Carnival Elation (Carnival Cruise Line) was photographed in San Diego, California, on July 24, 2009, during her year-round deployment on short cruises to Mexico. We had sailed aboard her on a seven-night Mexican Riviera cruise from Los Angeles in April 2002. Built by Kværner Masa-Yards in Finland, she entered service in 1998 and introduced Azipod propulsion to the cruise ship industry.

Elation (Carnival Cruise Line) was our ship for a seven-night Mexican Riviera cruise roundtrip from Los Angeles in April 2002, calling at Puerto Vallarta, Mazatlán and Cabo San Lucas. Built by Kværner Masa-Yards in Finland, she entered service in 1998 as the seventh Fantasy-class ship. Our photographs feature the ship and destinations during her original West Coast deployment, four years into her cruising career.