Ecstasy Nov. 18, 2006 - LONG Review!

We just got off the Ecstasy. There were 6 of us (2 families). We had a great time! This is our second cruise on the Ecstasy this year, but my first review. I’ll try to do a day by day review and see if I can remember everything. It’s going to be long! Here goes:

Saturday: Embarkation

We left Louisiana for the 5 hour drive to Galveston around 7:00 Saturday morning. We arrived at the Port of Galveston around 11:30 and were on the ship by Noon. Embarkation was a breeze. We dropped off our carry-ons in our rooms on the Empress deck - forward (E12, E14, and E20). Our room steward was Pornchai. He came up to us immediately and greeted us. He was a great steward. We saw him all of the time, which was a first for us. Our sail and sign cards had a dinner time we did not want, so we talked to the Maitre d’ and he changed our seating time for us. We then headed to the Lido buffet. The food was pretty good, although it had cooled down by the time we got there. No big deal, though. After lunch, we played a round of mini golf. It was a great time to play because the course was not busy and it was not yet windy. After mini golf, we went back to the room and our luggage was already outside our doors. We unpacked our bags, then got ready for the Welcome Aboard show. We met our cruise director, Stuart Dunn. He was wonderful!! He’s the best CD we’ve ever had. The singers and dancers performed for a bit, then the guest comedian, Mark Hawkins came out and did stand up. We didn’t like this guy. He was way too spastic for our liking. After the show, we went to the late dinner seating. The food was great. The menu was a little different from the menu back in July, when we were last on. The change was nice. Our waiters were Anca from Romania and Jose from Peru. They were excellent!! After dinner we went to the Chinatown lounge and listened to “Lifeline”. They were our favorite band on the ship; great live music of all kinds. Then we called it a night.

Sunday: Day at Sea

We woke up around 9:30, skipped breakfast and went straight for the pizza. It was delicious. After “brunch” we went to lay out by the pool. It was very windy outside, which made it pretty cool on the deck, but we managed to get a little sun without freezing. We stayed by the pool most of the day. Tonight was the Captain’s Cocktail Party. Here is the time where you get all the free drinks you can drink: alcoholic or non. There were also hors d’oeuvres to snack on. After the Captain’s party, we went to dinner. It was once again very good. We skipped the show, Dream Voyage, tonight because we were exhausted. We’d already seen the show last time, so we weren’t too disappointed to be missing it.

Monday: Cozumel

We woke up at 7:00 and went to breakfast in the formal dining room. The experience is so much more laid back and not so much of the rush of the buffet. We docked in Cozumel around 8:45 or 9:00. We arrived late because of the high winds. We got off of the ship around 9:45 and headed to the beach. We did not book an excursion, we just read about Playa Uvas on the boards and thought it sounded great. The cost to get on the beach was $7 and that included one free drink. The water was too rough, so we could not snorkel or kayak. We did get in the water, though, and it felt great! The wind made it feel very cool, but the sun was out, so we laid out for a while. We had the beach all to ourselves for most of the time we were there. When we left the beach, we went downtown and looked around for a bit. We ate lunch at Poncho’s Backyard, and the food was magnificent. After we ate, we walked around a little more, bought a few souvenirs, and headed back to the ship. We were late sailing away, because one of the Carnival excursions was late back to the ship. The excursion went to the mainland by boat and couldn’t make it back across safely, because of the high winds. Finally the boat made it back to the ship and we sailed away. Dinner was good, once again. The show tonight was the talent show. All of the performers were really great. After the show, there was a disco under the stars. This is when we all started feeling sea sick. We stayed at the party for a while, then all went to bed miserable, because of the rocking ship.

Tuesday: Progreso

We woke up at 8:30 and went to the formal dining room again for breakfast. A couple of us were still feeling sick, but most of us felt much better. We docked in Progreso around 9:00, I think. We did not book an excursion here, either, but bought one at the pier when we got off of the ship. We were just going to go to Corona beach, but it was very windy again today and pretty chilly. We bought a pass to go to Merida, at city about 30 miles away. The tickets were much cheaper on the pier for the same excursion the ship offered. We shopped in Progreso for a while and took a $2 tour of the city. That was the best deal of the entire week. It was a great little tour of the town. At 12:30 we took a bus to Merida. The city was beautiful. There were all kinds of shops downtown and the architecture of the houses, cathedrals, and buildings was absolutely beautiful. We came back to the pier around 4:00 and shopped at the little shops around the pier. We ate lunch on the ship. Tonight was the Past Guest Party. There were free drinks and snacks again, but we were still feeling pretty yuck from the rough seas, so we didn’t really drink anything. Dinner was very good tonight. The show tonight was Extreme Country. This show was my favorite show from both of the cruises we took this year. The singers and dancers were great. After that, we went to bed.

Wednesday: Day at Sea

We slept in today. We ate pizza for lunch. It was too windy and cold to lay out today, so we stayed inside and went to the games in the Blue Safire lounge. We played Bingo and watched “Deal or No Deal”. We donated a few buck to the casino, then went to get ready for dinner. Dinner was great, as usual. There were two comedians at the show tonight: Al Jackson and Tony Stone. They were both pretty funny. Tony Stone lives on the ship, so we saw him last time. He was pretty funny, but he didn’t have any new material. We heard all of the same jokes that we’d heard in July. They were still funny, though. We were too tired to go to the late night comedy. We knew we’d be getting up early and making the trip back home, so we went to bed early.

Thursday: Debarkation

We decided to do the self-assist after our last cruise after not getting off the ship until about 11:30. We woke up this morning at 6, went to breakfast at 7, and were getting off of the ship at 5 ‘til 8. We made it through customs and were heading out of the parking lot by 8:30. We were surprised by the amount of people who were getting off by themselves, but the lines moved pretty fast, which made this the way to go!

We really enjoyed our cruise, even though it was windy and cool all week long. Like everybody always says, a bad day on a cruise is way better than a good day at work/school. I definitely believe that! I hope this LONG review helped some of your out. If you have any questions, feel free to ask, and I’ll be glad to answer them if I can.

Great review! Thank You

Thanks for taking the time to write a great review

cruisinstace,

I will be going on Ecstasy on Jan 27th with a DF. I sure hope the weather will be nice at the port of calls at that time of the year! :confused:....what were the temps in Cozumel and Progreso?

Also...what night was the Gala Midnight Buffet? Did you go to that? What was served...mainly desserts?

Concerning the 'Past Guest Party'...how did you find out about that? I have cruise Carnival before..so this will be my second cruise with them...and I don't want to miss that party. Do they send you an invitation to your cabin or will that info be something in the newsletter you will have to find and check out yourself? Can you bring a DF who has not been a past guest with you?

Can you tell us some of the main entrees served during the evening meal in the dinning room, since you stated they had changed since you last cruise. Did they serve Beef Wellington, Lobster Tails, Tiger Shrimp, Lobster Bisque, Pate, or Escargot?

:)Thanks in advance for you answers!:)

The weather was great in both Cozumel and Progreso. The wind was blowing pretty much all day in both ports, so it was pretty cool. When the wind wasn't blowing it felt great. Temperatures were in the mid- 70's.

The Grand Gala buffet was on Sunday night. I did not make it to the buffet, so I do not know what was there, sorry.

About the Past Guest party: We received invitations and Ecstasy lapel pins in our staterooms on Monday evening. I'm not sure about bringing a guest with you. I've read on this board that some allow a guest to the party and some do not. I do know that they took the invitations at the door when we walked into the lounge. There are 2 parties: one for early dinner seating and one for the late.

I can tell you what I had for dinner each night and try to remember some of the other things on the menu. I do not know the actual names of most of the dishes, so I'll just describe them the best that I can.

Saturday:Appetizer - Asparagus soup (delicious!), Salad- Caesar (this had a little too much dressing, but still good) , Entre - Fillet Mignon (Very good. I'm not much of a steak eater, but this was delicious), Desert - Cheesecake (yum!)

Sunday: Appetizer - Minestrone (pretty good), Salad - Caesar, Entre - Some type of spaghetti with a cream and bacon sauce (very rich, but good), Desert - Bitter and Blanc (one of my favorites)

Monday: Appetizer - Broccoli Cheddar Soup (my least favorite - there were too many stringy pieces of broccoli in the soup), Salad - Ceasar, Entre - Mahi Mahi (very good!), Desert - Apple pie with vanilla ice cream (pretty good)

Tuesday: Appetizer - Tomato soup (very good), Salad - California Green salad (very good), Entre - Pasta Marconis(?) (Delicious - this had scallops and shrimp in a tomato cream sauce), Desert - Grand Mariner souffle (pretty good)

Wednesday: Appetizer - Chicken quesadilla (New on the menu, very good), Salad - Lettuce, tomato, and cucumber salad (good), Entre - Grilled chicken breast over pasta with a mushroom cream sauce (One of my favorite entres), Desert - Baked Alaska (very good)

Some other appetizers were: won ton soup, navy bean soup, escargot, French onion soup, and any of the entre pastas could be brought as an appetizer. I do not remember lobster bisque or pate being on the menu. I cannot really remember many of the appetizers.

Other Salads: Caesar was offered every night. This was another change to the menu. Caesar salad was only offered one or two nights last time we went. There was also a wilted spinach salad, and an iceberg wedge salad.

Other Entres: Many different types of fish: Mahi Mahi, Red Snapper, Salmon, Talapia, Grouper. There was always a vegetarian dish: eggplant parmisian, vegetable enchilladas, grilled vegetables, and a couple I cannot remember. There was lobster on formal night and a different type of steak was offered every night. Beef Wellington was on the menu one night, as were Tiger shrimp.

Other Deserts: Tieremasue(don't know how to spell this one), different ice creams, cappacino pie, fruit plates, I cannot remember several of these

There was also an alternative menu that was offered every night. Some of the things on it were: New York Strip, Shrimp Scampi, Grilled Chicken Breast, Grilled Salmon, Tiger Shrimp ( I believe), Chocolate melting cake for desert. There were a few more items that I cannot remember.

I hope i answered all of your questions that I could.

The weather was great in both Cozumel and Progreso. The wind was blowing pretty much all day in both ports, so it was pretty cool. When the wind wasn't blowing it felt great. Temperatures were in the mid- 70's.

 

The Grand Gala buffet was on Sunday night. I did not make it to the buffet, so I do not know what was there, sorry.

 

About the Past Guest party: We received invitations and Ecstasy lapel pins in our staterooms on Monday evening. I'm not sure about bringing a guest with you. I've read on this board that some allow a guest to the party and some do not. I do know that they took the invitations at the door when we walked into the lounge. There are 2 parties: one for early dinner seating and one for the late.

 

I can tell you what I had for dinner each night and try to remember some of the other things on the menu. I do not know the actual names of most of the dishes, so I'll just describe them the best that I can.

Saturday:Appetizer - Asparagus soup (delicious!), Salad- Caesar (this had a little too much dressing, but still good) , Entre - Fillet Mignon (Very good. I'm not much of a steak eater, but this was delicious), Desert - Cheesecake (yum!)

Sunday: Appetizer - Minestrone (pretty good), Salad - Caesar, Entre - Some type of spaghetti with a cream and bacon sauce (very rich, but good), Desert - Bitter and Blanc (one of my favorites)

Monday: Appetizer - Broccoli Cheddar Soup (my least favorite - there were too many stringy pieces of broccoli in the soup), Salad - Ceasar, Entre - Mahi Mahi (very good!), Desert - Apple pie with vanilla ice cream (pretty good)

Tuesday: Appetizer - Tomato soup (very good), Salad - California Green salad (very good), Entre - Pasta Marconis(?) (Delicious - this had scallops and shrimp in a tomato cream sauce), Desert - Grand Mariner souffle (pretty good)

Wednesday: Appetizer - Chicken quesadilla (New on the menu, very good), Salad - Lettuce, tomato, and cucumber salad (good), Entre - Grilled chicken breast over pasta with a mushroom cream sauce (One of my favorite entres), Desert - Baked Alaska (very good)

 

Some other appetizers were: won ton soup, navy bean soup, escargot, French onion soup, and any of the entre pastas could be brought as an appetizer. I do not remember lobster bisque or pate being on the menu. I cannot really remember many of the appetizers.

Other Salads: Caesar was offered every night. This was another change to the menu. Caesar salad was only offered one or two nights last time we went. There was also a wilted spinach salad, and an iceberg wedge salad.

Other Entres: Many different types of fish: Mahi Mahi, Red Snapper, Salmon, Talapia, Grouper. There was always a vegetarian dish: eggplant parmisian, vegetable enchilladas, grilled vegetables, and a couple I cannot remember. There was lobster on formal night and a different type of steak was offered every night. Beef Wellington was on the menu one night, as were Tiger shrimp.

Other Deserts: Tieremasue(don't know how to spell this one), different ice creams, cappacino pie, fruit plates, I cannot remember several of these

 

There was also an alternative menu that was offered every night. Some of the things on it were: New York Strip, Shrimp Scampi, Grilled Chicken Breast, Grilled Salmon, Tiger Shrimp ( I believe), Chocolate melting cake for desert. There were a few more items that I cannot remember.

 

I hope i answered all of your questions that I could.

cruisinstace,

Thanks sooooooooooo much for your answers to my questions...it has helped me so much.

I am surprise that Carnival (as well as RCCL) have their Gala Midnight Buffet the same night as the Captains-Formal dinner. It would seem that it would be better on another night, when the main dinner menu would not be so elegant. Also, it would be better if it was planned to be held on a night with a day at sea the next morning instead of a port of call. That way it would not be so 'rough' to get up early after staying up so late for the midnight buffet. Sure wish TPTB would think about that more and change it to another night!

Sounds like the food choices were wonderful. I know I will most certainly find something wonderful on the menu to enjoy!

:)Thanks again!:)

We are on the ship for a 4 day trip (Dec. 21-25) .....how much was your trip to Merida, and how long did it last ? (our one stop is supposed to be Cozumel, but some of the 4 day trips have had some problems and went to Progresso instead )(have been to both places, so does not really matter to us.)

Also---does anyone know if they have the repeat guest party on a 4 night cruise ? (I am thinking not.)

Thanks -

Thank You for a very good review

We had Stuart Dunn as CD on the Fantasy in September. We really enjoyed him as cruise director.

:D Great Review! Sounds like you must have been part of Catfishhh's group. We are booked in E16 for our cruise. 14 days and counting. I can hardly wait. This is my 1st cruise and my BF 3rd. She says I am doing the great anxiety dance. LOL. :rolleyes:

Hope sees are not rough when we go but I know I will be able to handle it if they are.:eek:

.....how much was your trip to Merida, and how long did it last ? -

The trip to Merida cost $25 per person at the pier opposed to the $39 if you book it on the ship. The tour lasted about 3 1/2 hours, including the bus ride there and back. The tour guide gave us about an hour or so to shop in Progreso before the bus left to Merida.

Great Review! Sounds like you must have been part of Catfishhh's group.

No, we weren't part of Catfishhh's group, but it sounds like they had a great time, too!

We are booked in E16 for our cruise.

Like I said on the roll call, we really liked the location, except when the waves got really big. The empress deck is a great place to be. It's right in the middle of all the action, but being at the front of the ship, it's still nice and quiet.

It truly sounds like ya'll did have a gr8 time. I am so excited! I really think I am going to like the empress deck. and our room will be the first one without portholes on our side.

Was the trip to Merida strenuous? I am unable to walk for distances or climb.

sounds like something we ming be interested in

Was the trip to Merida strenuous? I am unable to walk for distances or climb.

sounds like something we ming be interested in

No, the trip to Merida was great. The bus ride was about 30 minutes, then they gave a small tour of the city while we were still on the bus. Then they let us off the bus downtown and gave us about an hour to look around by ourselves. You can do as little or as much walking as you please.

No, the trip to Merida was great. The bus ride was about 30 minutes, then they gave a small tour of the city while we were still on the bus. Then they let us off the bus downtown and gave us about an hour to look around by ourselves. You can do as little or as much walking as you please.

:confused:So is this bus you took on the excursion air conditioned? How large is it...more like a school bus, a shuttle bus or a tour bus?

:)Thanks!:)

:confused:So is this bus you took on the excursion air conditioned? How large is it...more like a school bus, a shuttle bus or a tour bus?

 

:)Thanks!:)

The bus to Merida was a tour bus. It was air conditioned and very nice. Our tour guide was very knowledgeable and spoke very clearly, unlike a lot of tour guides we've had before in foreign countries. We thought it was a very nice tour. Definitely worth $25.