On the heels of celebrating 20 years in Baltimore, Carnival Cruise Line heralded one other two-decade partnership with the Metropolis of Jacksonville and JAXPORT with a particular occasion on November 7, 2024.
The event was held aboard the 71,909-gross-ton Carnival Elation, which has been homeporting within the Northern Florida metropolis since 2016.
Over the previous 20 years, greater than 3 million passengers have sailed from Jacksonville aboard a Carnival Cruise Line vessel, making it a key hub for the cruise line.
“Carnival Elation is the proper backdrop for this celebration as a result of we’re elated to acknowledge the true success of this 20-year partnership,” stated David Candib, vice chairman of port operations for Carnival Cruise Line.
“We vastly recognize the large relationships we’ve constructed collectively over time all through the Jacksonville neighborhood,” he continued.
Earlier this 12 months, on March 25, Carnival reaffirmed its dedication to town by signing a brand new contract with JAXPORT to proceed crusing from the port by way of 2026. The deal contains an possibility to increase the contract by way of 2030.
Mentioned Candib, “Delivering memorable cruise holidays to three million friends from JAXPORT is proof sufficient that the potential our firm noticed on this homeport in 2004 has been an incredible profit to our cruise line, our loyal friends, and this neighborhood.”
Learn Additionally: Jacksonville Cruise Port – Terminals, Piers, and Transportation
Throughout the ceremony, which passed off forward of the two,190-passenger ship’s 4-night cruise to the Bahamas, the cruise line welcomed Jacksonville leaders and saluted navy veterans in recognition of the upcoming Veterans Day vacation on November 11, 2024.
Becoming a member of the enjoyable was canine service canine, Jackson, who was adopted by way of a donation made by Carnival to K9s for Warriors, which supplies extremely skilled service canine to veterans.
“One of many nice issues about Carnival is their need and willingness to offer again to the communities the place they function,” stated JAXPORT CEO Eric Inexperienced. “We be a part of our companions in thanking all veterans for his or her service and recognizing K9s for Warriors for his or her lifesaving work.”
From Miracle to Elation in Jacksonville
Carnival Cruise Line started crusing from Jacksonville with the 88,500-gross-ton, 2,124-passenger Carnival Miracle, which was christened on the port on February 27, 2004.
That very same 12 months, the port welcomed the unique 42,000-gross-ton Carnival Jubilee, the previous cruise ship that was offered to a Chinese language-based operator and scrapped in 2016.
However it was the 183,521-gross-ton Carnival Celebration, which additionally arrived in 2004, that made historical past, turning into the primary Carnival ship to sail year-round from Jacksonville. Providing roundtrip itineraries to the Bahamas, the liner spent 4 years primarily based at JAXPORT.
Carnival Fascination, which arrived in 2008 with 2,056 passengers, picked up the schedule till Carnival Elation’s arrival. Though briefly changed by Carnival Ecstasy in 2019, the vessel continues to name Jacksonville house and affords frequent roundtrip voyages to the Bahamas and the Jap Caribbean.
At the moment, Carnival Elation is crusing 4- and 5-night itineraries to Nassau and Carnival Company’s personal vacation spot Princess Cays within the Bahamas, with 206,000 passengers anticipated to sail from Jacksonville in 2024 – essentially the most annual passengers within the cruise line’s 20 years in JAXPORT.
Till Norwegian Cruise Line’s Norwegian Gem arrives in November 2025, Carnival Cruise Line is the one main cruise line to base a ship in Jacksonville. Nevertheless, the port does welcome calls from different cruise traces, together with Crystal Cruises and the German-owned Phoenix Reisen.
