Elation 8/28 to 9/4 Review

[excitedcruiser]

There were five adults booked for the Elation cruise. We had an ocean view room on the Empress Deck. No problems with space in the room. Here is my review of our cruise.

 

Saturday 8/27 (Day before cruise) Left Oklahoma City about 5:30 am headed to Galveston. Already had booked a hotel room back in February for the La Quinta Inn on Seawall Blvd for $60.00. Arrived in Galveston around 2:30 in the afternoon. Checked into hotel (ocean view). Headed down to the strand to shop and watch the Estacy leave port.

 

Sunday 8/28 (Embarkation) Parked our car at EZ Cruise Parking (Pre paid online for only $40.00 for 7 day cruise. Arrived at lot around 10:30 am. Shuttle wouldn't start until 11:30 am so we packed up our luggage and walked to the terminal. Short walk, about 2 blocks. No porter was needed as we took our own luggage to check in. Got to terminal for checkin at 11:00 am. Started to open checkin at 12:30. This was a slower process than our previous cruise. Lots of waiting this time. We were suppose to get Gold cards as this is our second cruise but they were not being issued at that time and they couldn't get the cards to work. Got onboard ship at about 12:30 pm and headed to Lido Deck for Lunch. Ship ported out at 4:15 pm and we passed the Conquest docked in front of us. Told that they were there due to Hurrican Katrina coming in. Got out to sea about 1 hour and then we did a sudden turn around. People falling everywhere. Dishes and glasses crashing to the ground. Captian came on intercom and said we were going back to Galveston to drop off a ship crew member who was having a heart attack. Coast guard met us about 1 mile from pier and we unloaded the crew member. Turned back around and headed out again doing about 22 knots. Started to feel Hurricane Katrina at this point as the ship did alot of rocking and people stumbing everywhere. Barf bags started to appear taped to everything. People running to bathrooms. No drinking needed this night as everyone was stumbling.

 

Monday 8/29 (Day at Sea) Ship still rocking from Hurricane. Didn't experience much rain just alot of rocking. My sister staying in the room from Sunday night till Monday evening when the rocking finally stopped. Still enjoyed day at sea. We ate dinner in Lido deck as we never eat in the dining room.

 

Tuesday 8/30 (Progresso) Really liked this port. Ship is backed in and buses will take you to end of pier. Corona Beach is directly at the end of pier. Would not pay for this excursion on Carnival. We shopped a little at the flea market where you are dropped off and then took the town bus tour for $2.00 a person. This was great. Highly recommend it. Then walked a few blocks to Flamingos for lunch. Great food. Then across the street to the beach. The water is not real clear but is shallow for a long distance out. Got drinks delivered to us from Flamingos across the street. Walked back to flea market and caught the bus back to the boat. Shopped a little on deck and got on board. Ate dinner at the Lido deck and then went to the Past Guest Party. Free drinks and snacks and the captian came on a talked for a little while.

Then enjoyed a nice show in the Mikado Lounge then up to Lido for drinks.

 

Wednesday 8/31 (Cozumel) Planned our own excursion to Paradise Beach. Got a van for 5 adults and paid $20.00. We docked at Punta Lagunta Pier. Arrived at Paradise Beach about 10:30 and got front row seating. The water wasn't real clear due to Hurricane Katrina. Watch out for some rocky entrances to the water. This surprised us. Ate in the restuarant and the nachos were awesome. Snorkling not the best though. Caught cab back to peir (same price) and was dropped off by the dock. Walked the strip for a little while then headed to Carlo's and Charlies. Was a crazy place. Then back to the ship around 4:00 pm. Did some shopping on board and back to Lido deck for drinks.

 

Thursday 9/1 (Belize) We had booked our own excursion on line with Coral Breeze for the Cave Tubing. Carlos met us on the dock after tendering. Go early to get tendering tickets if you are not booked on a carnival excursion. We got tickets #1 and were off the ship by 9:00 am. Tour started at 9:30 am and we took a van trip (1.5 hrs) to the cave tubing area. Very informative trip. Learned alot about Belize. The hike to the cave entrance was about 1.5 miles and not to hard. The entrance to the cave tubing is either a jump into 10 foot water from a 12 foot cliff our a rope entrance near the water. Your choice. Spent a couple hours floating down the river through two caves then back to the beginning for lunch at Amigos. Real good food. Trip back was quiet as everyone was worn out. Got back to the dock about 1 hour before last tender and did some shopping. Back on the boat and dinner at Tiffanys and changed for a show in the Mikado Lounge.

 

Friday 9/2 (Day at Sea) Spent day relaxing from previous past three days at port. Relaxed in the hot tub and walked around taking pictures of ship. Enjoyed sunset at the front of boat. Wonderful photo opportunity.

 

Saturday 9/3 (Day at Sea) Another day relaxing and packing your stuff. Have to have luggage outside of room by 11:00 pm if not doing self imbarkation. Bought a few things in store. Alot of stuff was 75% off as they told us that the Elation was not going back to Progresso because they were taking over the Estacy itenierary due to the Hurrican. Anything with Progresso on it was clearanced out.

 

Sunday 9/4 (Debarkation) OMG! I so recommend the self disembarkation. We chose not to do it because we didn't want to haul all our luggage. The people who do their own disembarkation got to be first of the ship starting at 7:00 am. The rest are to go up on deck starting at 9:00 am and wait for your color. They finally called ours at about 10:30 am and then the line to customs was 1.5 hours long. We finally got off the ship at 12:30 pm and walked back to the parking lot to car. Hung around Galveston a little while and headed for home about 2:30 pm

 

Hope this gives you some information about the cruise and if you have any questions, I'll be glad to help.

[rdrewbydoo]

So Excitedcruiser, which La Quinta did you stay at? this is our first cruise and trip to Galveston. We were originally going on Sensation in N.O. but due to the hurricane plans were changed. We are staying at the La Quinta in Galveston also, the address to it is 1402 seawall blvd. Is this the one you stayed at? if so how close to the ocean (nice beach) were you? were you happy with your stay there? thanks for any info , stacey Glad you had a nice cruise.

[excitedcruiser]

Yes, this is the same hotel we stayed at. The beach is across the street. The hotel is at a corner so there is a light there for crossing and steps across the street to get down to the beach. Nothing is in front of the hotel, so the veiw is nice. They say check in is not till 4pm but we were able to check in at 2:30 since our room was ready. The hotel has an elevator and pool and is right next to a Denny's. Enjoy!

[rdrewbydoo]

thanks!!! we will!!! stacey