A frequent RCCL cruiser tries a 4 day on the Elation

[firefly333]

2 hours ago, DarthGrady said:

On the Fantasy class ships I find that the best outdoor place to get some quiet is either the Serenity area (Promenade deck aft) or the the sun deck around the water slides. I know that seems strange with all the kids, but there's no band or music back there. The deck that wraps around the funnel is also pretty out of the way, and mostly quiet. 

I'd forgotten about it, but wasnt the deck near the funnel the nude deck where clothing was optional?

 

Showing my age. 

[DarthGrady]

29 minutes ago, firefly333 said:

I'd forgotten about it, but wasnt the deck near the funnel the nude deck where clothing was optional?

 

Showing my age. 

Once upon a time, yes, those decks were cordoned off to allow topless sunbathing. It was discontinued before they added the water slides which have their entrances on or above that deck. 

[jean87510]

We were on a 3 day on the Independence of the Seas from the 10th to the 14th, then drove to Savannah and stayed until the 17th, then the train to Jacksonville for the 4 day Elation.  We never do short cruises and after our "interesting" experience on the Independence with an overly amorous couple in the hottub at 5am, we were hoping the Elation was a little tamer.  It pleasantly was and no frisky hottub performances at 5am!  

[jimbo5544]

Thanks for doing the review and the comparison

[MadManOfBethesda]

22 hours ago, jean87510 said:

Sure. We booked online with Amtrak a few months ago when we were pricing flights, rental cars and trains.  The one we chose was the 638 am train from Savannah to Jacksonville.  It was about 2 hours.  They load the big suitcases and we brought our carryons on the train.  We were in coach.  The seats were comfortable.  There was good wifi.  When we got off we got a Lyft to the cruise port which was about $20.  We are actually doing a similar scenario in Baltimore in October where we are taking a train from Wilmington DE to Baltimore for a cruise.

Thank you; that's interesting and helpful. 

[HxFx]

19 hours ago, DarthGrady said:

or the the sun deck around the water slides

That's exactly where we hung out on Elation. We easily got several seats facing the ocean. I really liked the area, and could cool off easily!

[john91498]

Wow, didn't even know the Elation was still around. She was my first cruise back in 1999.

[Drew B 58]

On 8/22/2023 at 8:45 AM, john91498 said:

Wow, didn't even know the Elation was still around. She was my first cruise back in 1999.

She was my first cruise back in 2000…

[ledges1]

Elation was my first cruise from Mobile in May 2011. Going on her again for a 5day Halloween cruise on October 30th.

[CruizinSusan70]

On 8/19/2023 at 8:31 AM, kelkel2 said:

It’s nice to hear a review from someone on the “other side”. I’ve always considered trying other lines but I like carnival and am scared I won’t like the other lines as much. 

Variety is the spice of life.  If you normally get Cheers, for the price you pay including gratuities, you can also get wifi and regular cabin grats and still save money on Princess.  Their plus package is 60 bucks a day.  Gratuities are 16, wifi is 15, so thats 31, leaving you with 29 for their drinks package including the tips.  The same package on Carnival would cost 103 (Cheers, tips, wifi, gratuities)

[jimbo5544]

4 hours ago, CruizinSusan70 said:

Variety is the spice of life.  If you normally get Cheers, for the price you pay including gratuities, you can also get wifi and regular cabin grats and still save money on Princess.  Their plus package is 60 bucks a day.  Gratuities are 16, wifi is 15, so thats 31, leaving you with 29 for their drinks package including the tips.  The same package on Carnival would cost 103 (Cheers, tips, wifi, gratuities)

And of course the cruise price is also comparable…..

Edited August 26, 2023 by jimbo5544

[BobbiSox]

I just home Monday from 4-day to Bimini and Freeport. I know what to expect because I live near Jax-Port and have sailed Elation  many times. I go for the casino, although I miss the 'old' games, most of which had a very small minimum bet. The 'free' drinks offer is a joke; the waiter came around once every hour, or less, and took 30 minutes for the drinks  to be delivered. Better off paying for a drink at the bar unless you like warm beer. Lots of 'almost nude' women in the pool. Lots of unsupervised small children everywhere, including the pool. I'll wait and go back in the winter months when most children are in school. Everything else was the normal 'just okay' and I'm fine with it. 

[CruizinSusan70]

7 hours ago, jimbo5544 said:

And of course the cruise price is also comparable…..

You're saving 300 bucks pp on the price of the packages over a 7 day cruise.  That gives you a lot of flexibility price wise.  Many cruisers keep blinders on and don't know what Carnival's competition offers.  Was just trying to educate.

[jimbo5544]

35 minutes ago, CruizinSusan70 said:

You're saving 300 bucks pp on the price of the packages over a 7 day cruise.  That gives you a lot of flexibility price wise.  Many cruisers keep blinders on and don't know what Carnival's competition offers.  Was just trying to educate.

I do not spend a dime, because I do not buy packages.  Kind of takes the spontaneity out of things.  I got your point, was just stating the obvious that the price points are not close.  There are also up charges on say….Princess for serenity also.  No beef, just commenting.  

[CruizinSusan70]

17 minutes ago, jimbo5544 said:

I do not spend a dime, because I do not buy packages.  Kind of takes the spontaneity out of things.  I got your point, was just stating the obvious that the price points are not close.  There are also up charges on say….Princess for serenity also.  No beef, just commenting.  

That's where we will disagree Jimbo,  We think the Plus package on Princess is the best thing value wise.  For 60 bucks, we get everything I mentioned in my previous post.  We don't care about wifi, but Cheers, tips on Cheers and regular grats on Carnival would run 86.80 pp.  So we're saving 375 by cruising on Princess with the Plus package versus cruising on Carnival.  We like the Excel Class ships and we'll be on the Venezia next year for 10 days, but with no new ships in the pipeline for the next 5-7 years, they don't have much to offer to us in the short term in the way of new offerings.  We'll see how the reviews are for the Jubilee, but the one lone time we sailed out of Galveston was not our favorite since the airports were far away and the shuttles were expensive.

[jimbo5544]

46 minutes ago, CruizinSusan70 said:

That's where we will disagree Jimbo,  We think the Plus package on Princess is the best thing value wise.  For 60 bucks, we get everything I mentioned in my previous post.  We don't care about wifi, but Cheers, tips on Cheers and regular grats on Carnival would run 86.80 pp.  So we're saving 375 by cruising on Princess with the Plus package versus cruising on Carnival.  We like the Excel Class ships and we'll be on the Venezia next year for 10 days, but with no new ships in the pipeline for the next 5-7 years, they don't have much to offer to us in the short term in the way of new offerings.  We'll see how the reviews are for the Jubilee, but the one lone time we sailed out of Galveston was not our favorite since the airports were far away and the shuttles were expensive.

Galveston is arguably Carnivals best homeport.  The amount of people within a 3 hour drive is unparalleled from a full year homeport perspective.  Totally unique sail away that is only second the NYC.  That said, it is not our fav for the same reason you mention.  The Jubilee will have no issues selling out.  Undecided at this point as to whether we will sail on her or not.  For now, for us, the three plus Vista class and the ships we love will suffice.  Never been turned on by any of the mega of the seas.

[hannibal54]

On 8/19/2023 at 7:31 AM, kelkel2 said:

It’s nice to hear a review from someone on the “other side”. I’ve always considered trying other lines but I like carnival and am scared I won’t like the other lines as much. 

 

I mainly do Royal cruises but I have been on Norwegian, Princess, Celebrity, MSC a 3 Carnival. It doesn't hurt to try other lines.

[jean87510]

8 hours ago, hannibal54 said:

 

I mainly do Royal cruises but I have been on Norwegian, Princess, Celebrity, MSC a 3 Carnival. It doesn't hurt to try other lines.

Absolutely.  We are loyal to our bank account not a cruise line.

[Pellaz]

On 8/19/2023 at 1:06 PM, ZoeyVictoria said:

We live just an hour from Tampa and would like to cruise on the Elation’s sister, the Paradise, for easy, short cruises. The last time we were on that ship, though, we did not enjoy it as much as we hoped because the ship was so loud. The theater and especially the lido deck seemed to have the volume way up compared to other ships. We missed the outdoor promenade deck and could not find a place to get away from the noise and relax. Did you find anywhere to sit outside and relax that was not noisy?

 

As previously mentioned, the Serenity area on Fantasy-class ships is nice and quiet.  Since it's located aft, it is blocked from all the noise on Lido Deck, and it's also nowhere near as windy as the forward-located Serenity areas on newer ships.  AND you get a great view of the ship's wake. 

The Serenity areas on the older ships DO lack their own bar, but there is a bar right up the stairs on Lido Deck, next to those awesome outside "wing" seating areas above Serenity.  

 

 

On 8/20/2023 at 8:13 AM, jean87510 said:

One thing I don't like is the announcements in the cabin.  I was awakened at 4am to an Alpha Alpha Alpha on deck 6, cabin whatever.  I hope all was well but I ended up going to gym at 5am.  

 

OP, that was an emergency call and those are normally directed to the shipwide all-call system, including inside staterooms. 😮  

Routine announcements are seldom directed to the all-call system, although after a certain hour on debark day they will do so, on the assumption that passengers REALLY need to be awake and preparing to vacate their staterooms.  🙂  

Edited October 29, 2023 by Pellaz
Restructured

[jean87510]

6 hours ago, Pellaz said:

 

As previously mentioned, the Serenity area on Fantasy-class ships is nice and quiet.  Since it's located aft, it is blocked from all the noise on Lido Deck, and it's also nowhere near as windy as the forward-located Serenity areas on newer ships.  AND you get a great view of the ship's wake. 

The Serenity areas on the older ships DO lack their own bar, but there is a bar right up the stairs on Lido Deck, next to those awesome outside "wing" seating areas above Serenity.  

 

 

 

OP, that was an emergency call and those are normally directed to the shipwide all-call system, including inside staterooms. 😮  

Routine announcements are seldom directed to the all-call system, although after a certain hour on debark day they will do so, on the assumption that passengers REALLY need to be awake and preparing to vacate their staterooms.  🙂  

I've been on enough cruises to realize that although a medical emergency, it is not a SHIP emergency and no need to inform the entire ship of a medical emergency.  And no, first time hearing that in a cabin in the middle of the night.  And I have been on those long Repositions and TAs where the Alpha Alpha Alpha unfortunately is a daily occurrence.