JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – Carnival Cruise Line’s Carnival Ecstasy will launch year-round four- and five-day cruises from Jacksonville., beginning in May 2019.
The 2,056-passenger ship will assume the Carnival Elation’s popular year-round four- and five-day cruise program beginning May 16, 2019. Carnival is the only cruise operator offering year-round departures from Jacksonville, carrying approximately 170,000 passengers a year.
Carnival Elation will reposition to Port Canaveral in May 2019.
Cruises departing from JaxPort include day-long visits to tropical destinations throughout The Bahamas, including Freeport, Nassau, Half Moon Cay and the private destination of Princess Cays.
“With its convenient and centralized location, Jacksonville has been a popular homeport for Carnival for more than a decade," said Christine Duffy, president of Carnival Cruise Line.
JaxPort CEO Eric Green said Carnival's move shows continuing demand for cruises from Northeast Florida.
Earlier this year, Carnival Ecstasy underwent a multi-million-dollar renovation that added popular features like Guy’s Burger Joint, developed in tandem with Food Network star Guy Fieri, the cocktail pharmacy-themed Alchemy Bar, BlueIguana Cantina offering authentic Mexican fare and Cherry on Top, the “sweetest spot on board” offering bulk candies, fanciful gifts, apparel and more.