Carnival Elation

Carnival Elation (formerly Elation) is a Fantasy-class cruise ship operated by Carnival Cruise Line. Built by Kværner Masa-Yards at its Helsinki New Shipyard in Finland, she was floated out on January 4, 1998, and christened as Elation by Shari Arison Dorsman.^[1] Her inaugural cruise began March 20, 1998.^[2] During 2007, in common with all of her Fantasy-class sisters, she had the prefix Carnival added to her name.^[3] Carnival Elation is currently sailing 4+5 day cruises to the Bahamas from Jacksonville.

Carnival Elation leaving the Port of New Orleans on May 13, 2013
History
Name	Elation (1998–2007) Carnival Elation (2007–present)
Owner	Carnival Corporation & plc
Operator	Carnival Cruise Line
Port of registry	Panama City, Panama
Builder	Kvaerner Masa-Yards Helsinki New Shipyard Helsinki, Finland
Yard number	491
Launched	January 4, 1998
Sponsored by	Shari Arison Dorsman
Completed	1998
Maiden voyage	March 20, 1998
In service	1998–present
Refit	2020
Identification	Call sign: 3FOC5 IMO number: 9118721 MMSI number: 355831000
Status	in active service
General characteristics (As Built)
Class & type	Fantasy-class cruise ship
Tonnage	70,367 GT
Length	855 ft (261 m)
Decks	13 (10 for passenger use)
Installed power	6 × Wärtsilä 12V38A 47,520 kW (combined)
Propulsion	Two ABB Azipod propulsion units
Speed	21 knots (39 km/h; 24 mph)
Capacity	2,052
Crew	900
General characteristics (After 2017 Refit)
Tonnage	71,909 GT
Decks	14 (11 with passenger access)
Capacity	2,130
General characteristics (After 2020 Refit)
Capacity	2,190

Layout

Carnival Elation is a 71,909-ton ship and is 855 feet long. She features 11 passenger decks and can accommodate up to 2,190 guests along with 900 crew members.^[4]

Despite being the smallest ship in the current Carnival fleet,^[5] Carnival Elation offers a wide array of activities and amenities. These include 12 lounges and bars, 3 swimming pools, 6 Jacuzzis, and 14 elevators.^[6]

History

Elation was the first cruise ship to be equipped with an Azipod propulsion system.^[7] The pods give Elation better maneuverability compared with her sister ships that still used traditional shaft propellers.

On November 5, 2011 Carnival Elation was moved from Mobile, Alabama to New Orleans.^[8]

In October 2017, Carnival Elation completed a month long dry dock during which an extra deck was added and various modifications to her public facilities were made.^[9] The ship's next dry dock in March 2020 added additional features found on other Carnival ships. The ship also received an additional 30 cabins that replaced the aft lounge located on the promenade deck.^[10]

Carnival Elation in Jacksonville, Florida on October 7, 2017

Current and former voyages

• 1998–2003: Cruises to Mexico from Los Angeles, California.
• 2003–2006: Cruises to the Western Caribbean from Galveston, TX.
• 2007–2010: Cruises to Mexico from San Diego CA.
• 2010–2011: Cruises from Mobile, Alabama to the Western Caribbean.
• 2011–2016: Cruises to the Western Caribbean from New Orleans, Louisiana.
• 2016–May 2019: Cruises to the Bahamas from Jacksonville, Florida.^[11]
• May 2019-March 2020, October 2021-April 2022: Cruises to the Caribbean and Bahamas from Port Canaveral, Florida.^[12]

• April 2022 and on: Cruises to the Bahamas from Jacksonville, Florida.

Accidents and incidents

• On September 10, 2017, the Carnival Elation responded to a distress call and rescued one person from the sea who had been forced to abandon a vessel during Hurricane Irma.^[13]
• On January 19, 2018, a Kansas man pleaded guilty in a federal court in Kansas to second-degree murder after pushing his girlfriend Tamara Tucker off of the ship.^[14]
• On July 23, 2023, a 30-year-old man jumped overboard, 95 miles east of Melbourne, Florida.^[15]