Review: Sailing Solo on Fascination's Repositioning Cruise April 18-24

[jpm1973]

On to Deck 9, the Promenade, where most of the indoor action on board can be found. The main theater, casino, dance club and aft lounge are all on Deck 9. One great outdoor area is at the far aft - Serenity - another great feature of the Fantasy-class ships being the aft location of Serenity. Nice place to relax and watch the ship's wake as you make your way to the next port.

 



 

Edited May 16, 2016 by jpm1973

[jpm1973]

Directly inside from Serenity is the Puttin on the Ritz Lounge, where the comedy shows are held.

 

 



 



 

 

And directly outside Puttin on the Ritz is the Beverly Hills Bar. There's also a stairway here leading down to the Inspiration Dining Room on Deck 8.

 

 

Edited May 16, 2016 by jpm1973

[jpm1973]

Running all along Deck 9 is the Hollywood Blvd. Promenade. Some shots from along here.

 



 



 



 

 

The coffee bar.

Edited May 16, 2016 by jpm1973

[jpm1973]

Diamonds are Forever Dance Club.

 



 



 



 



 

Edited May 16, 2016 by jpm1973

[jpm1973]

Passage to India Lounge - Karaoke was usually held here.

 



 



 



 



 







 



 

Backstreet arcade.

Edited May 16, 2016 by jpm1973

[jpm1973]

Stars Bar and Casino Royale.

 



 



 



 



 

Edited May 16, 2016 by jpm1973

[undercat]

 

 

 

Wow, those Veranda-deck JS balconies are right.there. I'd read that they weren't very private, and someone mentioned that people can even see inside the most-forward JS from the observation deck if the curtains aren't closed!

[jpm1973]

Wow, those Veranda-deck JS balconies are right.there. I'd read that they weren't very private, and someone mentioned that people can even see inside the most-forward JS from the observation deck if the curtains aren't closed!

 

You are correct - not very private at all, though other than at times we were entering/leaving port, the observation deck area was usually pretty empty.

[queeniemi]

Where are the 24hour coffee stations located? Also do you know where the smoking areas are? Finally, do you know if you can get a margarita with a grand mariner float???

[h_blond2]

Looking forward to the rest of your review!

[jpm1973]

Where are the 24hour coffee stations located? Also do you know where the smoking areas are? Finally, do you know if you can get a margarita with a grand mariner float???

 

There were 24-hour coffee/tea/hot chocolate stations inside the buffet area on Lido. Smoking was allowed in certain spots of the Casino and Stars Bar just outside the casino on deck 9, also on Lido deck starboard side, including that bar and the adjacent seating areas, as well as the dance club when it was open.

 

I never ordered one but yes you can get a margarita with a Grand Marnier float.

Edited May 16, 2016 by jpm1973

[queeniemi]

I was curious about the grand mariner because last year on the Liberty we were informed that the bar no longer stocked it. Here's hoping!

[jpm1973]

Here are some last shots from around Deck 9. The first is the future cruise desk; that stairway behind it leads up to Lido.

 



 



 



 

Edited May 16, 2016 by jpm1973

[jpm1973]

Continuing the tour on Deck 8 forward, the location of the Palace Main Lounge main floor (balcony area is on Deck 9) and the Fun Shops.

 



 



 



 



 



 

Edited May 16, 2016 by jpm1973

[jpm1973]

The Fun Shops.

 



 



 



 

Edited May 16, 2016 by jpm1973

[jpm1973]

The Tara Library and 88 Piano Bar.

 



 



 



 



 



 

Edited May 16, 2016 by jpm1973

[jpm1973]

The Sensation Dining Room, located mid-ship, host to Your Time Dining and the Sea Day Brunch, and the aft Imagination Dining Room, host to traditional dining at 6 and 8:15 p.m.

 



 



 



 



 



 

Edited May 16, 2016 by jpm1973

[jpm1973]

And the last stop on our tour will be Deck 7, Empress. Mostly cabins here other than the Atrium and art gallery. You can find the Guest Services and Shore Excursion desks here, as well as a small area with computers for Internet service.

 

Since this was Fascination's last cruise out of Jacksonville, the crew had hung some signs in the Atrium. On our first night there was a goodbye celebration but it was held during my assigned dinner time so I missed it.

 



 



 



 



 

Edited May 16, 2016 by jpm1973

[jpm1973]

 



 



 



 



 

[redstapler7]

Stars Bar and Casino Royale.

 



 



 



 



 

 

I really wish the Casino on the Liberty was that empty this past week... I was lucky to get a spot at roulette at all hours of the day!

 

PS, thanks for the review! This certainly interests me in a smaller ship to cruise on in the future!

[jpm1973]

I really wish the Casino on the Liberty was that empty this past week... I was lucky to get a spot at roulette at all hours of the day!

 

PS, thanks for the review! This certainly interests me in a smaller ship to cruise on in the future!

 

Those pictures were taken during they day, but even at night I never felt like the casino was THAT crowded. I never had trouble finding a spot at the craps table at least.

[suz1450]

Is the Fascination using the American table menus?

 

 

Sent from my iPhone using Forums mobile app

[jpm1973]

Is the Fascination using the American table menus?

 

 

Sent from my iPhone using Forums mobile app

 

 

No. For this cruise at least it was still the traditional menus.

[jpm1973]

The roll call for this cruise wasn’t nearly as active as some others I’ve been a part of, but there was a good group that navigated over to that other site and were posting and interacting a bit more there. We planned an informal meet up at 2:45 at one of the Lido pool bars so I had a little less than an hour to kill before that. I headed down to the Atrium bar, where two members of our roll call said they were hanging out. I joined them for a bit and had my first couple drinks of the cruise. We also ran into three other members of our roll call. I’d end up spending a bit of time with these five throughout the cruise.

 

We were deep in conversation and before we knew it 2:45 was here. We made our way up to Lido to the pool bar and found a few other roll call members there. A pretty small gathering, but glad to meet some new people. Before long it was that time - Muster. Our group dispersed and I headed up front to the Palace Theater, my assigned muster station. I do like the alternative venues for the safety briefing on these ships. Even though you still have to assemble on the outside decks once it’s done, at least the entire process doesn’t take place while you’re standing, sardine-like, in usually really hot weather.

 

I was especially thankful to not be standing as it took forever for the actual safety briefing to start. Once it got going though it proceeded relatively quickly and painlessly. We did our en masse walk outside to our lifeboat boarding areas and quickly enough we were dismissed.

 

Since our scheduled departure was 4 p.m., I headed back to my cabin quick to grab my camera and then up to the outside decks to capture our sail away. For whatever reason we stuck around for a bit, not actually dropping the lines and pulling away until closer to 5 p.m. As the Fascination made it’s slow turn to head down the St. Johns River, the Captain blew the ship’s horn several times, I’d imagine as a goodbye to Jacksonville. Eight years is a long time for a ship to call one port home!

 

I spent about 30 minutes snapping pictures, especially as we made the pass under the Dames Point Bridge, where the funnel’s clearance is in feet I’m sure. It’s pretty cool to see, and pictures really don’t do it justice.

 

Even before we starting moving the sail away deck party was in full swing.

 





 

We're pulling away from the pier.

 







 

Our escort.

 







 

Slowly making our turn.

 







 

We're coming for you, Dames Point Bridge.

 







 

On our way.

 

Edited May 17, 2016 by jpm1973

[kelib]

Too funny looking at your pictures. I just got off her yesterday and I know I did not see half of the ship so looking at your pictures showed me what I missed. I had a cabin so far in the aft that everything I needed was pretty much by the aft elevators ...thanks for showing me the places I never made it to.