Our Fascination Anniversary / Spring Break Getaway Cruise (with pics) - 3/26/16

[Jamman54]

Ahoy Everyone!! Welcome to our photo review of our anniversary / spring break getaway aboard the Carnival Fascination, a five day cruise from Jacksonville to Freeport and Nassau.

 

For those of you who don’t know me, my name is Jeff “Jamman” Maskall, and I am a cruise addict! On board with me is my lovely wife Patti, who is the primary photographer. Together we love doing these photo reviews, as it helps us re-live our cruises, and though time consuming, they are a lot of fun to do. We try to make you feel that you are onboard the ship with us, and hope these reviews help you decide if you want to cruise on this ship, or visit the ports of call. Please feel free to comment or ask questions. So without any further ado, let’s get this party started!

 

After the holidays were over, we started to get the cruising bug again. After all, it had been over four months since we were on the Breeze, and it would be another eight months until we boarded the Sunshine. Totally unacceptable!! With Patti being a teacher, we are locked into cruising during peak times, so the first opportunity to book would be during spring break. Air fares during this time are through the roof, so we would need to drive to whichever port we chose to sail from. To keep it as cheap as possible we would limit ourselves to a five day cruise, and book an inside cabin.

 

We would have to sail sometime during Easter weekend, so we narrowed it down to the Ecstasy from Charleston, or our old friend the Fascination from Jacksonville. Both ships left on the same day, and went to the same ports, and sadly neither one would be stopping at Half Moon Cay this week. Bummer! We chose the Fascination because it was $200 cheaper per person than the Ecstasy. Couldn’t figure that one out, but no matter, we love the Fascination, and since it will be leaving Jacksonville for San Juan in a couple of weeks, what better way to say goodbye to her for now.

 

Our son Ryan, who usually cruises with us, would have to sit this one out, as his spring break didn’t match up with Patti’s. He and his uncanny luck at bingo and in the casino will be missed!!

 

Now before we get started with the pictures, I need to give you a quick update, which will affect how we cruise from now going forward. As of July 1st, after thirty-two years as a Special Education teacher, Patti is going to be retiring. Yippee!!! After this cruise we no longer have to book during peak times, and it opens up a multitude of new and cheaper options for us.

 

First, I cancelled our August cruises for both this year, and next year. I rebooked us on the Sunshine for this September, a seven day New England / Canada cruise that Patti has always wanted to do, but never could, due to the school year starting.

 

Then we booked a fourteen day Journeys repositioning cruise on the Pride for next February, for less money than it would of cost us to cruise in August! You gotta love it!!

 

So now let’s fast forward to Thursday March 24th, two days prior to the cruise. Since we are going to drive down to Jacksonville, we will be leaving home at nine this evening. I do the bulk of the driving, and I like leaving at night to avoid driving through Baltimore and Washington DC during rush hours.

The van is packed and ready to go…..

 

 

Patti and I are ready to head out the front door…..

 

 

Ryan and Chloe will stay home and hold down the fort…..

 

 

Patti is not a fan of driving great distances. If you remember from some of my other reviews, Patti will tolerate the drive down, but has started flying home. Not happening this time, so to keep her happy, I promised her that we would stop at Cracker Barrel on the way down, and on the way back. She loves Cracker Barrel…..

 

 

After 14 hours, we have arrived at our destination, Country Inn and Suites, in Kingsland, Georgia. It is located off exit 3 on I-95, which is just a couple of minutes from the Florida border, and about a half hour from Jaxport, where we will board the Fascination. The hotel has been re-modeled inside and out since our last visit here two years ago…..

 

 

Though I requested early check-in when I booked, our room wasn’t ready yet, but after a very short wait we were given room 208, which was right upstairs from the lobby on the second floor. It was a very convenient location. Here is room 208…..

 

 

To be continued…..

[Jamman54]

We highly recommend the Country Inn and Suites. You can get a nice room or a one bedroom suite for under a hundred dollars. Here are some more pictures of Room 208…..

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

To be continued……

[Jamman54]

Here are some pictures of the bathroom showing the hair dryer, coffee maker, shampoo, and conditioner that they provide…..

 

 

 

 

 

 

After the overnight drive I needed to take a little nap, so Patti decided that she would check out the nearby stores and pick up a few things that she needed. Of course, she took the camera and took some pictures around the hotel. This is the stairway that leads up to the second floor from the lobby. It was very handy for us, as our room was just a few doors down from the stairway…..

 

 

To be continued…..

[The4Cruisers]

This looks like it will be a fun review, Jeff! I look forward to seeing more of it.

 

We also drive to the Florida ports and have enjoyed several cruises on the Jax-based ships. Will miss the Fascination when she leaves. But we look forward to trying the Elation (I think that's the replacement).

 

BTW, we also stop at Exit 3 in Georgia. We love to visit the IHOP off the west side of the exit. We drive through the night to get to the ports, so we've made this place our breakfast tradition coming and going from the ships.

 

Cheers!

[hockeyguru32]

Subscribed love your reviews Jeff thanks to you and Patti for doing these and congratulations on your retirement Patti

[Jamman54]

Here is a view of the lobby area…..

 

 

They had free wi-fi on the whole property, but also had a computer station in the lobby for those that needed one…..

 

 

This is the breakfast area. They have free breakfast every morning and it is good. They have pre-made cheese omelets, sausage patties, grits, make your own waffles, cereal, danish, breads, fruit, coffee, tea, milk, and juices……..

 

 

 

 

 

To be continued…..

Edited April 5, 2016 by Jamman54

[Jamman54]

This is the seating in the breakfast area, but you could also sit and eat in the lobby…..

 

 

 

Here is the exercise room…..

 

 

Coin operated laundry facilities…..

 

 

Here are the indoor pool and hot tub…..

 

 

 

To be continued…..

[Jamman54]

After Patti returned to the room, and I finished my happy nappy, we took a walk across the street to Applebee’s for dinner……

 

 

After dinner we went back to the room to get ready for tomorrow, and then crash for the night. Patti caught me checking in with my peeps on Cruise Critics……

 

 

Coming up next: A Happy Anniversary Embarkation Day!!!

[KirkNC]

Thanks for your report.

[Jamman54]

This looks like it will be a fun review, Jeff! I look forward to seeing more of it.

 

We also drive to the Florida ports and have enjoyed several cruises on the Jax-based ships. Will miss the Fascination when she leaves. But we look forward to trying the Elation (I think that's the replacement).

 

BTW, we also stop at Exit 3 in Georgia. We love to visit the IHOP off the west side of the exit. We drive through the night to get to the ports, so we've made this place our breakfast tradition coming and going from the ships.

Cheers!

 

Thanks for following along!! Yes, it is the Elation that is coming to Jacksonville to replace the Fascination. For sure one day we will sail on her since she is one Carnival ship that we haven't sailed on yet. Now that we have more flexibility in booking cruises, HMC will have to be part of the itinerary.

 

 

Subscribed love your reviews Jeff thanks to you and Patti for doing these and congratulations on your retirement Patti

 

Thanks for coming along for the ride once again!! :)

[Jamman54]

Thanks for your report.

 

Thanks for reading!

[Crusin Karen]

Can't wait for the rest of the ride! Congratulations to Patti on her retirement. Just wish it had been last year and you could have joined us on the Pride Journeys when we cruised on 3/13. :rolleyes: You are going to go crazy with all the new possibilities now that you can cruise any time of the year!

[retiring soon]

HI all!

 

Jamman54 ~ loving your review & Patti's pictures once again.:D

Congrats to Patti on her upcoming retirement & cruising any time options.

Cracker Barrel & Country Inns are 2 of my favourites also.

 

 

~ Jo ~ :)

[Jamman54]

Can't wait for the rest of the ride! Congratulations to Patti on her retirement. Just wish it had been last year and you could have joined us on the Pride Journeys when we cruised on 3/13. :rolleyes: You are going to go crazy with all the new possibilities now that you can cruise any time of the year!

 

Thanks Karry!! We're like kids in a candy store now. All you need is money!! :)

[Jamman54]

HI all!

 

Jamman54 ~ loving your review & Patti's pictures once again.:D

Congrats to Patti on her upcoming retirement & cruising any time options.

Cracker Barrel & Country Inns are 2 of my favourites also.

 

~ Jo ~ :)

 

Thanks for coming along for the ride yet again!

[Crusin Karen]

Thanks Karry!! We're like kids in a candy store now. All you need is money!! :)

Don't I know it!!! I am researching a B2B on the Magic from PC but we would go in February, 2017. Always wanted to do the Breeze, but not willing to go to TX to sail her! :rolleyes: I see you booked Magic for October....perhaps we will be comparing notes again! :p

[jpm1973]

I've been checking here periodically for your next review since I knew you were heading out on Fascination again. Great start as always! Looking forward to seeing the latest before I board her in two weeks for the repo cruise to San Juan.

Edited April 5, 2016 by jpm1973

[nycruiser2006]

I have been on the lookout for this! Thanks once again Jeff and Patti. love your reviews :)

[Webecruzen]

Glad to see a new Jamman and Patti review. Thank you for all the time you put into your reviews. We are looking forward to sailing with you and getting to meet you and Patti on the Sunshine in September.

 

Pat

[riclop]

Enjoying your review as always.

[Princess_K]

I read your first Fascination review in anticipation of my May 2015 cruise on that ship. Since I booked my May 2016 cruise on the Liberty, I have been obsessed with that review of yours and keep going back to read it and to look at Patti's awesome pictures. Now I have another Fascination review of yours to pass the next 46 days! Thanks for this! It will be fun reading a review from you on a ship I have experienced.

[jocko4279]

Hey neighbor! Looking forward to another great review! This may sound funny but your reviews help make the times between my cruises more tolerable lol. I feel like I'm there when I read them :)

[meatloafsfan]

Enjoying your review.

 

I am in the opposite position from you guys - normally I sail "whenever" - in fact, because summer and Christmas leave is done by seniority, I don't chance it by trying to sail during peak periods. This year however, we're taking my brother, sister in law and their 3 kids so it had to be during the summer. First time paying peak prices and let me tell ya - it hurts! Can't wait to return to off season pricing!

 

I know you'll love the 14 night Pride cruise next February. I almost booked that one but need to change things up a bit having sailed on her March 2015 (14 nights), January/February 2016 (21 nights), July 2016 (7 nights) and August 2016 (7 nights). :p

[carol TC]

Keep it coming will be sailing on her in Aug

[cshellz]

Great start, following.