I’ve sailed in windowless interior cabins more than a dozen times, and they’re usually a comfy, budget-friendly option. However, my stateroom on Carnival Elation was by far the most disappointing.
Whether you're on a picturesque sailing through Alaska's towering fjords or a quick weekend getaway to The Bahamas, you can count on interior cabins to be the cheapest rooms on board.
So, when my partner and I decided on a spring break cruise, we booked an inside stateroom to keep costs low during the peak travel season.
Even still, Carnival Elation, an older ship that launched in 1998, still came with a pricey tag for a 5-night cruise in March 2024.
Unfortunately, I wish my partner and I had spent more time researching before booking one of the cheapest spring break cruises we could find.
Our interior stateroom on Carnival Elation cost over $1,400
We booked our 5-night cruise in January, less than two months before the sailing date. As such, we paid a premium for the voyage since it was relatively last-minute. The fare for two passengers, including pre-paid fares, came to $1,475.30, or around $147 per person, per night.
I've gotten better deals on longer voyages to more interesting destinations than Nassau. For example, I paid $1,780 for a weeklong cruise to Alaska on Carnival Luminosa. Similarly, a 7-night cruise on Quantum of the Seas to Alaska in 2024 cost my dad and me $1,894.30.
In both cases, the cost per day was less than what we paid for the short Bahamas sailing on Carnival Elation, making the price of our interior stateroom feel like a little bit of a rip-off given the ship’s age and overall experience.
The general condition of the stateroom was better than expected
Carnival Elation underwent a multi-million-dollar refurbishment in 2017, adding popular venues like Guy's Burger Joint, BlueIguana Cantina, WaterWorks aqua park, RedFrog Rum Bar, and more.
During that time, all staterooms received new island-inspired interiors. As such, the stateroom didn’t feel nearly as dark or worn as I expected for a ship approaching 30 years old.
It certainly didn't feel like my bright and modern room on Carnival Celebration, but to the naked eye, it didn't seem dingy or neglected — at least at first.
For example, there were more outlets than I would have assumed, with two 120V American outlets, two USB ports, and one 220V European outlet at the vanity alone. Two more USB ports were available on the far side of the bed, too.
Additionally, I thought the climate control worked pretty well. The stateroom definitely could have been a little cooler at times, but I appreciated that it never felt stuffy.
The storage wasn't great
The storage was pretty average for a cruise ship, with two closets, multiple shelves, a few drawers, and a nightstand that had a hidden cubby inside.
In essence, there was enough space to comfortably unpack for a short cruise. However, I'd be wary if I were sharing the cabin with more than one person or on a longer voyage.
For example, there were just two shelves near the vanity for miscellaneous items like sunscreen, toiletries, and charging accessories.
What made matters worse was the nonexistent storage in the bathroom, offering just one tiny shelf above the sink for toiletries.
Thankfully, I packed my hanging toiletries organizer, so I could keep everything within reach. Without it, staying organized in the bathroom would have been nearly impossible.
The issues with the bathroom were inexcusable
The absolute worst part about my cabin on Carnival Elation was the bathroom. In addition to the lack of storage, the clingy shower curtain was visibly stained. Not only that, but the showerhead, which was covered in a thick layer of limescale, was disgusting.
My partner and I had quite a few issues with the shower, too. On the second day, for example, the showerhead broke and detached from its handle.
I tried calling our cabin steward, but there was no answer, so we had to make do with the broken handle while getting ready for dinner. Additionally, our toilet stopped flushing on the third day of the cruise.
Read more: I sailed on Carnival's smallest cruise ship. There are zero chances I'd do it again
Unfortunately, the cabin's bathroom wasn't the only reason our Carnival Elation cruise was a huge letdown
For starters, embarkation in Jacksonville, Florida, was unorganized and chaotic. Before we even set foot inside the terminal, port agents began telling us contradictory things. One said that there were two lines to enter the terminals, while another pointed to a single line.
Once we finally figured out exactly where to go, my partner and I were disappointed to see a packed terminal with limited air conditioning — the lack of proper ventilation made the check-in process feel longer than 40 minutes.
Moving on, the chair hogs aboard Carnival Elation were some of the worst I've ever encountered. On one sea day, we had to circle like hawks for half an hour until two chairs became available on the lido deck.
Crowd management was another sore spot of our cruise vacation. For instance, when we arrived in Half Moon Cay, Carnival's private island in The Bahamas, guests were told to make their way to Deck 4 whenever they were ready to board a tender boat to head ashore.
The free-for-all was overwhelming, with high winds delaying the start, and line-cutters adding to the growing frustration among guests.
Finally, the dining experience on Carnival Elation was a mixed bag at best. While staples like Guy's Burger Joint and BlueIguana Cantina hit the spot, the dining room and buffet were inconsistent.
The quality of the food wasn't as good as I've experienced on other ships, such as Carnival Conquest and Carnival Celebration.
One evening, for instance, my partner ordered the grilled chicken breast and was served bland chicken with hardly-seasoned vegetables. Unfortunately, the same lackluster vegetables were served with the chicken parmigiana.
Elizabeth Wright
Elizabeth graduated from New York University's Arthur L. Carter Journalism Institute with her M.A. in Journalism in May 2023. Having sailed on over 30 cruises across different lines, including Royal Caribbean, Carnival, MSC, Margaritaville at Sea, and Princess, she loves sharing her insight and expertise on all things cruising!
In addition to writing for Cruise.Blog, Elizabeth has bylines in Business Insider, Royal Caribbean Blog, and Cruiseshipfood.com.
