Just finished southern Caribbean cruise on the Carnival Fascination. Any questions?

[53flygirl]

If you google the ship name, and maybe the deck, something turned up that was written not that long ago.

 

Actually it was on Cruise Critic, but the member did not write a review, he/she just said ship was dirty & there was a "bed bug infestation." But on the other hand, I read good stuff about the ship too.

 

AWFUL!!! Can scare people like me into just wanting to stay home.

 

I know that this can happen anyplace.

Lord, let's pray that all the ships are diligent to take care of this when a BB problem is discovered.

 

It is TRUE that bed bugs can appear anywhere, but it is also true that some people perpetuate the problem by not taking care of it in their homes ... & then they drag it to other places.

 

One of my kids (a professional) works in public service & unfortunately, managed to bring home a bug (probably in her purse). She was very fortunate to discover the problem early & with quick remediation, she's never seen another bug in her home .... but oh golly, what a nightmare that was. Anxiety levels were so high because you don't want the bugs to multiply. Because of this, I am now aware & I watch for it.

 

I know it's creepy but it is good to talk about so that we all can be AWARE & be on the lookout .... & if they are discovered, to do something about it. When my husband & I travel, we use plastic vacuum bags for our clothing & when we come home, we inspect our luggage super well on the outside (bc you can pick them up in the airplane). After we empty our luggage we use the leaf blower outside to blow our luggage off, both on the outside & the inside. Then we put it away 'til our next trip.

 

I did google as suggested and found the post was from Dec of 2014 that the OP stated they had been on ship in Oct of 14 with zero problems.

 

Knowing Carnival they have a whole process for addressing these problems and based on other things I have read - I agree people either bring from home or the cheap hotels they stay in the night before!

 

I am excited about the ship the ports and the VACA !!!!

[telebax51]

I did google as suggested and found the post was from Dec of 2014 that the OP stated they had been on ship in Oct of 14 with zero problems.

 

Knowing Carnival they have a whole process for addressing these problems and based on other things I have read - I agree people either bring from home or the cheap hotels they stay in the night before!

 

I am excited about the ship the ports and the VACA !!!!

 

Bed buds can be found anywhere expensive, moderate, and cheap hotels those bugs have no preferences where to cause havoc.

[53flygirl]

Bed buds can be found anywhere expensive, moderate, and cheap hotels those bugs have no preferences where to cause havoc.

 

Too true, but the expensive hotels tend to have the funds to get 'em gone faster!

[idil]

At a hotel on land, if you find a bedbug or any other kind of bug, they would put you in another room, on another floor. If they don't have any rooms (suites etc included), they'd book you at a close by similar hotel, and send you there by cab on their nickel ... but, on a sold out cruise, how is that handled? Does anybody know? Obviously they can't send you on another cruise elsewhere... do you just get off and get a refund?

 

On our cruise, when we checked in, I did my "regular" bedbug investigation in the room before we opened our bags ... and luckily there was none ...

 

Now, reading this thread, I'm curious :)

[citylights]

We will be doing a regular BB check too, but unfortunately this isn't always accurate as the BB's can hide in the baseboards, behind pictures, in closets, etc. Ewwww. I think on cruise ships, the bugs must come in on the luggage.

 

I can be pretty OCD.

You know, maybe I'll bring a bag of dichotomous earth with me & sprinkle it around our bed @ night & around where we keep our clothing. If the bugs cross that, it kills them. My daughter used it for months as a precaution in her home & she never saw another BB after she did the cleaning to eliminate them + this dichotomous earth.

 

From what I understand, this dichotomous earth "cuts" the BB's if they come into contact with it, & it causes the BB's to dehydrate & die.

 

Sheesh, what a problem ... anxiety .... to have.

 

Can't let it stop us from cruising!!! Fortunately we've never seen one.

Edited July 15, 2016 by citylights

[casinoboss]

It was clean but yes, definitely a little tired. And yes, I definitely chose the itinerary over the ship. I've previously been on the Elation, Imagination, and Legend.

 

Welcome back!!!

How was the ship?

We were ready to pull the trigger on this itinerary last year, when Liberty was doing this route, and then Carnival got the ingenious idea to put one of their oldest ships there.

Turned us off completely.

I know many will say this particular itinerary is all about the itinerary and not the ship, but we still enjoy our time on the ship.........

 

Thanks!!!!

[casinoboss]

Hi, Thank you for answering my questions. I heard that our ship would be the only one on each island. Did you find this to be true?

What 2 days were formal ones?

Did you need to tender at any island?

Were you able to walk to any beaches? If yes, which island.

Thanks again :)

 

It depends on the season from what I understand. My ship was the only one in each port but our cab drivers and whatnot said that it was the slow seasons and that in the high season multiple ships would be docked at times.

 

I think there was only one formal day: day 2 if I remember correctly. But to be honest there seemed to be an equal number of people dressed up and not on each day. The formal day wasn't as big of a deal on this cruise. To be fair, I never participate on formal day anyways (this was my 5th cruise).

 

I only did the beach two days, St. Lucia and St. Martin, and took a cab each time. I didn't hear anyone talking about being able to walk to the beach but the cab rides were cheap.

 

You're welcome!

[casinoboss]

Can you please tell me about where you stayed in San Juan pre and post?

 

The Sheraton Old San Juan pre and the Dream Inn post.

[casinoboss]

Hey I've got a question for you.

 

We're ready to book this ship for January.

I'm finding some stuff online that speaks of a bed bug infestation.

 

I know that these critters can be anyplace!

We've never encountered them & I do not want to.

 

Did you heard anything about this?

Thanks!

 

Didn't hear anything about them

[JohnSpo]

Do you remember if the Fascination had a Future Cruise desk? I remember reading a few years back that the San Juan cruises do not operate the Future Cruise desk. Hopefully they sell future cruises on this ship/itinerary. I always like to get the OBC.

 

Thank you.:cool:

[idil]

Do you remember if the Fascination had a Future Cruise desk? I remember reading a few years back that the San Juan cruises do not operate the Future Cruise desk. Hopefully they sell future cruises on this ship/itinerary. I always like to get the OBC.

 

Thank you.:cool:

 

There was a "sales" desk ... with lots of information about different ships, destinations, itineraries.

 

But, we were not able to book in advance due to work schedule etc (as mentioned in my review), we again have to wait for a last minute booking :roll eyes:

[JohnSpo]

There was a "sales" desk ... with lots of information about different ships, destinations, itineraries.

 

But, we were not able to book in advance due to work schedule etc (as mentioned in my review), we again have to wait for a last minute booking :roll eyes:

 

Thanks for the info. I enjoyed your review.

[casinoboss]

Do you remember if the Fascination had a Future Cruise desk? I remember reading a few years back that the San Juan cruises do not operate the Future Cruise desk. Hopefully they sell future cruises on this ship/itinerary. I always like to get the OBC.

 

Thank you.:cool:

 

Yes there was a desk but I didn't visit it. I just book my cruises on line.

[idil]

Thanks for the info. I enjoyed your review.

 

Thank you :) I'm glad you enjoyed my review ...

 

Since we came back, we've been dreaming about our next cruise, and we really don't mind if it's the same ship, same destinations ... it was that good! :) :D

[jwhouston]

Thank you :) I'm glad you enjoyed my review ...

 

Since we came back, we've been dreaming about our next cruise, and we really don't mind if it's the same ship, same destinations ... it was that good! :) :D

 

Glad to hear it was a great trip!

 

Which, if any, ports did you have to bring your passport ashore?

 

And was there a specific number of days beyond sailing that your passport had to be valid and not expired?

 

Thanks!

Edited July 24, 2016 by jwhouston

[idil]

Glad to hear it was a great trip!

 

Which, if any, ports did you have to bring your passport ashore?

 

And was there a specific number of days beyond sailing that your passport had to be valid and not expired?

 

Thanks!

 

We just had to bring our passports to go through USCBP in San Juan only, at all other ports we had to have our sail card & a picture ID (ie- driver's license).

 

For the validity of the passport: We, Canadians, have to have our passports valid for at least 3 to 6 months in order to go into a foreign country (depending on the country).

 

I'm sure they have regulations set by the cruise line/port authorities etc ... Since our passports are valid until 2023 or so we didn't have to do anything.

 

ps- in our room we had a safe, and we kept passports, extra cash etc in there ;)

[telebax51]

Glad to hear it was a great trip!

 

Which, if any, ports did you have to bring your passport ashore?

 

And was there a specific number of days beyond sailing that your passport had to be valid and not expired?

 

Thanks!

 

we will be doing the Southern Caribbean November 13 and I also had questions about expired passport within 6 months so i called our local passport agency and gave them the Islands we be visiting most all require 6 months before expire. I renewed ours and got them back within 2 weeks now i'm good to go until 2027

[TravelingAPor]

Have they stopped putting refrigerators in the cabins? Someone also mentioned her cabin had no hair dryer. Did you have a hair dryer? TY for your reply.

[idil]

Have they stopped putting refrigerators in the cabins? Someone also mentioned her cabin had no hair dryer. Did you have a hair dryer? TY for your reply.

 

 

In our room there was no fridge ... didn't need one ...

 

No hair dryer either ... since I read it on this forum (I don't know which thread that was), I took my hair dryer with me.

 

ps- I think the room steward can get you one if you want it :)

[cruisin'couple]

Have they stopped putting refrigerators in the cabins? Someone also mentioned her cabin had no hair dryer. Did you have a hair dryer? TY for your reply.

 

Refrigerators are only in suites--not even the balcony cabins. No hair dryers either. It's time this ship is taken out of Carnival's fleet. This was my third Carnival ship and we wanted a smaller ship with fewer people. The a/c is controlled by a ceiling vent--not easily accessible. No small sofa or coffee table like on most ships, so you have to resort either to the one straight-back chair or lie on the beds. The TV doesn't show your sign and sale account data, so if you want to keep track of your spending, you have to go to one of the few kiosks. The itinerary is great but because the ship is so old it leaves a lot to be desired.

[OSUKNIGHT]

We were on this cruise last week. I didn't mind the ship. I actually liked the smaller size and less crowds. And we have sailed Dream and Breeze. Trip was great. Staff was excellent. Don't pass on this itinerary because of the ship.

 

 

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[ontheweb]

DW wants me to ask if there is a self service laundry on board.

[Travllvr619]

I am curious to know about the safety of these ports. St. Lucia was listed as one of the 10 most dangerous ports. Has anyone experienced any issues of feeling threatened or unsafe at any time while in any of the ports? Also, is there a lot of harassment by local vendors like in Mexico? It makes for a very unpleasant time when you can't walk down the street without people trying to sell you something or get you on a tour.

[idil]

I am curious to know about the safety of these ports. St. Lucia was listed as one of the 10 most dangerous ports. Has anyone experienced any issues of feeling threatened or unsafe at any time while in any of the ports? Also, is there a lot of harassment by local vendors like in Mexico? It makes for a very unpleasant time when you can't walk down the street without people trying to sell you something or get you on a tour.

 

St Lucia is One of the best places ... We felt extremely safe as we were able to leave our belingings at the beach and went for a seim. Also, when we walked to the terminal to use the facilities at the airport some cab drivers asked if we needed a cab. When we said we had a ride planned, they were kind enough to say "if you have problems, need a cab, come back here ... We're around"... When the driver dropped us off at the market, there was zero harassment! Everybody was extremely kind.

 

That's why in my review (talk specially for us in St Kitts) I wrote "don't believe everything you read" ... as we did 🤗😇😅

[ireashmott]

Thanks for doing this!

 

What the best side of the ship to sail on?

 

And where abouts was your cabin and how was the noise?