Carnival Elation is shown here in Cabo San Lucas, Mexico, during a 15-day Panama Canal cruise that departed San Diego April 30 and will arrive in Mobile, Ala., the ship’s new year-round homeport, May 15.  

Carnival Elation’s new Mobile-based schedule will kick off May 15 with a seven-day western Caribbean cruise to Montego Bay, Grand Cayman and Cozumel.  In addition to seven-day voyages in July and October, the ship will also offer year-round four-day cruises calling at Cozumel and five-day cruises visiting Cozumel and Calica or Progreso, Mexico.

Carnival Cruise Lines is the only cruise operator to sail year-round from Mobile and Carnival Elation will operate 74 annual departures from Mobile, carrying an estimated 170,000 passengers each year.