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Carnaval Ecstacy April 2012
This cruise was booked for my husband birthday, and to have more time in Key West.. It was an ok, cruise, but not over the top.
Embarkation was easy in Port Canaveral. We arrived about 11:30 and was on board about 11:45. The ship is neat and clean.. very bold colors and impressive art forms around the ship. We headed to the Lido deck for lunch.. the food was lukewarm at best, but we ate lunch and then explored the ship. Our room R183 was ready at 1:30 and our luggage arrived about 2:00.
Spent the afternoon on pool deck, taking pictures, then spending time in the sanctuary adult area, Nice area with 2 hot tubs. Dinner was very slow with slower service ever. Seems the staff was totally overwhelmed. Didn't finish dinner till almost 7:45.
The skies opened up and continued through the next day. Sunday was Key West and a beautiful day,but the rain continued just before we were to leave. The next day was a sea day and it poured all day again. The next 2 days were Nassau and Freeport.
As for onboard.. there was a problem with the hot tubs.. they were overly hot, and it didn't seem that they could get them regulated. There was NO entertainment to speak of.. no steel drum band, no Carrabean music.. nothing to keep you entertained. Quest was the first night at 11pm,but didn't go. All onboard deck games (ice carving, hairy chest) were cancelled due to the weather.
Entertainment was the same shows as all the other Carnival ships we have been on, and as far as the dancers, there were 6 female dancers and one male. 2 head singers. The Captains welcome party was held in the promenade, but they only did $1 off of the drink prices. There was a welcome back party, but at no time did they ever introduce the staff during the cruise.
The food in the dining room was fair.. warm, never hot, and slow. I did remember that you could order desserts off of the kids menu, so we had banana splits on several nights. They did have Lobster, Prime Rib, but no escargot, no Filet, or a decent steak.
As for tipping, it used to be that you had an envelope to hand your waiter, etc. Now with automatic tipping, I guess they know they already get it. The Maitre D never came around the dining room at all.
All in all it was a quiet cruise to relax .
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