Carnival Elation Resumes Service After Drydock

Carnival Elation Resumes Service After Drydock

The Carnival Elation is welcoming guests back today following a routine drydock at the Grand Bahama Shipyard.

After two weeks out of service, the 1998-built cruise ship is departing on a short cruise to the Bahamas.

Sailing from Jacksonville, the five-night itinerary features visits to Nassau and Princess Cays, as well as two full days at sea.

Now one of the oldest ships in the Carnival Cruise Line fleet, the Elation underwent routine maintenance during the shipyard visit.

Work carried out in the period included class inspections, technical overhauls and upgrades, as well as hotel upkeep and minor updates to public areas and cabins.

The vessel also became the latest to receive the Carnival’s new hull livery, which includes a stately navy-blue hull along with vibrant red and white accents running the entire length of the entire ship. First introduced by the Mardi Gras, the new colours are being added to the entire fleet.

In 2020, during its previous drydock, the Elation received several new venues, such as Bonsai Sushi Express, JavaBlue Café and Alchemy Bar.

A few years before, in 2017, the 70,367-ton vessel had also seen the addition of other signature venues and experiences of Carnival Cruise Line, including the company’s WaterWorks aquapark and new dining options like Guy’s Burger Joint, RedFrog Rum Bar, BlueIguana Cantina and BlueIguana Tequila Bar.

The Elation also received new cabins during both refits, with 38 extra cabins added in 2017 and 30 more added in 2020. Private balconies were also added to a total of 98 existing staterooms during the first refurbishment.

Sailing year-round from its homeport in Jacksonville, the 2,040-guest vessel offers a series of four- and five-night cruises to the Bahamas.

In addition to Nassau and Freeport, the itineraries feature visits to Bimini and Princess Cays – a private island destination owned by Princess Cruises.

Along with the Carnival Paradise, the Elation is one of the original eight Fantasy-Class ships that remains in service.

9 Tips to Make the Most of a Carnival Vista Cruise Vacation

PHOTO: SkyRide on Carnival Cruise Line's Carnival Vista. (Photo by Jason Leppert)

Are you planning to embark on Carnival Cruise Line’s Carnival Vista soon? Check out these suggestions before setting sail to maximize your time at sea.

Book a Havana Cabin for a Ship-Within-a-Ship Experience

Carnival Vista doesn’t have an outright ship-within-a-ship complex, but its Havana staterooms come very close. Not only do many of the cabins themselves feature outdoor cabanas along a private stretch of the promenade deck, but they also come with exclusive access to the Havana Pool over the stern during the day.

One onboard oddity is that cabins include bar soap, shampoo and body wash, but not conditioner. Unless you want to buy a bottle in the gift shop, I’d suggest packing enough in your checked bag to supply your own. Or better yet: Carnival, please start including this. Bring Your Own Conditioner for the Cabin

Take Advantage of $15 Bag of Laundry Specials

If you’re not interested in doing your own laundry on board, sending it out for a la carte full service can be expensive. However, if you wait until about mid-cruise, the ship runs a $15 bag of laundry special wherein every piece that will fit in said bag will be cleaned for the flat rate.

Get Seated Early for the Liquid Lounge and The Punchliner Comedy Club

For different reasons, it’s advisable to enter the main show lounge and laugh fest as soon as possible. The poor design of the Liquid Lounge means sight-lines behind front row seats on the main floor or balcony level are obstructed, while the comedy club is so awesome that it fills up swiftly every time.

Arrive to the IMAX Theater 45 Minutes Prior (But After Cherry On Top)

The unique IMAX Theater onboard has a small candy stand, but for the ultimate in choice, go to Cherry On Top before arriving about 45 minutes early to the theater. There’s a very small waiting lounge that you can sit in if you’re first to arrive prior to the doors opening a half hour before showtime. Otherwise, you’ll be lined up in the elevator lobby.

Get In a Shorter Line for SkyRide on a Port Day

Queues at the SkyRide can get long. As with any popular activity, you can access them with less congestion on a port day when the bulk of passengers are ashore. Even better: Arrive right when the ship is first cleared because most guests will be departing then with next-to-no-one up on deck.

Reserve a Dinner at Ji Ji Asian Kitchen Sooner Than Later

As specialty restaurants on cruise ships go, Ji Ji Asian Kitchen is so good that you’ll likely experience it once and want to make another reservation later on in the cruise. In order to maximize that option—or for any other premium dining venue—make your first booking on one of the sailing’s first days.

Make Do with Lots of Free Food

Alternative to booking any specialty restaurant with a surcharge, there are plenty of complimentary food options if you’d prefer. Besides the main dining room and buffet, Pizzeria del Capitano, Guy’s Burger Joint, Guy’s Pig & Anchor Bar-B-Que Smokehouse and BlueIguana Cantina are all some of the best choices to enjoy freely.

Don’t Forget Seafood Shack at the Back of the Ship

One specialty diner that would be easy to bypass—if only because it’s more out of the way than the rest—is the Seafood Shack. Seek it out! Its a la carte-priced market fish offerings and favorites like lobster rolls and crab cakes are well worth the extra cost.

Carnival Fantasy to sail Mexico cruises from Alabama

Carnival Cruise Line will move the Carnival Fantasy to Mobile, Ala., for a year-long series of four- and five-night cruises to Mexico, starting November 2016.

The move cements Carnival’s return to Mobile, a drive-market port that it pioneered and then abandoned in 2011.

The Fantasy will depart Thursdays for Cozumel on four-night itineraries, and depart Mondays or Saturdays on five-night itineraries that will visit either Progreso or Costa Maya.

“Carnival Fantasy’s four- and five-day cruises from Mobile provide consumers with an affordable way to visit stunning Mexican ports from a convenient homeport while offering our valued travel agent partners an exciting new short vacation option to market to their clients,” said Christine Duffy, Carnival’s president.

If current itineraries hold, Carnival will have ships based in Galveston, New Orleans, Mobile and Tampa for the 2016-17 winter season.

Before it starts service from Mobile, the Fantasy will be renovated, getting new venues such as Guy’s Burger Joint, Blue Iguana Cantina, Red Frog Rum Bar and Blue Iguana Tequila Bar.