Virgin Voyages Scarlet Lady vs Carnival Mardi Gras

The Virgin Voyages Scarlet Lady was built in 2021. It was renovated in 2024. This is an adults-only ship; all guests must be 18 or older. 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.

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 Scarlet Lady is considered a medium size ship. Coming in at 912 feet long and 125 feet wide, it's roughly the length of 2.5 football fields, as wide as 2.4 tractor-trailers and the same height as a 13-story building. Compared to the Carnival Mardi Gras, the Scarlet Lady is 39% smaller in terms of overall tons.

Number of Passengers

Virgin Voyages Scarlet Lady holds 49% fewer passengers than 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 Scarlet Lady 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 Mardi Gras uses a zone layout to break up large crowds across the ship, often making it feel less crowded.

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 Scarlet Lady has twelve different dining options like Lucky Lotus by Razzle Dazzle, The Pizza Place, and The Galley. Of those options, twelve are complementary, or included with your cruise fare.

The Mardi Gras has eleven more dining venues. Some of its popular venues are Blue Iguana Cantina, Bonsai Sushi, and Pizzeria del Capitano. 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 Scarlet Lady.

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

Bars and Drinks

The Virgin Voyages Scarlet Lady has 1 more bar than the Carnival Mardi Gras. The Scarlet Lady has 18 bars like Richard's Rooftop Bar, The Athletic Club Bar and The Grounds Club Too. On Mardi Gras, you can grab a drink at 17 different bars such as Casino Bar, Fortune Teller Bar and Piano Bar 88.

In terms of drinks and cocktails, you have a variety of choices. Both ships serve the Coca-cola family of products. That means Coke, Diet Coke, Sprite and Barqs Root Beer, although the selection can vary by ship.

You can check out recent the bar menus for the Scarlet Lady 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 Virgin Voyages Scarlet Lady has a total of 2 pools and 6 hot tubs. 2 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 more pools than the Scarlet Lady and more hot tubs.

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 Scarlet Lady. Only 55% of the activities below are included in your cruise fare. On the Mardi Gras, 61% of the activities are included at no additional cost.

Cruise Costs

Virgin Voyages is a premium cruise line. Premium cruise lines typically offer upscale food, accommodations, and service. These typically cost about $150 - $400 per person per day.

Carnival, on the other hand, is considered a mainstream cruise line. 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. To get a good idea of how the pricing compares, visit the cruise line's website to price out the separate cruises or consult a travel professional.

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.

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