Ecstasy is too small a word for this cruise. Our picture review 9/20-24, 2012

[jamona2311]

I LOVE reading reviews like this from first time cruisers!! You can feel the excitement in their posts!! GREAT JOB SO FAR!!!!!:):)

 

 

HAHA I know its so obvious but I dont care! :D:p;)

[jamona2311]

Our very first cruise in 1996 was on the Ecstasy and we had a ball! Started us on our cruise addiction!:rolleyes:

 

its not hard to see why. Shes a great ship with a great crew!!:D

[jamona2311]

Anxiously awaiting more of ur review as I prepare to depart tomorrow for Orlando in Preparation for sailing on the Ecstasy on Thursday:D!!!

 

Lucky girl! Youre gonna have soooo much fun:D:D let me know how it goes!

[jamona2311]

where did your get your sundress? wow your review is brillant our first cruise was on the sensation we still talkabout it after being on many more , we live in england but enjoy the company of americans that we sail your side all the time many thanks for letting us enjoy your review and all the pictures we feel like we are there

 

Thanks for the nice comments on the review. Im glad it makes you feel like that!:D

 

The sundress I got at walmart!! LOL It was so comfy and the straps can make it into all kinds of different styles.

[jamona2311]

Our trip began on Tuesday September 18. Terry(DH) had morning milking and chores but was home in plenty of time for us to leave our home in SW Wisconsin for the hour drive to Madison Regional Airport. It was a beautiful day and that really seemed to be the theme for weather the whole trip. Of course that’s not what I had been seeing when looking at the 10 day on line! But thank God that was wrong!

 

 

Awe, SW WI. My husband is from Lancaster:)

 

 

We are in Montfort. Not far at all:D

[jamona2311]

Sunday September 23 Fun day at sea

We woke up this morning looking forward to our own agendas for the day. Terry had his Behind the Fun tour at 830 and I had a Spa appointment planned for 930.

 

For those of you who are interested in the Behind the Fun feel free to ask questions and I will ask him for answers. I know it was the highlight of his trip! Ive asked him to write down his thoughts about it also so hopefully he will have something for me soon that I can share with all of you.

 

I had forgotten to order my hot water the night before so I settled on a Red Bull and a Banana that I had swiped from the Mexican buffet the night before. I did get an iced coffee with hazelnut from the Rolls Royce café on my way to the spa. It was really good and hit the spot.

 

My spa package was the Top to toe. At 75 min package that included:

- Full body relaxing Swedish massage

- Dry skin full body exfoliation

- Food and ankle massage

- Scalp massage

- Refreshing spa facial

 

They advertised this after the 1st day spa tour as a limited time special but I saw it as a special through out the cruise.

 

Any way, you walk in and they take you to a nice waiting room where you fill out the same types of forms they have at any spa and then you are taken to your room. Grace was my spa specialist. I had met her the first day on the tour and liked her right away so I was happy to see her again. Let me tell you, that itty bitty girl can sure give a massage! My neck and shoulders are always very tight from my job in a bank and they’ve never felt better. She was using her hands but when she started using her elbows….. Whew it hurt but if you’ve had a massage you know that’s a good thing! LOL The whole spa package was amazing. Grace knows what shes doing. She plays the soothing music, uses the aromatherapy, and talks in a nice quiet relaxing voice explaining all that she is doing. Very nice!

Spa treatment waiting room

 

Womens spa bathroom with sauna, showers and steam room. You can trade your s&s card for a locker and they have plenty of towels.

 

Looking down the all from the gym to the front of the spa. The womens spa bathroom is on your left

 

 

Looking into the spa reception area

[jamona2311]

After leaving Grace I decided to take advantage of the sauna and a shower. I love doing this after a spa experience. It’s a great way to unwind and just take it all in and cleanse your mind, body and soul. Don’t forget to drink a lot of water too.

Next was my own Top to Bottom tour,led by me! I needed a chance to take all the pictures that I wanted with out Terry shaking his head. He hardly ever takes pictures and likes being in them even less. Plus I was on a mission to find the Ecstasy coins!! When I got to the buffet I decided it was time to stop for lunch so I went to the Deli and got the grilled Pastrami and Corned beef with some mustard and a DOD. Sat down to eat and noticed they had the Chocolate Buffet going on (Terry found this on his own haha).

 

 

 

 

 

 

[jamona2311]

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Ive always loved the pics of these stairs and had to get one of my own!

 

[jamona2311]

A deck is a deck. Up the stairs at the back of the pic....

 

You can look right into the balconies of the Jr suites on Veranda Deck...not so private

 

 

 

 

 

 

I just really like those dang fake palm trees! lol

 

 

 

The Deli and pizza. Time for a lunch break.

[jamona2311]

Now I LOVE SUSHI and I am really bummed that I never got around to trying it on the ship :,( but I did find chocolate sushi at the buffet. LOL At least it was a type of sushi I have never tried before.

When I got to E deck aft I decided to stop at our room for a break and to see if Terry was around. He was and we hung out on the balcony for a bit and he told me a bit about his tour and that he had seen DOLPHINS!!! Lucky duck. Soon he left for lunch and chocolate buffet..

I finished up my boat tour and came back to the room defeated. :,( I never found the coin. I asked some people and they didn’t even know what I was talking about.

 

 

Got my sushi! Chocolate sushi that is and a truffel

 

I was trying to edit this pic and it ended up like this. I like it!

 

China Town Lounge

The Rolls outside of the Rolls Royce cafe ( aka GOOD COFFEE!!!!)

[LONGTIME WAIT]

Love these pictures. The grandbabies can see things so clearly and will be able to dream incolor about their August cruise! Thank you

QUOTE=jamona2311;35554275]

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Ive always loved the pics of these stairs and had to get one of my own!

 

[jobell]

You may have already posted this and I missed it but how do you get to that look out over the front of the ship?

 

OMGOMGOMG!!!! It's almost time!!!! eep!!!

[jamona2311]

They had an art auction this day at Stripes but by night it was a dance club that allowed smoking.

 

A small watch/jewelry shop on citi lights blvd

 

Stairs from Society bar to the aft Wind Song dining room. They did set dining there and anytime in the Wind Star.

 

Starlight lounge. smaller venue for comedy and our muster station. I tried to get pics of blue sapphire but they were very blurry. The curtian is much prettier in real life than in any pics Ive seen.

 

Serenity Deck

 

 

Terrys goodies from the Behind the Fun tour

[jamona2311]

You may have already posted this and I missed it but how do you get to that look out over the front of the ship?

 

OMGOMGOMG!!!! It's almost time!!!! eep!!!

 

LOL! Well one was just a set of steps outside that went from the front of Lido to a front deck on Veranda. There was one that is out in front of the golf course too

 

I have heard of a sercret deck that you have to go through the front of the Blue Sappire lounge to get to but I didnt try that one.

 

The lowest triangle shaped one is for Crew.

[The4Cruisers]

Glad you and DH had a terrific cruise!

 

What are these Ecstasy coins you mentioned? :confused:

[jamona2311]

I did see a Renewal of vows in the Library tho. That’s when I really started to get excited about my Chefs Table dinner that night! Yippee.

First tho was some chill time in the room, the dreaded packing and a great story from Terry. He had been up to the buffet for lunch and had a plate of food, a soda to wash it down with and a DOD for good measure. As he was leaving and a buffet crew member stepped in front of him prompting the automatic doors to open. Then as Terry was making his way down the secret steps the same crew member asked if Terry would like him to get the door for him. Following Terry again till he set his stuff on the floor to open our room door then the guy just went back the way he came. Terry really thinks this guy followed him just to be helpful. AMAZING!!! But that’s similar to what we got the entire time from everyone working. Never met a grumpy employee even once. I know I couldn’t do it like that all the time. When Im annoyed or whatever, it shows all over my face. I couldn’t hide it if I tried. I would just come off as fake. It was another thing that made it sad to see the trip coming to an end.

 

 

 

 

Neon Piano Bar. We never did get back here.

 

 

The library where our Chefs Table dinner would be later that evening.

[jamona2311]

Glad you and DH had a terrific cruise!

 

What are these Ecstasy coins you mentioned? :confused:

 

Special coins minted just for the ship.

Ive heard every ship has them for good luck when they are built. I know there have been other Ecstasy review where ppl have found them but I couldnt. Poo

[jamona2311]

OK OK enuf of that. Time to get ready for the chefs table! Terry was more than happy to eat at the buffet and not have to dress decent so he was just fine leaving me on my own for this one.

 

We all met and waited for a bit at the Atrium bar until Executive Chef Murugan Vilathan ( or Chef Morgan) came down to escort us to our kitchen tour. No cameras of course so no pics of the endless champagne and appetizers of ;

 

Parmesan core & Olive

Chorizo & Dates, Piquillo Sofrito

Focaccia , Mascarpone Cream & Prosciutto Crudo

Langoustine & Sundried Tomato Jam Fritters

 

 

Yes Ecstasy has the new menu! Now I know there are a lot of fans of the old menu but Chef said that they do try to change it once in a while to keep it fresh. He actually was one of the originators of the Chef Table and mentioned how they got the idea from a 5 star restaurant in New York. Trust me we are getting a deal compared to what those guys paid.

 

As said in other reviews we got to see how they make WCMC. So easy, I hope! That is until I try it myself right??

 

We were escorted by the chef through the dining room feeling like VIPs LOL and into the library which they had set up for our dinner. It was very elegant and more forks and knives than Ive ever seen and then they even had to add some as the plates continued to come. We had pre assigned seats, men on one side and ladies on the other. Being in the Library a lot of people would peek in to see what was going on. A formal picture was taken, red and white wine and water were poured and dinner continued.

 

 

 

 

[jobell]

LOL! Well one was just a set of steps outside that went from the front of Lido to a front deck on Veranda. There was one that is out in front of the golf course too

 

I have heard of a sercret deck that you have to go through the front of the Blue Sappire lounge to get to but I didnt try that one.

 

The lowest triangle shaped one is for Crew.

 

Thank you!!!!

 

Btw, I just now noticed that your first cruise was for your 10th anniversary. Our first was for our 10th anniversary (very belated honeymoon). :D Random I know. lol

[jamona2311]

It was obvious Chef was proud of this dinner that he helped create and what it takes to make it. Some items like the beets took 6 hours to prepare, JUST for US! He described everything in great detail and it was an honor to be able to enjoy it so much. He had previously cooked for the Kind of Dubai and they way dinner was prepared, plated and served made us feel like we were royalty. It was almost synchronized and if you drank a little of anything the sweet waiters would somehow appear and refill. We also had a magician come in and do some card tricks for us. He even had the skeptics going. It was amazing!

I wish I had recorded how he described the food elements so Id be able to better describe what you see on the plates but I didn’t/couldn’t. So I will do my best to describe the plates as I post the pictures and try to remember.

Garlic Brioche. Very rich so dont eat it all at once.

 

Tomatoes our way! Aerated tomato juice, cocoa butter coated, charddonnay poached.

 

Yes cocoa and it was so good! Who would have thought chocolate and tomatoes?? They had all been peeled cherry tomatoes and they were all yummy

 

Tuna Banh Mi, lemon bread, sesame crisp, miso cream avacado gel

 

Very good! the green is the avacado, the cream dots are marcapone and the orange are real caviar. I say that cuz look what they do next!

 

Cornish hen carramelized, butternut squash, sofrito

 

mmmm then they poured a glaze over the hen. the roasted shallot look like they have caviar in them? Nope theyve done some magical thing to mushrooms and basalmic vinagar to make them look like caviar. Ugh really?? So cool!

 

Bavarois. Spinach, green peas, warm tunip & apple juice.

 

This was first presented with just the Spinach leaves then they poured the soup (?) in. Turnips, another thing I wasnt too sure of. With the granny smith apple juice mixed in...yum.

 

Salmon with herb pesto, cured tomatoes, carrotts, fava, mushroom earth (on the carrotts) condensed beets.

 

Ok Im not a big fish fan but this salmon was so good and BEETS?? These are not your grandmas beets! Never thought Id like beets. I ate all of these. Crazy good!

[Catbiri2]

Still totally loving this review! It is making me even MORE excited for my trip, if that is possible :D thank you for taking the time to do this!!!!

[rockinmlb]

love seeing all the pics!! Brings back memories from our first cruise on her :p

[Catbiri2]

 

Salmon with herb pesto, cured tomatoes, carrotts, fava, mushroom earth (on the carrotts) condensed beets.

 

Hmm... If I do Chef's Table I will have to skip this one I think. I am allergic to Pine Nuts (a big ingredient in pesto!!!)

[jamona2311]

Wagyu. Slow stewed short ribs, potato pebbles pumpkin fudge, tomato dust(on the potatoes)

 

Ok I know some are not happy that they dont have the filet anymore. I was too when I leaned this. But, this is KOBE beef from Japan. Massaged, pampered beef cows. Like the most expensive meat on the market and even tho they were short ribs it was some of the best beef Ive ever had. Just falls off when you touch it with the fork, the flavor full and mouth watering. Delicioso!! The pumpkin fudge was a nice flavor twist, very good.

 

Dessert. Chef in a candy shop

 

So this looks a little different than some Ive seen on CC and I thought it was very good. A raspberry jello with guava mouse in front. A mango cake to the right and a pistacho cake to the left. In the middle a kind of chocolate mousse thick and really light and rich all at the same time. In the back a marscapone ribbon and a few truffel drops (?) scattered around. Ok if this wasnt enuf they did add some WCMC and Ice cream to this plate. The same that we had witnessed being made earlier during our tour. This is the only dish I didnt finish and trust me it wasnt for lack of trying. I did manage to try it all and it was divine.

 

Afterwards I was soooo full. They really try to make the servings smaller so you can enjoy it all but in the end its a lot of food and I couldn’t finish my dessert. When I left Terry was right there some how. Good timing I guess. He had actually gone to see Motor City show but said it wasn’t his thing. Yeah he’s more of a Metallica, Rob Zombie kinda guy. His tastes don’t vary much from that, certainly not as far as to Motown. He hadn’t had dinner yet so he was going to go serch for something to eat and I made my way back down to the room.

[jamona2311]

Hmm... If I do Chef's Table I will have to skip this one I think. I am allergic to Pine Nuts (a big ingredient in pesto!!!)

 

No worries they will call or visit you and ask you about any food allergies. Youll be covered!:D:D