Greetings from Sea

I'm writing this from the internet cafe onboard Carnival Elation. The Elation sails from San Diego for a fun-filled 3 night cruise to Ensenada, Mexico. It is the perfect weekend getaway from the West Coast.

When we left San Diego, the weather there was perfect. There wasn't a cloud in the sky and the temperature was in the upper 60s - much better than the 27 degrees back home.

Last night there was the customary welcome aboard show in the main theater. The cruise director, Steve, welcomed the largest group onboard the vessel. This is the First International Cougar Cruise. They caused quite a stir in San Diego, making the local evening news. So far, they've been pretty tame.

When we boarded the ship, the crew had been putting up the holiday decorations. It is quite festive onboard with the holiday atmosphere.

Today was a sea day. It has been an overcast day, but that hasn't stopped the usual onboard fun such as the hairy chest competition. Despite the cool weather, the pool areas were filled with well-wishers for the competitors.

My favorite spot on the ship is the Serenity Pool area. This is an adult-only venue with plenty of lounge chairs and two hot tubs. If you want to relax, this is the perfect place to hang out.

Tomorrow we arrive early in Ensenada, Mexico. I'll tell you more about Ensenada in future posts. I'm off to the holiday show now featuring the Carnival Singers and Dancers and the Camp Carnival children.

Celebrity Solstice - Solarium

One of the unique features on larger Celebrity ships is the Solarium which is an adults-only pool area. On the Millinneum class ships, there is a thalasotherapy pool, but Solstice Class ships do not have one.

The Solarium completes the Celebrity Solstice AquaSpa offerings. After working out in the fitness center, you can swim in this indoor lap pool. Relax in one of the hot tubs or lounge in one of the unique chairs that flank the pool while enjoying the dancing waterfalls.

During the day the Solarium is brightly lit by the sun shining through the domed glass ceiling. At night, the Solarium takes on a complely different mood with soft lighting accenting the dancing waters of the waterfalls.

Whether you want to relax or workout, the Solarium is an adult sanctionary from crowded areas of the ship. No matter if its sunny or rainy outside, the Solarium is the perfect location for some relaxation.