Even Free a Disappointment!
Written: Mar 27 '02 (Updated Jun 19 '02)
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Product Rating:
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Pros: One of the less expensive cruise lines, it was a free trip for me
Cons: Mediocre food, tacky decor, staff did not speak English well, service was lacking
The Bottom Line: The food, decor and service were seriously lacking. Spend a little bit more money and you will get a wonderful experience!
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| nicolezta's Full Review: Carnival Ecstasy |
Let me preface this review by stating that my employer at the time brought all the employees plus a guest on a 4-day cruise to the Bahamas. For the price (free), this was a great trip. However if I had paid for it out of my own pocket, I would have been quite unhappy.
I have cruised four times previous to this excursion (twice with Celebrity and once each with Princess and Holland America), so I have a basis for comparision. Carnival across the board was inferior to the three other cruise lines I have traveled with. The decor of the Ecstacy reminded me of an older Holiday Inn that badly needed a renovation. The colors were horrible and the state rooms left a lot to be desired. The staff uniforms coordinated with the color theme of the ship, and were not very flattering to the wearer.
Leading up to our departure I kept telling my fiance, who was my guest, how great the food would be. I couldn't have been more wrong. The midnight buffets were more like midnight leftovers from that day. No ice carvings, no themes, no flair at all, just a lot of unappetizing stuff. The dinner selections were mediocre at best, the food was bland and portions were small. Normally on a cruise if you want to order two entree selections at one meal, you can do so and will be served both at the same time. Not on Carnival. They will not even place your order for the second entree selection until you have finished the first one. That leaves you eating your second entree while the rest of the table is eating desert, not very classy. The waitstaff was not fluent in English, which caused problems when we asked questions about the menu items and had special requests for our food. A couple at our table ordered a bottle of red wine that was bad. There was no sommalier to taste the wine before serving it to them (it's the least you can expect when paying $60 for a bottle) and the server did not understand them when they complained. The 24-hour pizza parlor left a lot to be desired. It was sparsely staffed and there was usually a wait for the small slices of tasteless pizza. Normally I eat my way through a cruise, but on the Ecstacy I was had pressed to find something appetizing at each meal. I could tell that the staff was working hard, but they lacked the class that is present on other cruise lines. The staff was not always professional, which was probably a reflection of their training.
I enjoyed the nickel slots and purchased some cheap liquor in the duty-free shop onboard. The spa was booked and the prices were quite steep.
Those who had not been on a cruise before enjoyed it much more than those who had cruised on other cruise lines. If I had no basis for comparison I probably would have found it to be more than adequate. However, I know what else is out there and would not go on Carnival again unless it was free, and even then I would have to think about it. Carnival is only slightly less than superior cruise lines, and they are more than worth the money.
Recommended:
No
Best Suited For: Singles
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Epinions.com ID:
nicolezta
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Reviews written: 6
Trusted by: 1 member
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