Allure of the Seas vs Mardi Gras

The Royal Caribbean Allure of the Seas was built in 2010. Allure of the Seas will undergo a $100 million rennovation in February to April 2025. They'll add water and dry slides, new restaurants and bars, and rennovated spaces. It's 11 years older 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
• Number of Passengers
• Food and Restaurants
• Bars and Drinks
• Pools and Hot Tubs
• Ship Features and Activities
• Cruise Costs
• Onboard Costs

Ship Size

The Allure of the Seas is considered an extra large size ship. Coming in at 1,187 feet long and 215 feet wide, it's roughly the length of 3.3 football fields, as wide as 4.1 tractor-trailers and the same height as a 16-story building. Compared to the Carnival Mardi Gras, the Allure of the Seas is 25% larger in terms of overall tons.

Number of Passengers

Royal Caribbean Allure of the Seas holds about the same number of passengers as the Mardi Gras based on double occupancy (two people per room). When you compare the total tonnage of the ship to the number of passengers, or what we call the "Space Ratio," the Allure of the Seas has more space per person compared to the Mardi Gras. This means that you might have a bit more space to yourself on the ship, although there still could be some crowded areas like buffets, pools, etc.

The Allure of the Seas uses a neighborhood layout to break up large crowds across the ship, often making it feel less crowded. The Mardi Gras employs a similar concept but they're called zones.

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 Allure of the Seas has 25 different dining options like Giovanni's Table, Dog House, and Cafe Promenade. Of those options, 13 are complementary, or included with your cruise fare. The other 12 options have an additional fee.

The Mardi Gras has 2 more dining venues. Some of its popular venues are Piazza Panini, JavaBlue Cafe, and Big Chicken. 19 of these restaurants are complementary and the other 8 have an additional fee.

The Royal Caribbean Allure of the Seas has about the same number of dining options as the Carnival Mardi Gras.

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

Bars and Drinks

The Royal Caribbean Allure of the Seas has 5 more bars than the Carnival Mardi Gras. The Allure of the Seas has 21 bars like Schooner Bar, Suite Lounge and Suite Sun Deck Bar. On Allure of the Seas, you can grab a drink at 16 different bars such as Center Stage, Java Blue Cafe and RedFrog Tiki Bar.

In terms of drinks and cocktails, you have a variety of choices. The Allure of the Seas serves Coca Cola branded products. That includes drinks like Coke, Diet Coke, Sprite and Barqs Root Beer, although the selection can vary by ship. Most Royal Caribbean ships also have Coke Freestyle machines where you can make 100 different flavor combinations. The Mardi Gras serves the Pepsi family of products. That means Pepsi, Diet Pepsi, Starry, Mug Root Beer, and Mountain Dew.

You can check out recent the bar menus for the Allure of the Seas and the Mardi Gras below.

Pools and Hot Tubs

Nothing beats relaxing by a pool with a nice drink in hand as you feel the fresh sea breeze pass by you. The problem is that with thousands of people on a ship, there's not always room. If you want to spend all day for 7 days in a pool, a cruise isn't for you. You would have a much better bet choosing a resort with a huge pool complex. That being said, a quick dip in the pool can be nice on a hot day.

The Royal Caribbean Allure of the Seas has a total of 4 pools and 6 hot tubs. Tired of loud kids and splashing? 1 of the pools and 2 of the hot tubs are adults only.

Carnival Mardi Gras has more pools than the Allure of the Seas and more hot tubs. There are more exclusive pools and hot tubs on the Mardi Gras. If you don't mind paying for exclusive access to areas in order to have less crowds, this might be a better choice.

Cruise Coloring and Activity Books for Kids
Get your kids ready for their cruise or keep them entertained while on board with our custom made coloring and activity books.

Cruise Ship Coloring Book for Kids 3-5
(Carnival Edition) (Royal Caribbean Edition)

Let's Get Cruising Activity Book for Kids 6-8
(Carnival Edition) (Royal Caribbean Edition)

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. On the Allure of the Seas, 83% of the activities below are included in the cruise fare. On the Mardi Gras, only 61% of the activities are included, meaning you might spend more money while on board.

Cruise Costs

Royal Caribbean 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. Typically newer ships cost more, so a cruise on Royal Caribbean Allure of the Seas will likely be cheaper than on Carnival Mardi Gras.

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.

Royal Caribbean uses dynamic pricing, which means the pricing for many things will vary per sailing. The daily gratuities and tip are consistent across the fleet, but the pricing for the drink package, internet, and excursions will change. The only way to know your price is to consult the Royal Caribbean cruise planner once you're booked.

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