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Carnival Elation vs Margaritaville at Sea Paradise
The Carnival Elation was built in 1998. It was renovated in 2020. It's 7 years newer than the Paradise, which was built in 1991 and renovated in 2026. The Paradise previously sailed under two different names, the Costa Classica and Grand Classica, before being purchased by Margaritaville to launch their new cruise line.
Comparison Overview
- Ship Size
- Number of Passengers
- Food and Restaurants
- Bars and Drinks
- Pools and Hot Tubs
- Ship Features and Activities
- Cruise Costs
- Onboard Costs
Ship Size
The Elation is considered a small ship. Coming in at 855 feet long and 103 feet wide, it's roughly the length of 2.4 football fields, as wide as 1.9 tractor-trailers, and the same height as a 10-story building. Compared to the Margaritaville at Sea Paradise, the Elation is 33% larger in terms of overall tons.
Number of Passengers
Carnival Elation holds 67% more passengers than the Paradise based on double occupancy (two people per room). At full capacity, Carnival Elation holds 55% more passengers than the Paradise.
When you look at the "Space Ratio," or the total tonnage of a ship compared to the number of passengers, the Elation has less space per person compared to the Paradise.
| Carnival Elation | Margaritaville at Sea Paradise | |
|---|---|---|
| Class | Fantasy | Classica |
| Gross Tonnage | 70,367 | 52,926 |
| Length | 855 | 722 |
| Beam/Width | 103 | 102 |
| Passenger Decks | 10 | 14 |
| Passengers (double occupancy) | 2,190 | 1,308 |
| Passengers (maximum occupancy) | 2,606 | 1,680 |
| Crew | 920 | 620 |
| Passenger to Crew Ratio | 2.8 | 2.7 |
| Space Ratio (tons of ship per passenger) | 27 | 32 |
Food and Restaurants
Food is a big part of any cruise, and the ship you choose can make a huge difference in your food experience.
The Elation has eleven different dining options like Blue Iguana Cantina, Carnival Deli, and Pizza Pirate. Of those options, twelve are complimentary, or included with your cruise fare. The other four options have an additional fee.
The Paradise has two fewer dining venues. Some of its popular venues are Mexican Cutie Cantina, JWB Prime Steakhouse, and Cheeseburger in Paradise Burger Bar. Seven of these restaurants are complimentary and the other two have an additional fee.
If you like having a variety of places to eat, the Elation might be a better choice. It has 22% more dining options than the Paradise.
If you're looking to avoid extra money while on board, the Paradise might be a better choice than the Elation. More of the dining options are included in the base cruise fare, potentially saving you money.
| Carnival Elation | Margaritaville at Sea Paradise | |
|---|---|---|
| Total Dining Options | 11 | 9 |
| Complimentary Dining Options: | 12 | 7 |
| Additional Fee Dining Options: | 4 | 2 |
| % of Included Options | 64% | 78% |
| See the options | See the options |
Bars and Drinks
The Carnival Elation has 3 more bars than the Margaritaville at Sea Paradise. The Elation has 10 bars like Alchemy Bar, BlueIguana Tequila Bar and Limelight Lounge. On Paradise, you can grab a drink at 7 different bars such as 5 o'Clock Somewhere Bar and Grill, Euphoria and Hemisphere Nightclub.
| Carnival Elation | Margaritaville at Sea Paradise |
|---|---|
| •Alchemy Bar • Atrium Bar • BlueIguana Tequila Bar • Casino Bar • Duke's Piano Bar • Java Blue Cafe • Limelight Lounge • RedFrog Rum Bar • Romeo and Juliet Night Club • Serenity Pool Bar | •12 Volt Bar • 5 o'Clock Somewhere Bar and Grill • Euphoria • Hemisphere Nightclub • Keys on the Water • License to Chill Bar • Stars on the Water Bar |
In terms of drinks and cocktails, you have a variety of choices. Both ships serve the Coca-Cola family of products. That means Coke, Diet Coke, Sprite and Barq's Root Beer, although the selection can vary by ship.
You can check out the recent bar menus for the Elation and the Paradise below.
Pools and Hot Tubs
Nothing beats relaxing by a pool with a nice drink in hand as you feel the fresh sea breeze pass by you. The Carnival Elation has a total of 1 pools and 4 hot tubs.
Margaritaville at Sea Paradise has more pools than the Elation and fewer hot tubs.
Tired of loud kids and splashing? two of the hot tubs are adults only on Elation.
| Carnival Elation | Margaritaville at Sea Paradise | |
|---|---|---|
| Total Pools | 1 | 2 |
| Pools - General Access | 1 | 1 |
| Pools - Adults Only | 0 | 1 |
| Pools - Exclusive | 0 | |
| Total Hot Tubs | 4 | 2 |
| Hot Tubs - General Access | 2 | |
| Hot Tubs - Adults Only | 2 | 2 |
| Hot Tubs - Exclusive | 0 |
Ship Features and Activities
Both ships have lots of activities to keep you busy throughout your cruise. Below you'll see a list of some of the major features on these ships. On the Elation, 70% of the activities below are included in the cruise fare. On the Paradise, only 60% of the activities are included, meaning you might spend more money while on board.
| Carnival Elation | Margaritaville at Sea Paradise | |
|---|---|---|
| Adult Only Relaxation Area | ✓ | ✓ |
| Arcade | ✓ | ✓ |
| Casino | ✓ | ✓ |
| Comedy Club | ✓ | ✗ |
| Comedy Show | ✗ | ✓ |
| Dr Seuss Breakfast | ✓ | ✗ |
| Fitness Center | ✓ | ✓ |
| Jogging Track | ✓ | ✗ |
| Mini golf | ✓ | ✓ |
| Pickleball | ✗ | ✓ |
| Shows - musical review | ✗ | ✓ |
| Spa | ✗ | ✓ |
| Splash park | ✓ | ✗ |
| Tattoo Studio | ✗ | ✓ |
| Water slides | ✓ | ✗ |
| Learn more | Learn more |
Cruise Costs
Carnival and Margaritaville at Sea are both considered "Mainstream" cruise lines. Mainstream cruise lines cater to a variety of guests, hoping to provide something for everyone. These typically cost about $100 - $350 per person per day.
Cruise pricing is dynamic and varies for each specific sailing based on factors such as departure point, ports of call, and time of year. Typically, newer ships cost more, so a cruise on Carnival Elation will likely be more expensive than on Margaritaville at Sea Paradise.
Onboard Costs
Another way to gauge the cost of a cruise is to consider how much you'll spend on board. Even though a lot is included in the base cruise fare, you may still spend money on things like spa treatments, specialty dining, drinks, and excursions. In addition, guests may also have to pay for things like gratuities and tips.
Typically, guests can expect to spend about 25 - 40% of the cost of the cruise on onboard expenses. In other words, if the cruise fare is $1,000 per person, you might spend between $250 and $400 on extra expenses.
The table below will help you compare onboard prices to see if you might spend more on a specific ship.
| Carnival Elation | Margaritaville at Sea Paradise | |
|---|---|---|
| Base Daily Gratuities* (Per Person Per Day) | $17.00 | $22.00 |
| Tip added to drinks & services | 20% | 20% |
| Soda Price | $3.25 | $2.95 |
| Domestic Beer Price | $8.25 See drink menus | $9.00 See drink menus |
| Drink Package Price | $83 - $88 Learn more | 64.99 |
| Internet Plan | $18.70 to $23.80 per device per day | $17.99 per device per day |
| *Daily gratuities for a standard cabin. Suites or specialty rooms may have higher rates. | ||
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