Quick Elation Review.

[nccruzencouple]

Just got back from a 5 night cruise on the Elation out of Jacksonville, FL yesterday.  Will be glad to answer any questions you might have. 

 

Embarkation was a piece of cake.  Our boarding time was 11:30 to 12:00.  We pulled into the port at 11:35, dropped our bags off with porters, went and parked the car, walked over to the terminal, went straight in, waited in line less than 5 minutes and were on the ship by 12:00.  Could not have been any easier.

 

We went straight up to the lido deck and ate at Guy's burgers and the Blue Iguana for lunch.  Food was great from both and visited both of these everyday.  The burgers speak for themselves, you cannot eat just one.  The shrimp from Blue Iguana is great and highly recommend their breakfast burritos. We went to our room at 1:30, it was a ocean view on deck 4.  While there we met our room steward Nengah, he ask if we wanted once or twice a day service.  We ask for twice.  He did an excellent job.  The room was great a location mid ship, plenty of room and storage.  It even had a small refrigerator.  Only thing was a night time during the middle of the night it seemed that it would warm up some in there even with the air turned as low as it would go.  It was fine at all times during the day, just seemed like some nights we would wake up hot.  We never complained about it so it was not that big of a deal.

 

We did late dining and our wait staff was really good.  I only felt like one night that things were on the slow side.  Our staff was very attentive.  The food was very good.  It came out prepared like we ask and at the right temperatures.  It was the American Table menu.

 

The entertainment was very good, I highly recommend the Rock of Ages show.  Also the two comedians on the ship were really good as well.  One was Jim Brick and the other was Tom Simmons.  Both were good, but Jim Brick was really good.  

 

Really like the location of the Serenity area on the Fantasy Class ships.  We spent a lot of time there.  

 

We visited Nassau and Half Moon Cay.  Being that we have been to Nassau a lot over the years, we did not rush to get off the ship.  We got off at about 1:00 and were back on the ship by 3:15.  Just hit a few shops that we wanted to visit and then went down to Junkanoo Beach for about an hour.  The next day we went to Half Moon Cay which to us is a great port.  This was our second time there and one of the main reasons for booking this cruise.  Tendering did not start until about 9:00 due to high winds.  They called our number about 9:10 and we were on the island by 9:45.  Spent the morning snorkeling and rode wave runners that afternoon, then hit the beach one more time before taking the last tender back to the boat at 3:15.  Water was a little cool when you first got in, but fine after you adjusted to it.  I highly recommend this port if you like a relaxing beach day.

 

Debarkation was a breeze as well.  We opted to take our own luggage off the ship.  We were suppose to be out of by room by 8:30.  We woke up at 7:30, got ourselves ready and packed our bags.  They called our floor at 8:10 for passengers taking their own luggage off the ship.  Left our room at 8:15 and headed down to deck 3.  Made it off the ship, through customs, and were in our car by 8:40.  Port of Jacksonville is very easy for both embarkation and debarkation.

 

Overall, we had a very cruise.  Let me know if you have any questions that I might can answer for you about the ship.

 

 

 

[Lasombra52]

Do you happen to have the funtimes still? Glad to hear that you had a good cruise. 

[Cruisegirl6]

Thank you for the review!  We will be leaving next saturday and I am hoping the room won't be hot, that was very unfortunate and uncalled for, these cruise lines think we don't know they turning up the temperature in our rooms when we are sleeping but surely we know.  

 

Did you do the Chefs Table?

 

How was the food in the dining room, just like to hear your opinions also, how was the buffet for lunch?  I been cruising RC for the past three years so I am a little rusty lol....I recall the older smaller carnival ships the lunch buffets wee eh, am I right?  Do they still offer a meat carving for lunch at the buffet?  Did you eat dinner at the buffet at all?

[nccruzencouple]

I do not have the fun times.

 

 

I did not do the Chef's Table.

 

I thought the food in the dining room was very good.  The braised beef brisket was excellent as well as the beef tenderloin.  We did not eat dinner in the buffet, did all 5 nights in the dining room.  For lunch we mostly ate Guy's Burgers and items from the Blue Iguana.  I did grab a few things from the buffet at different times such as some cheese and bread.  I do not remember if they had a meat carving for lunch.  I know they did on some nights for dinner.  Also had some sandwiches from the Deli which were good.  Did Pizza from the Pizza Pirate every night around midnight.

 

 

[Cruisegirl6]

Do you know the name of the band on board?  I assume they still play outside the casino area?

[Cruisegirl6]

We never ate at the buffet for dinner either that is why I was asking.  Can you still get the Caesar salad at the pizzeria at night?  Rumor has it they now offer some other foods late night snack such as grilled cheese, a sandwich, chicken soup and such, is this true, and if so what did they have to eat past 11:30pm?  We stay up late, were on vacation.

[nccruzencouple]

I don't remember their name, but they played good music.  They had 2 singers , a man and a woman.  The guy had red hair.  That's all i remember about them.

 

 

[nccruzencouple]

Yes you could still get the Caesar salad at the Pizza Place as well as like 5 types of pizza.  Pizza is open 24 hours a day.  The deli closes at 11:00 PM.  The buffet usually had hot dogs, fries, a few other items , and some cookies and brownies each night.  But I think they served that between 11:00 PM-12:30 AM.  Soft serve ice cream is available 24 hours as well.  

[Cruisegirl6]

Thank you.  April 2018 they said they were providing this late night snack menu, surprise you didn't have it?

 

https://cruiseradio.net/carnival-introduces-new-late-night-menu/

[nccruzencouple]

They may have had those items.  I know I saw people eating some hot dogs  few nights as well as a few other items, but it was all on just one side of the main buffet as you enter the lido.  Just did not pay much attention since we just headed straight to the pizza place.

[Cruisegirl6]

Thank you so much and so glad you had a great cruise!  I have to admit, Jax port is so easy and simple!

[nccruzencouple]

I agree, Jax port is probably the easiest port we have cruised from.  Hope you have a great cruise.  

[nccruzencouple]

Also, Elegant night was the second night if that matters to you.

[Cruisegirl6]

Thank you.  They took away the lobster so elegant night to me, isn't what it used to be but thanks for that info too!

[iloverags2]

Do they have an 80s night on the Elation?  TIA!

[flyersfan1129]

Thanks for the review. My son chose a November Elation cruise because we could afford a suite on deck 14. He also loved Guys burgers, so he is excited. We are cruising from Port Canaveral, so I am concerned there. My main question is how is the pool? 

[ProgRockCruiser]

11 hours ago, flyersfan1129 said:

Thanks for the review. My son chose a November Elation cruise because we could afford a suite on deck 14. He also loved Guys burgers, so he is excited. We are cruising from Port Canaveral, so I am concerned there. My main question is how is the pool? 

 

Why are you concerned about Port Canaveral?  Apparently it is one of the more organized ports.  And since Elation is smaller than the rest of the usual fleet there, boarding should go smoothly.

[flyersfan1129]

We docked in Carnival’s Port Canaveral port once and it was not a well organized experience. 

[Bostwick girl]

Port Canaveral is one of the best ports to me. Been on 24 cruises now and the majority have been from there. I will say the debarkation in November was horrible, worst ever, but just got off Liberty January 24, and it was the best and fastest ever.  They are doing a lot of work to the different terminals to upgrade them so that may be part of the problem.