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sandi1967

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    Just off Elation if anyone has questions :)

    in Carnival Cruise Lines

    Posted

    Good morning,

     

    The CD's name was Marty and he was really great and very friendly.  I think I read on his FB page that he is leaving and headed for Carnival Fantasy in September.  There was another young guy that did lots with him, but I don't recall his name.  Another great girl was Amber.  She is from Delaware from a town about 45 minutes from us which is why she caught my eye.  She is super energetic and we really enjoyed her too.

     

    We did the karaoke on our last sea day last Friday.  It was held in the Romeo and Juliet lounge.  It was fun and I really don't sing well what-so-ever! 🙂  It was held in the late afternoon if I remember correctly.  Most of the trivia games were help in that lounge also.  We did the Friends trivia which we thought we would do great...........well we didn't.  But it was lots of fun.  (Amber did this trivia game.)  My favorite music game was on the last night in the Atrium Bar on the 7th floor.  I think I mentioned it last night in my original post.  It was packed and it was divided by sides.....there had to have been a couple hundred people in the bar area and lined all around the floors above.  We had an absolute ball.

     

    Our Chefs Table dinner was last Thursday at 6:15 after our Amber Cove port.  We met in the Atrium again and were greeted with glasses of champagne.  Our group consisted of the seven of us and then three other couples....I think the max is 14.  The Soux Chef met us and told us about the galley and then took us in there where we had some small, but amazing appetizers.  The head pastry chef spoke about the melting cake and how they make it.  If you want to know they make about 970 each day. 🙂  After about 30 minutes we headed to the library where our dinner was all set up.  It was seven courses with either Pinot Grigio or a Merlot.  The dishes were so good and just a perfect size.  Nothing that you would get in the dining room.  Eduardo was the head of this, he is the soux chef.  He was so funny any very informative.  We had an "intermission" where a table artist, aka magician came out and did some very good card tricks for about ten minutes.  WHat a cool job to have.  I was so full after this dinner, more so than any other night.  It was totally worth the money.

     

    The ship is small, the smallest we have been on.  When we pulled in to Grand Turk Carnival Pride was already there.  (We live on the eastern shore of MD and see the Pride travel under the Chesapeake Bay Bridge quite often.)  I thought that was a small ship.  One of the fun team members heard me saying this and he said our ship was like a dinghy compared to the Pride.  He did also say, the Elation has everything most other ships have and mostly on the same deck.  True statement.  Only took me a few hours to figure my way around.  The ship appeared to be in great shape and quite clean.  It is small that is true.  I wish the pool was bigger.  The serenity deck was nice, just wish there was a pool not just a hot tub up there.  I know there is no room for that.  But it was nice to get away up there.  We really loved the slide.  It was not teeming with people and we adults had a ball on the slides. 🙂 

     

    I had a great time, wish it were longer.  No cruise is long enough though.  I really wished we had more time in Amber Cove.  We were ready to take a taxi to another beach.  I am not a huge fan of cruise ship run ports.  So, if you are worried about the DR here....don't be.  It is a secure port with fencing all the way around.  The pool got crowded once another ship came in.  We spent the last 90 minutes walking around the shops.  We were there from 9-2

     

    We LOVED Grand Turk.  We got off the ship and walked left on the beach and headed to Jacks Shack.  Best day!!!  Umbrella and two chairs is $14.  The food here is amazing.  Oh my gosh the jerk chicken and cracked conch was the best!!  Drinks were yummy also.  The water is beautiful.  They have been hit hard by hurricanes and you will see some cars that haven't been removed, but the people were lovely.  I would go back in a heart beat.  Oh and the dogs...........its a shame I couldn't sneak one home.  I fell in love with all of them.

     

    Sorry so long,

    Sandi

    Just off Elation if anyone has questions :)

    in Carnival Cruise Lines

    Posted

    We just got back from a five day cruise on the Elation and had a fantastic time!!  We went to Grand Turk and Amber Cove.  We LOVED Grand Turk and had the best time at Jacks Shack.  Amber Cove was fine and safe, wish we could have left port had we had more time.

     

    The food was quite good.  I didn't have anything that I didn't like.  We splurged for my girlfriend and her hubby's 20 anniversary and went to the Chefs Table last Thursday.  It was $90 per person and so worth it.  We had so much fun! The food was amazing, it also included wine.  Dinner lasted three hours and was so informative.  We enjoyed the comedy shows and all the music trivia.  The best one was the last night in the atrium bar and was 80's and 90' trivia.  It was packed.  Deepak at the bar was always awesome there!!

     

    We never went to the pool as it was WAY too crowded.  Wish it were bigger.  We spent a lot of time at the slide where there were always empty chairs and the seven of us had a ball on the slides.  The Serenity deck was nice....even on warm days the hot tubs felt a bit refreshing.

     

    We all had the drink package.  Twice we, (well a few of the seven)  met the limit...........but we met the limit at like 1am and probably had our first around 11.  We recommend to get a bottle of water with every drink.  It makes a difference.  

     

    Feel free to ask questions and I am happy to answer. 

    Sandi

    Granddaughter worried about Dominican Republic

    in Carnival Cruise Lines

    Posted

    7 hours ago, Cafedumonde said:

     

    Never been to Portland, but those other cities, with the exception of London (although I haven’t been there in about 15 years), are pretty disgusting too if you ask me.  Too many homeless people.  But there are still nice areas in most of those places to visit.  And in the US at least you have functioning government (generally) and law enforcement that is for the most part legitimate.  Love the NYPD myself.  Plus, you can pack heat in some of those cities if you are really worried.  Lol.  We definitely did not feel safe in DC the last time we were there, the homeless population was aggressive and OUT OF CONTROL.  Trash everywhere on the mall, trash cans overflowing.  Like an apocalyptic movie.  But that was before the current administration.  I am not sure if they have cleaned it up at all.  The general trend in major metropolitan areas seems to be downward everywhere.

    Maybe you were there at a busy time.  We live not far from DC and go there fairly often and my husband works there.  Yes, it does have a homeless population, but I have never been approached by them.  They do frequent a park near 14th.......Sorry you experienced this, but DC is a great town.  Hope you visit again soon. 🙂

     

    • Like 1

    Granddaughter worried about Dominican Republic

    in Carnival Cruise Lines

    Posted

    Good evening,

     

    We were just in Amber Cove last Thursday on the Elation.  I am not a fan of cruise line owned ports, but this one was fine.  I was able to buy some local items which is always top priority.  There is one restaurant there at the top of the resort and then one smaller one where all the shops are.  It is completely controlled by Carnival and it is a secure area.....meaning people just can't come into the port.  The area looked beautiful.  We were there from 9-2, had we been there until 4:00 we would have taken a taxi to a local beach, sorry can't recall the name, and would have rented chairs and umbrellas.  I would not be nervous to eat the food.  I do think the cases are very isolated and on the other side of the island. 

     

    There is nothing wrong with being cautious, but you will be fine in this port.  There is also a very tall fence around the perimeter of Amber Cove.  I paid $20 to zip line for the day.....to rent an umbrella was like $20 which we did not pay.  We enjoyed the slide, and the lazy river.  We were only in the pool area for about two hours or so and then went to shop.  Oh, we did eat up at the top and had a couple drinks.  We had a fun day, but I would have preferred to have left the port area.  It ended up getting very crowded when the second ship came into port.

     

    Good luck, you will have fun no matter what you decide.............you are on a cruise after all. 🙂

     

    Take care,

    Sandi

    What did you wear formal night?

    in Carnival Cruise Lines

    Posted

    1 hour ago, chocolate melting cake said:

    OK--I apologize in advance for all the pictures---but this topic is my cup of tea. From the first tux (2004 on a Holland America ship which had a useless escalator for show) till today I have enjoyed getting odd tuxes, suits and bow ties---I have 5 neon or sparkly bow ties. I've never paid more than $35 for any of my 6 tuxes, getting them on ebay from rental places selling off stock, usually in August after the weddings, proms, etc. 3 of the shops measured them to my size! My wife was positive I'd never dare to wear the St Patrick's day suit with light up green bow tie----that Target couldn't sell and had reduced to a LOW price!

     

    escalator.jpg

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    I love all of your tuxes and how your wife compliments you perfectly. 🙂

    Faster to The Fun price increase.

    in Carnival Cruise Lines

    Posted

    Sorry I have not read each reply.  But, for those who bought this did you like it and was it worth the money.  For our upcoming Elation cruise, it will be $79 per cabin.  We have a check-in time right now for 12:00.  Is getting the pass worth it since we seem to be getting on early.  We have never cruised where we were able to pick a time to check_in on the ship.

     

    Thank you for your opinions......oh we are cruising with five other people.

     

    Sandi

    Elation - OK, but not elated...

    in Carnival Cruise Lines

    Posted

    12 hours ago, ShakyBeef said:

     

    You mean the Dominican Republic.  Dominica is an entirely different country, and Elation doesn't sail there.:classic_wink:

     

    ETA: I just noticed you're also on the Eastern Shore of MD.  Hi there, neighbour!:classic_biggrin:

    Oops yes I do mean DR😳. 

     

    We are in Queen Anne’s County😊.  Love it on this side😊😊

    Elation - OK, but not elated...

    in Carnival Cruise Lines

    Posted

    We sail on the Elation June 24th to Grand Turk and Dominica.  We are so excited.   Thank you for posting the menus, very helpful.  We are also going to purchase the cheers package.  Did it work out for you?  Any tips for us?

     

    Is there a club of sorts at night for dancing?

     

    Thank you,

    Sandi

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