Overview
About
Passengers: 2,130 | Crew: 920
Passengers to crew: 2.32:1
Passengers to space: 34:1
Launched: 1998
Decks
- Deck 4
- Deck 5
- Deck 6
- Deck 7
- Deck 8
- Deck 9
Additional decks
Deck 4 layout
Cabins
Interior (4A)
Ocean View (6A)
Interior (4B)
Ocean View (6B)
Interior Upper/Lower (1A)
Porthole (PT)
Cabins
Balcony
Cabin size: 185 - 185 sq. ft.
Connected rooms: 8
Accessible rooms: 5
Maximum passengers: 4
Number of cabins: 98
Reviews
Traveller rating
- 26
- 22
- 11
- 13
- 11
Time of year
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We are 5 hrs into the cruise and the A/C quit working. Then the refrigerator broke with my refrigerated medication in it. Looks like we are stuck on a ship for the next 5 days with no air-conditioning, hot drinks, and a box fan in a room with four people. They didn't even offer to comp us for the inconvenience. We asked and they still will not comp us for the for failing to meet the terms of service or offer another cabin. My wife is a gold member and we paid extra for the "First to the Fun" pass and it still made no difference. This is my first cruise and our first cruise as a family and it's not that great. I'll be booking with another cruise line in the future if we even risk another one. My advise is to book an all inclusive vacation at the destination you would have cruised to.…
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This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
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Elation is the smallest ship in Carnivals fleet. The size matters because smaller ship has smaller facilities and limited entertainment options. With just one pool and four whirlpools, we never got a chance to use the pool. They were always packed to the brim. Also, smaller ships rock and roll a lot. The itinerary includes Bimini in Bahamas. It's a tiny island with no facilities. It rained the day we docked there. It meant we could not do any water activities like snorkeling. And there is nothing else to do. The worst part of Elation is the food. I had opted for vegetarian option. But the food is pre-cooked and just reheated before it's served. They keep papad on top of curries and by the time it comes to your table the papad is soggy and wet. No one eats a soggy papad. But chefs on board nor the servers have any clue. The so called Indian bread is in fact Mission Tortillas reheated in the oven. They get hard and stiff, taste sour and are not edible with curries. The Xmas evening dinner had Kulcha with curries. It was cooked like a pizza in a pizza oven. Even the coffee is served cold. I had to ask for hot coffee three out of five days. With a head chef called Bala and assistant chef Pushpak it's surprising that Indian vegetarian food is so bad. Lastly, while booking it seems optional and up to you to tip the servers on board, it in fact is not optional. You either pay in advance or they charge you second day of your itinerary.…
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This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
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I am the Grandma. Took my husband, daughter and adult granddaughter for Christmas present. I booked direct with cruise line. My booking person told me first that my family would need to prove Vaccinated or get a negative Covid test within 48 hours of boarding. This was all false. Also told that since we did not have Passports we would need to provide birth certificates and proof of any name changes. I spent hours trying to get copy of marriage license from Alabama from 48 years ago. Their courthouse burned to the ground 15 years ago and all records were destroyed. I went to the ship not knowing if they would let me board. It was also false, there was no issues when we boarded. After this mess I thought we would have a great time. The food was lacking even the night of Captain's dinner. The only decent things were pizza shop and Guy's burger. The photos of luscious buffets on the internet must be a different cruise. It is ridiculous to charge $87. for 2 people to be able have Coke to drink for 4 days. Also the charge to cover tipping is a ripoff. Tips are for excellent service and we preferred our privacy so all we needed was 2 buckets of ice. All the restaurants are buffet, no service there. Server for Captains dinner was good but, meal was not. My daughter and granddaughter enjoyed getting off ship at both islands. Daughter enjoyed a music venue at one of the bars. I was sea sick just after we got out in Atlantic but, not their fault. Many of the shops we never saw open. For me it is FIRST CRUISE --LAST CRUISE. Although several seasoned cruisers told me Carnival Elation is not the best cruise, it's just a cheap getaway. Not so cheap to me. Got good deal for husband and myself but, full price for family plus cost of soda pkgs. Tips for 4 people photo pkg. I have had better food, better entertainment , a much better room and great experience at multiple Casinos in several states without spending any more money.…
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This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
1 Helpful vote
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Elation is the oldest and smallest of the Carnival fleet. We chose it for a birthday celebration for it's convenience to home (we live in Jacksonville which is Elation's homeport). The experience had it's pros and cons. The cons: Food in both the Lido Deck buffet and the Main Dining Room were underwhelming. The Lido Deck hot meal offerings were average at best. Desserts were almost exclusively cakes and soft serve ice cream. The Deli Bar was the best as was the Pirate Pizza. But at prime time Pirate Pizza appeared overwhelmed with orders. The Main Dining Room offerings were disappointing and while tasty good did not meet the standard for fine dining. For example, on the final night, one of the menu items was Enchilada. I can get one of those at the onboard Taco Shop. Daily grilled items were chicken, salmon and a thin steak. Premium meals like surf and turf were available at an upcharge. The only menu item coming close to what we expected was prime rib on Elegant Dining evening. We observed a fair amount of raucous behavior on board especially by unsupervised teens and on several evenings we were awakened by loud and obnoxious passengers bumping along the corridor. While we did see some security personnel, a more obvious presence late in the evening would be helpful. With only a single pool, it was always crowded. Two hot tubs on the pool deck were almost always occupied by kids. We did enjoy the adults-only Serenity Deck with it's two hot tubs. One strange thing. The ship hosted a Military Appreciation event in the Mikado Lounge for those veterans on board. It was a nice touch. At the conclusion a group photo was taken of all of us. Later that photo was available to us only if we wanted to buy it for $7.95. We thought that a bit cheesy. I know Carnival can do better here. Pros: The staff, the staff, the staff. Everyone (and we mean everyone) treated us over and above what we had previously experienced. The housekeeping crew gave us a clean and comfortable room. The Lido Deck crew were both responsive and constantly smiling. The Main Dining Room servers were top notch. Nearly all of those we met not only introduced themselves to us but also remembered our names on later encounters. The Entertainment Crew excelled in their jobs. Neil, the Cruise Director, was a constant presence, keeping the fun going. The remainder of the Fun Squad were truly a fun bunch to be with. Others have commented on the evening shows but we would add that with a crew of eight performers and the Fun Squad, these folks really overachieved given the size and capabilities of the ship. We enjoyed the Diva and Rock Shows and the Bingo games. Special thanks is warranted to Fun Squad Member, Peter, who on his own initiative, assisted in getting our elderly mother to the head of the line when debarking. Bottom line is that we enjoyed ourselves. But if you are looking for a ship with more amenities and offerings then best to look elsewhere.…
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This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
1 Helpful vote
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Carnival Elation out of Jacksonville, FL, to Freeport and Bimini Bahamas, 4-day cruse. Great get-away for a few days. The ship is lovely and has a lot to offer....great food, entertainment, shops, casino, and spa. She is an older ship and showing her wear, but clean. The cabin stewards are very attentive and keep the cabins clean every day. The balcony cabin is worth the extra money to feel the ocean breeze and see the amazing views. Enjoyed coffee and meals on the balcony. Pools were clean and pool deck well maintained. Cruise Director was lots of fun and always keeping the entertainment going.…
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This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
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