Just back from Elation 5/22-5/29

[SpringTXcruiser]

Hi everyone,

 

Just got back from the Elation 5/22-5/29. I'm not going to post a long, drawn out report, but if anyone has any questions I'd be happy to answer.

 

We did the Dzibulchaltun Ruins excursion in Progresso.

Cozumel-Paradise Beach, met Tom, rented a Jeep and drove to the other side of the island, went to Carlos 'n' Charlies.

In Belize we went on the Horshoe Reef & Caye Caulker Snorkle. (stingrays and baby nurse sharks)

 

We had 3 kids with us: 2 boys age 12 1 girl age 10.

 

Had a wonderful time. Is it too early to book a cruise for next year?????

 

tina

[LisaT12]

Tina, I am so glad you wrote this. We are going on the Elation in Aug. My husband, 2 daughters (10 and 8) and myself. I am really unsure of what excursions to take in Belize and Progresso. How was the swimming with the stingrays and sharks - was it through a private company? How was Camp Carnival for the kids - we have been on Carnival twice before so I have some idea, however it has been two years since we cruised last. Anything important that you think I should know would be greatly appreciated. Thanks.

[okiemom]

Welcome back. When are you going to post your review. I know you just got back but we are excited to hear what you have to say. We only have 187 days to go until the Elation.:)

[SpringTXcruiser]

Lisa,

 

The snorkle with the stingrays & nurse sharks was awesome! It's the Horseshoe Reef and Caye Caulker excursion. We booked it through Carnival, but since we are "experienced" now, we may try to book on our own next time. 2 of our kids got a bit intimidated when they had stingrays below them and the sharks above them, but had a wonderful time.

 

Not much to do in Progresso. The ruins trip was good, but hot. And quite a bit of walking. You go through a museum first, then to the ruins, then off to the cenote where you can get cooled off in the water. The other part of my group did the Hacienda Bike Trek in Progresso, and they seemed to like that as well. The kids seemed to talk a bit more about the poverty that they saw.

 

When I get to go on a cruise again, I will definetly do the cave tubing in Belize. I've heard so much about that excursion. You will get a better price booking it on your own. Try X-caret or www.belizecruiseexcursions.com. I actually had it booked but when you are travelling with a group, things change.

 

Our boys did not go to Camp Carnival but the 10 yr old girl did. She had a blast and met may new friends. She had sleepovers many nights on the cruise.

 

Since you've been on a cruise before I don't think much has changed. I suggest bring lots of $$$$ for the photos that they take. I ended up buy 20 of them!!!

[momnfrisco]

Tina,

 

Since your kids were younger than ours, you probably did not notice other age groups. However, if by chance, I am looking for the 15yr age group. I have seen where it is 15-17 and am just curious if that is actually correct or I have also seen 12 - 15.

 

Did you find one show that really stood out above the others? Do you remember the cruise directors name and what did you think of him/her?

 

Thanks for any details!

 

Barb

[SpringTXcruiser]

The cruise directors name was Jorge and he was hilarious!!!!! I believe he is on vacation right now, don't know for how long. My son is STILL repeating his jokes!!!!

 

As far as your 15 yr old.....it is age 15-17. I'm looking at my caper right now. Teen Scene with Deanna

 

4pm sail away party

7pm win lose or draw

8pm hot tub time

10pm teen disco

11pm special airbrush tattoos

1130 pizza and a movie

 

(just an example)

[SpringTXcruiser]

Lisa,

 

I just remembered this and thought you might like to know. They videotape the cruise, and you can buy the tape on the last day. The more you get out and get involved in the activities, the more you will be on the tape. It's a good souvinier to bring home. They also tape on some of the excursions, not sure if it's the same ones everytime or not.

[Shauna01]

I am going on the same cruise in January, and I would like to book my excursions myself if possible to save a little money. Any suggestions? This will be my first cruise. Can you wait untill you are there and find someone on the beach who will take you out?

[StaceyM]

Shauna,

We sailed the Elation last June. Go to the port of call boards and you will get some great info on booking excurions with private companies. In Belize we booked the shark/ray alley tour through Coral Breezes which was great and it was alot less expensive than the ship offered. We also go to go to Caye Caulker which is a little island with no motorized cars, just golf carts. It was really cool. The ship didn't offer it. Our only complaint about Coral Breezes was that one of their boats was broken down so they put about 40 people on a boat that was cramped... Other wise the trip was great!

[lchavez]

We were on the same sailing: 5-22 to 5-29.

We had a great time - did not want to get off the ship! My son is 9 y/o and loved every minute of it. he spent a lot of time at the pool/pizza station and ice cream bar. He did some of Camp Carnival, and liked it every time he did.

The service was outstanding, very friendly and they all did a great job. We did not like the buffet or choices on the buffet - so we ate dinner in the dinning room every night. We really enjoyed the food in the dinning room. the buffet just seemed too mass produced and not as good of quality of food. A couple of the shows were good - and a couple kinda boring, shows are really not our thing. We did enjoy some of the late night comedy acts - they were good.

We liked the casino - had fun, broke even probably. The CD was Jorge - and very funny and good. We did Bingo a few times and watched a few of the game show things - they were always funny. Our cabin was on the Rivera Deck, an Ocean View. it was nice and plenty big. The airconditioner worked great! ;-)

We did the Kodiak tour in Progresso through Carnival, not too great - but the tour guide was terrific. We booked online, not with Carnival, the snorkel/Snuba tour in Cozumel, it was good, except the sea was really rough that day - and made us really sea-sick. We did the Caye Caulker/stingray alley/snorkel tour in Belize with Corral Breezes - it was great, good tour. Nice people. Belize was much better for snorkeling.

 

We had a great time - our first cruise, we can't wait to do it again!

Lisa

[suleigh83]

Do you know if the waterslide is open? We are leaving Sunday? Also, can you bring a small cooler with softdrinks in it? One more thing is there a fridge in the room, and ice machines on the floor somewhere? Thanks

[lchavez]

Yes the water slide was open. You can bring a small cooler is you like, the soft ones would work best. I do not know where the ice machines were - Our room steward keep our ice bucket always full :-)

We did not have a fridge.

[smackdaddy]

This is my first post....so disregard any mistakes. Myself and my new bride were on this same cruise, in cabin V9. We did the Uxmal tour through Carnival, did the Dolphin Discovery at Chunkanaab park independently in Cozumel, then went with Reggie Tours in Belize for the cave tubing. I had read before that if you go to the Mikado Thursday morning and get the sticker like you are on the ship's tour you can get on one of the first tenders. It's true. We sat on the right side as you go in and went with part of Carnival's group (250+)on the tender. We received a personal tour with Jahmai and Lenny of Belize City and were taken through an additional cave when we got there. We caught up to Carnival's group at the end and had our picture taken by the Carnival staff...and the cost was $50 each. We were back on the ship at 3:00 p.m. I hope to post a review in the near future....

[bc3536]

Do you know if the waterslide is open? We are leaving Sunday? Also, can you bring a small cooler with softdrinks in it? One more thing is there a fridge in the room, and ice machines on the floor somewhere? Thanks

 

The slide was open daily at set times. Yes you can bring a cooler and if the room stewart does keep it filled, just ask. My DH and I just got back and we took 2-3 liters of soda each in our check luggage.

[mstea]

Going on the Elation June 19th.. has anyone done the Chichen-Itza Mayan Ruins? We have teenagers and they were interested in that excursion..

 

What would be best be in Belize and Progrosso

thanks.

[alleghator]

This is my first post....so disregard any mistakes. Myself and my new bride were on this same cruise, in cabin V9. We did the Uxmal tour through Carnival, did the Dolphin Discovery at Chunkanaab park independently in Cozumel, then went with Reggie Tours in Belize for the cave tubing. I had read before that if you go to the Mikado Thursday morning and get the sticker like you are on the ship's tour you can get on one of the first tenders. It's true. We sat on the right side as you go in and went with part of Carnival's group (250+)on the tender. We received a personal tour with Jahmai and Lenny of Belize City and were taken through an additional cave when we got there. We caught up to Carnival's group at the end and had our picture taken by the Carnival staff...and the cost was $50 each. We were back on the ship at 3:00 p.m. I hope to post a review in the near future....

 

How was the Uxmal tour? How long was the drive? Lunch included?

 

You just pretended you were on a ship's tour in Belize? Did anyone ask you? I don't kow if I could lie right to someone, but I could just get in a group if no one is going to question me.

 

--Heidi

[smackdaddy]

The trip to Uxmal was approximately 2 hours. We stopped about 15 miles from the site on the way there at the highest elevation in that area (300 feet or so) for the view, and also there is a place to buy gifts. The Uxmal site was interesting. It was hot, 90-95 degrees or so. Iguanas were running around like squirrels. Our tour guide was very knowledgeable about the site and said he spent many years researching. The rep on the bus was Gama and he did a great job making the trip go by quick. They provided a sack lunch consisting of a sandwich, and a few snacks and water. We stopped in Progresso on the way back for shopping.

 

As far as the Belize issue, we went into the Mikado lounge where they are passing out various stickers for shore excursions around 8:00 a.m. The first tender goes on a horseback riding excursion and the second, third etc goes to the cave tubing. It was convenient getting the second tender so that time and getting back to the ship before it leaves does not become an issue. The tender probably held 150 people and there were 5 more smaller ones waiting. We ate lunch with the locals at the cave tubing site and passed by the Cheers cafe on the way back to Belize City. That is where the Carnival group was having lunch.

[momof4boys]

Sounds so wonderful! I cwn't wait....7-17-05.:)

[aimeenron]

Okay I am finding myself obsessing on this now... did the "new bedding upgrade" reach the Elation yet? Holiday has had the new bedding for a while and I just learned that all ships may not have the new mattresses and down comforters yet... can you report on this?

[mstea]

:confused: I'm wondering about the bedding also... Hopefully we will have it...

[blueagave]

I read somewhere else on this board that the Elation did have the new bedding....we'll see in only 11 more days!

[txteachers]

I am going on the same cruise in January, and I would like to book my excursions myself if possible to save a little money. Any suggestions? This will be my first cruise. Can you wait untill you are there and find someone on the beach who will take you out?

 

We are all about saving money - - and this is exactly what we did - -

Progreso - $2 bus tour, then walked to the corner - there are independents all over the place trying to take you places. There were 6 of us, got a van taxi to take us to the Dzilbilchaltun Ruins, waited for us and returned us for $65 total - then it was $6 each for entry fee (13 and under are free). When we returned had time to walk to the beach.

 

Cozumel - - Again independents all over, but I knew where we wanted to go. Look at www.cozumelinsider.com for some great ideas and coupons

 

Belize - - This was a little more adventurous, took a Water taxi (5 min walk from pier) to Caye Caulker $17.50 RT pp, found someone in Caye Caulker to take us snorkeling for $17.50 pp.

 

HAD AN AWESOME TIME!!! Saved lots of money - - just plan, know times you need to return to ship. Do some research. Attend the excursion talk they'll give on the ship which may also give you some ideas as to what you want to do.