4 Day Ecstasy - Need Good & Bad

[Ship Dude]

I am planning on taking Family of 4 on the 4 day Ecstasy out of Los Angeles - Please help...

 

The good, the bad and the ugly -

 

The ship? Is it too old?

The food?

The kids program (ages 7 and 4.5)?

The other cruisers?

 

Anyone been in an outside view room with 2 adults and 2 kids - how is the room set up?

 

I would really appreciate the help.. Thanks in advance.

 

"its been a lovely cruise" J.B.

 

Golden Princess 1/04; Star Princess 11/02; Sun Princess 5/97; Crown Princess 6/92; Princess Carla 9/69.

[kajsb]

I've been on both the 3 and 4 day cruises on the Ecstasy. I was very pleased both times. In fact, I'm going on a 4 day again in June. Being a local port, it's easy and less expensive to get away on these cruises.

 

The first one was the 3 day cruise that is most often referred to as the "booze cruise". I took my mother who was 78 yrs at the time. We had a demi suite on the verandah level with a balcony. It was fine for the two of us but I'm not sure how it would be when you add two kids. The balcony does add a lot. When one of us was getting ready, the other would often relax on the balcony. The room comes with one king size bed (not two twins put together) and a sleeper sofa. There is no room to add a roll away. I had a similar room on the second cruise that I shared with a friend. He still complains that the room was too small. LOL

 

On both cruises, I loved the ship and all it had to offer. The service was great, the food was excellent, the passengers were met were nice and the entertainment was enjoyable.

 

Ensenada is Ensenada and just okay. We went to La Bufadora, a blow hole about an hours ride away. It was a nice visit, but if you seen it once there is no need to go back. We were back early to the ship on both occassions. I did notice a lot of passengers who stayed in town to the last minute- it was evident that they had been partying in town.

 

When I'm going in June, I'm taking my Mom again-this time for her 80th birthday. Due to time constraints and the fact that she can not fly anywhere over an hour, we doing the cruise again. We just won't get off at the ports. I've also got us a category 12 room so that she can relax even more on the balcony.

 

I say give it a try. Obviously, I've enjoyed the trip enough to repeat it. We were lucky and never encountered problems with passengers just out to enjoy a booze cruise. Since I've never traveled with kids, I can't help you there.

 

Kathy

 

 

 

05/30/04 Carnival Pride cruise & the wraparound balcony

 

 

06/28/04 Ecstasy- Category 12 suite

Mom's 80th birthday surprise!!

 

 

Ecstasy 09/13/02

Ecstasy 05/26/03

 

 

[kajsb]

Try this link to take a look at the rooms.

 

 

http://www.cruisesonly.com/c/cruiseline.asp?lineid=1

 

Kathy

 

 

 

05/30/04 Carnival Pride cruise & the wraparound balcony

 

 

06/28/04 Ecstasy- Category 12 suite

Mom's 80th birthday surprise!!

 

 

Ecstasy 09/13/02

Ecstasy 05/26/03

 

 

[NikkiFer]

Are you sailing on the Ecstacy or the Paradise?

 

We did the Ecstacy and thought it was great!

 

We loved Ensenada! We just went shopping and grabbed some lunch, my husband found a great deal on a leather vest.

 

In Catalina we did the glass bottom tour, this was nice. Next time we are going to just rent a golf cart and tour the island ourselves. I think the golf carts rent for about $30 an hour.

 

The food was wonderful, no complaints there!

 

We actually took my sister who is in a wheelchair and shared an outside cabin. So we had three people and two (yep TWO) wheelchairs, and while it wasn't the most comfortable, it worked for us.

 

All in all, we will probably book again for the 4 day cruise, especially since the Paradise will be coming

 

Nikki

(O.A.T.C. & Proud of it!)

 

<marquee direction=right width=45%>Mariner of the Seas 09-19-04!</marquee>

Carnival Miracle 02-13-05!

 

 

Triumph 09/08/01, Holiday 04/17/02, Inspiration 01/19/03, Triumph 05/10/03, Ecstacy 09/15/03, Conquest CONQUESTADORS!! 01/11/04

 

Check out my pictures!

http://community.webshots.com/user/nikkifer

 

[Ship Dude]

Let's get real - come on what is the real scoop here. The good,the bad and the ugly -

 

How does the room set up for 4?

 

"its been a lovely cruise" J.B.

 

Golden Princess 1/04; Star Princess 11/02; Sun Princess 5/97; Crown Princess 6/92; Princess Carla 9/69.

[kajsb]

Hey, I had no complaints about my 3 and 4 day cruises on the Ecstasy. I loved every aspect and every moment. Hey, I going for a third time on 06/28. Four people in the room? I personal would find it overcrowded but that doesn't mean that you can't make a great trip out of it.

 

Kathy

 

 

 

05/30/04 Carnival Pride cruise & the wraparound balcony

 

 

06/28/04 Ecstasy- Category 12 suite

Mom's 80th birthday surprise!!

 

 

Ecstasy 09/13/02

Ecstasy 05/26/03

 

 

[dien2cruize]

Did Ecstasy two years ago. We put five in an inside room with no problems. Two twin beds, two fold down from the wall and, one roll away. Your setup should be the same without the rollaway.

 

We had a great time. We enjoyed all of the food. Dining room and lido deck. Did not get to any of the shows. I thought the ship was just fine. I had no idea she is thirteen?! Can not comment personally on Camp Carnival but my girlfriend's two kids both loved it. They were 5 and 7 years old. My kids just wanted to hang with us and that was fine since it was a family trip anyway.

 

We thought all of our fellow passengers were great. Had a great time with some of them in the kareoke bar a few times. We went during spring break and never encountered any problems at all.

 

Hope this helps. If you need anything else do not hesitate to ask.

 

BTW, when are you sailing? The Paradise will be taking over Ecstasy's run in September and she is a newer ship. Will be sailing her in Nov.

 

Happy Cruizin'

Linda

 

Paradise 11/29/04 Inlaws 50th wedding anniversary

Pride 5/29/05 Daughter's Sweet 16

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[Guest]

We got back a couple of weeks ago from the 3-day on the Ecstasy -the staff really worked hard at trying to please. Our waitperson was Monika - and she was an absolute delight. There were 9 in our group (in 4 different rooms); some of the rooms didn't get the Carnival Capers (although we didn't have that problem). Generally, thought the food was good and the ship clean. The system for dis-embarking was really inefficient, although it was hard to tell if that was the fault of Carnival or US Customs. Some of our group had very low expectations because of what they had heard about Carnival - I think all were pleasantly surprised.

[dsclark]

Bad:

Ship interior is just ugly ! Gaudy like a casino from the 60's. Worn in areas, especially the carpets. I went on the Elation twice and although they are the same family, Elation is waaay nicer looking.

 

Ports- Catalina is ok, Ensenada is a pit. It's like Tijuana without the urine smell.

 

Good- Excellent food. compared to my trip on the RCL Explorer last summer, the Ecstacy was a huge step up. Lobster, beef, etc. I could go on and on here...

Service- good room service, excellent dining room service.

 

Entertainment- I was disappointed with some of it. The comedian did the SAME jokes he did when I saw him six years on the elation!Don't miss Billy Armstrong, the fiddler- he is great.

 

Room- I have had the four person outside room. It has fold down bunks. These are nice- you can see the sea from your pillow. I had no problems with the beds.

 

Camp Carnival- My daughter liked it when she was there. Her favorite was the dance class done by a ship dancer

 

If price is right, a good deal. For $603 for the both of us for four nights, it was a bargain.I'd go again.

[MrsPinkMonkey]

dien2cruize,

Can you give an update about the Paradise when you get back? DH and I are going on the Paradise at the end of Oct.

Thanks!

 

Til' our First Cruise!

[GinaDucey]

I took the 3 day Ecstasy last May and I will be honest with you the ship was in great shape - But I will never do this trip again - the three day is a major party crowd and actually that is not what bothered me - it was the rudness to the ship workers that bugged the heck out of me. Please no offense to anyone here - however I cannot image anyone here being rude to the workers.

 

But I was surprised how they were treated.

 

The food was wonderful - I had a great time in the casino and found one really great slot machine! Entertainment was nice and I treated myself to the spa and LOVED it.

 

I cannot tell you anything about Ensenada - as I did not get off the ship at all. I felt over all the ship was in great condition when I thought back to the first time I had been on her. I would do a four day in a heart beat but not a three out of LA.

 

Fantasy 11/91

Ecstasy 1/98

Fascination 11/99

Paradise 2/00

Imagination 4/02

Ecstasy 5/03

Paradise 10/03

Sovereign of the Seas 4/04

 

 

Till we leave on the Sovereign

 

 

 

 

[Ship Dude]

Thanks for all the great reviews. I'm ready to book it. Anyone else going 8/23-8/27?

 

"its been a lovely cruise" J.B.

 

Golden Princess 1/04; Star Princess 11/02; Sun Princess 5/97; Crown Princess 6/92; Princess Carla 9/69.

[kajsb]

Ship Dude,

 

I'm on the Ecstasy before you- 6/28 to 7/02. I will be taking LOTS of pictures. If you would like, send me your E-mail address and I will be sure to pass on pictures to you to take a look at before your cruise. I'm sure you will love the cruise.

 

Kathy

 

 

 

05/30/04 Carnival Pride cruise & the wraparound balcony

 

 

06/28/04 Ecstasy- Category 12 suite

Mom's 80th birthday surprise!!

 

 

Ecstasy 09/13/02

Ecstasy 05/26/03

 

 

[dien2cruize]

Mrs.PinkMonkey,

 

I would be HAPPY to give you a review except I will be sailing Paradise after you-going the end of November-so would appreciate YOUR review for me upon return. Pictures will be accepted as well. Thank you so much.

 

Shipdude...

 

Have a great time. We truly enjoyed our cruise on Ecstasy. Made my non-believer husband into a cruise junkie. We now have TWO booked!!!!

 

Happy Cruizin'

Linda

 

Paradise 11/29/04 Inlaws 50th wedding anniversary

Pride 5/29/05 Daughter's Sweet 16

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