jefffrompawpaw

Here's the update. We made it to the airport with plenty of time. The day before we arrived to port they announced we would be in NOLA at 7 and debark at 7:30. Everything was right on time. We stepped off the ship at 7:45 through customs by 8:05 and at the airport by 8:30 for our 11:15 flight. Super easy and no worries at all. All in all it was 45 minutes from stepping off ship to airport.

The day before we arrived in port we went to guest services and explained our situation and the service rep told us to get in line as soon as they announce self assist.

Thank you for the kind words :) I'm not a professional videographer. I'm just an enthusiast. I'll be working on another one next week.

Great job on those videos. That's high quality professional stuff.

I just did a mock insurance booking for a trip I have planned in Oct. and I've never bought it before. Does 109.00 sound about right for a 1300.00 trip cost 4 people 5 days and a mid level policy? I'm not looking for exact just does it sound like it's in the ballpark?

What website sre you using to track the location of ships?

How was the food at LFK? I can't decide if I want to include the lunch ad 2 drinks in the price. There are four of us 2 adults 2 kids, and the wife and I don't drink so I don't know it the extra 30 per person is worth it. But good food would make me lean towards it.

Following so I can read the rest later.

I saw 2 different comedians last October on the Ecstasy. Both good, not great I don't remember their names. How in the heck do some of you recall a name from 2 years ago?

In the same vein as if you don't like tipping you should stop cruising, if the staff ever feels like they are not being compensated for their job they will find another way to make a their living. When cruise lines have trouble staffing their ships cruise lines will have to adjust their pay scale. It's the same supply and demand argument all over again about price increases over cabin, drinks, specialty meals...

So for the time being, I give extra tips to the people who perform a service for me in a satisfactory or above satisfactory level.

It amazes me how much people defend the auto gratuities on this forum. I guess it's out of the goodness of their heart? But if you do not realize that a cruise line can pay their employees % less and have auto gratuities make up the rest you are drastically misinformed.

Tropicante is kid friendly..Have seen them there each time we have been there. You can get a massage right at Tropicante..They have massage tables right there on the beach. When you reboard the ship, they will take your liquor purchase from you to pick up or deliver to your cabin on the last day.

Thank you Jamon, Tropicante it is!

I am bumping this thread, it's been dead a while. But it should be watched if you like the hind the scenes stuff. Great documentary!

I have a few questions, maybe you can answer.

I have my kids going with me and the wife, is Tropicante kid friendly. Not even kid friendly but do they frown upon kids?

My wife likes getting the massages on the beach, is there anywhere close to Tropicante for her? I personally find it gross.

And a liquor question. If I buy liquor at a port what happens to it. Do they take it until our cruise is over?

 

 

 

Also, I always make an index card for every port, with embassy or consulate information, excursion contact info if we're taking one - especially private excursions, port agent info, boarding time, etc ... just in case. Fortunately have never needed any of it.

Where are the Embassy and Consulate numbers listed for example Cozumel? Google? How did you find these numbers?

what a bunch of whiners. Let me know when your all cruising again so i can bring my three grandchildren. You think a baby will ruin your day?

 

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Love this post!

A baby screaming on top of his lungs all night (literally - all night) because he can't deal with the motion of the ship I do not.

Yeah, babies hate being rocked:rolleyes:

* Babies are no worse or louder than adults or more appropriately drunk adults. They are the worst! I never travel without ear plugs.

* I don't get in hot tubs ever. Adults are just as disgusting as kids. Who wants to take a "bath" with 20 people stewing in their own filth anyways?

* I'm glad you enjoyed your cruise OP. People who don't like kids should go on adults only or all inclusive adults only.

* I love the rolly eyes emoticon. If I think you are posting something ridiculous you get one of these:rolleyes:. If they were inappropriate Cruise Critic the most politically correct message board ever would get rid of them.

Why risk missing your flight? Why not book an afternoon flight and not have to worry about it.

We fly into a smaller airport in Michigan that there is literally 1 flight into it from NOLA. After researching that the ship will arrive at 8 and the plane leaves at 11:30 we decided to take the risk. NOLA's airport is 17 miles away and on a Saturday morning traffic will be minimal.

I read on Carnivals site that if you would like to do self assist and go to the ships help desk with your flight itinerary they would get you off first. I just wanted to know if arrive at 8:00 means departing at 8:00 which most posters say yes or even earlier.

On my last cruise we had a late flight and stayed on the ship till they kicked us off (not really). I didn't pay attention to when they started letting people off the ship so I decided to ask here.

I get the impression that you are gleefully anticipating the challenge of making your early flight rather than being worried about it. :D

Yeah, kinda. If I make the plane great! Like I said , If I'm off the plane by 9:30 I should make the flight. If not I'll rent a car and drive back home for 16 hours New Orleans to Michigan.

Now missing the ship and my vacation would suck!

But, if Erin Ortman would have taken the photos down to guest services as he/she should have done, those poor folks could have been reunited with their pictures.

I guess you have never forgot anything? Now Erin is going through the trouble of getting them back to their owners, and will do so at her expense out of pocket.

You've added nothing, only to insult a person with good intentions. I think there are rules about cursing on the board so I'll hold those back. But, I don't like your attitude toward good people.

Lets try and be nice to the people here. Most of them our good people.

If this is my last post.. Erin, I hope you find" those poor people".

Good luck.

Thanks for the responses. I would hope that I could be out of the terminal by no later than 9:30, then I can have a chance of being the guy running through the terminal to catch a plane.

If my cruise itinerary says that we arrive at 8:00 what time to we stat to exit the ship. Or is the 8:00 am the time we start to exit. I plan on arranging to self assist to be off as soon as I can.

I have a very early flight. So early, if I told you my flight time I believe half the members here would start having sympathy anxiety :D

Thanks, Jeff

Yikes!

Ditto! We have a winner.

And mark another one that flies in the same day. Each day I take off work is precious. Ill never waste a day in a hotel room. There are so many reasons mentioned in just this thread as to why you might be delayed on your way to the ship, ferry's, cabs, shuttles, transfers, traffic, forgetting medicine...

I am super excited for you. My first cruise was last October also on the Ecstasy. I think it is a wonderful ship for your first cruise because of it being a smaller ship (I promise it will feel like the biggest thing you've ever seen) it has less people to navigate around the lines always move quick and the shows don't seem to be over crowded.

Even if you start to feel something isn't going your way don't let it get to you. Remember that you're on vacation.

Have a great time and you will be looking to book another cruise right away. I have 2 already booked for 2016.

Attitude is everything!

Does anyone know if each night they do "Did you ever try" or is it" Have you ever tried" I only saw it on one picture. My daughters love trying new things, or at least watching their dad try new things when they are too chicken:rolleyes:

Maybe not the exact thing this topic is about but here is a real life story as to what a photocopy of a passport will get you.

My family's first cruise in October on Carnival Cruise Line and we had left the ship for port in Cozumel. My wife had left her purse and id in the safe on the ship. I was carrying the credit cards and cash on me The only thing she had was her Sign n Sail card*. Each one of us used our cards to get off the ship, but boarding back on the ship they wanted our sail cards and adults need photo id. It was our first cruise and thought if we got off with just our card we could get back on. They were willing to let me go on the ship and get her id. I had my 2 girls with me on the way back to the ship I was placing some gifts in my backpack. Upon opening my back pack I saw the photocopies of all 4 passports. I turned back around and she was able to use it to get on the ship. She did have to answer a few questions about me and my drivers license.

TLDR: Wife used a photo copy of a passport to get back on our ship in Mexico

I enjoyed my 5 day Bahamas cruise on Ecstasy. It certainly was not agony.:)

 

It is a fine ship that was clean with a great crew. The entertainment was fun and the food was very good. I enjoyed the itinerary especially our stop at HMC. Ecstasy is one of Carnival's smaller ships but it had most of the amenities that I like that are found on Carnival's larger ships.

 

If you want the mega ship amenities such as rock climbing walls, ice skating, wave pools, etc. then you may not like Ecstasy. If you want a fun cruise experience without the mega ship crowds and price tag then you will like Ecstasy.

 

Check out Ecstasy on Carnival.com. Click on Explore then Our Ships and click on Ecstasy to view what Ecstasy has to offer before you book.

 

Give it a try and have fun.:cool:

Couldn't have said it better. I find this ship to be a gem. We took the family of 4 and loved it. I'm looking forward to going on it again. The only issue is it's usually a 3-5 day cruise ship and I think I'd prefer a longer cruise.

Good review. Following. My first trip was on the Ecstacy and they are sister ships i believe. You've inspired me to do a review on my trip in April.