Valpocruiser

The Elation was our fourth cruise...the second with our whole family (of five). Were it just my wife & I, I would choose another cruise line, but Carnival does allow you to have 5 in a standard room which is a plus. The ship itself is ok...it's looking dated compared to other boats, but it's still clean an well taken care of. Where you really see the age is on the upper deck where the main attraction in an aging mini-golf course. The staff were very friendly, especially the wait & room staff. The food was pretty good, but you will find better on Royal or Holland America. We Cruised to Progreso & Cozumel. Cozumel is one of our favorite islands (despite bad weather this time around), but don't expect much from Progreso. It is definitely not ready for prime time yet. It's a pretty scrubby little town - the Xcapo (sp?) ruins are interesting, but note that you are looking at rebuilt ruins...not as impressive. In summary, Carnival is a good choice for a family of five, but the room does "fit" better when the kids are small (was a bit cramped). If you don't have 5 and have options, choose another cruise line. Carnival is slowly becoming the Greyhound of the Seas in my opinion.

Just back from a cruise to Curacao, Aruba and Grand Turks. The Sunshine was better than expected. Pros are the Serenity decks and great new seating layout on the Lido...always a place to sit. Cons are the tight squeeze on the upper decks for laying out, especially when they close the top decks for high winds. Prepare to get to know your neighbor. The new layouts on 5, 6 and 9 are a bit confusing at first so check everything out thoroughly to make sure you haven't missed anything if you are used to other Carnival ships. The staff are great...I have my suspicions about folks who would tell you otherwise. Some people just do not know how to relax. Others treat staff like "the help". The food was good...very standard Carnival fare. The onboard entertainment was a bit lacking...seemed like they are trying to save some $$$ there. All in all a great cruise.