Miamiโs South Beach confronts disastrous spring break
People in a mostly maskless crowd walk down Ocean Drive in Miami Beach, Florida's famed South Beach, Monday, March 22, 2021. A party-ending curfew is in effect in Miami Beach, imposed after fights, gunfire, property destruction and dangerous stampedes broke out among huge crowds of people. (AP Photo/Wilfredo Lee)MIAMI BEACH, Fla. โ Floridaโs famed South Beach is desperately seeking a new image. AdโWe definitely want people to come and have fun," Miami Beach Commissioner Ricky Arriola said Monday. Miami Beach took less proactive measures under Republican Gov.
Gather your pirate crew for Universalโs Krewe Crawl Scavenger Hunt
ORLANDO, Fla โ Universal Orlandoโs Mardi Gras celebration is well underway across the entire resort. If youโre looking for a bit of fun during your next visit, grab your pirate crew and join in on the Krewe Crawl Scavenger Hunt. Once you spot the skeletons, simply ask a team member inside the gift shop to stamp your scavenger hunt map. In the fall, the theme park offered a Scarecrow Stalk scavenger hunt and during the holidays there was a Christmas Tree Crawl. Click here to learn more about Universal Orlandoโs Mardi Gras 2021: International Flavors of Carnaval.
First in US, new fueling technology coming to Port Canaveral
PORT CANAVERAL, Fla. โ Port Canaveral welcomed a new tug and barge system this week that will provide a cleaner burning fuel source for cruise ships including Carnivalโs Mardi Gras scheduled to set sail later this year from Florida. The Port will become the first in the U.S. to become a liquified natural gas, or LNG, cruise port. With the fueling system, Mardi Gras can sail for two weeks between refueling. Port Canaveral Chief Financial Officer Michael Poole is projecting $32.59 million in operating revenue and a $43.12 million loss for the port in the current budget year that ends Sept. 30, reports Florida Today. โThere is unanimous and overwhelming support for Port Canaveral,โ Diane Luensmann of Port Canaveral Communications told Port commissioners Wednesday.
IHOP cancels its National Pancake Day
IHOP is canceling its National Pancake Day celebration or at least altering it. In years past, the restaurant chain has given away free flapjacks on Fat Tuesday, also known as Mardi Gras. AdMembers of IHOPโs email club will see an IOU for the free hot cakes hit their inboxes. IHOP National Pancake Day (Copyright 2020 by CNN Newsource - All rights reserved.) Customers not on that list can download a coupon on the companyโs website but that version of the deal requires a $10 minimum purchase.
Muted Mardi Gras: Closed bars, barricaded Bourbon Street
Tourists from Brooklyn take photos on a nearly deserted Bourbon Street during Mardi Gras in the French Quarter of New Orleans, Tuesday, Feb. 16, 2021. โWe were expecting a little bit lower key than the normal Mardi Gras,โ Wheeler said. Coronavirus-related restrictions in New Orleans included canceled parades, closed bars and a near shutdown of rowdy Bourbon Street. That, and unusually frigid weather, prevented what New Orleans usually craves at the end of Mardi Gras season: streets and businesses jam-packed with revelers. To the east, Mobile, Alabama, which boasts the nation's oldest Mardi Gras celebrations, had also canceled parades.
Jazz, pirates and king cake: A detailed look inside Universalโs Mardi Gras Tribute Store
Something else that sticks out this year is the Mardi Gras Tribute Store. Universal Orlando Tribute Store. AdMaps inside the Universal Orlando Tribute Store (McReynolds)The hallway escorts guests into the pirateโs waterfront warehouse. Universal Orlando Tribute Store (Universal Orlando)The Tribute Store ends with a tour of the Bayou. Food inside the Universal Orlando Tribute Store (McReynolds)Another popular favorite for children and adults alike are the shipwrecked sour gummy pirate skulls, which move when theyโre displayed.
Fun Spot America begins first-ever Mardi Gras celebration
Fun Spot America is beginning its first-ever Mardi Gras festival. All the new fun is joining alongside Fun Spot Americaโs attractions and games inside the parks. Mardi Gras Festival Apples (Fun Spot America)Officials said every Saturday in both parks, children 12 and under are welcome to line the park for its Childrenโs Mardi Gras Parade. Fun Spot America Mardi Gras photo ops (Fun Spot America)The escape room will be open on weekends, but officials said it could open on select weekdays through April 11. Fun Spot America is committed to the health and safety of its guests.
Universal Orlando goes international with upcoming Mardi Gras event
ORLANDO, Fla โ Universal Orlando Resort is set to begin its upcoming Mardi Gras 2021: International Flavors of Carnaval on Feb. 6. AdSome flavors include dishes from Puerto Rico, Trinidad and Tobago, Cuba, Italy, France, Germany, Spain and other regions including the home of Mardi Gras, New Orleans. Members of Universalโs culinary team said theyโre bringing the Mardi Gras savory delights to select menus at Universal CityWalk and Universal Orlando resort hotels. Full Screen Full Screen 1 / 17 Mardi Gras Food and Beverage OfferingsClick here to see the menu of food options available. Passholders can also pick-up a free Mardi Gras themed magnet and button at the passholder lounge from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. during operating hours.
Carnival cancels March cruises from Port Canaveral, other U.S. ports
Bolt is set to debut on board the Carnival Mardi Gras in 2020. Carnival Cruise Line on Wednesday said it is extending its halt to cruises from Port Canaveral and other U.S. ports through March, as it aims to meet Centers for Disease Control and Prevention requirements for resuming cruises. Port Canaveral has not had multiday cruises since March 2020 because of the coronavirus pandemic, reports News 6 partner Florida Today. The Carnival Mardi Gras โ the cruise lineโs newest and largest ship โ is scheduled to begin sailing out of Port Canaveral on April 24, offering seven-night cruises to the Caribbean. Pre-pandemic, the Mardi Gras had been scheduled to start sailing from Port Canaveral in October.
Busch Gardens Tampa Bay all jazzed up for Mardi Gras celebration
TAMPA, Fla โ Busch Gardens Tampa Bay shared new details Monday about its upcoming Mardi Gras celebration which kicks off on Jan. 16. (Busch Gardens Tampa Bay)Event organizers said some of the food available include a signature shrimp poโ boy, hearty jambalaya, shrimp and grits, voodoo coffee and hot and fresh beignets. Guests will also get the chance to try a number of new Mardi Gras inspired cocktails including hurricane drinks. Busch Gardens Tampa Bay Mardi Gras (Busch Gardens Tampa Bay)The Busch Gardens team has consulted with medical experts to offer modified events with required reservations and limited capacity for safe celebrations. The Mardi Gras celebration runs through Feb. 16.
Port Canaveralโs new $155M cruise terminal remains unused due to pandemic
Cruise Terminal 3, the largest-ever construction project at Port Canaveral is set to be completed in May. (Image: Port Canaveral)Port Canaveralโs new $155 million Cruise Terminal 3 is all dressed up and ready for visitors. โReady to goโCruise Terminal 3, the largest-ever construction project at Port Canaveral is set to be completed in May. (Image: Port Canaveral)Cruise Terminal 3 โis really a spectacular facility,โ Port Canaveral Chief Executive Officer John Murray said during his recent State of the Port presentation. Cruise passengers will be able to use E-Pass prepaid accounts to pay for their parking fees in the Cruise Terminal 3 garage.
Carnival Cruise Line cancels cruises through February, delays Mardi Gras debut
CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. โ Carnival Cruise Line announced it has canceled sailings from Port Canaveral, Miami and Galveston through February due to the coronavirus. The company also said it will delay the inaugural sailing of Mardi Gras until April 24. The new ship will sail from Port Canaveral and includes a roller coaster on board. โAs we implement our plans for the resumption of cruising in 2021, we have canceled select itineraries for specific operations including cruises in February in Miami, Port Canaveral and Galveston,โ Carnival Cruise Line said in a statement.
Debut delayed for Mardi Gras cruise ship featuring roller coaster
PORT CANAVERAL, Fla. โ If you were hoping to take to the waves on one brand new cruise ship come fall, youโll have to wait just a bit longer. Carnival Cruises is pushing back the debut of its Mardis Gras ship to Feb. 6, 2021. [RELATED: Carnival names new mega ship | Everything you need to know about Mardi Gras cruise ship]Once the 180,000-ton Mardis Gras is sea-ready, the ship, featuring the first roller coaster at sea, will have a maximum capacity of 6,500 passengers and about 2,000 crew members. Last year, Florida Today reported that Port Canaveral was building a two-story, 188,000-square-foot cruise terminal and 1,000-space parking garage that will be used by the Mardi Gras. It is part of the portโs largest single construction project in its 65-year history โ the $163 million Cruise Terminal 3 complex.
6 new cruise ships will begin sailing from Florida in 2020
ORLANDO, Fla. โ Six new cruise ships will be calling Florida home in 2020. The Orlando Sentinel reports that the largest ship ever built for Carnival Cruise Line will have its debut at Port Canaveral. The Mardi Gras will have the first ever roller coaster at sea, and it will be the first cruise ship in North America to run on liquefied natural gas, a cleaner-burning fuel. Richard Branson's Virgin Voyages line will begin sailing ships from Miami in March with the debut of the adults-only Scarlet Lady. Florida also will see the debut of the new Regent Seven Seas Splendor, Celebrity Apex and Enchanted Princess ships.