Deborito Posted March 10, 2008 #1 Share Posted March 10, 2008 Buying a short cruise as a present for my folks 50th anniv. 5 Night Carnival Elation or 4 night RCCL Monarch. Averages out to be about the same price per day. Elation- San Diego, Ensenada, Cabo San Lucas, San Diego. Monarch, LA, San Diego, Catalina, Ensenada, LA. They are 70 years old and have never cruised. Plan to book for May 5th or 15th. Giving to them as present on March 22 need to book soon HELP!!!!!!!! Debbie Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GTVCRUISER Posted March 10, 2008 #2 Share Posted March 10, 2008 I have been on both ships , I just got off the Elation yesterday. I would recommend the Monarch, the Elation is set up for late night shows and Entertainment and you can get some rough seas sometimes comming back from Cabo. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
luvz2run2000 Posted March 10, 2008 #3 Share Posted March 10, 2008 Need a little more info about your parents...are they active, where do they live, would they be comfortable in Mexico or would they perfer mostly US ports? I live in Southern Cal so a cruise to LA, Catalina, San Diego and Ensenada wouldn't excite me much. Those are all places I can get to in a couple hours. So if that were the case I'd recommend the Elation because all the ports are in Mexico. If they aren't comfortable being off the ship in Mexico then the Monarch is probably the best bet. I can't speak for the Monarch but I was on the Elation cruise through the Panama Canal last spring and it was a nice ship with the friendliest crew I've ever encountered. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kurbanfan Posted March 10, 2008 #4 Share Posted March 10, 2008 I have been on both ships. For the same price it is a no brainer. Elation 5 day. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
firefly333 Posted March 10, 2008 #5 Share Posted March 10, 2008 Im showing senior rates for May 2nd, 3 day on Monarch, inside $209, OV $239, suite/deluxe category shows $579, didnt look into which cabin that would be. If its like the SOV, Id pick obstructed OV if you can get that category on Monarch, higher deck with full windows. 5 day elation April 28th also showing some dynamite senior rates. $229 inside and $299 OV Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tantan_9 Posted March 10, 2008 #6 Share Posted March 10, 2008 I am going on the elation on 13 days. I was hoping I would see everyone say that the elation is better. I know San diego port is a lot better than long beach Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Deborito Posted March 10, 2008 Author #7 Share Posted March 10, 2008 My folks are pretty active. They live in a rural country area on the SW coast of Washington State. My dad used to be a commercial Fisherman in Alaska so rough water wouldn't be a problem. I am looking at a 4 day on the Monarch or a 5 day on the Elation. They will probably stay a few extra days and sightsee around LA. I think a 3 day would be too short. Now if it were for me I would have to have at least 7 days. :D Debbie Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
funat55 Posted March 10, 2008 #8 Share Posted March 10, 2008 I haven't done the Elation, but I have done the Ecstasy and Paradise out of Long Beach as well as the Monarch. I hated the Monarch. The rooms were so tiny that two people couldn't stand up and move around at the same time. I also found the layout of the ship difficult to negotiate and the ship looked worn and old. To me this is a no brainer, Carnival.. all the way. I'm in my 50's and as far as the passengers go, there was a mix of all ages on both. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dclark Posted March 10, 2008 #9 Share Posted March 10, 2008 It is not a cruise if they don't serve lobster. RCL doesn't offer lobster on their 4 day cruises. Go Elation. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
caribbean dreams Posted March 10, 2008 #10 Share Posted March 10, 2008 I am going on the elation on 13 days. I was hoping I would see everyone say that the elation is better. I know San diego port is a lot better than long beach OK i'll say it for you......The Elation is better. Atleast in my opinion, i am in my 40's and have a great time. For the older ship that Elation is, i was very inpressed with her, she is very elegant. Being that the OP's parents are older, they may enjoy a different ship instead but as for me, I'll stick with Elation. SOS to the OP........one word of caution, DO NOT BOOK YOUR PARENTS CRUISE DURING SPRING BREAK, let their first cruise be a calm one. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Deborito Posted March 10, 2008 Author #11 Share Posted March 10, 2008 I'm looking at May 5th or May 12th. Prices are better and Kids are still in school. I'm hoping the weather will be warm but not too hot. I've only been to the Caribbean, so don't know too much about the Mexixo route. DH and I are considering coming down sometime todo a short B2B. Shorter flight than to Fort Lauderdale. Debbie Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gecko7 Posted March 10, 2008 #12 Share Posted March 10, 2008 DW and I took Elation last month and thoroughly enoyed it. People of all ages on board, but lost to do or not do if you choose. Ensenada was great and we did the wine country tour, I recomend it. Cabo was outstanding and we did the whatle watching. In may this may not be so good since the season will be over. I hope they enjoy the Baja. Gecko7:) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sassyredhat Posted March 10, 2008 #13 Share Posted March 10, 2008 We sailed Elation last June and really enjoyed the ship and Cabo. We are 61 and 59 yrs old. My sister just got back on Sat. from Elation and she didnt like it, but she tends to be very hard to please. Her friends who were 1st time cruisers, thought it was great. My experience was great. I think Elation's cabins are larger then Monarch's. We had Cat. 11 and the cabin was just right. We took the ship's tour, Dolphin Swim, and that was exciting. Pat Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CruisinMermaid Posted March 10, 2008 #14 Share Posted March 10, 2008 I haven't been on the Monarch but I did the Elation last year and will be doing it again in a few days! I don't know about your parents but I would choose the Elation because it's a day longer and it takes you to Cabo. You can do Catalina any old day. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
hkmom Posted March 10, 2008 #15 Share Posted March 10, 2008 monarch all the way. much nicer ship easier to navigate. wrap around decks for strolls in the afternoon. not as tacky as the elation. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kurbanfan Posted March 10, 2008 #16 Share Posted March 10, 2008 I haven't been on the Monarch but I did the Elation last year and will be doing it again in a few days! I don't know about your parents but I would choose the Elation because it's a day longer and it takes you to Cabo. You can do Catalina any old day. This is exactly why I would choose the Elation. If the op says the prices are comparable and you get one more day with a better itinerary to me it is a no brainer. Now as far as the ships........they are both great ships I would have no problem sailing on either one of them. In fact we are looking to sail the very last sailing of the Monarch in Oct. After that she will be on the East Coast:( Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
caribbean dreams Posted March 10, 2008 #17 Share Posted March 10, 2008 monarch all the way. much nicer ship easier to navigate. wrap around decks for strolls in the afternoon. not as tacky as the elation. Don't know how long ago you were on the Elation but it is the furthest from "tacky" you can get, no bright colors, lots of marble in dark colors. I think it's the mellowest (color wise) of all the Carnival ships. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
caribbean dreams Posted March 10, 2008 #18 Share Posted March 10, 2008 I'm looking at May 5th or May 12th. Prices are better and Kids are still in school. I'm hoping the weather will be warm but not too hot. Ensenada should be perfect weather, cabo will be warmer and a bit more humid but not at humid as the Caribbean. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Iannie Posted March 10, 2008 #19 Share Posted March 10, 2008 We decided on Elation for my parents 50th because like yours we live in Wa. and the trip to and from is easier. AK. airlines flies in almost every hour and you can get some great deals. Enjoy! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare PaddleAddict Posted March 10, 2008 #20 Share Posted March 10, 2008 I haven't been on Elation, but I just did Monarch a few weeks ago. It was a great trip. To sum it up, I think Monarch will have smaller rooms, Elation might have better food (so far the food on my other Carnival trips was better than the food on my Monarch trip), Monarch was a nice ship with lovely staff and several nice mellow lounges were you could watch the ocean go by. Of course, you get an extra day on Elation... for me, that would be hard to pass up! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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