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Carnival Elation 5 Day Caribbean Cruise Review
Day 4 Part 1             June 11, 2015                 Progreso, Mexico               Scheduled Arrival:  8:00AM               Scheduled Departure:  7:00PM  
                                                                                                              Actual Arrival:  8:40AM                    Rescheduled Departure:  7:40PM           
*** The times we were in port were originally extended by the captain at the start of the cruise, but our times got further extended due to a delayed arrival to Progreso. Details on the delay will be described in this day's review!  ***      
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Breakfast At Tiffany's (Lido Buffet):
          Once again, I ate breakfast at Tiffany's on the Lido Deck.  The continental breakfast buffet line opened at 6:30am and the regular breakfast buffet lines opened at 7:00am. For cruisers that did not want to eat at Tiffany's the Imagination Dining Room hosted Open Seating from 7:30am - 9:30am. Today, instead of french toast, pancakes were served. I went through the general breakfast buffet first to get some bacon, sausage, eggs, and potatoes, but then afterwards went to the deli to get my daily omelet. The food was all good, but most of the breakfast foods are very greasy.
Carnival Elation Breakfast Food
Bacon, Sausage, Egg, and Potatoes
Carnival Elation Breakfast Food
Potatoes, Sausage, and Bacon
Carnival Elation Breakfast
Pancakes w/Syrup, Bacon, and Potatoes
Carnival Elation Pastries and Fruit
Pastries and Fruit
Carnival Elation Omelet
Omelet
Arrival At Progreso, Mexico:
             Due to the bad weather and choppy seas from the night before, the Carnival Elation was late arriving in Progreso by 40 minutes. We arrived in Progreso at 8:40am instead of the scheduled time of 8:00am. Our captain was kind enough to push back our time to set sail to 7:40pm.  Before we could dock, the ship's captain turned the ship around to dock backwards.
Ship Docked In Progreso
Ship Docked In An Industrial Area
Progreso, Mexico
Storage Bins On The Dock
Progreso, Mexico
Cranes At The Port Area
Carnival Elation serenity adults only retreat
Serenity Adults Only Retreat At the AFT of the Ship
Progreso Mexico Cruise Ship Dock
A View of the Dock As We Pulled In
Progreso Cruise Ship Dock
Back Area of the Cruise Ship Dock
              In Progreso cruise ships dock about 4 miles out from the mainland. The pier cruise ships use is connected to a larger pier that extends over four miles long.  The leg of this long pier where cruise ships dock is close to the end of the long highway pier. At the end of the long highway pier is a dock for cargo ships that contains cranes to unload shipping containers. The four mile highway pier is constantly being used by large trucks to bring containers to the mainland, but on days cruise ships are docked will have buses running to transport cruise passengers to the mainland.  
                As the Carnival Elation docked in Progreso, I spent some time on the Verandah Deck to get a glimpse of the view. Here are some photos:
Elation Painted on Progreso Dock
"Elation" Painted on The Dock
Carnival Elation Docking in Progreso
Ship Created Waves As It Moves Sideways
Carnival Elation Docking in Progreso
Side of the Ship & Dock
Carnival Elation Docking in Progreso
Pier Workers Grabbing The Ropes
Carnival Elation Docking in Progreso
The Ropes Being Tied
Pilot Boat in Progreso
Pilot Boat
Progreso Cruise Ship Shopping Docks
Shopping Area At Progreso's Cruise Terminal
Progreso Cruise Terminal Area
Bar & Patio Area At Cruise Terminal Area
Progreso Cruise Dock Area
Many Tour Buses Waiting For Cruisers
Cruise Terminal Area
Industrial Area Not Far From The Cruise Terminal Area
Carnival Elation Serenity Adults Only Retreat
Waves From the Back of the Ship
Progreso, Mexico
Looking At the Progreso Dock Area
                After we docked, I took a walk towards the front of the ship. Most of the ship's public outside decks were empty because many cruisers were waiting to go ashore or eating breakfast. 
Carnival Elation AFT Pool
AFT Pool
Carnival Elation Outside Decks
Area Under The Funnel's Deck
Carnival Elation Jogging Track Area
Jogging Track Area
Carnival Elation Pool Area
Pool Area
Mini Golf Course
Mini Golf Course
Carnival Elation Mini Golf Course
Mini Golf Course
                  The front of the ship did not offer a great view, but it was nice seeing the Gulf of Mexico located to the north of Progreso. I thought the Carnival Elation was going to be the only ship docking in Progreso, but I would later be surprised when the Pullmantur Monarch arrived to dock with us (this was the same ship that was docked at a different pier the day before in Cozumel). 
Carnival Elation's Front
Front of the Carnival Elation
Carnival Elation
Looking At the Industrial Side of the Port
Carnival Elation Lifeboats
Lifeboats
Getting Off The Ship to Visit Progreso:   Getting off the ship to go ashore in Progreso was very easy.  There was no line at the gangway because most cruisers were already off to go on a shore excursion and some cruisers were still eating breakfast. After getting our Sail & Sign cards scanned to get off we were directed down the gangway. The ship's photographers were waiting to take photos, but we respectfully declined.
Carnival Elation Docked in Progreso
On The Pier - View of the Front of the Ship
Carnival Elation In Progreso
On the Pier - View of the Side of the Ship
Back of the Carnival Elation
On The Pier - Looking At The Back of the Ship
              Due to the cruise ship dock being about four miles away from the mainland, there are many shops located near the cruise ship for cruisers that do not want to travel to the mainland. There is also a bar and restaurant located next to the shops.  
                All cruisers had to travel through the shops in order to go to the shore excursion waiting area or to get to the free mainland shuttle. According to signage located in these shops, this was the only tax and duty free area of Progreso. Cruisers were encouraged by the workers in the store to shop here. Unlike the shops at Puerta Maya in Cozumel, these shops were built with cruise ship passenger traffic flow in mind. Walking through these shops was easy and only took a few seconds. Here are some photos of my walk to the bus area:
Progreso Mexico
Two Boats Docked
Progreso Mexico Shops
Shops on the Pier
Picture
Tables and Chairs At The Restaurant
Carnival Elation
View of the Ship
Signage
Signs Pointing Towards Cuba and Texas
Progreso Shops
Outside Shops
Progreso Mexico Shops
More Shops That We Had To Walk By
Progreso Mexico Shops
Even More Shops...
Progreso Mexico Shops
The Last Few Shops Before We Exited!
Free Shuttle To The Mainland: 
              There is a free shuttle that departs every 20 minutes that will take cruisers to Downtown Progreso. When we got to the area of the shuttle's departure we missed the last shuttle by about 30 seconds. This meant we had to wait for the next shuttle to arrive. Thankfully, the shuttle arrived within 5 minutes for us to board, but it did not depart for another 15 minutes.
Progreso MExico
Wall With "SSA Mexico" Written On It
Progreso Mexico
Aut Progreso Tours Signage About Free Shuttle
Buses Parked
Many Buses Parked
Progreso Cruise Terminal Entrance
Entrance/Exit For The Progreso Cruise Terminal
Carnival Elation
A View Of The Ship From The Tour Bus
Progreso Mexico
Long Road on the Pier To Get To The Mainland
                   Before the shuttle bus departed an excursion salesperson that worked for Aut Progreso boarded to talk for the entire journey down the pier. He was selling shore excursion tickets through his company and was hoping to get his captive bus audience to buy the excursions. I tuned him out because I wanted to look outside and take some pictures. 
                     The entire four miles down the pier was very industrial, but I had a great view of the waters of the Gulf of Mexico. There was other traffic on the pier, but most of it was large trucks moving cargo. 
Progreso Mexico Pier
One Of Many Industrial Areas We Passed
Progreso Mexico Pier
View of the Water From the Pier
Progreso Mexico Pier
Speed Limit Sign
Carnival Elation
Looking Back At the Carnival Elation
Carnival Elation
Carnival Elation
Progreso Mexico Pier
Pier Gets Narrower Here
Progreso Mexico Pier Extension
Pier Extension Must Be About To Occur
Fishing Pier in Progreso
A View of A Fishing Pier
Progreso Mexico
Driving On The Mainland
Progreso Mexico
View Down A Street As We Drove By
Progreso Mexico
Buildings on The Street
Bus
Two Story Bus That Gives Tours
                 After our four mile journey on the pier to get to the mainland we were dropped off at a run down shopping area. The people working these shops were just as annoying as in Cozumel, but after being bamboozled in Cozumel we did not look at any items. I used the phrase, "I spend all my money in Cozumel yesterday" or "I forgot my wallet on the ship" to avoid having to listen to the shopkeeper's pleas to look at their stuff.
Shopping Area
Shops Under A Tent Where The Free Shuttle Drops Off
Progreso Mexico Shops
Another View of the Shops
Progreso Mexico Shopping Tent
Under The Shopping Tent
Progreso Mexico Shops
Center of the Shopping Area
Progreso Tour Bus
The Tour Bus We Rode
Progreso Mexico
A View of the Area The Free Shuttle Dropped Us Off At
Progreso Mexico Tour BusAt The Top Front of Our Tour Bus
Riding A Tour Bus Around Downtown Progreso:
                We paid to ride a two story bus around Progreso. The ticket station to purchase this bus ride was located in the same area where the free shuttle dropped us off. Each bus ticket was $5.00. We wanted to ride on the top of the bus to get the best view possible. It had rained about 10 minutes prior to us getting on the bus and the bus workers wiped down the seats on the top. 
                  When the bus departed we were warned about low hanging powerlines. The tour guide's warning was an understatement. Some of the power lines nearly touched the top of the bus. There were times when I would have to completely slump in my seat to avoid being hit by a power line. It was much needed exercise dodging power lines, but this could be tragic if someone touches the power lines. For anyone that takes this tour I recommend sitting on the bottom only for the reason of low hanging power lines. Otherwise, the best view can be found at the top of the bus!

                   Here are some pictures I took of the tour bus ride around Progreso:

Progreso Mexico Shops
Shops Under the Big Tent
Progreso Mexico
Vans Waiting To Transport People
Progreso Mexico Tour Bus
Another Tour Bus Arriving
Progreso Mexico
Another Tour Bus Driving Down The Street
Progreso Mexico
View As We Drove Around Progreso
Progreso Mexico Beach
A Glimpse of the Beach Ahead
Streets of Progreso Mexico
Looking Down A Side Street
Progreso, Mexioc
Progreso, Mexico
Progreso, Mexico
Progreso, Mexico
Progreso Mexico
Open Area Near The Beach
Progreso Mexico
Convenience Store
Progreso Mexico Beach
Area Near The Beach
              One of the places we drove by was the beach.  Progreso has beaches located adjacent to the roadway that goes to the cruise ship. Many of the beaches located near the long pier were being used by cruise ship passengers and other tourists visiting Progreso. The water here is definitely nicer than the water in the Mississippi River or the Texas Coast.
Progreso Mexico Beach
A View of the Beach
Progreso Mexico Beachfront
Street That Runs Parallel To The Beach
Progreso Mexico
Building Along Road By the Beach
Progreso Mexico Beach
A View Of The Beach With the Pier In The Background
Beach in Progreso
The Beach
Progreso Mexico Beach Area
Opposite Side of the Beach
Progreso Mexico
Looking Down A Side Street
A View of Another Side Street
Another Side Street Area
Progreso Mexico
Corner of Two Streets
Progreso Mexico Lighthouse
Lighthouse Shaped Building
Progreso Mexico
Some Type of Store
Progreso Mexico
Driving Down The Streets of Progreso
                  After driving away from the beach we were taken into the town square area. This area has local government offices, many businesses, as well as a church.
Progreso Mexico
Area Near The Town Square
Progreso Mexico Church
A Church In Progreso
Progreso Town Square
Town Square in Progreso
After The Tour Ended -  Visiting The Beach: 
                  After seeing the beach on our bus ride around the city, we decided to go check it out for ourselves. Using the beach is free, but there are many chairs and tables tourists can rent. There is also a bar and restaurant along the beach too. 
                   We visited the part of the beach that is close to the long pier that would take us back to the Carnival Elation. It was neat looking down the pier because it very long. There is a wooden walkway you can use to walk under the pier to get to the other side's beaches. 
Progreso Beach Area
Beach Area
Progreso Pier and Beach
View of the Pier From The Beach
Beach
Beach
Pier in Progreso
Wooden Walkway That Would Take You Under the Pier
Beach in Progreso
A View of the Beach
Pier in Progreso
Another View of the Pier
The middle picture on the row below was taken under the pier from the wooden walkway.
View of the Pier
On Wooden Walkway There Are Benches
Progreso Pier
Under the Pier
Progreso Mexico Pier
On A Fishing Pier Next To The Long Pier
            On the other side of the pier was another beach area, but also a small pier being used for fishing. This pier was free to walk down and I walked to the end to zoom in on the cruise ships. The Pullmantur Monarch was pulling in next to the Carnival Elation. 
Cruise Ships Docked at Progreso
Pullmantur Monarch & Carnival Elation In the Distance
Carnival Elation Docked in Progreso
Carnival Elation Docked In the Distance
Construction Equipment
Construction Equipment
Progreso Mexico Fishing Pier
On The Fishing Pier
Progreso Mexico Fishing Pier
Looking At Another Beach From The Fishing Pier
Birds in Progreso Mexico
Birds Sitting & Pooping On Wooden Rails
Ride Back To The Cruise Ship Terminal In Progreso:
               After spending some time around the beach, it was time to head back to the Carnival Elation for lunch. We were lucky and were able to board a stopped shuttle bus. The ride was quick because the driver drove at a moderate speed. The ride took no more than ten minutes and once we were back at the cruise ship terminal area we had to walk back through the shops in order to get to the ship.
Progreso Mexico Shuttle Bus
Shuttle Bus Area To Go Back To The Ship
Progreso Mexico Pier
Vehicle Screening Station At the Edge of the Pier
Progreso Mexico Pier
Pier Gets Wider
Progreso Mexico Pier
About To Turn At The Cruise Terminal - The Pier Still Goes Further
Progreso Mexico Pier
A View of the Back of the Carnival Elation
Progreso Cruise Terminal Area
Progreso Cruise Terminal Area
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