Celebrating 75 in the Caribbean! PTR and TR! - PassPorter - A Community of Walt Disney World, Disneyland, Disney Cruise Line, and General Travel Forums
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Hi all, it's been a while since I've done a TR... probably because I haven't really done any trips worth a full TR since last February! But we're doing a little non-Disney cruise and I thought I'd go ahead and post a PTR/TR here, just for fun!
This all came about because mom is turning 75 on November 9. I felt like 75 was a milestone that needed to be celebrated with more than just dinner out, but I knew mom wouldn't want any kind of big party or anything. Then I decided, since the tradition with Meri seems to be a cruise on her birthday... maybe we'd do that for mom, too!
I started looking into all kinds of cruises, trying to find something close by that fell over her birthday. Our closest port is New Orleans, which doesn't currently offer many options, unfortunately. I had to factor in that Meri would be missing school, and I would be taking vacation time at work, so I didn't want it to be TOO long of a cruise. I also wanted to keep it to as low of a budget as possible, which pretty much ruled out flying anywhere to another port, etc. Mom also said she needed to be at a meeting on 11/11, so that further constrained us as far as which cruises / dates I could choose.
Finally after much dickering around, I settled on a Carnival cruise out of New Orleans. It's a four-night cruise with two at-sea days (our favorite) and one port day in Cozumel. Cozumel isn't my FAVORITE port, but, it's got a nice shore excursion to the same beach I went to on a previous cruise two years ago, and mom really loves just vegging on a beach. So with that figured, and, of course, with mom's approval, I went ahead and booked the cruise and just paid it in full.
We'll be on the Carnival Elation, which is a much smaller, older ship, but it just came out of a short dry-dock, on 10/9, to replace carpets and do some cosmetic work in the public areas, and freshen up the rooms and spa. I know it isn't Disney, but hey, I'm honestly not too picky of a cruiser. As long as the food is decent and the service is good, I'm happy. I've only been on one cruise that I was less than thrilled with, and that's because the food and service were both beyond awful.
I sprung for an outside cabin (there are no balconies on this ship except for suites) so we're on the Riviera deck (down low, lol) mid-ship! A lot of people don't like being "far away from the action" but honestly, I prefer it. I don't mind taking the elevator an extra few floors up. This way I know my deck is more or less quiet, and I don't have to worry about a casino, night club or bar above me. It will be nice to have a window, though!
We are early diners, so I chose the main seating for dinner, at 6pm.
So, in summary, here's our trip in a nutshell...
Wednesday 11/5 - Depart at 330pm and drive to just north of New Orleans. Stop at a hotel at 9pm.
Thursday 11/6 - Get up, possibly get beignets and coffee in the French Quarter if we have time. Head to the port by 1030 for 11am boarding.
Friday 11/7 - At Sea
Saturday 11/8 - Cozumel
Sunday 11/9 - At Sea (mom's bday)
Monday 11/10 - Disembark, lunch in New Orleans, drive home.
I have a few special plans for mom's bday that I'll get to later, and I'll post some pix of the ship and the room-type... but I wanted to get this ball rolling!
Usually I make a ton of changes leading up to any trip, but since there's not much TO this trip, there's not much to tweak, lol. But if I do, you'll be the first to know!
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Sounds relaxing which is just what you need!! We're sailing out of New Orleans in early January and it's nice to be able to drive to the port.
Exactly. Relaxing is the main goal. I just wanted to have a vacation where we didn't have to do a lot of thinking or doing. Just relaxing. I wish more lines would go out of New Orleans. I'm thinking we will have more as the city continues to clean up and move forward.
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Originally Posted by Dlandmom2
Fun, fun! I'm following along for sure!
Yay!
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Originally Posted by chezp
Great start - it sounds like a lovely itinerary!
Thanks! Four nights really isn't long enough for my preference, but it fit the bill as far as a quick, inexpensive getaway, and the at-sea days help a lot! I'm just glad to be getting away, and off-grid, for a bit!
I don't really have a plan for this PTR as far as what I'll talk about, lol, so I'll probably just spend the next 18 days yammering on about whatever comes to mind...
I'll try to go through a somewhat detailed review / commentary of the ship first, I guess. As I said earlier, the Elation is one of the older ships, and in all of the reviews I've read, the only consistent complaint is that the ship is dated and a little tattered around the edges. Service always gets rave reviews, and food gets average to above average reviews, as a rule. All things I can live with! And with the ship being just out of dry dock, I'm hoping those tattered things will have been sorted out a bit. I can deal with a little old and worn as long as I feel it's clean, though.
Our cabin is a typical outside cabin... I have no idea what to expect from the layout, as I've come across numerous different layouts in photos online. Here's a sampling...
So we'll all find out together what sort of room / layout we'll have. The description is as follows: Ocean View Staterooms have a large picture window, two twin beds that convert to a queen-sized bed, ample closet and storage space, private bathroom with shower, and a living area with vanity and seating. Staterooms are equipped with thermostat controlled air-conditioning, television, telephone, and personal safe. Some staterooms are equipped with upper Pullman-style bunk bed(s) to accommodate a third or fourth guest. Square Footage: 186 sq ft.
Honestly, it'll be fine no matter what. Meri is SO excited that she'll have a top bunk. I'll have somewhere to sleep. And we'll be in the Caribbean. There's a place in the online check-in where you can specify how you want the beds, so I requested two twins.
Our cabin number is R131. Right around the corner from the elevators (about three or four cabins down from the hallway / stairs), mid-ship. So that will be nice. Close enough and far enough away.
On board there's a casino, which I doubt I'll set foot in. Gambling isn't my thing, and apparently you can smoke in this one, which immediately makes that a "no" in my book. It gives me migraines now (and this is from a former smoker, sigh, I just can't tolerate it anymore). There's a library on board, which I love. It's the one thing I wish was on a Disney ship (though I understand the thought process behind not having one). There's a piano bar, which at some point or another hosts an afternoon tea, I hear. I definitely want in on that, but I will have to wait til I'm aboard to figure it out, because there's not much information online about it. First thing, though, I'm asking about it, because I love tea.
There's a kids club on board which of course isn't nearly as awesome as on the Disney ships, but it serves a purpose and I'm sure Meri will enjoy some time in there. One thing I don't like is that I've read that it has paid activities in there (ie: one of the activities is building a bear or something, at sea, but of course it's like a $25 cost). Honestly, I think Meri will spend 99% of her time in the pool, anyway. She might want to go check out the kids club the first at-sea day, but I'll be surprised if she spends a lot of time there. I've warned her that this is a CHILL cruise. Meaning we aren't dashing from activity to activity, and that we will likely spend much time on the pool deck. She was fine with that. Especially after she saw the photo of the pool slide...
I think it sounds just fine to hang out there.
There's also a mini golf course, which I know we'll do a round of...
I don't think I'll do any spa activities myself, but I did book a pedicure for mom on the afternoon of her birthday. I figure she'll enjoy being pampered a little.
So, there's a quick little snippet about the ship itself.
The ship looks really nice. As long as it doesn't get too noisy the pool loungers look great for relaxing with a book, and I imagine Meri will have a couple-hundred rides down that slide. I don't like the kids' club having paid activities, either. Not a place to tack on extra fees. I can see some tantrums for younger children from that policy. As you said, no matter what, if it's clean and the pool is good and you have no chores and no job for a few days-- it'll pass for heaven right now!
Wow, that atrium is really something! I am so with you about the casino. On our P&O cruise to the Norwegian fjords, we looked in it once and that was it, and if it's got smoking in there, no way would I be going in. I've never smoked in my life and can't stand rooms where people smoke...
Great start! Oh, and I share your Mom's birth date of 11/9 but I turn 65 this year. Am hoping to be as active as your Mom when I'm her age in 10 years!
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But we're doing a little non-Disney cruise and I thought I'd go ahead and post a PTR/TR here, just for fun!
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I am so with you about the casino. On our P&O cruise to the Norwegian fjords, we looked in it once and that was it, and if it's got smoking in there, no way would I be going in. I've never smoked in my life and can't stand rooms where people smoke...
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