Elation 1/23-1/28 review

[PhotoPete]

Just finished unpacking from our Carnival Elation 5 night voyage. Had a good time despite the wife catching a cold day 2.

 

Embarkation Day 1: We arrived at the cruise terminal in New Orleans around 11:30 by automobile. We had a scheduled arrival time between 11am and 11:30. We elected to park at the port, it was 90 dollars for the 5 night cruise. Porters are available on the first floor of the parking garage, we dropped off my wife's two suitcases and my one suitcase and tipped the porter. Proceeded to level 4 and parked, took the elevator down to level one and entered the processing area. Had about a 5 minute line to get through security and then about a 10 minute line to get our S&S Cards. We were assigned zone 14 and took a seat. Took about 20 minutes to get called and away we go. Decided to grab a bite to eat at the buffet. Not a long line to get food but it was hard to find a seat. Cabins were ready by 1pm. We were in cabin R131. Cabin steward was Ruel, he did a good job. Luggage was delivered by 2pm. Took the wife about 30 minutes to decide the best place to store the 10 pair of shoes she brought with her. At about 3:30 the dreaded emergency drill commenced. We were in muster station C. While mustered, the cruise director Hennie gave the instructions in various accents which was kind of funny. We then marched two by two out to the lifeboats. It was a cool day in New Orleans so no one suffered from heat stroke. After the drill finished, we went back to the cabin to finish unpacking. We had anytime dining. The wait the first night was around 30 minutes. We both thought the food in the Inspiration Dining Room was quite good through the entire cruise. Went to the welcome aboard show later that evening and then turned in for the night.

[PhotoPete]

Day 2: Fun Day at Sea.

 

Slept in a bit and finally went up to the buffet for breakfast. Food was OK. Seas were smooth as glass but the air was rather cool so there were very few people out by the pool. We explored the ship. There are not many shopping venues on Elation. Had a few drinks, watched some TV. Went to dinner around 7pm, the wait was around 10 minutes. For some reason, the service was very slow, it took us about an hour and a half to finish dinner. The food again was good. Since wife was not feeling well we retired to our cabin after dinner for the night.

[PhotoPete]

Day 3: Cozumel.

 

Had breakfast at the buffet, food was OK. Headed ashore around noon. We limited ourselves to the port area. Purchased some T-shirts and other junk. Stopped and had a drink at Fat Tuesdays and watched an 80 year old drunk woman pole dance.....unbelievable but true. Suggested to the wife, who is only 62 to get up there but she gave me one of those looks, so that didn't happen. Headed back to the ship by 2pm. Wife went to take a nap and I headed up to the Lido deck for some sun and whiskey. After a few, went back to the cabin and got the wife moving again. Poor thing was not feeling all that great so I let her lay down till dinner time. Again went to the Inspiration Dining Room. Had about a 20 minute wait. Food was very good and service was much better. Retired to the cabin after dinner as wife was not feeling all that great.

[PhotoPete]

Day 4: Progresso.

 

Today was the big day, a trip to Chichen Itza. Thankfully, the drugs that my wife purchased in Cozumel had her feeling much better today. There is a drugstore in the port area. We were off the ship shortly after docking and in line on the pier. We were then escorted though the modest shopping area to a tour bus. The bus was very nice and comfortable as it should be for the nearly 2 1/2 hour ride. One you are outside of Merida there is little to see, mostly just jungle. We stopped at a tourist trap for a bathroom break of about 20 minutes. We were given our lunch when returning to our bus. No expense was spared for our lunch, a bottle of water and a ham sandwich....and don't forget the smallest apple on Earth. Sadly you can't smuggle food off the ship, there are dogs there to greet you and sniff for contraband on the pier. The lunch Carnival provides is a joke. It would not satisfy our 5 year old great-granddaughter. My 5 foot tall wife was still hungry and to me it was a snack. Anyway, we arrived at Chichen Itza shortly after consuming lunch. We were given out entrance tickets and started walking. You will walk a lot on the grounds. It was a warm day so bring some extra water with you. We brought some bug repellant but didn't use it as there were no biting insects attacking us. We were at the ruins about an hour and 45 minutes. Back on the bus for another exciting 2 plus hour ride back to Progresso. Lucky for me I fell asleep on the ride back to the ship. If you are into Mayan ruins this is a good tour. We got back to the ship around 4:30 and headed up to the buffet for some food, we were starving. Departure from Progresso was delayed and we got going around sunset. Again ate at the Inspiration Dining Room with a wait of 15 minutes or so. Again food was very good. We retired to our cabin after dinner.

[PhotoPete]

Day 5: Fun Day at Sea.

 

First half of the day was nice and warm with plenty of outside activity at the pool. We found some chairs and had a few drinks and ate. It started to cloud up and became very windy so we went below to our cabin for a nap. After a good two hour power nap, we went back on the Lido Deck only to find it was much colder and a light rain falling. Bummed around the ship and headed down for dinner around 6pm. Very short wait, I think we just about walked right in. Again the food was good. We then attended the show, something about rock and roll music. If any of you are fans of Queen you gotta see this show. Did an awesome rendition of Bohemian Rhapsody along with a bunch of other classic rock hits. We then went to the 9:30 punchliner show. Neither of us thought the comedian was funny. After the show we went back to the cabin and the wife had to put all of her shoes back into the suitcases which were put out into the passageway. We then retired for the evening.

[PhotoPete]

Day 6: Debarkation New Orleans.

 

Woke about 6:45 and went to the Inspiration Dining Room for breakfast. Again the food was good. We were in group 22. We waited for our number to be called on the Promenade Deck and were walking off Elation at 9:55am. The line to get off was way longer than the line to get on the ship. We were driving out the parking garage by 10:40.

 

We have been on 8 cruises. We found the Elation to be a good value. We enjoy the ship and would sail Elation again. Any question just ask.....Pete

[LaCal]

Thanks for your review and glad u had fun

[Tonkel]

Did you happen to catch any live music on the ship?

[PhotoPete]

Did you happen to catch any live music on the ship?

 

Not really, just what was playing when we walked by.

[Robfromcharlottesville]

I'm sailing on Elation in a few days and am looking forward to it. What were your favorite starters and entrees you had in the MDR that I should make sure not to miss?

 

Also, I understand they no longer serve lobster on formal night. Do you know what they replaced it with?

 

Thanks!

[teachswim]

Thanks for the review. We set sail in 8 days. Looking forward to someone else doing all the the cooking and cleaning!