Carnival Cruise Review: A Journey on the Elation Ship

Did you know that if you live in the southeastern United States, you don’t have to fly to Miami or Fort Lauderdale to start a tropical cruise vacation? 

Yep. You can hop aboard Carnival Elation right out of Jacksonville’s JAXPORT Cruise Terminal and be on your way to paradise within hours. That’s what I did recently, and it’s truly one of the easiest embarkations I’ve ever experienced.

On top of that, I snagged a wave season bargain. It only cost me $620 for a five-night cruise on the Elation from Jacksonville to the Bahamas.

As someone who’s been on seven cruises over the last three years, I’ve sailed on everything from mega-ships with endless decks to smaller, classic vessels — and trust me, bigger isn’t always better. I was on a Royal Caribbean with friends and family, and I swear I never learned my way around the ship. 

There’s something to be said for the old-fashioned ease of a smaller, older ship. Carnival Elation offers this cozier feel, which is easier to navigate, without feeling like you’re walking miles to get from one end of the ship to the other.

I’m excited to share my experience — the highs, the lows, and everything in between. Whether you’re a seasoned cruiser or planning your very first trip, this review will help you decide if Carnival Elation is the perfect fit for your next adventure.

Carnival Cruise: Overview

The Carnival Elation, which launched in 1998, is part of Carnival’s Fantasy-class ships. Its design is a throwback to the 90s — back when ships were destinations themselves, not just floating theme parks. Refurbished several times over the years, Elation still carries the charm of older ships, but with some modern upgrades that keep the experience fresh.

However, one of the standout aspects of sailing Elation is the price point. Compared to newer, larger ships, cruises aboard Elation are significantly more affordable. Like I mentioned, I found a fantastic deal for a five-night itinerary, spending $620 per person, which included all meals, entertainment, and transportation to two beautiful Bahamian ports. This was for an inside cabin on the 4th floor, Riviera Deck.

For those wanting an easy and budget-friendly tropical getaway, especially without the hassle of flying, cruising from Jacksonville is a huge win. The port is located on the NORTH side of Jacksonville, so you don’t have to travel through the downtown traffic!

When I entered the parking lot, I was amazed at how close the ship was to my car.  Maybe a football field away at the most! And then I saw the line of people waiting to get on and I thought, “Uh oh, that may be a mess!”  I was wrong! I timed it and within one hour of parking my car, I was checked in, through security, and onboard and in my cabin.

Another perk? A smaller ship can mean less crowding. However, for me, I did not experience this. We were at near full capacity, and of all the approximate 3,000 passengers, 1000 were children. I think I was so hell-bent on getting my bargain, I overlooked the tiny detail that IT WAS SPRING BREAK. Uugh….more on that later. Geez Louise!

Cabins

Let’s talk about my cabin, why I chose it, and the pros and cons. I opted for an interior cabin without a window on the 4th deck of the ship. Many of you may be scratching your head wondering WHY I would choose this location, but in the past, I have booked both balcony and interior cabins, and honestly, I really don’t mind an interior cabin. 

My cabin was sandwiched quietly between two floors at the forward of the ship. My goal was to book an affordable vacation so I could do a familiarization tour with Blue Lagoon Island and get to the Bahamas as economically as possible. I achieved my goal!

By industry standards, Carnival Ship cabins are a tad bit larger than others. Carnival Elation’s rooms have all the basics you’ll need for a comfy stay. You’ll get two twin beds that can be pushed together to make a king, plus plenty of storage with closets, drawers, and shelves.

There’s also a mini-fridge to keep your drinks cold, a safe for your valuables, and a hair dryer tucked away. I slept comfortably every night, and the room was super dark and cold, plus Carnival’s signature “comfort beds” lived up to their name.

The bathrooms are very simple and compact — you get a shower with a plastic curtain unless you’re staying in a suite (those have a shower and tub combo). Carnival provides the essentials, like bar soap for the sink. Inside the shower, there are two dispensers: shampoo and shower gel, so definitely bring your hair conditioner!

Strangely enough, my cabin felt very large! Interior cabins are about 185 square feet. There’s a desk and chair, plus two closets to help you stay organized. If you pack light, it’s totally manageable.

If you’re someone who loves balconies, just a heads-up: Elation’s balcony options are limited to suites.

Pro Tip: Bring magnetic hooks to stick on the cabin walls (they’re metal!) for extra storage and organization. It’s a game-changer on smaller ships. Make sure to read my post full of other useful things to bring on a cruise.

Food

Food can make or break a cruise experience — I have to give the Elation two stars out of five. I was not that impressed. I think I’ve become a cruise snob and prefer more sophistication! I could always find healthy food, but it was more the lack of presentation of the food that bothered me.

For instance, the way the cheese was displayed on the buffet line was pretty dismal. You can see it here in the photo. It’s lackluster and looks like cheap cheese. I know a good cheese board when I see it, but I have to remember Carnival promotes itself as a “Fun Ship,” not a luxury ship that offers charcuterie boards. So, like everything in life, you GET WHAT YOU PAY FOR!  Carnival attracts passengers looking for value.

The Lido Marketplace buffet is located inside Tiffany’s Restaurant and is your go-to spot for casual meals. Breakfast included all the classics: omelets, pancakes, bacon, fruit, bagels, and a diverse fruit section. I found the honeydew, cantaloupe, and pineapple to be fresh and delish! One morning, I got tired of the buffet line and went to the Imagination Dining Room so I could enjoy a more refined atmosphere. I feasted on pancakes and turkey bacon.

For lunch, you can eat on the Lido Deck and go to Guy’s Burger Joint, located poolside. The burgers are flavorful and customizable with all the toppings you could dream of. If you’re craving Mexican food, you can find BlueIguana Cantina nearby and get tacos or burritos.

In the late afternoon on most days, around 5 p.m., I landed at a place called the Seafood Corner and paid additional money to get a pound of steamed shrimp. My friend and I would split these, sit at the back of the ship at a little bar inside Tiffany’s Restaurant. The shrimp were amazing, and that little punch of protein was all I needed to enjoy the afternoon cocktail hour. 

In the evening, the Imagination Dining Room offered a more formal dining experience with a rotating menu. I opted for the late-night dining time of 8:00 p.m. You don’t have to get really dressed up anymore for the formal dining rooms. I’ve found that their dinner entrees are tasty, and you can always find a protein that’s filling and tasty, especially Carnival’s beloved chocolate melting cake — a must-try dessert.

Read: Cruise Dress Code: What to Wear on Cruises

Drinks

I don’t ever buy the beverage package because I don’t want to ever drink that much alcohol! I’m more of a two glasses of wine kind of girl. It’s a waste of money for me to buy the package. For beverages, if you love cocktails, beer, wine, etc., you can purchase individual cocktails or invest in the CHEERS!

Beverage Program if you plan to enjoy tons of drinks per day. I seemed to gravitate to the Atrium Bar because there’s more mellow, live music there, and it’s not so loud. Plus, I love to sit at the bar and meet other passengers and discover where people are traveling from and WHY they choose Carnival. See my video where I interview a new friend.

Pro Tip: Coffee lovers — the specialty coffee at JavaBlue Café is 100% worth the extra couple of bucks.

Pool and Hot Tub

Elation isn’t a giant ship, so the only thing I can say is that we needed about five more pools to accommodate all of us this Spring Break week. The hot tubs were FULL of children, the only pool available for all guests was full of children, and I didn’t get into it the whole trip.

Instead, I found this one place on the Promenade, Deck 9 at the aft of the ship called the Serenity Adult-Only Retreat. It’s for adults 21 and older, and it was my sanctuary during the cruise. It has plenty of lounge chairs and two hot tubs, which I thoroughly enjoyed. Kids tried to enjoy this space during the week, but I promptly and sternly asked them to leave. I didn’t care! I needed peace and quiet. It was the perfect place for me to sip a glass of champagne without the chaos.

Fitness Center

Yes, some of us do work out on vacation! The fitness center on Elation was larger than I expected, and I found it to be another enclave where I could chill. Equipped with treadmills, ellipticals, stationary bikes, free weights, and strength machines, it had everything I needed to squeeze in a workout.

The panoramic ocean view was awesome! I walked on the treadmill, lifted weights and used the stationary bikes.

For outdoor enthusiasts, you can walk along the jogging track on the top deck — nine laps equals a mile!

Entertainment

Carnival has cool entertainment. During our week at sea, we were treated in the evenings to a “Heart of Soul” Show that captured the likes of star singers Aretha Franklin, Stevie Wonder, Tina Turner, and Ray Charles. We joined DJ Margarita and Franco, our Cruise Director, on another night for the 80s Rock-n-Roll Glow party and dance contest. I didn’t win. 🙁

There was a late-night comedy showcase with Comedian John Knight and a Motown Music Party. All day long, there were things to do at every moment if you like action.

Here’s a sampling of what we could do on board: mini golf, Improving Posture seminar, Art Scavenger Hunt, Champagne Art Auction, Line Dancing, Ladies Free Pamper Party, Free Massage Taster, Trivia: Guess What Year, High Seas Karaoke.

I really enjoyed the Ice Carving done on the Lido Deck. It only took the Carnival ice artisan 16 minutes to carve a beautiful masterpiece!

Excursions

Carnival Elation’s itinerary included stops in Nassau and Princess Cays, Carnival’s private island.

Nassau

In Nassau, I had the opportunity to visit Blue Lagoon Island. I had attended the Sea Trade Global Expo the week before and met with the Islands of the Bahamas Tourism Ministry folks, and they were kind enough to connect me with Dominique “Dom” Butler, Assistant Manager of Sales and Marketing of Blue Lagoon. She hosted me on a Fam Tour, met me at the pier and whisked me over on a high-speed catamaran — such a fun start to an incredible day!

If you’re headed to Blue Lagoon, you can choose from experiences like:

• Dolphin Swim
• Sea Lion Encounter
• Dolphin Encounter
• Royal Dolphin Swim
• Beach Day
• Stingray Encounter
• Shark Encounter & Snorkel
• VIP Beach Day

I did the Royal Dolphin Swim and VIP Beach Day — highly recommended! The dolphin activities were unforgettable: think star turns, dolphin kisses, and even a boogie board foot-push. Definitely check out the Blue Lagoon Island packages as well as all your summer tours and activities on Viator.

Book Island Tours on Viator

Princess Cays

Princess Cays was our second stop on the cruise. It’s a private stretch of beach where Carnival offers water sports rentals, private cabanas for rent, kayaks, and more. I opted for the quiet, secluded end of the beach and basically floated out in the water all day.

Looking back at the Elation a mile or so away, I was in paradise. Be sure to wear flip flops because the distance you walk from the food area to the other end of the beach is a good hike!

Service

I was pleased with my cabin steward who immediately greeted me by first name and repeatedly knew my name the entire trip. He was attentive and promptly brought me anything I needed in our cabin. 

I believe the service on Carnival Elation was good. I’m not sure if I would classify it as perfect, but many of the staff were helpful and courteous. 

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Carnival Cruise Review: Final Thoughts

After experiencing Viking, MSC, Virgin, Celebrity and now Carnival Elation, I can confidently say I prefer cruise lines that attract a higher socio-economic customer. However, there is a place in the market for this size ship sailing out of Jacksonville, Florida. I think this is the perfect ship for a newbie cruiser who wants to test out the waters of cruising, since it’s not such a massive ship.  

As I look back, I honestly think I started the cruise being overly tired. The overwhelming crowds of people often distracted me to the point where I couldn’t enjoy myself, and I think this particular ship didn’t meet my mental needs.

Everybody I talked to was LOVING this ship and had nothing negative to say at all. They reported to me they were enjoying the food, loving their time together as a family. 

I even met a man named Buckshot at the Atrium Bar. He was traveling solo and had met a nice couple about our age, and became fast friends with them. Buckshot shared with me that he came on the ship with a bit of trepidation as a widower, but would definitely cruise again since he experienced fellowship and fun with fellow sailors.

As a solo person myself, I totally agree with this sentiment.  Cruise ships place people together in so many different scenarios that it’s easy to socialize and get acquainted with strangers.

If you’re looking for an easy-to-access port and an alternative to the hustle of Miami or Fort Lauderdale, Elation is a perfect choice. I’ll definitely sail out of Jacksonville again…just not on Elation next time.

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