Carnival Elation
Product brand
UnclaimedA Fantasy-class cruise ship operated by Carnival Cruise Line, introduced in 1998 and deployed primarily on Bahamas and Caribbean itineraries from Florida.
Last updated August 24, 2026
Overview
Carnival Elation is a Fantasy-class cruise ship operated by Carnival Cruise Line, a brand within Carnival Corporation & plc. The vessel was constructed by Kværner Masa-Yards at the Helsinki New Shipyard in Finland and entered service in 1998. It was originally named Elation; Carnival added the company prefix to the names of its Fantasy-class ships in 2007, after which the vessel became known as Carnival Elation. The ship was floated out on January 4, 1998, christened by Shari Arison Dorsman, and began its inaugural cruise on March 20 of that year. Its introduction was notable technically: Elation was the first cruise ship equipped with an Azipod propulsion system. Unlike conventional shaft-and-propeller arrangements, the podded propulsion units can rotate to assist steering and maneuverability. This feature distinguished Elation from earlier sister ships that retained traditional propulsion arrangements. Carnival Elation measures approximately 71,909 tons and is about 855 feet long. Its passenger facilities occupy 11 decks and include 12 lounges and bars, three swimming pools, six Jacuzzis, and 14 elevators. The ship can accommodate up to approximately 2,190 guests and 900 crew members. Although it has been described as the smallest ship in Carnival's current fleet at the relevant point of reference, it retains the broad resort-style mix associated with Carnival's contemporary cruise product: accommodation, dining, entertainment, swimming, social spaces, and shore excursions. Its homeport and itinerary history reflects Carnival's deployment strategy for smaller and mid-sized ships. From 1998 to 2003, Elation sailed Mexican itineraries from Los Angeles. It then operated Western Caribbean cruises from Galveston, Texas, between 2003 and 2006. From 2007 through 2010, it returned to Mexican cruises from San Diego. The ship subsequently operated Western Caribbean voyages from Mobile, Alabama, and later from New Orleans. In 2016 it moved to Jacksonville, Florida, for cruises to the Bahamas. Between May 2019 and March 2020, and again from October 2021 to April 2022, it sailed Caribbean and Bahamas itineraries from Port Canaveral. From April 2022 onward, the documented deployment places it on Bahamas cruises from Jacksonville. Carnival Elation has undergone significant refurbishment work. A month-long dry dock in October 2017 added an extra deck and modified several public areas. A further dry dock in March 2020 introduced additional features found on other Carnival ships and replaced the aft lounge on the promenade deck with 30 additional cabins. These changes increased accommodation capacity and aligned the vessel more closely with Carnival's broader onboard product portfolio. The ship has also been involved in maritime emergency response and onboard incidents. In September 2017, during Hurricane Irma, it answered a distress call and rescued a person who had abandoned another vessel. Separate reported incidents included a passenger's 2018 guilty plea in a case involving the death of his girlfriend after she was pushed overboard, and a 2023 overboard jump approximately 95 miles east of Melbourne, Florida. These incidents are part of the vessel's documented operational history and should not be interpreted as product attributes or evidence of a recurring safety pattern.
History
Carnival Elation was built as Elation by Kværner Masa-Yards at the Helsinki New Shipyard in Finland. The ship was floated out on January 4, 1998, christened by Shari Arison Dorsman, and began its inaugural cruise on March 20, 1998. It belongs to Carnival Cruise Line's Fantasy class, a group of ships designed around a large collection of public spaces, entertainment venues, dining facilities, pools, and cabins for mainstream cruise holidays. Elation's early service was technologically significant because it became the first cruise ship equipped with an Azipod propulsion system. The system uses steerable propulsion pods beneath the hull, improving maneuverability compared with conventional shaft-driven arrangements. The vessel entered service at approximately 71,909 tons and 855 feet in length, with 11 passenger decks and capacity for up to about 2,190 guests supported by approximately 900 crew members. During its first years, the ship operated Mexican cruises from Los Angeles between 1998 and 2003. It then shifted to Western Caribbean voyages from Galveston, Texas, from 2003 to 2006. Between 2007 and 2010, it sailed Mexican itineraries from San Diego. In 2007, Carnival applied its corporate prefix to the names of its Fantasy-class ships, changing Elation's public name to Carnival Elation. The ship continued to move among United States homeports as Carnival adjusted its regional deployment. It operated Western Caribbean cruises from Mobile, Alabama, from 2010 to 2011, then continued on Western Caribbean routes from New Orleans from 2011 through 2016. In 2016, Jacksonville became its base for Bahamas cruises. The ship later moved to Port Canaveral for Caribbean and Bahamas itineraries from May 2019 until March 2020, and again from October 2021 through April 2022. From April 2022, its documented deployment returned to Jacksonville for Bahamas cruises. A month-long dry dock in October 2017 brought an additional deck and modifications to public facilities. In March 2020, another dry dock added features used on other Carnival ships and reconfigured the promenade deck. The aft lounge was replaced with 30 cabins, increasing the vessel's accommodation inventory and updating the onboard product. Carnival Elation's operational record also includes responses to emergencies and incidents. During Hurricane Irma on September 10, 2017, it responded to a distress call and rescued a person who had abandoned another vessel. In January 2018, a Kansas passenger pleaded guilty to second-degree murder in a case involving his girlfriend's death after she was pushed overboard. On July 23, 2023, a 30-year-old man jumped overboard while the ship was about 95 miles east of Melbourne, Florida. The vessel remains identified as an active Carnival Cruise Line ship in the supplied reference material.
- 2022
Return to Jacksonville
[1]From April, the ship's documented deployment returned to Bahamas cruises from Jacksonville.
- 2020
Second major dry dock
[1]The vessel received additional Carnival features and gained 30 cabins through the replacement of an aft promenade-deck lounge.
- 2017
Major dry dock refurbishment
[1]A month-long dry dock added an extra deck and modified public facilities.
- 2016
Jacksonville Bahamas deployment
[1]The ship began operating Bahamas cruises from Jacksonville, Florida.
- 2011
Move from Mobile to New Orleans
[1]Carnival Elation moved from Mobile, Alabama, to New Orleans for Western Caribbean operations.
- 2007
Carnival prefix added
[1]Carnival added its corporate prefix to the names of its Fantasy-class ships, changing Elation to Carnival Elation.
- 2003
Deployment shifts to Galveston
[1]The ship moved from Mexican cruises out of Los Angeles to Western Caribbean cruises departing from Galveston, Texas.
- 1998
Elation enters service
[1]The ship was floated out in January, christened, and began its inaugural cruise on March 20. It entered service as Elation and became the first cruise ship equipped with an Azipod propulsion system.
Products and positioning
A value-oriented, family-focused cruise vacation product offering resort-style amenities and short-to-medium-length Bahamas and Caribbean itineraries.
Cruise travel · 1998
Carnival Elation cruise vacations
The vessel's core offering is a packaged cruise holiday combining transportation, accommodation, meals, entertainment, recreation, and access to destination ports. Its onboard layout includes multiple lounges and bars, swimming pools, Jacuzzis, elevators, cabins, and public venues intended for mainstream leisure travelers.
Cruise itinerary · 2016
Bahamas itineraries
Bahamas cruises became a recurring deployment for the ship, including voyages from Jacksonville, Florida, and a period of Bahamas service from Port Canaveral. The itinerary product is oriented toward accessible Caribbean-area vacations from United States ports.
Cruise itinerary · 1998
Caribbean and Mexico itineraries
Over its operating history, Carnival Elation has served Mexican, Western Caribbean, and broader Caribbean routes from Los Angeles, Galveston, San Diego, Mobile, New Orleans, and Port Canaveral. These itineraries demonstrate the ship's use in regional deployment rather than as a fixed-destination hotel.
Brand decisions
2020
Additional features and cabin reconfigurationGeneration changeBackground
A further dry dock was used to bring Carnival Elation closer to the feature set of other Carnival ships.
Action taken
The ship received additional onboard features and 30 new cabins replacing the aft promenade-deck lounge.
Aftermath
The vessel's accommodation inventory and onboard configuration were updated.
2017
Public-area and deck refurbishmentOtherBackground
Carnival undertook a month-long dry dock to refresh the ship and update its facilities.
Action taken
An extra deck was added and various public facilities were modified.
Aftermath
The ship returned to service with revised public spaces.
2007
Corporate naming standardizationStrategyBackground
Carnival standardized the naming of its Fantasy-class ships by adding the Carnival prefix.
Action taken
Elation was renamed Carnival Elation.
Aftermath
The vessel has used Carnival Elation as its documented operating name since the change.
Recent events
- 2023
Passenger jumps overboard off Florida coast[1]
Other
A 30-year-old man jumped overboard approximately 95 miles east of Melbourne, Florida.
- 2018
Passenger pleads guilty in overboard death case[1]
Other
A Kansas man pleaded guilty in federal court to second-degree murder in connection with the death of his girlfriend, who was pushed from Carnival Elation.
- 2017
Carnival Elation rescues person during Hurricane Irma[1]
Other
The ship responded to a distress call during Hurricane Irma and rescued one person who had abandoned another vessel.
Sources2 sources
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