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Carnival Elation Cruise Review
By John Murray
The Elation is a cruise ship fabricated in 1998 for Carnival Cruise Lines. It was the beginning cruise liner to have the azipod propulsion system. Everything you read about the Elation will include a little blurb about the azipod system. You may wonder what the heck that is so I'll tell you. It's much like having front wheel drive on your car. Instead of the engine pushing the vessel it pulls it instead. This makes driving the ocean liner much easier so you can be sure there won't be any listing or tipping over of the cruise ship on your cruise. Also it reduces those vibrations that cause nausea in passengers like myself.
Enough about mechanics though seeing that Carnival's got the fun don't they? Yessirree they do. The Carnival Elation has three places to swim. One with a 214 ft water slide! This is where the fun takes place and the pool games. Expect it to be crowded the first few days. My favourite pool is the one at the back of the vessel on verandah deck since it takes first timers about 3 days to find it so for the earliest couple days of your cruise it is uncrowded. The last pool is the kiddie pool on promenade deck at the mega liner's aft (back). This pool is a bit like swimming down in a sewer with all the babies in their swim diapers-which are not allowed.
If gambling is something you dig then head down to the Cassablanca casino. There are more than 200 slot machines to select from including several megacash machines that are linked with other Carnival ships fleetwide. The biggest jackpot that I have seen was over a million bucks won on the now gone Carnival Jubilee. I stick to the slots, I figure it's the quickest way to lose my alloted gambling dollars then I can get on with the rest of the cruise. If you are a more knowledgeable gambler than I there is also roulette, black jack and Caribbean stud poker to play.
Free libations on a cruise, doubtful you think. Not so. You can attend wine tastings or as we do go to check out the art an hour before the famed art auction where they pass out free wine and cheese. If you have been on more than one cruise with the same line you can attend the past guest party. Don't dismiss this as a waste of time if you like to quaff a few the drinks are free and plentiful and all you have to do is watch a short spiel where the cruiseline pats themselves on the back for giving you a great vacation. There is usually one night where the liquor is able for tasting in the shopping area.
If you are into healthier pursuits then you can head up to the jogging track on the Elation's Sun deck or to the gymon the Sports deck. The Carnival Elation has a half court basketball court for your benefit and they do supply the basketball to play with. Elation has a full service spa onboard. I confess I have never been to the spa but I know they do mete out foot massages for about 20 dollars and everything up to a couples massage for $220. It sounds steep but just visualize how relaxing it would be to have a message and after you don't have to massage someone else!
For your rugrats there is Camp Carnival. Our own rugrat has gone to Camp Carnival on many many cruises and loves it everytime. The children are divided by age groups and have activities planned for those ages. I recommend that your progeny goes to the beginning night where you can sign them up for the camp. They are introduced to each other and socialize a little. It doesn't mean they ever have to go again and there is no extra charge although we usually tip the staff since they can make of break your kid's cruise experience. kids must be signed up to participate at any time so it is easier to just do it at the start and then they are free to join in at any time without preamble. Our child went to an activity called swimming under the stars where the pool was out of bounds at night except to kids in the program and so they had the pool and slide to themselves. You just drop your kid off for whatever activities they would enjoy. For preschool and kindergarden age children you will be supplied with a pager so the employees can contact you in case your little one wants to leave. Their activitiestake place inside kids's World which is an area of 2500 sq ft filled with computers and toys and games. Activities for older children take place in different areas on the ocean liner-for example pizza building takes place in Tiffany's. On the last night there will be a departure party For the children. Get there on time or you may not get in. All the children receive a parting gift at this party ie a knapsack or CD case.
As for my personal favourite chunk, dining at sea there are a plenitude of choices. The two formal dining rooms on Carnival Elation are the Inspiration and the Imagination named after sister ships in the fleet. You will be assigned one of these with a specific dining time. I frequently check the menu early in the day so I can decide if I want to show up at my appointed time or eat elsewhere at my leisure. The other places to eat aboard the Elation are Tiffany's which is the buffet restaurant that changes the menu everyday and is different for lunch than dinner or the snack bar on Lido deck where fries and burgers are on hand for lunch. Tiffany's lunch menu's are called taste of nations where one day may be Mexican food with salsa and chips and another may be American BBQ where fried chicken and potato salad are offered. There was also Indian and Italian that I can recall. At the far back on the right hand side of Tiffany's you will find Carnival's famous pizza being made fresh all the time. You can order a whole pizza and choose your toppings of get a slice fresh from the oven. At the same location deli sandwiches are made. This is a wonderful spot to eat early on in the voyage as your fellow passengers won't know about this yet therefore there will be no lining up for you.
Sushi is served on promenade deck every evening. There was no raw fish (sashimi) the week we sailed but many varieties of fresh made before your eyes sushi to select from. Of course wasabi and pickled ginger and soy sauce were all handy as well. There is also never a sushi line I presume since no one seems to realize that this also is included in your cruise fare. Needless to say we went there every single evening. Tortillas chips and salsa were served on Promenade deck on Mexican day in the night while a mariachi band played for us.
Room service, room service how do I love thee, let me count the ways. Room service is able but a tip is in order. Pretzels or chips can come with any sandwich - a tasty midnight snack. Room service was perpetually speedy and correct. You can also order cookies, crudites, fruit and salad. At your service 24 hours a day.
If you need to keep in touch the Internet cafe offers internet usage at 75 cents a minute and different packages up to 250 minutes for 40 cents a minute. You can bring your own laptop and incorporate it in the cafe but not in your cabin on the Elation. You pay for usage wheather you use theirs or your though. Not sure if that makes it worth lugging it around.
Speaking of cabins, we had an ocean view cabin category 6C. We had three folk in the cabin and we fit comfortably. This cruise ship has only 26 demi suites (category 11) and 28 suites (category 12). It really doesn't matter to me which deck as there are elevators to take you up and down.
Virtual World video game arcade is right beside the Mikado lounge-a perfect spot to let your teen hang out while you catch one of the Las Vegas style shows in the lounge. There are the usual driving games and shooting games. The video games take tokens that are bought right inside the arcade. You can use your sign and sail card to buy tokens. At some point during your cruise there will be a video game tournement For the children in this case the games are able. It is some of the Camp Carnival program.
The Mikado lounge is where all the shows take palce. There was a comedy show, a magician, a hypnotist, dancing show girls-rated G. There are musical shows too. The week I sailed there was a special guest announced at he end of one musical show. After much preamble Mr Stevie Wonder was brought onto the stage. Persons went running from the lounge theatre to get their comrades and family to see Stevie Wonder. There was screaming that I thought only the Beatles could elicit. Being a pale face from Canada I'm not too clear on the likeness of Mr Wonder but I was pondering which cabin would Stevie Wonder stay in On the Carnival Elation. Don't get me wrong the Carnival Elation is a amiable ship but someone of this caliber on my vessel , how could it be? The lights dimmed, I could hardly see. As I stepped forward to get a better look at our famous vesselmate I fell down the stairs. I tumbled head over heals down several flghts. Not one person turned or helped me up so enthralled were they to catch a glimpse of this celebrity. In the end "Stevie" took his wig off so that it may be revealed that it was only a celebrity impersonator. Everyone groaned that they knew it all along and they were never fooled. The next day I looked like I had a run in with the UFC star Tito Ortiz.
The Mark Twain library is a bit of a misnomer. There doesn't seem to be a convenient way to get at any books so bring your own. It is beautiful and usually quiet.
Romeo and Juliet lounge is an elegantly styled room which was used for private parties some nights and for karaoke on others. Salsa dancing was popular evening activity here.
The Cole Porter lounge has folk and country music playing and dancing. I only passed by here on my way to the ocean facing massaging chairs.
Duke's is the piano bar named after the talented Duke Ellington. It is a jazz club with a striking entrance modelled on the Triumphal Arch from Washington Square park. This is an ideal place for photos around the white baby grand piano. We saw a wedding reception being held here.
The Jekyll and Hyde disco is the place to party. Monitors show your fellow cruise mates dancing to the scintillating beat. The giant Jekyll and Hyde heads move to the music too-a bit creepy but cool after you've had a couple drinks.
The Carnival Elation is a gorgeous cruise ship. Somewhat muted by Carnival standards. It's decor is of copper and inlaid woods. If you are hesitent to endeavor Carnival Cruise Lines then this is the vessel to try earliest. The service was 2nd to none. The price of a Carnival cruise is at all times reasonable but by booking way in advance, about eight months we got an even better deal some would call it a cheap cruise. Don't be scared off by Carnival's old reputation for being a bunch of party cruise ships. They are The Fun mega liners after all. There is partying for sure if you want it but there are dozens of places to read or sit quietly on the Carnival Elation. Nothing is more peaceful than sitting on a chair atop the teak deck on the Carnival Elation looking out at the ocean passing slowly by. Whatever your concept of fun is they offer it. Believe them when they say Carnival's got the fun.
About the Author
With the soft powdery beaches and duty free shopping, Caribbean cruises continue to grow in popularity. In fact, the Caribbean is one of the most popular cruise destinations of all cruises worldwide.
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