​Carnival Mardi Gras To Introduce New Food & Beverage Venues

Carnival Cruise Line’s has announced that its new flagship, Mardi Gras will introduce a number of new food and drinks venues when it launches in 2020.
 
Two of the themed zones on board the 183,900 gross tonne ship, the Summer Landing and Lido will feature new dining venues and bars.

These include Street Eats, RedFrog Tiki Bar and the Watering Hole as well as a numerous branded outlets and a Big Chicken eatery by the cruise line’s Chief Fun Officer, Shaquille O’Neal.
 
Christine Duffy, President, Carnival Cruise Line, said: “Great food and beverage experiences are at the core of any vacation, especially at Carnival.  We always strive to provide our guests with the most diverse options possible, but the sheer variety of food and beverage venues on board Mardi Gras is unlike anything we’ve ever offered before. Our culinary and beverage teams continue to innovate, ensuring that we have an array of new and exciting options in addition to longtime Carnival favorites our guests love.”
 
New Food & Beverage Options
 
Street Eats – This complimentary open-air eatery will bring the ready-to-eat nature of street food to the seas with three themed kiosks offering fried, steamed and plancha (skillet) delicacies.
 
Representing a variety of global cuisines and located next to Seafood Shack, the quick, grab-and-go venue will offer a daily rotating menu. Small plates like empanadas or falafel will be available at the fried station; bao buns or siu mai at the steam outlet; and kebabs or satay at the plancha venue. 
 
RedFrog Tiki Bar – The new two-level RedFrog Tiki Bar is a twist on Carnival’s poolside bar with playful, rum-based cocktails in an island-inspired atmosphere decked out with tiki heads, floral patterns and vibrant colors. 
 
The Watering Hole – Situated within The Patio at Summer Landing, The Watering Hole is modeled after a backyard gathering spot and is the perfect space for guests to unwind, grab a cocktail and enjoy sweeping sea views. The bar will boast a wide beer selection including Carnival’s own canned and draft brews, as well as refreshing summer-inspired sips like the Watermelon Cooler and Tequila Sunset.
 
Mardi Gras will also feature the second Big Chicken restaurant at sea created by Carnival Chief Fun Officer and NBA Hall of Famer Shaquille O’Neal. The all-inclusive breakfast, lunch and dinner menus will also give guests a glimpse into O’Neal’s family traditions as all menu items will be developed and taste-tested by the star himself and based on his favorite recipes.
 
Shaquille O’Neal, Chief Fun Officer, Carnival Cruise Line, said: “Big Chicken is a labor of love featuring all of my favorite fried chicken recipes developed in tandem with my mom. Carnival is a great partner, and I am very excited to bring the largest Big Chicken at sea aboard the spectacular new Mardi Gras.”

Additional Dining, Entertainment, Recreation and Relaxation Options

Mardi Gras takes Carnival’s two-deck-high Lido zone to new levels with:

• The largest Guy’s Burger Joint in the fleet developed by Food Network personality Guy Fieri, New England-inspired Seafood Shack, Mexican-themed eatery BlueIguana Cantina, and the Lido Marketplace with an extensive array of international favorites;
• Mid-ship Beach Pool and an infinity Aft Tides Pool with a bar, ample seating and sweeping ocean views;
• Exciting entertainment such as legendary deck parties and Dive-in Movies at the Carnival Seaside Theater.

​Designed as the ultimate chill spot for fun in the sun, Summer Landing will be home to:

• An expansive outdoor deck area with an infinity pool and two whirlpools;
• A sports bar featuring both indoor and outdoor television screens;
• Hang-out space with cornhole, trivia, arts and crafts, dance classes and more;
• Expanded Guy’s Pig & Anchor Smokehouse Brewhouse offering smoked-on-board favorites and an assortment of Carnival’s ParchedPig craft beers brewed on site and developed by the line’s in-house beverage team, as well as a large stage for live music.

 
Further details on other Mardi Gras features and themed zones will be announced in the coming months.
 
The new cruise ship is currently under construction at the Meyer Turku shipyard in Turku, Finland, Mardi Gras is slated to enter service in Europe 31 August 2020, before repositioning to New York for a series of voyages then shift to Port Canaveral for year-round seven-day Caribbean cruises beginning in October 2020.