Anyone recently been on Fantasy or Ecstasy?

I know these are old smaller ships but we are looking at the Fantasy or Ecstasy because of lower cost and specific week of vacation. I know these have recently been dry docked and would love to hear from anyone who's been on either of these since the recent dry dock. The Fantasy appears to have better reviews but the Ecstasy goes to half moon cay and thought private island might be nice for the kids. We have only been on one carnival ship, we were on the sensation 3 years ago. So hopefully since we don't have a big new ship to compare it to, maybe we won't be to disappointed! Also,this will be the kids first cruise. Thanks for any input.

Me and the family have our QST cruised booked on the Ecstasy on April 29th. I have been following a thread on here about the drydock and some one just got off and was talking about it. Here is the link hope it helps some. http://boards.cruisecritic.com/showthread.php?t=2420804

Ecstasy Dry Dock

I have been on both within the last three years. They both are pretty much the exact same. Just some minor differences. I would cruise on either one again.

I hope you get some more replies. Like you, we are currently looking at Fantasy and Ecstasy. Pretty reasonably priced during our high-schoolers' Spring Break, plus a 5-nighter leaves us plenty of travel time, since we would drive to the port. We have never been to one of the private islands, and Half Moon Cay sounds very appealing.

I have had the pleasure of enjoying both ships within less than a year on both.

I must say I love the Dream class but the Fantasy class ships still have plenty to offer the new cruiser.

With saying that with the exception of Fantasy ,the comedy clubs are larger on Fantasy class ships enabling a more comfortable atmosphere without feeling packed like other classes of Carnivals line. The Fantasy itself has only a half portion reduction in the comedy club. It gets congested in there at peak times.

The no no's I dislike would be a small Serenity area along with people wondering through the comedy club to reach Serenity.. Bad designing in my opinion.

Food is subjective, i find the salad bars to be much better on the Fantasy class ships than any other Carnival class ships. Can you have fun > sure you can .

I got off the Ecstasy today. I also sailed on the Fantasy back in 2010. Both ships are pretty similar in terms of layout, size, and age.

The ships are small, but Charleston isn't a big port. I live here, and we walked off the ship at 8 AM and walked into our front door before 9 AM, including getting through customs, shuttling back to the parking area, and driving home. Convenience has been the big selling factor for us, but I think it would make a good first cruise. Most of the Ecstasy Charleston cruises are only five days (ours was 7) and the smaller ship might be better for children.

I've been to Half Moon Cay as well as Coco Cay, Royal's private island. Half Moon Cay is gorgeous and the port we were most excited about on this cruise (other ports were Grand Turk and Amber Cove). It is the better beach, and Carnival provides lunch for you on the island.

Some areas of the Ecstasy felt crowded, but most did not. I feel like that's subjective depending on who is on your cruise with the age demographics as well as the port nights. Some shows were more crowded than others- the comedy club had far more seats on port days than sea days. Also, the first night of our cruise was a bit choppy- I've never seen so few people at dinner on the first night. You can definitely feel the ship move especially as you sail to/from Charleston. It's not as bad out in the Caribbean, though.

If you have any other Ecstasy or Charleston questions, just ask!

!

Rumor has it that the Sunshine will be there for a year in 2019. You didn't hear that from me :D

I love the Fantasy-class ships. I have 58 nights on them, most on Fantasy when she was in Charleston. Sailed Ecstasy 8/30 (wrote a review).

I'm not a "beach person" but HMC is paradise. Really. I'll be back there is just under 2 weeks on a HAL cruise.

Princess Cays was nice, but not as nice. Still, I wouldn't have any problem booking another sailing from Charleston (on whatever ship) and returning there, but HMC would be my #1 pick of private islands.

Not everyone wants the newest, biggest, and (typically) more-expensive ships. For a shorter cruise, I'm absolutely fine with a Fantasy-class ship.

Rumor has it that the Sunshine will be there for a year in 2019. You didn't hear that from me

If true I then we are booking it! Sailed Sunshine twice in 2016 from Charleston. Would love to have her here for an entire year instead of just a couple of cruises. Far better than Fantasy-class ships.

Personally I like the Ecstasy better than the Sunshine. Ditto for the Fantasy, though I like the Ecstasy's larger rear lounge and Alchemy bar.

There are more lounges on the Ecstasy, plus a dedicated nightclub. On the Sunshine there aren't (they took the space for the dedicated lounges and nightclub and turned them into cabins).

The Ecstasy gets more smoky than the Sunshine around the Casino, but it's not a huge difference. I still leave the Casino smelling like an ashtray no matter which ship I'm on.

If the Sunshine repositions to Charleston, well that's good news for Charleston, but I'd honestly prefer a smaller vessel at that port - considering it's really the only port that I can easily drive to. But obviously I'm not the only person that uses that port so I realize it's a good decision for Charleston and Carnival to put the Sunshine there for a year.

Charleston could support a much larger cruise industry than the locals are willing to give it, in my opinion. It could be as big as Galveston if they'd only give it a chance.

We just got off Fantasy. Had a great trip. The ship does show age in places but was very well maintained over all. The crew were wonderful, and the CD Mikey was amazing. You mentioned it was your kids first trip? Not sure the age you are referring to, but I hope this helps- We didn't sail with children, but the pool was on the smaller side and deep, and there is only one. There were 2 hot tubs on lido and 2 additional (adult only) hot tubs on serenity. There was Putt-Putt and water slides that were never overly busy. And of course there are kids programs available.

We did a family cruise on the Ecstasy in March 2017. There were 21 of us, ranging from 18months to 63 years old. I like the smaller ships. there was enough there to keep the kids, preteens and teenagers entertained. We LOVED Half Moon Cay. Favorite day of the cruise. I wouldn't hesitate to sail on her again.

Charleston could support a much larger cruise industry than the locals are willing to give it, in my opinion. It could be as big as Galveston if they'd only give it a chance.

Most of the Charleston locals are fine with the cruise ships and would like a bigger ship or an additional ship. The people who don't want to give it a chance are mainly South-of-Broaders who are vocal and political about it. They even have anti-Carnival flags hanging from their porches.

We locals love cruises, and you can't beat having a port in your city. Most everyone I talked to on my cruise last week also spent some time in Charleston before or after the cruise because they love our city and being able to drive to the port. Our cruise had tons of people from SC, NC, and Georgia.

Most of the Charleston locals are fine with the cruise ships and would like a bigger ship or an additional ship. The people who don't want to give it a chance are mainly South-of-Broaders who are vocal and political about it. They even have anti-Carnival flags hanging from their porches.

 

We locals love cruises, and you can't beat having a port in your city. Most everyone I talked to on my cruise last week also spent some time in Charleston before or after the cruise because they love our city and being able to drive to the port. Our cruise had tons of people from SC, NC, and Georgia.

As with everything in politics, the most powerful are the ones that make the decisions. The mayor is for the new terminal, as are most of the city politicians I'm sure, but the ones who can afford to throw endless lawsuits at the problem (as you said, the South of Broaders) are the ones with all the power in this situation. The interesting thing is it's not their decision - that's state-owned land, so it doesn't really matter what the city property owners or even city council thinks about it frankly. It's so funny because Charleston has ALWAYS been a city with a heavy shipping industry, going back to the 1600's - and pleasure cruises are just another sector of that industry. It's historically correct to have a ship docked right off Meeting Street.

I want the new terminal built yesterday, as do most locals. It will happen one day. The other major power in politics - new tax $$$ - is too strong a motivator to allow the lawsuits to go on for much longer. I hear there's a court date coming in February for one of the last remaining lawsuits so construction may start within the next year or so.

We just got off Fantasy. Had a great trip. The ship does show age in places but was very well maintained over all. The crew were wonderful, and the CD Mikey was amazing. You mentioned it was your kids first trip? Not sure the age you are referring to, but I hope this helps- We didn't sail with children, but the pool was on the smaller side and deep, and there is only one. There were 2 hot tubs on lido and 2 additional (adult only) hot tubs on serenity. There was Putt-Putt and water slides that were never overly busy. And of course there are kids programs available.

Did you take any trips from the ship? A lot of ppl talk about not going thru carnival?

Did you take any trips from the ship? A lot of ppl talk about not going thru carnival?

Shore excursions through Carnival will usually be more expensive, but if it runs late the ship will wait for you.

For private excursions, read reviews to find the most reliable provider.

Not to highjack the thread in any way, but I totally agree with you about Charleston not giving the cruise industry a chance. I am from Charleston, and still live here, and I'm embarrassed by the lack of effort on the part of the city to expand cruising. The port is in serious need of an upgrade (to put it kindly) cosmetically and functionally. I think if the city were willing to put forth a little bit of effort, Carnival might would consider putting some of the newer ships here.

Personally I like the Ecstasy better than the Sunshine. Ditto for the Fantasy, though I like the Ecstasy's larger rear lounge and Alchemy bar.

 

There are more lounges on the Ecstasy, plus a dedicated nightclub. On the Sunshine there aren't (they took the space for the dedicated lounges and nightclub and turned them into cabins).

 

The Ecstasy gets more smoky than the Sunshine around the Casino, but it's not a huge difference. I still leave the Casino smelling like an ashtray no matter which ship I'm on.

 

If the Sunshine repositions to Charleston, well that's good news for Charleston, but I'd honestly prefer a smaller vessel at that port - considering it's really the only port that I can easily drive to. But obviously I'm not the only person that uses that port so I realize it's a good decision for Charleston and Carnival to put the Sunshine there for a year.

 

Charleston could support a much larger cruise industry than the locals are willing to give it, in my opinion. It could be as big as Galveston if they'd only give it a chance.

We just got off the fantasy saturday .

It was a very cheap 5 day cruise on an older ship so we not expecting much. But we changed our minds. We loved mobile where we stayed the day before and did some sight seeing, the cruise has been one of our favorites. The cd is the best we have had so far on any cruise , we had great service and the mdr food was good. The lido buffet was so so but there was so many other good choices we didnt miss the buffet.

Not to highjack the thread in any way, but I totally agree with you about Charleston not giving the cruise industry a chance. I am from Charleston, and still live here, and I'm embarrassed by the lack of effort on the part of the city to expand cruising. The port is in serious need of an upgrade (to put it kindly) cosmetically and functionally. I think if the city were willing to put forth a little bit of effort, Carnival might would consider putting some of the newer ships here.

The city, the state, and the federal government all want a larger terminal. It's the rich folks that live in downtown on the tour routes that don't want the new terminal. They're the ones that can afford to throw constant lawsuits at the proposal to push it into the far future. Remember that a new terminal was in the works when the Fantasy first arrived to Charleston back in what 2009 or 2010? There are only a few lawsuits left (maybe only one for all I know), and there's a hearing in February for it. So maybe we'll see construction begin soon.

I just got off the fantasy on Saturday as well. I actually really loved the ship and sailing out of Mobile was a breeze. Mikey is an amazing cruise director. All the food was great except for the breakfast buffet. I prefer the decor of the ship over the Elation and the Dream (except for The Cats lounge... it is pretty ugly). If you are prone to motion sickness I would definitely choose a bigger ship.

Sent from my iPhone using Forums

Did you take any trips from the ship? A lot of ppl talk about not going thru carnival?

We did not. We took a taxi to blue kay in Costa Maya, and it was beautiful and not very crowded at all. Very relaxing. If Costa Maya is one of your stops the taxis are $2 per person to go into Mahahual (to the beaches). We chose to stay on the ship in Cozumel. We were a little exhausted from sun and such by that day and had nothing planned so we just stayed on and found loungers in the shade on serenity and enjoyed the view.

The city, the state, and the federal government all want a larger terminal. It's the rich folks that live in downtown on the tour routes that don't want the new terminal. They're the ones that can afford to throw constant lawsuits at the proposal to push it into the far future. Remember that a new terminal was in the works when the Fantasy first arrived to Charleston back in what 2009 or 2010? There are only a few lawsuits left (maybe only one for all I know), and there's a hearing in February for it. So maybe we'll see construction begin soon.

You are correct. I shouldn’t have said the City doesn’t support the industry. It is mainly downtown residents who are holding up progress. I hope we do begin to see construction soon!

Sent from my iPhone using Forums

Did you take any trips from the ship? A lot of ppl talk about not going thru carnival?

I was on the Fantasy the week of Halloween. In Cozumel, we did the Dolphin Discovery thru Carnival. We

had a great time. The pier in Costa Maya was too long for me to walk, I have a bad knee. So we stayed on the ship and had fun there!

We just got off the fantasy saturday .

It was a very cheap 5 day cruise on an older ship so we not expecting much. But we changed our minds. We loved mobile where we stayed the day before and did some sight seeing, the cruise has been one of our favorites. The cd is the best we have had so far on any cruise , we had great service and the mdr food was good. The lido buffet was so so but there was so many other good choices we didnt miss the buffet.

I would love to hear your suggestions for how to spend some time in Mobile. Thanks!

I would love to hear your suggestions for how to spend some time in Mobile. Thanks!

Bellingrath Gardens is always beautiful any time of the year. The battleship Alabama is another very enjoyable and educational spot to visit. The Gulf Quest Museum, right next to the cruise terminal, is great too. These are personal favorites. If you stay long enough, a visit to Gulf Shores, about 60 miles away, is on the must do list. You will be amazed by the sugar white beaches.