View source for Carnival Ecstasy

{{short description|Cruise ship}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=November 2022}}
{|{{Infobox ship begin
| display title = ital
}}
{{Infobox ship image
| Ship image = Carnival Ecstasy Apr 7 2018.png
| Ship caption = ''Carnival Ecstasy'' anchored off [[Princess Cays]] in 2018.
}}
{{Infobox ship career
| Hide header = 
| Ship name = *''Ecstasy'' <small>(1991–2007)</small>
*''Carnival Ecstasy'' <small>(2007–2022)</small>
| Ship flag = 
| Ship owner = [[File:Carnival Corporation house flag.svg|20px]] [[Carnival Corporation & plc]]
| Ship operator = [[File:Carnival Corporation house flag.svg|20px]] [[Carnival Cruise Lines]] (1991–2022)
| Ship registry = [[Nassau Bahamas]], {{PAN}}
| Ship route = 
| Ship ordered = 
| Ship builder = *[[Kvaerner Masa-Yards]]
*[[Helsinki New Shipyard]]
*[[Helsinki]], Finland
| Ship original cost = 
| Ship yard number = 480
| Ship way number = 
| Ship laid down = 
| Ship launched = January 6, 1991
| Ship completed = 1991
| Ship christened = 
| Ship sponsor = [[Kathie Lee Gifford]]
| Ship acquired = 
| Ship maiden voyage = April 2, 1991
| Ship in service = 1991–2022
| Ship refit = 2009, 2014, January 2017, October 2019
| Ship out of service = October 15, 2022, Last Tracked at Port Of Mobile on October 10, 2022 (according to vesseltracker.com)
| Ship identification = *[[Maritime call sign|Call sign]]: H3GR
*{{IMO Number|8711344}}
*{{MMSI|353479000}}
| Ship fate = Sold for scrap in October 2022. Beached at Aliağa, Turkey on 8 November 2022.
| Ship notes = {{sfn|Smith|2010|p=34}}<ref name="equasis">{{cite ship register|register=e |shipname=Carnival Ecstasy |id=8711344|access-date=16 October 2013}}</ref>
}}
{{Infobox ship characteristics
| Hide header = 
| Header caption = 
| Ship class = {{sclass|Fantasy|cruise ship}}
| Ship tonnage = {{GT|70,367}}
| Ship length = {{convert|855|ft|m|abbr=on}}
| Ship beam = {{convert|103|ft|m|abbr=on}}
| Ship height = 
| Ship draft = {{convert|7.80|m|ftin|abbr=on}}
| Ship depth = 
| Ship decks = 12
| Ship deck clearance = 
| Ship ramps = 
| Ship ice class = 
| Ship power = *2 × [[Sulzer (manufacturer)|Sulzer]]-[[Wärtsilä]] 8ZAV40S
*4 × Sulzer-Wärtsilä 12ZAV40S
*42,240{{nbsp}}kW (combined)
| Ship propulsion = Two propellers
| Ship speed = {{convert|21|kn}}
| Ship capacity = *2,052 passengers (lower berths)
*2,606 passengers (all berths)
| Ship crew = 920
| Ship notes = 
}}
|}

'''''Carnival Ecstasy''''' (formerly '''''Ecstasy''''') was a {{sclass|Fantasy|cruise ship}} operated by [[Carnival Cruise Line]]. Built by [[Kværner Masa-Yards]] at its [[Helsinki New Shipyard]] in [[Helsinki]], Finland, she was [[Float-out|floated out]] on January 6, 1991, and christened by [[television host]]ess, entertainer and long time Carnival spokesperson [[Kathie Lee Gifford]].{{sfn|Smith|2010|p=34}}  Her inaugural voyage began on April 2, 1991.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Carnival Ecstasy Fact Sheet – Carnival Cruise Line News|url=https://carnival-news.com/ship/carnival-ecstasy-fact-sheet/|access-date=2021-01-18|language=en-US|archive-date=August 12, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220812094820/https://carnival-news.com/ship/carnival-ecstasy-fact-sheet/|url-status=dead}}</ref> During 2007, in common with all of her ''Fantasy''-class sisters, she had the prefix ''Carnival'' added to her name.<ref>{{cite journal|last1=Dake|first1=Shawn J.|title=Cruise Ships 2007 the year in review|journal=Ocean Times|date=January 2008|volume=12|issue=1|pages=2–8|url=http://www.shawnandcolleen.com/sshsasocal/docs/ocean%20times%2008%20january%20v12.1.pdf|publisher=Steamship Historical Society of America: Southern California Chapter}}</ref> With the departure of the ''Carnival Fantasy ''in 2020, the ''Carnival Ecstasy'' became the oldest ship in the fleet until her retirement in October 2022. She was replaced by [[Carnival Spirit]] out of Mobile, Alabama in October 2023.

Unlike her recently retired sister ships, ''Carnival Ecstasy'' offered a farewell cruise itinerary prior to her own retirement. Subsequently, the ship was beached for scrapping in Turkey on November 8, 2022.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Raza |first1=Raghib |title=Carnival’s Oldest Cruise Vessel, the “Ecstasy” Retires After 31 Years of Service |url=https://www.fleetmon.com/maritime-news/2022/39881/carnivals-oldest-cruise-vessel-ecstasy-retires-aft/#:~:text=The%20CARNIVAL%20SPIRIT%20will%20take,of%20the%20Covid%2D19%20pandemic. |website=FleetMon |access-date=9 November 2022}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |last1=Topcu |first1=Eren |title=Ship Breaking |url=https://www.facebook.com/photo/?fbid=10159243963955036&set=pcb.10161733131163943 |website=Facebook |access-date=9 November 2022}}</ref>

==Areas of operation==
Throughout her service ''Carnival Ecstasy'' has cruised from ports in the United States to Baja Mexico, the Bahamas and the Caribbean.<ref name="Carnival Ecstasy Cruises">{{cite web|url=http://www.carnival.com/cruise-ships/carnival-ecstasy.aspx |title=Carnival Ecstasy Cruises; Carnival Cruise Line|publisher=Carnival|access-date=February 19, 2016}}</ref><ref name="Half Moon Cay">{{cite web|url=http://www.carnival.com/cruise-to/bahamas-cruises/half-moon-cay-cruises.aspx |title=Carnival Half Moon Cay Cruises; Carnival Cruise Line|publisher=Carnival|access-date=February 19, 2016}}</ref><ref name="Ecstasy cruises">{{cite web|url=http://www.carnival.com/cruise-ships/carnival-valor.aspx|title=Carnival Fantasy Cruises; Carnival Cruise Line|publisher=Carnival|access-date=February 19, 2016}}</ref><ref>[https://www.cruiseindustrynews.com/cruise-news/18208-carnival-sunshine-to-offer-year-round-cruises-from-charleston.html Carnival Sunshine to Offer Year-Round Cruises from Charleston]</ref>

After [[Hurricane Katrina]], the ship spent six months in [[New Orleans]] serving as quarters for evacuees and relief workers.

Starting in May 2019, the ship cruised from [[Jacksonville, FL]]'s [[JAXPORT Cruise Terminal]] to visit the [[Bahamas]] and [[Eastern Caribbean]].<ref>[https://www.carnival.com/cruise-from/jacksonville.aspx Cruises from Jacksonville FL] Carnival Cruise Line. Retrieved 15 August 2019.</ref>

In February 2022 Carnival announced that due to uncertain times in the Australian cruise industry, Spirit would re-home from Sydney to Jacksonville, Florida. Carnival Ecstasy would move from Jacksonville to Mobile, Alabama. Carnival Sensation, which was slated to head to Mobile has been delayed.<ref>[https://www.carnival.com Retrieved 1 Fefruary 2022.]</ref> 

== Accidents and incidents==
=== Fire===
On the afternoon of July 20, 1998, ''Ecstasy'' departed the Port of Miami, Florida, en route to Key West, Florida, with 2,565 passengers and 916 crew members aboard. A fire started in the main laundry room and spread through the ventilation system to the aft mooring deck, where mooring lines ignited. As ''Ecstasy'' was attempting to reach an anchorage north of the Miami sea buoy, the vessel lost power and began to drift. The master then radioed the U.S. Coast Guard for assistance. Six tugboats responded to help fight the fire and tow ''Ecstasy''. The fire was brought under control by onboard firefighters and was extinguished about 9:09 PM. Fourteen crew members and eight passengers suffered minor injuries. One passenger required medical treatment as a result of a pre-existing condition and was categorized as a serious injury victim because of the length of her hospital stay. Losses from the fire and associated damages exceeded $17 million.

The [[National Transportation Safety Board]] determined that the probable cause of fire aboard ''Ecstasy'' was the unauthorized welding by crew members in the main laundry that ignited a large accumulation of lint in the ventilation system and the failure of Carnival Cruise Lines to maintain the laundry exhaust ducts in a fire-safe condition. Contributing to the extensive fire damage on the ship was the lack of an [[automatic fire suppression]] system on the aft mooring deck and the lack of an automatic means of mitigating the spread of smoke and fire through the ventilation ducts. Passengers received a full refund and were offered a complimentary cruise for the inconvenience.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.cruiselawnews.com/2010/03/articles/fires-1/ten-years-of-cruise-ship-fires-has-the-cruise-industry-learned-anything/| title=Ten Years of Cruise Ship Fires - Has the Cruise Industry Learned Anything?|date=11 March 2010|access-date=5 August 2013}}</ref>

=== Suicide ===
On July 1, 2007, [[David Ritcheson]], the victim of the [[April 22, 2006 Harris County, Texas assault incident]], jumped off the deck of ''Carnival Ecstasy'' and died.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.khou.com/topstories/stories/khou070701_tnt_carnivalcruisedeath.329d3aba.html|title=Cruise tragedy: Teen jumps ship|work=KHOU|date=1 July 2007|access-date=28 May 2013|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080214132441/http://www.khou.com/topstories/stories/khou070701_tnt_carnivalcruisedeath.329d3aba.html|archive-date=February 14, 2008|df=mdy}}</ref>

=== Elevator death ===
During December of 2015, a crew-member of the ship was working on an elevator while on-board the Carnival Ecstasy.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Bowerman |first1=Mary |title=Family horrified by gruesome death on cruise ship |url=https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/nation-now/2015/12/31/carnival-cruise-elevator-death-blood-horror-movie/78121900/ |website=USAToday |publisher=USA TODAY Network |access-date=3 March 2023 |date=31 December 2015}}</ref> The ship had disabled an elevator safety mechanism whilst the elevator was in maintenance, when the elevator came down, killing the man.<ref name="cnnelevator">{{cite web |last1=Mullen |first1=Jethro |title=Couple witnesses horrific cruise ship death |url=https://www.cnn.com/2015/12/31/us/carnival-ecstasy-cruise-ship-elevator-death/index.html |website=CNN |publisher=CNN |date=2 January 2016}}</ref> A couple, Matt Davis and his partner, witnessed the scene whilst on their way to dinner, filming the occurrence. They described it as "sounding like a rainstorm".<ref name="cnnelevator" />

== Refits ==
[[File:Carnival Ecstasy in Cozumel 6 Aug 2005.jpg|thumb|left|The ''Ecstasy'' as the ship originally appeared.]] As part of the Evolutions of Fun upgrade program, in mid-2007 the ''Ecstasy'' was renamed the ''Carnival Ecstasy'' to match with the rest of the Carnival branded ship names in the fleet.<ref>{{cite web |title=Carnival to Re-Brand Its Fantasy-Class in Tandem with Refurbishment Program |url=https://www.cruiseindustrynews.com/cruise-news/581-5707-carnival-to-re-brand-its-fantasy-class-in-tandem-with-refurbishment-program.html |website=Cruise Industry News |access-date=9 November 2022}}</ref> Continuing with the upgrade program, in the fall of 2009 the ship was given a 28 day dry dock and a major multi-million-dollar refit. During the refit, 98 ocean view cabins were converted into balcony cabins along the mid and aft sections of the ship, some of the suites located on the Upper deck received extended balconies, the kid's wading pool area on the lower aft area of the ship was removed and converted into an adults-only Serenity area with sun loungers and two hot tubs, the aft pool was removed and converted into the Carnival WaterWorks water park with waterslides and fountains which also replaced the original waterslide at the main pool and the original kids wading pool, the main pool area was refurbished and given a resort-style appearance, a younger teens area Circle "C" was added, and various interior renovations and enhancements were made.<ref>{{cite web |title=Carnival Ecstasy to Undergo Extensive Multi-Million-Dollar Renovation This Fall |url=https://carnival-news.com/2009/03/30/carnival-ecstasy-to-undergo-extensive-multi-million-dollar-renovation-this-fall/ |website=Carnival.com |publisher=Carnival Newsroom |access-date=9 November 2022}}</ref> In January, 2017, the ship underwent a two week dry docking, at the Grand Bahama Shipyard in [[Freeport, Bahamas]].<ref>{{Cite web|title=Carnival Ecstasy Undergoes Multi-Million-Dollar Makeover, Emerges With Exciting New Dining And Beverage Concepts – Carnival Cruise Line News|url=https://carnival-news.com/2017/01/26/carnival-ecstasy-undergoes-multi-million-dollar-makeover-emerges-with-exciting-new-dining-and-beverage-concepts/|access-date=2021-01-18|language=en-US}}</ref> The ship underwent a further 14 day dry dock in October, 2019, adding more venues and providing maintenance.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.cruiseindustrynews.com/cruise-news/21698-carnival-ecstasy-undergoing-october-drydock.html|title=Carnival Ecstasy Undergoing October Drydock|date=2019-10-09|accessdate=2022-11-12}}</ref> The work was done again at [[Freeport, Bahamas]].<ref>{{Cite web|title=Carnival Ecstasy to Undergo Dry Dock at Grand Bahama Shipyard in Freeport, Becomes First Cruise Ship to Use the Facility Since Hurricane Dorian – Carnival Cruise Line News|url=https://carnival-news.com/2019/10/08/carnival-ecstasy-to-undergo-dry-dock-at-grand-bahama-shipyard-in-freeport-becomes-first-cruise-ship-to-use-the-facility-since-hurricane-dorian/|access-date=2021-01-18|language=en-US}}</ref>

== Final season and scrapping ==
In February 2022, it was announced that Carnival would retire ''Carnival Ecstasy'' as well as ''[[Carnival Sensation]]'' from the fleet. ''Sensation'' did not return to service, whereas ''Ecstasy'' resumed regular service in Mobile, Alabama from March until October 2022 and then would be retired after that point. This made ''Carnival Ecstasy'' the only ship out of the six retired ''Fantasy''-class ships to offer guests a farewell cruise season.<ref>{{cite web|title=Carnival Cruise Line Provides More Updates to 2022 Fleet Deployment Plans|url=https://carnival-news.com/2022/02/03/carnival-cruise-line-provides-more-updates-to-2022-fleet-deployment-plans/}}</ref> During her first voyage since March 2020, she suffered lifeboat issues in March 2022.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.cruisehive.com/carnival-ecstasy-suffers-lifeboat-issue-resulting-in-delayed-return-to-mobile/67476|title=Carnival Ecstasy Suffers Lifeboat Issue, Resulting in Delayed Return to Mobile|date=2022-03-10|accessdate=2022-03-13}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://cruises-info.com/carnival-ecstasy-suffers-mechanical-problems-during-its-first-trip-from-mobile/|title=Carnival Ecstasy suffers mechanical problems during its first trip from Mobile|date=2022-03-12|accessdate=2022-03-13}}</ref> The final voyage took place October 10-15, 2022 from Mobile, with port calls in [[Cozumel]] and [[Progreso Municipality, Yucatán|Progreso]] and ended in Mobile on 15 October.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.cruisehive.com/carnival-cruise-ship-concludes-final-sailing/84718|title=After 31 Years, Carnival Cruise Ship Concludes Final Guest Sailing|date=2022-10-15|accessdate=2022-10-16}}</ref> The iconic 1934 Rolls-Royce Saloon aboard ''Carnival Ecstasy'' was relocated to the Gateway aboard ''[[Carnival Celebration]]'', which launched three weeks after ''Carnival Ecstasy's'' final voyage.<ref>{{cite web |title=Carnival Ecstasy ship departs on final voyage |url=https://www.cruisemapper.com/news/10977-carnival-ecstasy-ship-departs-final-voyage |website=CruiseMapper |access-date=13 October 2022}}</ref> In her 31 years of service, the ship carried nearly 5.5 million guests.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.cruisehive.com/5-5-million-passengers-have-sailed-oldest-carnival-cruise-ship/84196|title=5.5 Million Passengers Have Sailed Oldest Carnival Cruise Ship|date=2022-10-10|accessdate=2022-10-16}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://carnival-news.com/2022/10/10/after-taking-5-5-million-guests-on-vacation-carnival-ecstasy-sets-sail-for-final-voyage/|title=After Taking 5.5 Million Guests on Vacation, Carnival Ecstasy Sets Sail for Final Voyage|date=2022-10-10|accessdate=2022-10-16}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://maritime-executive.com/article/carnival-ecstasy-ends-career-after-31-years-of-service|title=Carnival Ecstasy Ends Career After 31 Years of Service|date=2022-10-14|accessdate=2022-10-16}}</ref>

In November 2022 the ship arrived at the [[Aliağa]] scrapyards in [[Turkey]] to be demolished.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.cruiseindustrynews.com/cruise-news/28718-former-carnival-ecstasy-beached-for-scrapping-in-turkey.html|title=Former Carnival Ecstasy Beached for Scrapping in Turkey|date=2022-11-11|accessdate=2022-11-12}}</ref> 

==References==

===Notes===
{{Reflist}}

=== Bibliography ===
{{refbegin}}
*{{Smith-Cruise Ships-2010}}
{{refend}}

== External links ==
{{commons category|IMO 8711344}}
*[https://web.archive.org/web/20220816213805/https://www.carnival.com/cruise-ships/carnival-ecstasy.aspx Former official website]

{{Carnival Cruise Line}}
{{1998 shipwrecks}}
[[Category:Ships built in Helsinki]]
[[Category:Ships of Carnival Cruise Line|Ecstasy]]
[[Category:Fantasy-class cruise ships|Ecstasy]]
[[Category:1991 ships]]
[[Category:Maritime incidents in 1998]]