Carnival Elation First Ship Lifted by New Freeport East End Drydock

Carnival Elation became the first cruise ship to be lifted by the new East End floating drydock at Grand Bahama Shipyard in Freeport, marking the start of operations for one of the yard’s newest major assets.

The 1998-built ship entered the drydock on January 16, 2026, for a scheduled maintenance period running through its planned return to service on February 9, 2026. The successful first docking is also a milestone within Grand Bahama Shipyard’s $600 million redevelopment program, aimed at expanding capacity for cruise ship repair, maintenance, and retrofit work.

East End drydock begins service with a first cruise ship lift

The East End drydock arrived in Freeport in late 2025 (including reporting that it reached the port in late November 2025) and officially entered service in early 2026. Built by CSSC Qingdao Beihai Shipbuilding in China, the floating structure measures 357 meters long and about 70 meters wide, and is engineered to lift up to 93,500 tons.

The dock is equipped with four cranes and modern control systems designed to support docking operations. Grand Bahama Shipyard also completed shoreside upgrades to prepare for the new asset, including extending one of its piers to support East End’s operations.

Carnival Corporation, a stakeholder in the shipyard, highlighted the milestone in a social media post, describing the first operation as the result of years of planning and teamwork.

Shipyard leadership ties expansion to bigger retrofit ambitions

Chris Earl, CEO of Grand Bahama Shipyard, said the new drydock is intended to expand both cruise and commercial work at the facility. “The arrival of the East End greatly enhances cruise docking and retrofit capability and expands our commercial docking capacity,” Earl said.

Earl also framed the investment as part of a longer-term effort tied to the local workforce and partnerships in the Bahamas. “The transformation of Grand Bahama Shipyard represents a huge opportunity to create a world-class ship repair ecosystem here in the Bahamas,” he said, adding that the company looks forward to working with the community as the investment continues.

The shipyard is operated as a joint venture between Carnival Corporation, Royal Caribbean, and MSC Cruises.

Carnival Elation’s yard period and near-term itinerary plans

Carnival said the ship’s Freeport stay includes technical work and statutory items required for continued service. After the drydock concludes, Carnival Elation is scheduled to resume operations from Jacksonville on February 9, 2026.

The ship’s first sailing after the yard period is a seven-night Eastern Caribbean itinerary with calls at Grand Turk, Princess Cays, and Celebration Key. In mid-February, Carnival Elation is set to return to its regular program of shorter four- and five-night Bahamas cruises from Jacksonville.

On those shorter voyages, the itinerary mix includes Carnival Corporation’s private destinations in the Bahamas, including RelaxAway at Half Moon Cay and Celebration Key, along with other common regional stops.

How East End fits into the $600 million redevelopment and what comes next

East End is one phase of the shipyard’s broader redevelopment, which is intended to increase throughput and widen the range of ship sizes and project scopes the facility can handle. The drydock was first announced in 2023, and its commissioning in Freeport has been described locally as a key milestone within the ongoing expansion.

Grand Bahama Shipyard is also preparing to add a larger floating dock named Lucayan, which is expected to arrive and enter operations in late 2026. With additional floating dock capacity, the yard expects to strengthen its position among the most capable cruise ship repair facilities globally.

Broader drydock demand across Carnival Corporation in 2026

Carnival Elation’s Freeport visit comes during a busy maintenance year across Carnival Corporation’s brands. On the company’s year-end and fourth quarter earnings call in December, Chief Financial Officer David Bernstein said the corporation expects more than 600 drydock days in 2026.

Bernstein also pointed to a schedule that includes several longer shipyard stays, including two nearly 50-day slots for AIDAbella and AIDAmar as part of AIDA Cruises’ AIDA Evolution upgrade program. Other ships noted for longer out-of-service maintenance periods in 2026 include Carnival Pride (March), Carnival Magic (April), and both Carnival Freedom and Carnival Luminosa (September), in addition to Carnival Elation’s January yard period.

Carnival Corporation President and CEO Josh Weinstein said the AIDA Evolution project is expected to expand beyond AIDA Cruises to additional brands within the group.

• First East End docking: Carnival Elation entered the new drydock on January 16, 2026, launching regular operations for the floating facility in Freeport.
• Return to service timing: The ship’s maintenance period is scheduled to run through February 9, 2026, when it is set to resume sailing from Jacksonville.
• Next shipyard milestone: The larger Lucayan floating dock is expected to arrive and begin operating in late 2026 as part of the shipyard’s $600 million redevelopment.

With the first lift completed and Carnival Elation scheduled back to service in early February, Grand Bahama Shipyard’s next major checkpoint is the anticipated arrival of the larger Lucayan dock in late 2026, as the yard continues scaling up capacity for cruise ship repair and retrofit work.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

What is the East End floating drydock at Grand Bahama Shipyard?

East End is a floating drydock commissioned in Freeport in early 2026. Built by CSSC Qingdao Beihai Shipbuilding in China, it measures 357 meters long with a beam of about 70 meters and is engineered to lift up to 93,500 tons, supporting cruise ship maintenance, repairs, and retrofit projects.

When will Carnival Elation return to service after drydock?

Carnival Elation entered drydock on January 16, 2026, and is scheduled to resume operations from Jacksonville on February 9, 2026.

When is the Lucayan floating dock expected to arrive?

The larger floating dock, Lucayan, is expected to arrive and become operational in late 2026 as part of Grand Bahama Shipyard’s ongoing redevelopment.

What work is Carnival Elation undergoing in Freeport?

The ship’s yard period includes technical work and statutory items required for continued service, as part of its scheduled maintenance cycle.

Who operates Grand Bahama Shipyard?

Grand Bahama Shipyard is operated as a joint venture between Carnival Corporation, Royal Caribbean, and MSC Cruises, and is in the midst of a $600 million upgrade program to expand repair and retrofit capabilities.