UPGRADED ELATION WORTH A SAILING CELEBRATION
Carnival refit gives its fleet veteran brighter look for Bahamas voyages
Although there is much talk about Carnival Cruise Line’s (cruise.center/carnival) upcoming Carnival Horizon, which debuts this spring in Europe, the line has been quietly paying attention to some of its older but well-loved ships. I’m wrapping up the last of five days aboard just such a ship: the 2,130-guest Carnival Elation. Launched in 1998 as Carnival’s second-to-last Fantasy Class ship, Carnival recently put Carnival Elation through a multimilliondollar makeover that added a brand new deck of 38 staterooms; turned 98 existing oceanview staterooms into balcony cabins; added new dining options, bars and lounges; and, most dramatically, renovated every stateroom and passenger corridor. To demonstrate how dramatic this change has been, consider the ship’s staterooms. Each one, from the lowest-category inside cabin to the top-of-the-line suites, has new closets, cabinets, wall treatments, desks, vanities, lighting, beds, decor and, most crucially, new electrical and USB outlets. Carnival has also added the light and airy “Caribbean” decor found aboard all of its vessels. As built, Carnival Elation’s staterooms were dark, adorned with shades of pink, red and black. After the refit, they are bright and vibrant. Passenger corridors have also been stripped of their old, dark interior design and refitted with the line’s new Caribbean decor. Relief photos of tropical islands are found along the hallway, in between doors with faux wood texture added to them. Carnival Elation can run alongside the newest ships in the fleet now. Other new changes include a brand new Carnival WaterWorks area at the stern, complete with waterslides and splash park. It’s as much of a hit with the kids as the new RedFrog Rum Bar and BlueIguana Tequila Bar, located poolside, are with the adults. Carnival also added Guy’s Burger Joint and the BlueIguana Cantina, serving up made-to-order tacos and burritos. After five days on board Carnival Elation, I’m enamoured. Carnival redid the ship’s two main dining rooms with new, modern decor, but left the rest of the ship largely as it was. The interiors, designed by noted maritime architect Joe Farcus, are wild and whimsical, but the use of backlit stained glass throughout and bold, vibrant colours gives Carnival Elation a warmth that is missing from many newer ships. Although I came primarily for the ship, five days in the Bahamas isn’t bad either. Sailing out of Jacksonville, Fla., my itinerary offered port calls in the Bahamian capital of Nassau and a full day in paradise on Half Moon Cay, a private island in the Bahamas owned by Carnival Corporation member line Holland America. It’s hard to not love Half Moon Cay. The waters are impossibly blue, the sand white and powdery and off in the distance, your ship lies at anchor. Everything you want on the island, from drinks to water-sports activities, can be purchased with your stateroom key card, eliminating the need for cash and wallets. You can go horseback riding, snorkelling, cycling or just kick back on the island with a book and a drink. It’s all up to you. Jacksonville was a pleasant surprise. Although it’s not a place I’d imagined cruising out of, its new, modern airport, picturesque downtown and friendly, easy-to-navigate cruise terminal made cruising from this north Florida city a pleasure. Carnival Elation sails yearround from Jacksonville on four- and five-day voyages to the Bahamas, with ports of call in Freeport, Nassau, Half Moon Cay and Princess Cays. The ship will also sail a special six-day cruise to the Bahamas and an eight-day voyage to Bermuda in April, along with a one-time weeklong run to the Eastern Caribbean in May. Carnival Elation’s most direct sister ship, Carnival Paradise, goes under the knife in February for a similar refit. You can find it cruising out of Tampa, Fla., to the Caribbean and Cuba. It’s worth checking out these “smaller” (though still plenty big) ships, especially if the idea of sailing with thousands upon thousands of people doesn’t thrill you. Thanks to the new refit, Carnival Elation is here to delight travellers of all ages for decades to come. Happy cruising.
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