Just off the Elation! Heres our Day by Day

[BethyAnn]

Day 1:

We get up early grab coffee and start loading the car. I musta asked everyone a million times do you have your picture ID! With all ago we back out of driveway about 6:30am for a 5-6 hour drive from Fresno to San Diego. Down the road a bit I ask again " Do you have your ID's" YES mom now relax.....then it dawns on me...my purse in on the kitchen counter! CHIT! Back to the house run in grab it and off we go. Double ck'd a dozen times to make sure i had all the bc's and our paperwork. Yup got it.

Arrive with no hassles at the San Diego park n go around 11:30 didnt have to wait but a few minutes for the shuttle. Finally got to port and all four of our jaws dropped when we saw how big she was. WOW! Checked our luggage (6bags) and tipped the old guy $5.00 we noticed no one seemed to be tipping and I knew I didnt have to but he was so cheerful and eager to help I just wanted to.

Get thru the lines in about 10 mins! No prob. Finally we are walking on board (jaws still on the ground) I dont think any of us expected the beauty and granduer of it. Shuffled up to Lido deck to grab lunch, kids and hubby went to Tiffanys while I sat at table and had a much needed smoke and then it happened I found the waited with the DOD....it was only the beginning LOL. Man those were goood. I believe it was the Funship Special. YUM.

After petering around and trying to follow the map it was about 2pm and we went to see room. Yes it was small but it was going to be just fine. I was jazzed to find out the mirrors in bathroom opened with shelves and was able to utilize that well.

Went back up to the Mikado to hear the CD Stu speak on the ports ect. It was well worth it. After that we decided to book a snokeling excursion in Catalina not a bad price $45 each for 2 hrs!

Back to the room to get ready for muster. Our luggage was at room by about 4:15 way earlier then I expected. Did some light unpacking (rum runners made it safe and sound) and set up the over door shoe holder that in itself was a God send. THANK you for all for encouraging us to bring. We put so much in it and really kept the counter clutter free.

Time for muster, we were in A group and were to report to Mikado lounge. Needless to say I didnt listen well and went trotting up there with my cocktail, then I hear NO smoking or drinking. OYE had to hide the darn thing the whole time. Wasnt about to dump it ;). So now is where I got grumpy and it you were the lady I had words with SORRY in advance. Well kinda sorry. Our leader was trying to get things moving and she kept repeating YOU MUST BE TOTALLY QUIET OR I CANT CONTINUE. This lady in front of me kept running her mouth and the leader wouldnt go on. It was only 15 mins till sail away.GRRRRR. Finally after several shshshs's from the crowd I tapped her on the shoulder and said, " Look if you dont shut your yap so she can finish I am going to lose it." She just lauged and kept talking. Oh boy hubby knew it was over .tap tap " Ok please lady if you make me miss my first sail away becaue you couldnt shut up for 5 mins I will come find you"! She shut up! I am normally a very sweet person but she just pushed me over the edge.

Made it to sail away with a few mins to spare and I must say I think it was the highlight of my cruise I just was amazed by it.

Had late dinning seating with our wonderful waiter Maha! Great service and good meal. We are sad to say not fans of chocolate melting cake :(. Anyhow was great food ,good company and nice end to great day. Walked a bit on deck and headed down early 11pm, to get rest for next day.

Catalina Day 2 to follow...hope you enjoy so far sorry for being long winded. I do have all our Capers if anyone wants to see will scan let me know.

[aggieastrosfan]

Elation is one of my favorite ships, brings back some great memories. And WTG on telling that woman to shut up! Not many people would do that. :)

[calicruise74]

I recall the "shhhh" in the Mikado during the muster drill in the Mikado. :o

 

So far so good it sounds! Been on the Elation this year in April and May..then again in Aug.

 

Looking forward to hearing more!

[BethyAnn]

Woke rather early around 7:30 ish, loved having our coffee and OJ delivered to room. Had a great roomservice waiter always tipped him 2-3 bux for the coffee! Showered and up to Lido for breakfast. Was pretty impressed on the nice assortment of hot and cold entries. Sat outside to enjoy the view and had a blast feeding the goofy seagulls. ;) Mossied back to room to put swim suits on and head out to tender for 11:15 snorkeling excursion. This is where our room location was awesome. We were on Riviera deck 63 and it was close to everything we needed. Right by the elevators and around the corner from disembarks! Love easy. Absolutely NO lines for tender and was on the boat within 3 mins for the short ride to Catalina. Wondered around a bit (had a beer hehe) and headed for the Lovers Cove. We got a bit frustrated here because we were there at 11 for the 11:15 excursion however we had to wait at least 20 minutes maybe more like 30 for stragglers which cut our time in the water due to the next group at 1. GRRRRR Anyhow got the full wet suits and fitted for other gear and off to the water we went. Well they went I went into PANIC! As soon as my face went into the water I felt like i couldnt breath was scarey as heck. My DH was my swim buddy and he stayed with me. I kept yelling I can't do this I just cant over and over. After a short while he yelled....BETH take the damn snorkel out of your mouth I can't understand a word your saying. I started laughing so hard it relaxed me a bit. We caught up to one of the guilde and he just pulled me around on a boogie board for a while and got me calm. After I realized it was ok and mind you I am a strong swimmer, I did it! OMG it was so unreal. What a trip seeing all those cool fish right in your face. I was just beside myself. I even got to feed them WOW!. No go figure just as I was loving life they told us time was up. Oh well I enjoyed what I could and will never forget it. AFter the challenge of getting out of wetsuits we headed back to Elation for lunch. Ok I am sorry for forgetting the name but whoever said get the Ruben from Tiffanys ...I LOVE YOU! It was so crazy good. I had three the whole time LOL. We had a great lunch and then went around 3:30 to play trivia. Had a total blast didnt win but had fun trying. After triva hubby came down and the four of us played Twisted Scattegoris as a team......We did it....we got the coveted Ship on a Stick! What fun. It was a good time to go get suits back on and take a dip in the jacuzzi. Off to pool, nope there were 10 kids in there, ok up to next deck, nope lots of kids ok np we go up to adult serenity...YOur kidding me right MORE KIDS! Oh was I frustrated both jacuzzis on the adult only deck loaded with kids and parents watching. There was no staff in site so we gave up and went to play golf...I dont like golf so I drank and they played LOL. Time to get ready its FORMAL NIGHT! Ooops sorry Cruise Elegant! DD and I head up to spa to shower and boys go to room. Very nice accomodations in the spa we enjoyed a short steam room setting and then showered and up to room. After we all got gussied up we head to dinner, man did I feel HOT. We all looked great and had fun taking pics at all the stops. I so felt like they layed out the red carpet for us. What a great feeling.

8:15 so to the Inspiration Dining room and find Maha waiting. Had the shrimp cocktai and a salad then lobster (very good and tender) AND the prime rib. Ooolala! Enjoyed every bit of that wonderful evening.

After dinner up to Gatsbys to smoke and drink and then to the casino.

If your a slot player heed my warning....back away from the slots!! OMG are they tight tight tight!

Head to bed after a walk on the deck about midnight ordered my coffee which btw is NOT bad at all, we had no problem with their coffee.

Can;t forget to take pics of our towel animal and off to bed to get ready for the pit...oh sorry Ensenada! LOL

Day 3 to follow thanks so much for reading!

[GTVCRUISER]

I think that was cruise #8 on the Elation for me , I always have a good time on that ship!!

[GTVCRUISER]

Catalina Photo

[audrey]

we will be on the elation on aug 3 5 day cruise we took this cruise two years ago and we really enjoyed it. Thanks for the review will be looking forward in day 3

[crazycath]

I think that was cruise #8 on the Elation for me , I always have a good time on that ship!!

\

 

Hi GTV!!!!

 

Cathy and Candi

[candigirl41]

Gary, you are everywhere. Can't wait to go on Elation in March

 

Candi and Cathy

[calicruise74]

we will be on the elation on aug 3 5 day cruise we took this cruise two years ago and we really enjoyed it. Thanks for the review will be looking forward in day 3

 

 

We'll be on right after you for 5 nights, August 8! ;)

[GTVCRUISER]

Hi , Candi and Cathy , I had a good time on the Elation again, It looks like Stu the C D is leaving the Elation and will be on the Spirit , I think in August.

[candigirl41]

Gary, thanks for the update.

 

Candi and Cathy

[crazycath]

Gary you take such good pictures!!

 

Cathy

[BethyAnn]

Hi , Candi and Cathy , I had a good time on the Elation again, It looks like Stu the C D is leaving the Elation and will be on the Spirit , I think in August.

 

 

I believe your right August is when he is on Spirit. I really enjoyed Stu and crew. Ali was fantastic as was Fun Guy! We just had a blast. Glad you did too GTV! Wish we coulda met up. NEXT TIME fer sure! ;)

[crazycath]

I believe your right August is when he is on Spirit. I really enjoyed Stu and crew. Ali was fantastic as was Fun Guy! We just had a blast. Glad you did too GTV! Wish we coulda met up. NEXT TIME fer sure! ;)

 

 

GTV is like a ghost, comes and goes. I kept seeing him one minute then the next he is gone!

 

Cathy

[candigirl41]

Sorry we sort of hijacked your thread. Hope their is more review to come.

Really enjoying it.

 

Candi

[crazycath]

I am going on the Spirit end of July/August I think Stu is following me

 

Cathy

[candigirl41]

Cathy you are being stalked!

 

Candi

[crazycath]

Yea by you!!!!

 

 

Cathy

[Ms. Fun Bunch]

can't wait for the rest!!!

[GTVCRUISER]

Cruising into Catalina photo on the Elation

[Amerikaner83]

Ah...the Elation.

 

She was our first cruise together.....for our honeymoon 2 months ago, glad you liked sailing on her as well! Yeah Stu is so cool, and Ali "Jersey!" is awesome too!

 

Did you guys go up to the Mikado to watch/participate in the "Austin Powers Dance lessons"? Those were crazy fun to watch!

[PlanoDebbie]

Ah...the Elation.

 

She was our first cruise together.....for our honeymoon 2 months ago, glad you liked sailing on her as well! Yeah Stu is so cool, and Ali "Jersey!" is awesome too!

 

Did you guys go up to the Mikado to watch/participate in the "Austin Powers Dance lessons"? Those were crazy fun to watch!

 

They're still doing the Austin Powers Dance lessons? They were doing that 4 years ago when we sailed on the Elation out of Galveston. It was a lot of fun to watch though.

[GTVCRUISER]

Elation in Ensenada Photo 6-16-09

[BethyAnn]

Before I continue ....Nope sorry no Austin Powers Dance lessons :(. They did have disco line dancing which my DD and I did was a blast. Now on to Day 3.

Woke up early got my normal rooms serv. coffee, showered and dressed then up to deck to see what the Ensenada shore looked like. Was not too impressed but absolutely LOVED watching and listening to the Sea Lions them are soo cute! While on deck having a smoke and enjoying the cool ocean air a couple comes up next to me. This couple was about in there mid 20's, very nicely dressed both had gucci shoes, she had channel glasses etc. a very attractive couple! My guess is they had no kids and lots of money, anyhow they are just standing there and all of a sudden she lowers her sunglasses and says " Oh my god" he looked at her with a worried looked and said "what sweety" she replied (and this is NOT a joke) "I can't believe it there are more Mexicans here then in California" I had to leave I was laughing so hard and he just looked and her shaking his head! For sure their money either came from him or her looks! Anyhow went up to get the family gathered had breakfast at Tiffanys (the daily joke) and off to Ensenada. We took the $3 round trip shuttle and had a great guide who explained what to do in the shopping area and how to be safe, was great info. Now because we were the 3rd ship in 3months to dock in Ensenada the begging kids were out big time which really bothered my two teens :(. I just told them to try to ignore and keep walking. Had a couple margaritas then off to shopping. Didn't stay long as we really werent comfortable there and seeing 2 pickups with Federali (sp) and their machine guns pointed was VERY unnerving! Spent about two hours and back to Elation. Did have lunch at a VERY good taqueria right next to Papas and Beer little mom/pop place that was awesome! Try it.

Back on ship we enjoyed the sun on deck for a bit then down to room to get ready for dinner. Was going to be an early evening as we were spent from all the sun and walking!

 

Day 4 - Day at sea

Nothing much to report here, kids and I did play scavenger hunt which was a freakin blast! Thanks to a couple who joined us we landed in first and got more medals! Woohoo.

Played some more at Casino...you would think I'd learn but noooo kept puttin it in and loosing.

Tried more trivia with Cortez and Ali and time for dinner (man the time flies) Very nice dinner loved the song the dinning crew did they crack me up. Gave an extra $20 to our waiter as he was super and we felt what was charged to us wasnt near enough.

Wondered on deck for a while then had to run up and get luggage ready to be out by door. Got our tags number 22 UGH! Oh well didnt mind hanging next day to get off as we really had no plans.

Great towel heart on bed too. Off to bed for our last night on the elation.

Next morning uneventful just had our breakfast and waited near Drama Lounge for our number (yes I had another cocktail lol) and finally round 9:30 it was time. Must admit I had tears in my eyes leaving. All in all was a fantastic time and we are already thinking about next one!

 

BIG thanks to all of you who helped us plan.

Here is a link to our photo album if you would like to see!

HUGS and thanks for reading

 

http://www1.snapfish.com/share/p=199191245468121210/l=1178674012/g=88673667/cobrandOid=1001200/otsc=SYE/otsi=SALB