Carnival Cruise Lines
Elation Cruise Review
Eastern Caribbean

Andy
Age: 24
Occupation: Security Officer
Number of Cruises: 2
Date of Cruise: August 27th, 2006

I decided on checking out the CCL after going on my first cruise in November 2005 on the RCCL Sovereign of the Seas, Based on CCL being a "Fun Ship" and recommendation from family.

What attracted me to this cruise was itinerary and pricing.. Although Half Moon Cay was cancelled due to TS Ernesto and replaced at the tail end of this 7 night cruise with Nassau which I was mad about but knew this was out of CCL's hands as they need to make a safe docking for the safety of the ship and everyone on board.

Day 1: Sunday 8/27
Very low key, quiet day. Everyone boarding the ship and settling in. Upon boarding the ship, in the first hour, I knew things were going down hill. The staff on this ship does not have much personality. When I look back to the RCCL cruise last year, I was greeted with big smiles and hellos walking through the terminal and onto the ship, to my stateroom. Not with this ship. Staff seemed relaxed. Ok I was hard on expectations from the get go, so I let that slide.

After settling into the stateroom, I proceeded to check out the ship for the next hour or two before muster drill. At 4:00pm, they started the drill with everyone gathering at the designated stations. After all gathered, proceeded to the sides of the ship on the Lido Deck. The drill time at this point was around 4:45 or so. As the drill was going on, the ship pulled away from the Port of Miami. A big Downside here, on the RCCL last year I could hang out on the deck, the drill was over, and watch the embarkation. Not with CCL, or atleast this ship.

As the night went on, it was quiet. Proceeded to dinner, it stunk. Was not attracted to any of the food on the menu, this ship seemed to go in the direction of a lot of foreign food and overly fancy. Your traditional foods- steak, chicken, beef was not an option. I asked the waiter for something different, and was told what is on the menu is there and all there is to offer. He did offer hot dogs, hamburgers, chicken nuggets. I freaked. My mouth dropped. I said, I am not a kid, that is kid food with a wise crack. I just got up and left never came back the whole week for dinner there. Lounges were dead, Lido Deck was quiet, and no welcome aboard show - just a plain old dance show with a few introductions (Nothing like my awesome experience on the RCCL)

DAY 2 - Out To Sea (Half Moon Cay Cancelled)
This was a fairly decent day. The weather was nice. Band played on the Lido Deck for a couple of hours. A couple of games in the afternoon on the Deck. Lounges had something going on every night from Karaoke (the biggest attraction all week in Cole Porter Lounge) to 70s/80s music in Romeo n Juliet Lounge.. To a guitarist playing guitar in the Drama Bar-Deck 9 for most of the night. Disco in Jekyll & Hyde  to Showtime every night in Mikado Lounge(Deck 9).. Sing-along Piano in Duke's Piano Bar... So my spirits brightened...

I had Lunch and dinner at Tiffany's (Buffet Lounge - Lido Deck), very poor quality and quantity when I compare to my past RCCL cruise. Food didn't seem to be cooked 100% fresh. The pizza area was a shame. Pizza wasn't even fresh or crisp like RCCL. Seemed like soggy cheese. The Midnight Buffet was ok but the quality of the food could have been cooked better. Salad Bar looked good but I didn't bother. Soda seemed watered down though it was coming out of sealed cans. Alcohol was great as always. Pricey but good (average 5.18 a drink)

Day 3- Grand Turk
Spent the Day at this island. Went on a kayaking/snorkeling/island tour combo excursion for 69.00 (3 hr trip). Was nice, got to see plenty of fish in snorkeling. Spent 3 hrs or so at the beach. Nice and clean, plenty of sand. This is also home to Jimmy Buffet Margaritaville, very interesting. Island seems a little under-developed but is nice overall for something out in the middle of nowhere.

Day 4- Old San Juan, PR
Changed from an 8 or 9 hour stop to a 12 hr stop so that was cool. Did the Bacardi Distillery Tour (3 hrs). Provides 2 free drinks of Bacardi at the Distillery factory. $35.00 for the trip. This excursion takes you to Fort San Cristobal after the Bacardi tour for 40 minutes. Nice old historic fort to see and take pictures at. Throughout the shuttle to and from the Bacardi tour/ Ft San Cristobal, the driver was very informative about old San Juan, pointing out some areas of interest. Explaining some PR history along the way. Got a picture with 3 parrots sitting on me on the way back to the terminal from some guy taking pictures with his parrots for cruisers at the terminal. Senor Frogs is across the street from the terminal, this is a must see restaurant! A little pricey but good quality, a break from the poor cruise line food.

Day 4- ST Thomas USVI
Changed from a 12 hr stop to an 8 hour stop which was depressing. If at all cost, try to take an excursion on the island here. The island tour companies are much cheaper and as accommodating as CCL might be. I took a tour with Godfrey's Tours in ST Thomas. $20 for the shuttle to Coki Beach. There is also Sapphire Beach and Megan's Bay for beaches. I think and have been told, Coki Beach is the clearest water and nicest beach of all. In fact, it was. I was amazed and this stop made my cruise better after a miserable first few days on the ship. There is Wave Runners here for $90/hr or $50/half hour. Beach Chairs are $5.00 to use. Snorkels are also $5.00 to use. Fins and everything else is u want then are 5,10.00 etc each. Floating tubes are 5.00 also. Be prepared to pay a 5.00 deposit if you use snorkels, tubes because that's how they make sure they get their stuff back, or you lose that money. Overall, need more time here. Definitely will try to come back here on a 12 hr stop or 2 day stop, or maybe even vacation here! Stores are outside the ship, plenty to shop from, to walk to. All the Tour Companies line up outside the ship and average $20-$35/40.... well worth saving money and the others I heard about from other people had no problems getting cruisers back in time for the ship (1 hour before departure).....There was a buffet around midnight, 1 of 2 for the week. This was lame, Mexican food buffet? No variety.....There was live band music and a game on the deck which was interesting.

Day 5 - Sea Day
Band was playing when I woke up around 10:00am on the Deck. Great start. Amazing to see the ship liven up for one morning on this cruise outside. (I don't envision taking a cruise and hanging out inside in the lounges to have fun all week). Also, lounges were mostly ice cold or near ice cold. Another down point to this cruise.
Games in the after noon into the night, mostly leading into the lounges after 4pm. Band played most of the day, surprisingly.. which I loved...Kept me outside for once! This was also Formal Night. Did not attend. The midnight Buffet in the dining room was just crackers and desserts mostly. Some examples of the ice carvings were there too. Could have brought this onto the deck and made it more interesting. How pathetic! Tried Room Service, was going to be an hour or longer wait, very busy. Not sure if this is customary or this ship was not prepared for a busy night and under staffed.

Day 6- Nassau
7 hour stop here (12pm-7pm). Last ship in, first one out! Did the Pearl Island Stingray Adventure. There are 2, one is an encounter which is more less aimed for younger people. The adventure is where you can snorkel with the sting rays. What an experience. And they are cute! After Snorkeling freely for 45 minutes, did 30-45 minutes of snorkeling with sting rays. Not a beach day. Overcast clouds to start with a big thunderstorm that ruined the day. Although, got to do the snorkeling in time. Ate dinner at buffet as did all week. This was the best buffet of the cruise. Turkey w/ stuffing and bread. Yummy. Midnight buffet at Tiffany's as every other night was the same, same all week! hot dogs, small chicken breasts, french fries, cookies and bread/butter...

Day 7- Home. Debarkation was smooth. Self Assist went first around 715am. Once customs gave the general clearance around 9am, the ship emptied quickly, not by colors. Just a general clearance and everyone headed out, off the ship by 945-1000am. The terminal was smooth sailing out. Luggage was there and waiting, all lined up by Deck your stateroom was. Made that somewhat easy rather then spin on a belt like in an airport.

Overall: 1-10 ratings
Stateroom Staff - 10
Dining Staff - 1
Social Hosts - 4
Cruise Director - 5
Shows/ Lounges - 7
Lido Deck Activities- 2
Casino -8
Photo Quality - 3
Food - 2
Itinerary - 10

 

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