Carnival Fascination

[jesscruiser]

Hey, I will be cruising on the Fascination soon, and wanted to know eveything and anything about the ship! Like is there a sushi bar onboard? How are the aft balconies. So if you have ever been on the ship, can you tell me all you can about the ship, fave parts of the ship, etc. Really anything you think is worth mentioning!!!

 

THanks !

[Express Man]

Thats easy...Simple you will love the ship.

 

Just a few short tips, Sushi is outside Casino on Hollywood Blvd hall way. Set up from 5 till about 8pm.

 

Comedy club most..But all shows show up early for s decent seat 30-40 min atleast. Comedy show Min 40 Minutes even to get a seat.

 

Use the stairs when you can,Lot faster. Easy ship to get around.

Buffets, Be sure to notice the 3 outside stations along with the Inside . Deli and Pizza are in Inside rear. Salad bar and Ice cream are also Inside middle near Buffet. All on Lido deck.

 

Really liked going to Water works area for sail away..Going under bridge you can see Whale Tale on ship "just" clear bridge.

[jesscruiser]

Sounds good so far!

[Chill_10]

I'll be on this ship in August and cant wait! I'd like to hear any and all comments about it as well!

[Cruisegirl6]

What three outside stations for the buffet are they?

[Express Man]

mongolian grill, right side heading toward indoor seating area. Carvings station center and usally left side was the comfort foods (hamburger,FF,Hot dogs,Chicken fingers ect) center of those was another drink station(Coffee,Lemonade.Iced tea).

 

Coffee bar near casino was great also, The cake was great. Nothing like a 7 layer chocolate cake..:D The Coffee bar is extra,but well priced.

[poptart]

Welcome to the board Jesscruiser! Don't pay any attention to cranky posters. If you have questions feel free to ask.

 

I've been on here for years and I totally suck at finding what I want to know with the search function!

 

Sometimes I succeed and sometimes I don't.

 

Hope you find some good reviews with pictures. Those are the best. I noticed a current one that is in progress right now.

 

Happy Sails!

[ichigohime]

I have been on the Fascination 3 times in the last 6 months and am going again this fall. She is the perfect ship for someone new to cruising, in my opinion.

 

The fascination is small enough that you can find your way around easy enough (just stay off of deck 8) but big enough that you will always find something to do.

 

Don't miss tea time in the piano bar, last time I was there I think there were only about 10 people but it was a lot of fun and delicious.

 

I also love the Tara Library. One of my favorite things to do is to get a glass of wine from the atrium bar, and go up to the Tara library to sit and chat before dinner.

 

Comedy clubs are fun, but like the other poster said - you will need to get there early to get a seat. The lounge also, unfortunately there are a lot of seats that do not have a very good view of the stage, so to get a good one go early.

 

I don't usually hang out by the pool but I do spend a lot of time on the Serenity deck, they do a good job of keeping kids out, and making sure chairs are available.

 

Have fun.

 

Oh and - there is no fishing off the ship:eek:

[crusinfamof4]

We were on the Fascination in Nov of last year. We can say it is our least favorite ship, others love it.

 

We had an aft balcony. I was worried it would be small, but it is a typical CCL size balcony.

 

The buffet always seemed croweded.

 

Debarkation process was horrendous.

 

Our room steward was super nice and super friendly. There is no heat in the cabin, sailing in Nov, it got a little chilly.

 

I asked DH if we would sail on the Fascination again, he said if we did, we would self disembark to avoid the madness we encountered.

 

Oh and it was Gospelfest 2012 when we sailed, almost daily all the lounges were taken over by the group. The last night, the whole lido deck was taken over by them, which was fine, it was freezing.

 

We didn't care for the CD, Paul. He joked a lot about his numerous wives and children. I didn't think he was funny.

 

I mean, we did make the best of what we had. One of the comedians was super funny and saw his show two nights in a row, same material both nights, we didn't go back.

 

I know this sounds negative, but it wasn't the top of our cruises. Our teen boys on the other hand, the best cruise of their young lives!

[Anjanu]

I've been on the Fascination 8 times so far and will be sailing on her again in 10 days and again on the 28th of October!

I don't think I really need to say anything more. :D

 

She is an awesome ship and I believe you will have a darn good time!

[jesscruiser]

We were on the Fascination in Nov of last year. We can say it is our least favorite ship, others love it.

 

We had an aft balcony. I was worried it would be small, but it is a typical CCL size balcony.

 

The buffet always seemed croweded.

 

Debarkation process was horrendous.

 

Our room steward was super nice and super friendly. There is no heat in the cabin, sailing in Nov, it got a little chilly.

 

I asked DH if we would sail on the Fascination again, he said if we did, we would self disembark to avoid the madness we encountered.

 

Oh and it was Gospelfest 2012 when we sailed, almost daily all the lounges were taken over by the group. The last night, the whole lido deck was taken over by them, which was fine, it was freezing.

 

We didn't care for the CD, Paul. He joked a lot about his numerous wives and children. I didn't think he was funny.

 

I mean, we did make the best of what we had. One of the comedians was super funny and saw his show two nights in a row, same material both nights, we didn't go back.

 

I know this sounds negative, but it wasn't the top of our cruises. Our teen boys on the other hand, the best cruise of their young lives!

 

It doesn't sound negative, just truthful lol. I know cruise experiences vary, because everyone has different expectations. Quick question, did the aft cabins have a sitting area with a sofa?

[schaf921]

Yep - some great tips posted. We sailed the Fascination for our first cruise in April and had a blast. Wish we knew about the fishing - that wasnt listed anywhere!

 

My biggest tip - avoid the long lines for the breakfast buffet and either

1) Eat in the MDR - we actually werent aware they served breakfast - we just overlooked that and 'followed the crowds'. Tried room service one morning but it was WAY late

2) If you do follow the crowds for breakfast - go to the pool buffet (where the Mongolian Wok is - the regular LIDO buffet is in the room behind this under the waterworks). Now dont get in the buffet line but go to Rotisserie line in middle (its an arched section with Buffet on left - rotisserie in middle and mongolian on right). They do custom omellettes and for some reason EVERYONE was in buffet line and no one in omellette line. just cant get bacon in omellette line I guess

[jesscruiser]

Yep - some great tips posted. We sailed the Fascination for our first cruise in April and had a blast. Wish we knew about the fishing - that wasnt listed anywhere!

 

My biggest tip - avoid the long lines for the breakfast buffet and either

1) Eat in the MDR - we actually werent aware they served breakfast - we just overlooked that and 'followed the crowds'. Tried room service one morning but it was WAY late

2) If you do follow the crowds for breakfast - go to the pool buffet (where the Mongolian Wok is - the regular LIDO buffet is in the room behind this under the waterworks). Now dont get in the buffet line but go to Rotisserie line in middle (its an arched section with Buffet on left - rotisserie in middle and mongolian on right). They do custom omellettes and for some reason EVERYONE was in buffet line and no one in omellette line. just cant get bacon in omellette line I guess

 

do you know if they had the old thicker crust pizza or the new thinner crust pizza

[schaf921]

Pretty sure we had the thin crust in April - dont care for thick crust but really liked their pizza so best memory is the thin

[Cruisegirl6]

Does anybody know what time the first day and where can we find the Maitre D so that we can get a private table we are a family of 4, thanks.

[jbhcw]

Does anybody know what time the first day and where can we find the Maitre D so that we can get a private table we are a family of 4, thanks.

 

The Maitre D is usually in one of the dining rooms embarkation day for a set time during the afternoon...there is usually a line but we have done that before to get a table for two...Just ask someone when you get aboard what time he will be available

[kerovick]

I beleive he is there starting at 1:30 for an hour or so. Guest services can tell you for sure once your on board.

[Cruisegirl6]

thank you

[crusinfamof4]

It doesn't sound negative, just truthful lol. I know cruise experiences vary, because everyone has different expectations. Quick question, did the aft cabins have a sitting area with a sofa?

 

Hi! Sorry, there is no sofa, there is just a chair to sit in right next to the bed. We just piled it with our crap.

[crusinfamof4]

Does anybody know what time the first day and where can we find the Maitre D so that we can get a private table we are a family of 4, thanks.

 

When we sailed in Nov, we had a private table for 4, we had anytime dining. Our boys only ate with us on the first night (oldest turned 16), so the other nights, we always had a private table for 2 :)

[waynbo]

I just came off a B2B on the Fascination (18-27 Apr), she is an absolutely fabulous ship. Never had much of a line anywhere but the Mongolian station (longest wait was around 10 mins and the DW ate there every day).

 

The Maitre D was in the dining room at approx 1:30 but when we asked to be moved from a table for 2 to a large table (DW and I think meeting new people is part of the cruise experience) he said there was nothing he could do. Every night there were 10 top tables all around us with only 1 or 2 couples at them. When I approached him again the second night, he still said he couldn't move me :mad:.

 

On the second leg they did have us at a 10 top table. Everything else about this cruise was wonderful.

 

Good luck and happy sailing! Cheers!

[Cruisegirl6]

Thanks all, the problem is I want to know about my daughters b/f and be with them and just have private conversations. If we are seated at a round table for 10/12 my daughter is right if they sit next to us we won't be able to see them and not be able to talk, unless they sit opposite of us at the round table..but then there may be other families that get divided and not sit together, I realize the Maitre D never works for what I want happened to me in the past but was hoping we could get at a private table for 4. Am I able to get anytime dining the second evening if we not like our dining table and if we are seated with many people?

[crusinfamof4]

Thanks all, the problem is I want to know about my daughters b/f and be with them and just have private conversations. If we are seated at a round table for 10/12 my daughter is right if they sit next to us we won't be able to see them and not be able to talk, unless they sit opposite of us at the round table..but then there may be other families that get divided and not sit together, I realize the Maitre D never works for what I want happened to me in the past but was hoping we could get at a private table for 4. Am I able to get anytime dining the second evening if we not like our dining table and if we are seated with many people?

 

Call and see if they will switch you to anytime now, it doesn't hurt. We have always done anytime. When we sailed the Dream in 2011, my FIL and his wife sailed too. They had a 6 pm dinner whereas we had anytime. On the second night, they switched to anytime to be with us and we dined together for the rest of the cruise. We would have 6 to a table (my fam of 4 and them) and then when the kids didn't want to dine with us, it was a private table for 4. :)

[jesscruiser]

Does the fascination have a seaside theater? And are the safes the keypad kind, or the magnetic strip kind?

[Express Man]

No seaside theather..If you asking about movie screen. Yes, swipe cards for safes.