Looking for info/reviews/advice about Carnival Elation! January Family Cruise!

Hi All,

I have been on about 8 cruises, but haven't been on one in about 9 years...dang kids mess up everything. haha!;). Anyways... I'm surprising the hubby and both kids with a cruise as a Christmas gift this year. The cruise will sail out end of January on the Elation. While I have been on cruises in the past, this is the first one in awhile and the FIRST with kids. They will be 9 & 8 years old. We also have another family cruising with us and they will have a 9 and 14 year old.

So a few questions (and anything additional you want to add would be great!)

1. I read we can bring on 12 packs of pop and even wine? Is this true? YAY!

2. Advice on where we should stay the night before. We will be flying in to Jacksonville.

3. Any advice on things the kids may love or not love? Ways to save $$ would be great!

4. What should we do on the ports of call? Freeport & Nassau

We are cruising Elation in 10days. We are driving to Jax from NC and are staying at the Microtel Inn & Suites near the airport. We've stayed at Microtel in other cities and they have been great. We decided to park at the port to avoid aggravation

I'll write up a trip report when I get back.

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Been a few weeks since I got off the elation (10-16/10-21) with kids close to the ages you are taking - mine are 10 & 13. Will be back on it 12-16 with kids again.

Yes, you can bring soda (12 pack) or 1 bottle of wine. We had cheers/bubbles, so didnt need to lug any of that around. The kids soda program is 4.95 per day, so you may want to check into that for the kids. Mine enjoyed going up to the bars and getting drinks and ordering in the dining room something from the "bar".

For the kids:

CAMP !!! My kids LOVE it. My 10 year old, I gave approval for her to be able to sign herself in / out of camp. She absolutely loved the games and activities. My 13 year old still hung out at camp and played video games and found some friends.

I opted to have their charging privileges turned off. There isnt anything on the ship they should be buying alone and it prevents panic if they do lose their card (they probably will).

Mine loved ordering room service - even if it was just cookies and milk. I let them tip the servers with cash that we kept near by. They will need their room # (example E-999) and name.

Free playing cards from the pursers desk kept the kids occupied a bunch.

The library also has a lot of board games to keep them occupied in the event there is a wait for dinner (we had ATD - and the library is right next to the imagination dining room).

Trivia - my kids enjoyed participating and we did it in a group -- unfortunately most of the trivia is right outside the casino bar, and its smoky.

They were not too impressed with the pool (we have a large backyard one anyhow) and the Waterworks must have still been under construction - it was up and open, but most times the water pressure was lacking.

My 10 year old did build a bear - its 25.00 and they get to pick a bear and stuff it. It also came with a cinch backpack. Well worth it to her.

We did SUESS AT SEA - it was our first time. Cute, but we wont do it again.

The shows are fun with kids too - early ones are best if you can manage it.

Nassau with kids - we opted to do a self guided hike up to the Queens Staircase and walk through the forts. Super do-able with kids and its not far at all. The forts do ask for a 3.00 "donation" per person, but this is optional - we paid a little extra to keep the place running. My kids loved the view from the top of the forts. Then we went into Diamonds International to get the free charm bracelets (my daughter loves these for some reason).

Then back to the ship for lunch and NO CROWDS.

Freeport -- no comment.

We are cruising Elation in 10days. We are driving to Jax from NC and are staying at the Microtel Inn & Suites near the airport. We've stayed at Microtel in other cities and they have been great. We decided to park at the port to avoid aggravation

 

I'll write up a trip report when I get back.

 

 

 

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If you are going to park at the port and get there fairly early (like 11-12), just park instead of trying to "drop off" and then park. Much easier to just park and drag your luggage to the terminal. The drop off line takes WAY TOO long.

If you are going to park at the port and get there fairly early (like 11-12), just park instead of trying to "drop off" and then park. Much easier to just park and drag your luggage to the terminal. The drop off line takes WAY TOO long.

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I don't know where you live, but we drive from VA and spend the night in Brunswick or Kingsland, GA. Both are less than an hour to Jaxport, and they are SO much cheaper than a "park and cruise" accommodation near Jacksonville. We get there by 10:30 or 11:00 and are usually among the first in the lot. Just a personal preference for us!

Thanks everyone for the advice so far! I'm getting excited. Cant wait to surprise everyone. We are flying in the night before and staying at a nearby Jacksonville hotel. I used my free rewards nights from past stays to get a free room! So we will probably just uber to the port.

We have stayed at the Holiday Inn Express Blount Island-very close to the port, but they no longer offer cruise packages. If you are the third floor in the front, you can see the funnel when the ship comes in. On Hechler (sp) heading out to the beach is a good restaurant called Sand dollar on the river, and you can watch the big ships go down the river-fun for dinner before the cruise.

We love to go to the beaches when we are in the Bahamas, IF it's warm enough-with kids, I would suggest Blue Lagoon (we don't have kids, just think like them) if not warm, perhaps the zoo?

Have not been to Freeport-yet. I keep reading that the port is a drag, industrial port, and that you want to go as far from it as possible.

I hope you have a great cruise, and that your family truly appreciates it!

I'll be on Elation for the first time in February, so I'm following.

I used SPG points to book at Aloft Jacksonville Airport. It has a free shuttle to/from the airport and I'll just take the Carnival shuttle for convenience.