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    Carnival Ecstasy Cruise Ship

    3.0 (47 reviews)

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    Slide on board
    Nancy O.

    I was expecting not stellar but maybe mid level service considering its an old ship. I have to admit I was wrong to the max. The staff aboard this ship is by far the best service I've experienced. I was able to touch almost every area of service from customer service to room service to bar and dining. The customer service representatives were the nicest I've ever dealt with. Each one of them regardless of the long lines made you feel special and took their time making sure your needs were met. When they did get something wrong. They made sure to correct it by offering complimentary coffee vouchers on them. The dinner food options were superb and they allow you to ask for multiple orders at once. If you're a big drinker, I would suggest to buy the "cheers program," it's $50 per day per person. The restrictions that apply include for example, if there's two people staying in the stateroom each person must purchase the program. There were two people in my stateroom therefore the total was $344 and change for both. Originally, If you start purchasing drinks prior to buying the program and then decide to buy the program then the drinks purchased prior to the program will be factored in. The program allows for a 15 drink max per day, per person. It's worth it so buy it. The average drink costs $10. Cheers! Have fun!

    Drink umbrellas!
    Wendy C.

    We weren't expecting anything special on this cruise as we knew it was an older ship. It was the only cruise that fit the dates that we needed and that we had never been on. My hubby and I have taken many cruises in our almost 8 years as a married couple and this was the 3rd with the kids (22 & 19) First off - Embarking and Disembarking was easy breezy and one of the most organized I've experienced in all the years cruising. We arrived early as we like to be one of the first on board and hit the buffet before the lines are crazy and explore the ship. We were ushered through security quickly, up the escalator to get our cruise cards and right onto the ship. The process took 10-15 minutes! Wowsa! Getting off the ship was also a breeze and we were allowed to leave earlier then anticipated. (We opted to take our own luggage off) Food - not best but not the worst either. My favorite is their chocolate lava cake which they are known for. Definitely a must try. DO NOT order the pumpkin pie as it is more like pumpkin jello and my husband was sure he could bounce a quarter in it. We opted for the dining room breakfast on all days but the morning we were leaving. The food is made to order and it's much more relaxed and enjoyable. On our sea day they made it a brunch. Highly recommend the dining room breakfast. For me lunch was eh. I opted for the salad bar. Excursions - we had such little time in Key West we just walked around and hit all the shops and restaurants we wanted to hit. Our favorite spots were Croissants de France on Duval street (see separate review) and the Pepper Store on Greene street. And don't leave Key West without a slice of frozen Keylime pie on a stick. You'll be in heaven. Cozumel, Mexico - we booked the salsa and salsa excursion. 5 stars for sure! $70 a person for the 4 1/2 hour excursion which includes taxi to and from the port, 2 margarita recipes (and very generous and free flowing) then 5 salsa recipes and 1 guacamole recipe. Lots chips for the dips, a quesadilla to share with your partner and the same for the toquitoes. After that part is when the salsa dancing lesson commences but we opted to skip it for extra pool time. The pool was quite large and my son and I got in on a water volleyball game which was lots of fun. Onboard Entertainment - there were lots of activities to do on the ship but we never got to do all of them. We planned on going to a comedy show but usually ended up in the casino instead. My hubby was thrilled that there was a Texas Hold em game and I played roulette and craps and walked away ahead on both. I also played the lowest bingo amount ($20) for 3 out of 4 sessions and won $198 during one of the games on the last day. So I am quite thrilled! Trivia games were fun and we had a fun night at the piano bar on the first night singing along. We also spent time by the pool either taking a dip or reading. Cabins - my hubby and I had a balcony room. It had plenty of storage space and I enjoyed sitting on the balcony and it's great for drying wet bathing suits. The kids were across the hall in an inside cabin. They arranged the beds along each wall to optimize their space. Our steward provided what we needed and the room was cleaned in the AM with turndown at night. They ask you you're preferences at the beginning of the cruise. All in all a nice 4 day cruise and excellent price.

    Pool deck. New years eve countdown
    CJ H.

    This was my first New Years Eve cruise. This was also my first cruise on carnival. I typically sail on NCL, or RCCL. If you have never cruised during the holidays, expect to pay nearly double the rate of a regular cruise due to the high demand. Being a solo cruiser, this didn't bother me as I often pay 200%, which NCL offers solo rooms, which are fantastic. Carnival take note! The ship itself was older, but didn't bother me much. The color schemes in the ship were very odd! Embarkation: The embarkation process was efficient. Unfortunately, they didn't start boarding until 12:45, and I was on the boat at about 1:15. Carnival offers faster to the fun for $49.95, which allows you, and your group on the boat before the first group is boarded. If you are at the port early enough, your chances of being in the first group are pretty good. In my opinion, it wasn't worth the added cost. Cabin - I stayed in a inside cabin on deck 6. The cabin was quite large, with adequate storage space. There was also very little boat noise, and other noises from the hall couldn't be heard. I recommend deck 6 for inside cabins on this ship. Service - The service was ok. I didn't see my cabin steward for the duration of the cruise, which was a disappointing first for me! Room service was quite good, and offered a extensive menu for no additional up-charge. I didn't opt for the beverage package. Mixed drinks are typically $8-$10, and beer is about $6, which is on par with other cruise line prices. I would recommend the beverage package as it only takes several drinks each day to break even. Food - I typically don't complain about cruise food, but the food was horrible! The Ecstacy has plenty of food options, especially on the buffet, but it was all low quality. The dining room is usually my first choice for dining, but again the food was worse in the dining room! I was seated in the middle of the dining room, and they were unable to accommodate me to a more secluded table. Being a solo traveler, I felt that this was abnormal, especially with a lot of open tables. Also, they play the same loud music that should be kept by the pool in the dining room. Don't get me started about the waiters dancing in the dining, this was a bit awkward! The sea day brunch was also very bad, and I order the filet, which was very low quality. For some reason, I had to ask my waiter five times to bring me coffee, and again I hate to complain! Entertainment - In my opinion, this is the only thing that makes Carnival stand out. The comedy club was excellent. The comedy shows were geared towards adults and were very funny. The comedians didn't hold back, that's for sure! The nightclubs were also very good! The theatrical shows were average. The new years eve party was a blast! I highly recommend a new years cruise for the NYE party! Ports - Key West, and Cozumel. Key West is one of my favorite ports. Some people wonder why you would cruise to Key West when you can drive. I think it is a more affordable way to see Key West in opinion. I opted for the Ultimate water sports excursion. Though pricey, it was a blast. In Cozumel, I did the ATV adventure, which was fun. Several notes: we docked in Key West at 8am, and left at 230pm. This didn't provide enough time. It was a 90 minute wait for the trolley back to the ship. This was absurd as it was 85 outside, and the excursion got back at 1pm, and they didn't provide water! Carnival doesn't provide priority disembarkation for guests that book a excursion through them. It took over an hour to get off the ship and meet up with the excursion specialist in Cozumel! Carnival should mirror other cruise lines and give priority to guests who book excursions. Disembarkation - The disembarkation process was painfully slow. I have never waited in such a long line to get off the ship. I elected to carry off my bags which should be straight forward. It took about 75 minutes to get off the ship, before I reached customs! Kudos if you made it through my lengthy review! Overall, I would advise you to review all your other options with other cruise lines before booking this ship. I couldn't help but to think that the mentality on this ship was that of a herding process with Carnival. This is especially true, at all the buffets, and at the ports of call, and to even disembark the ship. Sadly, this was my first and last cruise on Carnival! Cheers!

    The "ship on a stick" from winning a game
    Lori W.

    Went out of Galveston, Tx on a 5 day cruise down to Cozumel... This was my first carnival cruise experience. The ship needs some revamping. It was clean. The staff was fun... Compared to the bigger ships this one was just ok. Had to open doors with all the wind coming through... Room was good. Won a "ship on a stick" you get these when you win a game. It was a cheap cruise to getaway. Would not recommend this older, small ship. But if your a first time cruiser this might be the ship for you as its not so confusing and smaller crowd. Food was great.

    Sam P.

    First off--do your research before you book a cruise and set your expectations accordingly. This ship was built in 1991, and while it has been updated many times, it is smaller and feels more outdated than other ships. That being said, the food is great, the service and entertainment are wonderful, and the Bahamas are beautiful! Given that we paid $220 a person total for the cruise and we got a room with a window, we had low expectations. Our expectations were exceeded! The pool area is beautiful, the casino is in good shape (with craps table), there was a fantastic band playing outside the casino each night (magic tractors), and the dinners were lovely and elegant. If you can avoid the buffets and stick to the restaurant for most meals, you should be delighted with the food. We didn't make it to any of the shows or comedy acts but we heard good things from others. When it comes to Nassau, you can have a great time without booking any excursions. We take a taxi to Atlantis ($4/ person). You can walk through the inside and the gorgeous outside for FREE. This can take over an hour to walk through! Then, walk down to the beach near/ around the corner from the Atlantis and their are chairs you can rent for $10 a person for the full day (you need to haggle for all things in Nassau, they will likely ask you for more up front because they expect you to haggle). There are guys under tents selling 'cocktails in a coco' (all you can drink) for $15-20 a person. Soak up the sun, sand, water, and drinks :) Anyhow, for what we paid, we were very happy with our relaxing and fun-filled 3-night cruise!

    Dessert area at the buffet
    Yuka N.

    Ecstasy was my 5th Carnival cruise and the 1st time I used the Faster to the Fun pass. It was $49.95 for everybody in your party and I thought it was totally worth it!!! You get to check in VIP style starting from the airport to the port. We got to stay in a separate room where they offered ice cold water. Priority embarkation and debarkation, along with getting in line to get off to ports. This was a 4 day cruise with only 2 destinations, Key West and Cozumel. The ship is smaller but since I always take Dramamine throughout the cruise, I don't feel the motion in the ocean. Personally, I've never encountered any problems on any of the Carnival cruise lines. Since the ship is not registered in the US, they hire people from around the world. The staff work extremely hard and I've talked to some of them. The interior of this ship is clean but I think it should be updated. While on board, you are not allowed to use cash (unless it's gratuity) or you may not use a credit card. They give you a card that you use throughout your entire trip, for everything. You either pay cash or just charge it on your credit card at the end. The food: Buffet food is ok. You get your money's worth when you eat in the dining room. They have different items and it's delicious!!! Tip for the 1st time cruisers... Get as many dishes as you want. It's all Free!!! There was a couple sitting near our table and the lady kept looking at me because I was order multiple dishes all at once. Who cares? You're never gonna see them again!!! Lol Entertainment: Excellent Broadway style entertainers nightly. Game shows are fun to watch Ports: Not enough time in Key West and not much to do on the small island. Cozumel was fun but again, not enough time as one tour clashed with the other tour times. I can go on and on about when it comes to cruises. Overall, I enjoyed cruising on the Ecstasy.

    Carolyn C.

    So the easiest way to write this review in my opinion is by category, so here it goes: FOOD: Our package included the buffet located on the main deck and also dinner at night and brunch on certain days on floor 8/9. The food at the buffet stations were the same everyday except that the inside buffet had a different "flavor" each day. So while we were there (January 4-8, 2016) we experienced All American, French, and Italian food on and off. This is my first cruise so I wasn't sure what to expect and with that said, what I experienced was very different to what I thought I paid for. Yes, this was indeed a very "inexpensive" cruise, so I feel like that is the main reason why the food was lacking. I am a very healthy eater and the super high calorie intake for the last five days was due to the amount of carbs they had available and lack of meat. The salad bars were gross with spoons and forks all touched by hundreds of people and just laying in the food (YUCK). The ice cream machines in the back only worked correctly one day we were there and the desserts available on the sides were also the same as the salad bar (except small children could reach and touch the food too). The additional eateries in the back was a pizza place and deli. Both places always had the longest lines and had the worst customer service--they seriously hated their jobs and made it well known. The room service was available all day and even very late at night and they had free options that was included in your package and also a few pages of food that was available for purchase. ROOM: My room was a three person dorm style room. I say "dorm" because I lived in New York City for school and the space they gave us at the cruise reminded me of my studio dorm room--small, cramped, moldy and smelly. The bathroom had mold in the shower, a broken light fixture around the mirror, a very loud toilet and a drain that never worked. The toilet situation wasn't exactly ideal, if your over a certain weight or height I feel as if you wouldn't be able to use it correctly/comfortably (my legs were touching the wall!). The drain in the shower was broken so every time we showed the water would elevate and the shower/bathroom floor became a bathtub area and one day even leaked into/onto the bedroom carpet (this may be why the room smelled--molded carpet). We called and they supposedly fixed it but once they "fixed" it the entire bedroom and bathroom area smelled of even more poop. We had to deal with a poop smelling dorm room styled living space for 5 whole days and just dealt with it. One of the girls from my trip actually decided to bail so our three person room turned into a more comfortable two-person three-bed room and so we were able to enjoy having one less packed area of the room. The bunk beds can be tucked into the wall and now that I think of it I wish that I took the top bunk instead of the bottom so that we had more room on the floor below me for space and stuff. SERVICE: Well right off the bat I would like to state that "James from Jamaica" was amazing. He was awesome and made our trip so much more fun, especially dinner and brunch time! The pool area service was also the best at all the bars, anyone else from anywhere else was below average. In fact, I would state that this cruise is a more "party toned" boat and therefore, the people who work the boat are also in this vibe which I could tell by their hangovers and when we ran into our customer service providers at the bars in Cozumel and Key West--they were wasted and literally smelled of mouth wash the minute we got on the cruise. The cruise director (the female one) had the worst games ever and we're definitely catered to the 15 and below crowd as well as the 60+ cruisers. ACTIVITIES: What activities? We literally drank, laid out and used the water slides. The pool is a joke though, as in nonexistent. The girls did go the club and casino a few times and all said was average and okay. In the end this cruise served its purpose of being a cheap bachelorette party for all of us though.

    Our ship from Paradise Island
    Larissa B.

    Carnival Ecstacy was my first cruise, to the Bahamas from Port Miami. Bring from a small town in Indiana, of course I was blown away by everything I saw and I am so inclined to give 5 stars. Boarding took awhile, of course...but after that, smooth sailing from there. Food was amazing, shows we're unforgettable, crew was sooo friendly and remembered our names (nice touch). State room was bigger than I'd expected. We got one with a window, but no balcony. Our ship was one of the oldest of Carnival, but I didn't think that took away from anything, other than the fact that our our pool was really small. We purchased the Cheers package, which I Def recommend if you plan to drink AT ALL. the drinks are expensive, and if you get the package you just pay a one time fee and you don't have to worry what your drinks cost. This trip was well worth the cost. We are taking another cruise next year and will be using carnival.

    Cla N.

    What can I say about the carnival fleet of ship. I just love traveling on the carnival. People's on the ship are very friendly and fun going. For the price you can't n et this ship. This will be my 17 cruise. If you having try cruising yet, you must give it a try. I guarantee you will fall in love with cruising.

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    My husband and I had an EXCELLENT time on the Ecstasy. We will definitely go back on this ship.

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    Had lots of fun but the the staff was awesome real nice the ship was very clean love the pool need to change the food menu can be better

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    Page 1 of 2

    Ask the Community - Carnival Ecstasy Cruise Ship

    Review Highlights - Carnival Ecstasy Cruise Ship

    The ship is also much smaller than most of the carnival fleet.

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    2.9 km

    She so sweet and we had an amazing day. She showed us around. We even drove all the way down to…read moreMiami city spent extra time took his locations that she doesn't normally go. It was well worth the money.

    The good: This was a 3-4 star experience. I booked a…read moresnorkeling tour for 2 for my husband's birthday thru their website. It was easy to book and they had lots of availability. The best part of the trip was how we had the boat exclusively to ourselves! I didn't know it'd be a private tour until the day I came. So, the boat was just a total of 3 people (captain included). The water temperature was great and the clarity was decent. We even saw two dolphins! You meetup at Whiskey Joe's at the marina and you can start your excursion immediately. I liked that you didn't need to wait around much. I was able to see some cool looking fish, a bottom feeder and a crab. You get 2 hours for the snorkeling and you're not required to wear any life vests (in fact, we weren't offered any and I didn't see any). The water is super shallow so it didn't seem dangerous at all. The water is also salty and easy to float in. The boat was nearby the main snorkeling area. The bad: The area for snorkeling was pretty small. It was an artificial reef where the fish were but outside of that area there is just seagrass and there's no living things to observe. The website says snorkeling starts at $75/pp and up but that's misleading b/c that's only the price if you have 8+ people. When I came to the marina, the worker who had me sign paperwork said that "$25/hour tip is required" when I got an email saying 15% tip is optional. My husband clarified and he said "yes, it's required" but later retracted his statement after I clarified that it was strange to give tip upfront before we even went on the excursion. However, I did already give 15% tip upfront on 50% of the value and then Zelled an additional $25 tip to the captain himself afterward. The cost for snorkeling ended up being $407 for 2 people (pricey). The interesting: The captain swam with us to lead us to the reef and then swam back and was mostly on his phone.

    Photos
    Miami Tours & Water Adventures - Fresh air and nice breeze during this boat tour

    Fresh air and nice breeze during this boat tour

    Miami Tours & Water Adventures - Family fun adventure!!! Beautiful golden hour

    Family fun adventure!!! Beautiful golden hour

    Miami Tours & Water Adventures

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    Mr. Sea Miami Boats

    Mr. Sea Miami Boats

    4.7(26 reviews)
    2.3 kmDowntown

    Excellent and speedy service! I highly recommend this if you want a private boat excursion…read more I booked this for my friend's bachelorette party. I used WhatsApp and they respond really quickly. Just provide details like the day, amount of people and the time. You can also book through their website which I also did but WhatsApp was immediate service. We quickly found an option that fit our budget and they send over a contract to sign. A small deposit is due during the time you sign your contract with the remaining balance and tip on the day of your trip. They offer drink and food services but we opted to bring our own as they provide an ice cooler. Our captain, Daniel, was great. He texted me right before and we let him know we were running late. Our Uber dropped us off at the wrong location which made us more late but he still gave us our time back when he did not have to all. Once he helped us onto the boat, he asked where we wanted to go and took us to a small island with other boats. He also gives you full access to the music. They also have an option for a large floatie for everyone to lay out and relax on. I highly recommend this if you're looking for a private boat ride. Prices are very reasonable. Easily our favorite excursion on the trip!

    While we had so much fun with our captain Jorja I must say the boat itself was terrible! It looked…read moreas if it haven't been clean in years! The inside where the kitchen was had a very bad smell! The boat was so out dated! The mat was torn! We had to lay our towels down to sit on bc the boat was so unsanitary! The leather was torn badly! We had to do our own leg work upon boarding (as in picking the captain) and etc. We was told to arrive a hour early just for us to be sitting in our cars! Do I recommend this boat or company! No! But if others want to rent choose Jorga for your captain, he was a vibe! Oh we was on the 40 ft Sea Ray! Abort mission do not rent this particular boat!

    Photos
    Mr. Sea Miami Boats
    Mr. Sea Miami Boats - Marquis 66ft

    Marquis 66ft

    Mr. Sea Miami Boats

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    Fiesta Cruises of Miami

    Fiesta Cruises of Miami

    3.6(71 reviews)
    2.1 kmDowntown

    I booked the Miami on the Water sunset boat ride by Fiesta Cruises…read more It was a really nice experience and well worth the $35 per person. We went around the mansions and islands of Biscayne Bay for about 90 minutes as the sun set. The tour guide was informative while keeping things light and fun, and the DJ added to the atmosphere by timing songs from artists like Shakira, Jennifer Lopez, and Ricky Martin as we passed their homes. There were plenty of photo opportunities, and although the boat was on the smaller side, it didn't feel crowded. The top and front were open-air, with covered seating downstairs. Approaching the lit-up Miami skyline at the end of the ride was a highlight. The boat had a bar with reasonably priced drinks ($5 beers and $10 cocktails) and snacks available for purchase. The only downside was unclear check-in instructions. The email said the booth was inside Bayside Marketplace behind Chili's on the second floor. Right across from Chili's is a storefront for a different tour operator, and downstairs there are at least ten other booths with similar names, which made it confusing. After asking around, we learned the Fiesta Cruises booth was actually outside on the dock--you have to walk through the Tasca Paella restaurant to reach it. Once we found it, check-in and boarding were smooth. Parking at the garage can also be challenging, especially on weekend evenings or during events. My tour coincided with a Miami Heat game next door, which made traffic and parking more difficult and expensive (a $57 flat event rate). The company did send a warning email recommending public transit or rideshare. Even arriving an hour early, it still took about 40 minutes to park and locate the check-in booth.

    We found Fiesta Cruises on Viator and loved the way their boat cruises looked, specifically the…read moresunset cruise with open bar! We live in Miami, but wanted to bring some friends in town for New Year's on a boat cruise to see the cruise port/downtown Miami area and the value for $70-80/per person was really great for a 2 hour cruise! Ask to be dropped off at the main parking/taxi area and walk straight back to the boat docks and you'll see a red umbrella for the Fiesta Cruises booth and they'll check you in for your reservation or sell you tickets if you don't have them. All staff were so warm and welcoming and we were shown right on the boat and got drinks from the time we arrived and the bar staff had a great selection of drinks and were all so warm and friendly. The captain and staff all were warm and welcome and had a great personality and were all knowledgable and had a great tour of the Miami area. The tour was truly outstanding and is a great tour for Miami locals and anyone visiting the Miami area from out of town!

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    Fiesta Cruises of Miami
    Fiesta Cruises of Miami
    Fiesta Cruises of Miami

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    Carnival Ecstasy Cruise Ship - boattours - Updated May 2026

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