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

[casinoboss]

After reading a thread in ask a cruise question and in the carnival forum, I have 2 more questions.

 

1. Is the muster drill outside by the lifeboats or in one of the lounges.

 

2. Does the room steward service your cabin twice a day, or are you given the choice of morning or evening servicing?

 

1.) My muster station was outside by the pool.

 

2.) Twice a day be default but we often told him not to bother (because we were relaxing in the room) and he was totally OK with it.

[casinoboss]

When is the muster drill?

 

The reason I ask this is we were considering since sail away isn't until well into the night going off to explore San Juan some after boarding (and getting something to eat and maybe a swim). But, then it occurred to me that at some point they have to have the mandatory muster drill. I can't imagine it would be during any of the dinner seatings.

 

Don't know that they had the dinner seating the first night? Not sure because that really wasn't our thing most nights. It definitely was in the evening post sail.

[ontheweb]

No fridge. Can't remember about a hair dryer. Didn't need one. Don't think there was one.

 

No hair dryer, but if you call housekeeping and ask for one, it is delivered immediately.

 

The request was actually on my bill as "room service" with a charge of $0.00. (Was I supposed to leave a tip since this was room service?)

[TravelingAPor]

The muster drill was at 9:00 pm, before we sailed. They checked our cabin and told us to get out. We went to the lounge for the first long boring safety talk. From there, we were asked to walk up to the deck for the second part of the drill. I was winded by the time we reached the deck. Elevators were blocked off.

This was my first time, with a two part drill. I guess they were being cautious, since Fascination is a real old ship.

There was no sit down diner, the first night.

[love2cruize08.30]

will be taking this cruise soon. can anyone tell me if there are shore excursions we can book once we get off the boat?

last cruise we went to we booked an excursion when we got off at grand cayman. there was several vendors with different shore excursion options.

thanks!

[telebax51]

will be taking this cruise soon. can anyone tell me if there are shore excursions we can book once we get off the boat?

last cruise we went to we booked an excursion when we got off at grand cayman. there was several vendors with different shore excursion options.

thanks!

 

You will find the same on this cruise taxis, shuttle vans, all offering tours

[TravelingAPor]

There were people outside the port, as we left the pier. I usually book in advance, and I paid no mind to them. Is it really safe to book with them?

I know we did hire a van at the pier to drive us to the beach, with no problem.

He told us to pay him, when he picked us up, for the return trip back to the ship. I liked this because, we knew for sure he would be back to get us.

[idil]

will be taking this cruise soon. can anyone tell me if there are shore excursions we can book once we get off the boat?

last cruise we went to we booked an excursion when we got off at grand cayman. there was several vendors with different shore excursion options.

thanks!

 

Almost at every port there were tours available... also very visible information desks to arrange anything you may need (plus maps, pamphlets etc ...).

 

Hope you'll have a great time :)

[telebax51]

There were people outside the port, as we left the pier. I usually book in advance, and I paid no mind to them. Is it really safe to book with them?

I know we did hire a van at the pier to drive us to the beach, with no problem.

He told us to pay him, when he picked us up, for the return trip back to the ship. I liked this because, we knew for sure he would be back to get us.

 

is it safe to book with outside tours is a decision you will have to make, I know $20 dollars sounds better than $60 dollars but how much would it cost if you miss the ship?????? just saying

[TravelingAPor]

is it safe to book with outside tours is a decision you will have to make, I know $20 dollars sounds better than $60 dollars but how much would it cost if you miss the ship?????? just saying

That is exactly what I'm thinking! I research before I commit to an outside excursion, however, getting one off the pier, is a little scary for me.

[telebax51]

That is exactly what I'm thinking! I research before I commit to an outside excursion, however, getting one off the pier, is a little scary for me.

 

Glad to hear you research before commitment, what i have been doing my last too cruises is booking my excursions thru Carnival then going online to see if any outside Co. have the exact same excursion at a lower price, then you fill out THE BEST PRICE GUARANTEE FORM OFFER THRU CARNIVAL. they will give you a OBC for the difference. For my cruise to Hawaii i received $62 OBC and this August for my ALASKA cruise i received $80 OBC. So i working on my excursions for my Southern cruise out of SAN JUAN, so far i have found a $29 difference in one excursion i like this Carnival offer

[TravelingAPor]

telebax51: Wow, you are the second one I've hear that has been able to get OBC from the guarantee, from Carnival. Good for you! It is a good deal, if you can find the exact excursion for less.

[telebax51]

telebax51: Wow, you are the second one I've hear that has been able to get OBC from the guarantee, from Carnival. Good for you! It is a good deal, if you can find the exact excursion for less.

 

It takes a little research but its worth it. It is still available so i guess not enough people is taking advantage of the offer

[ontheweb]

telebax51: Wow, you are the second one I've hear that has been able to get OBC from the guarantee, from Carnival. Good for you! It is a good deal, if you can find the exact excursion for less.

 

We were able to get the guarantee for the Harrison Cave in Barbados. We were there on a cruise last week.

[koss78b2]

so doing a cruise in Oct 2016

on Fascination. from San Juan, what time are you allowed to board the ship? however i seen the ship doesn't leave till 10pm!!!

 

however are most of the restaurants and bars open by time i board?

[casinoboss]

will be taking this cruise soon. can anyone tell me if there are shore excursions we can book once we get off the boat?

last cruise we went to we booked an excursion when we got off at grand cayman. there was several vendors with different shore excursion options.

thanks!

 

Yeah at virtually every port there were guys with books for you to skim through with various tours. Prices were the same as on the boat as I remember.

[casinoboss]

so doing a cruise in Oct 2016

on Fascination. from San Juan, what time are you allowed to board the ship? however i seen the ship doesn't leave till 10pm!!!

 

however are most of the restaurants and bars open by time i board?

 

We boarded around 4 and everything was open.

[telebax51]

Did this cruise on the Valor 2014 going again on the Fascination November 13 are there mini fridge and hair dryers in the cabins, I know this is a smaller and older ship what are the sea days and evening activities onboard

[koss78b2]

also around the pool deck, is there many bars like 2? or u can only get drinks from the servers?

 

yes for the cabins, do all have a small fridge? mini bar? etc

[ontheweb]

Did this cruise on the Valor 2014 going again on the Fascination November 13 are there mini fridge and hair dryers in the cabins, I know this is a smaller and older ship what are the sea days and evening activities onboard

 

We were on the Fascination last week with an outside view (picture window). There was no mini fridge and no hair dryer.

 

I called housekeeping and asked for a hair dryer since DW said it was a necessity, and it was immediately delivered to our cabin.

 

Since we had prepurchased water and had two larger bottles gifted to us by Carnival as returning cruisers, I asked the room steward to make sure our ice bucket was filled every morning.

[telebax51]

We were on the Fascination last week with an outside view (picture window). There was no mini fridge and no hair dryer.

 

I called housekeeping and asked for a hair dryer since DW said it was a necessity, and it was immediately delivered to our cabin.

 

Since we had prepurchased water and had two larger bottles gifted to us by Carnival as returning cruisers, I asked the room steward to make sure our ice bucket was filled every morning.

 

Thanks for the info. ontheweb also do they ask how often you want the room cleaned, they asked us on the Legend 2 weeks ago.

[ontheweb]

Thanks for the info. ontheweb also do they ask how often you want the room cleaned, they asked us on the Legend 2 weeks ago.

 

No, they did not ask. They did both the early and late servicing of the room.

[telebax51]

We were able to get the guarantee for the Harrison Cave in Barbados. We were there on a cruise last week.

 

ontheweb what co. did you use to get the guarantee and how was the Harrison cave, i would like to do something different than what we did in 2014, I will try to get DW to go.

[ontheweb]

ontheweb what co. did you use to get the guarantee and how was the Harrison cave, i would like to do something different than what we did in 2014, I will try to get DW to go.

 

The cave was spectacular.

 

To get the guarantee we used http://www.getyourguide.com For the two of us we received an OBC of $35.18. Their price was $15.99 less than the Carnival excursion.

[idil]

also around the pool deck, is there many bars like 2? or u can only get drinks from the servers?

 

yes for the cabins, do all have a small fridge? mini bar? etc

 

We were on Fascination in June (balcony room), and no small fridge or mini bar in the room ... I'm not sure if they deliver one if asked (like in the hotels). But, we really didn't need one either :) Enjoy your trip ... we loved our cruise very much!