Carnival Elation Cruise Review

The Carnival Elation is one of the many "FUN" Carnival cruise ships.  This review gives you a sneak preview of what awaits.

Title: Carnival Elation Cruise Review

Author: John Murray

The Elation is a vessel constructed in 1998 for +Lines" rel="tag" onclick="javascript:urchinTracker('/outbound/www.technorati.com');">Carnival Cruise
Lines. It was the beginning cruise ship 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 let me enlighten you. It's much like having front wheel drive on your car. Instead of the engine pushing the cruise ship it pulls it instead. This makes piloting the cruise vessel much easier so you can be doubtless therewon't be any listing or tipping over of the ocean liner on your cruise. Also it reduces those vibrations that cause motion sickness in persons like myself.

Enough about mechanics though being as how Carnival's got the fun don't they? Yessirree they do. The Carnival Elation hasthree swimming pools. One with a 214 ft water slide! This is where the music is and the pool games. Expect it to be crowded the initial few days.

My favourite pool is the one at the back of the vessel on verandah deck as it takes newbies about 3 daysto find it so for the primary 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-whichare not allowed.

If gambling is up your alley then head down to the Cassablanca casino. There are more than 200 slots to adopt from includingseveral 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 defunct Carnival Jubilee.

I stick to the slots, I figure it's the quickest way to lose my alloted gambling currency then I can get on with the rest of the cruise. If you are a more complicated gambler than I there is also roulette, black jack and Caribbean stud poker to play.

Free drinks on a cruise, how could it be? you're wondering. 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 swig a couple the
beverages 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 free for tasting in the shopping area.

If you are into healthier pursuits then you can head up to the
running 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 enjoyment 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 grant foot
massages for about $20 and everything up to a couples massage
for 220 dollars. It sounds steep but just contemplate how
relaxing it would be to have a message and after you don't have
to massage someone else!

For child passengers there is Camp Carnival. Our own rugrat has
gone to Camp Carnival on many many cruises and loves it
everytime. The children are categorized by age groups and have
activities planned for those ages. I recommend that your puss
goes to the first 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 extracharge although we usually tip the employees because they can make or break your kid's cruise experience. children 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 minus preamble. Our son went to an exercise called swimming under the stars where the pool was not to be used at nightexcept 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 kids under five years old you will be supplied with a pager so the employees can contact you in case your offspring wants to leave. Their activities take
place inside kids's World which is an area of 2500 sq ft filled with computers and toys and games. Activities for older kids take place in different areas on the vessel-for example pizza making takes place in Tiffany's. On the last night there will be a good-bye party for the children. Get there on time or you may not get in. All the kids receive a parting gift at this party i.e. a backpack or CD case.

As for my personal favourite bit, the food there are a bountifulness 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 always 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 available for lunch. Tiffany's lunch menu's are called taste ofnations where one day may be Mexican food with salsa and chips and another may be American BBQ where fried chicken and potatosalad 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 favor your toppings of get a slice fresh from the oven. At the same location deli sandwichesare 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 accessible 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 constantly 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 250minutes for 40 cents a minute. You can bring your own laptop and use it in the cafe but not in your cabin on the Elation. You payfor usage whether you incorporate theirs or your though. Notsure if that makes it worth lugging it around.

Speaking of cabins, we had an ocean view cabin category 6C. We
had three persons in the cabin and we fit comfortably. This
ocean liner has only twenty six demi suites (category 11) and
twenty eight 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 reliable 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
incorporate your sign and sail card to buy tokens. At some point
during your cruise there will be a video game tournement For the
kiddies 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 peers
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 appropriate ship but someone of this caliber on my cruise ship ,how could it be? The lights dimmed, I could hardly see. As I stepped forward to get a better look at our famous shipmate I fell down the stairs. I tumbled head over heals down several flghts. Not one person turned or helped me up so enthralled werethey 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 acelebrity 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 yourown. 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 ship. Somewhat muted by
Carnival standards. It's decor is of copper and inlaid woods. If
you are hesitent to attempt Carnival Cruise Lines then this is
the ocean liner to attempt beginning. The service was second to
none. The price of a Carnival cruise is frequently 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 partyships. They are The Fun ocean liners after all. There is partying for sure if you want it but there are dozens of placesto read or sit quietly on the Carnival Elation. Nothing is more peaceful than sitting on a chair atop the teak deck on theCarnival Elation looking out at the ocean passing slowly by.

Whatever your concept of fun is they mete out it. Believe them when they say Carnival's got the fun.

About the author:
A Carnival ElationCruise  is the experience of a lifetime. With the soft powdery beaches and duty free shopping, Caribbean cruises continue to grow in popularity. To learn more please visit =>http://www.cruise-travel-review.com or post your own reviews in our forum at =>http://www.cruise-travel-review.com/forums

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