The cost of a Carnival Mardi Gras cruise may differ considerably with regard to a number of varying factors- including itinerary, stateroom type, season, and the time that it is booked. It will cost you on average between, $500 to $4500+ per person. For example, a 7-night Eastern Caribbean cruise in an inside stateroom may cost only $879, while a 14-night transatlantic cruise in a luxury suite might easily exceed $ 3,500.
Mardi Gras is one of the flagship ships of the Carnival Cruise Line, and it is world-renowned because of its record-breaking size, theme zones, rollercoaster, waterpark, and dining and entertainment offerings. Yet with all these conveniences comes an impressively broad price spectrum that can be daunting to novice cruisers attempting to budget. So let’s get down to what goes into Mardi Gras prices.
Factors That Affect the Cost of a Mardi Gras Cruise
1. Cabin Type
The category of stateroom you select is the biggest factor that will affect what you will pay for your cruise. Mardi Gras holds many choices:
- Interior Cabins (budget-friendly): These are the most economical cabins; they have no window and are perfect for a person who thinks his/her cabin is more of a place of sleep. The prices are normally between five hundred to nine hundred dollars per person per week.
- Ocean View Rooms: A step higher with a window where natural light comes in. It usually costs: $1,951- $2,388 per person on a 7-night sailing period.
- Balcony Cabins: These are one of the favorites as they provide you with the opportunity to have your deck where you can enjoy the sea views. The average is about $2,100 per person, depending on the season of the year.
- Suites: The largest and most luxurious, usually with priority boarding, additional amenities, and desired views. The approximate price of a suite fare is $3,000 per person, contingent on the duration of the itinerary and on the period of the year.
2. Itinerary and Destination
Every voyage is not the same. Shorter cruises between the Caribbean islands are cheaper, with longer transatlantic ones or destinations that are exotic being the ones that force costs up.
- Caribbean itineraries (most common): $700–$1,600 per person.
- Longer voyages (10–14 nights): $1,800 to over $3,500 per person.
3. Time of Year and Demand
Similar to airfare, cruise prices are seasonal.
- Peak Season: High season is summer and holiday seasons (Christmas, New Year, Spring break) that will command premium rates.
- Shoulder Season: Off-season prices are available in September (after school is back) or the last half of January.
- Booking Window: Last-minute bookings sometimes have worse prices compared to those booked way back in advance.
4. Length of Cruise
A 3-4 night cruise can often be a cheap vacation costing as low as $500-$750 per person. However, any 14-night, transatlantic cruise is likely to cost over $$3,000 per passenger on a balcony or suite.
What’s Included in Your Fare?
After knowing about how much the Mardi Gras cruise ship costs? Let’s have a look at what’s included in the fare. Basic fare covers:
- Accommodation
- Typical restaurants (main dining rooms and various casual restaurants)
- Entertainment (performance, live concerts, comedy clubs)
- Swimming pools, water attractions, sports activities, and a fitness center
- Youth clubs and kids clubs
This implies that by the time you have paid your fare, you have already gotten most of your vacation covered, as compared to land vacations, where there are separate hotel costs, entertainment costs, and dinner costs.
Example Breakdown of a 7-Night Mardi Gras Cruise
As an approximation of the costs, here is how a mid-range Mardi Gras adventure may appear to a couple:
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Expense Category
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Cost (Per Person)
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Cost (For 2 People)
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Notes
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Balcony Cabin Fare
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$1,200
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$2,400
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Standard balcony cabin for 7 nights
|
|
Gratuities
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$119 (=$17 × 7 days)
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$238
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Charged daily, auto-added to onboard bill
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|
Beverage Package
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$420 (=$60 × 7 days)
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$840
|
Optional, covers alcoholic & soft drinks
|
|
Specialty Dining
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—
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$150
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Estimate for 2 specialty dinners
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|
Shore Excursions
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$200 (=$100 × 2 ports)
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$400
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Example: snorkeling + cultural tour
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Misc. Extras (spa, Wi-Fi, souvenirs)
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—
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$200 (approx.)
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Highly variable depending on preferences
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Estimated Total: Approximately two people, worth about $4,200 on a one-week vacation.
Tips for Saving Money on a Mardi Gras Cruise
- Book Early or During Sales: Look out for the standard promotions that Carnival has, which usually offer discounts on deposits or onboard credits.
- Sail Off-Peak: Hundreds can sometimes be cut from the price by taking a voyage during the shoulder season.
- Skip or Limit Extras: Skip the beverage package if you do not consume a lot of drinks. Limit add-ons by staying within covered dining and complimentary entertainment.
- Consider Cabin Choice Carefully: An inside cabin is a big cost-saver compared to a balcony. Interiors make a good value among travelers who tend to be on the move most of the time.
- Watch for Package Deals: Competitive fares on airfare, hotels, and transfers are offered with cruise fares provided by some travel agencies.
Conclusion
The cost of a Mardi Gras cruise would be quite different depending on which type of cabin, route, time of year, and itinerary and routes are chosen. Providing a range of options between the cheap and the luxurious cruises, knowledge of these factors can help you decide how to get the best out of what you are offered. Note that early booking and low-season travel may be cost-effective.
