Spots going fast$339/person
View Deal →Carnival Elation vs Carnival Radiance
Side-by-side cruise ship comparison · Updated January 2026
Carnival Radiance is the significantly larger vessel at 101,509 GT — 44% more than Carnival Elation's 70,367 GT. Built in 2000, Carnival Radiance is 2 years newer — an advantage for travellers seeking modern amenities and design. Carnival Elation edges ahead in service with a passenger-to-crew ratio of 2.2:1, meaning more crew per guest.
Score: 1 – 6
Quick Compare
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Category
Carnival Elation
Carnival Radiance
Size
70,367 GT
101,509 GT
Passengers
2,052
2,764
Year Built
1998
2000
Crew Ratio
1:2.2
1:2.5
Space Ratio
34.3
36.7
Decks
—
—
Length
262m
272m
From Price
$339/pp
$271/pp
Comparison Verdict
Carnival Radiance is the significantly larger vessel at 101,509 GT — 44% more than Carnival Elation's 70,367 GT. Built in 2000, Carnival Radiance is 2 years newer — an advantage for travellers seeking modern amenities and design. Carnival Elation edges ahead in service with a passenger-to-crew ratio of 2.2:1, meaning more crew per guest.
| Category | Winner |
|---|---|
| Size | Carnival Radiance |
| Capacity | Carnival Radiance |
| Modernity | Carnival Radiance |
| Service | Carnival Elation |
| Spaciousness | Carnival Radiance |
| Decks | Tie |
| Length | Carnival Radiance |
| Fleet Power | Carnival Radiance |
Bottom line: Carnival Radiance leads 6–1 across our categories — strongest in Size. Choose Carnival Radiance for overall superiority; pick Carnival Elation if Service matter more to you.
Which Ship Is Right for You?
Choose Carnival Radiance if...
- You want the newer ship (built 2000, 2yr newer)
- Size matters to you (101,509 GT)
- More onboard variety (2,764 guests)
- More space per guest (36.7 GT/pax)
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Frequently Asked Questions
How is the comparison score calculated?
We compute scores across 8 categories using real spec data — gross tonnage, passenger capacity, crew capacity, year built, length, deck count, space ratio, and fleet power. Each category awards one point to the winning ship.
What is the space ratio and why does it matter?
Space ratio is gross tonnage divided by passenger capacity. A higher number means more space per guest. Luxury lines typically score above 40; mass-market ships often fall in the 30-40 range.
What does the passenger-to-crew ratio mean?
Passengers per crew member. Lower is better — more staff per guest means better service. Luxury lines aim below 2:1; large mainstream ships may be 3-4:1.
Are the prices shown accurate?
Prices are sourced from Cruisebound and reflect real-time availability. They may change based on cabin type, date, and demand. Click through to see the latest fares.
Can I compare more than two ships?
Yes — up to four ships. Use the search tool on the compare hub page to add additional ships.
How current is the ship data?
Specifications come from our database of 380+ vessels, revalidated every 5 minutes via ISR. The "Updated" timestamp shows when records were last modified.
