Carnival Elation 5 Day Caribbean Cruise Review
Day 2 June 9, 2015 A Day At Sea
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Day 2 June 9, 2015 A Day At Sea
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Omelet With All Toppings
First Morning and Breakfast of The Cruise:
My morning started out awful after a night of little sleep and I woke up with a headache. I planned on getting up in time to eat breakfast at 7:30am, but I ended up eating closer to 10:00am because I laid around in bed until I felt better.
Once I finally was able to get up and moving, I went to Tiffany's for breakfast. The breakfast buffet lines were very crowded at this time. I was not very hungry and since it was close to lunch I only ate an omelet. Although the line for an omelet was long, the wait was worth it because the omelet was delicious! The general breakfast buffet line (which I did not visit) had a variety of breakfast foods such as french toast, bacon, ham, hash browns, sausages, and more. The buffet also has an area with a variety of different fruits and pastries during the breakfast hours.
My morning started out awful after a night of little sleep and I woke up with a headache. I planned on getting up in time to eat breakfast at 7:30am, but I ended up eating closer to 10:00am because I laid around in bed until I felt better.
Once I finally was able to get up and moving, I went to Tiffany's for breakfast. The breakfast buffet lines were very crowded at this time. I was not very hungry and since it was close to lunch I only ate an omelet. Although the line for an omelet was long, the wait was worth it because the omelet was delicious! The general breakfast buffet line (which I did not visit) had a variety of breakfast foods such as french toast, bacon, ham, hash browns, sausages, and more. The buffet also has an area with a variety of different fruits and pastries during the breakfast hours.
After eating breakfast I wanted to take a quick walk on the outside decks to get a view of the blue water. The weather was near perfect throughout the entire day we were at sea.
Trail At The Back of The Ship
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Serenity Adults Only Retreat At Back of the Elation
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Emergency Redundancy System By the Funnel
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Looking Towards The Back of the Ship
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Lifeboats and View of the Blue Ocean
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Looking Towards the Front of the Carnival Elation
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Lido Deck Stage Area
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Carnival Elation's Funnel
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Many Deck Chairs Stacked By Funnel - Very Quiet Area
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View of The AFT Pool Area on A Crowded Sea Day
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Deck Area Surrounding The Funnel
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Construction of Some Type Is Going On Up By The Funnel
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Jogging Track - Looking Towards Back Area of the Ship
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Jogging Track - Looking Towards Front of the ship
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Crowded Lido Deck Pool Area - Most Deck Chairs Are Used
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Second Lunch At Tiffany's
After my small late breakfast I was still ready to eat lunch at noon. My first stop for today's lunch was the deli for a pastrami on rye sandwich. The deli crew members remembered my sandwich preference from the day before. I was impressed at the deli's high level of service!
Today the buffet's Chef Choice line served American food. In addition, Tiffany's offered the Deli, Pizzeria, desert station, grill, Mongolian Wok, and Rotisserie. Cruisers that preferred not to eat at Tiffany's could visit the Imagination Dining Room between 8:30am - 1pm for Open Seating Sea-Day Brunch.
After my small late breakfast I was still ready to eat lunch at noon. My first stop for today's lunch was the deli for a pastrami on rye sandwich. The deli crew members remembered my sandwich preference from the day before. I was impressed at the deli's high level of service!
Today the buffet's Chef Choice line served American food. In addition, Tiffany's offered the Deli, Pizzeria, desert station, grill, Mongolian Wok, and Rotisserie. Cruisers that preferred not to eat at Tiffany's could visit the Imagination Dining Room between 8:30am - 1pm for Open Seating Sea-Day Brunch.
The Deli in Tiffany's
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Sandwich Making Supplies Behind the Deli Counter
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Pastrami on Rye Sandwich
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Turkey Wrap
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Assorted Foods From The Chef's Choice Line
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Salad Bar
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Hamburger, Fries, and Chicken Tenders From The Grill
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Chips & Pico De Gallo From The Ship's Grill
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Carnival Elation Desert Station
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After eating meals, I always try to walk around to burn off the newly acquired calories. My after lunch walk started on the Elation's Way Promenade. In the early afternoon, the only crowded area of the Promenade was the Drama Bar. This was because many of the daily activities take place at the Drama Bar.
Walking Down the Promenade - Looking AFT
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Plaques and Certificates Awarded to the Ship
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Grand Piano In the Musical Cafe's Sitting Area
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Cake In The Musical Cafe's Display Case
Musical Cafe - Specialty Coffees and Treats:
Although many things are included in the price of a cruise vacation, not everything is included. On the Carnival Elation's Promenade Deck there is a place called the Musical Cafe that serves specialty coffees, milkshakes, cakes, and other treats. These items are not included in the price of a cruise vacation. I did not purchase anything from the Musical Cafe, but I observed that many of the other cruise passengers did. I managed to take a few pictures of the treats served at the Musical Cafe.
Here are the pictures I took at the things the cafe was serving at this time of day:
Although many things are included in the price of a cruise vacation, not everything is included. On the Carnival Elation's Promenade Deck there is a place called the Musical Cafe that serves specialty coffees, milkshakes, cakes, and other treats. These items are not included in the price of a cruise vacation. I did not purchase anything from the Musical Cafe, but I observed that many of the other cruise passengers did. I managed to take a few pictures of the treats served at the Musical Cafe.
Here are the pictures I took at the things the cafe was serving at this time of day:
Musical Cafe Food Items In Display
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Musical Cafe Food Items In Display
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Musical Cafe Food Items In Display
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Logo Gift Shop On The Carnival Elation:
One of the shops onboard the Carnival Elation is full of items that are branded with the Carnival logo. This shop sells a variety of shirts, stuffed animals, lanyards, model ships, refillable water bottles, mugs, and more! I encourage all cruisers to look for sales in the gift shop. On almost all Carnival cruises I have been on the gift shop runs t-shirt sails on the last or second to last day of the cruise. There are also many raffles and drawings that occur at the gift shops.
One of the shops onboard the Carnival Elation is full of items that are branded with the Carnival logo. This shop sells a variety of shirts, stuffed animals, lanyards, model ships, refillable water bottles, mugs, and more! I encourage all cruisers to look for sales in the gift shop. On almost all Carnival cruises I have been on the gift shop runs t-shirt sails on the last or second to last day of the cruise. There are also many raffles and drawings that occur at the gift shops.
Stuffed Animals in the Logo Shop
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Variety of Carnival Logo Items
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Variety of Carnival Logo Items
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Model Ship For Sale - Has A Broken Front Area
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Candy and Things For Sale By Cash Register of Shop
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Clothing Items For Sale Onboard
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Peeking Into the Imagination Dining Room
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Area On the Atlantic Deck Outside of The Library
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Atlantic Deck Area Outside of the Duke's Piano Bar
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I went back to my stateroom for a minutes in the middle afternoon to get some extra camera batteries out of the safe. The room was neatly cleaned up and the beds were made. The stateroom steward introduced himself early on this day of the cruise. Also, during my quick afternoon visit to my stateroom, my family member's Platinum strawberry gift arrived. The strawberries were covered in chocolate and tasted great!
Upper Bank and Lower Bed Neatly Made Up
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My Stateroom
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Platinum/Diamond Strawberries
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I walked down the Promenade Deck to see what events were going on, but there was not too much in the middle of the afternoon to see or do. I walked through the Cole Porter AFT Lounge before heading up to the outside public decks.
Cole Porter AFT Lounge
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Seating the Lounge
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Bar Area At the Back of the Cole Porter
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Front of the The Ship With View of the Blue Water
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Sideview of the Carnival Elation
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Verandah Observation Deck on the Carnival Elation
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Around 3:00pm many of the lunch buffet lines were closed or in the process of closing. Between lunch and dinner hungry cruisers can still access the Pizzeria or Deli. When I walked to the Lido Deck to get a drink of water there was only one line at the grill still open, but the crew was going to be closing it soon.
Mongolian Wok Buffet Line - Closed
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Outside Beverage Station
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Part of the Grill Still Open Late in the Afternoon
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Formal Night:
Formal Night is a night when each cruiser is supposed to wear his or her best clothes to dinner. I got ready about an hour before dinner in order to be able to go to the Promenade Deck for the Taste Bar and to try to meet the Elation's captain. While I did not get to meet the captain, the Promenade had live music and was buzzing with people. Carnival also offers a few bar specials at certain times on formal night to cruisers that are interested.
Formal Night is a night when each cruiser is supposed to wear his or her best clothes to dinner. I got ready about an hour before dinner in order to be able to go to the Promenade Deck for the Taste Bar and to try to meet the Elation's captain. While I did not get to meet the captain, the Promenade had live music and was buzzing with people. Carnival also offers a few bar specials at certain times on formal night to cruisers that are interested.
Taste Bar
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View While I Waited For the Taste Bar To Open
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Plate Served At the Taste Bar
The Taste Bar:
The Taste Bar is a place onboard where cruisers can get samples of things offered on some of Carnival's newer or upgraded ships. Tonight the Taste Bar was open from 5:30pm - 8:30pm and was serving samples of food from Cucina Del Capitano. Cucina Del Capitano is an Italian restaurant that can be found on some of Carnival's newer ships.
The sample platter consisted of a meatball and bruschetta. The meatball was very tasty, but the bruschetta was not something I was used to eating. Cruisers are able to go back to the Taste Bar for more. This was the only night of the cruise I managed to visit the Taste Bar while it was open.
The Taste Bar is a place onboard where cruisers can get samples of things offered on some of Carnival's newer or upgraded ships. Tonight the Taste Bar was open from 5:30pm - 8:30pm and was serving samples of food from Cucina Del Capitano. Cucina Del Capitano is an Italian restaurant that can be found on some of Carnival's newer ships.
The sample platter consisted of a meatball and bruschetta. The meatball was very tasty, but the bruschetta was not something I was used to eating. Cruisers are able to go back to the Taste Bar for more. This was the only night of the cruise I managed to visit the Taste Bar while it was open.
Dinner Placesetting
Formal Night Dinner In the Dining Room:
Tonight's dinner was very tasty and I had a different waitstaff team that offered superior service. Since I had Your-Time Dining I was able to eat starting at 5:45pm in the Imagination Dining Room. More people came to the dining room for dinner on this night of the cruise compared to the first night. One of my favorite things to eat on a cruise for formal night is lobster. I never eat lobster at home and a cruise is the only place I get to taste this delicious meal!
Here are some food pictures I took during this night's dinner:
Tonight's dinner was very tasty and I had a different waitstaff team that offered superior service. Since I had Your-Time Dining I was able to eat starting at 5:45pm in the Imagination Dining Room. More people came to the dining room for dinner on this night of the cruise compared to the first night. One of my favorite things to eat on a cruise for formal night is lobster. I never eat lobster at home and a cruise is the only place I get to taste this delicious meal!
Here are some food pictures I took during this night's dinner:
Everyday Dinner Menu
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Formal Night's Dinner Menu
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Formal Night's Dessert Menu
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Appetizer - Spicy Alligator Fritters
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Appetizer - Chilled Shrimp Cocktail
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Appetizer - Greek Farmer Salad
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Appetizer - Fried Vegetable Spring Rolls
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Appetizer - Strawberry Bisque
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Appetizer - Caesar Salad
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Main Course - Broiled Maine Lobster & Jumbo Shrimp
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Main Course - Prime Rib
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Side Baked Potato
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Dessert - Butter Pecan Ice Cream
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Dessert - Warm Chocolate Melting Cake
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Dessert - Fresh Tropical Fruit Plate
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TIP: You can order a banana split any night of the cruise because it is on the kid's menu. You do not have to be a kid to order from the kid's menu. The banana split I ordered from the kid's menu was tasty and a good size.
Dessert From Kid's Menu - Banana Split
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Mikado Lounge - View From Promenade Deck
Production Show - "Win":
Tonight was the last showing of the Carnival Elation's show named "Win". This show had a gameshow theme and was a very good show. Each showing of "Win" a cruiser is usually selected to be a special guest on stage, but this cruise the cruise director chose the assistant cruise director to be his special guest. Throughout the show, they made jabs about this being the last showing.
The showband did not get to play in this show because their pit was already removed due to the Playlist Productions implementation. Instead, the showband got to enjoy the show as audience members. The dancers performed to music that was prerecorded.
Overall, this show was a lot of fun and well performed by all. I will miss this show, but I hope the new shows are just as good.
Tonight was the last showing of the Carnival Elation's show named "Win". This show had a gameshow theme and was a very good show. Each showing of "Win" a cruiser is usually selected to be a special guest on stage, but this cruise the cruise director chose the assistant cruise director to be his special guest. Throughout the show, they made jabs about this being the last showing.
The showband did not get to play in this show because their pit was already removed due to the Playlist Productions implementation. Instead, the showband got to enjoy the show as audience members. The dancers performed to music that was prerecorded.
Overall, this show was a lot of fun and well performed by all. I will miss this show, but I hope the new shows are just as good.
View of the Lido Deck At Night
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Funnel and Buffet Area Illuminated
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Lido Stage At Night
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Each night of the cruise in the later evening, Tiffany's serves a buffet line called "Good Eats". Each night "Good Eats" serves a variety of different foods and desserts. While I did not eat any of the food available on this night of the cruise, I tried some Key Lime Cake. The cake was delicious!
Assorted Foods Available For Good Eats
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Food Available For Good Eats
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Desserts Available For Good Eats
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Towel Animal and Activity Newsletters
Stateroom Nightly Turndown
When we arrived back in our stateroom, our steward had already come by to turndown the room. The beds were neatly made up, a new towel animal was left, and some various flyers were left on the bed next to the towel animal.
I eventually got used to stateroom's weird odor and it no longer bothered me by this point in the cruise. I slept great on this night of the cruise and a few minutes after laying down I fell asleep. If I could take any items off the cruise ship with me it would be the stateroom's bed.
When we arrived back in our stateroom, our steward had already come by to turndown the room. The beds were neatly made up, a new towel animal was left, and some various flyers were left on the bed next to the towel animal.
I eventually got used to stateroom's weird odor and it no longer bothered me by this point in the cruise. I slept great on this night of the cruise and a few minutes after laying down I fell asleep. If I could take any items off the cruise ship with me it would be the stateroom's bed.
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