Observations on Elation Four Day in September

[mzloolue]

We had never done a four day before, but the price was right and we could get off work so we went.

 

Four days was fine.

We did notice that the four day menu is missing a lot of the good stuff.

Oh well, right?

 

We have been on a bunch of cruises in August when it is often cooler in the Caribbean than it is at home, which is not saying a lot.

August cruises are hot.

September was nice.

Cooler, but still warm.

And I get away from the rag weed and mosquitoes for a few days...

 

I don't know how many people were on this cruise, but I did not see many people the whole time.

There were never many anywhere.

They were only running one side of the buffet line and there was never much of a line.

 

This is the first time we have ever spent much time in the Serenity area.

In August it is too hot and in January it is too cold.

Apparently in September it is just right and there were open chairs generally.

I could do without the hot tubs out there as they seemed to attract noisy people who probably don't understand the concept of serenity.

I did not enjoy overhearing the detailed description of a child abuse case or hearing the two couples acting like rowdy teenagers.

One interesting thing I saw was a man come out on the deck with a full mixed drink.

He sat it down and wandered away leaving it there still totally full.

I kind of think that if you can't keep up with your $8 drink then you probably didn't need it anyway.

 

I had read the posts by John Heald that said that platinums could check and see if their room was ready.

So we did.

A guy in a white suit went and spoke to the room steward who came running down the hall all upset.

I guess John Heald and the staff on Elation are not on the same page...

 

I had also read the thread about the couple who were told that they were not allowed to take their bicycles on a cruise.

When we were lined up to get back on board in Cozumel a lady in front of us got back on the ship with a bicycle.

Interesting.

 

I have read that musical instruments are not allowed on board.

There was a guy sitting out on a balcony playing a trombone.

It sounded pretty good and DH and I sat outside and listened as long as he played.

 

I had to go to the purser's desk once.

There was a guy in front of me in the platinum line putting some money on his card.

I could not help but notice that he had a first timer card.

Not a big deal, but interesting.

 

I am into a long term weight loss plan, so it was also interesting to me that on Elation there was no reduced fat salad dressing available in the buffet area.

It would have been nice if it had been available.

I asked and they did not have any.

However, fat free french was available in the dining room and fat free honey mustard was available from room service.

I thought that it was odd.

 

I noticed a few things on Elation that has been redone since I was on her last year.

Some restrooms had been completely redone and the insides of the elevators were all new.

Embarkation was fine and quick.

Debarkation was not so fun.

We thought that we would have time to eat in the dining room.

We got up early and were waiting when it opened at 7.

It was 7:45 before we got our food, so we missed priority self debark.

It looked like everyone on board wanted to self debark.

And the line was really really slow.

 

It was a good cruise.

Except for the debark.

[Scott34787]

 

I have read that musical instruments are not allowed on board.

There was a guy sitting out on a balcony playing a trombone.

It sounded pretty good and DH and I sat outside and listened as long as he played.

.

 

No problem bringing instruments on board - only

caveat it if they get complaints they may

seize it. Glad he was good - nothing worse

than a bad trombonist. :cool:

[factotumdeb]

is this new to allow musical instuments on board? we called and asked if my dh could bring his guitar on with us for our ecstasy cruise two years ago and were told no. thanks in advance for any input,

[mzloolue]

is this new to allow musical instuments on board? we called and asked if my dh could bring his guitar on with us for our ecstasy cruise two years ago and were told no. thanks in advance for any input,

 

I thought that musical instruments were not allowed, but obviously it would be difficult to sneak on a trombone.

 

Or a bicycle for that matter.