Ecstasy had some problems...

Our party of 12 sailed on the March 3rd sailing out of Galveston on the Ecstasy. We had the Owner's Suite, two Cat 12s, and 3 OV's on the Upper Deck. We sailed a little bit late, and sped our way to Cozumel. It seemed that we were in a ski boat, skipping over the waves. Many were seasick the first sea day (Friday)...even those with many cruises under their belts. People were puking in the halls and the elevators and on the Lido deck. Thank goodness, I wasn't one of them. This was the first cruise that I took medication for seasickness, though.

We stayed in the Owner's Suite, at the very top of the Sports Deck, across from the spa...and under the jogging track. In moderate seas and at the high rate of speed we were cruising, it was rocking and rolling up there. The chandelier was swinging, the doors to the TV/Stereo cabinet were rattling, and we laughed our azzes off....over $1000 a day (for two) and the experience gave new meaning to the term "high rolling". The parties on the Lido deck kept us up into the wee hours of the morning and the joggers stomped us awake at 6 AM. The "Miami Vice" decor kinda grows on you.

Saturday in Cozumel was a great experience. We took a private tour of the Island with Nelda of Cozumel Tours. More on that later, but it was a wonderful experience with a great group of tour guides. We then spent a few hours soaking up the rays at Palm Beach and Paradise Beach.

On arrival back at the ship we were told of the propulsion problem and the efforts to get it fixed. We were told that our arrival in Galveston on Monday would be delayed...possibly not arriving at dock until 10 PM. We were kept updated several times during the day by the Captain, and the Purser's Desk began the task of rearranging flights for those scheduled to fly out of Houston on Monday afternoon. As I was not one of those people, I can't comment on the experience.

Sunday was another beautiful day at sea. Due to a problem with the propulsion system, we cruised at VERY low speed and at times were sitting dead in the water. I won $7,500 in the casino.

Of our party of 12, only 4 had cruised prior to this cruise. We all had a great time. Food was good and plentiful, staff was accomodating, the ship was clean, and there was plenty to do for entertainment.

We docked in Galveston on Monday about 7 PM. Those doing the "self inflicted" debarkation were instructed to go to the China Town Lounge at 6 PM to clear Immigration and then to pick up their luggage in their cabins and proceed to the Blue Sapphire Lounge at 6:30 to await debarkation. We got in line at 5:30 PM and the debacle began. We stood in line for 3 1/2 hours before we finally were able to get off of the ship. People were testy and cutting in line. Manners flew out the window and many people were upset.

Things got out of Carnival's control and they are lucky that a riot didn't ensue. I don't know what time those who chose to check their luggage were able to debark. I would imagine it was quite late.

We cleared Customs and the terminal about 8:45 PM after our "self inflicted" debarkation experience. The shuttle from EZ Cruise Parking was there to meet our group. They loaded our luggage and our weary bodies aboard and got us into our vehicles by 8:55 PM and we were on the road home by 9 PM.

I'll post photos and Capers after I rest up a bit.

Stir, glad you made it back! We were all following the fiasco, and it sounds like you made the best of it! Good for you!!!!! Glad you had a good time, looking forward to the review!!

Question, since they knew of the problems... you guys didn't have to put your luggage out at midnight did you? Also, did they have the bars/restaurants open during the day yesterday? It would be a big bummer if it was a typical last day and everything was closed....

wow, sorry to hear about the troubles on the ship. we cruise on ecstasy on 4/18 and i am hoping for no problems. so has this changed your view on cruising or do you just chalk it up to one of those unfortunate experiences? will you cruise carnival again?

Stir, I forgot to say.. CONGRATS on the casino!!!!! I would imagine that would make me enjoy my cruise MUCH more as well!!!!!! That is AWESOME!!!

LOL......good attitude Stir........proves the worse day at sea is better than work......I think I'd be right there with you laughing!.....lol.......I want to try sailing Ecstasy soon.....maybe even this summer.;)

GC...

Did the next cruise go out? Last I heard it was still at the dock until midnight

Well I just checked the webcam again. It just came back on, and the Ecstasy is gone. As of midnight it was still there, though.

 

 

 

Randy...

If you decide to go, let me know...I'd like to come along!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

We were told that they expected to sail about 1 AM...and they're GONE, so I guess they did get to sail.

stircrazy,Did you get to go to playdecarmen or did they skip that all together?

Sorry, I should have specified that we were on the 4 night sailing. We only went to Cozumel and back to Galveston.

Forget everything else, I want to know how you won the money! What did you play?

All of the money I've won since September 2004 was on the $5 slots. A total of over $17,000. $3000 on the Elation, $5000 at Harrah's, and $9250 on the Ecstasy. Each time I had less than $100 in the machine.

Weeee!...except for the W2-Gs I now have to turn in to the IRS.

The previous 50 years I've won.....ZERO.

Wow, thought you were going to say black jack. I'm playing the slots on my cruise in April!!! Do you stick with the same slot? Any hints on picking one?

hes L U C K Y :)

Wow, thought you were going to say black jack. I'm playing the slots on my cruise in April!!! Do you stick with the same slot? Any hints on picking one?

On the Ecstasy there are 3 $5 slot machines. I won on the machine on the left side ($7500) and the machine on the right side ($1750). The middle machine ate my money. I decide how much I am willing to LOSE in any given machine and I play that amount. I also only play $5 at a time, not $10 per pull. If I decide to put in $100 (or $200, or $300 ) in a machine and don't win, I move along. I decide how much I am willing to LOSE per day and keep the money in separate envelopes in the safe. I pull out ONE envelope each day. If I have money left at the end of the day it goes into a WINNINGS envelope in the safe...and that envelope goes HOME with me, not back into a machine.

The "Wheel of Fortune" $1 slot machines did NOT pay out this time for me. I also like the Sierra Silver, Double Diamond Deluxe, and Triple Diamond Deluxe on the $1 slot machines.

The "Garfield" 5 cent slots were a hoot, too!

Have fun...don't take any money into the casino that you wouldn't be willing to throw overboard or hand to the crew members. Casinos are in business to MAKE money, not to give it to you...use the casino for entertainment purposes only, or not at all.

In about 1995 I had to turn in over 19,000 in winings from w-2s from Horseshoe......lol.....one for $11,000 was on a $1 machine where I hit the jackpot.....and the rest was from $5 slots......I would play those when I was thru playing blackjack....and usually the 3 at a time......meaning $15 a pop......but hey, we've all bet more than that on Blackjack so I thought I'd try it on slots.....Many times I turned $100 into $300-$600 doing that.....Yep, Stir......I think we'd get along just fine!....lol:D

hes L U C K Y :)

No...she is L U C K Y! :D

OK.....my strategy is lose only $100 at a time on slots.......BUT......I play the max bet......and play til I lose 2 times in a row and then move........I've always done good that way.......I'm looking for a machine ready to pay NOW......not wanting to FEED one.....lol

WOW, Stir....what would you have won had you played the max bet?

WOW, Stir....what would you have won had you played the max bet?

Max bet was for a $20,000 payoff...BUT...

My brother-in-law is a computer guru and a gambler. He says that it is too rare for a max bet to pay off, so I only play max bet when I'm playing on the casino's money. If I have a machine that pays for nothing on the line, or gives credit for a "bonus" thingy, then I'll play max.Have never hit when I've played the credits though...LOL!

I leave town for a few days and miss all the action! What a great attitude to have Stir. So sorry about the ship problems, but hey, winning makes up for the problems, or at least helps...cha-ching!!! :D

What did your family members that had never cruised before think about the cruise?

I still think for the value, the Ecstasy is a great ship!