Ecstasy Review 1/3/11 with lots of pictures

[Rosethorn40]

Thank you for sharing your pictures. I leave tomorrow IF I can get out of Reagan National tomorrow at 6am. My flight today was cancelled (as were most east coast flights due to a major storm). I meeting my best friend from High School, who I haven't seen in over 15 years. This is her first cruise, my first time on Carnival.

[SweetpeaOne]

Nice review and pictures. Can't wait to read/see more.

[BMRSNR]

very nice review ... myself,wife and 3 boys will be going feb 28th ... sure wish we had chose that room tho !

 

thanks for the pics and information !

[okwriter]

Thank you for sharing your pictures. I leave tomorrow IF I can get out of Reagan National tomorrow at 6am. My flight today was cancelled (as were most east coast flights due to a major storm). I meeting my best friend from High School, who I haven't seen in over 15 years. This is her first cruise, my first time on Carnival.

 

Oh, my! Good luck with that!

[lisaland15]

Here are some of the platinum perks:

 

Platinum petit fours (delivered Elegant Night/2nd night on ship).

 

 

 

Platinum canapés (delivered 3rd night on ship).

 

 

 

The Platinum gift was the pen/paper set (delivered Elegant Night/2nd night on ship). I saw pictures of it before I left for the cruise. It's handy/cute enough, but smaller than I expected--about 4X5 in.

 

[lisaland15]

Our Progreso stop.

 

We did the $3 pp double-decker city bus tours. Well worth the money. It was only about 20 mins., but we got a good overview of the town. We sat on the first row at the top. When they say "duck", you duck! The power lines are very low. Our guide was easy to understand and very informative. He said you could rent a 4 bedroom house for about $200 a month.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

After that, we headed to the beach. I read a good review about a bar/restaurant called Buddy's along the main drag of the beach (the "Malecon" (currently the street is all torn up (very rocky) for renovations)). An American is the manager. We weren't too impressed. It seemed like they cared more about getting people to sit in their beach area than servicing the people who were actually there. The inside of the bar and their bathrooms were clean. We had a beef fajitas plate. Tasty enough. Their beach area was covered in several feet of seaweed. We only ventured out once and DD just played in the sand near our table. There were plenty of venders approaching you to sell their wares. Now, I have no problem with someone trying to earn a buck (we did buy a few souvenirs), but they were approaching us every 10 mins. and sometimes, the same person. It was a real turn off. We couldn't have an uninterrupted conversation. I did have a wonderful massage on the beach, though. $20 for 30 mins. Cost more than in the past--they get cheaper as the day goes on, but we weren't planning on staying much longer. We then stopped at Le Saint Bonnet for a free margarita and decided to have a little more to eat. We had a shrimp cerviches (yummy) and queso dip. Their restaurant and bathrooms were also clean. Next time, we'd probably go here.

 

 

 

 

 

 

[txchelle]

Enjoyed your information about Progresso! We leave the 31st and going to do the same thing yall posted. We have been already several times and did just did not want to do an excursion this time.

 

Do you catch the double decker bus where you get off the other bus that comes from the ship?

[Meyer2]

Thank you for sharing your pictures. I leave tomorrow IF I can get out of Reagan National tomorrow at 6am. My flight today was cancelled (as were most east coast flights due to a major storm). I meeting my best friend from High School, who I haven't seen in over 15 years. This is her first cruise, my first time on Carnival.

 

Good luck! Hope your already on your way out this way & headed for your cruise!

[Meyer2]

More great review & pictures. Thanks for the info & pics too of Progresso.

[lisaland15]

Enjoyed your information about Progresso! We leave the 31st and going to do the same thing yall posted. We have been already several times and did just did not want to do an excursion this time.

 

Do you catch the double decker bus where you get off the other bus that comes from the ship?

 

The free AutoProgreso shuttle takes you from the pier area to the downtown market area (too far to walk--at least 4 miles). The city tour bus is parked probably not more than 100 ft. from the drop off spot. I saw at least one other city tour bus.

 

Right across the street from the souvenir/goods shopping market (where you are dropped off) is a food/fruit/meat market (you can see some of it in the 3rd Progreso picture I posted). It's a wonderful slice-of-everyday-life to see. The fruit looked beautiful. And the meat/fish market--very different than in the US!

[Fabulouskristen]

Loving your review! Thanks for posting!

[lisaland15]

Our Cozumel stop (Puerto Maya pier).

 

The pier area has been built up very nice since Hurricane Wilma.

 

 

 

We've been to Cozumel a bunch of times and like going to Paradise Beach. $13 taxi ride for 4. We spent the day here. DS climbed on most of water toys. DD, being much younger, only went on a few on the them. We rented (refundable $20 or with picture ID (no ship's card or passport, though)) DD a life jacket and she was much more confident in the water and was ready to try things on her own. DH was even able to make it to the top of the "iceberg". The Long Island Iced Teas were tasty. The water in their new pool area was warm and inviting. Some of the lounge chairs around the pool are in seated in the water. Pretty neat!

 

 

 

 

 

 

We bought 2 1 liter bottles of kahlua for $19 in one of the pier shops. We stocked up on Sheridan's last Ecstasy CTN--all duty-free, 3% straight tax on top. :-)

[lisaland15]

Before the cruise, while looking for the travel clock (no clocks in the cabin), I found 7 drink coupons! I couldn't figure out why I would have had unused coupons...until I remembered my sister bought us some drink coupons for our December 2002 cruise. DD was born in August 2003. I remember being hesitant to drink on that cruise even though a pregnancy test at that time was negative. It was a nice surprise to find them. We used them on the Classic drinks to get the $5 casino match play coupon. Unfortunately, we weren't as lucky in the casino as finding the drink coupons.

 

The Fun Farwell Party was the last sea day at 5:00 pm. Free drinks were readily available (servers everywhere)--whiskey sours, regular martinis w/olive, manhattans, champagne, red wine, screwdrivers, blue margaritas (I think), and non-alcoholic fruit punch. Someone sitting with us ordered a beer and they brought it to her at no charge.

 

We did the" Your Time Dining" every night. We never had to wait to get a table. We were usually there between 5:45-6:00 pm. Service was fairly timely, with meals lasting about an hour and 15 mins. each night. DD was ready to get to Camp Carnival right after dessert!

 

Most schools in TX started back this week. DS said his counselor said there were 80 teens in the 15-17 (Club O2) age group. This current week only 28 teens in the 15-17 age group.

 

Some miscellaneous pictures on the ship:

 

Ecstasy next to the Triumph (the new ship coming to Galveston).

 

 

 

On the balcony.

 

 

 

A little corner off of the Grand Atrium on Deck 11 (kind of by Camp Carnival, 6-8 yr. olds area). We all liked the 3-D effect of the picture--we each took a turn in it!

 

 

 

A sombrero-wearing alien. DD really enjoyed Camp Carnival. She wanted to stay for all of the late night parties.

 

 

 

We really enjoyed the talent of this traveling MDR magician! He also performed for the kids at Camp Carnival. One night, he did mention he was performing somewhere on the ship.

 

 

 

No bungee cord needed for the balcony door!

 

 

 

We docked promptly at 8 am and the self-assisted debarkation was a breeze. With 2 adults and an almost 6 ft. teen, handling the luggage was pretty easy. We walked off the ship, through Customs, walked to the parking lot, and on the road by 9 am.

 

I hope you enjoyed the review!

[karenh1127]

Thanks for the review! We sail on the Ecstasy Monday!!!! I am wondering about the weather....temp. During the day onboard (after leaving Galveston) is it chilly or warm? What about the cabin at night? I keep laughing at the thought of us dressed in our winter clothes to go board a ship for a Caribbean cruise!!

[goldengirl1967]

We head out later this month... I too am curious about the weather, how long at sea till it gets warm? If we sail at 4:00 when we wake the next day will it be warm???? I'm goin crazy trying to figure out what to pack..

:confused:

[mfrost]

We sailed on the Ecstasy right after Thanksgiving this year when it was pretty chilly. By the next morning weather was fine at sea. Lots of people in shorts on the deck and in the pool.

[Meyer2]

Thanks so much for sharing your review & pictures! Enjoyed it all!

[crewsweeper]

lisaisland...great review. Wonderful picture. Congrats on a successful visit by the upsell fairy to the suite!:)

 

Le Saint Bonnett is certainly the better chose for food in Progresso along the malecon. I like how the yucatan dishes have french names because one of the owners is French. Buddies gets all the hype as does Flamingos sorta like M'Ville or CnCs in other ports.

[newtocruise11]

We went on the same Jan. 3rd cruise. It was in low to mid 50's when we boarded. Temperatures were probably low 60's next day, but it seemed windy most of the cruise. My wife was always cold due to wind. Made it impossible to play mini golf. I say bring a light coat/hoodie and you should be fine. Also cabins are pretty cold. Once in Mexico it is warm and sunny as long as no storms are in area.

[lisaland15]

We head out later this month... I too am curious about the weather, how long at sea till it gets warm? If we sail at 4:00 when we wake the next day will it be warm???? I'm goin crazy trying to figure out what to pack..

:confused:

 

I found it's chilly when we leave (and return to) Galveston and sometimes a little chilly the first/last sea day when cruising around this time.

 

One year, I forgot to pack warm clothes to wear once we got back to Galveston (I should have checked the weather forecast). It was nice when we left. My son was in shorts and a t-shirt and it was in the 50's or 60's. Oops!

[summergal]

It was great. I hope I get on her one more time before she leaves Galveston.

[Peachie1]

Thanks for a great review! I love the "E", and I am going to miss her when she leaves. You took some grand pictures, thank you..

 

Peaches

[truchattycathy]

Great review and I love the pics. Thanks!

[navybaby1113]

Thanks for the review! Loved the pictures.

[cruisedarling]

Thank you soo much for taking the time to write this wonderful review!! I must say though, I am sad it didn't last just a bit longer. I was really enjoying it :p