Ecstasy Advice

[jgh1204]

Sailing in less than 2 weeks. This is my wife's and my 2nd cruise. Our first was the Conquest and now Ecstasy. My mom and sister-in-law are going for their 1st cruise.

 

Any advice would be appreciated. (I think the search feature is permanently down. :D )

 

If I remember correctly, Cozumel has a dock. How about Progreso? Dock or Tender?

[calicruise74]

I hope you enjoy the Ecstasy as much as we do..we have a soft spot for her as she was out first CCL cruise back when she was in LA in 2003, and then we sailed again from Galveston a couple years ago after some refurbishments were done.

 

You dock in Progreso and we took the all day tour to Chichen-Itza (incredible) and did beach time in Cozumel.

 

We like both the Fantasy class for its ease in maneuvering around the ship (and the familarity) and also like the larger ships for a bit more bells and whistles.

[Cuizer2]

Check to see where the ship is leaving from. The Port of Galveston is not ready for cruise ship passengers yet. The ship will most likely dock in Houston (Bayport).

[barbevrn]

Tip #1..........you willl LOVE her!

 

Yes, you will dock in Cozumel. We missed Progresso on BOTH my Ecstacy cruises. If I remember correctly Progresso does have a dock.........and itis like 5 miles long! But, they have busses to make the treck!

 

I've also heard they have $20 massages on the beach...........nice long ones, not those measley 10 minute ones..........

[Grits53]

First, and most important, is that the Ecstasy is NOT the Conquest. So don't go on board expecting everything to be the same. Comparing the two ships, I would consider the Ecstasy to be the "economy version". I know others absolutely love the Fantasy class ships, but I prefer the bigger ships. If any in your party are prone to motion sickness, please take plenty of meds for this. There will be more motion on this class ship than on the Conquest.

 

The shows, dining, games, casino, photographers, etc. are all similar to what you find on the Conquest. You can definitely have a great cruise on the Ecstasy.....as long as you don't have to battle seasickness like I did! :o In fact, if you 'll notice my signature, I have another one booked on the Ecstasy next spring. (I'll be wearing a prescription patch when I step on board this time!) One problem I did find with the shows is that the "balcony" seats in the main show lounge are not user friendly to short folks like me. (I'm 5'2") So if anyone in your party is short, you will do better to get there early and find a close up seat on the main floor.

 

Progreso is a port where I'd really advise you to take a Carnival excursion. There doesn't seem to be much to do in the town itself. We did the Carnival excursion to Uxmal Mayan ruins and LOVED it. In fact, we'll be doing it again next trip. If you go to the Progreso port of call board, you will find that Uxmal gets rave reviews and is preferred by many over the better known Chichen Itza. I suggest that you go to both the Cozumel and Progreso port of call boards to learn more about each port. Yes, the Ecstasy will dock at both. HAVE FUN!!!!

[barbevrn]

Grits is absolutely correct. You will feel more motion. Take some bonine/meclizine/antivert (same thing) every morning and its all good!

 

There are some areas of the ship that are not very crowded. I'll post a link from one of the ladies that was on my Feb cruise on the Ecstacy. She gives a lot of detail about things on the ship. I don't think you will have the fog issues that we did though.

[WestTxCruiser]

Grits is absolutely correct. You will feel more motion. Take some bonine/meclizine/antivert (same thing) every morning and its all good!

 

There are some areas of the ship that are not very crowded. I'll post a link from one of the ladies that was on my Feb cruise on the Ecstacy. She gives a lot of detail about things on the ship. I don't think you will have the fog issues that we did though.

??bet your talkin bout Lambie's review, am I right?

I gotta go back and re-read it, get myself ready for the Ecstasy in Feb.

I'm excited, we booked a Cat 12, just me and hubby this time.

I know it will be different from the Conquest, but I plan on loving it just as much!!!

[jgh1204]

Thanks for the advice. Luckily, I am not prone to sea sickness but I will warn the others in the party.

[barbevrn]

LOL, I forgot the link............

 

http://www.cruisecritic.com/memberreviews/memberreview.cfm?EntryID=38312

[wework2play]

We will be on the Ecstasy for the first time next Thursday the 25th. I will write a review when I get back. I am very prone to motion sickness, but I do believe the water is a more important factor than the ship. On our Conquest cruise we felt no motion, but the ocean looked like a sheet of glass out of our balcony and was almost still.

[want2cruiseagain]

We were on Ecstasy that sailed out in front of Ike. Took direct course south in front of the storm down to Veracruz. We did not feel anything until Friday AM -rocking motion. We were on Main deck. Did not feel any problem with motion sickness. Higher decks - you feel it. We never had any motion sickness. I think the lower you are, Riveria, or Main, you will feel less motion of the ship. Higher up, you will feel like you are drunk, but you are not, at 10 a.m. Interesting, to say the least.

[LHP]

Hope you have a great time.

 

Joey will be your karaoke host. He is WONDERFUL!!!

It is every night in the AFT lounge....

 

Pop in on Bob Style in the Piano Bar. (I hope he made it from Germany in time). This is his second contract with Carnival and seems like a very nice guy. Tell him musicalcruier said HI!!!

 

We enjoy the Fantasy class ships. We just sailed the Ecstasy earlier this month and had a blast!!!

[Momma2ruby]

Cant wait cant wait cant wait!!! We leave on the 13th on our 2nd Ecstasy cruise! This time we are cruising with my parents, hubby's co worker and spouse and our 4 yr old (who turns 5 in Progresso!)

 

I cant wait to get out there!!

 

What shows are currently going on? Same ones as last year???