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Fascination 9/2 Surprise and winner, winner, winner!

aggiejade

By aggiejade,
in Carnival Cruise Lines

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aggiejade

aggiejade

Posted
Posted

Background: My daughter (32), son in law (34) and my four grandkids (16,13,10,8) decided to take their first cruise to celebrate son in law's safe return from deployment to Afghanistan. My daughter asked me to find a good cruise and help with the planning and research. So the Sept 2 five day sailing of the Fascination to Nassau and Little Stirrup Cay was booked.

 

Now after a week of researching, planning and booking I was excited for them. One night I said to my DH, wouldn't it be fun to book this cruise too and not tell them and just show up at their cabin door?! Guess what...WE DID!! Let me tell you it was so hard not to tell my daughter or let anything slip in numerous phone calls. I didn't tell a soul that knew us personally.

 

I decided not to wait until we got on the ship to surprise them. I didn't want to miss any time with them. DH and I live in Ca and they live in Ky. I got a great rate of $59 at the Spring Hill Suites near the Jacksonville Airport. My daughter booked there too ;). So DH and I sat in the lobby of the hotel around the time we knew they would arrive. My daughter walked in, looked around and then did a double take. Totally surprised look on her face saying "Mom what are you doing here". It was priceless!

 

I purchased FTTF for them and for us. They drove and chose the $8 parking lot near port. We took the hotel shuttle. We all arrived at port about the same time. Embarkation was pretty easy, no long lines even for those without FTTF. Rooms were ready, our luggage was at cabin door when we got there. Daughter's luggage came a little later. They got a great Military rate of $159 pp and $25 obc per cabin. They booked two cabins next to each other midship on Riviera deck. We got a Pack and Go rate of $189 pp. Our cabin was assigned about three weeks before cruise - Cabin #E57. It was a very convenient location to the Sensation dining room, Palace Theater, guest services and casino. This was our first time on the Fascination.

 

Dining:

We had Your Time dining and had a great dining staff. Arun was head waiter with Wonchai and Dragan as assistants. We requested them and had a table by window every night. Food was pretty good. Grandkids were loving the choices and the unlimited amounts. Lots of chocolate milk, chicken tenders, shrimp and ice cream consumed by various grandkids We all tried foods we've never had. Most tried escargot and alligator fritters. Some had frog legs. Lobster, prime rib, chateaubriand, shrimp cocktail, and warm chocolate melting cake were big hits at our table.

 

All the kids went to Camp Carnival, Circle C and Club 02. They had a blast. The adults played in the casino while the kids were occupied. Waterworks slides were a hit with the family. We played trivia and bingo. Learned how to fold towel animals. We went to both shows, Motor City and Divas. Enjoyed them both. The adults went to Adult Comedy a few nights. The comedians were Cowboy Comedian and Christine Steadman. They both were funny but I think we all got more of a kick out of Cowboy. The Hasbro Games show was very enjoyable. DH and I went to the Art Auction and had a free glass of champagne. Not really impressed with the artwork.

 

The cruise director was Paul Santley. He's British and we all loved his sense of humor. Jase was the Assitant CD and had just joined the Fascination on our sailing. He's young, has good energy and was funny. My daughter and I loved Ryan who was part of the entertainment staff. He hosted a lot of the trivia games and other shows. He was over the top with his personality, energy and friendliness.

 

Highlights of this cruise:

 

I won $700 at bingo at the morning session of the last sea day.

My 8 yr old granddaughter was the winner of the Hasbro Games show at the afternoon session on last sea day.

My daughter and sil won $1,000 at casino.

We got to see the debut of the Towel Animal Theater. It was so cute and funny. It's not on all ships yet but is worth seeing if your ship has it.

Little Stirrup Cay was very enjoyable for all of us. FTTF was used and we were on the first tender, no waiting at all. Son in law snorkeled on his own near the big rocks and saw sharks, rays, jelly fish and other fish. He is now hooked on snorkeling. We all saw sharks and a ray without snorkeling around the other side of the island at Barefoot Beach.

 

We all debarked using FTTF - Zone 1. Very easy and smooth. I think it was 9:15 when we left our waiting area. Dh and I used Carnival transfer. We arrived at Jacksonville Airport at 10:00. My family pulled out the $8 lot just ahead of our bus.

 

We all had a fantastic time. My only dislike was that I was cold in the theater and my cabin. I didn't bring a sweater or sweatshirt as I was thinking hot and humid in Florida and the Bahamas. I won't forget next cruise. My daughter and son in law are now addicted to cruising just like us :D!!

 

Feel free to ask questions!

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mommom of 7

mommom of 7

Posted
Posted

Wow what a great surprise !!!!!!!!

Glad that you enjoyed your time together. Sure wish I had some of your luck at Bingo & the casino.:eek:

We were on the Fascination the week before you & I have never been so cold in my life & i'm from northern OHIO.

Char

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aggiejade

aggiejade

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Wow what a great surprise !!!!!!!!

Glad that you enjoyed your time together. Sure wish I had some of your luck at Bingo & the casino.:eek:

We were on the Fascination the week before you & I have never been so cold in my life & i'm from northern OHIO.

Char

 

Glad to hear that I'm not the only that was cold.

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aggiejade

aggiejade

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Thanks for posting - our first cruise is in November on the Fascination.

 

You're a very special person to do all of that for your family!

 

You're so sweet to say that, thank you! I'm sure you will love cruising on the Fascination.

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saltybones

saltybones

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Wow! That is soooooooo Great you guys got to get together and cruise!

 

We are cruising on the Fascination for the second time this November, can't wait! We really like this ship. Plus, it not too far a drive for us. We are booked at Spring Hill too, again.

 

Thanks for the info on LSC, can't wait to snorkel there!

 

Loved you Review:D

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cynthe66

cynthe66

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We all had a fantastic time. My only dislike was that I was cold in the theater and my cabin. I didn't bring a sweater or sweatshirt as I was thinking hot and humid in Florida and the Bahamas. I won't forget next cruise. My daughter and son in law are now addicted to cruising just like us :D!!

 

Feel free to ask questions!

 

My first cruise was on the Fascination and yes I didn't think of taking a sweater/sweatshirt. Even if we go in the middle of summer I always take one. I also stick my microfleece blanket in my suitcase for at night if I get to chilly. It takes up very little room and comes in handy.

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aggiejade

aggiejade

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We are booked at spring hill suites and sailing next month. Can't wait!

 

 

Sent using the Cruise Critic forums app

 

Spring Hill Suites was nice. We flew in so didn't have a car but used their free shuttle to go to the River City Marketplace to shop and eat. Got our water and other necessities at Walmart and ate at Cracker Barrel since we don't have those in Ca.

 

My brother moved to your city this past year.

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aggiejade

aggiejade

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We all had a fantastic time. My only dislike was that I was cold in the theater and my cabin. I didn't bring a sweater or sweatshirt as I was thinking hot and humid in Florida and the Bahamas. I won't forget next cruise. My daughter and son in law are now addicted to cruising just like us :D!!

 

Feel free to ask questions!

 

My first cruise was on the Fascination and yes I didn't think of taking a sweater/sweatshirt. Even if we go in the middle of summer I always take one. I also stick my microfleece blanket in my suitcase for at night if I get to chilly. It takes up very little room and comes in handy.

 

I learned my lesson lol. I'll be taking a sweater/sweatshirt when I sail in 3 weeks. I was so cold waiting at Jax airport for our flight home that I bought a hoodie at one of the shops.

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aggiejade

aggiejade

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We're driving but have friends flying in from KY meeting us at the hotel. How much is the shuttle from the hotel to the pier and back to the airport after the cruise?

 

 

Sent using the Cruise Critic forums app

 

Shuttle is $20 pp round trip.

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KiKiLove

KiKiLove

Posted
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Background: My daughter (32), son in law (34) and my four grandkids (16,13,10,8) decided to take their first cruise to celebrate son in law's safe return from deployment to Afghanistan. My daughter asked me to find a good cruise and help with the planning and research. So the Sept 2 five day sailing of the Fascination to Nassau and Little Stirrup Cay was booked.

 

Now after a week of researching, planning and booking I was excited for them. One night I said to my DH, wouldn't it be fun to book this cruise too and not tell them and just show up at their cabin door?! Guess what...WE DID!! Let me tell you it was so hard not to tell my daughter or let anything slip in numerous phone calls. I didn't tell a soul that knew us personally.

 

I decided not to wait until we got on the ship to surprise them. I didn't want to miss any time with them. DH and I live in Ca and they live in Ky. I got a great rate of $59 at the Spring Hill Suites near the Jacksonville Airport. My daughter booked there too ;). So DH and I sat in the lobby of the hotel around the time we knew they would arrive. My daughter walked in, looked around and then did a double take. Totally surprised look on her face saying "Mom what are you doing here". It was priceless!

 

I purchased FTTF for them and for us. They drove and chose the $8 parking lot near port. We took the hotel shuttle. We all arrived at port about the same time. Embarkation was pretty easy, no long lines even for those without FTTF. Rooms were ready, our luggage was at cabin door when we got there. Daughter's luggage came a little later. They got a great Military rate of $159 pp and $25 obc per cabin. They booked two cabins next to each other midship on Riviera deck. We got a Pack and Go rate of $189 pp. Our cabin was assigned about three weeks before cruise - Cabin #E57. It was a very convenient location to the Sensation dining room, Palace Theater, guest services and casino. This was our first time on the Fascination.

 

Dining:

We had Your Time dining and had a great dining staff. Arun was head waiter with Wonchai and Dragan as assistants. We requested them and had a table by window every night. Food was pretty good. Grandkids were loving the choices and the unlimited amounts. Lots of chocolate milk, chicken tenders, shrimp and ice cream consumed by various grandkids We all tried foods we've never had. Most tried escargot and alligator fritters. Some had frog legs. Lobster, prime rib, chateaubriand, shrimp cocktail, and warm chocolate melting cake were big hits at our table.

 

All the kids went to Camp Carnival, Circle C and Club 02. They had a blast. The adults played in the casino while the kids were occupied. Waterworks slides were a hit with the family. We played trivia and bingo. Learned how to fold towel animals. We went to both shows, Motor City and Divas. Enjoyed them both. The adults went to Adult Comedy a few nights. The comedians were Cowboy Comedian and Christine Steadman. They both were funny but I think we all got more of a kick out of Cowboy. The Hasbro Games show was very enjoyable. DH and I went to the Art Auction and had a free glass of champagne. Not really impressed with the artwork.

 

The cruise director was Paul Santley. He's British and we all loved his sense of humor. Jase was the Assitant CD and had just joined the Fascination on our sailing. He's young, has good energy and was funny. My daughter and I loved Ryan who was part of the entertainment staff. He hosted a lot of the trivia games and other shows. He was over the top with his personality, energy and friendliness.

 

Highlights of this cruise:

 

I won $700 at bingo at the morning session of the last sea day.

My 8 yr old granddaughter was the winner of the Hasbro Games show at the afternoon session on last sea day.

My daughter and sil won $1,000 at casino.

We got to see the debut of the Towel Animal Theater. It was so cute and funny. It's not on all ships yet but is worth seeing if your ship has it.

Little Stirrup Cay was very enjoyable for all of us. FTTF was used and we were on the first tender, no waiting at all. Son in law snorkeled on his own near the big rocks and saw sharks, rays, jelly fish and other fish. He is now hooked on snorkeling. We all saw sharks and a ray without snorkeling around the other side of the island at Barefoot Beach.

 

We all debarked using FTTF - Zone 1. Very easy and smooth. I think it was 9:15 when we left our waiting area. Dh and I used Carnival transfer. We arrived at Jacksonville Airport at 10:00. My family pulled out the $8 lot just ahead of our bus.

 

We all had a fantastic time. My only dislike was that I was cold in the theater and my cabin. I didn't bring a sweater or sweatshirt as I was thinking hot and humid in Florida and the Bahamas. I won't forget next cruise. My daughter and son in law are now addicted to cruising just like us :D!!

 

Feel free to ask questions!

 

Hello, do you happen to have copies of the Fun Times for this cruise? Thank you!

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