newbie here

[hisMrs2008]

We are sailing on January 2012 for our first ever cruise, this will be my birthday gift from my DH:o....We are going to be going on the Fascination leaving from Jacksonville. What is some of the must see's on this ship? Also we are going to Nassau and Half Moon Cay, and I was wondering what is some of the fun excursions to do at them places as well...I'm getting excited!!

[RBCL]

Welcome to Cruise Critic - we are also booked on Fascination.

 

I've heard that a MAJOR must see is when the ship passes under the bridge.

 

Can't help you with excursions, sorry!

 

:)

[silkhair1]

Welcome to Cruise Critic! Have a wonderful cruise, and happy planning!

[*Mach*]

Welcome to Cruise Critic and congratulations on your first cruise!!!

Half Moon Cay... you don't need to do a thing else... It's been proclaimed by many as the most beautiful of all the private island calls. Hang out on the beach, enjoy lunch and some cocktails... Doesn't get much better!!!

In Nassau, or really on Paradise Island, is Atlantis... the biggest casino in the Caribbean. AMAZING aquarium!!! a must see!!! There's a few nice beaches and the hotel where Casino Royale was shot... fun to visit...

You'll have a fantastic time!!!

:)

[nydney1]

Mach is correct. Half Moon Cay is incredible all by itself.

 

In Nassau you can take the water taxi over to Atlantis for about $3 each way per person then walking around the Aquarium is free. There are plenty of good sore excursions but you can have just as much fun walking around Atlantis and the shops near port.

 

Have a great trip.

[wilfros]

I also welcome you to CruiseCritic.

 

As for Nassau, along with Atlantis, we found the Queen's Staircase very interesting. The story behind the creation of the staircase and actually seeing it we found wonderful.

 

In the end, you're in the Bahamas how bad can it be? When we first arrived we disembarked the ship, through the welcome center, turned right and walked about 1/4 mile to the public beach and it was great! From there we could see the ships at the Pier.

 

Here are two photos of the two places I'm talking about. They are in 3D (cross-eye) if you can't see the 3D effect don't worry just look at one side of the photo and you will get the idea of the areas I am talking about.

 

 

 

[hisMrs2008]

Thanks for the warm welcomes:)..And I think we will most defiantly be checking out the Atlantis resort, I have actually been checking it out..I've heard negative things about the straw market from other people so I believe we will steer clear of that! And Half Moon Cay looks amazing from all of the photo's I have saw and I even watched a video on youtube about it as well..I'm getting excited!

[majosa]

Hey there! We are booked on this cruise as well! We will be celebrating my birthday too! ( january 7) Welcome to cruise critic! I know we are wanting to go to the queens staircase as well as the straw market. We are also wanting to check out some places to eat. As for half moon cay we are just planning on sunning and swimming!

[luv cruising 007]

Welcome to cruise critic & to cruising I do have bad news for you though..... Your gonna be addicted to cruising like most of us are & cant wait till the next cruise starts:p:p:p Half moon cay is absolutly DREAMY I loved every second I was on the private island! The sand is as soft as talcan power! I never seen sand so smooth & the beach area in the water is free of rocks or anything to step on! wonderful! It feels like a huge swimming pool cause its calm & free of waves mostly! I might be a rebel but doing any planned excursions to atlantis in my book is $$$$ but def worth checking out the property of atlantis! We did the sheraton cable beach resort at $29(as of nov 2010) per person we had access to beach chairs with umbrellas, water beach toys, kyaks, snorkling equip., several resort sytle huge pools & hot tubs, & towels check em out & have a great time on your cruise vacation!

[westview1]

Welcome to Cruise Critic! My first cruise was on the Fascination as well! By the end of the week I knew I was addicted to cruising.

[Kel040]

Hi hisMrs2008 - You will love the Fascination - I will be on her for my second time in a little over a month from now ... we were in Nassau during our first cruise last October and will be there again & Half Moon Cay (HMC) when we go in May. It will be my first visit to HMC and I can't wait !! Based on the great advice I haven't gotten right here on Cruise Critic - I have reserved a cabana for HMC - there are only 15 of them, so if you are thinking of getting one, book early.

 

If you click on the link below, you can see my photos of the Fascination - also search for the cruise critic member APDMOM she has posted many pictures of the ship, as she lives in Jacksonville and watches ship cruise out of port.

[hisMrs2008]

Hey there! We are booked on this cruise as well! We will be celebrating my birthday too! ( january 7) Welcome to cruise critic! I know we are wanting to go to the queens staircase as well as the straw market. We are also wanting to check out some places to eat. As for half moon cay we are just planning on sunning and swimming!

 

My birthday is actually on January 5th but I am wanting to go to Half Moon cay and this is the closest day that I will be able to be there for my birthday so we are celebrating two days later :)..I'm excited just see the ocean from the Bahama's!!! :) We might run into each other on the ship:D

[hisMrs2008]

I think I will be addicted to cruising after hearing all of the wonderful things about it from these boards as well as family who has cruised and has told me how jealous they are going to be, but I told them they are welcome to go!

[dustyroad]

hi and welcome. wow, the excitement of the first cruise is so thrilling. it was for me anyway and it still is for each cruise now. just take in as much of the ship as you can and dont wear yourselfs out doing everything in the capers. decide what you want too do on the ship, enjoy it and relax and unwind as much as you can. i cant tell you about your ports as i have not been too them but im sure if you go too the thread for your area you will find some great tips. you are going too love the trip if you dont expect every thing too be perfect and just go with the flow. kick back and leave home and work where you left it. ;). have a great time.

[Gypsydrifting]

My husband and I will also be taking our first cruise with you!

[jbanana1]

Do a search of Fascination and read some of the reviews. I wrote one for our trip this past June. Also go to the Bahamas section of the Ports of Call board and search Nassau. You'll find lots of things to do. We love waterparks so we did the Atlantis waterpark. I wrote a review in the Bahamas section on that. You'll find lots of info on cruisecritic. Also go to the website seauonboard.com for good info on sailing on Carnival. Some of the info is out dated but most is still valid. And last but not least, go to Carnival's FAQ and read some of those.

[SteelerCruiser]

We love the Fascination! Have sailed her 3 times now. We have only done the Freeport/Nassau route though and not HMC. Would love to go there one day. We have been to Royal Carib's private island and absolutely love it so if HMC is similar in any way then you will love it! As far as Nassau we like to get off and walk around the town area shopping and such. Last May we walked past the British Colonial Hilton to Junkanoo Beach(no fee to use) and enjoyed a few hours hanging out there. Be sure to check out the port of call forum on here and you will find all sorts of ideas and info there! Happy Cruising!!!

[tigerdadky]

Have never been on the Fascination but did leave out of Jacksonville when the beautiful little ship Celebration was there. Yes the sail away is a must. It is awesome when you pass under the bridge, you feel like you could reach up and touch it. Never been to HMC but have been to Nassau twice. The water taxi was a lot of fun. The straw market was hot, crowded, and full of beggars. Atlantis is a must see once. Nassau is ok but I will try to avoid it on future cruises, because twice is enough. Have fun and dont let any of the rude people on the ship ruin your cruise. Cruising is really addictive.

[Mybearsbaby]

Welcome to cc!! I. Just did this druise in feb...Fascination is a good ship. I really enjoyed it, and I think y'all will too. Check out the serenity adults only area on the back of the ship...its awesome!!

In Nassau, we did a boat snorkel tour booked in the ship. It was really good. LOTS of fish and coral and such, and so many colors!! We ate some conch at a local restaurant because my uncle really wanted to, and it was good. The locals all told him that it was island aphrodesiac (spelling, sorry) lol! Idk about all that...:rolleyes:We did the straw market too...yes, some vendors were pushy, but dh and I did find some neat things...it all depends on what you are comfortable with.

In HMC, I agree with the others. That place is one of the most beautiful I have ever seen!! We had a cabana, and I would have been content just staying there for days!! We played in the clear blue waves, snorkeled, ate some fruit and enjoyed the sun. We also did a lagoon tour that was fun, but to be honest, I would have been just fine to have not done it and just had more beach time. My grandma said the hmc was what she thought heaven must look like...I agree!

Hope you have a blast and happy very early birthday!! Come back after your cruise and tell us all about it ;)

[gelo7]

Welcome to CC, you are going to have a wonderful time.

[jbanana1]

Just saw that the OP posted this back in April so hopefully she has already gotten a lot of info from these boards. Not sure if she's posted anything else or not.