Okay cruise to Bahamas
Carnival Ecstasy Cruise Review to Caribbean - Bahamas
Contributor Level:
Purser
Cruises: 7+ cruises
Reviews: 2
Helpful Votes: 40
5 Night Bahamas (Charleston Roundtrip)
Sail date: February 10, 2019
Ship: Carnival Ecstasy
Cabin type: Inside
Traveled as: Family (older children)
Reviewed: 5 years ago
Review summary
Our cruise had been planned for months and it was the first time all the girls in my family had gone on vacation together without the spouses and children. We drove 8 hours to Charleston and one of my neices flew from South Bend, IN. Embarkation went very smoothly. We got into our cabins fairly quickly. They were small but adequate. We ate most nights in the dining room and the food was okay but nothing spectular. The best meal I had was the brunch that had on sea day. I have steak and eggs which was absolutely delicious. Since my sister was on Oxygen and having a lot of difficulty with the defusoe she was frustrated the entire trip and thus unable to go ashore and to top that off she got pneumonia. The younger girls went to Princess Cay and said it was nice and the water was clear and beautiful. The lunch they had was very good. All but my sister went ashore to Nassau and we walked around on our own and shopped on Bay Street. I didn't feel uncomfortable there but we didn't go into the straw market. We ate at Hard Rock and it was very expensive. l wanted to go to Atlantis but we didn't have time. All in all the cruise was nice and was a nice distraction for us who had found out the night we embarked that my brother in law ( my sister's husband and my neices father) had passed away. We knew he was very ill and on hospice and he so wanted us to go on the cruise so we went to honor his wishes.Embarkation
Our Embarkation experience was excellent. It went smoothly. Two of us had to be escorted onto the ship by wheelchair and everyone was so attentive to help to make sure we got on the ship safely
Ship experiences
Food and Dining
I have been on a lot of cruises and the food was just okay. Most of it didn't have any taste or too much seasoning. For example the Salmon was overcooked and was very fishy. The desserts were amazing. I tried different ones every night and they were all delicious.
Onboard Activities
We didn't really do too many activities due to our mobility restraints. Mostly did a lot of people watching and reading.
Entertainment
The first show was to be an 80's review and I was really looking forward to it but the crew were ill and couldn't do the show. They did fly in a person from Broadway and at first I thought this will be boring but her was very good. Other than that we didn't go to any other shows.
Service and Staff
Everyone was friendly and helpful as we were using rollators and they had to be put somewhere out of the way. I never really saw our room steward. I know he kept the room clean and he would wave from a distance. The dining crew were friendly and very helpful.
Ship Quality
The ship was small compared to others I have been on but it easy to navigate and find things. My one complaint was that smoking was allowed in the casino. Yes there was a smoking section and non smoking but you could't keep the smoke from going over to non smoking area. I am highly allergic to smoke and tried my best to avoid it but that was impossible. I am now sick with upper respiratory infection and I know that is partly the reason.
Cabin / Stateroom
The cabin was small which is to be expected but very crowded with two rollaters. Next time I go I will pay extra for a larger room. Other than that the room was fine. There was a smell of sewage when we first got on but we had a room deodorazier and that helped.
Ship tip
Don't expect to go to Casino if you are sensitive to cigerate smoke
Thumbs up
0
Ports of call
We stayed the night before we sailed and the night we got back. We took one of the carriage rides and than went shopping downtown market and than outlet mall. I would like to have spent more time exploring the historical areas but had to go with the flow.
Only went shopping on Bay Streeet which was fine. My daughter and neices pushed me in a wheelchair so that was an added pleasure. I was not afraid like alot of the posts said but we did not go to straw market. I wish we would have had time to go to Atlantis. Most of the excursions are not equiped for someone handicapped.
Disembarkation
It went smoothly also-took us off in wheelchair those that needed it and than took us to where our van was and we loaded luggage. We were riding around and my daughter got an email that her luggage had been left so had to go back to customs to pick it up. Once we got back to the hotel and discovered had accidently picked up some elses CPAP so we called Carnival and they said to leave at hotel and they would pick up and track down the person who had left it.