Carnival Cruise Line
Carnival Elation
- Cruises
- 7
- From
- $176
Ship comparison
Carnival Elation vs Jewel of the Seas
Royal Caribbean
Jewel of the Seas
- Cruises
- 53
- From
- $307
The verdict
Which should you choose?
Carnival Elation is a large Carnival Cruise Line ship carrying 2,190 passengers, in service since 1998. Jewel of the Seas is a large Royal Caribbean ship carrying 2,112 passengers, in service since 2004.
Choose Carnival Elation if you want more of a party or a lower starting fare: it outscores Jewel of the Seas for party (8.0 vs 5.5) in Cruiseable’s Bliss scores and its cruises start from $176 (vs $307).
Choose Jewel of the Seas if you want a more active cruise, a better-rated spa and gym or a more romantic trip: it outscores Carnival Elation for active (7.0 vs 4.0), spa & fitness (8.0 vs 6.0) and romantic (4.0 vs 2.0) in Cruiseable’s Bliss scores.
Side by side
Specifications
marks the better figure where more, or less, is plainly better.
| Carnival Elation | Jewel of the Seas | |
|---|---|---|
| Cruise line | Carnival Cruise Line | Royal Caribbean |
| Ship size | Large | Large |
| Maiden voyagenewer highlighted | 1998 | 2004 (better) |
| Last refurbishedmore recent highlighted | 2015 | 2021 (better) |
| Gross tonnage | 71,909 | 90,090 |
| Passengers | 2,190 | 2,112 |
| Crew | 900 | 859 |
| Passengers per crew memberfewer is better | 2.4 (better) | 2.5 |
| Space per passengergross tons per passenger; more is roomier | 32.8 | 42.7 (better) |
| Decks | 13 | 13 |
| Length | 855 ft | 962 ft |
| Beam | 103 ft | 106 ft |
| Speed | 24 mph | 29 mph |
| Cruiseable ratingout of 10 | 6 / 10 | 6 / 10 |
| Cruises on sale | 7 | 53 |
| Upcoming sailings | 191 | 157 |
| Cruise lengths | 4 to 6 nights | 3 to 17 nights |
| Fares fromlower highlighted | $176 (better) | $307 |
Bliss scores
How they rate, out of 10
Cruiseable rates ships out of 10 on ten parts of a cruise holiday. Carnival Elation leads on 1 of the ten, Jewel of the Seas on 8, with 1 level.
- Active
- Adventure & nature
- Cultural
- Dining
- Entertainment
- Family friendly
- Party
- Romantic
- Spa & fitness
- Staterooms
Carnival Cruise Line
Carnival Elation
Carnival Elation is designed to celebrate the muses who inspire the arts, themed around literary, musical and film greats.
Highlights
- Relaxation in the Serenity Adult-Only Retreat
- Listening to beats by DJ Irie
- Singing along to old classics played at the Piano Bar
Sailing now
7 cruises on sale, from $176.
Royal Caribbean
Jewel of the Seas
Jewel of the Seas, one of Royal Caribbean's Radiance-class ships, underwent a $30 million upgrade in 2016 and another dry dock in July 2021, emerging with a fresh sheen. With acres of glass throughout and elevators facing the sea, every view on the ship is picture-worthy.
Highlights
- Complimentary Adventure Ocean Youth Program
- Rock-climbing wall, mini-golf course and basketball court on board
- Solarium, an adults-only retreat
- Yoga and Pilates classes in fitness center
Sailing now
53 cruises on sale, from $307.
Questions
Carnival Elation or Jewel of the Seas?
Which is bigger, Carnival Elation or Jewel of the Seas?
Jewel of the Seas is bigger at 90,090 gross tons, against 71,909 gross tons for Carnival Elation. Carnival Elation carries 2,190 passengers and Jewel of the Seas carries 2,112.
Which ship is newer, Carnival Elation or Jewel of the Seas?
Jewel of the Seas is newer, with a maiden voyage in 2004 against 1998 for Carnival Elation.
Which has more space per passenger?
Jewel of the Seas, with 42.7 gross tons per passenger against 32.8 on Carnival Elation. The higher the figure, the more ship there is for each guest.
Which has more crew per passenger?
Carnival Elation, with one crew member for every 2.4 passengers against one for every 2.5 on Jewel of the Seas.
Which is better for families?
They score the same for family friendliness in Cruiseable’s Bliss scores: 8.0 out of 10.
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