Wrigley80's Carnival Elation Photo Review with the KREWE

[wrigley80]

Woooooo Hoooooo.....Cruise Day had finally arrived. We all packed up at the hotel, got our luggage tags put on, and we decided to call UBER for our ride to the port instead of a taxi. We figured with 3 people and all of our bags that it would be much cheaper to use UBER and that proved to be correct. For Stu, Josh, and I to get to the port of New Orleans with all of our luggage was $21.00 from the Sleep Inn in Metairie.

 

We got to the port by 9:30 am and as you can tell we were the first ones in the Priority Lounge

 

 

[wrigley80]

So for anyone who has followed my reviews in the past you will remember that I like to wear a chicken hat onboard during the cruise. This all started out as a joke with the KREWE that I would wear a chicken hat onboard. Well when I wasn't wearing it people would ask me where my chicken hat was so it has basically become like my a part of my wardrobe on a cruise.

So since my last photo review of the Carnival Breeze last March my chicken hat has received an upgrade as well as a name.....so allow me to introduce to you....PEDRO

 

Laura bought me this in Key West when we there in September. After she gave it to me we knew that the chicken needed a name so I created a poll for my friends to decide. The unanimous winner was PEDRO. My friend Pam from Mississippi (she is in the KREWE come up with the name). It was a perfect name

Edited January 4, 2016 by wrigley80

[wrigley80]

Pedro went everywhere I did on the cruise ;) :p he was definitely the most photographed chicken on the cruise

 

Me and Pedro with my bestie Josh

 

Josh, me, and Stu

 

[wrigley80]

So once we got onboard our first stop was to drop off our carry-ons in the Cabin. We were in cabin E23 which was an oceanview cabin on Empress Deck. I love this location on Fantasy class ships because you are so close to the atrium bar

 

And our next stop was to be the Atrium Bar to buy the Cheers package. Now I have never bought the Cheers package before when I cruised with my dad I didn't drink much because he couldn't drink. But for this cruise Stu, Josh, and I bought it.

 

When my dad passed away and I wasn't sure if I wanted to go on this cruise because for one I didn't know who I would even consider sharing a cabin with. Well Laura told me that I should take my bestie Josh. It seemed like the perfect option. No one will ever replace my dad as my cruising partner but I know that I would have fun with him. Shortly after I added Josh to the cabin (which Carnival didn't charge me anything to change the name on the booking) I also added Stu to my booking. It was a perfect fit rooming with Stu and Josh

 

 

After our first drink at the Atrium Bar with Cheers package we headed up to Lido to get some lunch before it got too busy. I ran into Amanda and Jerry

 

Now Jerry and Amanda are in the KREWE. Leading up to this cruise they weren't going because in October they had just done the 21-day journey cruise on the Dream. I called them about a month before the cruise to try and convince them to join us because the KREWE just wouldn't be complete had they not been with us. They told me that they couldn't afford it. As we were sitting in the cruise terminal waiting to board they surprised me. They knew how hard this cruise was going to be for me and they wanted to be there to help me through it and to cruise with the KREWE. I was so surprised that people care enough to be there for me. I was so happy that they were there

 

[wrigley80]

 

 

After lunch we headed back to the Atrium Bar to start working on the Cheers package....Jordin joined Stu, Josh, and I

 

 

[Jenny in TX]

I am so glad to see another one of your awesome reviews!! I am so glad that you included pictures of your Dad because it just wouldn't be a review without seeing him! What a wonderful tribute and I am sure he was laughing and smiling from Heaven at all the fun you and your Krewe were having!

[wrigley80]

 

Dana, Glo, and Linda

 

 

Trying to see if Ollie likes Amaretto. Ollie was the name that we gave to Marky's owl backpack :p

 

My favorite drink....the Twilight Zone

[wrigley80]

Uh oh "The Lean" has already started. Doing "The Lean" with my girl Alana

 

 

If you are cruising on the Elation be sure to look for the best bartender onboard....this is Mignon. She was amazing and so friendly. We loved her. She works at the Atrium Bar and also in Dukes Bar

 

If you enjoy Long Island Iced Teas...then Mignon is your girl. More to come on the potency of her long islands

 

Me, Alana, and Glo

[wrigley80]

Pedro was starting to get passed around

 

 

I'm Platinum baby

 

 

Of course "The Lean" is going to happen with the Cheers package

[wrigley80]

I am so glad to see another one of your awesome reviews!! I am so glad that you included pictures of your Dad because it just wouldn't be a review without seeing him! What a wonderful tribute and I am sure he was laughing and smiling from Heaven at all the fun you and your Krewe were having!

 

Thank You. No I definitely had to include pictures of my dad in this review...I could definitely feel like he was there with me. He would have had a blast with the KREWE

[wrigley80]

After about 2 hours of drinking at the Atrium Bar :eek: we headed back to our cabin to see if our luggage had arrived and to check and see where we needed to go for our Muster drill

 

 

Stu's bed was on the bottom and Josh slept in the bunk (on the couple nights he could climb the ladder :p)

 

 

[wrigley80]

So as I was unpacking my suitcase and getting things organized in our room....Josh and Jordin come back to the room. They were already drunk from way too many Long Islands. Remember when I said that Mignon made strong Long Islands....I wasn't kidding.

It takes hard work and dedication to be drunk before the Muster Drill but Josh and Jordin managed to make that happen. It definitely made Muster Drill more entertaining

 

So when Josh got back to the cabin he somehow managed to lock himself inside the bathroom.....bahahahaha. I had to call for a room steward to come and let him out but I may have laughed uncontrollably first for about 10 minutes. This is Jordin trying to pull on the cabin door from the outside to get Josh out of the bathroom

 

The many poses of Josh after Muster Drill.....

 

 

 

[stevefrisco]

Looks like good times were had by all, cue all the negative nancies that are going to scold you guys for not taking the muster drill seriously enough and or holding everyone else up!!!

 

We found the best time during cheers was right after embarkation maybe it was because Carnival hadn't cut off my pregnant wife yet. We also try to get drunk by muster drill. Don't let the negative nancies keep you from leaning to your heart's content!

[Ms. Fun Bunch]

My dad was my best friend. That may never change. We did so much together. There's a lot of time when I find myself still talking to him...that may sound strange but I guess it's a way for me to still let my dad know that I'm doing OK.

 

It doesn't sound strange at all my mother died 23 years ago and I talk to her all the time. I know you are really hurting now but it does get a little better in time. I am glad that you are still cruising and writing your reviews because I am certain your dad wouldn't want you to stop doing something you enjoyed so much and that brings joy to all of us who read your reviews.

[mykindaparty]

Yea...Pedro made it!!! One of these days I Wil surprise you with a friend for Pedro on our cruises. Maybe I can get kim to wear it on the vista.lol

[jimmysmom]

It doesn't sound strange at all my mother died 23 years ago and I talk to her all the time. I know you are really hurting now but it does get a little better in time. I am glad that you are still cruising and writing your reviews because I am certain your dad wouldn't want you to stop doing something you enjoyed so much and that brings joy to all of us who read your reviews.

 

Hi Brianna,

 

Glad you are doing this review. 13 years later, and I talk to my mom everyday. She is also on each cruise, as I'm sure you dad will be. Would love to hang with you someday!

[wrigley80]

Looks like good times were had by all, cue all the negative nancies that are going to scold you guys for not taking the muster drill seriously enough and or holding everyone else up!!!

 

 

 

We found the best time during cheers was right after embarkation maybe it was because Carnival hadn't cut off my pregnant wife yet. We also try to get drunk by muster drill. Don't let the negative nancies keep you from leaning to your heart's content!

 

 

Oh yes we definitely had fun. He wasn't obnoxious at the muster drill. Our drill was held in the theater and then they had to go out on deck. I knew that he wasn't going to be able to walk up two flights of stairs so we stayed in the theater.

We definitely did "The Lean"

[wrigley80]

It doesn't sound strange at all my mother died 23 years ago and I talk to her all the time. I know you are really hurting now but it does get a little better in time. I am glad that you are still cruising and writing your reviews because I am certain your dad wouldn't want you to stop doing something you enjoyed so much and that brings joy to all of us who read your reviews.

 

 

I know that some people deal with their grief in all sorts of ways. With my dad and I being so close I know I still talk with him daily just to tel him how I am doing.

I have never felt so much pain. I'm sure the pain will ease over time but for now I just try to get through each day one at a time.

I know that my dad would still want me to enjoy cruises with my friends.

[wrigley80]

Yea...Pedro made it!!! One of these days I Wil surprise you with a friend for Pedro on our cruises. Maybe I can get kim to wear it on the vista.lol

 

 

Oh yes Pedro was a hit. Pedro even had a wardrobe...just wait till ya see some of the stuff he wore. Laura bought him a bunch of "accessories"...I wanna see you or Kim with a friend for Pedro

[wrigley80]

Hi Brianna,

 

 

 

Glad you are doing this review. 13 years later, and I talk to my mom everyday. She is also on each cruise, as I'm sure you dad will be. Would love to hang with you someday!

 

 

Thank you so much. I'm sure he is cruising right by my side on every cruise.

You can hang with me anytime....the more the merrier [emoji2]

[rnoli32]

Thank you so much for sharing your trip with us! I don't post much on here but whenever i see you have done another cruise i'm so excited to see what fun adventures you get into :) You are such an inspiration to live life and enjoy the time you have. I'm truly a big fan of your posts! Many blessings to you!

[wrigley80]

Who's ready for some more pictures.....

 

I decided to stay up on deck 10 to watch our sail-away. It was so peaceful out here

 

 

 

It is very common to see container ships on the river

 

Bye Bye New Orleans.....See you in 5 days

 

 

[wrigley80]

 

 

 

 

[wrigley80]

 

 

 

[wrigley80]

So after we watched sail-away....well technically I watched us sail-away and Josh was "sleeping" on the bench :p I walked him back to the cabin because I knew that he wasn't going to find it on his own

 

So this may have been the position that I left him in :eek: I got him into bed and told him that I would come back in an hour to check on him and to see if he wanted to go to dinner. I decided to head back up to deck 10 to see if I could find anyone from the KREWE

 

I headed over to the lido deck bar for a drink