Carnival Cruise Line’s Mardi Gras returned to service on October 16, 2025, following its first shipyard visit since its 2020 debut. The Excel-class flagship underwent a technical overhaul and modernization in Marseille, France, beginning on September 27.

During the dry dock, required every five years, safety systems were reviewed and enhancements made. New features include 100 connecting cabins for families and groups, a redesigned Carnival Adventures excursion center, an expanded casino, and updated retail outlets such as Tag Heuer and Pandora. Accessibility upgrades were also implemented across public areas and guest cabins.

“Mardi Gras set a new standard when it launched, and now again as the first Excel-class ship to complete a dry dock,” said Carnival President Christine Duffy.

The ship begins a 15-day transatlantic cruise from Barcelona to Port Canaveral, Florida, with stops in Málaga, Cádiz, Tenerife, and Celebration Key. Once home, it resumes year-round Caribbean sailings, and in 2027 will offer short four- and five-day itineraries—the first of its class to do so.