ANYONE BEEN ON OR GOING ON THE ECSTACY SOON?......COMMENTS?

[horsewhisperer55]

Would love any information on this cruise ship and its ports of call.....Catlina and Ensenada...Thanks

 

 

 

 

[kajsb]

I've been on the Ecstasy twice and will be going again on 6/28. I've done the 3 day and the 4 day. Obiously, I've loved the cruises or I would not be going back again.

 

Each time, I have gotten a category 11 cabin with a balcony. I don't think I could cruise without a balcony now. I like the balcony to sit on in the early morning to relax and have breakfast and again in the evening. It gives you a place to escape from any noise or commotion.

 

I love Catalina. Being a SoCal girl all my life, I've been to Catalina many times, so I did not discover anything new, but it's still a nice trip.

 

Ensenada is a nice place to visit once (IMHO) but after that, I opt out to stay on the ship.

 

The entertainment was great, the food fantastic and the service we had was everything that I had hoped for.

 

If you have any specific questions, let me know, and I'll do my best to answer.

 

Kathy

 

 

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

 

06/28/04 Ecstasy-

Mom's 80th birthday surprise!!

 

Ecstasy 09/13/02

Ecstasy 05/26/03

 

 

[merlot]

I am sailing on the Ecstasy in 2 weeks. I'll post a review when I get home. I'm very excited.

 

I agree tho, Ensenada is nice ONCE. We plan to stay on the ship this time.

 

Carnival Holiday 10/00

Majesty of the Seas 05/03

Carnival Ecstasy 05/04

 

Carnival Ecstasy

[cuppy]

I did the 4-night cruise last May and had a blast. I have pictures from this cruise on my link below.

 

We took an outside guarnatee and ended up with a cabin on deck 6 past the photo area near the staircase going to the resteraunt.

 

We didn't do any tours in Catalina, we chose to walk around and enjoy the quietness of the ship.

 

In Ensanada we did the wine vineyard tour. My hubby is a collector so I thought he would enjoy it. They took us to two different vineyards, and we had samplings at both. The second vineyard offered a lot more wines, plus everyone got a free bottle of wine. They also had other liquors to buy there.

 

On the way back to the ship the tour stops in the shopping area and gave us an hour to shop. You could get off there and walk back or take a cab back to town. We chose to shop the hour then meet the bus. I have been to Cozumel, Cancun, and Playa Del Carmen several times - found Ensanada to be very pushy with people trying to hustle items. Tons of kids were trying to sell you things or asking for money. It was too much for me.

 

If I went back to Ensanada I would go to the Blow hole this time. People told us you could get the tour once you got off the ship for 1/3 the price the ship had it at, and it came with a lunch.

 

View my photos at

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

 

Voyager of Seas - Canada

 

Jewel of Seas

 

Navigator of Seas

 

RCCL Explorer of the Seas 1-3-04

RCCL Majesty of the Seas 10-27-03

Carnival Ecstasy 5-26-03

NCL Sky 5-19-02

[kajsb]

cuppy,

 

We were on the same Ecstasy cruise as you last year. We had a room with a balcony on the Verandah deck.

 

We didn't do any tours in California, but we are both California people so it was nothing new. We did walk to the casino, which was a much longer walk than I expected. Especially since I have to use a walker. After we were done with the walk, we went back to the ship and relaxed with the piece and quiet.

 

My first trip on the Ecstasy, we got a tour on our own in town to La Bufadora. It was a great tour and included lunch. We didh't take advantage of the lunch because I was with my elderly mother on this cruise. She was insistent that we eat all meals in the dining room.

 

Last year, we booked the tour through the Carnival. This time I was traveling with a friend. It did cost more and did NOT include a lunch, instead we got a small margarita. The first tour was definitely better. The trip to La Bofadora is nice but after two trips, I be staying on the ship this time.

 

Kathy

 

 

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

 

06/28/04 Ecstasy-

Mom's 80th birthday surprise!!

 

Ecstasy 09/13/02

Ecstasy 05/26/03

 

 

[horsewhisperer55]

Thanks for the info......any other comments?

 

 

 

 

[cruisinthree]

We were on Ecstacy a few years ago for a 4-day Caribbean cruise and loved her. She's one of Carnival's "older" ships but she was beautiful and clean. I'd sail on her again, anytime!

 

The Big Red Boat Oct.1991

Carnival Ecstasy Apr. 1998

RCL Sovereign of the Seas 2000

Carnival Imagination Apr. 2004

TILL IMAGINATION, APRIL 3, 2004!!!!!

 

 

[CruisingGirl]

We sailed on her back in 2000 for our 5 year anniversary. The itinerary was different then it is now. We sailed to Key West then Playa Del Carmen then to Cozumel. We had a great time. It was also our first cruise.

 

Ecstasy 6/00

5 year Anniversary

 

Fantasy 10/01

DM 50th Birthday and

My 31st Birthday

 

Fascination 6/04

DH 40th Birthday Surprise

[candigirl41]

I was on this cruise two years ago and I am going again on May 24. Can't wait.

 

Candi

 

 

[horsewhisperer55]

Hi Candi

 

I will be on the Ecstacy on May 24....traveling solo. Are you traveling alone or with a group? Where are you from? See you are also from Calif. Am from Orange Co.....so not to long of a drive to the ship. Have been on the Ecstacy a couple of times before......love the ship.......the ports are not so exciting......haha. Would love to hear of your plans for the cruise.....

 

Kent :cool

 

 

 

 

[Best of]

I just came home on 4/30/04. I have made this same trip on other cruis lines before. The ports are fun, and are interesting if you get away from the main shops. The wine tour is great, and also the "blowhole" is beautiful. Now the BAD news. The ECSTACY was the worst I have been on, and I have been on 11 cruises. The food was terrible in the main dining room for all three meals. The food on the Lido deck was so minimal in quanity and quality that they just should not have bothered. I did NOT hear one positive thing from anyone on that trip. All I can say is pack snacks or you will be like we were buying them in port. You can get room service, cold food only, but at least it was ok. A quick note on the decor, at night on the Lideo deck they do a blue neon which makes everyone and everything unappealing in color. Also the main atrium at night is so dark.

[CruiseFever]

We did the E a couple years ago for a spring break cruise and it was lots of fun. We especially enjoyed Catalina Island. Ensenada we did all wrong, choosing to walk off the ship and walk around the town. Wise fellow passengers booked the wine country tour and had a blast

 

At the time I remember it was the best food we'd ever had at sea.

 

Happy Cruising

 

Chris

 

www.LifeIsCruising.com

 

Next up:

Caribbean Princess 06/26/04

Star Princess 10/24/04

Diamond Princess 12/22/04

Carnival Miracle 03/13/05

 

[candigirl41]

Horsewhisperer, Will be with my 15 year old daughter her 16 year old friend and her Mom. This is our second cruise on this route. Probably won't do much in ports as it is pretty routine. I heard the wine tour is good, but don't think anyone else in my group would enjoy, friend doesn't drink it and kids too young. This will be my 8th cruise and daughters 7th. If you want to e-mail me my address is Candigirl41@aol.com

 

Candi

 

 

[candigirl41]

Kent, where in O.C. are you from? I grew up in Anaheim. I now live in the Inland Empire.

 

Candi

 

 

[kajsb]

I find it hard to believe that the food has changed that much. I went on this cruise in 2002 and 2003 and it was fantastic, much better than I ever expected. Our service was the best, too.

 

Kathy

 

 

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

 

06/28/04 Ecstasy-

Mom's 80th birthday surprise!!

 

Ecstasy 09/13/02

Ecstasy 05/26/03

 

 

[horsewhisperer55]

Candi.....you have mail.......

 

 

 

 

[horsewhisperer55]

Bump to the top

 

 

 

 

[candigirl41]

Kent...........You have mail

 

 

[Best of]

I just got back on 4/30/04. I have been on 11 cruises. This was my first Carnival. I will say the entertainment was enjoyable. Our cabin seward was also very good. Our waiter at night was friendly, but here is the bad news--I have never had such poor quality, quanity and availability of food on a ship before. I heard more complaints, and saw more food being returned in the dining room than I ever had. The Lido buffet was poor at best. We did use room service (no hot food) that was ok.

Catalina was fun. I have been there before so we did the trip to the top of the island, to the airport. We saw bisen on the way, and it was relaxing. In Ensanda we took the tour to see the "Blow Hole" there are only three in the world. It was pretty to see, and of course there are a million of small stands selling anything you want.

[horsewhisperer55]

"Best of".......are you sure you don't work for Norwegian Cruise Lines? Have been on the Ecstasy a couple of times and the food was excellent.