| The Elation is a ship built in 1998 for Carnival | | | | the buffet restaurant that changes the menu |
| Cruise Lines. It was the first mega liner to have | | | | everyday and is different for lunch than dinner or |
| the azipod propulsion system. Everything you read | | | | the snack bar on Lido deck where fries and |
| about the Elation will include a small blurb about the | | | | burgers are handy for lunch. Tiffany's lunch |
| azipod system. You may wonder which the heck | | | | menu's are called taste of nations where one day |
| that is so I'll tell you. It's much like having front | | | | may be Mexican food with salsa and chips and |
| wheel drive on your car. Instead of the motor | | | | another may be American BBQ where fried |
| pushing the ship it pulls it instead. This makes | | | | chicken and potato salad are offered. There was |
| maneuvering the cruise vessel much easier so | | | | also Indian and Italian that I can recall. At the far |
| you can be doubtless there won't be any listing or | | | | back on the right hand side of Tiffany's you will |
| tipping over of the vessel on your cruise. Also it | | | | find Carnival's famous pizza being made fresh all |
| reduces those vibrations that cause upset | | | | the time. You can order a whole pizza and opt for |
| stomach in passengers like myself. | | | | your toppings of get a slice fresh from the oven. |
| Enough about mechanics though seeing that | | | | At the same location deli sandwiches are made. |
| Carnival's got the fun don't they? Yessirree they | | | | This is a wonderful spot to eat early on in the |
| do. The Carnival Elation has three swimming pools. | | | | voyage as your fellow passengers won't know |
| One with a 214 ft water slide! This is where the | | | | about this yet therefore there will be no lining up |
| fun takes place and the pool games. Expect it to | | | | for you. |
| be crowded the beginning few days. My personal | | | | Sushi is served on promenade deck every |
| favourite pool is the one at the back of the mega | | | | evening. There was no raw fish (sashimi) the |
| liner on verandah deck seeing that it takes new | | | | week we sailed but many varieties of fresh made |
| passengers about 3 days to find it so for the first | | | | before your eyes sushi to select from. Of course |
| couple days of your cruise it is uncrowded. The | | | | wasabi and pickled ginger and soy sauce were all |
| last pool is the kiddie pool on promenade deck at | | | | available as well. There is also never a sushi line I |
| the mega liner's aft (back). This pool is a bit like | | | | presume because no one seems to realize that |
| swimming down in a sewer with all the babies in | | | | this also is included in your cruise fare. Needless to |
| their swim diapers-which are not allowed. | | | | say we went there every single evening. Tortillas |
| If gambling is up your alley then head down to | | | | chips and salsa were served on Promenade deck |
| the Cassablanca casino. There are more than 200 | | | | on Mexican day in the night while a mariachi band |
| slots to select from including several megacash | | | | played for us. |
| machines that are linked with other Carnival cruise | | | | Room service, room service how do I love thee, |
| vessels fleetwide. The biggest jackpot that I have | | | | let me count the ways. Room service is free but |
| seen was over a million dollars won on the now | | | | a tip is in order. Pretzels or chips can come with |
| gone Carnival Jubilee. I stick to the slots, I figure | | | | any sandwich - a tasty midnight snack. Room |
| it's the quickest way to lose my alloted gambling | | | | service was continuously speedy and correct. You |
| money then I can get on with the rest of the | | | | can also order cookies, crudites, fruit and salad. At |
| cruise. If you are a more cultivated gambler than | | | | your service 24 hours a day. |
| I there is also roulette, black jack and Caribbean | | | | If you need to keep in touch the Internet cafe |
| stud poker to play. | | | | offers internet usage at 75 cents a minute and |
| Free wine on a cruise, far fetched maybe? Not | | | | different packages up to 250 minutes for 40 |
| so. You can attend wine tastings or as we do go | | | | cents a minute. You can bring your own laptop |
| to check out the art an hour before the famed | | | | and make use of it in the cafe but not in your |
| art auction where they pass out able wine and | | | | cabin on the Elation. You pay for usage wheather |
| cheese. If you have been on more than one | | | | you make use of theirs or your though. Not sure |
| cruise with the same line you can attend the past | | | | if that makes it worth lugging it around. |
| guest party. Don't dismiss this as just a way to | | | | Speaking of cabins, we had an ocean view cabin |
| fritter away your time if you like to drink the | | | | category 6C. We had three folk in the cabin and |
| beverages are free and plentiful and all you have | | | | we fit comfortably. This ship has only 26 demi |
| to do is watch a short spiel where the cruiseline | | | | suites (category 11) and twenty eight suites |
| pats themselves on the back for giving you a | | | | (category 12). It really doesn't matter to me |
| great vacation. There is usually one evening | | | | which deck as there are elevators to take you up |
| where the liquor is free for tasting in the shopping | | | | and down. |
| area. | | | | Virtual World video game arcade is right beside |
| If you are into healthier pursuits then you can | | | | the Mikado lounge-a perfect spot to let your teen |
| head up to the jogging track on the Elation's Sun | | | | hang out while you catch one of the Las Vegas |
| deck or to the gymon the Sports deck. The | | | | style shows in the lounge. There are the usual |
| Carnival Elation has a half court basketball court | | | | driving games and shooting games. The video |
| for your hearty enjoyment and they do supply | | | | games take tokens that are bought right inside |
| the basketball to play with. Elation has a full | | | | the arcade. You can incorporate your sign and sail |
| service spa onboard. I confess I have never been | | | | card to buy tokens. At some point during your |
| to the spa but I know they do dole out foot | | | | cruise there will be a video game tournement |
| massages for about $20 and everything up to a | | | | Provided for the younger set in this case the |
| couples massage for 220 dollars. It sounds steep | | | | games are free. It is some of the Camp Carnival |
| but just contemplate how relaxing it would be to | | | | program. |
| have a message and after you don't have to | | | | The Mikado lounge is where all the shows take |
| massage someone else! | | | | palce. There was a comedy show, a magician, a |
| Provided for the younger set there is Camp | | | | hypnotist, dancing show girls-rated G. There are |
| Carnival. Our son has gone to Camp Carnival on | | | | musical shows too. The week I sailed there was a |
| many many cruises and loves it everytime. The | | | | special guest announced at he end of one musical |
| children are divided by age groups and have | | | | show. After much preamble Mr Stevie Wonder |
| activities planned for those ages. I recommend | | | | was brought onto the stage. Folk went running |
| that your offspring goes to the earliest night | | | | from the lounge theatre to get their peers and |
| where you can sign them up for the camp. They | | | | family to see Stevie Wonder. There was |
| are introduced to each other and socialize a little. | | | | screaming that I thought only the Beatles could |
| It doesn't mean they ever have to go again and | | | | elicit. Being a pale face from Canada I'm not too |
| there is no extra charge although we usually tip | | | | clear on the likeness of Mr Wonder but I was |
| the camp counsellors being as how they can | | | | pondering which cabin would Stevie Wonder stay |
| make of break your kid's cruise experience. | | | | in On the Carnival Elation. Don't get me wrong the |
| children must be signed up to participate at any | | | | Carnival Elation is a pleasing ship but someone of |
| time so it is easier to just do it at the start and | | | | this caliber on my ship , how could it be? The |
| then they are free to join in at any time with no | | | | lights dimmed, I could hardly see. As I stepped |
| preamble. Our son went to an activity called | | | | forward to get a better look at our famous |
| swimming under the stars where the pool was | | | | cruise shipmate I fell down the stairs. I tumbled |
| out of bounds at night except to kids in the | | | | head over heals down several flghts. Not one |
| program and so they had the pool and slide to | | | | person turned or helped me up so enthralled were |
| alone. You just drop your child off for whatever | | | | they to catch a glimpse of this celebrity. In the |
| activities they would enjoy. For preschool and | | | | end "Stevie" took his wig off so that it may be |
| kindergarden age children you will be supplied with | | | | revealed that it was only a celebrity impersonator. |
| a pager so the staff can contact you in case | | | | Everyone groaned that they knew it all along and |
| your offspring wants to leave. Their activitiestake | | | | they were never fooled. The next day I looked |
| place inside children's World which is an area of | | | | like I had a run in with the UFC star Tito Ortiz. |
| 2500 sq ft filled with computers and toys and | | | | The Mark Twain library is a bit of a misnomer. |
| games. Activities for older kids take place in | | | | There doesn't seem to be a convenient way to |
| different areas on the vessel-for example pizza | | | | get at any books so bring your own. It is beautiful |
| preparation takes place in Tiffany's. On the last | | | | and usually quiet. |
| night there will be a farewell party For child | | | | Romeo and Juliet lounge is an elegantly styled |
| passengers. Get there on time or you may not | | | | room which was used for private parties some |
| get in. All the children receive a parting present at | | | | nights and for karaoke on others. Salsa dancing |
| this party ie a backpack or CD case. | | | | was popular night activity here. |
| As for my personal favourite part, the art of | | | | The Cole Porter lounge has folk and country |
| gastromony there are a repleteness of choices. | | | | music playing and dancing. I only passed by here |
| The two formal dining rooms on Carnival Elation | | | | on my way to the ocean facing massaging chairs. |
| are the Inspiration and the Imagination named | | | | Duke's is the piano bar named after the talented |
| after sister ships in the fleet. You will be assigned | | | | Duke Ellington. It is a jazz club with a striking |
| one of these with a specific dining time. I at all | | | | entrance modelled on the Triumphal Arch from |
| times check the menu early in the day so I can | | | | Washington Square park. This is an ideal place for |
| decide if I want to show up at my appointed time | | | | photos around the white baby grand piano. We |
| or eat elsewhere at my leisure. The other places | | | | saw a wedding reception being held here. |
| to eat aboard the Elation are Tiffany's which is | | | | |