Elation 9/26 Review

I don't know what happened to the Sail Away/ Meet N Mingle schelduled for just after the life boat drill on the Verandah deck, but there was no one there that I could tell by the time I arrived, which was at least 10 minutes late. I had to go to both dining rooms to try to get our dining room and time changed and it took 4 trips to both dining rooms to get it done. Very frustrating. When I got to the Verandah deck pool/bar area, the bar was not yet open, there were no chairs and there was no identifiable group milling around, so I tried plan B, Gatsby's Great Bar two decks down. Alas, that bar was also not yet open and no one there admitted to being a Cruise Critic. I could not contact the other CCers to try to arrange another Meet N Mingle because I had left my folder in the car with all of my reservation confirmation numbers, discount coupons from cozumelinsider and all of my info. Things did not get off to a good start for me, but they got better. I did get to meet fellow CCers Justin and Amy on the Coralbreeze SharkRay Alley Caye Caulker Snorkel trip, which was a great surprise. My suggestion would be not to do a Meet N Mingle on the first day, but on the second day. All bars should be open by then, chairs out, etc.

I did enjoy the cruise alot. It gave me an opportunity to do the things I did not get to do when we cruised the Elation over New Years.

This time we hung out on the beach across from Saint Bonnet's in Progreso where Armando took great care of us.

In Coz we had some initial problems with getting the car rented from Executive, but finally got on our way. We enjoyed some great snorkeling at Dzul Ha, then took a quick driving tour of the wild side for photo ops, and spent the afternoon in the water at beautiful Nachi Cocom. We hated to leave.

The Coralbreeze snorkel trip to Caye Caulker was great, too. We saw lots of nurse sharks and rays. We rented a golf cart and headed to the split and the Lazy Lizard where they make some mighty powerful drinks.

We stayed in U38. Our cabin steward was Melvin and is from Belize. He was most accomodating and friendly. Savio and Martina took great care of us at table 217 in the Inspiration late dining room. They were most attentive and delightful.

I did not spend alot of time going to the shows, etc this cruise. I did enjoy the karioke bar and Duke's piano bar on two or three ocassions.

EZ Park said that they had just gone up to $45 unless you had prepaid with the online special. However, I noticed when we left this morning that the sign said $35. So I am not sure of today's price. If you can book online at $35, do so. I was impressed with their service.

If you ever come or go to Galveston via I10 West, use the Sam Houston Toll Road. It will save you lots of time. It takes $1.25 three times but is well worth it.

If anyone has any questions, I'll try my best to answer.

Patti

Since I'm traveling on Elation 11/7/2004 I really appreciate your taking the time to post your review. Can hardlywait!!!

Hello- seems like you had a good time on your cruise and I'm glad. I am sailing the Elation on 10/17 and was wondering if the room safe is locked with a key pad or a magnetic stripe like on a credit card?

I hope you have a great cruise.

They started letting people off the ship about 10:45am. I would not plan on arriving in the parking lot until about 11 or 11:15. I would try to get on the ship as early as possible in order to straighten out any problems in the dining room. We were assigned a different dining room and a different time from my sister and her husband. I ended up leaving a note for the maitre d and he called me in my cabin.

The food was great in the dining room. The only thing I cared for in Tiffany's was the omelets, the deli sandwiches, the salads, and the ice cream machine ;) .

Bon voyage.

Do you know EZ-Park's webiste address? I would love to prebook.

THANKS!

:confused:

Imrunningl8, here's more info than you want to know -

http://www.carnival.com/CMS/Static_Templates/weather_update.aspx Carnival Hurricane info

http://www.intellicast.com/LocalWeather/World/Satellite/Caribbean/ weather satellite

http://www.cruisecritic.com/tips/tipsarticle.cfm?ID=43 hurricane season cruising

http://www.ezcruiseparking.com/ Galveston discount parking

http://www.galveston.com/transportation/ Galveston Transportation Services

http://www.galvestonlimousineservice.com/ Galveston Limo

http://www.galveston.com/webcams/harborhouse/ Galveston Harborhouse webcam

http://www.galveston.com/bedandbreakfastinns/ Galveston B&B's

http://www.carnival.com/CMS/FAQs/FAQLanding.aspx Carnival FAQ's

http://www.carnival.com/CMS/FAQs/Dining_Room_Dress_Requirements.aspx dining dress

http://www.carnival.com/Itinerary.aspx?embkCode=GAL&itinCode=GL4&shipCode=EL&durDays=7&subRegionCode=CW

Carnival Elation Itinerary, ports of call info, Carnival excursion info

http://www-personal.umich.edu/~jimcald/cruisestuff/Elation/shore_excursion_prices_april2004/ Elation/shore_excursion_prices_april2004 all ports, taken for cruise ship

http://community.webshots.com/album/116698226aBmXmW Elation Daily Capers 1/2004

http://www.*****.com/ship.cfm?shipid=23&id=npfy Elation ship info

http://www.*****.com/cruiseports/viewport.cfm?port=278&id=npfy Cozumel ave. temp, humidity, rainfall, map

http://www.cruisecritic.com/ports/newport.cfm?ID=6 Cozumel extensive info

http://boards.cruisecritic.com/forumdisplay.php?f=210 Cozumel CC message board

http://www.cozumelinsider.com/ Cozumel most extensive info

http://cozumelmexico.net/Cozumel-Beaches.html Cozumel interactive beach map

http://www.cozumelinsider.com/beaches/ Coz beach chart

http://www.cozumelinsider.com/beaches/beachchart.html Coz guide to beaches chart

http://www.cozumelinsider.com/beaches/snorkeltour.htm Coz do-it-yourself snorkel tour

http://cozumelinsider.com/tours/islandtour.html Do-it-yourself Coz Island Tour

http://www.cancunmap.com/ Has great Cozumel map and info

http://www.travelnotes.cc/cruise/index.php Which pier in Coz

http://www.cozumelinsider.com/cruiseships/ Coz Cruise Ship schedule

http://www.cancunmap.com/car_rental_tips.html great Cozumel car rental info

http://cozumelinsider.com/carrentals/ more on Cozumel car rentals

http://www.cozumelinsider.com/beaches/beach_dzulha.htm Dzul Ha snorkel beach, Coz

http://www.islacozumel.net/food/coconuts/ Coconuts in Cozumel

http://cozumelnachicocom.net/ Nachi Cocom in Coz

http://boards.cruisecritic.com/showthread.php?t=55182 CC Board on Nachi

http://www.epinions.com/content_78375587460 Chankanaab Park, Coz

http://www.cozumelinsider.com/specials/coupons.html Coz printable discount coupons

http://www.cozumelonline.com/cards/index.html Coz ecards with tropical pics

http://eagleraydivers.com/Snorkel.htm Coz snorkel trip with Eagle Ray

http://www.*****.com/cruiseports/viewport.cfm?port=857&id=npfy Progresso ave. temp, humidity, rainfall, map

http://www.cruisecritic.com/ports/newport.cfm?ID=91 Progresso extensive info

http://boards.cruisecritic.com/forumdisplay.php?f=154 Progresso CC message board

http://www.*****.com/cruiseports/viewport.cfm?port=27&id=npfy Belize City, Belize,

ave. temp, humidity, rainfall, map

http://www.cruisecritic.com/ports/newport.cfm?ID=107 Belize extensive info

http://boards.cruisecritic.com/forumdisplay.php?f=109 Belize CC message board

http://www.coralbreezelimited.com/ Belize Shark Ray Alley Caye Caulker snorkel tour

http://www.gocayecaulker.com/ Caye Caulker, Belize

http://belizecruiseexcursions.com/CaveTubingBelize.htm Belize tubing trip

http://belizecruiseexcursions.com/BeachSnorkelingBelize.htm Goff's Caye,Belize Snorkeling & Beach Excursion

http://www.*****.com/aday.cfm?id=npfy day at sea info

http://www.*****.com/cruiseships/deckplans/allships.cfm?id=npfy ship deck plans

http://www.*****.com/dining_line.cfm?lineid=8&id=npfy dining info

http://www.*****.com/tipping.cfm?id=npfy tipping

http://www.carnival.com/CMS/FAQs/Gratuities_Tips.aspx Carnival tipping policy

http://cruiseclues.com/shipstips/elation.htm lots of Elation info

http://boards.cruisecritic.com/showthread.php?t=55918 Coz Passion Island Excursion CCbd

http://www.shoretours.com/index.asp shore tours-independent

http://boards.cruisecritic.com/showthread.php?t=71137 Bonine to avoid sea sickness

http://boards.cruisecritic.com/showthread.php?t=73479 Poll on avoiding sea sickness

http://www.worldtimeserver.com/ time in different parts of the world

According to the Carnival Elation info on Belize from our last cruise, the Pharmacy Express in the Belize Tourism Village is the place to go. The pharmacist is from Louisiana and used to be a Wal-Mart pharmacist. I went there this 9/26/04 cruise and picked up some dermatology products not covered by insurance that normally sells for $41 for $8. They will also mail you what you need if you contact them. Here is the contact info:

phone: 011 501 22 4242

email: medimeds@btl.net

Here is a link to a map of the Tourism Village and the Pharmacy Express is #18:

http://www.belizetourismvillage.com/map.html

You can do a price comparison with this site:

http://www.myrxforless.com/pharmacy/product-results.asp

Flossyal, the safes on the Elation use a magnetic strip. I suggest that you bring something like a grocery card, library card, or AAA card or other card to use to open the safe that will not be a danger in the hands of a theif should it get lost or stolen being carried around. I used my AAA card this time and have used a grocery card in the past. You do not want to be carrying around a bank or credit card, IMHO.

print this coupon for EZ Parking discount:

http://www.galvestoncruises.com/MenuFiles/ez_coupon.pdf