This was our second cruise on the Ecstacy. The first time was in 1995, when the ship was only four years old! I was anxious to see how Carnival had treated her over the last twenty years... what a nice surprise! Embarkation was okay, We got to the terminal at 1:45 and it took about an hour to get on the ship. The check in staff was efficient and helpful, I feel like we just got there at the busiest time. Everyone in line waited very patiently as they all knew we were getting ready to cruise! Our room steward, was very attentive, eager to please and always smiling. He had the room ready when we arrived and kept it looking sharp all weekend...and the ice bucket was always full! The overall appearance of the ship was great, all the common areas (lounges, restrooms) had been tastefully updated. It didn't feel 25 years old. The ship is small compared to the last ship we were on...The RC Oasis of the Seas; but it was big enough! There were always padded lounges available on the serenity deck, the gym was never too busy, the only time it felt crowded was waiting for food at the poolside grill, and the buffet style breakfast at the Panorama Grill. We had "your time dining" and it worked fantastic! Dinner in the Wind Star dining room anytime between 5:45 and 9:30 pm, our waiter Marlon was great, we had him the first night and then just requested his section the following two nights, He called us by name the first night and then every time he saw us on the ship! One of the Junior Hostesses in the dining room, Sheryll, was so friendly and thoughtful we thought she must have been at it for a long time... she had just been promoted a month before. The food was plentiful and delicious. We got the soda package (about $6+ per day) for two of us and it is not as convenient as it is on other ships, you have to scan your seapass and get them filled at a bar, or at dinnertime, no soda machines... still a good value, just not as convenient. Baboo the Magician in the dining room was a great entertainer! James the cruise director was just tremendous, he kept the shows lively and his announcements were always fun to listen to. There was always something fun to do, always some sort of dance party going on! even on Sunday night! (very important on a three day party cruise!) The shows, Brits and Motown; were both great, only 45 minutes long, but they had two shows staggered so both the early and late diners could see them on consecutive nights. Both comedians were very good! Percy Crews 2 and the funny Cuban guy... you should have said your name one more time! To sum it all up, Carnival has delivered the fun on all four of our cruises with them, regardless of the ships size the staff is always up to the task at hand... making our vacation great! The weather was perfect the whole trip, calm seas, cloudless blue skies, spectacular oceans... the crew was constantly cleaning, wiping stair rails , washing windows...repainting the white on the hull while we were in Nassau! It was truly amazing. Thank you Carnival for a great 3 1/2 days! Yep, I said great or wonderful too many times, I agree.. so easy to please I guess, isn't that great.
Our ocean view cabin was roomy, the layout was excellent for three of us, the single bed folded out of a wall unit four feet off the ground,(with a ladder) and the king size bed was very comfortable with high quality linens and comforter. The bathroom was a great layout with a generous sink and plenty of towel racks! The shower was spacious and drained well (other reviews have complained about that) The room was very quiet on the seventh floor, even though the galley was on the floor above us, never heard a sound! Conveniently located right next to the stairs and elevators, one floor up to the dining room! On the back quarter of the ship!