Ecstasy Review 8-26 to 8-30

[maxbroadway]

I've always thought I was the type of traveler who wouldn't enjoy a cruise. In particular for this trip I would be going solo which doesn't really fit the cruise culture. Plus, I don't drink which seems unusual as well. Boy was I wrong. I loved my cruise and hope to go on another soon.

 

I decided to go from Galveston to save the expense and hassle of a flight. I also decided not to do a full 7 day itinerary just in case I really didn't like it. I chose the 4-day trip with Cozumel as the only port because the dates fit with an event at work. It turns out the event was cancelled, and I really wish I could have done the 5-day that includes Progresso, but such is life.

 

I'll give a detailed review, but I'll apologize in advance for not having pictures.

 

So here we go, Embarkation Day...

 

I live just outside Houston, and it was a short hour and fifteen minute drive to Galveston. I had pre-paid online for Lighthouse Parking. I pulled into their lot at 11:00 and got right on the shuttle. Their drop-off at the terminal is the farthest from the door, but the porters were right on hand to take the luggage, so it wasn't really a problem. I walked right through security and the check-in area with no lines at all. I was seated in the boarding area by 11:20. At about 11:40 we started boarding, and by noon I was eating my Reuben sandwich from the deli. The Reuben was as good as I expected having read about it on CC, but I was surprised they didn't have chips to go with the sandwiches.

 

The Ecstasy has lovely areas to eat outside behind the pizza/deli that many people miss. I was glad I found them right away. These areas overlook the Serenity deck where I would spend a lot of time, so I was glad to find it as well.

 

Having finished lunch, I started exploring the ship. The Excursions desk opened at 12:30, so I headed down there to pay for the Discover Mexico excursion and the Behind the Fun tour. The Carnival staff person manning the desk said he couldn't book the Behind the Fun tour while they were in port, but he could take down my name and room number and send the ticket along later. I found this odd, but it didn't inconvenience me at all since he did exactly as promised.

 

I explored a bit more and then made my way to the dining room at 1:00 to sign up for the Chef's Table with the Maitre' D. Since rooms aren't available until 1:30, I wandered a bit more and even spent a few minutes sitting on the Serenity deck.

 

I made my way to my room, Riviera 216, right at 1:30. I quickly threw down my carryon and headed up to meet the 2:00 ship's tour (the free one). The tour was fine, but I had already found just about every place it went on my own. I'm still glad I went because as a solo traveler I think it's important to find some group activities just to get some interaction. Plus, they showed us the gym which was the one place I hadn't found on my own. I would recommend the tour for folks who aren't obsessive about reading everything they can about the ship in advance of their cruise.

 

I went back to the room to relax a bit before the 3:30 muster drill, and my luggage had arrived. I had not covered my luggage tags with clear tape like so many people recommend, and they barely survived. Next time, I'll do the tape. The muster drill was painless and wrapped up just after 4:00. I headed up to the Sun Deck for our departure. I liked being up on this level because you could walk to any side of the ship easily. I dropped by the Metro Bar at 4:45 for trivia and won a Ship-in-a-Stick.

 

I had the 6:00 seating for dinner. They didn't open the doors to the dining room until the stroke of 6:00 which made for quite a crowded area out front. By the 2nd night we figured out to get there a couple of minutes past 6:00 to miss the crowd. I was at a table for 11 with 5 pairs of women. I think the table was really meant for 10, and they just squeezed me in as a solo passenger because we were quite cramped. It wasn't too big of a problem, though, because there was only one night when all 11 people showed up.

 

I had the Ceasar salad, pork chop, and chocolate melting cake. The Caesar salad was the only bad thing I ate on the whole cruise. It simply had no flavor. The pork chop was quite good and came with several tasty side dishes. The melting cake wasn't quite as good as I had expected, but I think it was just my particular portion because it seemed to be slightly overcooked.

 

After dinner I went to the opening show in the Blue Sapphire lounge. It consisted of about 15 minutes from the singers and dancers and a 15-minute set from comedian John Floyd. In between the Cruise Director, Steve Cassel, gave an overview of other entertainment planned for the cruise. John Floyd was quite funny, and, as it turns out, looked somewhat like me. Over the length of the cruise I had at least 8 people come up to me thinking I was John.

 

I spent some time in the casino on the way back to the room and was pretty disappointed. I don't go in expecting to win, but I hope to at least win a few little things to get to play a while. I didn't see any tables with less than a $5 minimum, and they were typically full.

[*Mach*]

Thanks for a great beginning to your review.

I'm looking forward to the rest. The impressions of a first time cruise, a solo at that, are very important.

You're doing a super job. Keep it up...

:)

- Mach

[maxbroadway]

Day 2 - Sea Day

 

Woke up to rain this morning which looked kind of cool through the window but was a bummer up on deck. The Riviera deck is the lowest passenger deck and 216 is an oceanview room near the elevators that empty right into the middle of the Lido buffet. The room would be a bit tight with 3 people, but it was perfectly fine for 1.

 

Based on many recommendations here, I headed to the MDR for breakfast. I wholeheartedly recommend it now as well. I ate there 3 of the 4 mornings of the cruise. On this day I had the eggs benedict which was excellent.

 

The rain put a damper on my plans to sit outside and read, so I headed to bingo. I didn't win, but it was kind of fun to try. Right after bingo the Cruise Director gave a talk on "Fun Aboard and Ashore". I wasn't terribly interested, but I stayed since I was already there and knew the weather was poor. The talk was basically a sales pitch for any number of ways you could spend money with Carnival or its affiliates, but it also included some explanation of what would happen when we pulled into port. A more detailed talk was held later specifically about shopping, but I didn't go to it since I'm not a shopper. All these talks are replayed on the TV in your room in case you miss them.

 

By now the weather was better so I headed to the Serenity deck. There is a section in the shade which is where I spent most of my time. It is really a wonderful area. The only time it was less than perfect was when the couple next to me decided to smoke and when they had the music turned up so loud that it overpowered my own iPod. It turns out the area is non-smoking, but I didn't realize it, so perhaps the smoking couple didn't either.

 

I grabbed a burger at the Lido grill for lunch. Others have commented that this area can have long lines at peak times, but I never saw that happen. I have also read comments that it is not the most organized area in terms of service, and I definitely witnessed that. They probably need a little more training for the guy taking the orders. They also need someone with strong English skills in that spot because it is hard to hear which makes it hard for non-native English speakers to make out what people are telling them. These were minor annoyances at worst, though. The burger itself was quite good.

 

I spent the afternoon on the Serenity deck with a short respite in the lounge for trivia. After that I headed to the gym for a bike ride. Riding the stationary bike was the only time I felt the motion of the ship. I don't know if it was the pedaling motion or the location of the gym, but I definitely felt something. The gym is fairly small but perfectly adequate since the longest cruise is only 5 days.

 

Back to Serenity for a while and then off to Elegant Night. I've read comments that many people grossly under-dress for this night, but I didn't see that. It was a lovely evening. I had the strawberry soup which was really a winner and the prime rib which was good. I've had better at steakhouses, but for a restaurant serving hundreds simultaneously it was quite respectable. For dessert I had the bitter and blanc which was outstanding.

 

After dinner I went to the Extreme Country show. I made the mistake of sitting in the upper level. The sight-lines are not good at all up there, but the seats are comfortable. The show itself was solid. I go to a lot of top-quality professional theatre, and the Ecstasy shows don't meet that standard, but I didn't really expect them to. The CD, Steve Cassel, is really a highlight of the show with his fiddle playing. The show is about 45 minutes.

 

I tried to get a seat in the Starlight Lounge to see John Floyd's "r-rated" show, but it was packed, so I spent a little more time in the casino then went to bed.

[JRock59]

Keep it coming I love to hear that a "newbie" enjoyed my favorite ship! :)

 

Funny story about the Strawberry soup............when we sailed in May there was a full table of 10 ladies close to us and you could tell they had never Cruised. So one of the 20-something ladies ordered this soup (she was the only one at the table that did) it came the waiter set the bowl with one single strawberry in it in front of her and walked away. The look on her face was priceless.........but when he poured in the soup a few minutes later I thought she was going to laugh herself under the table. It was one of those 1st time Cruiser moments that you remember and I bet she'll always remember it!

[maxbroadway]

It took me a second to realize they would pour the soup too even though I had seen several other people with a similar dish. It is a nice touch that they try to make the presentation special.

 

Anyway, on to Day 3 - Cozumel

 

This was the one day I had breakfast in the Lido buffet because I wanted to be able to pick a good view as we pulled into port. The food was pretty typical breakfast buffet fare. Perfectly fine, but not as nice as the cooked to order items in the MDR. I finished before we docked and went up on the sports deck to watch the final maneuvers. I highly recommend doing this if you've never been to Cozumel because you get a wonderful view since the ship is higher than anything on the island.

 

As I mentioned at the top, I picked this cruise for the departure port and dates, so Cozumel was not really a factor. I'm not much of a beach goer, snorkeler, or scuba diver, and those seem to be the main attractions. I had booked the Discover Mexico excursion which didn't leave until 10:00, so I didn't have to rush to get off the ship. I made a very smart move and walked to the elevator that went all the way down to deck 3 where you exit the ship. By taking this elevator I was deposited ahead of all the people who had to take the stairs because they used an elevator that stopped at deck 4.

 

There are actually 3 excursions that include Discover Mexico. The one I took was $20.00 and includes only Discover Mexico itself. The two others add in either Chanakanab Park or VIP Shopping. I met our guide, Carlos, right at the end of the pier, and there were only 2 other people in my group. It was a short walk to the shuttle van followed by a very short drive to the park. The taxi stand is very well organized and appeared well-regulated as well. I had read that before but was still leery about heading off on my own.

 

We spent about 90 minutes at Discover Mexico. It includes a brief video introduction, a small art gallery, and a large outdoor area with scale models of many important architectural sites around the country. Carlos walked us through the entire site and gave excellent explanations and commentary. I don't think you get a guide if you just show up at the park and pay your own admission, but they do have everything labeled pretty well. I would not have gotten nearly as much out of the visit without a guide though.

 

After the visit, Carlos called a cab to take me back to the ship and then escorted the other folks on to Chanakanab. Another larger group came in behind us, and I think they were the ones who were doing the VIP shopping afterwards. Otherwise, the place was basically empty. We were the only ship in port that day.

 

I walked around the shopping area at the dock briefly and then got back on board around noon. I did lunch in the Lido buffet. Each day for lunch one side of the buffet has a menu from a particular country, and this day it was Indian food. I'm a big fan of Indian food, and the offerings on this day were solid. Again, not as good as cooked-to-order but definitely respectable.

 

I spent the afternoon on the Serenity deck. It was really wonderful since there were only 2 or 3 other people out there. My main goal on this trip was to relax and this afternoon definitely fit the bill.

 

Tonight was the Chef's Table which was to start at 6:30. We met in the lobby bar and then headed to the galley for Champaign, hors d'oeuvres, and a quick tour. There were 14 of us total, 6 couples, another solo person, and myself. We moved from the galley to the Explorer's Library which had been set up for the dinner. It was quite lovely. We all had name cards at our seats along with personalized menus. The night before the chef visits you at dinner to ask if you have any preferences or special needs, and one of the folks had a slightly different menu based on this visit.

 

We had 6 courses in the Library. After each was served the chef would explain what we had. The whole experience lasted until about 10:30. I don't think it was really meant to last quite that long, but I guess they were running slow that night. I think normally it's about 2.5 hours.

 

I thoroughly enjoyed it, but I will comment that it is probably much more suited to couples. In fact, I wonder if they would have still let me come if they had not had another single to "match" with me. The other thing to know is that your enjoyment will be impacted by whoever else signs up for the event. One of the couples at the dinner was pretty obnoxious. They certainly didn't ruin the night, but I would have enjoyed it more without them. The ideal to me would be to book this event if you're on the cruise with a group of family or friends and you can take up all the slots available. That would be pretty special. The dinner costs $75 which includes the drinks.

[okwriter]

Excellent information so far! Thanks!

[dane225]

Fabulous review so far!! I just love reading a review from a first time cruiser it reminds me of my first cruise.

[dane225]

Keep it coming I love to hear that a "newbie" enjoyed my favorite ship! :)

 

Funny story about the Strawberry soup............when we sailed in May there was a full table of 10 ladies close to us and you could tell they had never Cruised. So one of the 20-something ladies ordered this soup (she was the only one at the table that did) it came the waiter set the bowl with one single strawberry in it in front of her and walked away. The look on her face was priceless.........but when he poured in the soup a few minutes later I thought she was going to laugh herself under the table. It was one of those 1st time Cruiser moments that you remember and I bet she'll always remember it!

Funny I did the exact same thing the first time I ordered the Strawberry soup. I thought this is it!! :D

[Meyer2]

Great review!

[jburk]

<<

I made my way to my room, Riviera 216, right at 1:30. I quickly threw down my carryon and headed up to meet the 2:00 ship's tour (the free one).>>

 

We are first time cruisers sailing the Ecstacy on 10/25. Question - is there another tour of the ship that is not free? Seems silly to charge people for a tour...unless it's a behind the scenes kind of thing.

 

~j

[doe326]

Great review on my favorite ship. We're headed off to cruise #3 on the Ecstasy on Nov. 8, which will also be our 10th with Carnival.:D

[LambKnuckles]

I have friends taking the next 4 night cruise on her... This Thursday and I've been sending lots of info on the cruise. They are first time cruisers, with a niece turning 21 during the cruise... I'll copy your review and send it along too!

 

I'm lovin it and reliving the 4 day cruise I took Dec 2008. I'll be back on the Ecstasy in Feb... and I'm lookin forward to her!!!! :)

[maxbroadway]

<<

We are first time cruisers sailing the Ecstacy on 10/25. Question - is there another tour of the ship that is not free? Seems silly to charge people for a tour...unless it's a behind the scenes kind of thing.

 

~j

 

As a matter of fact there is, and it's the main thing I did on Day 4. See below for more.

 

Before I get to Day 4, I should add that the $75 for the Chef's Table includes a very nice group photo with the chef and an autographed Carnival cookbook.

 

Day 4 - Sea Day

 

The main activity for me on Day 4 was the "Behind the Fun" tour. It costs $55, and you book through the Excursions desk. I think they limit it to 16 people, but our group was about 12. Some of their literature says there is a minimum age of 15 (or maybe 13), but it seems they have lowered it because some other things said 8. I think a lot of pre-teens, especially boys, would really enjoy it.

 

The tour starts at 9:00 and lasts about 2.5 hours. It starts with the backstage of the main lounge and then moves to the galley. The galley portion of the tour was actually more extensive than the one included with the Chef's Table. After that you spend quite a bit of time on the lower decks of the ship where they do the laundry, store all the food, and control the engines. At each stop a staff member, usually the person in charge of the area, gives you a little explanation of how they work. Having these folks explain things really adds to the tour and gives you a real picture of the diverse group of people working on board and the vast number of jobs they do. The final major stop on the tour is the bridge where you get to meet the captain and hear about how they maneuver the ship.

 

The cost of the tour includes a group photo with the captain, a souvenir hat, and a plate of chocolate dipped strawberries delivered to your cabin. You see one of the cooks making them in the galley, but they say you can't eat in there due to health regulations. What you end up getting is a really lovely treat much nicer than what you might nibble on in the galley.

 

I can't recommend this tour enough. If you are at all interested in how things work or even how companies train and manage large numbers of employees, you will not regret taking it.

 

Lunch was another Reuben sandwich from the deli. This was the only time I had any trouble finding a seat in the buffet area, but I did find one without too much waiting. One result of the 6:00 seating for dinner is that I never wanted to each much lunch, so I didn't try a lot of the lunch items. Most of the buffet selections seems kind of heavy for lunch, but I imagine the folks with a later seating or who skip dinner in the MDR altogether need that type of lunch. The rotisserie chicken really looked good, and I kind of regret not trying it, but like I said, it seemed a little heavy for lunch for me. The Mongolian also looked good and seemed popular. I felt a little unsure about it, though, since the food sits out in the open air kind of like a salad bar. I'm sure it's fine, but it turned me off a little, and there were so many other options that I didn't give it another thought.

 

In the afternoon I spent more time on the Serenity deck. It was relaxing but pretty hot. The problem with sitting in the shaded part is that you don't get the ocean breeze. They have a few lounge chairs out in the open with big umbrellas, but they were taken. I wish the Ecstasy had some places with lounge chairs in the shade. Of course, I was cruising at the hottest part of the year, so this may not be an issue most of the time.

 

I went to bingo at 3:00 which was followed by a drawing for a free cruise at 3:45. I didn't win either one, but it was still fun to participate. After that another trip to the gym and some more time on Serenity before a quick shower before dinner.

 

This was the only dinner where all 11 of us actually showed up, and it was a bit cramped, but definitely not a big problem. I had the crab cake and Indian vegetarian sampler dinner. Both were fine but not particularly special. If you've never had Indian food, this would probably not be the best thing to start with since it was a bit of a mixed bag, but it had one of my favorites, so I didn't really care how the rest of it went. I had the baked Alaska for dessert. It was fine, but I really should have gone for something else because it's mostly ice cream, and I had had ice cream each afternoon in the buffet as a snack.

 

I have not mentioned the dinner service so far, but it was excellent. The only real problem was that we were right by the station where the waiters take all the dirty dishes so we had lots of clanging noise. I've read people discussing the nightly singing/dancing of the waiters. I have mixed feelings about it. Part of me found it kind of demeaning for the staff, but then many of them including our main waiter seemed to really embrace that part of their job. I certainly wouldn't feel cheated if I cruise Carnival again and they don't do it, but it won't keep me from choosing Carnival again either.

 

After dinner I went to the main show which was called Dreams something. It was a mixture of songs from different decades. I was really surprised to find a medley from Dreamgirls in the show. I thought they would stick to familiar fare, but having some lesser-known musical theatre was a pleasant surprise. I didn't think this show was quite as strong as Extreme Country, but it probably appeals to a wider audience since it had multiple styles of music.

 

I wanted to finish the night by seeing the stand-up comedian whose name I have totally forgotten. The first show wasn't until 11:00, so I killed a little time and money in the casino before making my way to the Starlighter (liner?) lounge. They do Karaoke until 10:45, so the lounge is pretty full all evening. I just took a seat at the bar, and got the only drink I paid for on the whole cruise, a non-alcoholic version of the Kiss on the Lips. This was one of the few times where being solo was a bit awkward. The lounge seating is set up for groups, and it's not easy to just walk up to a group and take a seat in the extra space on their "couch". For a 35 minute comedy routine sitting on a bar stool wasn't a big deal, but I did like how the other lounge had more traditional theater seating in sections. It was also half empty for the shows I went to so it was easy to just sit alone for the show.

 

The comedian was quite good although the folks I talked to seemed to think the first one was even funnier. I think Carnival is really onto something with their new emphasis on stand-up comedians because they can rotate them around very easily unlike the expensive production shows.

[chays99]

Great review.

 

We were on the Ecstasy last month. We spent a lot of time on the Serenity deck. It was very hot, but if we were there without one of the umbrellas, we would jump in the shower and then let the breeze cool us off.

 

We did the Chef's Table too. Ours lasted until 10:00 or 10:30 as well. I really enjoyed that night. Part of our group was obnoxious as well, but we made the most of it.

[TSUmom]

Thank you for the review. I will be on the Ecstasy in Feb and love reading as much as possible about the ship I will be on!! :D I am new to Carnival so I am absorbing info like a sponge in water and your review was full of information. Thank you for taking the time to post:)

[cruising_kenboy]

Great review!! I was on her in May and had a great time, I would not hesitate to go again.

[BirmanCrazy]

Very much enjoyed your review! Thanks!!!!! Looking forward to the Ecstasy on the 18th! I love the whole "avoid the airport" thing! There's much to be said for sailing out of Galveston! Hey, about parking. You used Lighthouse. Why did you choose it? Is it cheaper? Looking for parking places. I've heard of there being a place across from the peir that's a parking garage. You can walk to it instead of waiting for a shuttle. Have you heard of it? Want the easiest/ quickest option!

[syh0365]

We are first time cruisers sailing on the Ecstasy Sept 27th. We booked one of the 8M Aft Balcony cabins and are looking forward to a new experience, and our first vacation without children. Does anyone know if the noise level and vibration are too much?

 

Thanks for any comments!

[maxbroadway]

Hey, about parking. You used Lighthouse. Why did you choose it? Is it cheaper? Looking for parking places. I've heard of there being a place across from the peir that's a parking garage. You can walk to it instead of waiting for a shuttle. Have you heard of it? Want the easiest/ quickest option!

 

I wasn't totally scientific in choosing a parking lot, but it was one area where being solo came into play. I wanted a place that would transport me and my luggage together. Some of what I read online said you needed to drop off your fellow travelers and your luggage at the terminal and then park. Since I didn't have anyone to drop off with my luggage, I couldn't do that. Now that I've been to the terminal, I realize there really isn't an issue because I could have pulled up, given my luggage directly to a porter, and then gone on to park, but I didn't realize that when planning.

 

I read good reviews of several parking lots, and I think I ultimately chose Lighthouse because I read about it first, and it just stuck in my head. I did see the garage across from the pier, and it looked very convenient. I think it does cost a little more since it's enclosed. I don't remember the name, but I'm sure someone will chime in with it.

[maxbroadway]

Day 5 - Back in Galveston

 

I've read multiple bad reports about debarkation in Galveston, and I'm pleased to report that I had a very different experience.

 

We pulled into port about 7:30 as expected. I had just finished breakfast in the MDR and headed up on deck to watch the final docking maneuvers. This reminds me to mention that breakfast in the MDR is different hours each day depending on what's happening that day. On the sea days they didn't open until 8:00, and one day I was up earlier than that. If this happens to you, head up to the Lido buffet for your coffee or orange juice first. You can enjoy that in the fresh morning air outside and then head to the MDR to eat.

 

I chose self-assist debarkation which means you carry every piece of luggage with you. The other option is to put your luggage outside your door by midnight with tags they give you. The crew collects your luggage and then takes it ashore. After you walk off the ship, you locate your luggage and then take it through customs. The advantage of this option is that you don't have to juggle luggage in a crowd. You are also the last to leave the ship which makes for a more relaxing and, dare I say it, civilized end to your trip. The major disadvantage to me is that you have to be packed up the night before. I just couldn't pull that off, so my choice was easy.

 

The self-assist was scheduled to start at 8:30, but they started a few minutes late. They call you by deck with a new deck being called every 10 minutes or so. They really want you out of your cabin while all this is happening, so there are designated waiting areas around the ship. I was in the main lounge since it was closest to the gangway. My deck was last and was called right on time at 9:30. It was very crowded moving toward the gangway because all the waiting areas are on a different level, so everyone had to negotiate the stairs with luggage. The line moved well, though, and the staff did a good job of letting everyone know what to do.

 

I think I stepped off the ship about 9:40. You work you way down some ramps that empty into a large customs hall. Luckily, I had read about the customs process on CC and knew to ask for a porter. You ask the Carnival staff member for a porter, and she directs you where to go. The porters have a separate line through customs, and it goes much faster. I think I waited about 10 minutes while others were in a line with hundreds of other people. Plus, the porter could watch my bags while I made a restroom stop. This is another one of those non-trivial concerns when you travel solo and have to keep track of all your own bags.

 

We headed off to the Lighthouse shuttle, and I think I was loaded up and on the road by about 10:00.

 

Overall, I thoroughly enjoyed my cruise. I think my biggest surprise is that I rarely felt like I was traveling with a mass of 2000 people. When I went to trivia the first day, there were 10 people there. At the Chef's Table they had a close-up magician come in to perform some tricks for us. The next day I saw him performing in the bar for a small group. There were many things like this that made for a much more personal experience than I expected going in.

 

I also think cruising is a great way to travel solo. It certainly felt safer, and being able to sit with other folks at dinner is a nice thing. Most solo travel has you eating alone at every meal and is especially awkward if you want to eat in a nice place. I wish they could find a way to make their business model work without charging me double though.

 

I think that's it until the next cruise.

[Stircrzy]

Excellent review of my favorite Carnival ship...I'm cruising on her for the 13th time in a few weeks!...and first time solo!

[okwriter]

We pulled into port about 7:30 as expected. I had just finished breakfast in the MDR and headed up on deck to watch the final docking maneuvers. This reminds me to mention that breakfast in the MDR is different hours each day depending on what's happening that day. On the sea days they didn't open until 8:00, and one day I was up earlier than that. If this happens to you, head up to the Lido buffet for your coffee or orange juice first. You can enjoy that in the fresh morning air outside and then head to the MDR to eat.

 

Dang! 8:00 seems late to me... but I'm an early riser!

 

Thanks for a great review!

[jaycat]

I notice on the last night you went to an 11pm show, what time did you place your luggage outside for the porter to pick up on last night?

Thanks for the reply

[maxbroadway]

I notice on the last night you went to an 11pm show, what time did you place your luggage outside for the porter to pick up on last night?

Thanks for the reply

 

That was one of the reasons I went with the self-assist debarkation. I wasn't in the room long enough to pack and get my bag(s) out on time. It looked like more people did the self-assist than not, and I imagine this is a primary reason.

[whaletaillover]

Thanks for the great review of the Ecstasy. That ship was our 1st cruise and we are sailing on her again in Oct.