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Ellen Elkins, CTC, DS, LS

Contact Ellen Elkins, CTC, DS, LS

Office: 419-214-3580
Toll Free: 800 775-0495

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ellen elkinssignature travel expert

Interests and Specialties

Ellen has been with Central Travel for 27 years and has a passion for travel. She is a Certified Travel Consultant holding destination specialties in the Caribbean and Hawaii and is also a Honeymoon Destination specialist all from The Travel Institute. Ellen loves the sun and sand and has completed the Hawaii Ke Kula program.

She is also a graduate of The Globus Tour Expert program specializing in custom touring. She is also a graduate of the Azamara World Academy and Avalon Waterways Specialist program.

Ellen is a graduate of Rocky Mountaineer’s TRACKS program designed specifically for industry professionals. Rocky Mountaineer offers over 50 unique Canadian vacation packages and five distinctive rail routes, rich in history and natural wonders, through the wild beauty of the Pacific Northwest and Alberta. This world-renowned luxurious train travels by daylight and is the best way to experience the majestic Canadian Rockies, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Ellen is the travel professional to help you sort out the best adventure for you!

Ellen is located in the Holland, Ohio office.

Expert Bio

As all agents of Central Travel, Ellen has traveled extensively visiting Hawaii three times in various ways. She has experienced Las Vegas, Cancun, Cozumel, the Riviera Maya, Punta Cana, Jamaica and has been on several cruises visiting most of the islands of the Caribbean.

Her favorite places to visit are the Islands of Hawaii since they vary so much and are unique in their own right. She loves the beaches of Cancun and the Riviera Maya. Ellen enjoys cruising as well and has sailed with Norwegian Cruise Lines, Carnival Cruise Lines, Royal Caribbean Cruise Lines and Princess Cruise Lines. What’s next? You can be sure it will be sun and sand related!

MY ADVENTURES

Celebrity Ascent shipI had an awesome experience on the Celebrity Ascent for the Naming Ceremony! It was a very cool experience. The Ascent had two God Mothers Captain Sandy Yawn from Bravo’s “Below Deck” and her sister Michelle Dunham, founder and executive director of a non-profit school for children with autism. I was able to meet Captain Sandy along Chef Dave and some NFL players from the Buffalo Bills.

This is the first time I have ever been on a Celebrity Ship and it did not disappoint. The food was wonderful all the areas throughout the ship were very welcoming and warm. The ship will carry 3,260 passengers at double capacity, up from 2900 on the Edge and Apex.

The ship has 32 food and beverage experiences, 14 café’s, bars and loungers, 8 specialty restaurants, 4 main dining rooms, 4 complimentary casual dining venues and 2 exclusive restaurants. The two exclusive restaurants are for those that are booked in The Retreat or Aqua Class, which are Laminae at The Retreat and Blu. One of our favorite areas was Craft Social, a bourbon bar in the atrium. They serve a drink called the Smoking Bull 19; this is made with Brugal 1888 rum, Carpano Antica vermouth, Aperol and orange spice tea. It is then finished in a smoke box that reminds you of campfires. The ship also offers the Magic Carpet platform, Eden Restaurant and a high-tech theater with oversize movie screens.

We were in an Edge Stateroom with Infinite Veranda. I wasn’t too sure if we would like this, but it was rather nice being able to open your window have it as part of your stateroom. I would stay in this type of stateroom again. The bathrooms where quite large and the staterooms had tons of storage. Celebrity does now offer Edge Single Staterooms w/Infinite Veranda for your single travelers.

I would highly recommend booking a drink package. From looking at the drink prices, they were high. The drink package certainly adds value.

Prior to sailing on Celebrity we stayed at the Hilton Marina Fort Lauderdale. I have stayed here several times. The last time I was there they were starting to refurbish the public areas. This has now been completed. They no longer have their outdoor patio bar, they now have a small area where they have a cart to serve drinks, it is nice but the patio bar was much better. They do have a new dining venue called Olive and Sea; it offers awesome intercostal water view.

We did do the water-taxi which I highly recommended. They have a stop right at the Hilton Marina which is very nice. To purchase tickets www.watertaxi.com they have the Fort Lauderdale Route and the Hollywood Express Router. We did an all-day ticket which is valid from 10:00 am to 10:00 pm. The cost for the two of us was $82.56. This is a very fun way to explore Fort Lauderdale.

The Ship is sophisticated and is geared towards adults. The ship does have some children programs but does lack children’s areas like Royal Caribbean, so I would not offer this to a family. I would sail with Celebrity again.

Client Reviews

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