Dining

While a growing number of ships have gone exclusively to open seating with no set dining times, the style of dining is more traditional on the Elation with passengers assigned tables in one of the ship's two main restaurants. The Imagination is located on Atlantic Deck, mid-ship, and the Inspiration is on Atlantic Deck aft. There are four seating choices for dinner: 5:45 p.m. and 6:15 p.m. for early diners; 8 p.m. and 8:30 p.m. for those preferring later times. There is open seating in the restaurants for breakfast and lunch.

Carnival's fleet-wide effort in recent years to upgrade both the diversity and quality of its menu selections seems to have paid off. Each menu featured six starters, a couple of salads and six or seven main courses (with choices including pan fried fillet of red snapper, sweet and sour shrimp, rack of New Zealand lamb and Beef Wellington). There were also several Spa Carnival selections on each menu -- dishes that were lower in calories, sodium, cholesterol and fat. A vegetarian selection was also available.

We were also quite impressed with the service provided by a classy trio of waiters who were most cordial and professional in carrying out their duties.

Beyond the Inspiration and the Imagination, the ship's other main dining venue is the informal Tiffany Restaurant on the Lido Deck, which offers both inside and poolside seating. All meals here are served buffet style and there is open seating for breakfast, lunch and dinner. Other alternative eating options include a 24-hour pizzeria, a complimentary sushi bar and 24 hour room service. Carnival is one of the few lines to still offer midnight buffets; themes varied, from a Mexican night to a gala "anything goes" spread.

Caveat #1: Tiffany gets especially crowded at breakfast and congestion often built up near the omelet station due to a slow-moving line. So you may want to get up early and eat breakfast sooner rather than later if you want to avoid delays here.

Caveat #2: The dinner buffet offerings in Tiffany were very limited compared to the extensive choices on the menu in the main dining rooms; there may be only one or two main courses to choose from and the choice of appetizers, salads and desserts is also less than what is available in the restaurants.

Caveat #3: There are very few tables for two in either the Inspiration or Imagination with most tables accommodating six, eight and ten people; those who want to dine with only their spouse or significant other would have to eat either in Tiffany, which has many tables accommodating couples, or order room service.

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