My Elation Review

[sharkaymon]

Finally, I've unpacked, packed to evacuate Corpus Christi, unpacked again, set up the 'puter and here it is::cool: MY ELATION REVIEW.

 

Pre-Cruise:

 

I love Priceline! I pricelined the Galvez Hotel for $75 three weeks before the cruise. Nice rooms, yukky view, decent breakfast buffet. We were traveling with my sis and her new hubby. They were on their honeymoon.

 

Embarkation: Shuttle left the Galvez at 12:00 and we were at the pier in 10 minutes. There were plenty of people ahead of us. Oh, am I ever spoiled. Since we had a cat 12 cabin we got to use Skipper's Club and they let our traveling companions register right along with us. This was wonderful. No lines! Too bad I can't afford to travel like this every time. The only prob was that when we skipped the long lines we skipped our boarding pic. But we made up for it. Went right to our cabins, just across from one another. Dropped off our carry-ons and headed to the Lido Deck for a great lunch at Tiffany's. We explored the ship and managed to secure a table for four when we went to the dining room to check on our table assignment. Actually, it was a booth for six with only us assigned to it.

 

Our cabin was very nice, a luggage mat on the bed helped protect the new bedding everyone is talking about. The bed was too hard for us, so the second night our wonderful cabin stewards Stefka and Oksana put another duvet under the sheets and it softened the bed a bit. The balcony had room for four plus a small plastic table. We used the balcony a lot. Coffee in the mornings, drinks and snacks in the afternoons. So much fun.

 

The cruise director was David Holt and he did a great job at the Welcome Aboard Show as well as all through the cruise. The comedian was Ronnie Bullard and he was really funny. One of the social hosts, a member of "The Dream Team" was named Josh. This guy was so nice. He is going to go far in the business and I won't be surprised to see that he has been named a CD someday soon.

 

We left the tips on the Sail and Sign card. Everyday I left an additional small tip for the cabin stewards. They were incredible. The second night when we came back to our cabins the stewards had put rose petals and a rose on sis and BIL's bed and a fat bunny holding a rose on our bed. Anytime I had a request it was promptly and cheerfully fulfilled. My only, only complaint was the bathroom, and I don't think it was the stewards fault. The shower door was very corroded and the grout on the walls around the tub was discolored. I had been looking forward to the jacuzzi tub but this was so uninviting I only took showers. I will be sending a letter and including pix of the bathroom to customer service.

 

The food in the dining room was usually very good. I was a little disappointed in the lobster. The texture was a little mealy. We had some very good soups, including a Roasted Indian Pumpkin Soup that was top-notch. We had late dining. The dining room was very loud and boisterous. Sometimes it was too loud, but that is a "Carnival thing" We had breakfast in the dining room every morning and it was nice to be served instead of getting up and down for everything at Tiffany's. The pizza was always great.

 

I chose to spend my $$ in the casino instead of the spa. Bad choice but it was fun anyway. Would have felt better in the spa but Oh, well!

 

In Coz, the newly weds went snorkling and we stayed onboard, not even coming out of the cabin until 11:00. We've been to Coz before and weren't really interested in any of the excursions. We went down to the pier to the shopping mall but it was so incredibly hot we only stayed long enough for me to get souveniers for the folks I work with. Then it was back on board, ordered a "Kiss On The Lips" at the Atrium Bar and enjoyed it on the balcony. Is that how you spell "balcony" hmmmmmmm it looks funny.

 

Anyway the four day cruise was over far too soon. We put our bags out the night before, had breakfast and waited in Tiffany's for our color to be called. We were some of the last to be called but the wait wasn't bad if you had a book to read. When we got through customs we called the Galvez and by the time we got outside the shuttle was waiting for us. What was really great is that they had taken our car out of the parking lot and had the engine on and the ac cranked up on high, they helped us pack the luggage in the trunk and off we went to take the newly weds to IAH and then to drive ourselves back to Corpus Christi. It wasn't until then that we even heard of "RITA"

 

If I've skipped anything you're interested in hearing about, just let me know. I love to talk about cruising.:)

 

Here is a link to our pix. I added a few more. http://community.webshots.com/user/sharkaymon

[seashell36]

Sharkaymom, thanks for the great review. So glad you had a good time. I can't wait for my first cruise. Hoping DH will love it and want to go on more! Would love to try one of the newer ships (going on the Inspiration).

[Ship Addict]

Seashell, I am in the same boat as you!! I have been on several cruises, but my DH will be going on his first in six days. I am hoping he will finally understand why I am so hooked . . . I have my fingers crossed that he will be checking out cruise rates the day we get back! :D

[cruzinsteve]

Seashell, I am in the same boat as you!! I have been on several cruises, but my DH will be going on his first in six days. I am hoping he will finally understand why I am so hooked . . . I have my fingers crossed that he will be checking out cruise rates the day we get back! :D

 

Keep him happy with booze, Lovin and food and he will for sure want to cruise again, thats what my DW did to me, and we're now booked for our 25th and 26th cruise in the next few month.

[Mgetta]

Had the same problem with my DH. He just knew he'd be bored to tears. Brought back the Compass (RCC) from my cruise and showed him all the activities and told him about the food. Said you just couldn't be bored on a cruise ship without really trying. When he finally tried it, he wanted to book another cruise before we got off this ship.

[mamiamjo]

Thanks for the review! I was staying at the Hotel Galvez (business meeting) on the 18th & 19th and had a similar view, but from a higher floor which helped a bit.

 

Which cabin were you in? We have guarantee suite for the November 19th cruise on the Elation and are hoping for a cat12 (keeping my fingers crossed)

 

Thanks again for the review and the pics. They are making me even more excited about our up-coming cruise.

 

Mike

[corina27]

sharkaymon thanks for sharing a review and pictures with us.It looks like you had a good cruise.:)

[Maggie02]

Sharkaymon, thanks for the great review...just wanted to let you know that I am also from Corpus Christi...:) and that I have only been on one cruise but I am hooked!:D

[sharkaymon]

We were in U74. I think, maybe U72, anyway, which ever one was on the outside.