CCL FASCINATION B2B Review

[Carnival Platinum Cruiser]

Just returned from our B2B on the Fascination (Key West and Nassau) for both cruises which were our 28th and 29th cruises with Carnival and have a few observations.

 

While the weather was cool (50S to low 70s) for both cruises there was no rain so it was not too bad weather wise. Strong winds prevented us from docking in Key West on the 2nd cruise. Below are some of my thoughts and observations of the cruise.

 

1) Crew - Typical Carnival just about everyone was friendly and helpful with great room stewards. My only complaint is that as per usual there are a few surly folks working in guest services.

 

2) Food - Again the usual CCL fare in the dining room with most things very good. My one complaint as usual is that the desserts are not up to par as compared to years past. No more combination filet Migon/short ribs it is now just short ribs but they were very good.

 

Lido - Mongolian grill is very good as was the deli but the selections in the buffet are lacking. You won't go hungry but not very good there. Also why they have the omelette station OUTSIDE when it is is the 50s in the AM is a mystery to me. Yes Bacon police and sausage links were only in the dining room but oh well.

 

3) Activities - The usual stone age hairy chest contest and tons of bingo along with trivia nothing changed there.

 

4) Entertainment - 2 Man lido band not bad but not what it used to be. Punchline comedy was good but not great IMO. The showtime production shows were just OK. My gripe in the band is down to (3) members. One on keyboards one on bass and one other. NO drums, guitar or any horns which really seems cheap when you hear lots of horns/guitar during the production show.

 

5) CD - Jen, I won't say anything else

 

6) My time dining - While we never had to wait be advised there are no private tables for 2 as they are literally 1 foot apart. CCL needs to take lessons from NCL here as they have anytime dining down to an art. Problem is they only have about 5 or 6 head waiters for anytime dining and they are hit and miss. Most of them are slow, inefficient, mess up orders etc. We finally found one (Norwell) who knew what he was doing and requested him out last 4 nights. Also they still have the waiter entertainment which was in our case right when we were served our entres. Can't eat in the dark so had to wait for a TEN minute version of hot, hot, hot to finish and food was getting cold. Heard lots of complaints about that. I think it just a matter of time before the whole dining rooms become anytime dining, Time will tell.

 

Platinum guests - About 100 on both cruises

 

Past guest pins - First cruise we got them, 2nd cruise they gave us Miracle pins, don't know why

 

Platinum gifts - First cruise the embarassingly cheap funship freddy picture frame which IMO a 10 year old would not want. 2nd cruise (4) soft drink coupons per person.

 

Overall these were typical CCL cruises but we are so looking forward to a change with the X.

 

Any questions ask away

[1153rsmith]

We sail Christmas day... is there anything seasonal on the menu? I haven't cruised in 20 years, so I don't know how much menus change.

 

Also, we are sailing with pre-teens. Is there a video arcade/game room onboard?

 

Do you know if you can take a tour of the ship, or at least the galley?

 

Thanks in advance. There are going to be 10 of us sailing and we are on the Empress deck.

 

The children don't know.... we plan to tell them Christmas Eve. :D

[1153rsmith]

Another question... my children love trading pins.... can you get pins of the ship onboard?

[Carnival Platinum Cruiser]

We sail Christmas day... is there anything seasonal on the menu? I haven't cruised in 20 years, so I don't know how much menus change.

 

Also, we are sailing with pre-teens. Is there a video arcade/game room onboard?

 

Do you know if you can take a tour of the ship, or at least the galley?

 

Thanks in advance. There are going to be 10 of us sailing and we are on the Empress deck.

 

The children don't know.... we plan to tell them Christmas Eve. :D

 

Ship tour is available for about $75 per person I think. There is a small video arcade in the circle deck 9 by the photo gallery.

 

Ship pins are only given to platinum cruisers these days. They might be for sale in the gift shops however I did not see them.

[BARBARA J.W.]

Just returned from our B2B on the Fascination

 

Any questions ask away

 

I'll be on the Fascination-12/30/2010......

I am doing a BTBTB.......

I did this last Sept-09.....

Question,,,,,,,,,Did a Staff Member from

the Guest Services walk you off the Ship

when the Ship return back to JAX,

to go thru customs,then right back

on the Ship.......??

I am hoping this is what they still do....

THANKS............

[Carnival Platinum Cruiser]

I'll be on the Fascination-12/30/2010......

I am doing a BTBTB.......

I did this last Sept-09.....

Question,,,,,,,,,Did a Staff Member from

the Guest Services walk you off the Ship

when the Ship return back to JAX,

to go thru customs,then right back

on the Ship.......??

I am hoping this is what they still do....

THANKS............

 

Yeah all the b2b folks waited at the atrium bar around 10 AM and we escorted off to customs then they passed out the new cabin cards there and then back onto the ship. The whole thing took 10 minutes or so.

[BARBARA J.W.]

Yeah all the b2b folks waited at the atrium bar around 10 AM and we escorted off to customs then they passed out the new cabin cards there and then back onto the ship. The whole thing took 10 minutes or so.

 

Thanks.........

I am glad they still do.......

I am looking forward to

my 14-days on the Ship......

[1153rsmith]

Did you notice any menu changes for Christmas?

[Carnival Platinum Cruiser]

Did you notice any menu changes for Christmas?

 

NONE. It is the same menu they have had for years on all their ships

[Tapi]

We were on the 12/06/2010 sailing. We agree 100% with everything you said. We left the ship with a "that was OK" feeling instead of our usual "WOW, we had an awesome time, can't wait to go again!" feeling.

 

Our main complain though wasn't necessarily Carnival's fault (unless you want to blame Carnival for lowering prices SO much that even the most undesirable people decided to go cruising as well!) Some of the fellow cruisers on our sailing left a lot to be desired. Rude behavior, bad manners, and tons of smoking (even in non smoking areas) which we felt we couldn't escape at times.