DESTINATION REPORTS
THE ELATION, Our family group of ten adults had a wonderful experience on Carnival's Elation recently, sailing from Galveston, Texas to Progresso (Merida) and Cozumel, Mexico and Belize. The Elation itinerary consisted of seven days, including three full days at sea. Progresso boasts the world's longest pier and is the primary port for the Yucatan. Shore tours are offered for the town of Progresso, beach, Mayan ruins (Uxmal and Chichen-Itza) and Merida City. Progresso is very undeveloped now compared to Cozumel and Cancun.
Cozumel, an island located just 12 miles off the southern coast of the Yucatan, offers the best snorkeling and diving in all of Mexico. Carnival uses a new pier that they have developed with many colorful shops selling all sorts of local goods and souvenirs, including a large duty-free shop. You can shop without ever going into town. But San Miguel offers many fun bars, restaurants, and shops around the plaza. Rather than purchase a tour, we took a taxi to the plaza where we shopped and relaxed at Fat Tuesday's, a fun open-air bar/restaurant. From there, we took another taxi to Chankanaab Park for fun in the sun and terrific snorkeling. Completely rebuilt and restored in 1996, this beachfront park, just 9 kilometers (about 5 miles) south of San Miguel, offers diverse attractions in a lovely setting. The main beach is studded with palapas for sunbathers, while just offshore there are outstanding diving and snorkeling (equipment rental and dive shop available). Back from shore is a fascinating Archaeological Park, complete with winding jungle trails, replicas of sites throughout Mexico, a typical Mayan village, and free guided tours. There's also an excellent Botanical Garden with over 300 plant species from 22 countries. Topping things off is the site's beautiful lagoon-a sinkhole filled from the sea by underground tunnels. There are several shops, snack bars, a restaurant,and a Mayan Museum. It's open daily and admission is $10 US (children free), well worth the fee.
Belize, a popular destination for divers, is the only port of the three that required the use of tenders. For the outdoor enthusiast and adventure traveler, Belize presents unlimited opportunities. You will not find a lot of big nightclubs, expensive shopping or fancy restaurants. You will find diving, snorkeling, fishing, hiking, birdwatching and exploring nature at its best. The port has a newly built shopping area (developed by the Department of Tourism) at the pier that offers an easy and inexpensive way to purchase souvenirs and local crafts. There are many types of excursions offered that include terrific snorkeling. We took a catamaran to a beautiful spot over the reef for snorkeling and swam to a small island with nine palm trees and several pelicans. The snorkeling is said to be second only to the Great Barrier Reef.
The days at sea also presented many opportunities for fun and relaxation. The ship offers shuffleboard, ping pong, a jogging track, spa, gym, library, swimming pool with a spectacular high, winding slide, indoor and outdoor hot tubs, a shopping mall, virtual realty games, salsa dance lessons, bingo and a rather large casino. The evening entertainment included Las Vegas-style productions, comedians, karaoke, disco bars, and live bands and dancing. One of the highlights of the evening entertainment was the talent show featuring the ship's guests. The Elation's atmosphere is very casual except for the two formal nights. Although not required, many passengers took the opportunity to dress formally most nights, creating a festive atmosphere. The food was good, plentiful and offered in a variety of locations. The Pizzeria was open 24 hours a day. Breakfast and lunch were served buffet-style on the Lido deck daily; the two dining rooms were open for three meals daily. Meals, especially dinners, offered a wide variety of entrees and were beautifully presented. One of the fun aspects of a Carnival ship is the wait staff; ours entertained us several evenings with song and dance. There were also afternoon snacks, high tea and midnight buffets. The youngest couple in our group seemed to enjoy the room service, available 24 hours a day. Carnival is a budget-to-moderately priced cruise line. Don't expect luxury, but do expect a fun, casual atmosphere with good food and friendly service. All in all, we had a wonderful time on the Elation.
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