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The Royal Caribbean Icon of the Seas has 10 more bars than the Carnival Mardi Gras. The Icon of the Seas has 26 bars like Cantina Fresca, Playmakers and Spotlight Karaoke. On Icon of the Seas, you can grab a drink at 16 different bars such as Fahrenheit 555 Bar, Guy's Pig and Anchor Brewhouse and RedFrog Tiki Bar. The Carnival Mardi Gras has 10 fewer bars than the Royal Caribbean Icon of the Seas. The Mardi Gras has 16 bars like Fortune Teller Bar, Guy's Pig and Anchor Brewhouse and The Brass Magnolia. On Mardi Gras, you can grab a drink at 26 different bars such as Casino Bar, Swim & Tonic and The Hideaway Bar. All told, the top six largest cruise ships on the planet belong to Royal Caribbean. Carnival Celebration, Jubilee, and Mardi Gras, Carnival’s largest ships, have a gross tonnage of 183,000, or about 75% of the size of Royal’s largest ship. And this is just one example. When it comes to size, Royal Caribbean ships definitely have an edge. Both lines have mega-ships now that Carnival has the 180,000+ gross ton ships Mardi Gras, Carnival Celebration, and Carnival Jubilee. These Excel-class ships offer a much different Carnival The Carnival Mardi Gras has 2 fewer bars than the Royal Caribbean Oasis of the Seas. The Mardi Gras has 16 bars like Alchemy Bar, Center Stage and RedFrog Tiki Bar. On Mardi Gras, you can grab a drink at 18 different bars such as Bionic Bar, Rising Tide Bar and Wipeout Bar. It’s no surprise that Royal Caribbean and Carnival Cruise Line are two of the most popular cruise lines in the world. This is especially true in comparison of each cruise line’s biggest and most modern cruise ships. After sailing on both, Carnival Mardi Gras and Harmony of the Seas showcase the best-of-the-best from each cruise line. Hey! I did Oasis and Mardi Gras (the sister ship) a few weeks apart last year. We preferred Oasis. Food: casual food was better on Mardi Gras, but we liked the specialty restaurants more on Oasis. Room: We won our royal up bid to a junior suite so it’s not a fair comparison, but the Mardi Gras balcony was tight in space compared to Carnival In my view, the key difference is that Royal Caribbean feels a bit more refined and offers a touch of upscale flair, whereas Carnival embraces a laid-back, party-friendly atmosphere. One isn’t necessarily better than the other; it’s all about whether you’re looking for whimsical caviar or a night-long Mardi Gras on the high seas. Not to be outdone, Carnival's largest ships — Mardi Gras, Carnival Celebration and Carnival Jubilee — are divided into zones, such as Mardi Gras' French Quarter with a live jazz club. No matter the size, all the ships of both lines qualify as floating resorts, with onboard casinos, pools, live entertainment, elaborate spas, lively dance One of the top designers at Royal Caribbean International hinted about what the line has in store for the upcoming Star of the Seas, the second of the line's groundbreaking Icon class. Mardi Gras definitely has the better itinerary, but I would personally pick the Oasis over the Mardi Gras in terms of the ship itself. As a disclaimer, I've only been on one of the Oasis' sister ships, the Symphony of the Seas, and haven't been on the new Carnival ships. The Carnival Mardi Gras was built in 2021. The Mardi Gras pays homage to Carnival's first ship, also named the Mardi Gras. It has two unique zones not found on its sister ships: The French Quarter, a New Orleans-themed area, and La Piazza, which is dedicated to the Italian heritage of Carnival cabins. The Carnival Mardi Gras has 3 more bars than the Royal Caribbean Freedom of the Seas. The Mardi Gras has 16 bars like Piano Bar 88, Punchliner Comedy Club and The Brass Magnolia. On Mardi Gras, you can grab a drink at 13 different bars such as Boleros, Solarium Bar and Star Lounge. The Carnival Mardi Gras has 1 more bar than the Royal Caribbean Mariner of the Seas. The Mardi Gras has 16 bars like Fortune Teller Bar, The Watering Hole and Tides Pool Bar. On Mardi Gras, you can grab a drink at 15 different bars such as Playmakers, Star Lounge and Suite Lounge. The Carnival Mardi Gras has a total of 6 pools and 7 hot tubs. 2 of the pools are exclusive access, which means there's either an extra charge to access them or you need to book a certain class of cabin to have access to them. Royal Caribbean Odyssey of the Seas has fewer pools than the Mardi Gras and fewer hot tubs. The Carnival Mardi Gras was built in 2021. The Mardi Gras pays homage to Carnival's first ship, also named the Mardi Gras. It has two unique zones not found on its sister ships: The French Quarter, a New Orleans-themed area, and La Piazza, which is dedicated to the Italian heritage of Carnival cabins. I should probably clarify what I mean about ship design. Royal does amazing at design. In most cases, they lead the way. They literally invented the modern mega ship with Oasis and gave Carnival (and others) the blueprint on modern cruising not just being for the "Newly wed and nearly dead." The Carnival Mardi Gras has a total of 6 pools and 7 hot tubs. 2 of the pools are exclusive access, which means there's either an extra charge to access them or you need to book a certain class of cabin to have access to them. Royal Caribbean Harmony of the Seas has fewer pools than the Mardi Gras and more hot tubs. The Royal Caribbean Independence of the Seas has 2 fewer bars than the Carnival Mardi Gras. The Independence of the Seas has 14 bars like Casino Bar, Champagne Bar and Playmakers. On Independence of the Seas, you can grab a drink at 16 different bars such as Piano Bar 88, Punchliner Comedy Club and Serenity Pool Bar. How does the Royal Caribbean Harmony of the Seas compare to the Carnival Mardi Gras? The Harmony of the Seas was built in 2016. It is 5 years older than the Mardi Gras, which was built in 2021. See all the differences in terms of size, facilities, and dining options.
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Photos from events, contest for the best costume, videos from master classes.
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