Very disappointed in Ecstasy

[inv106]

First of all before any haters jump on board I am just giving an opinion. I love Carnival have been on 8 cruises now. It has been about 2 years since our last voyage and we were excited about going on Ecstasy. We just got back from the 12/05/11 trip and was so disappointed. We still had a good time though. The food was very very bland. The buffet was not worth waiting in line. And how does someone mess up pizza? Not a whole lot of change in the dining room menu from night to night. The service was extremely slow but they were nice. Between courses we would wait for approximately 20 to 25 minutes. Some people were getting up and walking out. The cruise director and staff was very lets say not up to date on anything fun. The director played a fiddle yes i said it a fiddle. A nice guy but a director? There seemed to never be any organization. The disco that is suppose to be open after 10 for adults some nights was and some not. On positive note half moon cay was great! One of best ports ever. The comedy clubs was really good. Other than that just not good. Also since when did carnival stop serving fruit punch and juice? Really? Just lemonade and unsweet tea. I did buy a coke card as usual but they just really seemed to have cut back on alot. Yes I am planning another cruise on Carnival and I am not bashing but seems pretty bad on some of there cut backs. Have they done this on all the ships recently as far as food and beverage?

[ruthlessboss]

My goodness, What cruise were you on? First, the punch disappeared due to spillage and constant carpet stains. Te menu on the left is a constant, I saw variety on the right. If service was poor, it was likely your particular server, or a demanding table elsewhere. I saw one of those tables this month on Liberty. Everyone else suffered, the server was constantly there trying to please them.

[Snoozeman]

I like Steve Cassel as an entertainer and CD and think he is a good fit for the ship. I tend to agree with you about the overall quality and service slipping over the years. I recently sailed the Ecstasy and noted in my review some of the same points you have presented.

[Snoozeman]

Originally Posted by inv106

...Also since when did carnival stop serving fruit punch and juice? Really? Just lemonade and unsweet tea. I did buy a coke card as usual but they just really seemed to have cut back on alot. Yes I am planning another cruise on Carnival and I am not bashing but seems pretty bad on some of there cut backs. Have they done this on all the ships recently as far as food and beverage?

It's been more than two years since they cut back the fruit punch...I think the real reason was that it was being used for mixers. Yes it is fleet wide, but they do have it in the crew mess.

[Trip]

Ten people cruise, it's likely you could hear ten different experiences. The table next to you can have stellar service,and you can have the dregs. This has happened to us, a couple of times.

Each cruiser posts on their own paricular experiences, and, what was true to them on their cruise.

Like food. entertainment and the cd who fronts it, is subjective...John Heald for example has legions of fans,and many who say... he is not my style...the guy next to you could be grinning and clapping up a storm,and you can be ..huh??

Your cruise, your set of expriences. Inv106...glad you had a good time in spite of some of the issues. I agree..HMC is a slice of paradise!

[inv106]

No it wasnt just my table that was lacking service. It was the entire dining hall. We went every night. I know the menu to the left is the same. I am saying the one on the right was very dull. We had a different group at our table than us and the complaints were the same. I have never experienced the food being bad until this time. Again i have been on 8 and enjoyed them all. This one one was just bad. The service was very slow our dining staff was very nice. But I dont know I guess it was kitchen couldnt keep up. Even the buffet was very bland. Ok and can you explain to me baked beans with breakfast? Im from the south and have never seen it. Everyone was commenting about that too.

[Trip]

Beans and eggs are very popular in New England. My husband had it yesterday I would not eat grits, but you probably do

[inv106]

Thats a first on me with the beans along with the other 100 people in line. lol

[flowers]

I happen to think Steve is as good as any fiddle player you would see in Branson. We loved him out of Galveston.

wish Carnival would send Steve back to go out of Galveston, because fiddling is big here.

The same type of activities are on most all Carnival cruises... maybe what you are noticing is just the cut backs.

[inv106]

Flowers you are correct he was a outstanding fiddle player. I just dont think the cruise director position fit. Maybe its his support cast. I had a good time. Just nothing was organized on this particular sailing.

[Trip]

Inv106..I forgot to say....welcome to Cruisemates.

[ruthlessboss]

Originally Posted by Trip

Beans and eggs are very popular in New England. My husband had it yesterday I would not eat grits, but you probably do

O, how true. My friend I cruised with ate grits and butter every breakfast, I couldn't stand to look. Now, beans? Yum. And nothing like a bean sandwich!

[inv106]

lol thanks trip I have been a member for a while. I had to change my name when my email address changed a couple years ago and I couldnt remember login or password.

[Trip]

Gee,and we have been waiting for you around here..so, now we expect many posts..comments and opinions,and maybe we'll do lunch after the holidays.......welcome to the new you!!

[inv106]

You cant be serious! Baked beans and eggs. Sounds like I am back in the military and eating Sh@t on a shingle. And now a bean sandwich lol. No wonder you have no complaints about carnivals food. lol thats a joke

[ruthlessboss]

Originally Posted by inv106

You cant be serious! Baked beans and eggs. Sounds like I am back in the military and eating Sh@t on a shingle. And now a bean sandwich lol. No wonder you have no complaints about carnivals food. lol thats a joke

I'm sorry I guess you are SPECIAL

[Fern]

Originally Posted by inv106

You cant be serious! Baked beans and eggs. Sounds like I am back in the military and eating Sh@t on a shingle. And now a bean sandwich lol. No wonder you have no complaints about carnivals food. lol thats a joke

Bean's on toast is a very popular breakfast in the UK. You don't put the egg's anywhere near the beans !

[flowers]

Originally Posted by inv106

Flowers you are correct he was a outstanding fiddle player. I just dont think the cruise director position fit. Maybe its his support cast. I had a good time. Just nothing was organized on this particular sailing.

Odd how different people react. I think because his crew loves him, they are one of the best crews, and thats why they win that crystal award more than any other ship.

Steve started out as a juggler as I remember on Carnival. I would much rather a multi talented CD who juggles and plays the fiddle than most of them who were lame comedians who now think its amusing to dress in drag every cruise. You can have those CDs who think they are so funny. Im tired of the dressing in drag and the same corny jokes. They have no talent.

I guess if you are not into country, maybe Steve is wasted moving him to a cruise out of Florida.

Im not eating beans for breakfast myself. lol. Iv heard some jewish people who want their bagels and lox? carnival only has smoked salmon, not lox. I guess everyone wants something different for breakfast. Im a eggs and bacon gal when someone else is cooking. bean sandwich .. I dont think so!!

[Snoozeman]

Originally Posted by flowers

...thats why they win that crystal award more than any other ship...

I mentioned in my last review the Crystal Eagle, but also predicted that they will never win another. I went back and read previous reviews and the Ecstacy has slipped....

[Aerogirl]

MDR on Freedom was very slow also. Kind of makes you not want to eat there or at least that's how I felt by the third night.

[flowers]

MDR on Triumph was also very very slow .. I think its becoming typical of all ships that they have too many people to wait on.

[Fern]

Originally Posted by flowers

Iv heard some jewish people who want their bagels and lox? carnival only has smoked salmon, not lox. I guess everyone wants something different for breakfast.

Just FYI, lox IS smoked salmon. I think you probably knew that .

[Trip]

Fern, you took the words right out of my mouth

[Manuel]

I believe that service and the quality of food in the MDR has slipped in all cruiselines.
They want you to go to one of the specialty restaurants and spend some money.

TM

[Barryn514]

lox IS smoked salmon.

mmmm, every morning, delivered to stateroom.

[flowers]

Originally Posted by Fern

Just FYI, lox IS smoked salmon. I think you probably knew that .

Someone lectured me it is not the same as what Carnival serves. Sorry, I dont know why they believed it to be different.

Beats me.. I want bacon for breakfast, not salmon, uck.

I was just listening to them talk. I'm Irish and raised that there should be potatoes at every meal. Each to their own.

[lhp]

Sailed on the Ecstasy on one of the cruises from New Orleans in October....

not my best cruise but still got my money's worth.

I am not impressed with Steve as a CD, but no one is going to please every cruiser.