Elation vs Dream (maybe Dawn?)

[sardam]

We were on the Elation last December and it wasn't my favourite (7th cruise, 5 carnival). The shows were okay, entertainment during the day was lacking and Camp Carnival was sub par compared to Carnival paradise that my kids were on a year earlier.

New Orleans isn't our usual port but this year due to unchangeable circumstances that is where we will be again.

I wanted to try the dream and I think my kids will really enjoy the waterworks, but for the 6 of us it will be $1000 more. It is 2 days longer but because of travel time 5 nights vs 7 might actually be better.

Can anyone that has been on the Elation and Dream recently give me a been there done that perspective, ideally with kids in the 5-10 year old range?

The Norwegian Dawn is the other option. We have never been on Norwegian, Carnival and Royal is previous experience. We have been on larger and other small ships not just the Elation, that wasn't the issue.

Thanks

[cruiserking]

We were on the Elation last December and it wasn't my favourite (7th cruise, 5 carnival). The shows were okay, entertainment during the day was lacking and Camp Carnival was sub par compared to Carnival paradise that my kids were on a year earlier.

New Orleans isn't our usual port but this year due to unchangeable circumstances that is where we will be again.

I wanted to try the dream and I think my kids will really enjoy the waterworks, but for the 6 of us it will be $1000 more. It is 2 days longer but because of travel time 5 nights vs 7 might actually be better.

Can anyone that has been on the Elation and Dream recently give me a been there done that perspective, ideally with kids in the 5-10 year old range?

The Norwegian Dawn is the other option. We have never been on Norwegian, Carnival and Royal is previous experience. We have been on larger and other small ships not just the Elation, that wasn't the issue.

Thanks

 

You will get a lot more responses to your question if you ask it over on the Carnival boards here at Cruise Critic:

 

http://boards.cruisecritic.com/forumdisplay.php?f=215

 

I have not sailed Carnival but, Elation is quite an old ship 17 years old vs. the relatively new Dream which is only 6 years old. If you enjoy Carnival I think you would really enjoy the Dream it will have a lot more bells and whistles and be much nicer and more streamlined than Elation.

 

Jonathan

Edited June 6, 2015 by cruiserking