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Carnival Elation Review

kprestidge07

By kprestidge07,
in Carnival Cruise Lines

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kprestidge07

kprestidge07

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I'm just off the Carnival Elation today! I will start my review and try to add pictures if I can.

 

Embarkation: the port officials are very unorganized. We tried two different times to check our luggage and we were told it was easier to carry it on. It's definitely not easier, so do not listen to them! We had FTTF and I was expecting to get on as soon as we checked in. Well the Coast Guard was doing an inspection and that wasn't finished until around 1230. We finally got on and had to bring our luggage to the room. Again, don't do that! By the time we got to the buffet line, it was ridiculously long and we waited for about 45 minutes.

 

Rooms: we were in M181. It was not updated. Half of Main Deck is updated right now. All the rooms will be updated after the dry dock in August. It wasn't gross, just outdated. The mattress wasn't as comfortable as it could have been, but the bedding made up for that. Our room steward was Alexander and he was great! Always telling us good morning, asking us if we needed anything and made sure our room was nice for when we return.

 

Food: the food was ok, not anything to brag about but wasn't the worst I have ever had. We enjoyed the Main Dining Room and even dressed up for the Captains Dinner. People were dressed in anything and everything. Nobody got turned away. I personally think if you are going to participate, at least wear khaki pants and a dressier shirt. It didn't upset me, just think people should be made to follow the rules. However, having the Captains Dinner the night of our stop in Freeport (12pm-7pm) was rough. We got back early and still were rushed for time to make it to dinner. We were seated at a big table with 5 other couples, however only 3 of them showed up. We enjoyed it even though I was unsure of it at first.

 

Drinks: we had the Cheers package. We met our limit one night and we were ok with that. For me, it was worth it not having to keep checking the balance due and dressing about it. We may or may not have broke even, I'm really not even sure.

 

Freeport: we decided to purchase a day pass to Grand Lucayan resort. $20 per person plus $10 per person taxi ride. This was the best thing we could have done. Hardly anyone on the beach, resort was clean and pretty. The water was gorgeous too. We wanted to be able to have fun and relax and that's what we did. The taxi driver will try to get you to go to their free beach, just keep insisting on going to the resort. If you can, find someone on here that plans to go and try to get in the same taxi. I chatted with Terri Carter on here for a few days prior to the cruise. We ran into each other in Jacksonville and we were to able to hang out while at the resort and on the ship.

 

Nassau: we purchased the Atlantis Aquaventure excursion through Carnival. The process of meeting in the lounge and being escorted to the boat then through the resort was horrible. It took over an hour, tons of people, and just not for me. However, the water park was nice as well as the beach. If I ever go again, I will just go to the beach and enjoy my day there then walk around the shops later.

 

Entertainment: the dance shows and the comedy shows were awesome! If you don't like vulgar language, definitely do not go to the comedy shows. They kept us laughing though!

 

Cruise director: Peter was the cruise director (Kevin is on vacation). He's hilarious and very friendly! Ask him anything, he will definitely tell you the answer! I think he's going to another ship today though. He told us they work about 70 hours a week. I can only imagine how tired they all are, yet are always happy and entertaining!

 

Bartenders: they had plenty of them but could have used a few more. The atrium bar had two, and the poor things had way too many people to wait on. We used the bars on the Lido deck and by the casino. Endo in the Mikado lounge is wonderful! Works hard and makes sure he keeps your drinks coming!

 

Debarkation: We had FTTF. We were told to be in the Mikado lounge at 7:30am if we planned to carry our own luggage off. We did that. We were literally off the boat, through customs, in the car and on the interstate within 10 minutes. Definitely worth it for that!

 

If I would have let the Embarkation process ruin it for me, I would have had a terrible time. Don't let the small unorganized things ruin your trip. Everyone makes mistakes and all in all we had a great time! This was our 2nd cruise and we will definitely be cruising again! The elation is an older ship but after dry dock, will be new and improved! Enjoy your future cruise!

 

 

 

 

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bury me at sea

bury me at sea

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A Customs issue can't be helped, but I have never before heard of port employees encouraging people to handle their own luggage. That's strange.

 

I appreciate your tip on Grand Lucayan and will look into it.

 

Thanks for taking the time to review your experiences.

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kprestidge07

kprestidge07

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When you get off the boat, they have taxi people asking you where you want to go. Hopefully there will be more people that go to the resort. If the taxi driver tries to get you to go to the free beach just keep telling him you have day passes to the resort. Relax and have fun!

 

 

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momin05 Great Review Rare

momin05

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Do you happen to have the one page entertainment schedule you can post? Or remember what times the early comedy shows were? We try to make all the PG comedy shows, but it is hard when they do them at 7pm! We sail in August, right before dry dock.

 

I am so surprised to hear about Jax. I have seen other recent posts with similar description. We have sailed out of Jax several times and have found it to be the easiest port of all. We have even decided it is worth it to drive the two additional hours over Charleston just to enjoy the ease of Jax. I sure hate to hear that is no longer the case.

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kprestidge07

kprestidge07

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I didn't keep any of that but I do remember the PG shows we're at 730. I really hope it was a one time thing in Jax. I really think the boat docked late and they were just in a frenzy trying to get people checked in.

 

 

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GS92

GS92

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Thanks for your review. We are on the same cruise in about 3 weeks. You answered one of my questions about which night was formal night.

 

Do you recall what part of the main deck has been renovated? We are in M98 and M102 and from other reviews I've seen I think we may be close to the cutoff where the renovations have been completed.

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momin05 Great Review Rare

momin05

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I didn't keep any of that but I do remember the PG shows we're at 730. I really hope it was a one time thing in Jax. I really think the boat docked late and they were just in a frenzy trying to get people checked in.

 

 

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Thank you! 7:30 is do-able, but still hard to get to from dinner. Thanks for the review. I would love to hear your thoughts on the condition of the ship.

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kprestidge07

kprestidge07

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I didn't think the ship was in that bad of condition. It is clean, people are constantly cleaning. There are areas that look more dated than others but to be so old, she looks great! We had to get to the rated R shows early, I'm not sure about the PG shows. There were open seats but not necessarily good open seats.

 

 

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momof4girls

momof4girls

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Yes they did. I just didn't go to that one. I should have specified, sorry!

 

 

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No problem! I was just thinking that maybe they had gone away from them on the smaller class ships.

 

I can't wait to read reviews after the month long dry dock!

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CruizCuz

CruizCuz

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Thank you for taking the time to review the Elation! I am going on a "girls' trip" next month for 3 days. It will be prior to the dry dock. We then will be cruising on the Elation in January 2018, for our parents' anniversary (it's their 59th). I am looking forward to both cruises. I have to say I was disappointed when the Fascination left Jax. I cruised her several times and never had a problem. Their staff was amazing. It's nice to hear good things about the Elation!

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First and Ten

First and Ten

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The Elation is a great ship....prior to sailing, I read the reviews and was really concerned about all the negative reviews. I really thought I was going on a rust bucket that could barely float. The ship was immaculate, the staff cant do enough to help, always with a smile....Good food, great bartenders, excellent entertainment. There is always something going on to entertain the crowds. It is an "older, smaller" ship and I know the cruise snobs only sail the "newer, bigger" ships (another mindset I don't get :rolleyes:) You will have a blast, enjoy

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