Elation Birthday Cruise December 15-20, 2012 Picture Journal and Review

[athenasbyshanna]

My life vest wouldn't keep air so I felt like I had to tread water the whole time and I got pretty tired. But it was so much fun and we saw so many fish and pretty purple and colorful coral! Matt saw stingrays in the sand, but they would bury themselves every time I tried to look at them.

We did this for an hour or 2 and then got out. We were Tired!

My favorite picture of Lauren! Mean-muggin' haha

Matt tried to scare me underwater and pinched me like he was a fish and then promptly got his karma. As Laauren put it, "One of those little stinkers bit Matt"!

[athenasbyshanna]

We were famished! Luckily there was a restaurant right there, so the boys returned our snorkel equipment and we got a table. There were 2 gentleman playing and singing and they sang us a few songs.

Dawna was feeling pretty good after drinking some margaritas on the beach while we snorkeled. She gave them a generous tip! :p

Me and Matt

We shared the Mexican plate and Guacamole appetizer. This was the BEST guac I have ever had! I need the recipe. Soooo delicious!

Lauren had Fajitas

 

[athenasbyshanna]

Dawna had enchiladas, I think

And Alex had. . . . . . a Burger!!!! in Mexico!! Silly! It did look delicious though

Matt and I spent $28 with tip, I think. I had a beer and he had a soda.

The guac was $9.95 and I almost didn't order it, but I am so glad I did as I loved it and it was a huge portion

There were these kids playing with the palm tree next to us at the restaurant. They were tearing it apart and we weren't going to say anything because they did stop. But then they came back after talking to their parents, who were in the restaurant, watching them, not caring one bit that they were tearing up a beautiful part of the beach. We kinda got in a yelling match with the dad because he kept saying "Its fine" when we tried to tell them to stop or tell him they were ruining nature. Ugh I hate it when people don't parent their children. They finally left but the poor tree

More Chankanaab pics before leaving

[athenasbyshanna]

Lauren and Alex did go back to that store and Alex bought Lauren the ring she liked. It was a really cool stone called Alexandria(?). It starts of greenish and turns purple in the sun! I don't think I have a picture. . .

More Chankanaab pics

Oops, this was before we went to Chankanaab:

[athenasbyshanna]

Took a cab ride back to the port.

A little bit more shopping then rushed back to the ship!

Tried to get a picture with them all behind me, haha, I look mad!

Our ship

 

[athenasbyshanna]

There were long lines to get back on the ship at both gangways so I took some more pictures

There were some cool looking fish in the clear blue water - can you seee them?

Matt's almost smiling in this one so i had to post it

We were trying to get us between the two ships

Lines

[athenasbyshanna]

We didn't depart by 4 like we were supposed to. I saw lots6 of crew members in line behind us, so it wasn't just passengers waiting till the last minute!

 

A note I forgot about in Progreso. We bought some liquor - Sheridans cause we can't get it at home and Godiva white chocolate liquor cause it was so much cheaper! It's at least $36 a bottle here and we got both bottles for $40 total in Progreso at the Duty free store. In Progreso, they told me to take the liquor to the table and we did since we wanted it for home,anyways. In Cozumel, they didn't say anything about the Tequila I had in my bags, so I took it to the room. I wasn't drinking it on the ship, but if I had wanted to, it would have been a breeze!

 

Lauren and Alex booked massages after Cozumel on the ship, so Matt and I explored alone for a while before dinner. It was nice not having to worry about anyone but the 2 of us!

Little Christmas village made by the chefs

Took some pics of the buffet

It wasn't open yet

[athenasbyshanna]

Oh, this was when I went to the spa to check the specials and decided to take some pictures

 

[athenasbyshanna]

the gym

Spa Special

Pretty lights

[athenasbyshanna]

I think we just got ready for dinner after that so here come the dinner pictures, including food porn!

Pretty candle napkin art

More shots, Hua? Oh, ok.. . .

Just the girls taking BJs tonight!

I had to start sneaking pictures of Alex's food or he would cover it up!

Frog legs

[athenasbyshanna]

Chicken tenders in Thai spices - not as good as I had hoped

Matt made a funny. . .

Lobster Bisque - not as creamy as I'm used to but delicious! And I loved the lobster tail shaped crouton!

Bacon mac and cheese - good, but a little dry, could have used more sauce

Chateaubriand - it was good! Of course Matt's looked better than mine again!

Fried Fish and shrimp - the shrimp were amazing! melt in your mouth

 

[athenasbyshanna]

Lauren and I walked upstairs to get a drink. I can't remember which one this is but it was peachy

Capucino Ice cream cake was delicious!

Cute at dinner

We headed to the Mikado lounge to get seats for the show that night. I'm blanking on the name of it right now. . . Maybe this was the Legends show. . .All I could think of through it was my swollen ankles. :(

Went to the room to make drinks after and then to the Mexican Deck Party

[athenasbyshanna]

Found a frog friend while making drinks

Frog friend

Lauren made me dance with her while the boys watched and took pictures from above!

One of my faves:

[athenasbyshanna]

I decided to sit down while Lauren continued to dance!

There was a live band after the dancing

We really intended on trying the Mexican buffet, but sadly were all still too full from dinner.

 

That's it for day 4. . . Next up, last fun day at sea :(

See ya'll tomorrow!

[Creole Girl]

Your review has me so excited and the food pictures are making me hungry!

[athenasbyshanna]

Some random pictures that got missed throughout the review so far:

 

This cracks me up. . . Matt finally had an almost normal smile and my eyes are closed and I'm talking or something. . Sheesh!

Liquor we bought in Progreso. Godiva White and Sheridans for $40 total!

View from the bus on the super long pier in Progreso going back to the ship

There she is!

Matt with the Elation

Who knows. . . .

[momto2inkc]

Your review is really getting me excited for our cruise in February on the Elation!

[athenasbyshanna]

Your review is really getting me excited for our cruise in February on the Elation!

 

Glad I can help! :-)

[bluemoon12]

This is the BEST review ever of the Elation!!!!!

[athenasbyshanna]

Your review has me so excited and the food pictures are making me hungry!

 

Yeah, the food was great!

[athenasbyshanna]

This is the BEST review ever of the Elation!!!!!

 

Oh my goodness, thank you soo much!!

[TrqoisWtrs]

I'm lovin' your review - want to cruise with you girl! :D And good for you for giving those kids **** for picking on nature. :)

 

and this one cracks me up -

"okay, who cut one??""

 

[athenasbyshanna]

Ok, let's see. . . where were we??

Ah yes, last Fun Day at Sea! Going home soon. Sad. . .:(

Only Funtimes picture I got

I woke up and went to breakfast by myself. Matt wanted to sleep later and I wanted to have breakfast in the dining room just once. I didn't want to wake anyone else up if they were still sleeping so I just walked to the dining room alone and got seated with 9 other people! They were kinda quiet but we did talk a little. They laughed at me a litle for taking a picture of my food. No biggie.

I ordered the eggs Benedict with Hollandaise on the side. Thanks CC for giving me this trick. The guy next to me ordered it regular and it looked dry. . . Also got OJ, bacon and extra ham. Pretty yummy.

Went back and woke up Matt, called Lauren and Alex and Dawna and Savannah and we went to spend most of the day at the pool.

I finally made an orange creamsicle: Whipped cream vodka, orange soda and soft serve ice cream - yum! I also made a chocolate one with cherry coke.

[athenasbyshanna]

Today was the ice carving. I didn't go, but Matt went and got some pictures

Basically spent this day drinking, eating, sunning. Later we went to the Holiday Show. Let me tell you I am not a parent and maybe that's why this next part happened, but I don't think so.

The Camp Carnival and C2 or whatever kids had apparently been practicing all week for this show. They started to sing and the sound was. . . not so pleasant. Even adults and parents in the audience just started cracking up. We couldn't help but laugh. These kids were so tone deaf! But good for them for getting up on stage and trying, I guess. Haha.

We were standing in the back to my pictures aren't great. And I don't know if it will let me post a video or not. . .

I did wear my sparkly red holiday shirt. I wish I could get my hair to look this good at home!

Lauren gave me my birthday presents tonight. She kept forgetting!

[athenasbyshanna]

We got pictures with our Room Steward, Sanjaya and one of his assistants! They were really great throughout our cruise!

We made some drinks and went to get Sushi before dinner!