Ecstasy-Only Thread! Ask questions and post info. here!

[firefly333]

Hi, I am a first time cruiser. We depart from Galveston, TX in May 2009, and are going on the Carnival Ecstasy. There are 9 of us going total, in 3 rooms. I am looking for any tips, information, or anything that could be helpful to us to have the best cruise possible. There are 4 kids ages 11-14. Please help! Please and thanks!

 

Have you had a chance to read thru the 52 pages of tips on Ecstasy yet? If you have specific info about any particular type of cabin or the ship or camp carnival let us know.

 

We were on Empress deck last time and loved the location, but Im sure there are lots of great locations. We always go to both of the singing and dancing type shows. The first one is country and is my favorite. The secon was more of a online scene and to me a little hard to follow, though I still enjoyed the singing and dancing. The deli has great reubans. Let us know exactly what it is you are wanting to know. Im sure someone here will know.

[GinnyJ]

Tagman,

Welcome to Cruise Critic!!

Our family loves the Ecstasy!

Tips? Get to the port around 10:30am and you will be on the Lido eating lunch around noon , make parking reservations with ezcruise parking in Galveston, bring lanyards so you can wear your "sail and sign" card and room key around your neck(less likely to loose them - a MUST for the kids - the casino will punch a hole for you) , bring a power strip as there is only one outlet in the cabin (blow dryer, curlers, flat iron, cell phone charger...)

 

In Cozumel, go to Paradise Beach. $10 for use of all water toys, great drinks and food. Just take a taxi. Very safe. Lots of fun..

http://www.paradise-beach-cozumel.com/

[SummerPerk]

Hi there! First time cruiser here! My sister invited my mom and I to join her family on Ecstasy this June. I posted on another thread, but then found this one! We originally wanted to get oceanview rooms next door, but they have a two year old and my sister is pregnant, and so she is wondering if they should put out the extra money for a suite simply for comforts sake. Is it worth the extra money and significantly bigger? The ones currently available are V2, V16, V26. Unfortunately, my mom and I can't afford a suite so we'll probably stay in a 6E room. Will this be really inconvenient to get to each others cabins? I'm really disappointed at the idea of not being next door, but also don't want them to feel cramped. With the little one and pregnancy tiredness, I suspect they will spend a bit of time in their room. Thank you for any input anyone has to offer~

 

I am very excited about going though! I'm glad to have found this thread--read a bunch of posts on it already and look forward to reading more!

[firefly333]

Anyone else get strong armed about the new balconies. I was 99.9% sure Ecstasy was getting balconies. I booked a cabin knowing it would be a balcony. I got a call from Revenue to call them back by 1 pm today or they would add $120 per person to my total fare for my cruise. My PVP said she couldnt stop them, nor could her supervisor.

 

IMO if you book a cabin, and Carnival agrees to the booking they cant say either pay more or we will move you to another cabin, but they did.

 

Someone on the Halloween Ecstasy cruise also said she had no choice, they made it clear.

[AllyGirl13]

Hi there! First time cruiser here! My sister invited my mom and I to join her family on Ecstasy this June. I posted on another thread, but then found this one! We originally wanted to get oceanview rooms next door, but they have a two year old and my sister is pregnant, and so she is wondering if they should put out the extra money for a suite simply for comforts sake. Is it worth the extra money and significantly bigger? The ones currently available are V2, V16, V26. Unfortunately, my mom and I can't afford a suite so we'll probably stay in a 6E room. Will this be really inconvenient to get to each others cabins? I'm really disappointed at the idea of not being next door, but also don't want them to feel cramped. With the little one and pregnancy tiredness, I suspect they will spend a bit of time in their room. Thank you for any input anyone has to offer~

 

I am very excited about going though! I'm glad to have found this thread--read a bunch of posts on it already and look forward to reading more!

 

We have been on this ship many times in all cabin categories. My opinion is that I would keep the money & not spend it for a suite on this ship. Waste of money. Take the ocean view & call it good. The 'suites' on the Veranda deck are about the same size as an OV. You can't even sit in the chair that is on the 'balcony'. The cat. 12 suites on the Upper deck are larger but still, I wouldn't spend the money for that. Bigger ship, sure but not on Ecstasy.

[GRRL]

Has anyone else experienced this? My husband & I are looking at a Feb. 2010 sailing & we want a balcony, but not a bunch of hassle. :confused:

[GRRL]

Anyone else get strong armed about the new balconies. I was 99.9% sure Ecstasy was getting balconies. I booked a cabin knowing it would be a balcony. I got a call from Revenue to call them back by 1 pm today or they would add $120 per person to my total fare for my cruise. My PVP said she couldnt stop them, nor could her supervisor.

 

IMO if you book a cabin, and Carnival agrees to the booking they cant say either pay more or we will move you to another cabin, but they did.

 

Someone on the Halloween Ecstasy cruise also said she had no choice, they made it clear.

 

Sorry, I meant to quote this post...anyone else eqperienced this? :(

[monroe2020]

See my Carnival Ecstacy specfic tips in the forum #766. A little dated but should still be relevant.

[Ship Addict]

Does anyone have any current 4-day Capers, menus, and Camp Carnival activities?

[kwbrad]

Does anyone have any current 4-day Capers, menus, and Camp Carnival activities?

Nope, sorry, but here are some older ones that might help ...

http://www.seauonboard.com/Ecstasy.htm (not my site, just one I have looked at before)

[flounder315]

go to carnival.com and look at the ecstasy deck plan, and it shows you "Deck plans for sailings before

October 17, 2009: Click Here

 

she is getting more balconies:D

[Ship Addict]

Nope, sorry, but here are some older ones that might help ...

http://www.seauonboard.com/Ecstasy.htm (not my site, just one I have looked at before)

 

Thanks kwbrad. These do help, but still hoping for something more current!

[kwbrad]

Thanks kwbrad. These do help, but still hoping for something more current!

 

 

I completely understand, and wish I could help you out. Unfortunately, the last time I was on was in May 08, so about as old as what is on the link. And you are sailing on her before my next trip, so no help there either. Hey, when you get back, can I see yours? :D

[tootsiebit]

Hopefully someone can answer this for me.....When we sailed on the Celebration in 2001 we went to Cozumel and Calica....While the ship docked in Calica we took a cab and went to PlayaDelCarmen...and while we were in Playa we saw a ferry come in and someone said that it was the ferry from Cozumel. Why I am wanting to know is when we sail the Ecstasy in Feb 2010...seeing as we have been to Cozumel several times...I would like to take the ferry over to Playa Del Carmen and spend my day there...I loved the beach and the quaintness of the little area....

How can we catch the ferry from Cozumel? And does it run back and forth all day? and how long of a ride are we looking at to get to Playa Del Carmen....people have told me it isn't far at all and no one seems to know how much the ferry costs to ride...

Anyway if there is by some chance, someone out that has the answers to some of these questions...I would greatly appreciate any answers...LOL

 

Thanks,

Tootsie

[Ship Addict]

Here is a link for the Cozumel Ferry site:

 

http://www.travelyucatan.com/cozumel_ferry.php

[tootsiebit]

Hey Thanks a lot Ship Addict....I appreciate your response.....:)

[Texaslandshark]

go to carnival.com and look at the ecstasy deck plan, and it shows you "Deck plans for sailings before

October 17, 2009: Click Here

 

she is getting more balconies:D

I sure hope so 'cause we've been booked into one for next April for the past couple of months.;)

[kwbrad]

I sure hope so 'cause we've been booked into one for next April for the past couple of months.;)

 

Did you have to do a BL guarantee? Or are they letting you pick staterooms that far out? We are taking the first 4dayer in October after the dry dock, and I was thinking about upgrading to a balcony, but they just have guarantees available, and I don't want on Main deck. I wish they would open up regular room bookings for the balconies, so I could choose a room instead!

[kwbrad]

Did you have to do a BL guarantee? Or are they letting you pick staterooms that far out? We are taking the first 4dayer in October after the dry dock, and I was thinking about upgrading to a balcony, but they just have guarantees available, and I don't want on Main deck. I wish they would open up regular room bookings for the balconies, so I could choose a room instead!

 

Oops, I meant Empress Deck (I don't want to end up under the show lounge or resturants)

[tootsiebit]

I was told by my PVP that they won't open up cabins until after dry dock...they are just doing Bal. Guarantees now....Can't make up our minds which way to go.....May just stick with first instincts and go with a interior...it would be the first for us, but hey the money saved can go on fun things in port or onboard...LOL:D

[kwbrad]

I was told by my PVP that they won't open up cabins until after dry dock...they are just doing Bal. Guarantees now....Can't make up our minds which way to go.....May just stick with first instincts and go with a interior...it would be the first for us, but hey the money saved can go on fun things in port or onboard...LOL:D

 

We have a porthole room (used to be a 5A, now a 4C) which we had last time and loved. If they could tell me they would give me a balcony on Upper or Main and not Empress I would get it in a heartbeat, I just really do not want under the resturants or the theater. One night I went to bed early because I wasnt feeling well and the noise from the theater was loud, and that was 2 floors above us. I cannot imagine the noise with the resturant or theater just 1 floor above! :eek:

[Texaslandshark]

Did you have to do a BL guarantee? Or are they letting you pick staterooms that far out? We are taking the first 4dayer in October after the dry dock, and I was thinking about upgrading to a balcony, but they just have guarantees available, and I don't want on Main deck. I wish they would open up regular room bookings for the balconies, so I could choose a room instead!

Guarantee only for now. It's $599. pp at the moment. We were in an oceanview on the Empress deck last year and it was great. No noises

close to stairs....It was 178 as I recall.

My only complaint is that there is no sofa in these cabins like the Conquest. Other than that, the color scheme is a lot easier on the eyes than the Conquest's orange/pink Circus-Circus motif.

[kwbrad]

Guarantee only for now. It's $599. pp at the moment. We were in an oceanview on the Empress deck last year and it was great. No noises

close to stairs....It was 178 as I recall.

My only complaint is that there is no sofa in these cabins like the Conquest. Other than that, the color scheme is a lot easier on the eyes than the Conquest's orange/pink Circus-Circus motif.

 

I have not been on the Conquest yet, but would love to. Hopefully soon!

After hearing about the decor on most Carnival ships, and seeing the neon on the Ecstasy, I was pleasantly surprised by how tame the rooms seemed. :)

 

Hmm, I may have to rethink the balcony guarantee then, if noises are not really an issue. time to do some searching around for reviews with rooms on Empress deck. ;)

[KenveeB]

Hey all, I'm brand-new to the board and looking forward to sailing on the Ecstasy in November! I'm going with a big group of friends (over 20 of us!), and we're all looking forward to having a blast. I can't wait to wade through all the pages of tips about this ship. :)

[aeroot621]

Cant wait to leave for my first cruise August 22!!! Whats even better is that its all paid for thanks to my graduation gift! These forums are becoming addicting :)