geochick73

Can't wait to read your review!   We booked our (first ever) cove balcony on the Vista leaving in mid-June.  😁

On 5/27/2023 at 9:50 PM, Avalon35 said:

Could you say why you like the Thermal Spa so much? And particularly why the Magic?

I have these same questions.  What is a thermal suite?  What makes the one on the Magic so great?

We enjoyed both ports.   I didn't like having to tender in Belize, but we visited Altun Ha mayan ruins and did a river cruise as part of a Carnival excursion and had a great day.   This was years ago so I'm not sure if they offer that excursion anymore.   I believe you have to plan an excursion as there isn't much to do around the port.    I think I would find a snorkeling excursion next time.

Last year we went to Costa Maya and took a taxi & spent the day at Blue Reef (all-inclusive).    We loved our time there so much!   The food was great, the drinks were good, and the hospitality was awesome.  The only complaint I had was that there was a ton of sargassum on the beach...which I believe is an issue there quite frequently.   Not the nicest beach, but we didn't let that spoil our day.  We got cheap (but great) massages as well.    The port area at Costa Maya is large and has several shops and a pool (I think).   Some people just hung around in that area all day.

I might give a slight edge to Costa Maya if it were me.

Thanks for sharing!   We are sailing on the Magic in 3 weeks.   First time out of Norfolk and our first time on the Magic.  We've booked an aft wrap balcony on deck 7....also our first balcony!  Looking so forward to it!    

Happy to hear that the MDR experience was good.  Did you happen to catch the production numbers?  We enjoy going to those but on our last cruise out of Mobile, they were pretty bad. 😞

On 4/2/2023 at 9:07 PM, Erreyl said:

Just got off the Legend today and Freeport was our last stop, this past Friday.  I did not notice any tour guides just holding signs but we got off really early so maybe that changed later.  I had booked in advance a day at Paradise Cove. If you are interested in a good snorkeling excursion I would recommend it.

 

Amanda

I was looking at the snorkeling excursion at Paradise Cove for our June cruise.   Can you tell me a little more about it?   How long did you snorkel?   Did you see a large variety of fish?   Did they provide food/water?   It looks like RT transportation is included, so that’s nice.   

Well, thanks everyone for the suggestions.  We just got off the Ecstasy today.  We tried a lot of the things mentioned (if they were available).   Our favorites were:   Crème brûlée in MDR, Blue Iguana burritos, the beef brisket dinner & Roasted chicken dinner in MDR.   I tried the fruity soups and they weren’t for me, but glad I tried them.  I ate at Guy’s burgers once for lunch and thought it was decent.   I was a little disappointed in the lido breakfast and didn’t care for the WCMC in the MDR…I feel like the recipe is different from what we had on our last cruise (10 yrs ago).  

We just got off the Ecstasy today.   Mobile’s cruise terminal was awesome.   We used VeriFLY to embark and it took us less than 15 minutes from the time we left our car until we were sitting in the terminal waiting to board.    Disembarkation was a breeze as well.     Everyone was so friendly and helpful…I wouldn’t hesitate to cruise out of Mobile again.

7 hours ago, newpherchris said:

...I often order the cheese platter dessert as an appetizer. 

I like this idea!

11 minutes ago, CruzCra-Z said:

I've cruised twice since April. There was an appetizer, Cured Salmon with candied tomato.  It was just melt in your mouth tender deliciousness.  I'm hoping they still have it when I cruise again in sept.. 

looks good...I'll keep an eye out for it!

15 hours ago, Clarasgrandma said:

We really liked the shrimp tostadas on the lido buffet ….must be the Mexican food day?  I also liked the vegetarian Indian in MDR, and you can order ahead for the next evening and try the non-vegetarian Indian which we did on our last cruise and it was so delicious! The root vegetables in a pie crust was also a favorites, along with the grilled shrimps. For breakfast, in MDR, I like the Broken egg Sandwich.  The shrimp salad was also really good on the sea day brunch menu.

Thanks for the tip about the non-veg Indian dish...I'll definitely do this!

2 minutes ago, exarkkun said:

The Mango Cream fruit soup, Root Vegetables in a Pie Crust, Bitter n Blanc, and the Beef Tenderloin were the standout items on my Splendor cruise in May.

The beef tenderloin seems to be on several people’s lists…will try it for sure.   I’m looking forward to the fruity soups too!

37 minutes ago, mz-s said:

 

My wife usually orders the grilled salmon at least once every cruise. And believe it or not Carnival's caesar salad is her standard by which all others are measured.

 

Shrimp cocktail is my go-to appetizer and the lasagna is really good too! And I love the brisket.

Now I’ve got to get this Caesar salad.  

3 minutes ago, jerseygirlinAZ said:

The spring rolls in the MDR are wonderful.  Everything I've had in the Steakhouse and Italian specialty restaurants has been fabulous (and I'm a vegetarian).

I'll be sure and try the spring rolls...can't try the other places bc the Ecstasy doesn't currently have any specialty dining.  😞

1 minute ago, nwcruiselover said:

Guy’s burgers and lobster in the steakhouse.

We don’t have a steakhouse on the ship, but I’m wondering if it is worth it to order the lobster in the MDR and just pay the fee.

19 minutes ago, Elaine5715 said:

The best was the Beignets at Emeril's  on the Mardi Gras

Those look amazing!  We don’t have an Emeril’s on the Ecstasy, but I’ll keep these in mind when I book my next cruise! 😋

59 minutes ago, nlktx49 said:

Mongolian Wok, Southwestern Chicken Wrap at Deli, breakfast burrito/taco at Blue Iguana, Guy's Burgers. MDR? Hmmmmmm. Grand Marnier Souffle is about all. Really disappointed in everything else, food used to be so good in there. I've been on 4 cruises so far this year - Vista, Breeze and Dream. Across the board the quality has gone downhill. Hoping for you the Ecstasy still has good food in the MDR!

I don’t think we have a Mongolian Wok, but thanks for the other suggestions!  I hate to hear that the MDR food has been disappointing, I’m crossing my fingers for the Ecstasy! 

1 hour ago, madera cruiser said:

Shaq's Chicken or anything from JiJi's Asian Kitchen.

 

Sounds good, unfortunately neither of those is available on the Ecstasy.  😞

1 hour ago, ChuckF said:

If you've never had a Guy's Burger, you have to try one.  But by far, the make-your-own burrito at the Blue Iguana is top of the line.  Make sure to put some shrimp in there. 

I haven’t been on a ship with either of those  restaurants yet…looking forward to trying both! 

1 hour ago, ninjacat123 said:

We were on Ecstasy end of May and we were pretty happy with the MDR cuisine.  Favorites would be the fruity soups, the beef tenderloin, grilled shrimps, frog legs and yes the Indian vegetarian.  The WCMC was yummy as usual.  Have a great cruise!!

The fruity soups are definitely on my list, I’ve never tried any of them!  Thx for the other suggestions!

30 minutes ago, Hoosierpop said:

The Indian vegetarian in the MDR. Not because I’m a vegetarian. It was just really that good. Had it in addition to other entrees almost every night. 

I’m definitely going to try this next week!  

Leaving this weekend on our first cruise in 10 years!   Eating is one of our favorite parts of a cruise.   I've been a little disappointed to read that several people think the quality of Carnival's food has really declined in recent years.   So, let me hear what you've had lately that you thought was really good...app, entree, dessert, whatever.   I'll make sure and order some of these items next week.  We will be on the Ecstasy so we won't have a steakhouse available.

TIA!

Definitely following your posts...we will board Ecstasy when you get back for our 6/25-6/30 cruise.  

Thanks for sharing!   We are going on the Ecstasy in 3 weeks and I can't wait...it's been 10 years since we've cruised.  How did you find the food on board?   We've never been to Costa Maya and we were thinking about going to the Krazy Lobster...how was the beach there?   I've read that the sargassum is bad this year, but you didn't mention it so I was wondering if you noticed it.

Same for me.   I checked my last email from Carnival and it said they were switching everything over to the Ecstasy and that it should be completed by Feb 15th...and that bookings wouldn't be available on the app or website until the switch was made.