According to the pictures on the Carnival site, the Elation has been updated some. It's showing the miniature golf course which is one of the new things but it's not showing any new waterworks area. This is one of Carnival's smaller ships now so don't go looking for a super mega ship. (Although we took our sons on the Holiday, which they thought was huge until it was in port with one of the Elation's sister ships. They then went on the Pardise, which is a sistership, and thought it was big. Once again, though, next to a mega ship it will look small.) We've been on the Elation, but it was several years ago. We had no complaints about the ship. As far as entertainment, food, etc...you'll have the same menu and similar entertainment and activities to all the other Carnival ships. Having said that it doesn't have a supper club and there won't be as many lounges/bars as there would be on a larger ship.
Also something to remember, on the Atlantic Deck you can not go from front to back because of the Galley between the two dining rooms. You'll either need to go to the deck below which is all cabins or the Promenade deck above to get to where you need to be on the Atlantic deck.
I was just looking at the names of the lounges...there were several I remembered as being some of my favorites. I'm always amazed at how the carpet and ceilings - as well as everything else - carry the theme of the room, too.
