Getaway on Carnival Ecstasy

We like to cruise. There's no simpler way to put it. Perhaps part of the attraction is romantic, our first cruise was for our honeymoon in 1990. But I'd have to say that the thing that draws me to cruising is the ease, simplicity, and flexibility. Being able to sit and listen to the sounds of the ocean while reading a good book and sipping a beverage is sublime.  We're fortunate that Carnival has been operating cruises to the Bahamas out of Charleston, S.C. for several years. Our proximity allows us to take advantage of discounted fares without having to make extensive plans in advance. For these cruises the destination is generally irrelevant, as more often than not we'll take advantage of port days to enjoy the lack of crowds around the pool. To maximize the experience and facilitate the embarkation process we will usually drive to the Charleston area the evening before departure and stay at one of the hotels that offers a "Park & Cruise" package. After trying a couple of places over the years we have found that the Hampton Inn in West Ashley suits our needs better than others. Most of the parking is decently shaded, the breakfast area is spacious, the property is well maintained and the shuttle service to and from the port is excellent. They drop you at the baggage pickup, you hop on a port bus, and you're going through check-in before you know it. If you drive yourself to the port you'll pay as much to park as you would for a room at the Hampton Inn and you'll face a much greater level of hassle.

The Ecstasy had just moved to Charleston in February if I understand correctly. I was told that this now makes two ships operating from the port. There has been much talk of a large cruise terminal being constructed but apparently this plan is tied up in the courts, so progress is stalled. If and when a "real" cruise terminal is constructed the rumor is that other lines will start service, making Charleston a significant departure point on the east coast.

Our four day cruise was quite enjoyable. The weather was marginal the first sea day, but the following two days were warm enough to push you to the shade for a periodic break from the sun. The final day at sea was nice, but understandably cooler as we made our way back to the north. We had great service from both our cabin and dining room staff, which tends to be the norm on smaller Carnival ships. Bar staff were uniformly on their game, despite the constant onslaught of patrons. Cocktail wait staff seemed to struggle a bit and there were a few times that we had to actively solicit one to take an order. I'm not sure what to attribute this to, but these cruises do tend to attract a more raucous and party-minded crowd.

Overall a nice, relaxing getaway. Not the greatest cruise, but nothing to be disappointed about at all.