Talk to us about the Ecstasy?

[Sablerose]

Hi all, long time no see!

 

Well, we want to know if any of y'all have been on the Ecstasy, and what you thought of her. We are considering a 5-day Mexico cruise out of Galveston (for some time after the 2006 hurricane season, thankyouverymuch) and think it would be an affordable option.

 

We've only ever been on the Conquest as many of you know, but we don't necessarily see a smaller ship or an older ship as a bad thing.

 

What did you like about the Ecstasy? What did you not like about it? How about the 5-day Mexico itin (Progreso/Coz, I think, or Progreso/Playa del Carmen) out of Galveston?

 

We're in a little bit of a pickle -- have the 7-dayer booked right now out of Galveston on the Conquest but we've been invited to spend a week with my father at his place in Mexico this June... can't do both, so may end up canceling our October cruise in lieu of a week near Cabo San Lucas, and then following up with another cruise early 2007.

 

Thanks in advance for any ideas you guys have!

 

Rose & Stang

 

PS: no baby yet.

[mrdood]

You will start to here some info on it, the first post FEMA sailing is April 8th, we will be on her in May.

 

First after having sailed on a Fantasy class, then sailed on the Liberty in December, I have no problem going back to Fantasy class. I have not been on the Ecstacy, but I think the size of the boat is a good size - not too big, not too small.

 

You won't have a supper club, I will miss that! I loved the Liberty, but am really looking forward to the Ecstacy!

 

The refurb starts in a few days and here is the plan:

 

http://www.carnival.com/CMS/Articles/2006_refurbs.aspx

 

So while I can't give you specifics, from someone that has sailed both classes of ship, I have no problem with either one.

 

I have heard good and bad about Progresso, but we are going to the Mayan ruins at Chichen Itza - I have wanted to go there for a really long time and now - thanks to Carnival and weather willing, we will get to go in a couple of months.

 

I am looking forward to reviews - I think there are four sailings after refurb before we go. Some of the old reviews are good, but I am sure many of the crew has changed and other things, so I am kind of invalidating the older reviews.

 

You will enjoy either choice!

[morebeaches]

I did the Ecstasy last summer and thought the ship was fun, tho a little diffacult to navigate. Often times you will fine you have to go up or down a deck or two to get where you are wanting to go. The piano bar was a hoot, the food was good and the beds were very comfortable. My previous experience had been a 7 day on RCL Radience which is a stellar ship, and I really didn't feel any let down on the Ecstasy, which I guess speaks highly, other rhan on the 7 day, I thought that was too short, and a 4 day was waaaaaaaay too short :)

[cheshyrkat]

I've been on Conquest and Elation. I can't speak for Ecstacy in specific but to the Fantasy class in general. I loved Elation. There was more open deck space out by the aft pool. The Fantasy class is a good size...not so big it exhausts you to try to get around but not so small you're bored with it before the end of the cruise.

 

The itenerary is good. If I remember correctly you are into the Mayan ruins and this is the PERFECT cruise to catch some. Progreso is in a good location to get you to places you could not get to from other ports. I went to Uxmal and it was beautiful and not overrun with people. I seem to remember you want to go to Chichen Itza, though. At any rate, both sites are accessible from there. It's an all day thing and I believe Chichen is farther away but it's a "once in a lifetime" experience. Check out the ports of call boards for more specific info on the tours. There's a load of good info there as I'm sure you know. I booked through the ship because it is so far away and I was just more comfortable with it. In Coz you can either do ruins (again) or go to the beach or shop depending on your preference. Lots to do!

[GayleR]

Hey Sablerose,

 

It's good to see you here again. I haven't been on a Fantasy class ship, but just wanted to say Hi and not to worry about the baby thing. We tried for 9 months before I got pregnant with my first. When she was 6 months old I got pregnant with twins. :eek:

 

Here's hoping you get the information you're asking about.

 

Happy cruising,

Gayle

[Sablerose]

Thanks, everybody, for the fabbo feedback on the ship. I really appreciate it.

 

We were originally booked on the Elation, which is the same class as the Ecstasy, before the trials and tribulations that led us to the Conquest for our big cruise last year. So, it's not that I really have any qualms about the size (if it was good enough for us to consider once, it'll be good enough again) but that having been on the Conquest, you know, just how different the experience would be!

 

The 5-day is absolutely the perfect itin to see some ruins, which is ABSOLUTELY what we would want to do. That's why I'd choose the Progreso itinerary over the four-day which goes somewhere else. I want to see Chichen Itza, and I want to climb that pyramid, and by golly we're gonna (someday)!

 

Are there any major differences between the Ecstasy and the Elation? I had obssessively, completely and totally researched the Elation when we were originally booked, so I have a good idea what that ship is like -- even though she's now in Florida! Wasn't Elation the "newest" of the Fantasy class ships? Did she have any amenities that the Ecstasy wouldn't have?

 

Thanks again for all your help!

[cheshyrkat]

Are there any major differences between the Ecstasy and the Elation? I had obssessively, completely and totally researched the Elation when we were originally booked, so I have a good idea what that ship is like -- even though she's now in Florida! Wasn't Elation the "newest" of the Fantasy class ships? Did she have any amenities that the Ecstasy wouldn't have?

 

Thanks again for all your help!

 

The differences in Ecstacy and Elation are going to be primarily in decor. I read that Elation has a more elegant feel overall and that Ecstacy has a lot more neon and glitz, but I can't tell you from personal experience. Maybe someone else can.

 

Just earlier today I watched Ecstacy and Sensation pull out of NOLA and heading for drydock. That's where they will be adding the miniature golf and making a few other changes that will make these two ships a little different than before. The full details can be found in the link that someone else already posted on this thread. I don't know if Elation was the last Fantasy class ship to be made but I think she was launched in 1998 if my memory serves me correctly.

[Timmys_mom]

Rosie! :)

All this talk about Chichen Itza is bringing back some very hazy memories of a "girls only" week in Cancun when I was 25. I'm sure the ruins were great, but mostly what I have are some pictures of us sleeping on the bus that the driver took with our cameras.:D See, about the time we came home from Carlos and Charlies, it was time to catch the tour bus.....We got off the bus long enough to climb the pyramid, tho.:rolleyes:

 

I vote for the Cabo/Ecstasy combo.

 

P.S. It took almost a year for our first. :cool:

[futaba951]

I think Elation was the only Fantasy class to have the pods. If that is indeed the case, that would be the biggest difference and no one would ever see or realize the difference.

[obx_fintoo]

Hey there Rose!

 

The Esctasy is near and dear to my heart! She was our honeymoon cruise nearly 11 years ago, then once more before they moved her to the left coast and we switched to Fantasy! As someone mentioned before, there is definitely "neon and glitz"! Think lots of purple carpet and neon tubing in the atrium! Of course, I think we're around the same age, so it'll be like a nostalgic trip back to the '80s!;) Have a blast and hope you make it to Chichen Itza this time!

 

A note on the baby trying.... DH and I tried for a year, then went to a fertility specialist. We visited him one week before leaving on a cruise. His advice was to enjoy ourselves and keep trying and who knows, we might come back pregnant! Well, turns out we already were by about 2 days, just didn't know it until we came back home! :D Good luck guys!!

[rangerdog]

Hey Rose! You will LOVE the Ecstasy. You will find my review and pictures in my signature from this past summer. Of course, any cruise is better than being at work, huh??;) Make sure and read my review and look at my pictures. Let me know if you have any questions.

[rubato]

I, like Obx, have very fond memories of my surprise honeymoon cruise on the Ecstasy in 1994. Very 80's, but am assuming some of that may be changed. We'll be sailing on the Elation out of Galveston in 2 weeks. I'm very excited about Progreso. I just want to lay on the beach and drink Coronas though!;)

[jshawnh]

I have been on both the Ecstacy and the Elation, and let me tell you. The Ecstacy was fun, but the Elation was so much more of everything! The Ecstacy was very crowded feeling, The food was not as good as other ships I have sailed. The staff seemed indefferent at times. It just seemed shabby, and unkept, Loved it anyway. We sailed her Nov. 2004. I did love my cruise, won 2,800.00 in the casino. wonderful casino staff, very friendly.

 

We sailed the Elation last April. It was beautiful, relaxing atmosphere. Food on the Lido and in the dining room was well prepaired. Didn't feel rushed, ever, although the ship was full. It was just an amazingly beautiful ship, breathtaking in my opinion. I prefer 5 day cruises, which is what the Ecstacy sailed before KAtrina. I wanted to book the Elation that was taking her place, but couldn't get a straight answer at the time whether it would be the Ecstacy or the Elation making the trip. We booked the Conquest for spring break instead. I would not risk having to go on the Ecstacy, for the same price as a trip on the Elation. Even though they are sister ships, there really is no comparison. JMHO

 

Shawn