4-Day Cruise to the Bahamas Aboard the Carnival Elation

We arrived in Jacksonville, FL the evening before our sailing date and stayed at the Crowne Plaza Airport Hotel. The hotel provides a complimentary airport shuttle service, ensuring a smooth transition from plane to hotel room. It is a modern-style hotel with clean, comfortable rooms that are stylishly decorated. Their lobby, bar and restaurant have been recently renovated. Check-in was fast and smooth. They were able to recommend a dependable van service for our morning trip to the Jacksonville Cruise Terminal, which is about a 20-minute drive from the hotel. Our reservation included a complimentary breakfast in their Savannah Bistro. There was also a Starbucks right in the lobby!

The Jacksonville Cruise Terminal for Carnival is very efficient. The baggage porter met us with his cart before we could even get out of the van! Since we chose the earliest port arrival time slot, there was a short line to enter the terminal and the check-in process inside was quick and easy. The Carnival terminal staff are all very friendly and helpful. Pro tip: I highly recommend always picking the earliest possible port arrival time slot when completing your online check-in prior to your cruise sailing date. This puts you closer to the front of the line with shorter wait times. With Carnival, Online Check-in can be accessed within 14 days prior to sailing and no later than the day prior to the sailing date. Time slots fill up fast, so try to do your online check-in as soon the access window opens.

Finally on board the Carnival Elation! As one of Carnival Cruise Line’s Fantasy-class ships, this vessel delivers a memorable vacation with exciting entertainment, delicious dining options and plenty of relaxation opportunities. Carnival Elation offers a perfect balance of nostalgic elegance and modern fun. The ship has been refurbished to include updated amenities while maintaining its unique Art-Deco-inspired design. The ship’s smaller size makes it easy to find your way around while still offering a vibrant atmosphere filled with energy and excitement. Although we normally book a balcony cabin, we decided to keep this trip budget-friendly and stayed with the interior cabin offered at the promo rate. The interior cabins have plenty of storage, a comfortable bed, desk, TV and standard cruise-size bathrooms. What we found lacking was anywhere to sit except the bed and the small desk stool. We really missed our balcony for morning coffee and our couch and small table on the inside. I highly recommend a balcony cabin (or bigger) if your budget allows for the best overall cruise experience.

Food lovers will be delighted with the variety of dining experiences on board. Enjoy a three-course meal at the Main Dining Room or find casual dining stations at the Lido Marketplace. Grab a fresh burger at Guy’s Burger Joint (a must-try), or indulge in a made-to-order burrito or taco at the Blue Iguana Cantina. Don't forget the popular late-night snack at Pizza Pirate.

From comedy shows to deck parties, Carnival Elation ensures that boredom is never an option. Some of the must-experience entertainment includes:

• The Punchliner Comedy Club, where top comedians serve up laughs.

• Playlist Productions, featuring high-energy musical performances.

• Live music and piano bars for a fun night out.

• Crowd-participation game shows such as: Deal or No Deal and Love & Marriage.

• Bingo and the Casino.

Water lovers can make a splash at WaterWorks, the ship’s onboard water park featuring thrilling slides and a splash zone for kids. The main pool deck also has hot tubs and lounge chairs, perfect for unwinding with a tropical drink in hand.

Elation pool deck

For those looking to escape the crowds, the Serenity Adult-Only Retreat is a peaceful haven with comfortable loungers, stunning ocean views and a tranquil ambiance. It’s the perfect spot to relax and recharge while enjoying a cocktail in the sea breeze. What we especially appreciated on the Carnival Elation is the Serenity Deck is located at the aft of the ship, far away from the WaterWorks area, which can be a bit noisy. If you are looking for some extra relaxation and pampering, try out the Cloud 9 Spa.

Families sailing with children will appreciate the variety of kid-friendly activities. The Camp Ocean kids’ club provides supervised fun for younger guests, while Circle “C” and Club O2 offer age-appropriate entertainment for tweens and teens. The arcade and mini-golf course add even more fun for the whole family.

Banana Bay exterior

Our trip included port stops in the Bahamas at Freeport and Nassau. Since we had never been to Freeport before, we booked an excursion through Carnival for a beach day at the Banana Bay Restaurant & Bar. This is the perfect place to enjoy some peace and quiet in the sand, surf and sun, with a comfortable reclining beach chair. There was no loud music or dance party to spoil the serenity of this hideaway. Their seaside restaurant serves up good food, cold cocktails and soft drinks with friendly service. What more could you ask for!

Banana Bay Beach

Banana Bay interior

At Nassau, we decided to just explore on our own. We ended up at the iconic John Watling's Distillery. This picturesque estate is known for their high-quality rum, and some would say the best pina colada ever. (By "some" I mean my Wife, but she is right.) They offer a very short (free) tour with the opportunity to buy bottles of rum or individual drinks at their bar. It is worth the price!

John Watling tour

John Watling exterior

John Watling bar

For lunch in Nassau, we walked down to the Fish Fry District, which is a strip of locally owned seafood restaurants about a 15-minute walk from the port. We strolled into the Gone Fish'N Beach Bar & Grill because of the gorgeous view of the ocean from their deck and decided to stay for their conch fritters and wings. Good choice! The food was great, and it was everything you would want from a small seaside restaurant on a hot day. Both indoor and outdoor seats are available.

Gone Fish interior

Gone Fish deck

The Carnival Elation is one of the vessels in Carnival's smallest class of ships. It is perfect for first-time cruisers to get a feel for what cruise life is like without being overwhelmed by large crowds and complicated deck plans. All the venues are easy to find. Just refer to the ship map at each elevator bank on every deck and you will have it memorized in no time. The larger vessels have more entertainment options and specialty restaurants (additional charge), so you can always try out the larger vessels on your next cruise. The Carnival Elation is also a great ship for experienced cruisers who want to occasionally dial down to a more relaxed trip.

For more inspiration and insider recommendations, visit our Cruises page.