If you’re thinking about booking Carnival Elation, one question probably comes to mind: Is a nearly 30-year-old cruise ship still worth sailing? We hope our Carnival Elation Review answers that question for you!
Rocky recently spent five days aboard Carnival Elation sailing from Jacksonville, Florida. He came away pleasantly surprised by just how much this classic ship still has to offer. While it certainly shows its age in some places, Carnival Elation also delivers many of the things that have made Carnival one of the most popular cruise lines in the world: friendly service, fun entertainment, great complimentary food, and an easy-going atmosphere.
Whether you’re researching your first Carnival Elation review, looking for a complete Carnival Elation ship tour, or trying to decide if this classic Fantasy-class ship is right for your next Bahamas cruise, here’s everything you need to know.
Carnival Elation Quick Facts
- Cruise Line: Carnival Cruise Line
- Class: Fantasy Class
- Entered Service: 1998
- Home Port: Jacksonville, Florida
- Itineraries: Bahamas Cruises
- Passenger Capacity: Approximately 2,100 guests
- Length: 855 feet
- Decks: 10 Passenger Decks
Although Carnival Elation first entered service in 1998, the ship has received numerous refurbishments over the years, including the addition of popular Carnival favorites like Guy’s Burger Joint and BlueIguana Cantina.
Take a Complete Carnival Elation Ship Tour
Before we get into what we thought about sailing aboard Carnival Elation, you may want to see the ship for yourself. In our complete Carnival Elation Ship Tour, we walk through nearly every public space onboard, including:
- Pool Deck
- Serenity Adults-Only Retreat
- Main Dining Rooms
- Lido Marketplace
- Guy’s Burger Joint
- BlueIguana Cantina
- Casino
- Theater
- Bars & Lounges
- Spa
- Fitness Center
- Shopping
- Outdoor Decks
Check out our Carnival Elation Ship Tour on YouTube or below:
Seeing the layout before your cruise can make embarkation day much less overwhelming, especially if you’ve never sailed on Carnival Elation before.
What We Loved About Carnival Elation
Despite being nearly three decades old, Carnival Elation still gets many things right.
Excellent Complimentary Food
Carnival continues to shine when it comes to included dining. Guy’s Burger Joint remains one of the best burgers you’ll find at sea, while BlueIguana Cantina serves fresh tacos and burritos that are worth visiting multiple times during your cruise.
We also enjoyed Bagels at Sea for breakfast and found the Main Dining Room service to be remarkably fast and efficient throughout our sailing.
Spacious Public Areas
One thing older ships often do better than newer mega-ships is crowd flow. Carnival Elation has numerous lounges, bars, and gathering spaces that never felt overwhelmingly crowded. Even on sea days, it was easy to find somewhere comfortable to relax.
The ship’s classic décor also gives it a nostalgic Carnival feel that longtime cruisers may appreciate. Long live Joe Farcus designs!
Entertainment
Playlist Productions continues to be one of Carnival’s strongest offerings. Shows like Epic Rock and Heart of Soul were energetic, fun, and well-produced. Beyond the theater, there was never a shortage of activities including: Silent Disco, Trivias, Dance Classes, Live Music, and Game Shows.
Where Carnival Elation Shows Its Age
No ship approaching 30 years old is going to feel brand new. While Carnival has done an admirable job maintaining the Elation, there are areas where its age becomes noticeable. We experienced:
- Smaller public restrooms
- Tight theater seating
- A surprisingly small Serenity adults-only retreat
- Some maintenance issues throughout the ship
These weren’t necessarily cruise-ruining problems, but they’re worth knowing before booking.
The Things We Didn’t Love
As with every cruise we review, we’re always honest about both the positives and negatives. While we enjoyed much of Carnival Elation, we also experienced a few disappointments. There was a cabin bathroom issue that had an impact on the overall cruise.
We cover all of the details in our full review.
Watch Our Complete Carnival Elation Review
If you’re trying to decide whether Carnival Elation is the right ship for your vacation, don’t miss our Carnival Elation review.
In this video we break down:
- Everything we loved
- Everything we didn’t love
- The things we hated
- Dining
- Entertainment
- Ports of Call
- Service
- Diamond Loyalty Benefits
- Whether we’d sail Carnival Elation again
Check out the Carnival Elation Review on YouTube or by watching the embedded video below:
Is Carnival Elation Worth Sailing in 2026?
Our answer is… Yes; with the right expectations.
Carnival Elation isn’t trying to compete with Carnival Celebration or Mardi Gras. Instead, it offers something many newer ships don’t. You’ll find a relaxed atmosphere on a ship that’s super easy to navigate. We always joke: If you forget something in your room on a new mega-ship, you’ll see it tomorrow. On Carnival Elation? It’s just a quick 2-minute pop down to the room to get it!
Plus, with plenty of dining included, classic Carnival entertainment that makes them the Fun Ships, and the classic Joe Farcus Carnival charm all adds to the experience. And sailing from Jacksonville, Florida makes this cruise a super convenient option for many.
With all of that said… If your priority is giant waterslides, roller coasters, and dozens of specialty restaurants, you’ll probably want to skip this one in favor of one of Carnival’s newer Vista- or Excel-class ships.
But if you’re looking for an affordable Bahamas cruise with plenty of fun, Carnival Elation continues to be an excellent value that we can absolutely recommend.
