In 2020, Port Canaveral’s Cruise Terminal 3 complex will be the home of Carnival Cruise Line‘s next new ship, Mardi Gras. While new cruise ships bring the latest features available on any given cruise line, this one also comes with its own cruise terminal.

Being built now, $163 million terminal Cruise Terminal 3 complex project is the largest in the Port Canaveral’s 65-year history. Scheduled for completion in May 2020 the facility will be year-round Mardi Gras homeport in October 2020.

The two-story, 187,000 sq. ft. terminal facility and adjacent six-story parking garage will feature a high-tech baggage processing facility and a state-of-the-art check-in and security area on its second floor, with kiosks and seating for 1,700 guests.

Also unique: Mardi Gras will be powered by liquified natural gas (LNG); the first cruise ship in North America to be powered by this clean fuel technology.

On board Mardi Gras, another new feature: BOLT, the first roller coaster at sea. Also unique: 20 passenger decks and six distinctive theme zones of fun, dining and entertainment. Those are:

1. Grand Central– On a Carnival cruise your vacation starts in the atrium, and on Mardi Gras that’s in the Grand Central zone. You’ll be back here throughout your cruise for a nice cup of coffee, enjoying live music up on stage, or killing time fabulously with a handcrafted cocktail in between evening shows.
2. The French Quarter– If “big” and “easy” sound about right for your vacation, you might just make the French Quarter on Mardi Gras your home zone. Lined with bars and eateries worthy of their namesake, dining spots serve everything from small plates to classic Hurricane cocktails straight from the bayou. In this zone also: Emeril’s Bistro 1396™.
3. La Piazza-La dolce vita is within reach at La Piazza featuring Cucina del Capitano for an evening of Italian favorites, Pizzeria del Capitano while roaming musicians provide an authentic soundtrack to your time in La Piazza. Mardi Gras also debuts a new Mediterranean spot specializing in seafood, authentic espresso drinks by day and classic Italian cocktails when the sun goes down.
4. Summer Landing– Go ahead and call Summer Landing “the greatest chill spot at sea” starting with Guy’s Pig & Anchor Smokehouse | Brewhouse, the pool and whirlpool plus original Parched Pig^™ beers brewing just a few feet from the tap.
5. Lido– If you’ve cruised with Carnival before, you know Lido… but aboard Mardi Gras this poolside zone features tons of casual dining spots, a Dive-In Movie at the pool, Guy’s Burger Joint, the New England-inspired Seafood Shack, and BlueIguana Cantina taco spot and Swirls, the free soft-serve spot cranking out the cool 24 hours a day!
6. The Ultimate Playground-Don’t let the name fool you — this zone is ages everybody and up. The Ultimate Playground features BOLT^™, the first roller coaster at sea, the largest Carnival WaterWorks ever with three huge spiraling slides, plus SportSquare featuring an entire mini-golf course, full-court basketball and a ropes course.

After a special eight-day cruise to the Caribbean on Oct. 16, 2020, Mardi Gras will commence year-round seven-day cruises on Oct. 24, 2020, alternating weekly to the Eastern and Western Caribbean.

Eastern voyages will take Mardi Gras to San Juan, Puerto Rico, Amber Cove, Dominican Republic, and Grand Turk in the Turks and Caicos.

Western sailings will travel to Cozumel and Costa Maya, Mexico, and Mahogany Bay (Isla Roatan), Honduras.

Carnival named its newest cruise ship after its first cruise ship. The original 27,000-ton Mardi Gras, a converted trans-Atlantic liner, entered service in 1972 and popularized cruise vacations in the United States, helping Carnival become the largest cruise company in the world today. In March 1991, the 1,241-guest Mardi Gras became one of the first Carnival ships to homeport at Port Canaveral, where she offered three- and four-day cruises to the Bahamas until she and sister ship Carnivale were replaced by the Carnival Fantasy in October 1993.

Mardi Gras’ arrival in Port Canaveral in 2020 marks 30 years that Carnival Cruise Line has been sailing from Port Canaveral, the longest of any of the Port’s cruise partners. The Port Authority Board of Commissioners approved a long-term operating agreement with Carnival in August 2018.