Just back from Elation. Mixed emotions.....

[tiderfan]

I haven't sailed w/Carnival in over 10 years. Not really too impressed, but in the interest of time, I'll just list some things.

 

Good:

 

-embarkation at Mobile pretty efficient.

-cabins/bedding/comfort of cabin climate/amenities/room service

-ship still looking good. Pretty inside.

-meals in the MDR pretty good, nice variety.

-service in the MDR.

 

Bad: (these items are very important to me on a cruise)

 

-food/selection on Lido Deck (outside grill was good)

-prices on drinks must be highest in the industry. Just ridiculous

-BINGO. A big ripoff. The sessions last 5 minutes. They play 1 game!

-crew not overly friendly, by any means.

-entertainment at night is seriously lacking.

-slot tournament not run well.

-no past guest party on 4 day cruise.

 

None of this is the end of the world, but I really think the pricing has alot to do with some of it.

 

Thanks for reading!

[firefly333]

Bingo is for sure a rip off. Not a surprise. Im wondering if Carnival is cutting back on shows at night??

[tiderfan]

It appears that way. They certainly aren't focusing on them.

[sharecruises]

Just curious....WHY would you expect a past guest party on a 4 night cruise??

 

some other cruiselines don't even give you a lobster tail on the shorty cruises

 

at least Carnival still does

[S.S.Oceanlover]

Bingo is for sure a rip off. Not a surprise. Im wondering if Carnival is cutting back on shows at night??

 

I wouldnt be surprised. On Princess they are doing the same show 2 nights in a row. They say the showroom only holds 900 so it gives everybody a chance to see the show but it wasn't like that in the past.

 

I believe their reason is just a way of cutting back.

 

In the end I booked with them again. lol

 

Bill

[sharecruises]

That is nothing new...Princess has been doing that for some years now, that is the way they built and planned those ships...

they have more of a small ship feel that way....

 

I don't see any real facts here

 

(I do sense a little guy with yellow feathers running around squaking "The sky is falling, the sky is falling")

[firefly333]

I dont think anyone said the sky is falling ... I have wondered if carnival is substituting the comedian (in the lounge, not the theater) for the nightly show in the theater .. and cant seem to find anyone who knows, including you.

[Lv2Camp&Cruise]

Last year we did the Behind the Fun Tour and were told that the shows cost over 2 million dollars each and that this is why they were repeated several years before changing. With that in mind, so many repeat cruisers including myself just lose interest in going because we have seen them already. The new comedy clubs seem to be a huge hit because it is something different for guests imho. But I do agree that there needs to be new things added to entertainment lineup as not everyone enjoys the casino and karoake.

[jetskier]

Bad: (these items are very important to me on a cruise)

 

-food/selection on Lido Deck (outside grill was good)

-prices on drinks must be highest in the industry. Just ridiculous

-BINGO. A big ripoff. The sessions last 5 minutes. They play 1 game!

-crew not overly friendly, by any means.

-entertainment at night is seriously lacking.

-slot tournament not run well.

-no past guest party on 4 day cruise.

 

 

I was on the cruise before yours (Elation 10/9)

 

I found the food selection on the Lido to have increased over my past cruises. The omelet burritos were a new addition and tasted great.

 

Actually drinks prices while they have increased are still much cheaper than NCL's. Plus on Carnival if you buy a Classic drink, you can take the receipt to the casino cage and get a $5 match play coupon.

 

Bingo while it may be one session the payouts are $500-$5000. Cost was $20 for a 3-card. Also on the last seaday, there is a 7-session bingo with payouts of $100-$250. On NCL they push the electronic bingo cards for $49-$120. Payout on their games are around $100-$225 per 4-5 game session.

 

Crew not friendly??.......everyone I spoke to was great. I had several give me hugs on the last night as I went around saying goodbye to those we had met.

 

The ship is in a transition for the productions shows. They are changing both productions shows while at sea. This is normally done in drydock. My cruise did not have a Welcome Aboard Show and one of the production shows was a guest talent show. Once both shows are in place, things will return to the normal routines that are on the other ships.

 

Cant comment on the Slot as I didnt participate in it. The Blackjack tourny was run properly other than the fact that I didnt make it to the final table.:( Gem and Anna (casino host) were approachable and fun. I did get comp'd a couple of drinks from them and the pit bosses. So my time in the casino was good even through I loss about $300 on the blackjack tables.

 

Carnival does not have a past guest party on cruises less than 5-nights.

 

Have there been cuts and changes since the last time you sailed, yes. But this has been occurring on all the cruiselines as they tighten their belts. Some changes have been for the good and others not so good.

 

Dave

[S.S.Oceanlover]

That is nothing new...Princess has been doing that for some years now, that is the way they built and planned those ships...

they have more of a small ship feel that way....

 

I don't see any real facts here

 

(I do sense a little guy with yellow feathers running around squaking "The sky is falling, the sky is falling")

 

Came as a shock to me when I went last year. I was on the Caribbean Princess the first 2 years she came out and it wasn't like that.

 

Now I know what to expect.:)

 

Bill

[hawaiibound24]

Last year we did the Behind the Fun Tour and were told that the shows cost over 2 million dollars each and that this is why they were repeated several years before changing. With that in mind, so many repeat cruisers including myself just lose interest in going because we have seen them already. The new comedy clubs seem to be a huge hit because it is something different for guests imho. But I do agree that there needs to be new things added to entertainment lineup as not everyone enjoys the casino and karoake.

 

 

Are the comedy clubs on all ships? Elation?

[Tapi]

some other cruiselines don't even give you a lobster tail on shorty cruises

 

You call THAT lobster??

 

OP, I'm going to guess that your Elation cruise was substantially cheaper than a similar cruise on a different cruise line, so put things into perspective.

 

We returned a few weeks ago from a very inexpensive Carnival cruise. Although we enjoyed our time, we left feeling that it had been a cheap experience. We wouldn't call it bad, but we got what we paid for. Had we paid more, we would've been disappointed, but I kept reminding myself how much we'd paid for that cruise and it would make me realize that I was actually getting quite a bit of bang for my money.

[firefly333]

I wouldnt be surprised. On Princess they are doing the same show 2 nights in a row. They say the showroom only holds 900 so it gives everybody a chance to see the show but it wasn't like that in the past.

 

I believe their reason is just a way of cutting back.

 

In the end I booked with them again. lol

 

Bill

 

I havent been on Princess since I flew to Ft. Lauderdale for Caribbean Princess a couple of years ago .. they now do the same show twice :(

 

Shows at night are the main thing I love about cruising, so its one more reason to start cutting back how many I do. I am obviously cruising too much anyway.

[hawaiibound24]

You call THAT lobster??

 

OP, I'm going to guess that your Elation cruise was substantially cheaper than a similar cruise on a different cruise line, so put things into perspective.

 

We returned a few weeks ago from a very inexpensive Carnival cruise. Although we enjoyed our time, we left feeling that it had been a cheap experience. We wouldn't call it bad, but we got what we paid for. Had we paid more, we would've been disappointed, but I kept reminding myself how much we'd paid for that cruise and it would make me realize that I was actually getting quite a bit of bang for my money.

 

 

The way I look it it is these short cruises on the smaller ships are not my "dream" vacation, they are 3, 4, or 5 day getaway from the bad weather in the midwest..... i would much rather be eating lido deck buffet in Cozumel than eating at St Elmos in Indy when it is 20 degrees out and snowing.....these cruises are what they are.....

[Chirpbird]

That is nothing new...Princess has been doing that for some years now, that is the way they built and planned those ships...

they have more of a small ship feel that way....

 

I don't see any real facts here

 

(I do sense a little guy with yellow feathers running around squaking "The sky is falling, the sky is falling")

Why, when someone is posting his/her opinions, do you state "I don't see any facts here?" And, then follow that up with an insult to the OP? Are you really that frightened of folks who (gasp) may not have enjoyed their cruise?

[Onearmbandit]

I haven't sailed w/Carnival in over 10 years. Not really too impressed, but in the interest of time, I'll just list some things.

 

Good:

 

-embarkation at Mobile pretty efficient.

-cabins/bedding/comfort of cabin climate/amenities/room service

-ship still looking good. Pretty inside.

-meals in the MDR pretty good, nice variety.

-service in the MDR.

 

Bad: (these items are very important to me on a cruise)

 

-food/selection on Lido Deck (outside grill was good)

-prices on drinks must be highest in the industry. Just ridiculous

-BINGO. A big ripoff. The sessions last 5 minutes. They play 1 game!

-crew not overly friendly, by any means.

-entertainment at night is seriously lacking.

-slot tournament not run well.

-no past guest party on 4 day cruise.

 

None of this is the end of the world, but I really think the pricing has alot to do with some of it.

 

Thanks for reading!

 

We just came back from a 9 day cruise on Carnival and I have to admit the lido deck buffet/selection was a REAL disapointment. Dinner was slim pickins and and not very tasty......I was really disappointed with this........

The breakfast is so bad we just by pass it now and eat in port....or on sea days get room service and wait for the grill to open:D

[ILUVCRUZEN]

 

Bingo while it may be one session the payouts are $500-$5000. Cost was $20 for a 3-card. Also on the last seaday, there is a 7-session bingo with payouts of $100-$250.

Hey Dave, we just got off of the Triumph today and they didn't offer the 7 game session on our 5 day cruise. We had a 3 game once. The rest were only "1 game" games. We did have a pretty cool magic show one night.

[2bfirsttime]

We were the Elation in November. Sorry no review, I just have not had time. But I feel for what we paid we had a nice mini vacation. (we did the 4 day to Cozumel)

 

We felt like they were a little pushy with the drinks.. and they are expensive. I wasnt paying attention on the second day I think it was, and I purchsed two of the DOD's in the monkey head. It was my fault for not asking how much they were and again my fault for signing the slip without looking... IIRC the cost was something like $35 for those two drinks that had a small maybe 6oz cup inside. However they were strong. I think the best bang for your buck is a peach long island iced tea. Those were right around $10, not much more than you pay for them at any other place on land.

 

For us, we were not impressed too much with te MDR. The singing and dancing was worth going for. The food.. Just not really our style. For instance I ordered the fillet minon one night, it was covered in a sace that I did not care for. Another night we both ordered the prime rib, it was thin and cold, and a little tough, that could have been from being cold.

 

However the MDR for breakfast... that was one of my fav's. I loved the eggs benidict. The juice is really good in there too.

 

There was never a lack of things to do, its just a matter of reading your funtimes to find what fits your interest and lifestyle. But the bottom line is your on vacation, and if you choose CCL you know what your getting into before you go. There is no lack of information on this site.

[suezyq50]

We were the Elation in November. Sorry no review, I just have not had time. But I feel for what we paid we had a nice mini vacation. (we did the 4 day to Cozumel)

 

We felt like they were a little pushy with the drinks.. and they are expensive. I wasnt paying attention on the second day I think it was, and I purchsed two of the DOD's in the monkey head. It was my fault for not asking how much they were and again my fault for signing the slip without looking... IIRC the cost was something like $35 for those two drinks that had a small maybe 6oz cup inside. However they were strong. I think the best bang for your buck is a peach long island iced tea. Those were right around $10, not much more than you pay for them at any other place on land.

 

For us, we were not impressed too much with te MDR. The singing and dancing was worth going for. The food.. Just not really our style. For instance I ordered the fillet minon one night, it was covered in a sace that I did not care for. Another night we both ordered the prime rib, it was thin and cold, and a little tough, that could have been from being cold.

 

However the MDR for breakfast... that was one of my fav's. I loved the eggs benidict. The juice is really good in there too.

 

There was never a lack of things to do, its just a matter of reading your funtimes to find what fits your interest and lifestyle. But the bottom line is your on vacation, and if you choose CCL you know what your getting into before you go. There is no lack of information on this site.

I appreciate your in put. Leaving for in a few days for my first Carnival cruise, on the Elation.

[crewsweeper]

The way I look it it is these short cruises on the smaller ships are not my "dream" vacation, they are 3, 4, or 5 day getaway from the bad weather in the midwest..... i would much rather be eating lido deck buffet in Cozumel than eating at St Elmos in Indy when it is 20 degrees out and snowing.....these cruises are what they are.....

Hey maybe the OP should go to St Elmos and pay $47.95 for the Filet or Porterhouse plus another $9 for a salad and $50+ for a so-so red wine.

In perspective, makes the Chef's Table $ 75 seem like eating at Binford's.:)

[hawaiibound24]

Hey maybe the OP should go to St Elmos and pay $47.95 for the Filet or Porterhouse plus another $9 for a salad and $50+ for a so-so red wine.

In perspective, makes the Chef's Table $ 75 seem like eating at Binford's.:)

 

 

BTW, it IS snowing and 26 degrees in Indy today.... 27 more days and we will be on the Elation......

[jimc79]

We were on the Elation in September and had a great time, Food was good have never had a bad meal on Carnival. As for the drinks I had just returned from the Los Angeles before that cruise and the drinks were much less expensive than what I paid in LA. Go to a pro sporting event and buy a drink. Bingo is a rip off, they have to make up for fuel charges some how. They do say they can charge $9 per day per person if fuel is above $70 a barrel, its at $90+ and we'll see if they charge for this. We did have such a good time were going again next week, I'll report back.

[brilliantseas]

Are the comedy clubs on all ships? Elation?

 

Punchliner Comedy Club is offered on every evening of a Fun Day at Sea in the aft lounge on all Carnival ships. Typically two PG shows in the early evening and then three R-rated shows at 10:00, 11:00 and midnight. All shows will be performed on alternating schedules by two comedians. In other words, each will do a PG and either one or two R-rated shows each night at sea. The comedians do not typically perform after a day in port (this could be different on the Victory).