How does Carnival Ecatasy Compare to Celebrity Millenium Class Ships?

We have only sailed with Celebrity, but we wanted to take our kids who are now 19 and 23, on a short cruise by summer's end. The Charleston port is appealing as it's only a 4 1/2 hour drive from home and the Ecstasy's itinerary seems good as we haven't been to the Bahamas before.

However, checking the reviews of the Ecstasy here on cruise critic, it would seem this ship has had massive food failure recently and severe pool shortcomings. Wondering what others have thought of the food and pool situation in the last couple of months. Any positive opinions out there?

Also, we very much enjoyed the format of the Millennium class ships, is the Ecstasy similar or comparable?

Also, any thoughts on how the drink prices and packages compare?

I've never been on Celebrity, but as someone who has only cruised Carnival, I was disappointed in the Ecstasy. We live less than 2 hours from Charleston and thought this would be a nice change to not have to drive or fly quite a distance to the port. We were dissatisfied with the port, the terminal and the ship. It felt small, old, dated. There were some elevators that were out of service for the entire cruise and some of the others were out periodically. My husband and I definitely felt the food was a poorer quality than our previous Carnival cruises. For instance, my prime rib was dry and tough instead of that juicy, melt-in-your-mouth quality I'm used to.

There's only one pool and then the water park. Another disappointment was that all the lounges are on the same floor as the casino and that whole deck was smokey. There weren't any quieter, smoke-free places to hang out.

You will have to decide if proximity to the port out-weighs comfort, food quality, amenities and such. For us, I don't think we'd do a Fantasy class ship again.

You are sort of comparing oranges and clementines here. Ecstasy is older than any Millennium class ship. Ecstasy is also smaller but you may find the cabins on a Millennium class ship to be smaller than Carnival. The suites on Ecstasy are nothing compared to Celebrity.

Food wise I've found Celebrity to better than Carnival in many cases but Carnival does a very good job and is just a notch below.

It is also going to be a completely different dynamic on a short cruise on Ecstasy than on a Millennium, seven day or longer cruise. It will be a fun and party atmosphere.

The decor is also going to be more old Vegas style and not like the Millennium class ships.

It will probably be a good choice for the younger people and Mom and Dad can kick back.

Take it as it comes and you'll have a good time.

Take care,

Mike

Carnival Ecstasy is to Celebrity Millenium as Comfort Inn is to the Hilton.

Staten island ferry compared to a luxury yacht.

The worst cruise I ever had was on Celebrity Millennium, fourteen days, Hong Kong to Singapore. The ports were fantastic and I had a wonderful time but the ship was in desperate need of updating. I had sailed on Millennium two years earlier and it was fine.

On this sailing the food was not good in the MDR, Lido and sadly, the Olympic Restaurant. We had to send the lobster back twice in the Olympic because it was incredibly salty. After the second time they realized they were using salted butter in the poaching. My steak was tough but after the lobster I decided to just eat it. In the MDR orders were wrong, Prime Rib and most meat entrees were far too overdone, even if asked for medium-rare and the only help they gave with my gluten free (Celiac) was to say: "Look at the menu." (Celebrity does mark their GF items on the MDR menu) Carnival takes your order the night before and will specially make something gluten free if possible.

The carpets were worn, people had etched graffiti on the elevators and rust was visible on the balconies and all over the outside of the ship and service was poor from the dining rooms to the cabin steward and butler. Even mentioning the issues we had with the butler and cabin steward brought no results. Neither were tipped beyond the minimum and I'm a person who almost always gives extra and is very easy to please.

Millennium went into dry dock a couple of months after this sailing and I guess it was improved but I am leery to sail her again. I did love the ship but that experience left me gun shy. BTW: We were in a Celebrity Suite.

I do know that many people hold Celebrity in too high of regard and Carnival too low. Celebrity is a notch above Carnival but it isn't that big of a notch. Especially on seven day or longer cruises.

Take care,

Mike

Carnival Ecstasy is to Celebrity Millenium as Comfort Inn is to the Hilton.

I would have changed Comfort Inn to Days Inn. Celebrity is a few cuts above Carnival assuming Millenium is in better shape these days.

As a Celebrity cruiser, I think Ecstasy is probably the last cruise I would recommend. Don't you have any other options?

As a Celebrity cruiser, I think Ecstasy is probably the last cruise I would recommend. Don't you have any other options?

I would think a newer Carnival ship would be preferable to such an old one after cruising Celebrity.

We have only sailed with Celebrity, but we wanted to take our kids who are now 19 and 23, on a short cruise by summer's end. The Charleston port is appealing as it's only a 4 1/2 hour drive from home and the Ecstasy's itinerary seems good as we haven't been to the Bahamas before.

 

However, checking the reviews of the Ecstasy here on cruise critic, it would seem this ship has had massive food failure recently and severe pool shortcomings. Wondering what others have thought of the food and pool situation in the last couple of months. Any positive opinions out there?

 

Also, we very much enjoyed the format of the Millennium class ships, is the Ecstasy similar or comparable?

 

Also, any thoughts on how the drink prices and packages compare?

If you're 4 1/2 hours from Charleston, Port Canaveral wouldn't be that much further and you'll have more choices.

The worst cruise I ever had was on Celebrity Millennium, fourteen days, Hong Kong to Singapore. The ports were fantastic and I had a wonderful time but the ship was in desperate need of updating. I had sailed on Millennium two years earlier and it was fine.

 

 

 

On this sailing the food was not good in the MDR, Lido and sadly, the Olympic Restaurant. We had to send the lobster back twice in the Olympic because it was incredibly salty. After the second time they realized they were using salted butter in the poaching. My steak was tough but after the lobster I decided to just eat it. In the MDR orders were wrong, Prime Rib and most meat entrees were far too overdone, even if asked for medium-rare and the only help they gave with my gluten free (Celiac) was to say: "Look at the menu." (Celebrity does mark their GF items on the MDR menu) Carnival takes your order the night before and will specially make something gluten free if possible.

 

 

 

The carpets were worn, people had etched graffiti on the elevators and rust was visible on the balconies and all over the outside of the ship and service was poor from the dining rooms to the cabin steward and butler. Even mentioning the issues we had with the butler and cabin steward brought no results. Neither were tipped beyond the minimum and I'm a person who almost always gives extra and is very easy to please.

 

 

 

Millennium went into dry dock a couple of months after this sailing and I guess it was improved but I am leery to sail her again. I did love the ship but that experience left me gun shy. BTW: We were in a Celebrity Suite.

 

 

 

I do know that many people hold Celebrity in too high of regard and Carnival too low. Celebrity is a notch above Carnival but it isn't that big of a notch. Especially on seven day or longer cruises.

 

 

 

Take care,

 

Mike

Have to disagree with your last comments. I personally found the difference between Carnival and Celebrity to be substantial. Sailed the Breeze last June and the Reflection this past March. Night and day, especially fellow passengers. My husband refuses to sail Carnival again and he is incredibly laid back and low maintenance.

Poorly

That's not really fair comparison, there's a bunch more miles on the Carnival ship. It is like comparing your current (and far younger girlfriend/boyfriend) to your ex spouse of 30 years, one is all "WOW" and the other was "this old thing again".

Understanding its limitations and setting your expectations based on that knowledge, how could you have a bad time? If you go in looking to find problems, you will find problems everywhere because you're using confirmational bias, you see what you want to confirm your predetermined decision.

I'd not hesitate to book any Fascination class cruise if it fit our schedule and was what we were looking to do. I can't guarantee they'd be the first choice, but I wouldn't feel like I was getting an inferior product or that I was settling.

Carnival Ecstasy is to Celebrity Millenium as Comfort Inn is to the Hilton.

That's a simile. Nice work!

Maybe Horizon or Zenith about 15 years ago. :eek:

I really appreciate the comments, they've been very helpful. We are widening our search to include Port Canaveral which Victory sails out of and I've noted is a little newer, a little bigger. It seems like it might be a better fit for us. Really appreciate all the info. Thanks so much y'all!

Have to disagree with your last comments. I personally found the difference between Carnival and Celebrity to be substantial. Sailed the Breeze last June and the Reflection this past March. Night and day, especially fellow passengers. My husband refuses to sail Carnival again and he is incredibly laid back and low maintenance.

I am Elite on Celebrity and just 75 or so points shy of Elite Plus. I've sailed all classes of Celebrity ships, including Zenith and Century class, and other than the Millennium Asia cruise I have enjoyed each one. If you are looking for a true suite experience then Celebrity is for you and the alternative dining is more diverse than Carnival. Though Carnival's steakhouses always deliver an upscale and well prepared meal.

I haven't done a Celebrity cruise in close to two years because of what I saw as a drop in food quality over the years. Carnival's MDR food isn't much different than Celebrity's MDR. I long for the days of 10 to 15 years ago when a night in the Celebrity MDR was always enjoyable. It became hit or miss. The specialty restaurants usually delivered a better variety and better prepared food.

Celebrity is my choice for itinerary. They sail to areas Carnival doesn't even touch.

Believe me I was VERY leery of cruising Carnival for the first time and I had somewhat of a chip on my shoulder for having to do it. It was the Carnival Legend and the dang Urns everywhere drove me crazy but when I took that out of the equation it made Carnival much more appealing. It wasn't the same as Celebrity and I would say a notch below in overall quality but it was a very good cruising experience. I will admit I haven't cruised Legend again. :)

Now, we will make Carnival our first choice if we decide to do a last minute cruise to the Caribbean or Mexico. We've done a couple of 4 day cruises and, while fun, they aren't our thing. We just did them to extend our time and see a couple of ports we had never seen. Carnival is strongly IMO the best bang for your cruise buck but I would go for a seven day or longer.

I'm now Platinum on Carnival and the benefits are Okay but they are probably the worst of any major cruise line, except for the free laundry, and nothing compared to Elite on Celebrity. Plus, I do like that Elite on Celebrity gives me Diamond on Royal Caribbean but we rarely sail Royal Caribbean.

So: It is a matter of preference and what you are expecting out of your cruise. I do stand by my statement that many hold Celebrity in too high of regard and many hold Carnival too low.

Take care,

Mike

If you're 4 1/2 hours from Charleston, Port Canaveral wouldn't be that much further and you'll have more choices.

Depends where you are coming from....I too am about 4.5 hrs to Charleston, but 9 hrs from Port Canaveral

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Yes, you must be somewhere near me, Port Canaveral is 8 1/2 to 9 hours depending on who does more driving, me or my husband, but it's still closer than Port Everglades which pretty much means adding air fare.