Anyone recently on the Elation?

[u2harmony]

I am booked on 4 day Elation cruise out of Jacksonville in December for my husband and I. Suite cabin. Haven’t done this ship or port and wondered how it is. We are late 50’s and mostly just lounge chair people who enjoy quiet time. Heard they board on deck 7 and it’s a long walk up, is that an open air walk up? Slightly afraid of heights. No specialty restaurants but assume the food is good (I’ve always really loved the food on carnival).
Any info helpful. Much thanks. 

[canes20]

Fantasy class is out favorite. Will be a sad day if they all go the way of the dinosaur. We were on Elation in April and she was fantastic.

[havanadaydreaming]

Been almost a year, we liked Elation.  Missed a couple of the bells and whistles of newer ships but a good time was had by all.  

 

We sailed out of Canaveral. Never been to Jax! 

[Essiesmom]

It’s a zig-zag ramp, not too steep.  Are you flying or driving?  EM

[Jamman54]

This is the ramp to board the Elation. 

 

[simplelife]

Jacksonville is the simplest embarkation ever.  You park right by the ship and walkup the ramp -   open-air and rather steep. We did the Elation last spring out of Canaveral and are thrilled she is out of Jacksonville now (replacing Ecstasy) - we'll be sailing her again this spring. We are doing one of the panorama cabins which are located right of the Serenity deck.

[BobbiSox]

I'm happy to see nice things being said aout Elation. I live close to Jacksonville Port and haven't been on Elation for years. I'm now anxious to try it again. It's so conveninet. 

[ray98]

We were on the Elation 2 months ago and it was really hit or miss.  We have been on Fantasy class ships numerous times so we knew what to expect.  It wasn't the lack of all the new bells and whistles though that ended up being the issue, it was the food and service.  The Lido was pretty much a disappointment.  We avoided it after a couple of tries at different meals.  If the MDR wasn't open it was the deli, Guy's or Iguana.  The MDR was hit or miss, one night would be great service with hot food and the next a 2hour ordeal with cold food.   Drink service in the MDR was also bad.  Order taking and delivery was slow, one night we didn't even get our drink order until we were finished with the main.  I finally gave up and would just walk to the bar myself the last couple of days.

 

It was a mediocre experience at best since there were no specialty restaurants to escape to where you can just about guarantee a decent meal.

Edited October 10, 2022 by ray98

[woozles]

We had a nice time on Elation. I found the ramps to board challenging and steep. 

We ate in MDR a few times and lido a few times but for breakfast for me it was always Blue Iquana. Lido for me has always been a typical buffet experience, some good, some mediocre and some bad. 

Staff was excellent. Fellow passengers were a mixed bag, but nothing outrageous. 

 

[cruiseluver16]

On 10/10/2022 at 10:09 AM, ray98 said:

 We have been on Fantasy class ships numerous times so we knew what to expect.  It wasn't the lack of all the new bells and whistles though that ended up being the issue, it was the food and service.  The Lido was pretty much a disappointment.  We avoided it after a couple of tries at different meals.  If the MDR wasn't open it was the deli, Guy's or Iguana.  The MDR was hit or miss, one night would be great service with hot food and the next a 2hour ordeal with cold food. 

 

My husband and I were on the Elation last week.  We had pretty much this same experience.  Even in the MDR, the food was almost always cold.  The only thing that was consistently hot was the soup.  Otherwise, we really enjoyed the cruise, but for sure our worst food experience on cruises.

[canes20]

51 minutes ago, cruiseluver16 said:

 

My husband and I were on the Elation last week.  We had pretty much this same experience.  Even in the MDR, the food was almost always cold.  The only thing that was consistently hot was the soup.  Otherwise, we really enjoyed the cruise, but for sure our worst food experience on cruises.

When we were on Elation all the food was pretty darn good. Our soup wasn't hot though, the strawberry bisque was cold.

[Joe817]

15 minutes ago, canes20 said:

When we were on Elation all the food was pretty darn good. Our soup wasn't hot though, the strawberry bisque was cold.

Strawberry bisque, like peach soup, is supposed to be served cold. 

[Bostwick girl]

Only problem I have with Elation is the balcony rooms don’t have sofas! I am just getting too old to sit on a bed to try to relax or watch tv! The one we were in didn’t even have a chair! Had to bring one in off the balcony so DH had a place to sit! Yeah, everybody says they don’t spend that much time in the room, etc, but after 40 cruises we like to rest in the cabin, watch a little tv and hit the hay!  We’re only an hour away from Jacksonville so would love to go more often but not without a sofa!

 

 

[canes20]

34 minutes ago, Joe817 said:

Strawberry bisque, like peach soup, is supposed to be served cold. 

 

It was a joke Joe. Cruiseluver said their soup was consistently hot.

[Joe817]

1 hour ago, canes20 said:

 

It was a joke Joe. Cruiseluver said their soup was consistently hot.

Oh, ok. Like Rosanne Rosannadanna said, "Never mind". 

[CruiseHealing]

We spend more time on our balcony.  We are also at 40 cruises and we try to spend more time away from the crowds.  We are booking aft cabins when we can. We go to Serenity mid morning and leave by 2 pm.  That is If we go there at all.  After so many cruises we have seen pretty much everything on a cruise, so we know we are probably not missing anything.

 

Regarding the Carnival Elation, it is the best Fantasy class ship.  The Paradise would be second. We live in Jax and this morning we talk about how much we enjoyed the smaller ships for 4 to 5 day cruises.  I’m sure we will be on the Elation soon.

 

[CM1984]

 

We were on the Elation in April for 5 days out of Jacksonville.  It was the smallest ship we have ever been on.  We booked a suite, not a balcony as usual, because suites had a small sofa.  We were on deck 9, forward.  We enjoyed the smaller ship experience.  We are in early 70's, still quite mobile and active, and are simply not bells and whistles people.  I must agree, the Lido was not the best except for breakfast.  The BEST omelets in the world!  We relaxed, hung out at the Atrium bar and enjoyed Electric Waves violinists very much.  

We found staff to be efficient, helpful and pleasant - everywhere.  

Jacksonville is a pretty easy city to travel around.  We stayed at the Crowne Plaza the night before and left our car there, then splurged and booked a limo both ways.  

I would do the Elation again......  I hope you have a great time!

 

Mimi, Virginia

[CruiseHealing]

48 minutes ago, CM1984 said:

 

. . . then splurged and booked a limo both ways.  

I would do the Elation again......  I hope you have a great time!

 

Mimi, Virginia

Way to go big on the limo!  Keep it up and you could become a social media influencer!!!! 

[Bostwick girl]

19 hours ago, CM1984 said:

We found staff to be efficient, helpful and pleasant - everywhere.  

Jacksonville is a pretty easy city to travel around.  We stayed at

Funny you said about Jacksonville being an easy city to travel around. Lived there most of my life and DH is a native, and I can’t find my way around! We moved a bit south 20 years ago before the big growth, especially the north side where we lived. I hate going up there for anything!

 

[u2harmony]

Thank you all for the responses. Very helpful. 

 

I am looking forward to this trip, but NOT the steep ramp to the ship 🙂 I will close my eyes and walk it though because it's a cruise 🙂 

 

Flying into JAX the morning of departure and taking a cab or uber from the airport to port. 

 

We don't mind no bells and whistles on the ship  - my husband mostly hangs out on the balcony or a deck chair and reads and I make my time between deck chair, spa and casino so we're all good.  🙂 

[CM1984]

On 10/12/2022 at 3:12 PM, Bostwick girl said:

Funny you said about Jacksonville being an easy city to travel around. Lived there most of my life and DH is a native, and I can’t find my way around! We moved a bit south 20 years ago before the big growth, especially the north side where we lived. I hate going up there for anything!

 

I guess with GPS and exact destinations, we were fine.  😃😂

[CM1984]

7 hours ago, u2harmony said:

Thank you all for the responses. Very helpful. 

 

I am looking forward to this trip, but NOT the steep ramp to the ship 🙂 I will close my eyes and walk it though because it's a cruise 🙂 

 

Flying into JAX the morning of departure and taking a cab or uber from the airport to port. 

 

We don't mind no bells and whistles on the ship  - my husband mostly hangs out on the balcony or a deck chair and reads and I make my time between deck chair, spa and casino so we're all good.  🙂 

You sound like us, then you will have a lovely time.  Happy sailing!

[SmoothFlying]

On 10/13/2022 at 5:23 PM, CM1984 said:

You sound like us, then you will have a lovely time.  Happy sailing!

My wife and I will be on the Elation next January for the first time after 19+ Carnival cruises and three on RCL. While we're both on our 70's and in fairly good health, my wife uses a walker (sometimes) due to weakness in her legs when she walks too long. I kinda hate to hear about the steep boarding ramp  so I'll ask Carnival customer service IF we could get a wheelchair for her. I'd hate to see her get half\way up then tumble back down to the bottom. NOT my idea of the best way to start a cruise !! 

 

Mac

[SmoothFlying]

20 hours ago, SmoothFlying said:

. I kinda hate to hear about the steep boarding ramp so I'll ask Carnival customer service IF we could get a wheelchair for her.

After looking at the picture of the boarding ramp it not only appears to be quite steep BUT also (IMO) looks like, and this may not be the case, but also uncovered? Just curious and was wondering ...? 

Mac

[ray98]

5 minutes ago, SmoothFlying said:

After looking at the picture of the boarding ramp it not only appears to be quite steep BUT also (IMO) looks like, and this may not be the case, but also uncovered? Just curious and was wondering ...? 

Mac

 

It is covered.  The ramp is not overly steep but it is a solid incline all the way to the top.