New Carnival Cruise Ship to Feature Themed 'Zones'; Other Design Details Revealed

(8 a.m. EST) -- From the French Quarter of New Orleans to a backyard barbecue, Carnival Cruise Line's new ship -- Carnival Mardi Gras -- will feature six themed "zones" through which passengers can stroll and enjoy dining, entertainment and other activities. The line today revealed a first look at the design details of its largest ship, slated to launch in 2020.

The zones will be located throughout Carnival Mardi Gras' 20 decks, and each will serve a different purpose.

The French Quarter will be lined with new bars, restaurants and music venues, including a jazz club offering live entertainment and handcrafted cocktails. Details of the new establishments, one of which involves a new celebrity partnership, will be released in spring 2019.

An expanded Guy's Pig & Anchor Smokehouse Brewhouse will be the highlight at Summer Landing, a backyard barbecue-style space that also will feature a pool and hot tubs, a new bar, a Smokehouse Brewhouse lunch counter, and an abundance of lounging space.

Replacing the traditional atrium, Grand Central will be an entertainment complex with three-deck-high floor-to-ceiling windows and a bar with sweeping ocean views. It's also where passengers will find expanded versions of the popular restaurants Bonsai Sushi and Bonsai Teppanyaki. Additional Grand Central venues will include the Punchliner Comedy Club and Piano Bar 88.

At the Italy-inspired La Piazza, passengers can grab a bite at another Carnival favorite, Cucina del Capitano, as well as an all-new Mediterranean seafood restaurant. There also will be a bar selling specialty coffee (including cappuccinos) during the day and cocktails at night, while roaming musicians provide entertainment.

While the Lido zone will be reminiscent of the Lido deck on other ships -- with venues like Guy's Burger Joint, BlueIguana Cantina and the Seafood Shack, it also will boast several new dining and bar concepts that will be unveiled at a later date.

Finally, the Ultimate Playground will encompass the ship's top three decks with the largest water park in the fleet, along with an expanded SportSquare. This zone is also where dare devils can experience BOLT: Ultimate Sea Coaster, the first-ever roller coaster at sea.

In addition to the six zones, Carnival Mardi Gras will offer more than 20 different cabin categories and multiple levels of suites. It also will have the most expansive open decks of any other Carnival ship. In terms of exterior looks, the ship will stand out among the fleet with a classic navy-blue hull design, accented by red and white stripes.

Carnival staples will include the Alchemy Bar, Fahrenheit 555 Steakhouse and the adults-only Serenity deck. The line added, though, that these much-loved spots will come with new twists.

The ship will have a passenger capacity of 5,200 at double occupancy. It will be the first in North America to run on liquefied natural gas (LNG), an environmentally-friendly fuel that produces nearly zero emissions.

Itineraries will be announced on January 30, 2019, which is also when cruises will be open for booking.