We crossed the Atlantic Ocean on Carnival Mardi Gras. Here’s what it’s really like to spend 9 days at sea on a transatlantic cruise.
Some of the best values on a cruise can be found on transatlantic itineraries, but what is it really like to spend nearly two weeks at sea?
Taking a transatlantic repositioning cruise is one of the most exciting ways to travel from the U.S. to Europe. Recently, we embarked on a 14-day Carnival Mardi Gras cruise from Port Canaveral to Spain—a journey that included nine days at sea and was our first-ever transatlantic sailing.
From flying into Orlando (MCO) and staying near the port to exploring multiple European destinations, every moment offered adventure, relaxation, and incredible memories. Here’s what it was like to cross the Atlantic on the Mardi Gras.
A repositioning cruise is an itinerary that repositions a ship from one homeport to another, and it’s quite different from a regular cruise itinerary. These sailings typically feature a large number of sea days while traveling between continents.
They are also longer than most cruises—usually between eleven and eighteen nights.
Gallivanting Souls Mike & Kristina recently sailed on a 14-night Carnival Mardi Gras cruise from Port Canaveral to Barcelona, Spain.
The itinerary included nine days at sea, and they’re sharing their repositioning cruise experience with us today.
Flying into MCO and Pre-Cruise Stay at Port Canaveral
Our journey started at Orlando International Airport (MCO). While the airport is busy, it was easy to navigate with some planning.
We rented a car from Avis at the airport, and returning it at their Port Canaveral location before boarding the ship was quick and convenient.
Renting a Car
We seamlessly dropped off our Avis car rental not far from the hotel or port. This included a complimentary shuttle to our cruise drop-off.
The shuttle stops at all the cruise lines, so you may have to wait a few minutes. I did notice a Hertz Car Rental was located in the parking lot of the Residence Inn and other car rental centers nearby.
📍Avis Port Canaveral Shuttle Service: 6650 N Atlantic Ave,
(Cruiseship Passengers Only), Port Canaveral, FL, 32920
Tel: +1 321-783-3643
Pro Traveler Tip: Sign up for the rental club. At Avis, it’s called Avis Preferred. I really appreciate being able to go straight to my car and not having to stand in line.
As a Preferred Member, you earn a minimum of 100 points every rental.
Redeem points for rentals and accessories.
Plus, earn 100 bonus points when you rent within the first three months of joining. Sign up for Avis Preferred.
Enjoy expedited service and go straight to your car at most locations.
Pre Cruise Stay
Before embarkation, we stayed at the Residence Inn Cape Canaveral Cocoa Beach, which was perfect for a pre-cruise stay.
The hotel was modern, the staff were friendly, and it was just minutes from the cruise terminal, making our first day stress-free.
📍Residence Inn Cap Canaveral: 8959 Astronaut Blvd., Cape Canaveral, Florida, USA, 32920
Tel: +1 321-323-1100
First Impressions of Port Canaveral
Sailing from Port Canaveral for the first time was a seamless experience.
The cruise terminal was well organized with efficient check-in and boarding procedures.
Combining this with our stay at the Residence Inn and our rental car logistics from MCO made the start of our Carnival Mardi Gras transatlantic cruise effortless.
We chose a later check-in time and were able to go directly to our staterooms. I think this will be our new plan!
Forgot items?
If you need any last minute supplies like personal hygeine, wine, soda, etc. We went to Walmart, (Walgreens, CVS are across the parking lot) and the Dollar Tree are a short drive.
📍Walmart: 1500 E Merritt Island Causeway, Merritt Island, FL
📍Walgreens: 4140 N Atlantic Ave, Cocoa Beach, FL
📍CVS: 4292 N Atlantic Ave, Cocoa Beach, FL
📍Dollar Tree: 3015 N Atlantic Ave, Cocoa Beach, FL
The Essential Emergency Kit: A must for longer cruises like transatlantic crossings
A long cruise sailing with thousands of people means the risk of catching a bug is real.
Unfortunately, this was the first trip where we actually caught a cold, making us thankful we had prepared.
Our Pro Cruiser Tip is simple: pack a small emergency health kit with essentials like cold and flu medicines.
These items are often limited or unavailable on board and are always overpriced in the gift shop.
To ensure you’re prepared for any unexpected illness at sea, check out our resources:
How to Make a Cruise Emergency Kit or What to do when you get sick on a cruise.
Life Onboard Carnival Mardi Gras Cruise Ship Transatlantic
The Carnival Mardi Gras is one of Carnival’s Excel-class ships, designed for fun, comfort, and entertainment.
Highlights of our onboard experience included:
- Dining Options: From casual bites to specialty restaurants, the variety of food was endless.
- Entertainment: Broadway-style shows, live music, and comedy nights made each evening memorable.
- Unique Attractions: BOLT, the first roller coaster at sea, was a standout feature.
- Crew Service: The staff’s friendliness and professionalism enhanced the overall experience.
Sea days were the perfect opportunity to explore the ship, relax by the pool, and enjoy everything the Mardi Gras had to offer.
7 Sea Days of Fun
You might be thinking a transatlantic cruise isn’t for you because of too many sea days.
For us, seven days in a row was no problem. There were always so many things to do, both indoors—like trivia and cooking demonstrations—and outside—like the ropes course, mini golf, and trying out the Bolt Roller Coaster. The week just flew by!
Thanks to the sheer amount of activities and incredible dining options available on the Mardi Gras, our days were wonderfully full.
Our routine often began with the famous Sea Day Brunch. Afterward, we’d check the Fun Times schedule for the day’s entertainment.
Some days, we’d grab a seat for the Live Show with Cruise Director Jackie Chang, while others, we attended a port talk or signed up to learn something new, like the fantastic cooking class we did at Carnival Kitchen.
For lunch, we made it a mission to sample the ship’s diverse offerings.
We tried everything from the Italian-inspired flavors at Cucina del Capitano to the Asian fusion at Chibang!
and the delicious comfort food at Shaq’s Big Chicken. Of course, we never left out our old favorites: the classic burgers at Guy’s Burger Joint and a quick bite at the Deli.
In the late afternoon, it was time to relax.
We’d head up to the open deck to find our favorite bar waiter, Ferdinand, for a refreshing drink.
Dinners were mostly spent in the Main Dining Room, though we did splurge on a repeat visit to Cucina del Capitano.
Each evening ended perfectly with live entertainment—we made sure to catch either a comedy show or Broadway production nightly.
Dealing with time differences on a transatlantic cruise
We crossed through multiple time zones while sailing from the United States to Europe, so we adjusted the ship’s clock forward by one hour on each of the six nights at sea.
Pro cruiser tip: Bring a travel-sized alarm clock and set the time before you go to bed.
You will get an announcement in your stateroom telling you how much time you will lose/gain.
Here is the link to the one I bought on Amazon. I may earn a small commission if you purchase through my links.
Ship Demographics: Not Your Average Crowd
When you think of a long transatlantic cruise, you might picture a ship full of retirees.
And while it was kind of true that the average age leaned higher, the real story of the demographics was about loyalty and cruise experience.
Since we were sailing in the middle of the school year, the number of families with children was quite low—we estimate there were only about 100 kids on board the entire sailing.
More notably, this was not a cruise for beginners.
Out of the 5,500 guests, a significant portion were seasoned cruisers.
The ship felt dominated by veteran cruisers, with so many guests holding Platinum or Diamond status that the Cruise Director had to host multiple “Welcome Back” parties just to accommodate everyone. This also meant that many of the perks were unavailable, which was not a problem for us.
What Sets a Transatlantic Cruise Apart?
The extended length of a repositioning has two advantages that really change the cruising experience.
The first is the gift of time. Unlike short sailings where you sprint to see everything, this journey let us truly relax.
We never felt rushed to complete activities or visit every venue.
Instead, we had the time to enjoy the ship and explore all its offerings at a genuinely leisurely pace.
The second difference is my favorite: the ability to forge deeper connections with people.
The many consecutive days at sea allowed relationships to blossom, both with fellow passengers and the amazing crew.
We quickly became friends with our exceptional dining staff.
We had the same wonderful waiters for dinner every night and another set for brunch, which created a truly personalized experience.
In fact, we even ran into crew members we recognized from previous cruises!
The more time we spent getting to know our bartenders and stateroom attendants, the better the service became (but that’s not why we do it).
This extended timeframe also made it easy to make new friends with other guests.
We often sat and chatted over drinks in the afternoon, and it was always a joy to spot them across the ship and exchange waves throughout the rest of the voyage.
Celebration Cay: Carnival’s Private Island Experience
Our first port of call was Celebration Cay, Carnival’s private island.
With pristine beaches, crystal-clear waters, and a relaxed atmosphere, it was an ideal way to unwind.
A quick lunch is included, and there’s an optional drink package. Extra Charge.
Since this was our first trip to Grand Bahama Island, we opted for an island tour to check out the island.
We hired a cab right there at the gate. It was expensive compared to what we got.
We should have just stayed and played at the beach at Celebration Cay 🙁
Tenerife, Canary Islands Cruise Port Highlights
Our first European stop was Tenerife in the Canary Islands.
Known for its volcanic landscapes, warm climate, and vibrant culture, Tenerife offered a perfect mix of sightseeing and relaxation.
Explore charming towns, enjoy local cuisine, and soak up the scenery.
I had hoped for a beach day, but rain was in the forecast, so we just walked around the down town area and had lunch.
Cadiz, Spain: Gateway to Seville
Next, we visited Cadiz, the historic port city and gateway to Seville.
Exploring Seville’s cathedral, Alcázar palace, and lively streets was a highlight of our trip.
The combination of history, architecture, and vibrant culture made it unforgettable. The locals call it “Sevilla.”
I had arranged independent tours for each of the next stops with Spain Day Tours.
You can find out more about them in our Tour Inspiration page.
For Cadiz, you walked right outside of the port area and waited right by the gate.
A woman met us with a sign saying, “Top Day Tours bus 1.” It was a late model bus.
Comfortable with air conditioning. The driver was very careful; he even avoided a car that drifted into our lane.
The guide on the bus gave good commentary on the way to the Alcázar Palace.
When we went to the cathedral, we were split into smaller groups and given a headset and guide for the tour.
Malaga, Spain: Culture and Seaside Charm
Our stop in Malaga offered a mix of old-world charm and modern energy.
From the Picasso Museum to the beachfront promenade, there’s plenty to see and do.
Just like the stop before, we met Spain Day Tour (Top Day Tours) right outside of the gate.
We got right on our bus and began our tour with a knowledgeable guide.
Malaga was very pretty, combining old-world charm with modern convenience.
The beach was right outside of the port so if you really wanted to enjoy the beach it was right there, unlike Tenerife where you would have to take an expensive cab ride.
Barcelona, Spain: Final European Destination
The grand finale of our repositioning cruise was Barcelona, a city bursting with art, architecture, and energy.
Two days in Barcelona allowed us to see Sagrada Familia, the Gothic Quarter, and Montserrat.
After disembarking from our Carnival Mardi Gras cruise, we met right outside the port with our luggage for our tour to Montserrat.
Pro cruiser tip: If your plan is to do a tour with Spain Day Tours after your cruise, try to get right off the cruise.
Make sure you let guest services know you have “an early flight” so you can get zone one or two to disembark.
You can make carnival aware of this when you do your check in if you pick an early flight.
Out of 14 passengers for this tour, two decided to take their time.
The instructions we were given said to meet at the meeting point from 815-829 AM.
This couple took us over 45 minutes.
The tour company called and texted their phones to find out where they were.
The bus was driving away when they finally showed up. It went back for them.
Our First International Flight Experience
Flying on Air France for the first time added another layer of excitement.
The service was excellent, making the long journey manageable.
For tips on adjusting to a new time zone, check out our post on beating jet lag
✅Final Thoughts on our Carnival Mardi Gras Transatlantic Cruise
Our Carnival Mardi Gras transatlantic cruise from Port Canaveral to Spain was an unforgettable experience.
The trip started completely stress-free: we had a smooth flight into MCO, a convenient car rental with Avis, and a comfortable stay at the Residence Inn Port Canaveral.
Onboard, the Mardi Gras consistently impressed us with its fantastic food, engaging entertainment, and wonderfully friendly staff. Each port of call—Celebration Key, Tenerife, Cadiz/Seville, Malaga, and Barcelona—offered something unique and exciting to explore.
This trip truly got us excited about expanding our travel horizons beyond our beloved Caribbean and Mexico itineraries to try more advanced sailings in Europe and beyond.
We will definitely do another transatlantic cruise, especially when we have more PTO, so that we can go round-trip!
To see more of our photos and videos from this trip or other trips, follow us on TikTok: @gallivantingsouls or Instagram: @gallivantingsoulstravel
For first-time cruisers, transatlantic travelers, or anyone looking for a unique mix of pure relaxation and global adventure, a Carnival repositioning cruise is an excellent choice.
Have you been on a Transatlantic Cruise?
Let’s help each other. Drop your thoughts and tips in the comments!
FAQ’s Carnival Mardi Gras Transatlantic
1. What is a repositioning cruise?
A repositioning cruise occurs when a cruise ship moves from one region to another, like the U.S. to Europe, offering unique itineraries at a great value.
2. How long was the Carnival Mardi Gras transatlantic cruise?
Our sailing lasted 14 days, traveling from Port Canaveral to Barcelona, Spain.
3. How did you travel from the airport to Port Canaveral?
We flew into MCO, rented a car from Avis, and returned it at their Port Canaveral location, making travel simple and convenient.
4. Where did you stay before the cruise?
We stayed at the Residence Inn Port Canaveral, which is modern, comfortable, and minutes from the cruise terminal.
5. Is this cruise good for first-time international travelers?
Yes! The combination of smooth travel logistics, sea days, and diverse ports makes it perfect for first-time international cruisers.