Elation review 3-24 - with pictures!!

[beachbum6264]

I love to read all the reviews I can find for any ship I’m even thinking about sailing on, and I know I’m not the only one…. so I’m going to do my part to give you something to read – and throw in some pictures, too.

 

The cast of characters for this cruise: Me (on my PLATINUM cruise!!), my SIL Melissa (on her 4th cruise), and our mothers, both cruise virgins. Here’s our story:

 

On Friday, March 23 we loaded up and headed south. We spent the night in Slidell at the Microtel – nice enough rooms for about $70.

The next morning we got up and headed into NOLA. We thought we might stop at Café Du Monde for beignets, but the line was all the way around the building (Saturday morning, spring break time) so we changed our mind and just headed to the port.

I’m like a little kid… looking for that first sighting of the funnel – There it is!!!!!!

 

 

We pulled into the parking garage at about 10:30 ($80 for the 5 nights), handed over the luggage to the porters (tipped well), and got a decent parking place close to the elevator (my mother has some mobility issues and uses a cane). Through the security check (they never opened my carry-on, which contained 2 bottles of wine and a case of diet ginger-ale), but I did set off the metal detector – it may have been my knee replacement. Then we were ready to hit the VIP embarkation for the first time!!! My mom and I were in U125 (ocean view) and my SIL and her mom right next door. We showed our boarding passes and the nice lady at the door said all 4 of us could stay together and go to the VIP area. I wasn’t expecting that, but it was nice of them. They just went and got the SS cards for the others. We grabbed a couple of cookies since we missed out on the beignets, and were checked in quickly. Nice lounge area with comfy chairs. They explained the SS cards to our moms and told them “Welcome aboard”, told my SIL, “Welcome Back” and told me “Welcome Home!” Then we headed out to sit and wait for them to let us board. This is a nice view if you have to wait:

 

 

They called the wedding parties first, at about 11:15, then VIP, and off we went! So far I’m liking this platinum stuff! By 11:30 we were up in the Tiffany buffet on the Lido deck, and no having to hunt for a table. Yep, platinum is good!

 

After we ate, we headed to the Serenity deck to relax and have our first DOD. Once I have a Funship Special I know I’m on a cruise…. so I was in full cruise mode.

 

 

We spent the afternoon sitting on the Serenity deck, watching the city and the RCCL ship behind us, and just enjoying being where we were!

 

 

Muster drill seemed a little more in-depth this time. We were by the Lido pool for ours. We listened and watched about how to put on the flotation devices and where to go. Other groups had to go to their actual muster station from the area they heard the safety briefing (we were already at ours) – it seemed to last much longer this time – I guess that’s a good thing, tho. I’m not complaining, and everyone seemed to be paying attention.

Soon enough, we’re back on the Serenity deck (becoming a habit we would not break this week!) we have company:

 

 

and we are moving….

 

 

Ahhh…. I’m on a cruise. All is good.

[beachbum6264]

Sailing out of NOLA is interesting – it takes several hours to get down the Mississippi River to the Gulf. There are several good turns in the river, too.

You can see the RCCL ship in this picture, the Elation was docked between it and the bridge.

 

 

Someone is following us!

 

 

After watching the river for a while we headed down to our cabins to unpack and rest a while before dinner. We had late seating in the Inspiration dining room (aft).

 

our cabin:

 

 

 

The big old box is still in the corner – it doesn’t matter if the beds are separated, but if they are together it’s really in the way. Since the life jackets fit nicely on the upper shelves in all the other closets, it seems like they would take these out at some point.

No basket of goodies in the bathroom this time, not sure if that is normal now, but I never really used much of them before, so I didn’t miss it. Our room steward, Watchey, did a great job. She kept my cooler full of ice so my wine was chilled and the ginger-ales were cold. I did show my appreciation at the end of the cruise.

 

Dinner in the MDR tonight, and every night. We were seated at a large table, all women. Turns out one of them had started a thread on the Carnival Forums that I had posted to! Small world, this internet! Our waiter was Georgie – my SIL had been on the Elation a few weeks before and he was her waiter then, too!

 

SIL and her mom went to the Welcome Aboard show, my mom was worn out so I went back to the cabin with her. Ready to be rocked to sleep like a baby….

 

[beachbum6264]

Sunday – at sea.

These pictures pretty much sum up our day:

 

 

 

 

Throw in a Kindle, and that about covers it!

 

The show for late seating was at 7:00 – Just Rock. Not bad, I’ve seen much worse!

Dinner was our Elegant night – lobster all around

 

 

Yes, that plate has 2 lobster tails… sometimes they’ll put 2 on one plate, sometimes they bring 2 entire plates. That’s a waste, all I want is the lobster and shrimp. Georgie was great and brought 2 for me.

 

We headed to the Cole Porter lounge for comedy after dinner – stayed for both adult shows and was not amused by either one. This is the first time I’ve been disappointed in the comedy.

[Macklovin38]

Enjoyed reading your review. I cruise for the first time ever on 04/07 on the Elation. Very excited!!

[1love]

Thanks beachbum for your review and pics!!! I will be cruisin for the 1st time on the Conquest in July and then on the Elation in November. Congrats on becoming a VIP!!! I will be also sailing out of NOLA :D... Thanks again, your summary was really helpful :)

[vivavegas]

Thanks for your review Beachbum! Great photos too!

[PathfinderEss]

Thanks for doing a review of your cruise. Great pictures.

[keystonemama]

Ahhh....beignets...nothing like sitting at Cafe' Du Monde on a Sunday morn with a large cup of java and a plateful of that delectable pastry while listening to live trumpets and singing of "When the Saints Go Marching In"....

Thanks for the review......and memories......:)

Happy Sailing,

[beachbum6264]

Monday – Progreso

 

This is the 3rd time I’ve been to Progreso – I’ve enjoyed every one. It’s a different kind of port, not quite so commercial, yet. It still has the feel of a small, old town. If you’ve never been here you are docked at the end of a very long pier (4 or 5 miles long, depending on what you read!). Once you are off the ship you go through a shopping area

 

 

and board a bus to get to town.

 

 

 

They used to drop you off right at the end of the pier next to an open air shopping area. Now they take you to a large parking lot closer to the beach. The vendors are now in this lot. It was a good thing for my mom, we were just a couple of blocks behind Le Saint Bonnet – our destination for lunch.

 

Before we headed out of the parking area, we got tickets for the double decker bus ride (3 buck truck). It’s a great way to see the town. Here’s one of the busses, they’ve been painted since my last trip

 

 

Off the bus and down the street for lunch –

 

 

If you google Le Saint Bonnet you can find a coupon for a free margarita… I printed one for each of us

 

Not the only ones we had!

[beachbum6264]

Thanks for all the kind words... it's fun to relive the cruise as I write. I have a FCC burning a hole in my pocket....... :D

[beachbum6264]

We ordered a few things to sample – mixed ceviche (shrimp, conch, and octopus)

 

, grilled grouper,

 

 

nachos, and quesadillas. Yummmmmm.

 

After some good food (and more margaritas) we headed across the street to the beach. Next on our must do list: massage on the beach. SIL, her mom, and I got hour long massages (my mother doesn’t like random people rubbing her, she doesn’t know what she’s missing!). The 3 of us for $45 total. We tipped well, they did a great job. A massage, on the beach, under a palm tree, after a few margaritas…. it doesn’t get much better!

 

we were on the 3 tables in the front

 

 

After the massage? Yep, more margaritas! If you’ve read any of my other reviews, this picture looks familiar!!

 

 

We spent a nice afternoon sitting in the sun, cooling off in the water, and just generally enjoying life. Yes, there are some vendors on the beach, but a smile and a “No, thank you” and it’s not a problem. We did buy some wooden things from one guy – I got a mortar and pestle and mom got a wooden pear. Nicely made, good price (I think I paid $7)

 

Our view down the beach:

 

 

Back to the parking lot for the long ride back down the pier

 

A last look back… wondering how long it will be before I return

 

[beachbum6264]

Our departure was a bit late. Unfortunately, there was some kind of medical emergency that could not be handled on the ship. An ambulance pulled up beside the ship to transport the person. I never heard what happened, but hope they are fine now.

The shops close up quickly

 

 

and then we are heading off to Cozumel

 

 

Georgie really gets into the dancing, maybe a little too much!!

 

 

They had the Marriage Show at 10:30 – funny as always. Then off to get some sleep – Cozumel and Nachi Cocom tomorrow.

I'll finish this tomorrow -

[PreciousCruiser]

Thanks so much for posting and for the coupon and massage info. Looking forward to the rest.

[plynn]

Thanks for your Elation Review! We will be on the Elation for B2B cruises in June!...only 78 days!!!

[blueangel74]

Great review so far. Congrats on becoming platinum. I'm sailing on Elation w/ my sister, nephew, & nephew's girlfriend(Their 1st, my 4th.).:D

[nathand95]

Great review and pictures! I'm looking at going on the Elation in 2013 on the same itin after graduation with some friends. Were the seas rough at all? I love rough seas and look forward to stumbling around:p. Can't wait to read the rest tomorrow.

[kewpie]

what does it mean to be platinum on the carnival ships? I didn't know they had categories. I know that RCCL does, but how does the Carnival program work?

[summercruising]

Thanks for your review! Did you wear your swimsuits with a cover up into Progreso or was there a place to change? Was there a charge to use the beach? Chair? How was the water? I'm going at the end of the month and looking forward to it! I'm taking my 25 yr old daughter on her first cruise...this will be my 4th.

[Herfnerd]

Enjoying the review and especially the pix - cruising on her in 39 days with my fiancee, her sisters and their husbands.

 

Can't wait!!!

[beachbum6264]

Thanks for your review! Did you wear your swimsuits with a cover up into Progreso or was there a place to change? Was there a charge to use the beach? Chair? How was the water? I'm going at the end of the month and looking forward to it! I'm taking my 25 yr old daughter on her first cruise...this will be my 4th.

 

I always wear my swimsuit with a sundress as a cover-up. The beach is free - the bars/restaurants across the street 'manage' the area in front of their place. You are welcome to use their chairs if you are buying food/drink from them. Not many have lounge chairs. I've seen the water crystal clear, and I've seen it dirty/cloudy. It depends on the weather. This time it was pretty clean, just a little seaweed on the beach. I grew up on the gulf coast of Florida, so I'm used to that kind of water.

 

Heading out to get the oil changed in my car... will finish up later.

[beachbum6264]

Tuesday – Cozumel

 

We had room service delivered for breakfast this morning. Mom needs her coffee, but I’m not a huge breakfast eater – so I hung the room service tag on the door the night before and wrote in my request for breakfast – a BLT! I figured they tasted pretty darn good at 2:30 in the morning… they should be just as good at 7:30! I was right.

We were docked at the International pier – the Magic and the Paradise were at Puerta Maya, a Disney ship was downtown.

 

 

The NCL Spirit was next to us

 

 

We headed off the ship as soon as the first mad rush was over,

headed through the shopping area

 

 

and grabbed a taxi to Nachi Cocom. This was my first time there – I’ve always gone to Paradise Beach but with 5 ships in port I figured it would be crazy busy and we all just wanted a nice quiet beach day. Nachi Cocom fit that – perfectly.

This was our spot for the day

 

 

The service was great – as soon as I even thought I was almost done with a drink Carlos was there asking if I needed another. Uno mas was the order of the day! I’m not sure how many margaritas I had….it was more than 1!!

The food was good, too. My SIL and I shared appetizers – nachos and guacamole, our moms did the same

 

 

Main course: I had grouper again today. It was amazing.

 

 

We never had room for dessert. No matter, the margaritas made me happy enough!

 

[LBumb]

nice job

[Westbank is bestbank]

Thanks for the review. I went on the Elation this past November and loved it. Your review brought back a few memories and made me smile :)

[beachbum6264]

Nachi Cocom is beautiful – we had just what we wanted – a nice quiet beach day with great service, good food, and adult beverages. I will be back again, for sure.

 

 

I predict this will be my dh’s favorite spot

 

 

 

There is a pool with a swim-up bar – we never made it into the pool, maybe next time.

 

 

Our moms wanted to do some shopping since it was their first time in Cozumel, so we tipped Carlos nicely and headed back to the port to give them time to shop. I think this was the 10th time I’ve been to Cozumel, so I have enough t-shirts thank you very much!

 

Bye Cozumel …. see you again (soon, I hope)

 

 

Dinner in the MDR again tonight – and Georgie was once again having a rather good time! (don’t ask!!)

 

 

 

The show at 10:15 tonight was “Win” – an unusual premise, but a fairly good show. I enjoyed the Chinese dragon bit the most. The Fun Times had a notation about this being a PG show due to costumes… I am at a loss as to why – I didn’t see anything that I thought was PG rated (I’m pretty liberal, tho, but my mother didn’t see anything PG, either!)

 

 

 

 

[bluehenfan]

Really enjoying your review, especially loved pictures and report on Nachi Cocom. Thanks!