Elation Review with tiny pictures 6/23-6/28

[maldenmusic]

Just back from my 8th CCL cruise and 5th one on the Elation. We tried FTTF this time just to see what it was like. We arrived in the terminal around 10:30 after parking at Fulton Garage and being shuttled over. We told the baggage handler that we were FTTF and he said not to worry, that he'd take care of it. Once through security, we were put in a different line for FTTF and there was no one else in our line. Our S & S cards had a sticker on the back that said FTTF. They did not give us a zone card as in the past but said to just go line up when they started calling people in. I did see other people with FTTF Zone Cards. They called the Diamond cruisers (one couple) first, then Platinum then FTTF and we were at the head of the line. We were on the ship by 11:15 and went straight to our cabin through the closed doors that said "Do Not Enter." Just showed them our S & S cards and no problem. We stayed on Empress, Cabin 9 which is a porthole room. Our luggage was already there waiting for us. Then up to Lido to eat and the line for the Mongolian Wok was almost empty. After lunch we went to Lido aft while we got ready to sail. The weather had gotten cloudy and it was very pleasant and not hot. As we left, there were a few rain showers. By that evening it was raining fairly well and we ate in the Lido buffet (we don't use the MDR much, preferring to spend our time on deck when possible). The Welcome Aboard show that evening was standard for the Elation but something we always try to see. Spent a little time in the casino also. The next morning (1st sea day) we ate omelets and were on the Lido aft by 8am to get a chair and lay in the sun. Imagine my surprise when my daughter and I were the first persons out there and had the whole place to ourselves for a while. This also happened the last sea day-we beat everyone else out on deck. Got in the pool for a while but mostly just enjoyed our chairs with a view of the Gulf. Spent a typical sea day for us and enjoyed sitting in the chairs outside the casino reading and people watching. The show that night was "Just Rock" and since we'd seen it before several times, we opted to just relax on deck. Our first port day was Progreso and we had booked the Carnival excursion to Uxmal Mayan Ruins. This was the first time we've ever booked an excursion through CCL because we prefer to save money and use a local tour. But the local tour was not going to have enough people to go to Uxmal so I'm glad we did it via CCL. The tour was well organized and on time. It was overwhelmingly hot at the ruins but a good time. We had been to Progreso 6 or 7 times previously and didn't even stop in the town. We did usual stuff that evening-Fun Shops, casino, etc. 2nd port day was Cozumel and we were in for an unexpected "surprise" when we pulled into Puerta Maya pier as scheduled only to turn around and high tail it out of there. We just kept getting further and further away from the pier and Carnival never announced anything about what was going on. The RC ship Oasis of the Seas was already docked at the pier next to PM and we could see 2 or 3 other ships just a bit further out. Finally they made an announcement that the seas were too rough to dock at PM and we would be going to Punta Langosta pier in San Miguel. Then they said that the captain would extend our day by 30 minute to make up for the lost time. By the time we had left PM, the Carnival Paradise pulled right into the pier at Puerta Maya so we couldn't figure out why they stopped there and we didn't. But no big deal-we'd never been to PL pier so it was something new. This pier is much larger than Puerta Maya and took longer to walk through but there were plenty of taxis waiting out front. We had our taxi driver take us to the downtown forum shops so we could hurry through the Diamonds International and go upstairs to the Discount Drugs and Souvenir shop where I restocked on some medications like I usually do. We then went to the beach at Playa Palancar where we have gone for years. It was a $22 taxi ride as expected. Palancar was beautiful as always and we had a nice lunch and drinks for around $30. Then back to the pier where we did some shopping before getting back on the ship about 20 minutes before sailing. We went to see "Win" that evening and it was the same as always-ok if you've never seen it before. Our last sea day was spent on deck lounging, eating, shopping then going to the Punchliner Comedy Club that evening. The 2comedians were Lance Montalto and Derrick Eason and they were mildly entertaining. Probably not as funny as others we've seen in the past. In between the things I've mentioned we played some Bingo, watched some dance classes and other games. I probably did more relaxing on this cruise than on my other 7 cruises which was ok by me. Our cabin did not have a ice bucket in it but all I had to do was ask our room steward Yasa for one and I had ice every evening. Another thing that was different was that when we got back to NOLA we pulled in like always, then turned around so the aft part of the ship was closest to the Mississippi River bridges. 6 cruises out of NOLA and that was the first time this had occurred. Because we were FTTF, we had a special line we could get in for debarkation and we were off the ship by 8am, much earlier than usual. As for our choice of cabins, being on the Empress Deck had some plusses and minuses. Our cabin happened to be almost directly under the Mikado Lounge stage and there was some definite noise from that. We could hear music and people walking. On the other hand it was convenient to everything we wanted to do. But in the future we will probably stick with a porthole cabin on the Upper Deck. Overall, this was a pleasant cruise and just about as exciting as I ever want to get ;) NOLA is the closest port to home so hopefully we will keep sailing on the Elation every year. My daughter and I are both school teachers and summer is about the only time we can cruise. The other passengers for the most part were not rude and even though we saw lots of teens they were well behaved. So I will rate this cruise as another successful and relaxing vacation.

[maldenmusic]

For some reason not all of my pictures got posted here. I'll try to add them again soon.

[WLHyatt]

Thanks for the review, we'll be on the Elation in December, hoping for some nice upgrades during the drydock.

 

Are the only outdoor bars the ones near the Lido Pool?

[Purvis1231]

Thanks for the good review, we be on the ship in less than two weeks.

[Lauriepoorie]

Great cruise great review

[MINILvr]

Good review!

I think we might have been sitting across from you waiting to board.

We had a great time, my husband might have enjoyed the "In the Bag" game a little too much. LOL!!

In fact, he and I booked the Mardi Gras sailing on the Dream while on board.

[maldenmusic]

Thanks for the review, we'll be on the Elation in December, hoping for some nice upgrades during the drydock.

 

Are the only outdoor bars the ones near the Lido Pool?

 

Yep as far as I know

[maldenmusic]

Good review!

I think we might have been sitting across from you waiting to board.

We had a great time, my husband might have enjoyed the "In the Bag" game a little too much. LOL!!

In fact, he and I booked the Mardi Gras sailing on the Dream while on board.

 

We looked at this cruise also but with it being during school time we couldn't figure out a way to do it.

[loubetti]

Trivia question: Did anyone see the photo of the twin port holes with their covers open?

 

What are those covers called?

[KirkNC]

Thanks for the report!

[Keith1010]

Enjoyed your review.

 

Keith

[GOUSFBULLS44]

Hello do you know if the Serenity area on Elation has a bar.:confused:

[h_blond2]

Hello do you know if the Serenity area on Elation has a bar.:confused:

 

It does not have a bar, but waiters are always coming around to take drink orders.

[GOUSFBULLS44]

It does not have a bar, but waiters are always coming around to take drink orders.

 

We are looking forward to cruising the river on the first night with a cocktail or two:)

[GOUSFBULLS44]

Hello again just two more questions, how long to get to the Gulf and is the casino opened on the first night at all.:confused:

[mazeke]

Thanks for the review. It put me at ease with our choice of cruising the Elation. There are several bad reviews for the ship. This is a minor question but can you tell me anything about the shampoo and conditioner on the ship? I called Carnival and was told not to use their shampoo and conditioner- can you believe that?? The woman said she had just sailed the Elation and the shampoo almost "ruined" her hair. With the restrictions on the airlines these days I hate to take any liquids that I won't really need.

Also, I couldn't help but notice where you live. Our daughter-in-law was born and raised in Malden and we made many trips to your town before her and our son and their 3 kids moved to northern Missouri. Small world. Thanks for the info.

[WLHyatt]

Hello again just two more questions, how long to get to the Gulf and is the casino opened on the first night at all.:confused:

 

It is about 7 hours and 30 minutes depending on river traffic and weather.

 

There are two really good write-ups on what you see as you sail down the Mississippi, one focusing on what you see in the city of New Orleans, and one that follows all the way down the river to the moment that the pilot disembarks in the Gulf.

 

Sailing down the Mississippi is one of my favorite aspects of New Orleans cruises.

[maldenmusic]

Thanks for the review. It put me at ease with our choice of cruising the Elation. There are several bad reviews for the ship. This is a minor question but can you tell me anything about the shampoo and conditioner on the ship? I called Carnival and was told not to use their shampoo and conditioner- can you believe that?? The woman said she had just sailed the Elation and the shampoo almost "ruined" her hair. With the restrictions on the airlines these days I hate to take any liquids that I won't really need.

Also, I couldn't help but notice where you live. Our daughter-in-law was born and raised in Malden and we made many trips to your town before her and our son and their 3 kids moved to northern Missouri. Small world. Thanks for the info.

 

The Elation has dispensers for shampoo and shower gel in the shower but not conditioner. I actually like the shampoo (the scent) and use it as well as the shower gel. As far as I know, it has never "ruined" my hair :D If there is a way you could send me a private message I'm curious to learn your daughter in laws maiden name. Malden is a small town and it seems like everyone knows everyone. I like the Elation-not the fanciest ship but after 5 cruises on it I can't say I've had many negative experiences. I like it better than I did the Triumph.

[maldenmusic]

Hello again just two more questions, how long to get to the Gulf and is the casino opened on the first night at all.:confused:

Yes the casino opens the first night. Not right away but it is open. The Fun Shops don't open until the 2nd day.

[GOUSFBULLS44]

It is about 7 hours and 30 minutes depending on river traffic and weather.

 

There are two really good write-ups on what you see as you sail down the Mississippi, one focusing on what you see in the city of New Orleans, and one that follows all the way down the river to the moment that the pilot disembarks in the Gulf.

 

Sailing down the Mississippi is one of my favorite aspects of New Orleans cruises.

 

Thank You

[tomsuelaw]

Thanks for taking the time to post! I like your tiny pictures ;)