JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – On Wednesday, Carnival Cruise Line celebrated its 20th anniversary of year-round cruising out of Jacksonville, which included a tribute to military service.
The cruise line welcomed local leaders aboard the Carnival Elation for a commemorative event where the team recognized active and retired military.
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Among the guests in attendance was Jackson, a canine companion for a local veteran, adopted through Carnival’s donation to K9s for Warriors, a non-profit organization that provides highly trained service dogs to military veterans.
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“One of the great things about Carnival is their desire and willingness to give back to the communities where they operate,” JAXPORT CEO Eric Green said. “We join our partners in thanking all veterans for their service and recognizing K9s for Warriors for their lifesaving work.”
Carnival was the first cruise line to begin sailing year-round from Jacksonville in 2004 and serves more than 150,000 guests from the city annually.
“Carnival Elation is the perfect backdrop for this celebration because we’re elated to recognize the true success of this 20-year partnership. We greatly appreciate the tremendous relationships we’ve built together over the years throughout the Jacksonville community,” said Carnival’s Vice President of Port Operations David Candib.
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Earlier this year, Carnival signed a new agreement through 2026 that includes renewal options through 2030.
The Carnival Elation sailed from Jacksonville year-round and sails four- to seven-day itineraries to The Bahamas and Eastern Caribbean. Beginning in 2025, the ship will sail to Carnival’s exclusive destination Celebration Key, which opens in July.
