Trying to decide whether you should book a cruise on Carnival Elation or Carnival Liberty can be tough! There’s a lot of similarities, so it can be hard to find the differences.
And the Carnival website hardly helps. You’re forced to jump back and forth between different pages or tabs – there’s no handy side-by-side comparison you can use.
So, I’ve made one! And this will definitely help you narrow down which is the best Carnival ship for your next cruise, especially as I think there’s a clear favourite…
Ship Details
| Carnival Elation | Carnival Liberty | |
| Class | Fantasy | Conquest |
| Year | 1998 | 2005 |
| Last Refurbished | 2023 | 2021 |
| Size | 71,909 GT | 110,000 GT |
| Guest Capacity | 2,190 | 2,974 |
| Length | 855 feet | 952 feet |
| Onboard Crew | 900 | 1,160 |
Carnival Liberty is the newest of the two ships, initially launching in 2005 as part of the Conquest Class.
In 2011, she was the first ship in the whole fleet to receive the Fun 2.0 renovations – a multi-million dollar project to bring enhanced facilities with improvements to existing water parks, mini-golf, a new restaurant, bar and entertainment options and more. In 2021, Carnival Liberty had a dry-dock renovation with the addition of the new blue livery.
The smaller and older Carnival Elation is part of Carnival’s Fantasy Class. The ship began sailing in 1998 and also had a refurbishment in 2017 as part of the Fun 2.0 renovations. She underwent another dry dock renovation in 2023 and got the updated livery colours, the rebranded Cloud 9 Spa and some other updates.
Read more: Carnival Ships By Age
Carnival Liberty is more than 50% larger than Carnival Elation at 111,000 gross tonnes, compared to Elation’s 71,909. Read on to find out what Carnival Liberty has that Carnival Elation doesn’t…
Itineraries
Carnival Elation sails out of Jacksonville, Florida on a range of 4- to 7-night sailings around the Bahamas. Ports include Nassau, Half Moon Cay and Celebration Key.
Carnival Liberty sails from New Orleans and doesn’t tend to offer shorter cruises – instead itineraries are typically 6 to 8 nights. Some 14-night cruises are available too! Destinations include the Western Caribbean including Mexico – Cozumel is heavily featured.
Comparison
Both ships have undergone renovations to bring them up-to-date with several Fun 2.0 enhancements as seen on newer ships such as Carnival Vista or Carnival Panorama. Carnival Liberty holds more guests and is much bigger than Carnival Elation, so would be a better pick if you’re seeking more space and facilities.
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Dining Options
Both Carnival Elation and Carnival Liberty offer a wide variety of dining venues and options. Each offers the usual classic places such as BlueIguana Cantina, Main Dining Room, Guy’s Burger Joint and the Lido Marketplace, as well as additional venues that incur a charge, such as Bottomless Bubbles, Pizza Delivery and The Chef’s Table.
On Elation, you can also find Bonsai Sushi Express and JavaBlue Café, while Liberty features Coffee Bar, Mongolian Wok and Steakhouse. Elation features 20 dining selections, compared to Liberty’s 22.
| Restaurant | Carnival Elation | Carnival Liberty |
|---|---|---|
| 24-Hour Room Service | Included | Included |
| BlueIguana Cantina | Included | Included |
| Bonsai Sushi Express | Extra Charge | – |
| Coffee Bar | – | Extra Charge |
| Dining Room | Included | Included |
| Guy’s Burger Joint | Included | Included |
| JavaBlue Café | Extra Charge | – |
| Lido Marketplace | Included | Included |
| Mongolian Wok | – | Included |
| Pizza Delivery | Extra Charge | Extra Charge |
| Pizza Pirate | Included | Included |
| Seaday Brunch | Included | Included |
| Seafood Shack | – | Extra Charge |
| Steakhouse | – | Extra Charge |
| Steakhouse Selections | Extra Charge | Extra Charge |
| Sweet Spot | Included | Included |
| Swirls | Included | Included |
| The Carnival Deli | Included | Included |
| The Chef’s Table | Extra Charge | Extra Charge |
Comparison
There are only a few dining venues different between the two ships, though Liberty has more overall in total.
Both ships offer a fantastic range of eateries from those which are included in your cruise fare to speciality dining and additional extras. With Carnival Liberty offering more and only missing JavaBlue Café and the Coffee Bar, this would be the best ship in terms of food variety and venues.
If you’d like to sample some of the speciality restaurants, this is a great way to spend any onboard credit you may have. Check out my guide – 12 Ways to Use Your Carnival Onboard Credit Like a Pro for more tips and ideas.
Bars
Carnival Elation and Carnival Liberty are incredibly similar in terms of bar options. Both ships include the BlueIguana Tequila Bar, RedFrog Rum Bar and Alchemy Bar.
The only differences are that Carnival Elation has the Beer Station, where you can pour your own beer at any time of day and that Carnival Liberty has the SkyBox Sports Bar, where you can catch all the latest games on the big screens and check out the real-time scores and headlines on the panoramic ticker.
| Bar | Carnival Elation | Carnival Liberty |
|---|---|---|
| Alchemy Bar | YES | YES |
| Beer Station | YES | – |
| BlueIguana Tequila Bar | YES | YES |
| Casino Bar | YES | YES |
| Cheers! | YES | YES |
| Cruise the Vineyards | YES | YES |
| Exclusive Carnival Brews | YES | YES |
| RedFrog Rum Bar | YES | YES |
| SkyBox Sports Bar | – | YES |
Comparison
In terms of keeping up with sports news and the latest matches, Carnival Liberty is your best option with the SkyBox Sports Bar. Otherwise, both ships offer the same bars to visit. If you’re not a keen sports fan, Carnival Elation may be your better choice.
Whichever ship you choose, make sure you check out my guide to Carnival drink packages to work out whether you should buy the package in advance or not.
Activities
Both ships offer plenty to keep kids, adults and families entertained, from games and mini-golf to the adult-only retreat at Serenity and pools to take a dip.
Carnival Elation offers Master the Martini, which is a mini martini tasting for an additional fee and not available on Carnival Liberty. However, the larger and newer ship of the two offers Alchemy Martini Tasting, which is a similar experience. Liberty also offers the chance to play basketball, which isn’t available on Elation.
| Activities | Carnival Elation | Carnival Liberty |
|---|---|---|
| Alchemy Martini Tasting | – | Extra Charge |
| Art Auctions | Included | Included |
| Art Exhibitions | Included | Included |
| Art Games | Included | Included |
| Art Seminars | Included | Included |
| Atrium | Included | Included |
| Basketball | – | Included |
| Bingo | Extra Charge | Extra Charge |
| Cooking Demonstration | – | Included |
| Games | Included | Included |
| Library | Included | Included |
| Master the Martini | Extra Charge | – |
| Military Appreciation | Included | Included |
| Mini Golf | Included | Included |
| Mixologist Competitions | Included | Included |
| Serenity Adult Only Retreat | Included | Included |
| WaterWorks | Included | Included |
| Pools | Included | Included |
| Twister Waterslide | Included | Included |
Comparison
The only main difference in terms of activities is that Carnival Liberty offers basketball, while Carnival Elation doesn’t. Both ships have been upgraded with the Fun 2.0, so each has the same facilities to enjoy, including WaterWorks, bingo and art auctions.
However, if you’re a keen sports player and love to make friends on the court, Carnival Liberty is the ideal option.
Entertainment & Events
There is plenty of entertainment and events to get stuck into with Carnival Cruise Line and both Carnival Elation and Carnival Liberty spare no exception.
Both ships offer the same range of entertainment, aside from the Dive-in Movies, which are only available on Carnival Liberty. This is a poolside movie played on the big screen outdoors, which you can watch from your lounger, pool or table.
| Entertainment | Carnival Elation | Carnival Liberty |
|---|---|---|
| Dive-In Movies | – | Included |
| Karaoke | Included | Included |
| Live Music | Included | Included |
| Nightclub | Included | Included |
| Piano Bar | Included | Included |
| Playlist Productions | Included | Included |
| The Punchliner Comedy Club | Included | Included |
On all Carnival cruises, you can expect a variety of organised events during your sailing. Enjoy games, giveaways, line dances and more at the Mega Deck Party or celebrate the start of your holiday with the Sailaway Party.
| Events | Carnival Elation | Carnival Liberty |
|---|---|---|
| Mega Deck Party | Included | Included |
| Groove for St. Jude | Extra Charge | Extra Charge |
| Holidays Aboard | Included | Included |
| Sailaway Party | Included | Included |
Comparison
Other than the movies by the pool, there isn’t much to distinguish between the ships in terms of entertainment or events. Carnival Liberty has just a little more to offer, thanks to the ship featuring the Dive-in Movies, which is a great activity to enjoy on a quiet evening.
Kids Facilities
Carnival is definitely one of the best cruise lines for families and kids of all ages are sure to love the non-stop fun.
| Activity | Carnival Elation | Carnival Liberty |
|---|---|---|
| Arts and Crafts | Included | Included |
| Big Fun for Infants and Toddlers | Extra Charge | Extra Charge |
| Build-A-Bear Workshop at Sea | Extra Charge | Extra Charge |
| Camp Ocean | Included | Included |
| Circle “C” | Included | Included |
| Club O2 | Included | Included |
| Green Eggs and Ham Breakfast | Extra Charge | Extra Charge |
| Night Owls | Extra Charge | Extra Charge |
| Seuss at Sea | Included | Included |
| Seuss-A-Palooza Parade | Included | Included |
| Seuss-a-palooza Story Time | Included | Included |
| Towel Animal Theater | Included | Included |
| Video Arcade | Extra Charge | Extra Charge |
| Zumbini | Included | Included |
Comparison
The Carnival Elation activities for kids are the same as those on Carnival Liberty, from arts and crafts to the video arcade available for a range of age groups.
Both Carnival Elation and Carnival Liberty offer the same options of kids’ facilities with highlights including the Build-A-Bear Workshop, kids’ clubs and the Dr Seuss® events and activities such as character parades, interactive story time and a character breakfast featuring their favourite Dr Seuss friends.
No matter which ships you pick, the same features will be on board that your children are sure to love.
Spa & Fitness
For those seeking a chance to work out, keep fit or enjoy a class or two, Carnival has a range of facilities great for keeping up your routine or just trying something new.
Some ships have been upgraded to the Cloud 9 Spas which offer more contemporary facilities, including Carnival Elation. Carnival Liberty still has the older Spa Carnival.
| Spa & Fitness | Carnival Elation | Carnival Liberty |
|---|---|---|
| Acupuncture | Extra Charge | Extra Charge |
| Facial Treatments | Extra Charge | Extra Charge |
| Fitness Center | Extra Charge | Extra Charge |
| Fitness Classes | Extra Charge | Extra Charge |
| Hair & Beauty Salon | Extra Charge | Extra Charge |
| Jogging Track | – | Included |
| Massage | Extra Charge | Extra Charge |
| Medi-Spa | – | Extra Charge |
| Men’s Spa Services | Extra Charge | Extra Charge |
| ZSpa | Extra Charge | Extra Charge |
Comparison
Carnival Elation has the nicer spa overall thanks to the 2023 renovation, which revamped the area and included the upgraded Cloud 9 facilities. If spa treatments are a big part of your cruise experience then Elation is likely the better option – but the treatments on Liberty are still good.
The Overall Verdict
After reviewing all the details of what’s available for Carnival Elation and Carnival Liberty, I would say that the better ship of the two would be Carnival Liberty.
The ship is newer, and it’s larger meaning there is more space for guests to wander and enjoy life on board. There are also a few extra features for bars, dining venues, entertainment and activities.
Of course, you might read some Carnival Elation reviews and decide that the shorter itineraries sound more fun. Or perhaps you like that it’s had a more recent renovation, or the Cloud 9 Spa is a key selling point for you.
When it comes down to Carnival Liberty vs Elation, there’s no single choice – but if you want my opinion, Liberty just about edges it.
NEW DEALS JUST RELEASED!
See the latest Carnival cruise offers…
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Jenni Fielding is the founder of Cruise Mummy. She has worked in the cruise industry since 2015 and has taken over 30 cruises. Now, she helps over 1 million people per month to plan their perfect cruise holidays.
