Meyer Turku delays delivery of Carnival’s Mardi Gras

Mardi Gras will be first cruise ship to feature a roller coast ride — guests will now have to wait until November 2020 to try it

Delivery of the first LNG-fueled cruise ship to serve the North American market, Carnival Cruise Line’s Mardi Gras, will be delayed.

Shipbuilder Meyer Turku said today that it “is adjusting its production schedule and will consequently move the delivery of Carnival Mardi Gras from August 2020 to October 2020.”

Carnival Cruise Line said that it is advising booked guests and travel advisors that the first revenue sailing of the ship will now be Nov. 14, 2020.

With this new schedule, Carnival will now take delivery of the ship in late October and its first revenue sailing will depart from Port Canaveral on Nov. 14, 2020. Consequently, the first eight sailings that were scheduled starting Aug. 31 have been canceled, including European, transatlantic and New York-based itineraries and four Port Canaveral itineraries.

Carnival said that the guest notification process began promptly after the notice by Meyer Turku so that impacted guests could begin to make alternative vacation plans. As a gesture of goodwill, Carnival is offering these guests a 25 percent future cruise credit (FCC), in addition to the full refund of their cruise fare (and applicable fees and taxes and other pre-purchased cruise components), as well as assistance with non-refundable airline and hotel reservations already booked. In addition, if guests rebook their cruise vacation using their 25 percent FCC by Feb. 18, 2020, they will be credited with an additional $100 per person onboard credit for that cruise. Carnival has also communicated guidelines to travel advisors regarding commission protection.

“We have been working closely with Meyer Turku executives to keep the Mardi Gras delivery on schedule, and while we deeply regret disappointing our guests, this change in the delivery date is required to make sure all of the ship’s systems, features and technology will be fully operational, so that we can give our guests the vacation they expect. Our commitment is to deliver a great and innovative ship, and Mardi Gras will definitely be that when it arrives in North America,” said Ben Clement, Carnival Cruise Line’s senior vice president of newbuild.

For parent Carnival Corporation, this must be like déjà vu all over again. Meyer Turku twice delayed delivery of Costa Smeralda, Costa Cruises’ 180,000 GT, LNG-fueled new flag ship (see earlier story). The shipbuilder attributed those delays to “the high complexity and the sheer size of the ship project.”