ABOARD THE MARDI GRAS — Every Carnival Cruise Line ship since the original Mardi Gras in 1972 has sported a distinctive T-shaped funnel, and the newest ship in the fleet, the 2020 version of Mardi Gras, is no different.
But in addition to the giant red-and-blue T-funnel, the Mardi Gras has three smaller stacks. Painted white with a simple red stripe, these stacks conceal vents for the three liquid natural gas tanks that make this ship different from most others.
Compared with other Carnival ships, LNG-powered engines add a different stack profile to the Mardi Gras. Photo Credit: Tom Stieghorst
Although there are a few cruise ships in Europe powered by liquefied natural gas (LNG), Mardi Gras is the first ship to bring the innovative technology to North America. Cruise executives see a future in LNG as a cheaper and cleaner alternative to the traditional heavy diesel fuel that has powered passenger ships for the past 100 years.
Clean-burning natural gas offers big advantages over…