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CaptEZ2Like

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    Just got off ecstasy today!

    in Carnival Cruise Lines

    Posted

    Hey! We are going February 15-20. Taking our son and two granddaughters (8 & 4). They are excited over the moon!

    When are you booked to go?

    I returned 9/16 from the Eastern Caribbean. A review I made twice was not reported but I will repeat it because it includes an answer to your question:

    In summary - depends on if you run into a hurricane which the ship will do all it can to avoid. My review:

    I had an 86th birthday during this cruise I took solo. Although I met many other people, older folks have more difficulty enjoying the entertainment currently offered and finding companionship. For my birthday, Guest Services recognized it with Champagne, box of candy, a note, spa gift, and waiters singing at my dinner table.

    I took the 8 day cruise to the Caribbean on 9/8 so there would not be so many ankle biters aboard as they should have been in school.

    Each port had other ships and the streets were full of people. I took no excursions, didn't drink, enjoyed the Serenity Deck at aft of the ship and took a nap each afternoon after a good lunch and got to bed by 9:30 each night.

    The highlight of each day was dinner, 6:00 PM with table of 10 who were a delightful group.

    The Carnival Survey that I received upon return took almost an hour to fill out. Among the negatives which was the only part I saved, I wrote:

     

    'My car was parked on the tarmac. I had paid parking at $20/day. On a previous cruise it

    was parked inside a building and I thought it would be this trip. Due to the heat initially with windows left partially down, the hurricane and anticipated storm surge, I worried about the car a lot.

    I purchased the Value Plan for WiFi, internet, and mail. It would not work. Guest Services worked with my computer and iPhone twice and even raised my plan to Premium but it still would not work so I did get a refund of the $80 charge. The Carnival Hub app worked well.

    My Sign and Sail card would not open my stateroom door and I had to get a replacement card which involved a very long line still carrying my lighter suitcase.

    The display case for the plaques awarded the ship were sitting on top of the American Flag using it as a mat. I did get one of their officers to correct that and show more respect for our flag.

    In filling the lavatory in my bathroom with water, the water was quite dark. They need to find the source of the discoloration and correct it. The hot water was more muddy than the cool.

    I initially sprayed my entire cabin with Lysol and took great care to use the germ killer drops outside the restaurants. However, by the evening of the 15th my throat started burning and turned white. The "bug" later caused excessive nose running and is still in my chest although I went to my doctor upon return and am taking two strong medicines.

    The wind from my cabin's air input vent was far too strong and blowing in my face the first night. I then got my Steward to turn it down but it was shut off completely so the next day I had to get it corrected again. We finally got it adjusted.

    My muster station was on deck 9 and my cabin on deck 4. In case of an emergency we were not to use the elevators. At age 86 I don't think I could run up five flights of stairs to my muster station.

    The initial Veteran's meeting to encourage discourse between Vets, upon entering we were asked how many in our party. I said one and was seated at a table by myself. I saw several other tables of one. I complained about it, that it did not encourage discussion and it was corrected the second day. Another Vet and I stood up the second day, introduced ourselves to the group of about 50-75 Vets, and talked a little about our experiences. I mentioned the 16 members of our Fighter Squadrons off Korea that we lost 66 years ago. Others talked of their losses.

    While waiting to debark and planning to roll my own bags to my car, the instructions said to wait in my cabin until my deck was displayed on TV and deck 4 would have been last. The anticipated time for my use of the elevator was later than the time we were required to get out of our cabins so what were we supposed to do? Stand in line for up to 30 minutes? Go to a higher deck and try to get on one of the forward elevators? I did the latter and did get off the ship prior to my scheduled time of about 8:30 or when the forward elevators became available.

    I sailed with Carnival many years ago but they lost the records of when I sailed and I could not remember the details so I didn't receive credit for previous sailings.

    There was something loose outside Cabin R-119 that periodically banged somewhere around the windows disturbing sleep. Also, the windows need to be taken apart and cleaned as the inside of the double panes are dirty.

    When you first embark, they need more attendants at Guest Services as passengers have many problems at that time and the line becomes excessive.

    At one port, the ship and crew had muster drills with the ship's emergency whistles blowing. I did not see or hear any announcement about this and was wondering if it was a real emergency - however, due to being hard of hearing I may have missed it.

    I have never seen a crew that worked as hard as on this ship. At every station, none just sat. They were polishing, cleaning, or working everywhere all the time and were always friendly.

    The Captain did a fine job preventing pitching and tossing and rolling of the ship. However, when he spoke, he could not speak English well but the Cruise Director always repeated his statements over the speakers.

    I hope this helps. The ship has an outstanding crew and they are doing their best to make the ship and cruise enjoyable.

    I would sail again on the Ecstasy but never solo again. Too difficult to find companionship.

    Thanks for letting me make these critiques.

    • Like 1

    Just got off ecstasy today!

    in Carnival Cruise Lines

    Posted

    Cabins on low decks and in the center of the ship have less motion than in the bow, stern, or up high. Think of a see saw. The Ecstasy is cose to the size in tonnage and length as Essex Class Aircraft Carriers that had about 100 planes and about 3400 officers and men. I served in this class roughly 16 months at sea and can't recall anyone getting seasick. And, we were in two typhoons and you don't get any rougher than that. However, I have come close to getting sick on deep sea fishing boats. I don't think you'll have any problem. You should get used to the pitching and tossing fairly quickly, like you get accoustomed to walking on a train.

    Just got off ecstasy today!

    in Carnival Cruise Lines

    Posted

    Center of ship and usually deck 4 or 5 are my favorite on this class of ship.

     

    Thanks Banana. Makes me feel better about it. I heard the lower cabins were the cheaper ones but I didn't pay for the cheaper type. I suppose on deck 4, in order to get almost anywhere, the elevator would be recommended. Hope there are no crew noises below deck 4.

    Just got off ecstasy today!

    in Carnival Cruise Lines

    Posted

    ECSTASY cruisers: new to Carnival & to Charleston. Any parking tips? good signage of where we should drive? drop off bags, then park? No interest on our Roll Call and can't figure out why? What's with the ship not having heat in the cabins? was this a one time thing, or do we need to bring hoodies? Thanks for any suggestions. Figures crossed we don't have plumbing problems or A/C - heat issues. :rolleyes:

     

    Regarding heat in cabins - I was told each has its own thermostat so apparently it can go between cold and hot.

    If the parking tips didn't meet your need, ask the question in some other way - what type parking for example.

    Just got off ecstasy today!

    in Carnival Cruise Lines

    Posted

    I'm paying for the covered parking on 8 day Sept 8th cruise on Ecstasy out of Charleston which is $20/day!!! There are directions from I-26 to Gate 2 or if you have iPhone maps with navigation tell Siri to take you to 10 Laurens Street

    Charleston SC. One individual said from I-26 exit it takes about 15 minutes to Gate 2. You drop off your bag(s) and follow signs to parking, take a shuttle back to the ship. Your bag (assuming 2 hours before sailing else you do it yourself) will be outside your cabin. Too long to add here but I'll submit another reply with copied directions.

    I-26 East into Charleston.

    Take Exit 219 – B (Morrison Drive & East Bay Street) and turn left at the foot of the exit ramp.

    Cross over King Street, then cross over Meeting Street.

    Once you cross Meeting Street, you are on Morrison Drive.

    Stay on Morrison Drive. The street name will change from Morrison Drive to East Bay Street.

    Follow the green highway signs to Union Pier Terminal.

    You will pass a U.S. Post Office on the right. Smaller signs in brown and white with a cruise ship logo are also along the travel route to direct you to the entry gate.

    From East Bay Street, turn left on to Chapel Street at the traffic light.

    Continue to follow the green highway signs to Cruise Ship Terminal/Union Pier Terminal.

    Chapel Street will change name to Washington Street along the route.

    Turn left onto Charlotte Street and right onto Concord Street.

     

    Passengers enter Union Pier Terminal through Gate 2 at the intersection of Concord and Laurens Streets.

    Just got off ecstasy today!

    in Carnival Cruise Lines

    Posted

    ECSTASY cruisers: new to Carnival & to Charleston. Any parking tips? good signage of where we should drive? drop off bags, then park? No interest on our Roll Call and can't figure out why? What's with the ship not having heat in the cabins? was this a one time thing, or do we need to bring hoodies? Thanks for any suggestions. Figures crossed we don't have plumbing problems or A/C - heat issues. :rolleyes:

     

    I'm paying for the covered parking on 8 day Sept 8th cruise on Ecstasy out of Charleston which is $20/day!!! There are directions from I-26 to Gate 2 or if you have iPhone maps with navigation tell Siri to take you to 10 Laurens Street

    Charleston SC. One individual said from I-26 exit it takes about 15 minutes to Gate 2. You drop off your bag(s) and follow signs to parking, take a shuttle back to the ship. Your bag (assuming 2 hours before sailing else you do it yourself) will be outside your cabin. Too long to add here but I'll submit another reply with copied directions.

    Hub App

    in Carnival Cruise Lines

    Posted

    Anyone have detailed instructions for putting Carnival Hub app on a MacBook? Have tried BlueStacks and Google Play and apparently am not smart enough. Says "not compatible with my device". Although I have the Hub on an iPod (easy to carry) and an iPhone 8 Plus (not easy to carry), I'd like to be able to use my MacBook aboard ship to get mail. Have a "Value" WiFi plan.

    Thanks

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