This was our third cruise on the Elation, THIS YEAR. We have cruised on this ship many times, its not our favorite, but its convenient and less than 7 days, so we chose it. We booked this cruise less than 24 hours before the sail date. We didn't know that that would put us in the suspect category until we made our way to the desk to get out Sail and Sign Cards, but when the guy working the desk said there is a hold on our account I had no idea what was in store of us. Before we went to the desk we had to go through security putting on carry ons through the scanner and taking our water to another desk for inspection. Now back to the desk: we were told that since we booked less than 24 hours before the sail date we had to go back through security, so we were marched back (like the Bataan Death March) to security, our carry ons back on the scanner, dogs were sent for to sniff us and the bags, but they couldn't get the dogs up for a couple hours, so they took us behind a screen and did a thorough search of our person, they even used the wand. What really infuriated me was the couple next to us booked a few hours after us and did not go through the same thing we did even though they also had a duffle bag and backpack as we did, but they said they sent their luggage through checked baggage. My wife said they, the other passengers, must have known what to say, but I'm not sure I buy that. Anyway, it seemed very harsh treatment to someone that is a Gold Club Member and has more that 40 days of cruising on Carnival.

We have been on the Elation somewhere between 6-8 times, so no surprises. This is a small ship by cruise ship standards, service not bad, varies from cruise to cruise, but not terrible, just not really great, but for a short 4 or 5 day cruise it works well.

Pros: Read more