RyG's Cruise Guide
Please Follow Us Online!
  • Home
  • Cruise Tips
  • Cruise Resources
    • Cruise Schedules
    • Carnival Drydock Schedule
    • Carnival Cruise Director Schedule
    • Carnival Dive In Movies Schedule
    • Galveston Cruises
    • General Cruise Blog
    • Carnival Ship Tracker
    • Cruise Ship Webcams
    • Just For Fun
  • Carnival Cruise Food
  • My Cruise Reviews
  • Blog
  • Contact
Carnival Elation 5 Day Caribbean Cruise Review
Day 2           June 9, 2015                 A Day At Sea                      
Click Any Photo To Make It Larger!

NOW AVAILABLE! Ask Us Your Questions On Our Facebook Wall or As A Facebook Private Message:
 Click Here To View Our Facebook Profile
You can write directly on RyG's Cruise Guide's Facebook wall or you can private message RyG's Cruise Guide. Using Facebook is the quickest way to get a response from RyG's Cruise Guide.  Please don't let your questions go unanswered. I created this whole review to help everyone!

Omelet StationOmelet 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.

         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. 
Carnival Elation Trial At Back of the Ship
Trail At The Back of The Ship
Serenity Adults Only Retreat on Carnival Elation
Serenity Adults Only Retreat At Back of the Elation
Carnival Elation Generator
Emergency Redundancy System By the Funnel
Back of the Carnival Elation
Looking Towards The Back of the Ship
Gulf of Mexico Blue Waters
Lifeboats and View of the Blue Ocean
Carnival Elation Pool Area
Looking Towards the Front of the Carnival Elation
Carnival Elation Lido Deck Stage Area
Lido Deck Stage Area
Carnival Elation Funnel
Carnival Elation's Funnel
Carnival Elation Deck Chairs
Many Deck Chairs Stacked By Funnel - Very Quiet Area
AFT Pool Area on Carnival Elation
View of The AFT Pool Area on A Crowded Sea Day
Carnival Elation Deck Area Surrounding the Funnel
Deck Area Surrounding The Funnel
Carnival Elation
Construction of Some Type Is Going On Up By The Funnel
Carnival Elation Jogging Track
Jogging Track - Looking Towards Back Area of the Ship
Carnival Elation Jogging Track
Jogging Track - Looking Towards Front of the ship
Carnival Elation Lido Pool Area
Crowded Lido Deck Pool Area - Most Deck Chairs Are Used
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. 
Carnival Elation Deli
The Deli in Tiffany's
Carnival Elation Deli Sandwich Making Supplies
Sandwich Making Supplies Behind the Deli Counter
Carnival Elation Pastrami on Rye Sandwich
Pastrami on Rye Sandwich
Carnival Elation Turkey Wrap
Turkey Wrap
Carnival Elation Buffet Line
Assorted Foods From The Chef's Choice Line
Carnival Elation Salad Bar
Salad Bar
Carnival Elation Hamburger and Chicken Tenders
Hamburger, Fries, and Chicken Tenders From The Grill
Carnival Elation Chips and Salsa From Grill
Chips & Pico De Gallo From The Ship's Grill
Desert Station on the Carnival Elation
Carnival Elation Desert Station
              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. 
Carnival Elation Promenade
Walking Down the Promenade - Looking AFT
Carnival Elation Plagues and Certificates
Plaques and Certificates Awarded to the Ship
Carnival Elation Grand Piano
Grand Piano In the Musical Cafe's Sitting Area
Carnival Elation Musical Cafe Food ItemsCake 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:

Carnival Elation Musical Cafe Food Items In Display
Musical Cafe Food Items In Display
Musical Cafe Food Items In Display
Musical Cafe Food Items In Display
Musical Cafe Food Items In Display
Musical Cafe Food Items In Display
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.
Carnival Elation Gift Shop
Stuffed Animals in the Logo Shop
Carnival Elation Gift Shop
Variety of Carnival Logo Items
Carnival Elation Gift Shops
Variety of Carnival Logo Items
Carnival Elation Model
Model Ship For Sale - Has A Broken Front Area
Carnival Elation Gift Shops
Candy and Things For Sale By Cash Register of Shop
Carnival Elation Gift Shop Clothes
Clothing Items For Sale Onboard
Carnival Elation Imagination Dining Room
Peeking Into the Imagination Dining Room
Carnival Elation Library
Area On the Atlantic Deck Outside of The Library
Carnival Elation Atlantic Deck
Atlantic Deck Area Outside of the Duke's Piano Bar
                 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! 
Carnival Elation Stateroom
Upper Bank and Lower Bed Neatly Made Up
Stateroom Onboard Carnival Elation
My Stateroom
Carnival Elation Platinum and Diamond Strawberries
Platinum/Diamond Strawberries
                  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
Cole Porter AFT Lounge
Carnival Elation Cole Porter AFT Lounge
Seating the Lounge
Carnival Elation Cole Porter
Bar Area At the Back of the Cole Porter
Front of the Carnival Elation
Front of the The Ship With View of the Blue Water
Carnival Elation
Sideview of the Carnival Elation
Carnival Elation Observation Deck
Verandah Observation Deck on the Carnival Elation
                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 on the Carnival Elation
Mongolian Wok Buffet Line - Closed
Carnival Elation Beverage Station
Outside Beverage Station
Carnival Elation Grill
Part of the Grill Still Open Late in the Afternoon
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.
Carnival Elation Taste Bar
Taste Bar
Carnival Elation Taste Bar
View While I Waited For the Taste Bar To Open
Taste Bar on the Carnival ElationPlate 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.

Carnival ElationDinner 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:

Carnival elation Everyday Dinner Menu
Everyday Dinner Menu
Carnival Elation Formal Night Dinner Menu
Formal Night's Dinner Menu
Carnival Elation Formal Night Dessert Menu
Formal Night's Dessert Menu
Carnival Elation Spicy Alligator Fritters
Appetizer - Spicy Alligator Fritters
Carnival Elation Shrimp Cocktail
Appetizer - Chilled Shrimp Cocktail
Carnival Elation Greek Farmer Salad
Appetizer - Greek Farmer Salad
Fried Vegetable Spring Rolls
Appetizer - Fried Vegetable Spring Rolls
Strawberry Bisque
Appetizer - Strawberry Bisque
Caesar Salad
Appetizer - Caesar Salad
Lobster Dish
Main Course - Broiled Maine Lobster & Jumbo Shrimp
Prime Rib
Main Course - Prime Rib
Baked Potato
Side Baked Potato
Butter Pecan Ice Cream
Dessert - Butter Pecan Ice Cream
Picture
Dessert - Warm Chocolate Melting Cake
Fresh Tropical Fruit Plate
Dessert - Fresh Tropical Fruit Plate
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.
Banana Split
Dessert From Kid's Menu - Banana Split
Carnival Elation Mikado LoungeMikado 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.

Carnival Elation Lido Deck At Night
View of the Lido Deck At Night
Carnival Elation At Night
Funnel and Buffet Area Illuminated
Carnival Elation Lido Stage
Lido Stage At Night
              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
Assorted Foods Available For Good Eats
Carnival elation Good Eats
Food Available For Good Eats
Carnival Elation Good Eats
Desserts Available For Good Eats
Carnival Elation Towel AnimalTowel 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. 

Please Like RyG's Cruise Guide On Facebook!  
 Click Here For Our Facebook Page
I will be sharing review updates, cruise tips, and more!  
You can also like us using this button provided by Facebook:
Continue To Day 3 (Cozumel, Mexico): 
click here to view day 3's review
click here to return to review mainpage
Home        About Us        Contact Us        Privacy Policy & Disclaimer

www.embarkandaway.com     Thank you for visiting RyG's Cruise Guide!
RyG's Cruise Guide is not affiliated with any cruise line or travel organization. Any information is subject to change at any time as the cruise industry is always changing. Additionally, RyG's Cruise Guide does not sell cruises or products.

Connect With Us!

@rygscruiseguide
Facebook
Instagram