Carnival Elation Itinerary
About Carnival Elation’s Schedule
Carnival Elation is a 70,367-gross-ton Fantasy-class ship launched in 1998 sailing for Carnival. She carries roughly 2,130 guests with about 920 crew looking after them. Her most recent CDC sanitation inspection scored 98 out of 100.
We are currently tracking 48 scheduled sailings for this ship, departing between November 2026 and June 2027. Most of those voyages leave from Jacksonville. Sailings run from 4 to 6 nights, with 5 nights the most typical length.
Port-by-port breakdowns are published for 30 of these 48 sailings so far, and we add more as each itinerary is confirmed.
Upcoming Voyages
Typical ports for this itinerary — confirm the exact call list for this date with the cruise line.
Typical ports for this itinerary — confirm the exact call list for this date with the cruise line.
Typical ports for this itinerary — confirm the exact call list for this date with the cruise line.
Typical ports for this itinerary — confirm the exact call list for this date with the cruise line.
Typical ports for this itinerary — confirm the exact call list for this date with the cruise line.
Typical ports for this itinerary — confirm the exact call list for this date with the cruise line.
Typical ports for this itinerary — confirm the exact call list for this date with the cruise line.
Typical ports for this itinerary — confirm the exact call list for this date with the cruise line.
Typical ports for this itinerary — confirm the exact call list for this date with the cruise line.
Typical ports for this itinerary — confirm the exact call list for this date with the cruise line.
Typical ports for this itinerary — confirm the exact call list for this date with the cruise line.
Typical ports for this itinerary — confirm the exact call list for this date with the cruise line.
Typical ports for this itinerary — confirm the exact call list for this date with the cruise line.
Typical ports for this itinerary — confirm the exact call list for this date with the cruise line.
Typical ports for this itinerary — confirm the exact call list for this date with the cruise line.
Typical ports for this itinerary — confirm the exact call list for this date with the cruise line.
Typical ports for this itinerary — confirm the exact call list for this date with the cruise line.
Typical ports for this itinerary — confirm the exact call list for this date with the cruise line.
Typical ports for this itinerary — confirm the exact call list for this date with the cruise line.
Typical ports for this itinerary — confirm the exact call list for this date with the cruise line.
Typical ports for this itinerary — confirm the exact call list for this date with the cruise line.
Typical ports for this itinerary — confirm the exact call list for this date with the cruise line.
Typical ports for this itinerary — confirm the exact call list for this date with the cruise line.
Typical ports for this itinerary — confirm the exact call list for this date with the cruise line.
Typical ports for this itinerary — confirm the exact call list for this date with the cruise line.
Typical ports for this itinerary — confirm the exact call list for this date with the cruise line.
Typical ports for this itinerary — confirm the exact call list for this date with the cruise line.
Typical ports for this itinerary — confirm the exact call list for this date with the cruise line.
Typical ports for this itinerary — confirm the exact call list for this date with the cruise line.
Typical ports for this itinerary — confirm the exact call list for this date with the cruise line.
What Carnival Elation's Autumn Bahamas Season Is Actually Like
Let's get the housekeeping out of the way: Carnival Elation is not going to win any "biggest ship in the fleet" contests. Built in 1998 and refreshed in 2019, this Fantasy Class veteran carries a comparatively modest 2,130 guests across 10 decks — which, in an era of floating cities with roller coasters and go-kart tracks, is either a red flag or a relief depending on what you're after. If you want quiet lido decks, shorter lines at the buffet, and a ship that actually feels like it fits in Jacksonville's harbor, this is your sweet spot.
And the numbers back up more than just vibes: Elation's most recent CDC Vessel Sanitation Program inspection, dated May 7, 2026, scored a 98 out of 100 — a genuinely strong result. If you like to check that kind of thing before you cruise (you should), the CDC inspection lookup and our own cleanest ships rankings are worth a bookmark.
The weather reality: shoulder season with an asterisk
Sailing out of Jacksonville from late September through late November puts you squarely in the tail end of Atlantic hurricane season, which officially runs through November 30. The good news is that NOAA's 2026 outlook leans below-normal for storm activity, so the odds are in your favor — but "below-normal" is not "off," and late-season systems have caught the Bahamas off guard before. Expect Carnival to reroute rather than cancel if something does spin up; a Celebration Key stop swapped for extra sea days is the most likely worst case, not a scrapped cruise.
Air temperatures in Jacksonville hover in the mid-70s to low-80s°F through October, dipping into the 60s by November mornings — bring a light jacket for embarkation day even if you're packing shorts for the beach. Water temps in the Bahamas stay warm and swimmable well into November, generally in the high 70s to low 80s°F, so the pools and lagoons at Celebration Key are still very much in play.
What the ports are actually worth
- Celebration Key — Carnival's $600 million private destination on East Grand Bahama opened in July 2025, and it's the real draw on the 5-night itinerary: a mile-long beach, the largest freshwater lagoons in the Caribbean, and five named areas — Paradise Plaza (the welcome hub), family-friendly Starfish Lagoon (waterslides, splash pad, sports courts), Calypso Lagoon (swim-up bars, DJ island), cultural hub Lokono Cove, and the adults-only Pearl Cove Beach Club, which costs extra. It won't stay a Carnival-only beach for much longer, either — Princess Cruises has confirmed it'll start sending ships here from November 1, 2026, with Star Princess making the first call and Regal Princess following on November 9. That's still down the road from most of this autumn's Elation sailings, so for now you're sharing the sand only with other Carnival ships, not Royal Caribbean or Disney.
- Nassau — Straight-up port day. Straw Market haggling, Atlantis day passes if you're willing to pay for them, or just walk off and find a beach bar. Not a highlight so much as a reliable filler.
Picking your length
| Length | Frequency this season | Best for |
|---|---|---|
| 4 nights | 5 sailings, Oct 8 – Nov 29 | Weekend-adjacent trips, first-timers testing the waters |
| 5 nights | 8 sailings, Sep 28 – Nov 14 | The itinerary above — Celebration Key + Nassau, best value for the ports you actually get |
| 6 nights | 1 sailing, Nov 23 | Thanksgiving week — book early, expect family crowds and holiday pricing |
Full transparency: our port data only confirms stops for the 5-night sailings above. The 4-night and 6-night itineraries aren't in our database yet, so don't assume they mirror the 5-nighter — check Carnival's own listing for those specific dates before you book. For the full autumn 2026 schedule as we have it, see the Elation itinerary page.
Packing-wise: reef-safe sunscreen, a light rain jacket for the odd autumn squall, something warmer for early boarding, and swimwear you're not precious about — Celebration Key's lagoons will get sandy. Late November sailings also butt up against Thanksgiving, so expect the ship to be fuller and louder than an average Tuesday departure — plan accordingly if you're after a quiet trip.
Recent Schedule Changes
Stories That Mention Carnival Elation
- Carnival Elation Jan 14, 2027: Jacksonville Prep Guide Oct 21, 2026
- Carnival Elation Jan 9, 2027: Deadlines, Costs, Ports Oct 19, 2026
- Sample Cruise Itinerary: 7 Nights, Day by Day Oct 3, 2026
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Planning a Carnival Elation Cruise?
See CDC inspection scores, outbreak history, and our honest verdict for this ship.
View Carnival Elation Profile Roll Call 👋Schedule data last updated: Oct 24, 2026 1:07 PM · Source: CruiseMapper