Sunshine or Ectasy?

[mrsfitz23]

Would like some feedback on these two shops to help us decide which to choose. 

 

Both cruises are about the same price and the same distance from us. 

 

Sunshine- we’d get a balcony and it’s a 4-day with one port (Nassau)

 

Ectasy- we’d get an interior  (not a balcony) and it’s a 5 day (two ports- Nassau and Princess Cay)

 

We won’t get off in Nassau and may or may not get off in Princess Cay. We tend to enjoy the uncrowded boat on port days 😀

 

So which Cruise would you pick if you were us? 

[evandbob]

If I were you and you didn't care about the ports or the ship, I would just base a decision on the longer length of the cruise, ergo Ecstasy.  You don't say if cabin preference enters your decision, so I'm thinking the inside wouldn't be an issue for you instead of a balcony.

 

If I were me, I wouldn't book either choice, the ships, the itineraries and the length of the cruises are all unappealing to me.

[Purvis1231]

We love the Fantasy class ships but if you have been on one you have been on he all so I would go with the Sunshine. 

[mrsfitz23]

1 hour ago, evandbob said:

If I were you and you didn't care about the ports or the ship, I would just base a decision on the longer length of the cruise, ergo Ecstasy.  You don't say if cabin preference enters your decision, so I'm thinking the inside wouldn't be an issue for you instead of a balcony.

 

If I were me, I wouldn't book either choice, the ships, the itineraries and the length of the cruises are all unappealing to me.

We’ve always stayed in interior rooms and have never had a balcony but it may be nice to enjoy the view outside our room in the morning. We are not much about excursions. That’s why we don’t care what the ports are. 

[mrsfitz23]

33 minutes ago, Purvis1231 said:

We love the Fantasy class ships but if you have been on one you have been on he all so I would go with the Sunshine. 

 

I’ll be honest. All the cruise ships we’ve ever been on have seemed the same to me. I wouldn’t even know the difference between ships. That being said, we’ve only been on 3 Carnival cruises (4 cruises total) : Fascination, Freedom, and Dream, so we are still quite rookies to cruising. 

[scpirate]

6 hours ago, mrsfitz23 said:

 

I’ll be honest. All the cruise ships we’ve ever been on have seemed the same to me. I wouldn’t even know the difference between ships. That being said, we’ve only been on 3 Carnival cruises (4 cruises total) : Fascination, Freedom, and Dream, so we are still quite rookies to cruising. 

I feel the same way.

[Garth2]

Ecstasy.  Ships.  It's a ship, not a boat.

[mikenbon]

We loved the Sunshine - it's our favourite ship so far. We found the Ecstasy to be one of our least favourites. 

[SNJCruisers]

On 8/4/2019 at 2:06 PM, mrsfitz23 said:

 

I’ll be honest. All the cruise ships we’ve ever been on have seemed the same to me. I wouldn’t even know the difference between ships. That being said, we’ve only been on 3 Carnival cruises (4 cruises total) : Fascination, Freedom, and Dream, so we are still quite rookies to cruising. 

The 3 ships you have been on are all different classes as well as sizes.  The Fascination (70 K tons) is the oldest, built in 1994 and was the 4th of 8 Fantasy Class ships.  The Freedom (110 K tons), from 1997 was the 5th of 8 Conquest Class ships.  The Dream (130 K tons), from 2009 was the 1st of 3 Dream Class ships.

I can see you possibly not noticing differences between a 110 and a 130 ton ship, but the Fantasy Class ships are old rust buckets for the most part that appeal to people that like to go on shorter length cruises from less crowded ports of embarkation.  I personally would choose the Sunshine because I will never set foot on a Fantasy Class ship again.  They have long ago been in my rear view mirror.

Edited August 6, 2019 by SNJCruisers

[skridge]

13 hours ago, Garth2 said:

Ecstasy.  Ships.  It's a ship, not a boat.

Who elected you to be the vocabulary police of the board.  People amaze me.  I have been on both of these boats and loved them both.

 

[PhillyFan33579]

7 hours ago, mikenbon said:

We loved the Sunshine - it's our favourite ship so far. We found the Ecstasy to be one of our least favourites. 

 

I understand favorite ships is very subjective, but we are on opposite sides of the fence.  We have been on 12 Carnival ships and Sunshine is our least favorite ship. We still enjoyed our cruise on Sunshine, but it is the only Carnival ship my wife and I have no desire to go on again. 

[RRLLAL]

That’s a tough call.

 

Based on the ship alone I’d go with the sunshine. Plus you’re getting the balcony for the same price.

 

BUT, at the same price I’d take the extra day on a cruise every day of the week. 

[jimbo5544]

Been on both, would def choose the Sunshine.

[Alabaster Cruiser]

1 hour ago, PhillyFan33579 said:

 

I understand favorite ships is very subjective, but we are on opposite sides of the fence.  We have been on 12 Carnival ships and Sunshine is our least favorite ship. We still enjoyed our cruise on Sunshine, but it is the only Carnival ship my wife and I have no desire to go on again. 

Totally agree.  We were on an Ultra casino cruise on the Sunshine in April and found it to be very dirty.  Not a fan of this ship.

[mrsfitz23]

Well we decided with the balcony on Sunshine based on it having a few more things than the other so we will see. It will be the shortest cruise we’ve been on. Thanks for everyone’s feedback! 

[cruzeluver]

Good choice. We sail on several different lines (no loyalty here) and Sunshine is the only Carnival ship we have selected multiple times (going back again in October). Just not a fan of the Fantasy class ships (of which Ecstasy is part). Very dated looking and tired looking.

[keywest1]

We've sailed on both and enjoyed both cruises.

Just a note about the 4 day cruise--they tend to have more of a party vibe.  Not to say you won't have a great cruise, but our four day cruise had the rowdiest crowd and the best people watching 🙂  Sunshine does have a spectacular Serenity area as well as areas on both sides of deck 3 that tend to be quieter.  One side of deck 3 used to be smoking, but not sure if that's still the case. 

[KmomChicago]

On 8/5/2019 at 6:17 PM, Garth2 said:

Ecstasy.  Ships.  It's a ship, not a boat.

 

Except for the problem that the TV show that saved this then-dying industry called it a boat. And we Gen xers have like a 90 year estimated lifespan.

 

The Love Ship just doesn’t have the ring to it.

[mom2oneXY]

On 8/5/2019 at 5:17 PM, Garth2 said:

Ecstasy.  Ships.  It's a ship, not a boat.

 

So helpful in answering the OP question. 🙄

 

Since you're planning on staying on board at ports, I'd say Sunshine.  Sailing her in 12 days!  Can't wait!

Edited August 7, 2019 by mom2oneXY

[averyjenn]

I've been on both and would choose the Sunshine, they have the spa thermal suite package and more specialty restaurants.