Carnival Mardi Gras Adds Short Bahamas Cruises in 2027

Published on Aug 12, 2025, 7:56 pm CDT

6 min read

Carnival Cruise Line will introduce new four and five day Bahamas itineraries on Carnival Mardi Gras from Port Canaveral beginning May 22, 2027, after three weeklong voyages on May 1, May 8, and May 15. Sister ship Carnival Celebration will extend seven day eastern and western Caribbean sailings from PortMiami from May 2027 through April 2028, with most departures calling at Celebration Key. The moves add capacity where short, convenient getaways remain in high demand and set the stage for the arrival of new Excel class hardware.

Key Points

Why it matters: New short Carnival Mardi Gras Bahamas cruises bring a flagship experience to quick getaways.
Travel impact: Port Canaveral gains four and five day options as Miami keeps steady weeklong capacity.
What's next: Carnival Festivale joins in 2027, then Carnival Tropicale in 2028, expanding Excel class variety.
Five day Mardi Gras calls include Celebration Key, RelaxAway, Half Moon Cay, and Nassau.
Western Caribbean routes add Isla Tropicale, the rebranded Mahogany Bay, on select Celebration sailings.

Snapshot

Beginning May 22, 2027, Carnival Mardi Gras will rotate four and five day Bahamas cruises from Port Canaveral, following weeklong trips on May 1, May 8, and May 15. The five day pattern visits three ports, typically Celebration Key, RelaxAway, Half Moon Cay, and Nassau; the four day pattern focuses on Celebration Key and RelaxAway, Half Moon Cay. From PortMiami, Carnival Celebration continues seven day eastern and western runs from May 2027 through April 2028, with eastern calls including Grand Turk, Amber Cove, St. Thomas, St. Maarten, San Juan, and Nassau. Western departures feature Celebration Key, Cozumel, and Isla Tropicale, formerly Mahogany Bay. Most itineraries include Celebration Key.

Background

Mardi Gras, the first U.S. based Excel class ship, introduced marquee features such as BOLT, plus multiple dining zones that reshaped the brand's flagship experience. Excel class ships carry more than 6,400 guests and are central to Carnival's Bahamas and Caribbean strategy built around private destinations that streamline the shore day. Carnival will open additional capacity with Carnival Festivale in 2027, homeporting at Port Canaveral, and Carnival Tropicale in 2028. The Bahamas portfolio is also evolving as Half Moon Cay becomes RelaxAway, Half Moon Cay, an upgraded experience designed to absorb more short cruise demand. Celebration Key, which opened in July 2025, is now the anchor call on many itineraries; for an overview of the destination's phased buildout and traveler tips, see Carnival's Celebration Key Opens July 19: What Travelers Need to Know. Industry deployment trends also favor short Caribbean sailings, as explored in Cruise Giants Pivot Toward Caribbean Cruises.

Latest Developments

Short Bahamas program puts Mardi Gras on four and five day duty

After weeklong cruises on May 1, May 8, and May 15, 2027, Carnival Mardi Gras shifts to short rotations from Port Canaveral. Five day departures from May 22, 2027, call at Celebration Key, RelaxAway, Half Moon Cay, and Nassau, giving guests three port days on a compact schedule. Four day sailings begin May 27, 2027, with two calls focused on Celebration Key and RelaxAway, Half Moon Cay. The itineraries are built to maximize time at Carnival controlled destinations, which support smoother operations and consistent service delivery. As the first Excel class ship to run short cruises, Mardi Gras brings the line's largest features to a quick getaway format that historically relied on smaller hardware. The change aligns new capacity with strong demand for drive to and short flight vacations from Central Florida.

Miami keeps the weeklong engine humming on Carnival Celebration

From May 2027 through April 2028, Carnival Celebration extends seven day eastern and western itineraries from PortMiami. Eastern routes include Celebration Key, Amber Cove, Grand Turk, St. Thomas, St. Maarten, San Juan, RelaxAway, Half Moon Cay, and Nassau, with a special New Year's departure on December 26, 2027. Western sailings feature Celebration Key, Cozumel, and Isla Tropicale, the refreshed identity for Mahogany Bay on Roatán, reflecting broader investment in branded destinations. Keeping Celebration on a steady weeklong cadence preserves choice for travelers who want a deeper island mix, while Mardi Gras absorbs short break demand. The combined plan spreads Excel class capacity across Florida's two busiest cruise gateways, reinforcing a portfolio that now leans on multiple private venues.

New ships and refreshed destinations round out the plan

Carnival Festivale debuts in 2027 from Port Canaveral, adding new family friendly features and music focused spaces while carrying forward Excel class hallmarks such as extensive dining and BOLT. In 2028, sister ship Carnival Tropicale joins the fleet with additional concepts and theming. Ashore, RelaxAway, Half Moon Cay advances a multi year enhancement program that expands lounging areas, adds cabanas, and integrates new nature forward design. Together with Celebration Key's phased build, these assets concentrate more high satisfaction experiences within Carnival's network. The strategy keeps revenue and service under brand control, a key lever on short itineraries where time in port is limited and predictability matters.

Analysis

Carnival is matching ship scale to trip length in a way that should resonate with families and first timers. By moving an Excel class ship into four and five day duty, the brand puts its most marketable features into the format most Americans can book frequently, the quick Bahamas getaway. That creates a powerful funnel, short voyages that preview the full flagship experience and encourage repeat cruising on longer routes. It also unlocks higher onboard spending, since private island days reliably convert into cabana, beverage, and activity revenue. Concentrating calls at Celebration Key and RelaxAway, Half Moon Cay removes third party friction and standardizes the shore product, which helps protect guest satisfaction on compressed schedules.

Keeping Carnival Celebration on seven day loops maintains variety for travelers who want a broader island mix and more sea days. The December 26, 2027 holiday departure gives Miami a headline itinerary during peak demand, while western routes add interest with Isla Tropicale's rebrand. Looking ahead, Carnival Festivale's arrival at Port Canaveral in 2027 balances the portfolio as Mardi Gras pivots to short runs, limiting disruption in Central Florida. For advisors, the message is simple, expect strong interest in short Excel class sailings tied to private destinations, and plan for premium pricing on peak weekends. The pattern mirrors a wider industry tilt toward short Caribbean products anchored by owned shore experiences.

Final Thoughts

Carnival's 2027 plan brings the flagship experience to short getaways while preserving Miami's weeklong depth. With Celebration Key now central, and RelaxAway, Half Moon Cay adding capacity, the network supports consistent service on compressed schedules. Festivale's 2027 debut and Tropicale's 2028 arrival should keep features fresh as demand holds. For travelers who value convenience and modern hardware, the combination of Port Canaveral short itineraries and PortMiami weeklong choices presents a clear path to plan the next vacation. Expect high interest in Carnival Mardi Gras Bahamas cruises as bookings open for the new season.