scooterpopsnana

Glad to see the Ecstasy fared well during Hurricane Matthew and that you had a blast!

I have a friend whose wife was on that cruise. He has never cruised and says he never will. He was a nervous wreck here. I know he will not change his mind now. But, I am sure his cruise seasoned wife loved her extended cruise and will be on another one again.

Thank you for posting this.

So, we went from asking about whether there was still and issue on the 'option' to select once or twice a day service, and since that has been rectified, it is now morphed into global cruise industry human rights violations.....really? Keep digging

It's connected.....you keep digging.

I don't see why people want the choice electronically. How long does it take to fill out a card? Why should you decide days or months ahead how many times a day to be serviced? What if you change your mind once you boarded? That ties up you and the steward if you want change.

But, since Carnival is so "green" conscious (they have the note in your bath to remind you) wouldn't electronically be the way to go? It would cut down on use of paper and waste.

We had AM cabin service. No choice. AM or PM. No night time turn down. The worst part was no fresh towels for showers on disembarkation morning. We saw the cabin steward once in 4 day cruise.

Now, that is unacceptable.

Beach was sandy - no need for water shoes. It was pretty crowded the day we were there.

Crowded, as in you can not find a chaise? I am mobility challenged and will need a walker. I can walk short distances with assistance. Will I have far to walk? And, will I have a place sit? Are umbrellas provided?

TIA for your response.

The beach excursion with Autoprogreso costs $35 and when I looked at the link above it said $39. AP goes to Technotel for their beach excursion. We have done it twice. We have used AP for a total of 7 excursions to the ruins and beach. Would recommend AP.

We are considering the beach AI excursion? I am mobility challenged. Does the bus pick you up at the ship? And once @ the site, how much walking is involved?

TIA for your response.

The shuttle does not have an accessible lift. The type of bus can and does vary . If it's a typical tour bus that has a luggage compartment below the seat deck than it's at the sole discretion of the driver if the scooter and or wheelchair will be loaded. In this case you would have to be able to climb up/down the steps into/out of the bus.

Thank you. I can do a few steps with the help of my hubby.

I understand that the pier is four miles long at Yucatan Progresso. Wow that is long. I also read on another thread that you have to take a bus down the length of the pier into town.

My question is this: Are the buses equipped to carry scooters or wheelchairs? I really don't want to stay on the ship with nothing to do, but read while my family have all the fun.

Thanks in advance for your response.

Thanks I will. If it is free for me that's good but if not we will pay. What kind of scooter do you have? I don't have mine yet. I am still looking and waiting for the insurance to decide if they will pay for it or not.

 

tigercat

It the insurance does not pay, try Ebay. I purchased a new pride for $450 just by making an offer.

Good luck on your purchase and have a great cruise.

I have to use a mobility scooter. While it will go four miles without issues, I don't think hubby will want to do that walk. Will it be a problem? Do the buses have ways to transport the scooters?

I just booked a December cruise on NCL Jade. Has anyone ever sailed on this ship and booked a handicapped cabin? We have sailed with Carnival and had modified cabins, which were not any larger, but had larger doors and bathrooms. The NCL representative who booked us said it was larger, but could not tell me the cabin was any larger.

True HC cabins are larger than the same category non-HC....to give you the ability to stay on scooter or wheelchair IN the room, and maneuver about. Also, roll-in shower, grab bars, etc...in the bathroom and no lip to stop you from going to the balcony.

We have done 10 cruises on CCL and always had a modified cabin. for handicapped. The cabins were not any larger. My DH had to turn the scooter around by lifting and turning it. But the doors and bathrooms were larger. I was wondering if that was the case on the Jade. I know they have all the safety rails and shower seats. Just wondering about the size of the cabin and I can't seem to find anything on the NCL site. When I called them, all I got was it was larger.

Your travel agent would be able to tell you everything about the cabin, including the size. That's their job!

I don't have a TA. And, I thought this site was a friendly site to help. I guess I was wrong.

We just booked the Jade for a December cruise out of Tampa. I have to use a mobility scooter and booked cabin 10153, which looks huge on the deck plans. Has anyone ever booked a handicappe cabin on the Jade. If so, how large was the cabin?

This will be my one post that will have some emotion attached. Since the announcement was made, there are many upset guests. The line to Guest Relations is very long. We have additional guest services staff from the Glory onboard and a second guest relations desk has been set up on deck 5. I personally feel that Carnival has gone above and beyond considering the situation. The full refund and 50% off a future cruise, not forgetting the OBC already received, has been more than generous. We will definitely sail Carnival again.

I agree. Carnival takes care of their guests adequately. This has been proven time and again.

Thank you for keeping us posted on the happenings. I am sorry your vacation did not turn out as planned, and, hope you find a great deal and can use your refund and 50% discount real soon! ;)

Just off the Fantasy on Saturday....7 day cruise. We had an on board credit of $50 and gift card for $25. We put up $500 cash and brought $230 back home with us. We don't drink or gamble. The only purchases we made was elegant night photos. There are Kiosks near the guest services desk and the casino where you can check your balances. We actually closed our account on Friday with no problems. Now, we did have a lady who checked us in and refused to take the cash. She said if she did it would cancel our on board credit. We just went to the guest services desk and added the cash and the gift card.

Hope this helps. Have a great cruise!

We are a group of 5 couples and are considering booking the 7 day Fantasy out of Charleston next year. We haven't been on that ship and new port. What are your thoughts on this ship/port? Since we fly we don't do less then 7 day cruises.

 

Thanks for your help!!!!!

If you enjoy the intimacy of the Fantasy Class ships, you will like the Fantasy.

She is the oldest in the fleet, but well maintained.

There is not the newer food venues like the more modern ships, but the food is good.

The waterworks and serenity areas are nice.

The port and pier area are somewhat confusing to maneuver. Parking is in an old warehouse and costs $19 per day, but there are a lot of park, shuttle and cruise packages available.

They are now some 7 day cruises that include Grand Turk, Amber Cove and Half Moon Cay.

And, Charleston is a great city to plan to tour while you are there.

There are a couple of good reviews, with pictures, on here, if you wan to search for them.

Whatever you do, she will love the surprise. Just have fun!

My wife and I are sailing on the Sensation on Jan. 29. It's our first cruise. It's also a total surprise to her. She has no idea that we're doing anything that weekend...let alone a cruise!

 

I wanted to surprise her for her birthday with a weekend with no kids, just to relax and I thought this was perfect. It's been fun sneaking around talking to her boss about being away from work and to her parents about keeping the kids while we're gone. My plan is to tell her the day before we leave to pack a 4-day bag for someplace warm. She'll never suspect a cruise and the thought won't cross her mind until we pull into the port. We're only a few hours drive from Port Canaveral, so getting there is pretty easy.

 

Any suggestions on telling her what to pack or bring without giving it away?

If possible pack for her? My mom did that for my dad. And was he ever surprised. It was their first cruise as well. That was 6 years ago and they were 74 years old. They had traveled all over the world, but never taken a cruise. They have now done 7, including Alaska and Hawaii.

I am sharing my packing list with you. You will need to customize it. Of course, I am old. I need a lot to sustain me. It is lucky I do not have to fly. ;)

Cash, Contact info for credit card companies, Credit and ATM cards, Cruise documents, Driver's license and photocopy,

Money belt/pouch, Passport, visa(s) and photocopies

Door decorations

Eye drops Eye suction cup, Eye gel

Glasses/ Sunglasses/ eye glass cleaners

Hairbrush or comb, Hair spray,Hair dryer, Shampoo, Conditioner,

Hand sanitizer, Lip balm with SPF. Moist towelettes

Body Wash, Mouthwash, Deodorant

Nail clippers, Tweezers, safety pins

Razors and shaving cream

Tissues/paper towels

Toiletry bag, Makeup!

Toothbrush Toothpaste

Beach cover-up, Bathing suits, sunblock, snorkel gear, beach towels, beach bag

Belt, Socks, Comfortable walking shoes, Dress (es), Dress shoes, Jacket/fleece, Pajamas/sleepwear, Pants/trousers, Sandals/flip flops

Shirts, Shorts, Panty hose. Suits and ties, Sneakers, Underwear, Watch, Jewelry, Water shoes, Wide-brimmed hat

Allergy pills, Rx meds, Anti-itch cream, Cold medicine, First-aid kit, Herbal supplements, Motion sickness remedies (bracelet and ginger pills), diarrhea pills, Pain relievers, Sleep medications, Vitamins

Camera and charger, Extra memory cards, Spare batteries, Converters and adapters, Extension cord(s), Scooter charger,

Walkie-talkies and extra batteries. Monocular. Binoculars, Flashlight. Rain poncho, Water bottles, Cooler, Highlighter, zip lock bags, clothes storage bags, sewing kit

Chewing gum, Drinks, wine

Kindle and portable speakers for the cabin, adapters, Power strip

Hope this helps. Have fun!

My wife and I are sailing on the Sensation on Jan. 29. It's our first cruise. It's also a total surprise to her. She has no idea that we're doing anything that weekend...let alone a cruise!

 

I wanted to surprise her for her birthday with a weekend with no kids, just to relax and I thought this was perfect. It's been fun sneaking around talking to her boss about being away from work and to her parents about keeping the kids while we're gone. My plan is to tell her the day before we leave to pack a 4-day bag for someplace warm. She'll never suspect a cruise and the thought won't cross her mind until we pull into the port. We're only a few hours drive from Port Canaveral, so getting there is pretty easy.

 

Any suggestions on telling her what to pack or bring without giving it away?

If possible pack for her? My mom did that for my dad. And was he ever surprised. It was their first cruise as well. That was 6 years ago and they were 74 years old. They had traveled all over the world, but never taken a cruise. They have now done 7, including Alaska and Hawaii.

I am sharing my packing list with you. You will need to customize it. Of course, I am old. I need a lot to sustain me. It is lucky I do not have to fly. ;)

Cash, Contact info for credit card companies, Credit and ATM cards, Cruise documents, Driver's license and photocopy,

Money belt/pouch, Passport, visa(s) and photocopies

Door decorations

Eye drops Eye suction cup, Eye gel

Glasses/ Sunglasses/ eye glass cleaners

Hairbrush or comb, Hair spray,Hair dryer, Shampoo, Conditioner,

Hand sanitizer, Lip balm with SPF. Moist towelettes

Body Wash, Mouthwash, Deodorant

Nail clippers, Tweezers, safety pins

Razors and shaving cream

Tissues/paper towels

Toiletry bag, Makeup!

Toothbrush Toothpaste

Beach cover-up, Bathing suits, sunblock, snorkel gear, beach towels, beach bag

Belt, Socks, Comfortable walking shoes, Dress (es), Dress shoes, Jacket/fleece, Pajamas/sleepwear, Pants/trousers, Sandals

Shirts, Shorts, Panty hose. Suits and ties, Sneakers, Underwear, Watch, Jewelry, Water shoes, Wide-brimmed hat

Allergy pills, Rx meds, Anti-itch cream, Cold medicine, First-aid kit, Herbal supplements, Motion sickness remedies (bracelet and ginger pills), diarrhea pills, Pain relievers, Sleep medications, Vitamins

Camera and charger, Extra memory cards, Spare batteries, Converters and adapters, Extension cord(s), Scooter charger,

Walkie-talkies and extra batteries. Monocular. Binoculars, Flashlight. Rain poncho, Water bottles, Cooler, Highlighter, zip lock bags, clothes storage bags, sewing kit

Chewing gum, Drinks, wine

Kindle and portable speakers for the cabin, adapters, Power strip

Hope this helps. Have fun!

We have sailed out of Miami, Tampa, Charleston and Jacksonville. Jacksonville is by far our favorite port of departure. Unfortunately, the Fascination only has five day cruises.

[quote=

We also got to know two of the other hostesses, Yanja and Andrea, because, SURPRISE! Restaurant Hostesses are also the wedding coordinators! :) Yanja was our main coordinator (I was the MOH, so I also had a lot of interaction in the planning :) ). Yanja and Andrea did a GREAT job! Yanja is about to relocate to the Imagination for her next contract though -

I love your review. The Fascination is our favorite ship (we like the intimacy of the Fantasy Class ships).

But, I am so sad to see Yanja is leaving :( She is so special to us. We carried our DGD on her second cruise after she lost her mother to a brain aneurysm. She was 7 years old. One of my friends gave her a tiara to wear on elegant night. Well, she got dubbed "The Princess". The Captain heard she had lost her mom and invited us to the bridge, as his guest. And, at dinner, all he hostesses made her feel like a princess. On our last day Yanja gave her an ankle bracelet and the captain gave her a model of the ship that he signed.

Later, that year, DH and I returned for our 20th wedding anniversary (without DGD) Yanja saw us in the dinner line and came to hug us. She asked "Where is the Princess?" The captain found out we were onboard and invited us to dine with him. His first question "Where is the Princess?" When we left the ship, we had gifts from both Yanja and Captain Marino for "the princess" Yanja is such a sweet person. We left our camera with her, she said she did not have one. This year, we received a "Merry Christmas" greeting from the Fascination dining room staff. We know she sent it.

Getting to the Fascination is so easy for us, I hope we can see our friend on the Imagination, but with it in LA, that is doubtful. Sadly, Captain Marino moved to the Sunshine two weeks before our last cruise. Maybe someday will see him again.

Thank you for your post. I am glad to hear she is well and moving on.

Did your MDR menus have the "didja" section?

Yes, "didja" is on the menu and you can order the steakhouse selections at an additional charge

Wasn't sure if the newer menus are a 2.0 upgrade or if they're new.

No 2.0 upgrades

Did you have a sea day brunch?

No brunch

The safe in the room opens with a card swipe, correct?

Yes, that is correct.

And no hair dryer?

Correct, no dryer

any other tips for someone who hasn't cruised in 5 years? :)

Just off the fascination. Staff said decor upgrades and guys burger joint was all that they knew of.

 

 

Sent from my iPhone using Forums

Unfortunately that is not the case. Just read this on John Heald's page:

Lyn Torrie ‎

20 mins ·

Good Day, Mate. I was reading comments (on a page that shall remain unnamed) and saw a comment that the Fascination was getting 2.0 upgrades in March, that include Guys Burgers. Can you please confirm or dispute this claim. Many thanks and have a great day!

Like · · Share · 1

John Heald I am sorry but that's not correct. We have not announced this yet but I can tell you there are no plans to add a Guys Burgers there Lyn. I will have more news on this ship and her dry dock soon though, cheers Lyn,

Do you know if the soft drinks like Diet Coke are served from a fountain or are in cans/bottles? Can you board with your own bottled water and soft drinks?

They are sold in cans, and very expensive. Carnival allows each cruiser to take 12 -30 oz. soda on board. But, they must in your carry on luggage.