“Live” from the Carnival Ecstasy: Dec 3-8,2012

Hello everyone…

Welcome to "Live" from the Carnival Ecstasy!

I'm excited to begin my third “Live” cruise report. I'll begin another cruise adventure aboard the beautiful Carnival Ecstasy!

Tomorrow morning, Monday, December 3, 2012 we'll venture from Tampa and board the Carnival Ecstasy in Port Canaveral hopefully around 11am.

If you enjoy "Live" cruise reports, be sure to view my previous two "Live" reports. Each report, including this one is a work in progress as I try something different to find the best mix. During my last two reports I was traveling solo, this report I'll be traveling with my DM who three weeks prior to my last cruise decided she was going to come visit Florida for a portion of the winter to escape the cold and snow. She also wanted to go on my most recent cruise less than a month ago.

Once I returned from my last cruise and knowing I had the week of December 3rd off, I started looking at cruises to go on. (How sad, huh? Not even home a week!) I had looked at the Carnival Breeze, Carnival Dream, RCCL- Jewel of the seas, RCCL- Monarch of the seas and Carnival Ecstasy. My heart was really set on going on RCCL- Jewel of the seas this trip since it'd bring us to Cozumel and sails out of Tampa. I've not sailed to Cozumel this year but have been to Nassau twice just this year. However, Carnival Ecstasy was also going to Half Moon Cay and Freeport. Half Moon Cay I've never been to and really want to see and I've been to Freeport once.

Carnival Ecstasy and visiting Nassau a third time this year wasn't at the top of my list, but not ruled out. Then the price with Carnival Ecstasy was just to good to pass up for 5 night cruise. Less than $ 89 with taxes included for the two of us per night??? That's not per person but our combined per night cost with taxes and not a 1A room. No way I could even get a hotel room on the beach with food, etc for that price.

I've kept this last minute cruise as a surprise from my DM up until just a few moments ago! Prior to a few moments before starting this thread she had no idea I was taking her on a cruise in December, let alone we were going on a cruise TOMORROW morning. Needless to say I advised her she better start to pack whilst I'm at work the next few hours. Since last Saturday she's thought I was going to take her to Disney one or two days this week whilst I'm on holiday. So here we are, leaving tomorrow morning to cruise on the very first ship we both sailed back in 2000! This will be my DM's 3rd cruise and it will be the 2nd time cruising where its just been the two of us.

About a week ago I stumbled upon a scrap book that DM made from our first cruise on the Ecstasy. I've scanned the first cruise experience and shared it here on CC to see some of the old pictures and Capers. That cruise on the Ecstasy from 12 years ago is located HERE.

This will be a treat to board this ship a second time and most likely the last before her retirement, whenever that is. Thankfully the Ecstasy has had some upgrades and changes since 2000. It'll be good to capture some newer digital images and experience this ship as a more experienced cruiser since the Ecstasy took my cruise virginity.

Our itinerary during the next 5 days and 5 nights:

First "Live" cruise report:

Check out my first "Live" cruise report on Royal Caribbean's beautiful Monarch of the seas.

Click Here for Monarch of the seas “Live” cruise report: July 20-23, 2012.

Second "Live" cruise report:

Check out my second "Live" cruise report on Carnival Sensation & Carnival Freedom: November 8-17, 2012 B2B

Click Here for Carnival Sensation & Carnival Freedom B2B "Live" cruise report.

My Cruise experience:

This will be my 14th cruise with Carnival and I've cruised three times with Royal Caribbean. This will be my overall 17th cruise since I started this horrible addiction back in November 2000.

Earlier this week we had a little bit of a scare where I wasn't really sure if either one of us were going to make this cruise. (Course at that time DM didn't know about this cruise.) My aunt was rushed to the hospital on Tuesday and scheduled for emergency surgery. She was placed on the docket to have a triple by pass heart surgery on Thursday. With that I was traveling two days this week to Orlando for work and trying to figure out if I was going to have to ship my DM up north to be with her sister. Then having a plan B if the surgery didn't go well and if the both of us would need to travel north very last minute. Needless to say Thursday has now come and gone and the surgery was a success, thankfully. And as you can tell by the start of this thread the cruise shall go on.

Welcome aboard! Sit back, relax with one of your favorite beverages as we watch, participate and begin new cruise adventures.

Till a later time...

And now I present some "fun" facts about the "fun" ship we're sailing, for inquiring minds....

The Carnival Ecstasy is the second ship built in the Fantasy-class. She began operation with Carnival Cruise Lines in 1991.

• Builder: Kvaemer Masa-Yards, Helsinki New Shipyard, Finland
  
• Cost: $ 275 million
  
• Maiden Voyage: 1991
  
• Tonnage: 70,367. Length: 855ft. Beam: 103 ft. Decks: 10. Speed: 21 knots.
  
• Capacity: 2634 Passengers. 920 Crew.
  

§ Ship Fire: July 20, 1998. Fire broke out in the main laundry room shortly after 1700 hours. Damages estimated at $ 17 million. Fire was caused by unauthorized welding by a crewmember in the main laundry room. Passengers received a full refund and offered a complimentary cruise.

• Sister Ships: Sensation, Fantasy, Fascination, Imagination, Inspiration, Elation and Paradise.
  
• Port Of Registry: Panama
  
• Cruise Director: Brent Mitchell
  

And now I present some "fun" facts about the "Ports" our ship will be visiting, for inquiring minds....

Nassau, Bahamas...

• Currency: Legal tender is the Bahamian dollar, which is the equivalent in value to the U.S dollar. Both U.S and Bahamian dollars accepted interchangeably throughout the island. European currency is not, so exchange is necessary at an ATM.
  
• Where the ships dock: Prince George Wharf, near Rawson Square. In the heart of Nassau.
  
• Population: 226,000.
  
• Average Temperature: Average winter temperature is 70 degrees F, average summer temperature is 82 degrees F.
  
• Nassau: Nassau was formerly known as Charles Town; it was burned to the ground by the Spanish in 1684, but later rebuilt and renamed Nassau in 1695 in honor of the Dutch Stadtholder and later also King of England, Scotland and Ireland, William III from the Dutch House of Orange-Nassau.
  

Freeport, Bahamas...

• Established: 1955
  
• Area: 215 square miles
  
• Elevation: 30 feet
  
• Population: 55,500
  
• Economy: Tourism topped over a million visitors a year but considerably diminished since 2004 the year of two major hurricanes to hit the island. Several cruise ships stop weekly at the island. Much of the tourist industry is centered on the seaside suburb of Lucayan owing its name to the pre-Columbian Lucayan inhabitants of the island evidence of whom has been found on the island. Freeport features at least two Junkanoo festivals near New Year's. The city is often promoted as "Freeport/Lucaya". Recovery from two hurricanes has taken several years, but is now nearing full recovery.
  
• Location: Freeport is located just 65 miles off the coast of Palm Beach, Florida and on the major EW - NS shipping routes. This has positioned it for tremendous growth as an ideal centre for international business. Consequently, a growing number of international companies use Freeport as its site for business.
  
• Climate: Seldom do temperatures drop below 60 degree. Average temperatures range in the low to upper 80's , with water temperatures varying between 72 and 78, winters are usually cooler, mid 60's to 70's.
  

Little San Salvador Island. AKA: Half Moon Cay...

• Location: One of 700 islands that make up the archipelago of The Bahamas. It's located roughly between Eleuthera and Cat Island. Located about 100 miles southeast of Nassau.
  
• Island History: It is a private island, owned by Holland American Line, a subsidiary of Carnival Corporation & PLC, which uses it as a one-day stop for the cruise ships it operates in the region. Prior to being owned by Holland America, Little San Salvador was the private island of Norwegian Cruise Line.
  
• Island Purchased: Holland America Line purchased the island in December 1996 for a price of $ 6 million USD. It has since developed 50 acres of 2,400 acre island, with the stated goal of maintaining as much habitat as possible for wildlife.
  

What an awesome surprise for your DM!! Looking forward to cruising vicariously through you!! :p

Looking forward to your live updates.

We will be sailing in Feb. Looking forward to your review.

What an awesome surprise for your DM!! Looking forward to cruising vicariously through you!! :p

She loved the surprise and is excited to go on a cruise vs. Disney. The conversation started out something like this: "About next week, we are not going to Disney. We are going on a cruise, you better start packing." :-)

The last cruise she went on there were 6 of us in our group with 3 rooms, think she likes the idea of it just being the two of us like her first cruise. Whilst she had a great time on her last cruise I think she was a bit overwhelmed with to many people in our group.

If I didn't take her on a cruise she'd never get to experience such things as she'd never go about it in her own. I'm glad to have the ability to take her on a cruise.

Few more hours of work then this weeks vacation can begin! I'm ready to board the ship.

Thanks all for following along. Shall be a fun cruise adventure.

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Have a wonderful, fun time!!

I followed your last adventure and I am looking forward to your next! Thanks for taking the time....

Yeah! I was wondering what the Ecstasy was like, deciding on which ship to go on in May.

LOL, it's your turn to surprise someone a day before you cruise! Feels great doesn't it? :)

Will be waiting for more.....have a great time....

Happy Sailing,

Hope you have a really great cruise.

Have a great cruise! Look forward to following along. :)

subscribed and ready to enjoy your adventure while i get ready for mine :)

Will enjoy following your latest adventure.

If you can, please let us know what the platinum gift is? I will be on her 12/8.

Thanks

Would love to read your review , but alas , I will not be able to , I will be on the ship as well ,,,,, Hope you have a great time as well :D

We were on her a few weeks ago and had a very enjoyable cruise. If you're doing anytime dining enjoy Jooooooooooooooseph....your suuuper-charged Matre D. He's nuts but fun....every evening the lights lower and he says "Its showtime". Have a great cruise!!!

Mr. Fun In The Sun, I enjoyed your last trip review but now this just isn't fair. I will be working this week, enduring wind, rain and possibly snow this week, and have almost three months until my next cruise :mad:

LOL Have a great time :D I will try to check in from time to time to see how it's going!

Would love to read your review , but alas , I will not be able to , I will be on the ship as well ,,,,, Hope you have a great time as well :D

I loved your last review (I was on the Sensation two weeks later), but will miss the "live" posts because I am also headed to the Port of Tampa this morning, to board the Jewel of the Seas. Looking forward to catching the review in the car on the way home on Saturday :)

Good Afternoon...

Welcome to day one on the Carnival Ecstasy!

Left Tampa around 845 making on the highway around 910 after a brief stop at Publix, where shopping is a pleasure.

Arrived at Port Canaveral right at 11am. The guy at the parking garage said go right after paying, I went left. I didn't want to park outside but in the garage. Found a spot conveniently on the 2nd level.

Carnival Miracle is one of our port mates today.

Breezed through VIP check in and on the ship by 11:30.

Our home the next 5 nights

Lovely Monarch of the seas is at port with us

Just like when I was on the Sensation a couple weeks back the doorway to the rooms had this sign.

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After proceeding right to our room and unpacking a few things we headed right up to the lido deck for some food and enjoy the beautiful Florida day. We've got clear skies and it's in the high 70's. Big difference from when I said out of here on November 8th.

Today's Fun Times

Platinum pin

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We haven't even sailed and we have lines at guest services already. Don't these folks realize they are on vacation and need to chill. :-)

Room service menu

VIFP drink coupon

Off to explore the ship some more and enjoy the next few hours at the serenity deck.

Till a later time, live from the Carnival Ecstasy...

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One thing I'd like to note is when I was on the Sensation a few weeks back we had live Island music playing on the lido deck, that's not the case here on the Ecstasy. The DJ is in full force on the lido deck much as when I was on the Freedom.

Shots around the ship

That's the outside parking area I was supposed to park in. Don't tell anyone

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Carnival Miracle

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I just want you to know how jealous I am of you right now. Ecstasy was my first and I'd kill to be on her (or any ship) right now. Have a great time! Only 201 days until I sail away on the Triumph. :D I'm not counting or anything.