Returned from Elation 14-21 Nov

This was my first Carnival cruise.

Good things:

The Layout of the ship, itself.

Lots of deck space - particularly enjoyed the front deck spaces to watch

port departures.

Watching the zig-zag departure between the red/green buoys from

Belize city.

Robes in the cabin (only in the outside/oceanview cabins)

Satellite TV - receiving CBS, NBC and ABC so we were able to watch our

regular programs while getting ready for dinner

The food was very, very good. In Tiffany's - pizza, and deli.

Ice cream and frozen yoghurt seemed available (without a fee) all the time.

In the dining room - shrimp, scallops were perfectly cooked as well as the meats (husband said the filet and prime rib were very good)

The choice of music (jazz, piano, some classical and even a country/western

singer (hugely popular margarita/salsa 'n chips party one day)

Clean and well-maintained cabin.

Drink prices seemed reasonable. Drink of the Day (without a souvenir glass)

was 2.95.

The ship docked at the new downtown Cozumel pier - I don't know if they

get to dock there every week.

Didn't hear any announcements during the day except letting you know when

passengers were cleared to get off the ship in a port of call.

There seemed to be plenty of lounge chairs around the pool.

Our Empress Deck cabin was under the galley but we never heard any noises.

Some other observations:

Rough ride on the first two days. We don't get seasick but it bothered many other passengers. The sea, itself, wasn't *that* rough, so why all the motion? We're quite sure the stabilizers weren't being used, probably to save

fuel.

The films listed, to be shown on the cabin TV ran continuously so we were never able to see the beginning!LOL The only time they showed a film in the lounge, it was "Garfield" (which was also being shown on the TV).

The weird "entertainment" in the dining room each evening. They would try to get the passengers up to dance (when many were in the middle of their main course). One was a conga line to "Hot, Hot, Hot", another the "Macarena" (didn't that stuff go "out" years ago??) and the other was a sign-language song (which my husband recognized from Club Med - from back in the '80's!!) The waiters sang an Italian song the first night, and "Leaving On A Jet Plane" the last night (changed the words to "Leaving On A Funship").

The strangest of all was the Maitre'd *and* our waiter plugging Bingo each night. The ship offered bingo twice a day.

In the dining room one night, we had no choice of dessert - just baked alaska.

Another night they had a choice listed but the waiter automatically gave us the grand marnier souffle (which was very good). Some at our table were not happy about that.

Art Auctions were overkill, as well (they had a final auction, late in the week, the next day in our capers was a caption that said "Final Art Auction - The Sequel"). Watch that you don't trip over the easels on display all over the ship. The card room is actually the "art gallery" for the auction company.

In the dining room one night, we had no choice of dessert - just baked alaska.

Another night they had a choice listed but the waiter automatically gave us the grand marnier souffle (which was very good).

Same thing happened in September when I cruised on the Elation. I was wasn't too thrilled about the baked Alaska but the souffle was very good. Our waitress did explained that the baked Alaska was a special treat from the chefs but when she sat the souffle down there was no explanation. Glad you enjoyed your cruise. I think the Elation is a great ship for someone's first cruise.