Carnival Announces That It Will Delay Launch of Mardi Gras Cruise Ship

In yet another setback for the cruise industry, Carnival Cruise Line has announced that it will delay the launch of its Mardi Gras cruise ship until at least February 2021.

CruiseRadio.net reports that the company issued the notification in a late-night press release, announcing that the Mardi Gras will not take to the seas until February 6, 2021. 

In the statement Christine Duffy, Carnival’s president, said that while the company “had hoped to make up construction time on Mardi Gras over the summer, it’s clear we will need extra time to complete this magnificent ship.” She said that the company shares its guests’ disappointment and “appreciate[s] their patience as we work through this unprecedented time in our business and the lives of so many people.”

One of the reasons for the delay appears to be slowdowns and shutdowns among global shipyards due to the coronavirus pandemic.

In addition to announcing the delay of the Mardi Gras, Carnival also announced that its $200 million upgrade of the Carnival Victory, the so-called Radiance project, is also being put on a temporary hold.