Pictorial Review: Carnival Ecstasy 12/12/13 PLUS a B2B with Brilliance of the Seas!!!

[DarthGrady]

Thank you for the pictures! I was on the same sailing as you (we must have passed in the gym). I was trying to explain the decor to some friends, how the carpet and walls in the stairways clashed horribly. Kaleidoscope is a good description (although kaleidoscopes have more complementary colors). As the decorators would say, "there's no place for the eye to 'rest'". Now I can show them your photos.

 

I look forward to the rest of your review. It's always fun to read someone else's experiences of the same trip!

 

ETA: AAACK! I'm in your Serenity deck photo :D

 

You're right, it is hard to describe how odd Carnival's decor can be to someone who hasn't sailed with them. I tell them it's funhouse-chic.

[DarthGrady]

The Taste Bar, night two

 

 

Edited December 22, 2013 by DarthGrady

[JohnSpo]

You are right. The meatballs were very good at the taste bar.

 

I'll have to try the afternoon tea on a future sailing. It looks good.

Edited December 22, 2013 by JohnSpo

[DarthGrady]

Day 3, The Ecstasy, Nassau:

Our day in Nassau started early. At least earlier than I'm used to. We rose around 8 am and went for breakfast in the main dining room. After breakfast we headed ashore and caught the number 10 bus by the ice cream parlor. That bus ride (which cost us a total of $1.25 per person) took us to the Sandals Royal Bahamian Resort, which is where we spent our day.

My wife does travel agent work as a side job, and was able top get us a comped day pass into Sandals. The bus dropped us off at the front gate and we met the sales rep. We spent some time on their private island and had lunch. We were given a tour of the resort before we caught the bus back to the ship. Sandals being an all-inclusive resort, we had several drinks and I got a little sideways.

I found the following in my phone, I vaguely remember writing it on the bus ride back to the ship. I've tried to translate the really unintelligible stuff:

Sandals was a ton of fun. We got the travel agent tour, lots of free beetle (I'm pretty sure I meant booze). We hung out in the hot tub. Free lunch! wy all the construction? (probably referring to the new hotel being built near sandals, need the actual name). The bus has odd mix of Caribbean jams, what's with all the synthEsizer? Lol lol lol........booze! send money post haste! Never saw so many port charlotte booze? (No idea) Uhhhhh oh ......I see enchantment car long ton! (should be Carlington, the Diamond lounge concierge on EN)

Back on the ship I attempted to do my workout. Not the best of ideas with a head full of booze. I nearly fell off the treadmill, so I finished on the elliptical machine. Unfortunately I also left my small camera behind. I got all the way back to the room before I remembered it. Thankfully a nice lady held onto it for me.

We sent laundry earlier in the day and got it back in the evening. Unfortunately someone got a little over zealous with the bleach ruined a few of our shirts. A pair of my wife’s jeans was also a little bleached out, but still wearable. She complained to guest services and they gave us a $55 on board credit to make up for the damage.

We actually made it to dinner despite the continuing intoxication. I really can't say what the quality was that night, as all food tastes good to a drunk. Milby was playing the hits in the piano bar which is where we spent the rest of the evening. He and Brad are definitely my favorite two piano players on Carnival.

 

A little explanation for the strong odors around the ship. Although it was certainly not limited to the times listed in the letter

 

In Nassau

 

 

Tough rules on a bus to a tropical resort

 

Arrival at Sandals

 

[DarthGrady]

Lots more Sandals pics

 

 

Little reminders of the British heritage of the property

 

 

 

[DarthGrady]

 

 

 

 

 

[DarthGrady]

 

 

 

 

 

[DarthGrady]

 

 

Enchantment OTS comes into port

 

 

 

[DarthGrady]

 

 

 

 

 

[DarthGrady]

I thought this was pretty awesome, they are installing a pool that runs the length of this building so each ground level room has a pool at their doorstep

 

 

 

 

 

[DarthGrady]

Our bleached out clothes from the wash and fold service

 

[DarthGrady]

Day 4, The Ecstasy, Freeport:

Due to the low levels of blood in my alcohol system the night before, I started this day with a slight hangover. I should have stuck with the Stellas, but I finished the night with one of those horrid Fosters oil cans. That was a mistake. Fosters is awful stuff. So the first order of the day was a late breakfast. I capitalized on the empty ship and got the rest of my pictures. We also spent some time in the adult only Serenity area.

We were apparently among many who felt no need at all to go ashore. The pool deck, Serenity area and buffet were busier than on most port days. There just isn't much to do in Freeport. You have to take a taxi into town, and that takes about twenty minutes. So we just hung around the ship and got a nice room service lunch. I can't recommend the steak sandwich, but the chicken fajita wrap was very good.

In the afternoon we got our exercise done early so we could watch our final sail away from Freeport. Afterward we got packed up and did our own laundry in the self service machines. No need to tempt fate sending more stuff to the Platinum laundry.

We made another visit to the Taste Bar, which was very good. They had the crab cake starter in the dining room, one of my favorite cruise dishes. I had two orders, both were excellent. After our final dinner on board we stopped in to the piano bar to see Milby one last time. We had a good sing along before going to bed early; we had a long day ahead of us switching ships.

 

The Bahamas Celebration parked next to us

For a pictorial review of that ship check HERE

 

This little ship was in port with us as well

 

 

Our room service lunch

 

[DarthGrady]

 

 

[freddymale]

great review, she was my first cruise, and those pictures are bringing back some good memories

thank you again

[mj]

Great review. Keep it coming.

[seannyice81]

Pretty awesome review!

 

LOL @ the "sideways" texting.

 

Probably one of the most detailed photo-tours of a Fantasy Class ship I've seen in a while.

[DarthGrady]

Day 5, The Changeover

We woke up early on our last morning aboard the Carnival Ecstasy. We decided to skip breakfast and just get drive thru on the way to Tampa. The VIP debarkation area was in the Chinatown Lounge at 7:15. The crew walked us off the ship and we were in the parking lot within fifteen minutes. It was a very easy process. The Radisson had two shuttles waiting on us, so there was no wait there either. This was definitely one of the fastest departures from Port Canaveral that we've ever had. It was a great cruise overall, very relaxing and enjoyable.

After leaving Port Canaveral we had to make a stop to pick up my wife's parents before heading on to Tampa to embark on the Brilliance of the Seas. We had fairly light traffic until we got into Orlando. No surprise there, O-Town is usually a traveler's nightmare. It seems to only exist to prevent anyone from getting anywhere in a reasonable amount of time. But we eventually collected the in-laws and made our way to the Port of Tampa. It was time for round two.

[DarthGrady]

If anyone would like to see part two of this review, the 12/16/13 cruise of Brilliance of the Seas, follow this LINK.

[lrowe70]

Thank you for this review, it was really enjoyable.

Loved the afternoon tea photos, that is my goal for my next cruise as I always seem to miss it.

Edited December 22, 2013 by lrowe70

[Kfoot]

We got off this cruise on the 12. So you went on after we got off. Surprisingly we didn't use the taste bar. Always seem to pass it while I'm full.

Couldn't find my embarkation pictures for 2 days. Then one day my mom notice it on The Pixel Wall. If your pics are on the wall it's free. Just let one of the crew know. Then they escort you over to the wall, you ring the bell so everyone around you knows you got a free pic. It was fun.

[SMSACE6]

Thank you for your excellent review. (and the second half which I am now following too ).

 

I enjoy your reviews and especially your photos. Those great photos say so much in themselves.

 

Thanks so much for sharing.:)

[DarthGrady]

Thank you for your excellent review. (and the second half which I am now following too ).

 

I enjoy your reviews and especially your photos. Those great photos say so much in themselves.

 

Thanks so much for sharing.:)

 

No problem at all, I'll be on later with more pics from Brilliance.

 

Sent from my Nexus 5 using Tapatalk

[tartan101]

Love all the pics! We hope to be sailing on the Ecstasy in February!

 

--Lisa

[Chelleum]

Great review and pics!! I will be back on the Ecstasy in Jan. I see some changes were made. We had the same sewage smell when we sailed, in some parts of the ship and in our room when we used the AC.

[alreadypacked]

If anyone would like to see part two of this review, the 12/16/13 cruise of Brilliance of the Seas, follow this LINK.

 

Grady, thanks so much for your wonderful reviews!

 

I will be definitely be tuning in to your Brilliance of the Seas review!:)