Is Elation really that bad?

[AmberTeka]

1 hour ago, young_ens said:

 

Not a seasoned cruiser like some others, but we have 4 cruises under our belt.  Going on the Sunshine in a few weeks and had the same sort of thoughts you did:  Will that be a good ship or will we be disappointed (after having cruised the Allure)?  We always seemed to upgrade ships and this one is a step back but for the price of the cruise and airfare AND the ports, too good to pass up.

 

The way I look at it is: I'm escaping feet of snow, don't need to cook or clean.  All I have to do is show up!   I've also heard concerns the water might be cold: I was skating on my lake yesterday which has 11" of ice, I think the water will be plenty hot in the Caribbean!

So don't worry, make your own fun.  And like me, keep an eye out for a deal on the Symphony, Harmony, Mardi Gras, Vista, Sunrise, Horizon. 

We  have been on the Sunshine 4 times. You will like it. If you can snag one of the News Cabins ( On Deck 3 and Deck 5)  you will have a better time.  Lots of food venues, small pool, nice waterworks, great staff. 

[young_ens]

1 hour ago, AmberTeka said:

We  have been on the Sunshine 4 times. You will like it. If you can snag one of the News Cabins ( On Deck 3 and Deck 5)  you will have a better time.  Lots of food venues, small pool, nice waterworks, great staff. 

Thanks!   Not so sure "small pool" is a selling feature!    haha

 

I'm intrigued by the new cabins, though I'm sure I don't have a new one (not my luck, also didn't look into this since it is news to me now!), we are on deck 5.

[Treyatl2006]

3 hours ago, young_ens said:

 

Not a seasoned cruiser like some others, but we have 4 cruises under our belt.  Going on the Sunshine in a few weeks and had the same sort of thoughts you did:  Will that be a good ship or will we be disappointed (after having cruised the Allure)?  We always seemed to upgrade ships and this one is a step back but for the price of the cruise and airfare AND the ports, too good to pass up.

 

The way I look at it is: I'm escaping feet of snow, don't need to cook or clean.  All I have to do is show up!   I've also heard concerns the water might be cold: I was skating on my lake yesterday which has 11" of ice, I think the water will be plenty hot in the Caribbean!

So don't worry, make your own fun.  And like me, keep an eye out for a deal on the Symphony, Harmony, Mardi Gras, Vista, Sunrise, Horizon. 

I wouldnt group the sunshine in with the Fantasy Class. Yes it's not going to have all the bells and whistles of their brand new ships but the Sunshine has some bells and some whistles to where as the Fantasy started construction in the late 1980's. Besides, Carnival spent over $200 Million updating the Sunshine while the Fantasy Class ships have only recieved relatively minor updates.

Edited February 19, 2019 by Treyatl2006

[AmberTeka]

1 hour ago, young_ens said:

Thanks!   Not so sure "small pool" is a selling feature!    haha

 

I'm intrigued by the new cabins, though I'm sure I don't have a new one (not my luck, also didn't look into this since it is news to me now!), we are on deck 5.

You hit the cruise ship cabin lotto if you are on Deck 5. Promenade Deck. Those are new cabins. Inside & O.V. We had an O.V. last Sept. and it was more than spacious. They have mini-fridges. Nice  updated restroom, and quick access to everything. The taste Bar is a short walk from any cabin on 5. They serve a nice quiet breakfast. Eggs. Bacon. Toast. Pastries. Cereal. COFFEE, Juice....The Lido Buffett.is a .short walk to the back elevators.&...takes you to Havana Bar. Custom Omelets. Lido next door.   Trivia and games are played in the Ocean Plaza, Short walk for you. Casino...short Walk. I believe you can enter the theator  there, or  maybe Deck 4. NOW  I am wanting  to go on the Sunshine again!

Edited February 19, 2019 by AmberTeka

[centerpoint]

On 1/14/2019 at 9:55 AM, queenpailhead said:

So DH and I were toying with a Thanksgiving cruise but for several reasons now we're looking at an after Christmas, and I LOVE the itinerary of the Elation post-christmas with Amber Cove and Grand Turk, 2 stops we are interested in. However, I'm reading reviews of Elation and most of the Dec 2018 ones are bad. Really bad. Our only other cruise experience is on the Allure and I know that I can't compare as she's like the mother of all ships, but this time we're going child free. It's one of the only cruises that fits our timeline and goes places we want to see. But... I also know the possibility of being rerouted are there and being stuck at sea.

 

Is Elation really that bad as a ship? What are the possibilities of missing those ports? Should I scrap this all and book us a ski vacation that week? lol

 

Okay, I have two points to make about the cruise you are considering...both points are positive.

 

1) My family has cruised on the Elation before, and it was a blast...we had a fantastic time in so many ways.

2) I'm going to be on the cruise you are considering, so of course it will be great! 🙂

[evandbob]

JMO, but......I stopped sailing these old ships about 12 years ago because to me, they felt old then.  My preference is for newer, bigger ships, they sail smoother, have more activities and venues and less rust.

 

But for the OP, the only way to find out is to either try for oneself, or sight compare when you have an older, smaller ship next to a newer, larger ship in one of the ports.

 

I can remember being on the Disney Dream and looking down at a puny fantasy class ship with plastic artificial palm trees and making up my own mind.  Again, whatever suits one's fancy, some will swear by the smaller ships, others like me will avoid them.  No right or wrong, no judgment, to thy own self be true.

[AmberTeka]

we were on the Elation this past March. It was also Spring Break for Florida.  We had a great time.  People were mostly from the south, very nice.   Trivia was  good. Shows were good.  It is not brand new, but then  it does not have 5,000  +  people on it. 

[ProgRockCruiser]

We sailed on Elation in May to AC and GT.  The ship was very nice, IMHO, and the only thing I really missed was the Alchemy Bar (but Gatsby's Great Bar was pretty solid as a substitute!)

 

I think, like all cruises, it is a case of making it what you want it to be.  If there are specific venues or restaurants that you "must" have, then it is possible some of the older ships will disappoint - or perhaps delight, because they have some of the non-Funship2.0 amenities.

[sammee]

It's what you make of it. We did Elation the weekend following Thanksgiving of 2017.  Like Fantasy & Fascination, on the smaller side, but comfy. We did Oasis this past February, it was nice. But we honestly don't need all the bells and whistles. I'm just happy to be on a ship. Honestly my favorite is Pride, but it's all in the taste and opinions and you know what they say about opinions. Have a great time and just focus on that.

[NewGirl1]

Has anyone seen any comparisons between the Elation and the Celebrity Summit? The Summit is the only other cruise I've been on...i go on Elation in 10 days. No idea what to expect.

[glrounds]

On 1/14/2019 at 7:45 PM, Tapi said:

February. DANG, I want to go on the Fantasy for your bachelor party. Sounds like it’s going to be awesome! 

 

Me too. Cruises have got to be the best location for a bachelor party. It's a shame, "youth is so often wasted on the young".

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

[wms99]

Our first cruise was on the Elation. We were instantly hooked. We like to relax, read, people watch, and play cards. So the Fantasy class ships fit our bill perfectly.

Reference points: We've never swim in the people soup pools so I can't comment on that.

We've only watched a few dive in movies so that isn't a deal breaker.

 

 

[Paelos]

19 hours ago, NewGirl1 said:

Has anyone seen any comparisons between the Elation and the Celebrity Summit? The Summit is the only other cruise I've been on...i go on Elation in 10 days. No idea what to expect.

 

Elation is a smaller sized ship than Summit (about 100 feet, but holds the same about of guests), and the decor is what I would call more colorful than anything you'll see on Summit which is going for a much more modern feel (more neutral colors and wood). The casino on Elation I think is bigger, but it's smoking where Summit is not. 

 

Summit would feel newer than Elation, with more specialty dining and more refurbished areas. The Elation has ZERO specialty dining. All it has is add-ons in the MDR, and the Chef's Table.

 

However, I think the upper decks on the Elation are better than the Summit, and complimentary dining is better. The lido on Elation has the Guy's Burgers, Blue Iguana, and Tequila and Rum bars all in one place, and then connects back to the buffet. The pools are newer on Summit though so if you like the pool Elation will be disappointing.