Quickie Ecstasy Review 5-19-16

Just off the Ecstasy today. This will be a very quick review, but hopefully I'll be able to do a more in depth one soon. In the meantime, feel free to ask any questions you'd like!

EMBARKATION: We were delayed 4 hours due to bad weather on the ship's return from Bermuda on the previous sailing. We got to the port around noon (knowing that it was likely we would not be let in since the e-mail stated boarding was postponed until 3), however they did allow us to do early drop off of our luggage. After walking around downtown for a little while, we returned to the port around 2:30.

Shortly before 3 we entered the gates and were VERY thankful for our FTTF! The Charleston port can be a bit strange and traffic gets backed up on the way to parking. Our FTTF allowed us to use the Express Lane reserved for Diamonds, Plats, and FTTF, which was wonderful with everyone arriving at the same time. Same thing once in the building, we went through the express lane for security and check-in. The longest we waited after entering the gate was (1) for the shuttle to take us from parking to the terminal and (2) for the check in guy to figure out how to apply my gift cards to my S&S, which he never figured out. If you have gift cards, it's much easier to apply them at guest services once on board!

Total time from entering the gate to stepping foot on the ship was right at 1 hour. That's awesome for Charleston!

MUSTER STATIONS: a total and complete cluster, at least in our station. The guy leading it had no idea what he was doing, his timing was completely off from the announcements being made, and although he stated in the beginning that we would walk up to the life boats, we were dismissed without doing this. As much as everyone (including me) dislikes going through all of this if you've sailed before, there were a LOT of blue cards on our ship that really needed to go through the entire thing just in case, IMO.

DINING: The first night was a mess because of delayed embarkation. Muster stations were at 6:15, so the timing for dinner was completely off. They did open seating in both dining rooms the first night. We went to the dining room 3 out of our 4 nights (1st, 2nd, & 4th - skipped it on port day). Wait staff was decent and the timing wasn't as bad as some reports I've read, so maybe they're getting it together now.

Dining room food was mediocre at best. Some of my usual favorites like the spring rolls & prime rib were quite disappointing. Ice cream was always melted by the time it got to us. The ribs served on formal night, however, were amazing! Luckily DH got those in addition to his prime rib and shared with me! :) We were comped a steakhouse dinner the last night by the casino and both of our steaks were horribly over cooked. All 3 steaks were well done even though 2 were ordered medium and the second ordered medium well.

Food on Lido was what we were used to from other sailings. Burgers & chicken tenders never disappoint and of course the pizza was great, probably the best food on the entire ship! We had no issues with the ice cream machine, as I've read in past reports.

Seaday brunches were very good as well. We enjoy the seated brunch over the Lido buffet.The steak served as part of the Steak & Eggs entree was cooked better than the steakhouse steaks were! The omelets were also very good. And the croissants served in the bread basket were still warm!

We found ourselves eating MUCH less than we have on previous cruises. Not sure if it was because of the quality of the food or what, but most days it was just breakfast & dinner, plus late night/early morning pizza after the casino.

ROOM: We got a basic interior and it was exactly what we expected. Tight for our family of 4, but we spend very little time in the room so it serves it's purpose. We had no noticeable issues with the room at all. We selected evening service and the steward did well. Not the personable service we've had on previous sailings, but he was efficient at his job and met each request we had, which weren't many.

SMOKING AREAS: Severely limited on this ship. One smallish section on Veranda (deck 11), half of the casino bar (which was always completely packed out) and the casino. We really missed the table area on Lido that was smoking on the Fantasy.

CLUB OCEAN: For the first time, I was a bit disappointed. My boys (ages 11 & 7) did not love it like they have on previous cruises and spent much less time there than they have in the past. Part of it is probably their age coupled with a smaller number of kids on board, but the activities seemed to be lacking as well. For the first time, my kids were the only ones staying for Night Owls, so there was never any parties and my kids called to leave by 10:30 each night. Bummer for mom for sure!!

DEBARKATION: It was a breeze with FTTF coupled with a porter. We woke up at 7:00, headed to our holding area about 7:30, and were waiting for a shuttle back to the car by 8:00. Hands down the fastest we've ever gotten off of a ship!

I think that's the highlights, but feel free to ask me any questions you have and I'll do my best to answer them!

Thanks for the feedback.

Thanks for the review. Very interesting.

We have done Fantasy and other ships out of Charleston (not Ecstasy yet) as we are locals so we know how the port more or less operates.

We board Sunshine in Charleston next Monday and have FTTF for the first time so that part of your review really got my attention and was very helpful.

Thanks again for sharing.

The FTTF got my attention as well. I have left from Charleston many times but never with FTTF. But I have never noticed an FTTF parking lane and I know for sure there has never been a priority security line, only check in line. OP, can you verify both of those? We leave Thursday on Sunshine with FTTF so I would be very curious to know about these two perks, and need to inform my other family members with FTTF. I have already specifically told them there is no priority security line.

Thanks for the review and in advance for the info!

Enjoyed reading your review.

Keith

We are headed back on the Ecstasy in September. We know she recently was switched from Camp Carnival to Camp Ocean. My kids are still in the 2-5 age group and did fine in this kids club and the previous club on Dream. Obviously, this ship is much older than the Dream but did you notice if they had spruced up the kids club rooms at all since switching to Camp Ocean? I just remember the play rooms not being as bright, etc. Could be that they don't really have a kids club facility/space like they do on the Dream and other newer ships? The rooms are kinda just there on the deck it seemed like. We had fun two years ago regardless but any thoughts, pics or feedback would be great! Thanks!

We are headed back on the Ecstasy in September. We know she recently was switched from Camp Carnival to Camp Ocean. My kids are still in the 2-5 age group and did fine in this kids club and the previous club on Dream. Obviously, this ship is much older than the Dream but did you notice if they had spruced up the kids club rooms at all since switching to Camp Ocean? I just remember the play rooms not being as bright, etc. Could be that they don't really have a kids club facility/space like they do on the Dream and other newer ships? The rooms are kinda just there on the deck it seemed like. We had fun two years ago regardless but any thoughts, pics or feedback would be great! Thanks!

This was our first sailing on the Ecstasy so I'm not sure if it's been updated or not. We have sailed a couple of times on the Fantasy (almost identical to Ecstasy) and the room on Ecstasy was decorated with a different scheme than that of Fantasy, which was still Camp Carnival on our last sailing. The kids room on Ecstasy felt a bit bare and my kids said there wasn't a lot to do there compared to Fantasy. But that may have been because there were so few children, hard to know for sure. I hope your kids enjoy!!

Good post. The Ecstasy was our first ever cruise. We have been on the Pride several times now because of convenience but we loved Ecstasy.

Ecstasy was my first cruise ship in 2002 so it holds a special place for me.

sandkps, THANKS so much for the review!

I'll be on her next month; first time on the Ecstasy and leaving from Charleston. Though I'm a local, I'm still concerned with embarkation - particularly getting to the initial gate; having to wait in a line of cars to even get that far, etc.

The FTTF got my attention as well. I have left from Charleston many times but never with FTTF. But I have never noticed an FTTF parking lane and I know for sure there has never been a priority security line, only check in line. OP, can you verify both of those? !

I'm also curious for verification there is a separate security line. I only recently heard of the FTTF parking lane I'm looking forward to.

Thanks again for sharing.

Is there a separate parking lane of FTTF, Diamond, etc? That would be fantastic considering the parking horror stories from Charleston.

Is there a separate parking lane of FTTF, Diamond, etc? That would be fantastic considering the parking horror stories from Charleston.

I've seen in two recent Ecstasy reviews that there is a FTTF/etc. parking lane, so I'm assuming that is correct. I'm leaving from Charleston soon and have heard the horror stories as well. You still have to get in the initial gate to get to the separate line - I've heard the line outside the gate can even be pretty backed up......

I'm still waiting to see if OP will confirm there was a separate FTTF security line. That's the first I've heard of this one.

sandkps, THANKS so much for the review!

 

I'll be on her next month; first time on the Ecstasy and leaving from Charleston. Though I'm a local, I'm still concerned with embarkation - particularly getting to the initial gate; having to wait in a line of cars to even get that far, etc.

 

 

 

I'm also curious for verification there is a separate security line. I only recently heard of the FTTF parking lane I'm looking forward to.

 

Thanks again for sharing.

There was a seperate security lane. When we got off the shuttles at the entrance to the building, we were advised to go to the furthest security lane that was reserved for diamond/plat, FTTF, and wheelchairs. We walked straight through with no wait at all, while the regular lanes were backed up almost to the door.

Is there a separate parking lane of FTTF, Diamond, etc? That would be fantastic considering the parking horror stories from Charleston.

Yes, there is. You have to wait with the main traffic to get into the gate and then inside the main gate until the first tented area, where they check your identification & boarding passes. At that time you are directed to a reserved lane for diamond/plats & FTTF. You will still park with everyone else and utilize the same shuttles, but you will get through the barricades and craziness of the gated area to the parking garage much more quickly than those without FTTF.

Thanks for the quickie.

Thank you for the updates. Heading to Charleston on Sunday!

Thank you for the updates. Heading to Charleston on Sunday!

No problem! Enjoy your cruise!

Are you on the Sunshine?

We are on the ecstasy. Looks like we are going to be battling a tropical system.

Oh no! I hope the captain can find some smooth sailing for you!!

Thanks for the report!

There was a seperate security lane. When we got off the shuttles at the entrance to the building, we were advised to go to the furthest security lane that was reserved for diamond/plat, FTTF, and wheelchairs. We walked straight through with no wait at all, while the regular lanes were backed up almost to the door.

Thanks so much for the additional information.

Yes, there is. You have to wait with the main traffic to get into the gate and then inside the main gate until the first tented area, where they check your identification & boarding passes. At that time you are directed to a reserved lane for diamond/plats & FTTF. You will still park with everyone else and utilize the same shuttles, but you will get through the barricades and craziness of the gated area to the parking garage much more quickly than those without FTTF.

We are trying to pack very lightly for our cruise. If we end up being able to fit it all in our carry ons; do we still go thru the initial driving line, to the first tented area for ID and then get directed to the parking garage?

I guess I'm asking if the parking garage is inside the gated area, or is it someplace else I would head to if I have no checked luggage?

We enjoyed cruising on the Ecstasy twice when she used to sail round trip from Galveston, TX. A great little ship!

Thanks for your review. Happy cruising wherever you go next!