Written by Chillie Falls, June 3, 2024 for AccessAdventure.net
When I boarded Carnival Elation on April 25, 2024, my expectations were very low. Not only was she an older ship from a period not known for its accessibility, we were asked to delay our scheduled arrival time by 3 hours because the ship was experiencing technical issues that affected her forward speed. Bluntly, the ship arrived late in Jacksonville.
I expected a confused and disjointed check-in and embarkation. I was completely wrong.
I dropped off my luggage without a delay, and drove around to the parking lot entrance. After registering for my free parking which is provided by the state of Florida for vehicles used to transport mobility devices as long as they possess permanent handicapped plates, and was able to park on the second row, fourth space.
There was a pretty good line of guests starting through the check-in procedures, but mobility devices had a private line. I rolled straight to security. Next was check-in and I didn’t even stop my chair. A window was open and I took care of that in maybe two minutes. As I turned my chair around to roll away, I was told to follow the line onto the ship.
From the time I departed my car, until I had eclipsed the seven stories of ramps to board the ship in Jacksonville, 15 minutes had passed. I was scheduled to board at 2PM, I was onboard the ship with no hassles, at 1:15 PM. I tip my hat toe Carnival, Carnival Elation and JaxPort.
I stayed in Wheelchair Accessible Cabin V29. While not the largest accommodations I have had on cruise ships, it was certainly adequate. I did ask my room steward to push the two beds together against the far wall, eliminating the walk space in between the two and increasing my rolling space. It worked out quite well.
The outside door to the room was key card activated, but automatic so I swiped my card and the door opened. From the inside out, the door was touch plate activated, as was the bathroom door.
There is a lift chair proudly on display and accessible for the main pool. All one needs to do is ask an attendant, and you are in the pool.
The public restrooms were all touch plate activated but different from most cruise ships. Most ships today have a bank of 3 restrooms, a men’s, a women’s and a co-ed wheelchair accessible one. On Elation, there were just men’s and women’s. The unfortunate part of this set up was often ambulatory guest would use the accessible stall, I guest because it is larger, large enough for my chair. I can not get in the small stall for ambulatory guests. This lead to some waiting, not the best situation for chair users.
Admittedly the doors are and will remain the most important feature of public restrooms and all of the doors were touch activated.
On the remainder of the ship, I found no stumbling blocks. Staff was extremely aware and helpful. There was even an “ADA Elevator” to take one to Deck 14 which was virtually never used.
As a result I was able to access every deck on the ship, something I have not been able to do on many ships.
I rate this ship very high on accessibility, a report I was able to deliver to the special needs coordinator and the Captain.
