MSC World Europa vs Carnival Mardi Gras

The MSC World Europa was built in 2022. The World Europa the first in the World Class of ship. The ship is split into seven districts that provide unique restaurants, bars, and attractions; helping to reduce crowding. It's 1 year newer than the Mardi Gras, which 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.

Comparison Overview

Ship Size

The World Europa is considered an extra large size ship. Coming in at 1,093 feet long and 154 feet wide, it's roughly the length of 3 football fields, as wide as 2.9 tractor-trailers and the same height as a 16-story building. Compared to the Carnival Mardi Gras, the World Europa is 19% larger in terms of overall tons.

Number of Passengers

MSC World Europa holds 28% more passengers than the Mardi Gras based on double occupancy (two people per room). When you look at the "Space Ratio," or the total tonnage of a ship compared to the number of passengers, the World Europa has less space per person compared to the Mardi Gras.

The Mardi Gras uses a zone layout to break up large crowds across the ship, often making it feel less crowded.

MSC
World Europa
Carnival
Mardi Gras
ClassWorldExcel
Gross Tonnage215,863180,800
Length1,0931,130
Beam/Width154137
Passenger Decks1617
Passengers (double occupancy)6,7625,282
Crew2,1381,735
Passenger to Crew Ratio3.22.6
Space Ratio (tons of ship per passenger)3235


Food and Restaurants

Food is a big part of any cruise, and the ship you choose can make a huge difference in your food experience.

The World Europa has twelve different dining options like Kaito Teppanyaki, Jean-Philippe Chocolat & Cafe, and Chef's Garden Kitchen. Of those options, four are complementary, or included with your cruise fare. The other nine options have an additional fee.

The Mardi Gras has eleven more dining venues. Some of its popular venues are Bonsai Teppanyaki, JavaBlue Cafe, and Bonsai Sushi. nineteen of these restaurants are complementary and the other nine have an additional fee.

If you like having a variety of places to eat, the Mardi Gras might be a better choice. It has 92% more dining options than the World Europa.

If you're looking to avoid extra money while on board, the Mardi Gras might be a better choice then the World Europa. More of the dining options are included in the base cruise fare, potentially saving you money.

MSC
World Europa
Carnival
Mardi Gras
Total Dining Options1223
Complimentary Dining Options:419
Additional Fee Dining Options:99
% of Included Options25%61%
See the optionsSee the options

In terms of drinks and cocktails, you have a variety of choices. The World Europa serves Coca Cola branded products. That includes drinks like Coke, Diet Coke, Sprite and Barqs Root Beer, although the selection can vary by ship. The Mardi Gras serves the Pepsi family of products. That means Pepsi, Diet Pepsi, Starry, Mug Root Beer, and Mountain Dew.

There are also plenty of bars available on these ships. You can check out recent the bar menus for the Mardi Gras below.



Pools and Hot Tubs

One of the main pools on MSC World Europa
One of the main pools on MSC World Europa
Beach Pool on the Carnival Mardi Gras
Beach Pool on the Carnival Mardi Gras

Nothing beats relaxing by a pool with a nice drink in hand as you feel the fresh sea breeze pass by you. The MSC World Europa has a total of 7 pools and 13 hot tubs. 1 of the pools and 3 of the hot tubs 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.

Carnival Mardi Gras has fewer pools than the World Europa and fewer hot tubs. There are fewer exclusive pools and hot tubs on the Mardi Gras. If you like ships without extra charges or exclusive areas, this might be a better choice since everyone will have access to these areas.

Tired of loud kids and splashing? Two of the pools are adults only on World Europa.

MSC
World Europa
Carnival
Mardi Gras
Total Pools76
Pools - General Access43
Pools - Adults Only21
Pools - Exclusive12
Total Hot Tubs137
Hot Tubs - General Access105
Hot Tubs - Adults Only2
Hot Tubs - Exclusive30



Ship Features and Activities

Both ships have lots of activities to keep you busy throughout your cruise. Below you'll see a list of some of the major features on these ships. You might up paying more while on board the World Europa. Only 50% of the activities below are included in your cruise fare. On the Mardi Gras, 61% of the activities are included at no additional cost.

MSC
World Europa
Carnival
Mardi Gras
Adult Only Relaxation Area
Adventure Trail
Arcade
Basketball
Brewery Tour
Bumper Cars
Casino
Comedy Club
Cooking Class
Dr Seuss Breakfast
F1 Simulator
Fitness Center
Interactive XD Cinema
Jogging Track
Mini golf
Outdoor gym
Pool-side Movies
Production Shows
Robotron
Roller Coaster
Ropes course
Spa
Splash park
Thermal Suites
Thrill Slide
VR Arcade
Water slides
Zip Line
Learn moreLearn more
Carnival is also known for its energetic theme parties which vary per ship.

Cruise Costs

MSC and Carnival are both considered "Mainstream" cruise lines. Mainstream cruise lines cater to a variety of guests, hoping to provide something for everyone. These typically cost about $100 - $350 per person per day.

Cruise pricing is dynamic and varies for each specific sailing based on factors such as departure point, ports of call, and time of year.

Onboard Costs

Another way to gauge the cost of a cruise is to consider how much you'll spend on board. Even though a lot is included in the base cruise fare, you may still spend money on things like spa treatments, specialty dining, drinks, and excursions. In addition, guests can also have to pay for things like gratuities and tips.

Typically guests can expect to spend about 25 - 40% of the cost of the cruise on onboard expenses. In other words, if the cruise fare is $1,000 per person, you might spend between $250 and $400 on extra expenses.

The table below will help you compare onboard prices to see if you might spend more on a specific ship.

MSC
World Europa
Carnival
Mardi Gras
Base Daily Gratuities*
(Per Person Per Day)
$16.00$16.00
Tip added to drinks & services18% 18%
Soda Price$3.00
Domestic Beer Price$8.75
See drink menus
Drink Package Price$46 - $85$83 - $88
Learn more
Internet Plan$17 - $27 per device per day$18.70 to $23.80 per device per day
*Daily gratuities for a standard cabin. Suites or specialty rooms may have higher rates.

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