The old fascination

[AFuncruiser]

I hop on the old Fascination a couple times a year because it leaves from my hometown, and is a cheap get-away.The ship is full of first time cruisers having the time of their life. It is fun to be around so many happy people. The food is just ok. The entertainment is just ok. The ship is a bit tatty as the British would say. I miss a front facing lounge like other cruise lines have. The cabins are dated. The cruise down the St. Johns river is pleasant. A great value.

 

Dennis

Jacksonville, Fl

 

555 days at sea

49 cruises

12 cruise lines

T/P, T/A, Hawaii, Central & South America, New Zealand & South Pacific, Rio/ Amazon, Alaska

[cookiejarvis]

Glad you like her as we board Fascination on Saturday. I do have some questions, if you don't mind answering.

1. Is the port easily accessible from I-95? And is it user friendly as far as dropping luggage off and parking. We thought Cape Canaveral was pretty easy compared to Charleston which is a nightmare.

2. Has Fascination been upgraded to 2.0, does she have the Guy Burgers, Ble Iguana, etc.?

3. We usually try to find one bar that we like with a cool bartender. Any suggestions?

Your time will be appreciated.

[Lace]

That was one of my favorite ships back in her day, puttering around the southern Caribbean with a stop in South America.

[AFuncruiser]

Glad you like her as we board Fascination on Saturday. I do have some questions, if you don't mind answering.

1. Is the port easily accessible from I-95? And is it user friendly as far as dropping luggage off and parking. We thought Cape Canaveral was pretty easy compared to Charleston which is a nightmare.

2. Has Fascination been upgraded to 2.0, does she have the Guy Burgers, Ble Iguana, etc.?

3. We usually try to find one bar that we like with a cool bartender. Any suggestions?

Your time will be appreciated.

 

Yes you will get off 95 at the Heckscher drive exit and proceed down Heckscher past the zoo until you see cruise ship signs, ship and parking.

 

I think it is user friendly re; dropping luggage and parking.

 

I haven't been on in a couple months and the last time I was on she wasn't upgraded and did not have Guy Burgers, Big Iguana to my knowledge.

 

The bar by the casino on the promenade deck is one of my favorites. The bar in the Grand atrium plaza is popular.

 

Wishing you a good time and fun cruise..

 

Dennis

Jacksonville, Fl

 

555 days at sea

49 cruises

12 cruise lines

T/P, T/A, Hawaii, Central & South America, New Zealand & South Pacific, Rio/ Amazon, Alaska

[cookiejarvis]

 

Yes you will get off 95 at the Heckscher drive exit and proceed down Heckscher past the zoo until you see cruise ship signs, ship and parking.

 

I think it is user friendly re; dropping luggage and parking.

 

I haven't been on in a couple months and the last time I was on she wasn't upgraded and did not have Guy Burgers, Big Iguana to my knowledge.

 

The bar by the casino on the promenade deck is one of my favorites. The bar in the Grand atrium plaza is popular.

 

Wishing you a good time and fun cruise..

 

Dennis

Jacksonville, Fl

 

555 days at sea

49 cruises

12 cruise lines

T/P, T/A, Hawaii, Central & South America, New Zealand & South Pacific, Rio/ Amazon, Alaska

 

 

Thanks Dennis for the information. We usually congregate around the casino bar on other ships too because of the live music. That is until I cannot take the smoke anymore. :( Ive cruised a number of times now, with Carnival and other lines, and like a kid right before Christmas, I get so excited. It never gets old. Our plans are to move closer to a port after we retire so we can do more cruises. In the interim, I have two that we have to get through college and off our payroll before we can enjoy "our" money and time.:D

[Georgiagolfer]

Thanks Dennis for the information. We usually congregate around the casino bar on other ships too because of the live music. That is until I cannot take the smoke anymore. :( Ive cruised a number of times now, with Carnival and other lines, and like a kid right before Christmas, I get so excited. It never gets old. Our plans are to move closer to a port after we retire so we can do more cruises. In the interim, I have two that we have to get through college and off our payroll before we can enjoy "our" money and time.:D

Sailed Fascination 2 times this year, the last was on 11/30. She does not have any 2.0 upgrades. The Stars Bar (Promenade at the Casino) is very popular, however, the live band/entertainment was lacking in this area last cruise. DW and I like to sit here after dinner, drink wine, and dance. Only had live music 2 nights out of 5 for dancing. Had Karaoke here 1 night, 2 solo singers that sang mostly folk music, and a band 2 nights. Pretty disappointed with this.

[GTO-Girl]

Sailed Fascination 2 times this year, the last was on 11/30. She does not have any 2.0 upgrades. The Stars Bar (Promenade at the Casino) is very popular, however, the live band/entertainment was lacking in this area last cruise. DW and I like to sit here after dinner, drink wine, and dance. Only had live music 2 nights out of 5 for dancing. Had Karaoke here 1 night, 2 solo singers that sang mostly folk music, and a band 2 nights. Pretty disappointed with this.

 

I know from your previous posts that you have been a fan of the Fascination (as we have). I hate to hear that some things are not as good as in the past.

 

We love that little ship for quick 5 day getaways! I have always made the comment that you could tell it was a ship that was well managed. I hope this doesn't mean they have changed management and it is beginning to slip.

 

That would be too sad.........:(

Edited December 26, 2013 by GTO-Girl

[Georgiagolfer]

I know from your previous posts that you have been a fan of the Fascination (as we have). I hate to hear that some things are not as good as in the past.

 

We love that little ship for quick 5 day getaways! I have always made the comment that you could tell it was a ship that was well managed. I hope this doesn't mean they have changed management and it is beginning to slip.

 

That would be too sad.........:(

 

Our cruise last month was our 5th on Fascination, so yes we did have a place in our hearts for her. Sadly, this last cruise though will be our last on her for a while, never say never. We actually sailed Fascination in June this year, with Freedom of the Seas sandwiched in between in September. The cruise in June on Fascination was far superior to the one last month.

Edited December 26, 2013 by Georgiagolfer
spelling

[ImmortalxKiss]

4th time on Fascination come April! Love her :)

[2Shoes2Go]

We enjoy the Fascination just for an inexpensive get away. Love seeing the crew and puttering around the small ship. Beverly Hills Bar, aft, see Tommy. Makes great drinks, especially Lemon Drop martinis. Sometimes he is in the centrum.

We board the Fascination knowing we will be mostly relaxing and entertaining ourselves for a few days. Occasionally, there will be good music in the centrum.

[cookiejarvis]

Thanks to you all for all of the information. We are not very demanding...as we see it, any day cruising is better than a day at work. We will let you know how she (Fascination ) is doing when we get back.

[javamom]

Glad you like her as we board Fascination on Saturday. I do have some questions, if you don't mind answering.

1. Is the port easily accessible from I-95? And is it user friendly as far as dropping luggage off and parking. We thought Cape Canaveral was pretty easy compared to Charleston which is a nightmare.

2. Has Fascination been upgraded to 2.0, does she have the Guy Burgers, Ble Iguana, etc.?

3. We usually try to find one bar that we like with a cool bartender. Any suggestions?

Your time will be appreciated.

 

1. The most user friendly port I've been to. Parking is a breeze then you walk right in.

 

2. Sadly, no

 

3. TOMMY in the bar right outside the comedy theatre. He is fun.

[cookiejarvis]

1. The most user friendly port I've been to. Parking is a breeze then you walk right in.

 

2. Sadly, no

 

3. TOMMY in the bar right outside the comedy theatre. He is fun.

 

 

Sounds like Tommy and I will become friends real soon....as soon as Saturday rolls around.

 

BTW..see where you are doing Sensation...we sailed her last Valentines and had a great time.

[Phlybice]

Are the mannequins still on board on deck 8?

[nodogkisses]

Dennis from Jax described the Fascination perfectly (loved my 3 cruises on her) and javamom is so right that Jaxport is the most user friendly port around.

[GTO-Girl]

 

Our cruise last month was our 5th on Fascination, so yes we did have a place in our hearts for her. Sadly, this last cruise though will be our last on her for a while, never say never. We actually sailed Fascination in June this year, with Freedom of the Seas sandwiched in between in September. The cruise in June on Fascination was far superior to the one last month.

 

What do you feel was the main differences between June and November?

 

The Fascination was always our "go to" cruise during the Winter so we are sad that things may be changing.....

[Hon and One]

Another vote for Tommy! He might even sing a little song for you.

[lingram001]

Like everyone said above, tommy is the man to see! On my very first cruise, Tokyo Teas, he made them best!

:)

[jwjax]

Like everyone said above, tommy is the man to see! On my very first cruise, Tokyo Teas, he made them best!

:)

 

Hmmm....now I know why you missed the OBP!:D:D

[jwjax]

What do you feel was the main differences between June and November?

 

The Fascination was always our "go to" cruise during the Winter so we are sad that things may be changing.....

 

We were on the Dec 9th sailing on the Fascination, and I saw no difference than when we were on it in May. But, I thought the service in the MDR was better in Dec, not so hurried as in May, not to say May was bad, just busier I guess.

 

Customer service at Guest Services was great, bartenders and waiters/waitresses were excellent ship wide.

 

We actually had the same room steward in Dec, that we had in May, service there was outstanding....Look for Rowena on the Main Deck Mid Ship....:)

[GTO-Girl]

We were on the Dec 9th sailing on the Fascination, and I saw no difference than when we were on it in May. But, I thought the service in the MDR was better in Dec, not so hurried as in May, not to say May was bad, just busier I guess.

 

Customer service at Guest Services was great, bartenders and waiters/waitresses were excellent ship wide.

 

We actually had the same room steward in Dec, that we had in May, service there was outstanding....Look for Rowena on the Main Deck Mid Ship....:)

 

Last cruise on the Fascination we had Rowena too......she was great!!!

 

There was a LARGE pair of women's panties that blew onto our balcony that she had to return to the cabin next door and we laughed about that all week!! :D

 

Loved Rowena!

[jwjax]

Last cruise on the Fascination we had Rowena too......she was great!!!

 

Of all the room stewards we have had over the years on all the cruise lines we have sailed, she was absolutely the best ever!:)

 

There was a LARGE pair of women's panties that blew onto our balcony that she had to return to the cabin next door and we laughed about that all week!! :D

 

Now that is FUNNY!!:D:D Good thing you weren't out there when they flew onto your balcony!:eek:

 

Loved Rowena!

 

She mentioned to us that her husband was a Security Guard on the ship, and that he was due to rotate to another ship, so she will go with him when that happens. We have her email address, so we can see where they end up later this year.:) Great Service is always a plus on any ship!