So let me start this by saying that I have been on the Carnival Dream, Valor, Magic and Victory before booking the Ecstasy. We booked this cruise as a quick winter get away from the cold here in Michigan. I knew it was a Fantasy class ship which meant it was smaller than the one I had been on but I didn't know that EVERYTHING would be less. Less quality food, service...just everything.

We booked a Balcony room on this ship for 2 people and it was $900. A Balcony room on the Magic ran us $1530 so there is come perspective. When we first walked on the MS Ecstasy, it smelled, literally. It smelled like sewer. Our room Stewart who was nice said that it always smells like this on embarkation day and it should go away soon.

From there we went to the Lido deck and it was so crowded. The pools, hot tubs, bars and buffet lines just had people everywhere. This ship was loaded with people (but with interior rooms going for $225, I get it). Read more