9.17.2009

Carnival Elation Mystery is Solved

Carnival Cruise Lines said today that its 2,052-passenger Elation will be deployed to Mobile to operate four- and five-day western Caribbean cruises beginning in May 2010.

It will replace Carnival Fantasy, a sister ship of the same size, which is due to begin sailing out of Mobile in November. Carnival now operates one of its smallest ships, Holiday, from Mobile.

Fantasy will move to Charleston, S.C., to launch that port's first year-round cruise program, Carnival said.

On its new Mobile-based schedule, Carnival Elation will depart the Alabama Cruise Terminal Thursdays on four-day cruises to Cozumel and Mondays and Saturdays on five-day voyages to Cozumel and Calica or Progreso, Mexico.

Carnival Elation's inaugural departure from Mobile will be a special seven-day cruise to Montego Bay, Grand Cayman and Cozumel departing May 15, 2010. Five other seven-day western Caribbean voyages will be offered throughout the year.

Carnival Elation is expected to carry more than 170,000 passengers annually from Mobile.