Fantasy - Just off ship, review to come

[Matt62]

Just got off the Fantasy this morning. Gorgeous day to arrive back home in Charleston. We were pleased with this cruise, especially the staff. Bartenders and Casino staff were excellent, amazing how they can remember names. The Fantasy is still a good ship and looks fine for its age.

 

Check in was amazing as we were expecting it to take far longer than our check in on the Miracle last December. We had a suite on the Miracle so we had VIP check in. We had a regular outside cabin on the Fantasy but our "non-VIP" check in was actually faster. We left our home in Mt Pleasant at 12:50pm Wednesday and were in our cabin at 1:35. I couldn't believe it. We did not have to deal with parking as we were dropped off. Check in lines moved rapidly, almost no waiting.

 

Port staff far nicer and more helpful than in Port Everglades. It may be a southern thing.

 

Service in MDR varied from fine to very slow. Food varied from poor to great (Deli sandwiches and Wok dishes, anything made to order was far better generally). Didn't detract from cruise.

 

Biggest surprise was Freeport. Great stop.

 

There were 4 other ships in Nassau, it was chaos. It took 45 minutes to get back through ship terminal to re-board in Nassau as they had to check ID on 10,000+ people. Traffic getting out of and into Nassau is gridlock.

 

Freeport and our visit to Grand Lucayan was great. Note: grilled lobster and conch salads at "Billie Joes" on beach just west of Grand Lucayan was great....really cool spot. This is a great hotel that is grossly underrated and underutilized.

 

Entertainers were better than on the Miracle. Bathrooms in cabin were too.

 

CD Risa Barnes was great.

 

Missed our giant room and balcony from the Miracle a little, but not much, cruising from home offsets a LOT.

 

Cruise was occasionally very windy this week, wind hitting 35+ mph a few times but motion of ship was modest. Temps were great. Some people complained about motion but seemed equally uncomfortable riding elevators. An experienced cruiser would find it just fine.

 

Left deck 7 on ship at 8:15am this morning, had luggage and was out of terminal in 15 minutes and at home by 8:50am.

 

Our port facility may not be much to look at, yet, but it was very well organized and efficient.

 

If anyone has any questions about the Fantasy, let me know. We'd do this again in a heartbeat and will.

[asdfghjkl1]

any experience with the internet services? leaving this coming saturday and i'm curious as to what packages (unlimited especially) are available!

[SlingBlade]

Can you tell me more about Freeport? We will be on this cruise Jan 9th. Do you think it is realistic for husband(s), 3 cars, to drop us off at the port then drop our cars off at friend's home (3-4 miles away) then have friend bring the husbands back? we have cruised many times but never from Charleston. :o

[Matt62]

Can you tell me more about Freeport? We will be on this cruise Jan 9th. Do you think it is realistic for husband(s), 3 cars, to drop us off at the port then drop our cars off at friend's home (3-4 miles away) then have friend bring the husbands back? we have cruised many times but never from Charleston. :o

 

I will try to answer several questions from two posters. First, internet access. I did not try on the Fantasy. My experience on the Miracle last December was that is was frustratingly slow, excruciatingly slow. Since this was only a five night trip I avoided my cell phone and internet for 5 days, if you can do that it is a vacation in and of itself.

 

Freeport was a very positive SURPRISE! I have been to Freeport, via airplane, several times before in the early 90's and know a lot about what has been going on there. It has never fared well with the economic problems in the US. If you are looking for a beautiful, relaxing, gorgeous beach stop without the hassle of crowds, this is the best port of call on this cruise. It is WELL WORTH $10 to buy the wristband for use of the facilities at Grand Lucayan. Stop by the little beach bar/restaurant Billie Joes just to the west of the Grand Lucayan for the best food you will get on your cruise.

 

It is entirely realistic for your husbands to drop some off before returning. Make sure the passengers they drop off have their passports/boarding passes, if they intend on boarding in advance. If you board between 12:00 and 1:00pm, it will only take a few minutes to check in. I live here and was amazed how fast the boarding process went, just follow the directions of the endless port staff.

 

IF YOUR HUSBANDS DROP YOU OFF and then come back, odds are, you will long ago have boarded. Make sure you have your boarding passes, Passports, etc.

[KirkNC]

Welcome back, look forward to your review.

[All4fun&fun4all]

We leave Saturday for our 4th trip on Fantasy and our 3rd time out of our hometown of Charleston. Glad to hear you had an enjoyable time.

 

Just curious if y'all were delayed entry to the port due to the fog? When I was on my way to work over the Ravenel Bridge I couldnt even see the Yorktown, much less the Fantasy.

[Matt62]

We leave Saturday for our 4th trip on Fantasy and our 3rd time out of our hometown of Charleston. Glad to hear you had an enjoyable time.

 

Just curious if y'all were delayed entry to the port due to the fog? When I was on my way to work over the Ravenel Bridge I couldnt even see the Yorktown, much less the Fantasy.

 

 

No delay due to fog. Arrived on time. When I got out of bed I looked out our window and honestly could not tell whether we were still at sea or at the dock. The water was flat and I couldn't see more than 30 feet. Once I made it to the Lido deck I could see all the buildings in that part of town clearly but the fog was still over the harbor. When we crossed the Ravenel heading home you could barely see the ship, it was little more than a silhouette in the distance. At that moment it occurred to me that we could have been delayed. I think in port city with narrow rivers to traverse (Galveston delays its cruise ships all the time) we would have been, but Charleston is a wide, well marked entrance.

 

 

Your extensive reviews and photos made me feel at home on the Fantasy.

[SlingBlade]

Thanks Matt62 :)

[All4fun&fun4all]

No delay due to fog. Arrived on time. When I got out of bed I looked out our window and honestly could not tell whether we were still at sea or at the dock. The water was flat and I couldn't see more than 30 feet. Once I made it to the Lido deck I could see all the buildings in that part of town clearly but the fog was still over the harbor. When we crossed the Ravenel heading home you could barely see the ship, it was little more than a silhouette in the distance. At that moment it occurred to me that we could have been delayed. I think in port city with narrow rivers to traverse (Galveston delays its cruise ships all the time) we would have been, but Charleston is a wide, well marked entrance.

 

 

Your extensive reviews and photos made me feel at home on the Fantasy.

 

Thank you! That was very nice of you to say!

 

I am playing different scenarios in my head for our Saturday sailing and saw the fog and thought "whoa! Didnt even think about what we would do if there was a fog delay". We are getting there around 10:30am. I am sooooo ready!

[Matt62]

Thank you! That was very nice of you to say!

 

I am playing different scenarios in my head for our Saturday sailing and saw the fog and thought "whoa! Didnt even think about what we would do if there was a fog delay". We are getting there around 10:30am. I am sooooo ready!

 

 

I think ya'll will be just fine. Something also tells me that you two would be pretty fun to party with.

 

I just submitted my review to the member review section. After I did, I went and glanced at some recent reviews. It is hard to believe some of the recent reviewers were on the same ship as I was. It also amazes me what bothers people. There was a reviewer that said Freeport was horrible because they perceived people there as "poor" and the port had a oil depot and container shipping facility. I am always baffled by people who dislike places because they see what they describe as "poor people". I can see how that might make someone feel guilty, or generous, or empathetic or concerned or any number of feelings but I do not understand why people dislike a place because poor people might live there.

 

Why are people surprised and bothered when they see industrial facilities in port areas? That doesn't make sense. Port facilities are by their nature industrial areas. Seeing a huge container transhipment facility, a double dry-dock facility and the expanding oil storage facility at the Freeport harbor made me happy, it was evidence of an improving economic base for that island. Sometimes it seems that some people are not happy with what is going on around them unless it appears that it is being done entirely with them in mind.

 

Funny how travelers are. Some people are so affluent and have traveled so widely that little meets their high standards and they become jaded. Some have traveled so little that nothing meets their expectations. Sophistication is not a matter of wealth, but of perspective. I feel fortunate to be more likely to see the good in people and places than be blinded by the bad.

 

Now if only I can just party with All4fun and The Andrew aboard the Fantasy. I will bet anyone that they see the good and fun in everyone and every place.