and Western Caribbean itineraries.
Does Mardi Gras visit Perfect Day or Half Moon Cay?
Many Mardi Gras sailings include a Carnival private island day in addition to standard Caribbean port calls.
What are the best Mardi Gras shore excursions?
Damajagua in Puerto Plata, Cozumel reef snorkel sails, and Stingray City in Grand Cayman are consistent passenger favorites.