Are you considering booking a cruise on Carnival’s first ship in the latest Excel class? Be sure to read this cabin guide before booking! This guide will show you the best and worst cabins on Carnival Mardi Gras, deck by deck. Keep reading for a very important tip about port and starboard views if you are looking to book a cabin with a balcony!
While there are other guides out there, many of them are missing some important information. I hope to help you find the best cabin for your situation and avoid anything that would have a negative impact on your amazing cruise! This guide is based on deck plans, reviews, and personal experience from when I sailed aboard the Mardi Gras in November 2021 during its inaugural season.
As a quick disclaimer, this is information to help you select a cabin that would work best for you and avoid known issues such as noise, smoke, and obstructed views. I cannot guarantee that there will be no problems with the cabin you booked or that something may have changed.
With that out of the way, continue reading for a detailed overview of the beautiful cabins on the Carnival Mardi Gras.
Best Cabin Locations For Sea Sickness
Many people experience seasickness and it can really put a damper on your cruise. In order to best set yourself up for success, book a cabin that is on a lower deck and the middle of the ship. The lower the deck, the less motion you will experience. The mid ship is the most stable, but if you are not able to book a mid cabin, choose an aft cabin before a forward cabin.
Forward cabins have the most movement, and there have even been reports of people falling out of bed in forward cabins during really rough seas! If you do end up in a high deck, forward cabin or you just struggle with seasickness, check out my post about best ways to help seasickness for a lot of great tips and tricks!
Cabin Deck Plans
Deck 4
Deck 4 is the lowest deck you can book on Carnival Mardi Gras. It is not clear what is below Deck 4, but it may include crew cabins, the engine room, the infirmary, the brig, etc. However, the newer Carnival ships have fairly good sound proofing and there should not be too much of a noise problem for most cabins on this deck. The few exceptions include:
Avoid:Near The Anchor
These cabins are closest to the anchor, so you may hear a loud noise in the early morning when the anchor lowers in port. However, anchors are typically only used in tender ports. So if you do not have any tender ports on your itinerary, this may be less of a concern.
Avoid:Near The Elevators And Stairwells
Cabins by the elevators and stairwells may experience more noise and traffic at all times of day. If you plan to sleep in, go to bed early, or just hang out in your room a lot, you may want to avoid these noisier areas. These cabins are very convenient for getting around the ship quickly and easily finding your room though!
Avoid:Near The Family Harbor Lounge And Camp Ocean
These cabins are directly located next to the Family Harbor Lounge and Camp Ocean, which is the children activity center. If you are looking for a quiet cabin, these rooms will definitely not be for you. This is a great deck though for families in order to have easy access to Camp Ocean, or the Family Harbor lounge if you are in a Family Harbor stateroom.
Deck 5
Deck 5 has the popular cove balconies that allow you to be up close to the water, but it will be harder to find a quiet cabin on this deck. That is because there are many popular venues located above on Deck 6 including Grand Central, Fortune Teller Bar, Punchliner Comedy Club, Piano Bar 88, the MDRs, and the Mardi Gras Theater. If you go to bed early or just prefer a quieter cabin, Deck 5 may not be a great choice.
Avoid:Below Noisy Venues
The cabins below Grand Central may be particularly loud, as there are shows, events, and rehearsals that take place there throughout the day, including the middle of the night and early morning. If you are set on staying in a cove balcony, avoid cabins directly under the popular venues.
Consider:Unobstructed/Less Obstructed Views For Cove Balconies
If you don’t mind noise and want the best views from your cove balcony, select a cabin that does not have lifeboats directly above. This will allow more viewing space and sunlight on your balcony. Note that you will not be as shielded from the rain as you would be with a lifeboat over your balcony.
Avoid:Near The Elevators And Stairwells
As detailed above for Deck 4, areas by the elevators and stairwells are more noisy due to heavier traffic. For Deck 5 specifically, the cabins by the aft and forward elevators are also next to the galley (aft) and salon/spa (fwd), so these areas may be even noisier.
Deck 6 – Deck 7
No staterooms on decks 6 and 7.
Deck8
Deck 8 has a limited number of cabins, as it is one of the main decks with a lot of great venues. The forward section has the Havana staterooms, which are a great option but there are certain areas you may want to avoid:
Avoid: Above The Theater And Next To Havana Bar
These staterooms will not work well for those that go to bed early. The theater holds shows that go quite late into the night, so avoid these for a good night’s sleep. Additionally, cabin 8305 is directly next to the Havana Bar which plays fun latin music each night.
Avoid:Forward Facing Balconies
These forward facing balcony rooms have not been a favorite among Carnival cruisers. The views are obstructed by wind shields, solid balcony half-walls, and the crew area. There won’t be much ocean watching from these cabins. Noise may also carry over from the crew area that includes a crew bar.
Deck 9 – Deck 15
Decks 9 through 15 house the majority of the cabins on the ship and are very similar to each other, with a few additional considerations for Deck 9 and Deck 15. As such, we will discuss the decks as whole and then get into the specifics of Decks 9 and 15.
Avoid: Near The Elevators And Stairwells
As mentioned previously, cabins near the elevators and stairwells will be noisier due to the higher foot traffic. It is best to avoid them if you want a quieter cabin.
Avoid:Above The Smoking Area
These staterooms are above the smoking area on the Deck 8 lanai. This will affect the lower decks (Decks 9 and 10) more than the higher decks, but this is definitely something to be aware of if you are sensitive to smoke.
Balcony Views
This is a section that is not often discussed but is very important for you to know before booking your stateroom. The port (left) and starboard (right) sides of the Mardi Gras offer vastly different views and experiences. There are pros and cons to each, so it is best for you to determine what would better suit your preferences.
Starboard Side
The cabins in the pink boxes on the starboard side have a view of the Lanai (aft) and Havana Pool area (forward) on Deck 8. This means that anyone in those areas on Deck 8 can easily look up into your balcony. There is much less privacy and quiet on the starboard side. However, the views are more interesting and less obstructed than the port side. It can be great for people watching!
Port Side
Conversely, the port side has more privacy but also a more obstructed view. This is because there is a large white awning over the majority of the Deck 8 lanai, as seen in the photo below taken from Deck 10. This impacts lower decks more than the higher decks, so book higher if you want a better view. It is much less crowded than the starboard side, so this will be the better choice if you would like to spend time on your balcony in peace and quiet.
The cabins with balconies that are not boxed in mostly have views of the uncovered Deck 8 lanai, but with a bit more privacy as they are not very populated areas.
Extended Balconies
The extended balconies (in the green boxes) are a great choice if you like to spend a lot time on your balcony. Not only are they larger, but they also look directly over the water! No views of the lower decks, just the pristine blue ocean!
Aft Balconies
The aft balconies and Excel corner aft suites (in the blue box) have a wonderful view of the ocean, but also the The Patio area. The Patio includes an infinity pool, loungers, and hot tubs. While these staterooms are amazing, they certainly do not come with privacy. If you don’t mind curious onlookers, these rooms can be a lot of fun!
Forward Facing Balconies
As mentioned above, forward facing balcony rooms have not been a favorite among Carnival cruisers. The views are obstructed by wind shields, solid balcony half-walls, and the crew area. There won’t be much ocean watching from these cabins. High winds make it very unpleasant to be out on the balcony while the ship is sailing. Noise may also carry over from the crew area. Since these rooms typically cost extra even though there are a number of downsides, these cabins are probably best to be avoided.
Deck 9 Specific Considerations
Avoid: Above Noisy Venues
Best to avoid these noisy cabins above Grand Central and the Havana Bar for a quieter cabin.
Avoid: Balconies Without A Roof Or Privacy
These suite balconies do not have a roof and jut out so that everyone above can look down into the balcony. Check out the photo I took from Deck 10 of those Deck 9 balconies. Note this is partially true for Deck 10 as well, but it is much less prominent and there is still a partial roof.
Deck 15 Specific Considerations
Deck 15 offers great views from balcony cabins and quick access to the Lido and upper decks. The convenience of walking up just one flight of stairs to get to the Lido instead of waiting for an elevator may be really important to you. If so, you may just want to avoid staying directly under the pool areas.
Avoid: Under The Pool Areas
These staterooms may experience a lot of noise from people running, walking, and moving chairs on the pool deck. If you have a balcony cabin in particular, a lot of noise from deck parties and dive-in movies may travel down to your balcony.
Being under the Lido Marketplace buffet may also be noisy at times. However, some cruisers have reported very minimal noise staying under the buffet.
If you’re okay taking multiple flights of stairs or waiting for elevators and want a quiet cabin, you may want to avoid booking on Deck 15.
Deck 16 – Deck 17
There are only forward cabins on decks 16 and 17. Cruisers in these cabins will most likely experience the most movement of the ship, especially in rougher seas. If you are prone to seasickness, definitely avoid these rooms.
Same as all other decks, avoid cabins directly next to the elevators and stairwells. It would also be best to avoid the interior cabins on Deck 16 on the way from the forward elevators to the Lido deck. This area has high foot traffic and can be quite noisy.
Deck 17 cabins are under the Serenity area on Deck 18. However, it is an adult only area and doesn’t get too loud. Noise shouldn’t be too much of an issue, unless you are especially sensitive to it.
Deck Plans For Best And Worst Cabins On Carnival Mardi Gras
Check out the full deck plans for the Carnival Mardi Gras used in this guidehere.
Special Cabin Types To Consider
In this final section of the Best and Worst Cabins on Carnival Mardi Gras, we’ll take a look at a couple less common and special staterooms that you should consider booking for your next cruise. The best part? They don’t cost any extra!
Square Interior
These interior rooms have a square shape rather than the typical rectangular shape. This allows for a layout that cruisers report feeling much roomier. If you are nervous about trying an interior cabin, this could be a great way to test it out! Square interiors are located throughout the ship and are typically located near elevators.
Large Balcony
Some staterooms have larger balconies at no extra cost! They arenotthe more expensive Extended Balcony rooms. These rooms are in either the standard Balcony or Ocean Suite categories, but have larger than standard balconies. Deck 9 has a unique section of 12 cabins with large balconies, as seen in the red box above. The Ocean Suite cabins in the green boxes above also have larger, curved balconies. These have a wider field of view than almost all other balconies. Each deck from 9 through 17 have a handful of these Ocean Suites. Decks 10-15 also have two balcony class cabins with similar curved balconies.
I have stayed in one of the Ocean Suites with the large, curved balcony and I really enjoyed it. You do not have much privacy, but the extra space and views were amazing!
Final Thoughts
I hope this guide of Best and Worst Cabins on Carnival Mardi Gras has been helpful! No matter what, cruising is one of the most fun ways to vacation and you’ll have a wonderful time. If you’ve sailed on the Mardi Gras before, what cabin did you stay in? Did you have a good experience? Do you think I’ve missed anything? Let me know!
Check out some of my other postshere.
