Carnival Corporation is the world’s largest cruise line, operating over 100 ships across nine brands. Back in 1972, however, it owned only one ship, the TSS Mardi Gras, of 27,000 GRT and carrying roughly 1,000 passengers.
Now, Carnival is building a new Mardi Gras of 180,000 GT and capable of carrying 5,200 passengers. When delivered it will be the largest cruise ship in the Carnival fleet. The new Mardi Gras will be distinctive for more than just its size. In addition to being the only cruise ship with an onboard roller coaster, it will also be powered by Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG).
The new cruise ship is being assembled at the Meyer Turku shipyard in Finland yesterday. The engine room, a 140-meter long x 42 m wide unit, was fabricated at another Meyer shipyard, Neptun Werft, in Rostock, Germany, and was floated to the yard in Finland where it will be joined with other ship fabrication blocks.
Marine Log reports that Mardi Gras is set to debut in Europe Aug. 31, 2020, then reposition to New York for a series of voyages before shifting to Port Canaveral, Fla., for year-round Caribbean departures.
Thinking back on how history repeats itself. The turn of the century and the HMS Titanic disaster. Ships were getting bigger to carry more passengers. Technology is supposedly better, that we dont make the mistakes of the past.
Good for them if they can pull it off.
On the positive note, I admire the engineering and craft it takes to build this ship.
On the other hand, what an ugly boat and an ugly concept. A floating Disneyland though Disneyland has more redeeming values than this barge does. To me sailing is more about real adventure and an ocean experience. In the case of a cruise ship smaller is better. Cheaper is not better (economies of scale).