This was a wonderful, refreshing cruise. We made some new friendships and discovered the convenience and the fun of sailing from our home port of Charleston. We have found that in all aspects of life, it is what you make of it. Laugh and enjoy life every day!
Embarkation
5 out of 5
Embarkation was flawless. Everyone working there was very friendly and courteous.
Ship experiences
Food and Dining
4 out of 5
The food in the main dining room was for the most part very good. The beef dishes were excellent, very flavorful and tender. My husband has made several comments regarding the pork chop that he had one night. In his words, “It was perfect!” The breads served at dinner in the main dining room were fabulous, and the desserts, mainly the Carnival’s Warm Chocolate Melting Cake, were delightful. ( Don’t forget to order a side of peanut butter and an extra ice cream! ) On the flipside, the shrimp and grits I ordered were nasty. The light brown sauce was neither appealing to the eye nor palate. Maybe it is because I am from Charleston and have had the best there is. I make a mean shrimp and grits if I do say so myself. 😉The sea day brunch, served in the main dining room, was excellent. I got the huevos rancheros, and I’m glad I did; it was one of the best selections I made during the entire cruise! We both enjoyed the pizza and Guys Burgers found on the Lido. We can’t say anything about the food on the buffet as we did not partake of it.
Onboard Activities
5 out of 5
They looked like fun, but we didn’t join in those activities. We gave onboard activities a 5-star rating because we thoroughly enjoyed watching.
Entertainment
5 out of 5
The Motor City Review and the Rock ‘n’ roll show were excellent. We also enjoyed the nightly karaoke. There were many, very talented singers, especially the Elvis singer. The cruise director, I don’t remember her name, was OK. She just did not strike us as being genuine. Perhaps she was tired and was just going through the motions.
Service and Staff
5 out of 5
The dining wait staff were superb. Nadia, Monica, and Unita (sp?) were very attentive, personable, and entertaining. Consider yourself lucky if you sit at one of their tables. Our cabin steward, Melvin, was very pleasant and welcoming. He kept our cabin very clean and tidy.
Ship Quality
5 out of 5
Many reviewers want to be very negative regarding this ship and its cleanliness. Is the Ecstasy a state-of-the-art seagoing vessel? Compared to the newer ships, no. However, we found her to be a Great Old Gal! There were crewmembers cleaning and performing every day maintenance constantly. They were very attentive to the needs of the elderly, LOL. If you are reading this review trying to decide whether or not to cruise this ship, please take into account that this is an older vessel. Like humans she has “wrinkles” and an occasional malodorous smell. However, she has been lovingly respected and continues to offer smooth voyages and FUN!
Cabin / Stateroom
4 out of 5
The room served its purpose providing us a quiet place to sleep. The bed was comfortable; the bathroom was adequate. Again, this is an older ship...enough said.
Ship tip
Remember, your cruise is what you make of it. Go have fun!
Do not judge this wonderful, historic city by the terminal itself. Charleston is a vacation spot enjoyed by many. Go exploring and see for yourself why the “Holy City” has been named year after year the top U.S. city for the World's Best Awards by Travel + Leisure.
We love Nassau and have been here many times. This time we chose to shop the cruise ship’s recommended shops. Let’s just say the Bahama Mamas were flowing. 😉 Señor Frogs was very enjoyable as well.
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