Elation Trip Report - Sept 21- Sept 26 - Day 4,5 & 6

[geoffinjersey]

Day 4 – Second Sea Day

I need to do at least one breakfast in the dining room – since we are in port tomorrow – today will be breakfast in the dining room.

Breakfast was in the Imagination Dining Room. Hmmm – why is there a buffet in the middle of the room – I didn’t know I would have to get my own food J

I sit down – order - and watch as the waiter goes to the buffet and fills a plate with my order and bring it back to the table. I was hoping that the items were made to order – I was wrong. I know that they want to turn the tables during breakfast but I was hoping for something better than the Tiffany breakfast buffet. It was the EXACT same menu in both places. No problem – I’ll know better next time.

Today is going to be another relaxing day at sea – I tried to find a place on the Serenity Deck – but there weren’t any seats available (again). The chair hogs were active in this section. There were towels thrown on a bunch of the chairs – but every time I went down there these lounge chairs were empty – EVERY TIME. On many different days. I wished that some of the deck hands would collect towels, books, etc that are left on chairs for over an hour – I bet less people would leave stuff lying around.

Got to watch the ice carving demonstration – how come Samantha Brown got called up on stage to help? I didn’t get called up on stage to help!! Samantha Brown has all the luck.

Skipped the big art auction – didn’t want to waste time inside since the weather was so nice (and it usually starts getting colder on the last couple of days).

Had lunch in the dining room today – this was a much better choice than the buffet again.

Took a nap (when did I turn into my father). Had a dip in the hot tub, went down the slide; went to the gym; hit the steam room and sauna for a bit; showered; got dressed and had a drink before dinner.

After dinner was the Rhythm show. Funny thing about the shows – I was reading the hardcover book in the cabin about the history of the Elation – seems that the shows have not changed since 1998 – seems that the two shows that premiered on the Elation were Spin and Rhythm (the same two shows still showing on the Elation) – the descriptions of the shows were EXACTLY the same – I hope they changed the shows up in 11 years.

After this show I stayed for the late night R-Rated hypnosis show – much funnier and much more adult than the other show. I don’t know how any of these people were able to face each other during the cruise. I mean – there was girl on girl and guy on guy action happening on that stage.

While leaving – one of the guys asked his girlfriend what happened while he was under – she said “I can tell you – but you aren’t going to like it!”

Day 5 – Ensenada

Woke up around 7AM (again) – this time it wasn’t my body clock waking me up – it was the sound of the Azipods during docking in Ensenada. So now I’m up – I shower, get dressed and go up to Tiffany’s for breakfast.

I have a Wine Tour at 11:30 – so I’m going to take a quick walk into town just to walk around. I was in Ensenada last year – technically I was in Ensenada in April – but it was a Swine Flu cruise – so all we did in April was dock for about an hour.

So after breakfast – I decided to take a walk into town. I enjoyed the walk into town – Ensenada has been cleaned up since the last time I was here. Now the city looks really nice – they painted the sidewalks red, and cleaned up most of the main drag. Of course the sidewalk vendors and hawkers are on the main drag – but a friendly “No Gracias” is all you need.

Also – if you want something in any of these stores – make sure you haggle – and if you don’t get the price you like at store #1 – just keep looking – they ALL carry the same stuff. When I was in St Thomas last year – the tour I was on stopped at the store that all of the vendors buy their wares from – I had the best time shopping there – I bought TONS of stuff at a great discount. There was a roped off “vendor” section of the store where the real deals were (I wish I could have gotten past that velvet rope)

If you don’t want to walk to downtown – pick up a shopping shuttle right at the dock – for a buck they will drop you off in the middle of the action.

For all you can drink for $25 – the places that everyone heads to are Papas and Beer, Hsuangs, and Mango Mango. A pretty good deal (considering the prices on the ship) – just remember – this is the LAST day of the cruise – and you will HAVE to vacate your cabin early in the morning. Lets just say that there were many people in the dining room that night that looked like they wanted to die (and the next morning was the same thing).

I don’t like to do the organized ship excursions – but I couldn’t find a private driver online that offered the same tour at the ships cost. The wine tour was only $38 a person. For $38 a person you get to visit 2 wineries and you also get a free bottle of wine. Both tours were interesting – the first winery’s tour started in the warehouse area where you saw the large vats; then they took you into the wine caves where the wine bottles are stored; you watch about 5 videos showing the production of wine; and you end up in the tasting room. We were able to sample 8 different wines (4 reds/4 whites) and some brandy. The wines were good – I bought 2 bottles. I really liked the brandy – but I would never drink it at home so I passed.

The 2nd winery tour was more detailed – since it was harvest season we were able to watch grapes being de-stemmed; see the corking machine and then a visit to the tasting room. I’ll be honest – these wines were not as good as the first winery – but the 2nd winery also produced olive oil – I bought 2 huge bottles of EVOO (only $7 a bottle). To me that was worth the trip alone.

Got back to the ship around 4:00 – time to shower, change and go to the Guest Appreciation Party – just drinks this time – no food. Had a couple of drinks and then went for some sushi. It wasn’t the best but it was better than store bought sushi – a nice snack to tie me over till dinner. I tipped $2 for a couple of pieces – next thing I knew I had a plate overflowing with sushi. A bigger snack than I expected.

Time to pack before dinner.

Dining room was about a 1/3 empty tonight – in the olden days I would say that it was because people don’t want to tip their wait staff (before they started charging the gratuity right to your sign and sail card). Gave some extra tips to the wait staff and bar waitress. Heard the final song from the wait staff and headed to the Mikado Lounge for Carnival Idol.

They designed this just like American Idol – three judges (including a mean Brit) – two judges loved all 5 singers and the British Dancer hated all 5 (he just needed a better writer – he was doing Simon shtick from Season One and Two)

All 5 singers were good – each singer sang one song – top 2 has a sing-off of one song and a winner is chosen.

It was a smooth running show and entertaining.

After the show it was time for one last look walk around the ship and back to the room to finish packing.

The luggage was in the hallway by midnight.

Day 6 - Disembarkation

I was up at 6:30 – took a quick shower, got dressed and vacated the room. Went up to the Lido deck – parked myself at a table; got some breakfast and coffee and now its time to wait for Zone 16 to be called. According to the Disembarkation Paperwork – Zone 16 should leave the ship between 9:20-9:40 – not bad – I’ll be home by 3:00.

Steve, our cruise director, said that since we were arriving in San Diego extra early – the disembarkation should be quicker than normal. Maybe I can get home by 2:30.

Finished breakfast – and got a third cup of coffee. Time to sit around and wait for my Zone to be called. I wish every cruise line worked disembarkation like NCL – you don’t have to leave your cabin until its time to get off the ship. No one waits around hallways, in lounges, etc – just a nice leisurely time in your cabin..

They keep calling Brenda Ramirez from Main Deck to report to immigration – they’ve called her almost a dozen times now – and we can’t get off the ship until she reports to immigration – they explained yesterday that the people who need to go through immigration do not have to leave the ship right away – they can come back and get breakfast. But of course – I sit and wait and keep hearing her name being called over and over again.

They just announced that Brenda made it to immigration and now we can start calling other zones. I was able to get off the ship around 9:30 – right on time. Customs was a breeze – just hand off the customs form to an officer standing at the last gate.

The only time I had issues with customs was on the Monarch last October. Everyone had to approach the customs window and we were asked the same questions on the customs form. I was asked why I didn’t declare the nice watch I was wearing – the “nice” watch that cost me $15 in Laughlin, NV. The customs agent told me that he has to get to Laughlin next time he was in Nevada.

So that brings my story to a close – I made it back to Las Vegas in 5 hours – two stops, no traffic. Picked the dog up from the kennel – and now its time to return to the real world. If you haven’t fallen asleep reading this – thank you for staying with me and I hope you enjoyed the ride as much as I enjoyed writing about it.

[cascole]

Excellent review! Thanks so much for posting!

[jnky]

Without doubt the most entertaining review I have ever read...it's as if we were right there with you. When I am on the Freedom in a couple weeks, I will think of you and all the nuances that make a vacation so memorable.

So what's planned for this weekend? Anxiously awaiting the next report...ha

Jim

[Kurbanfan]

LMAO!!! Too funny! Although read all three threads out of order........great review!

[boaterette]

Thanks for the review. I love the elation and will miss her when she goes next year.

[1timecruiser]

Man I just finished laughing and you did an excellent job!!

Thanks for a good, detailed review from your point of view.

[cruiserbryce]

and you will HAVE to vacate your cabin early in the morning. Lets just say that there were many people in the dining room that night that looked like they wanted to die (and the next morning was the same thing).

so thats why all the pics of me the morning after those places looked odd...here I was about to go get a new camera

thanks for sharing!

[jer_l]

Did you have to turn in the wine you bought and were given on the winery tour and get it back later that evening or did you just carry it on? The reason I ask is that we are planning to do the winery tour in January and were hoping to take one of the bottles to dinner that evening.