CruisingDivag

The email I received only discussed the 10/15, 10/22 and 10/29 sailings. Hopefully they will send notices to all regarding the November, December and January sailings quickly. I'm beyond disappointed but totally understand and am thankful to receive a full refund as well as 100% cruise credit as long as I book another cruise in the timeframe given.

Time to look for another cruise. :)

Do make sure that you note that you're on board to celebrate a special occasion. I made note when I booked the our cruise via Costco Travel and made note of it with Guest Services when we got on board because I forgot to do it via the Carnival website. There are some CC folks who also suggest contacting John Heald via his blog site or his FB account and posting your request there. My husband and mother-in-law each received a free cruise photo and a $50 spa gift card.

Yesss!!! It's on our booking. Can't hurt to contact him directly though - never know what could happen. That spa gift card sounds delightful!!! I usually hit the spa when I'm on a cruise and this one will be no different. Thanks much.

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Hope you have an amazing time! It's a challenging time for the Caribbean right now. I hope they are able to get the support to recover quickly because we had such a great time.

The catamaran in Barbados was my favorite excursion and the El Tigre team was great. Pro-tip...if you have common/popular flip flops, tie them with a ribbon or string together so you're not confused when you get off to pick them up. You remove all footwear while on board. When I got off, I found that someone else had the exact same flip flops as me in a similar size...but I'm pretty sure I picked up the other person's pair instead of my own because the sizing is a tad different.

Got it!! Thank you so much again!!

Hi, CruisingDivag! Unfortunately, the Fascination does not have a separate Steakhouse restaurant. It's one of the older ships, so they offer the Steakhouse menu in the main dining room (MDR). The menu comes at an additional $20 per person. You can choose to upgrade your dinner after you've had a chance to see the options for the evening upon sitting down. Hope this helps!

Ahhhhh - ok so that solves that issue. :D Thank you so much for this info. We'll make it work!! :) We're excited and expecting to have a wonderful time.

Quick question: I'm hearing the Fascination has two elegant nights. Do you know when they are?? I'm trying to plan a surprise dinner at the steakhouse but don't want to coincide with the elegant nights AND I want to make the reservation as soon as we get on the ship.

Thanks much for your help.

Oh My!!! That steak looks delish!!! No point in even looking at the menu when we get there!!! :) One Ribeye M-Rare please!!!

Thank you so much for the ship and port review. We're on the Fascination on 10/22 - although some of our ports have been changed. I'll have to check out some of those excursions!! Thanks again!!

I'd be sure to double check ... we were told our passports had to be valid at least 6 months AFTER our cruise. It depends on your destinations. Better to be safe than sorry. Enjoy your cruise!!!

Yes!!! Got the info by email a few minutes ago. I'm excited!!! Thank you for posting it.

Thanks much!! We're still very hopeful we'll get on her for our 10/22 cruise. Keeping our fingers and toes crossed!!!

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Nice!!! Enjoy your cruise. We're hoping our cruise won't get cancelled next month!!!

32!!!

How awesome is this!!! So often we hear of horror stories concerning customer service. Congratulations to you both!!!

Thank you all so much for your reviews, comments and suggestions. We're sailing Fascination in late October 2017. Can't wait!!!

Thank you so much for posting. I'm looking forward to our cruise in late October!!

We are also cruising on the Fascination, in October (we are on the 8OCT sailing) and were able to get Your Time Dining. We initially chose Late seating, when we booked with our PVP but I changed it through My Cruise Manager to the Your Time Dining.

Thank you. I'll go in again and check. Enjoy your cruise!!! I can't wait to go!!

g

Early seating generally has more families and seniors. When a family comes to late dinner seating, it's 50/50 if the kids will behave themselves,maybe evn fall asleep, or be brats and whine.

 

I have always done late, and while I'm not a fan of Carnival's current theater entertainment, it is certainly possible to attend the early show and then dinner.

 

I just like relaxing after a day in port, taking my time to unwind before late dining. If in need of a snack prior to dinner, I go to the Taste Bar when it's open (I sail Conquest class ships and newer) and get 1/2 hour of losing $$ in the casino as well.

I think I've become spoiled by choosing my own time ... so just the thought of having to make the decision of early or late is bugging me a little bit. :D No worries, whichever we choose, I'm sure we'll make the best of it and thoroughly enjoy our vacation. Thanks much for your comments - except the part about losing in the casino LOL.

Seems like a problem caused by your cousin, not inherently due to your time dining, early, or late seating.

YES!!! She was definitely a problem child/adult. :D

For the comedy club on the Carnival Magic, 7/2/17-7/8/17, the family friendly show was only at 9:30pm - the shows at 10:30 pm and 11:30pm we're adult only.

 

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Yes, I recall on other cruises, the 'adults only' show was much later in the evening. Even with late dining, we'd be able to catch it. Thanks so much

In my mind I like late dining, but I go back and forth. Early dining seems so early- even though we eat about that time at home. And sometimes we eat a later lunch and I am just not hungry that early (on cruises that is). But when I do late dining then I am usually tired right after dinner. I probably eat more, due to actually being hungry at dinner time. Then with a full belly I want to let it settle before having a drink or doing too much. Then I get sleepy. I get more reflux too, due to not digesting everything before falling asleep.

 

But with late dining I also have less snacking- especially at night and drink less. So there are trade offs.

 

We usually do MTD, but I have told my husband if we ever cruise without our daughter, I would like to do traditional dining. MTD is great with smaller children because you are less likely to dine with others. I don't mind dining with others, but when my DD (who is six) is there, its difficult to both be a watchful parent and a good conversationalist. Kind of like when someone asks what we did that day and my answer is " Well we- put that down please- went to the- I said don't play with the sugar- beach and- No don't touch that, I will get you a piece of bread- Sorry- where was I..." But if it was just us, I would not mind the opportunity to have some dinner companions.

:) I can totally see that entire conversation happening. :) The trade off doesn't seem so bad to me. I generally rise very early - especially on vacation ... gotta get in my sun rises - so after dinner just chilling out works for me. Thanks much.

Be sure if you are traveling with people in other cabins that you link your reservations together so Carnival will know you want to dine together. Regardless of which time you choose.

Yes, will do. Thank you.

For as long as I can remember the one time only shows were at a time where both seatings could attend. Like 10:30pm or so.

Great to know. I've never seen (in my small amount of cruising) where shows were only offered once but anything is possible. Thanks much.

Some shows like welcome aboard and whatever they now call the talent show are once only and often cannot go to late seating and get in.

OK. Maybe those nights we'll grab a quick bite at the buffet or miss the shows. :D :D

Thanks much.

16 cruises and only had Early Dining one time and I hated it! During sea days, we like to enjoy the Lido as late as possible and not feel rushed getting ready for dinner. And many days you are in port until 4, 5 or 6PM. So having late dining allows us to enjoy more time in port if desired. Many times we cruise with a larger group, so we've not tried Your Time dining yet. We may not hang out with our entire group all day, so dinners in the evening are our time to catch up and chat about days. Don't want to have to deal with potential longer wait times or not getting a wait staff we enjoy with having a larger group trying to do YTD.

 

For us, Late Dining works best...even with the kiddos! We'll have our three year old with us this November on the Vista.

:) My thought was we wouldn't have to rush back, we would spend more days with our group and could enjoy dinner alone AND take our time. Hmmm ... I do not want to stress at all on my vacation. I think we're leaning towards keeping it late. :) Thanks much for your input.

Divag

We've always had early dining, and it's never felt rushed at all. Lets us enjoy the evening however we want, and there's time for a late pizza or lasagna run without feeling stuffed!

 

Whatever you choose, enjoy your cruise!

Thank goodness we have some time to think about this. :D Thanks much.