Marking 20 years of continuous cruising from Jacksonville, CCL-Carnival Cruise Line celebrated on November 7th by underscoring its long-standing partnership with JAXPORT and its commitment to the Jacksonville community. With 3 million guests having sailed from the port since 2004 - and 150,000 more departing annually- Carnival remains Jacksonville’s leading cruise line.
Local leaders were welcomed aboard Carnival Elation for the occasion, which featured a tribute to military service ahead of Veterans Day. Among the honored guests was Jackson, a service dog for a local veteran provided through Carnival’s support of K9s for Warriors, a nonprofit organization that trains service dogs for military veterans. Daniel Bean, CEO of K9s for Warriors, introduced Jackson, and the Carnival Elation crew hosted a ceremony honoring veterans and active-duty service members from all branches. As the leading cruise line for military passengers, Carnival continues to prioritize the service community.
Earlier this year, Carnival extended its commitment to Jacksonville by signing a new agreement to sail from JAXPORT through 2026, with options to renew through 2030. Currently homeported in Jacksonville, Carnival Elation sails 4- to 7-day itineraries to The Bahamas and Eastern Caribbean.
Next year, Jacksonville itineraries will include Celebration Key, Carnival’s newest private destination, opening in July 2025.