To commemorate the Carnival Elation’s launch of year-round service from Mobile, Ala., a traditional maritime plaque ceremony was held this weekend with Captain Adriano Binacchi and city officials, including Mobile Mayor Sam Jones.  

The 2,052-passenger vessel’s new year-round schedule from Mobile, which began May 15, encompasses four-, five- and seven-day western Caribbean cruises.  Carnival Elation is scheduled to operate 74 voyages annually from Mobile, carrying an estimated 170,000 passengers each year.

Carnival Elation – the newest cruise ship to sail from Mobile – replaced the Carnival Fantasy, a sister ship of the same size which is repositioning the Charleston, S.C., to launch that port’s first year-round cruise program tomorrow.