Help for 1st Time Cruiser (Elation)

[jbsvette]

Hi Eeveryone,

 

My wife and I are taking out first cruise this Thursday (March 2nd).. It leaves Galveston and ports at Playa Del Carmen... It's a 4 day cruise.. My questions are:

 

I'd like to hear some of the pros and cons of the elation

And general cruise tips for a first time cruiser..

Where's the best place to go while at Playa Del Carmen. My wife and I want to go to the beach, eat lunch and do some shopping...

 

Thanks In Advance

 

JB

[Bluecat25]

:) There are two threads in this forum that will help you with tips. The first is http://boards.cruisecritic.com/showthread.php?t=48388&highlight=secrets+carnival. If the link doesn't work, just put Carnival Secrets in the search. This has hundreds of replies. If you don't have time to wade thru this one, another poster consolidated it in "Tips and Secrets in a Nutshell." You can do a search for it too. They are both full of great information. Have a great time! We leave 3/18, I can't wait!

[Cotton]

Actually, you'll be docking at Calica, a rock quarry only, and you can take a cab to Playa del Carmen. The cab will be $10 per cab, not per person. There are some really good restaurants on Avenue 5. The rest of PdC is shopping and a public beach. (Or you could take an excursion to some ruins.)

[Live_2_cruise05]

You will enjoy the Elation! She is a wonderful ship. We have sailed on her several times and still she is our favorite ship!

 

 

Here are a few pictures of our trip on her July 3-10 2005!

 

http://community.webshots.com/album/392483680jjwisw

 

Anymore questions just ask!!

[jbsvette]

Yeahhh!!! U101.. I'm soooo stoked.. I got upgraded from Cat11 to Cat12 :-)

[brandypants]

We just returned from Elation on Saturday. Our itinerary was to go to Playa del Carmen, but we got switched to Progreso. Hopefully that won't happen to you! I love that ship, the colors of the atrium are so pretty. Lucky you for the upgrade! There were a big group of us that needed to stay close so no chance for us to upgrade. Enjoy your cruise!!

[Stircrzy]

I'll see you aboard!

 

I'm just down the hall...

 

...this is my 10th cruise, the 4th time on the Elation. Love that ship!

[jbsvette]

I hope that doesn't happen to me either... Was there anything to do there?

[jbsvette]

You have to give us some tips...

[Stircrzy]

1. Don't overpack...Days are casual, nights are dressier.

2. Eat all you want...they'll make more.

3. Bring double the cash you think you'll need...and a clean credit card.

4. Don't try to do it all...they will let you book another cruise after this one.

5. Most of all...RELAX and have fun. Enjoy this time with your spouse!

[Icon5]

Let me know how it was after you return.....

I will be sailing as well on the Elation in July and cannot wait to hear your comments.:)

[jw4jg1mg2eg1]

My favorite 2 places to hang on the Elation was: 1. In back of Tiffany's...I loved watching the wake of the ship! 2. On starboard side of Tiffany's..just watching the world go by.

Our cabins were also on Upper deck. My husband & I were in U151. Our Steward was Jorge & he was really good & very visible.

You will really enjoy the cruise director. His name is George(Jorge after 5) Salano....he's hillarious.

The ship was so CLEAN! The crew was always cleaning are painting something.

The omlets are awsome at Tiffany's as well as the items they had on the buffet.We never went to the main dining rooms to eat lunch or breakfast. We just preferred Tiffany's...we could eat out on deck or inside. We did the formal night thing once & ate in the main dining room one other night. It was a good experience.

I can't remember now where it was we were trying to go but somewhere along the way on the Elation you have to either go up a floor & over a restraunt or down a floor & under a restraunt, to manuver around. We didn't mind though. The Elation is a beautiful ship & we loved walking around exploring it.

We enjoyed what shows & contests we were able to catch. You may want to try to get to the Mikato lounge early for the shows yoy want to watch. There are floor to ceiling support posts in there & if ya sit in the wrong place you'll have to lean over to see around them. I spent alot of time in the casino losing my money....I'm just not lucky...

I liked shopping around in the little shops onboard.

All we did in Progresso was shop at the flea market in town. HINT!! Shop the entire place before you buy because what you will spend $20. on at one shop will be $5. at another place. You can get them to come down on the prices alot.

I hope you have a wonderful cruise!!

[jbsvette]

If all the world was as helpful as cruisers, we'd be one big happy family... Cant wait until Thursday :-)

[brandypants]

jbsvette,

We found out about the itinerary change about a month before the cruise, not really sure why we had to change. I was disappointed, but we got a shipboard credit per person, so that helped a little. If you like ruins, then you'll love Progreso. Some of us did that and the beach lovers went to a resort called Reef Yucatan. It was wonderful. We booked the tour when we got off at the pier. $25 pp, incl. transportation and drinks.

[jbsvette]

Thanks for the reply Brandypants :D

[powriel]

Say Hi to my parents who will be getting off the Elation on Thursday. I'm their unofficial travel planner and can't wait to hear how their cruise was. My Dad has only cruised once before on a much smaller ship and my Mom and I were on the Spirit in August of 2004 to Alaska, so she had some idea what to expect on the ship.

 

I believe they were diverted to Progresso (that is where they should be today).

[ScottsSweetie]

Just got off the Elation last Saturday - had a blast. This was one of the smaller ships I have been on, and it was very nice. Had no trouble finding deck chairs and/or seats at the buffet. There is an AWESOME band on the Elation - "Blood Power". These guys have a rather extensive play list: Eagles, Pink Floyd, Guns-N-Roses, Aerosmith, Def Leppard - you get the picture. We saw them every night that they played, they were that good. I just booked this cruise two weeks before the sail date and Progreso was always the port listed on-line.

 

An earlier poster listed CD George (or Jorge, depending on the clock :) ), but he was leaving for vacation the same day we debarked, so I have no idea who is there now.

 

Have a great time!!

[peanutprincess1977]

We are going in October and Elation will be doing eastern carribean from Miami. The ship looks more muted in colors, like the Paradise, not neon like some others. That will be nice.