My husband and I have taken about 20 cruises, this was our 2nd Carnival cruise. I was very pleased with this trip, and found this cruise just as good (if not better) in some aspects as much more expensive cruise ships. Embarkation was very quick and easy. We checked in around noon and at 12:30 we were sitting down at the buffet for lunch. We then had all afternoon to get acquainted with the ship. Ship itself was very clean, a little shabby but no problem. The staff was extremely courteous and pleasant. We were very pleased with the cabin, it was larger than some other cabins we've been in. Nice hot water, plenty of room in the medicine cabinets. Very comfortable beds and nice soft bedding. The food was just as expected. With so much to choose from in the buffet, if one thing wasn't to our liking there was plenty of other choices. We loved the deli and the pizza and the hamburgers out by the pool. Passengers. Some quite loud young adults and quite a few little children. Not too many seniors. We found Carnival to be very much geared to the young people, lots of drinking and yelling. Not too bad, though.

Activities were good. Shows were very enjoyable. We loved the production numbers with the singers and the dancers, and the hypnotist was excellent. We didn't go to the "adult" shows at midnight. Enjoyed a pedicure and a facial at the spa. The spa ladies are so sweet and soft spoken. Also went to a weight loss seminar, but had to leave to go eat some more!!! Tina the cruise director was nice and lively. The staff is extremely hard working and always pleasant. Bingo was too expensive for just a few little games. Library was a joke. Bring your own reading material. Cabo San Lucas was a good port, very nice. Very enjoyable. That being said, Ensenada was a total disgrace. Dirty, smelly port with nothing nice about it. Carnival should eliminate it from the itinerary. After reading the reviews, I was expecting it to be a mediocre trip, just a little interlude. However, I find that some people just naturally like to complain about every little thing. Of course this cruise was not perfect. But I would have to give it a "9" out of 10. You can make yourself miserable or you can just try to enjoy yourself. We enjoyed it very much, and CArnival Elation can hold its head up high with the rest of the cruise industry.