Who has done the Fantasy 4 day to Bahamas out of Pt. Canaveral

[paminohio]

I would like to ask some questions if I can fine someone who has been on this sailing.

Pam

until Voyager
[img]http://escati.linkopp.net/cgi-bin/countdown.cgi?trgb=000000&srgb=00ff00&prgb=228b22&cdt=2004;5;16;22;00;00&timezone=GMT-0500[/img]

[gr1634]

We did it back in 2001. I doubt that things have changed much. Be glad to give you any info we may remember.

til 4th cruise
[img]http://escati.linkopp.net/cgi-bin/countdown.cgi?trgb=000000&srgb=00ff00&prgb=0000ff&cdt=2004;04;24;16;00;00&timezone=GMT-0600[/img]

[tankersbabe]

Did it in February...ask away. We loved EVERY minute of it!

Stef

Fantasy February 2004
Looking for my next cruise! WHOOO HOOO!

[fttw223]

We did it back in apr00 if u have any ??'s let me know

uss t roosevelt cvn-71 1996-2000 fantasy 4-16-00
2002 pride 12-07-02
[img]http://escati.linkopp.net/cgi-bin/countdown.cgi?trgb=000000&srgb=00ff00&prgb=808000&cdt=2005;1;02;9;00;00&timezone=GMT-0500[/img]
02 jan 05 carnival miracle

[paminohio]

Thanks...I didn't want to ask a bunch of questions and then find out no one was around to answer them!

I read on a cc member review that it was recently refurbished so I assume it's in nice shape. I will be cruising with my husband and 3 kids (15, 7, and 5). I would like to know how the pools are (one member review said they were in TERRIBLE shape).

As far as the stops in Freeport and Nassau...how are the beaches and are they easy to get to? I don't plan on spending money on excursions. We just want to swim at a nice beach. Are the close enough to be able to go back to the ship for lunch?

Is there enough to do ON the ship to make it worth our drive down to Florida? I want to take my family on a cruise in October or November, but don't want to break the bank doing it. It will be a surprise, extra vaction so I'd like to do it as cheaply as possible. My kids LOVE to swim and if there is a slide on a pool, they're even happier. They love to eat and snack, and they do like activities with other kids so I thought a cruise would be perfect for them.

I was just concerned about the Bahamas. I've heard mixed reviews about it. Some have said it's dirty, others have loved it. I would love to go somewhere with the clear, turquois water, but I just heard Bahamas is NOT like that.

So...any comments/advice regarding this trip would be greatly appreciated!!

Thanks in advance,

Pam

until Voyager
[img]http://escati.linkopp.net/cgi-bin/countdown.cgi?trgb=000000&srgb=00ff00&prgb=228b22&cdt=2004;5;16;22;00;00&timezone=GMT-0500[/img]

[fttw223]

for a 4 day cruise u cant beat it. People are always going to find something to complain about. we went before they rehabed the ship but for the money it was a nice boat concidering its age.I had a blast in freeport but ive read that others didnt like it to much we swam with the dolphins but we didnt book it with the ship it was a little better then the one they offered. Nassau was ok we took a tour to blue lagoon, dont waste ur time with that. we heard everyone talking about how mice cable beach was if we go back we will def go there.

uss t roosevelt cvn-71 1996-2000
fantasy 4-16-00

pride 12-07-02
Carnival miracle 02jan05
[img]http://escati.linkopp.net/cgi-bin/countdown.cgi?trgb=000000&srgb=00ff00&prgb=808000&cdt=2005;1;02;9;00;00&timezone=GMT-0500[/img]

[cruisinonmymind]

My parents just got back last week from the Fantasy 4 day. Ship was nice and pool was okay, but water was still pretty chilly. We went in 2002 and had a great time. Not much to do in Freeport and since we had been before, we just stayed on the ship this time. Nassau has plenty to do, I hear the beaches are nice. We mainly shop and my parents said Atlantis is a MUST SEE! They are intersted in flying down and staying there next time.

I think you and the kids will have a great time. I think a drive from anywhere is worth a cruise. I am driving 12 hours in July to go on my cruise. [img]http://messages.cruisecritic.com/infopop/emoticons/icon_biggrin.gif[/img]

Married on Fantasy 9/95
Ecstasy 3/2001
Fantasy 9/2002
Sensational Cruise 7/24/04

[processchik]

I will be going on Fantasy in November. Do the pools have fresh or salt water? Are they full all the time? Any tips or ideas that former cruisers have would be greatly appreciated. [img]http://messages.cruisecritic.com/infopop/emoticons/icon_smile.gif[/img]

[Freddie's Mama]

The beach on Paradise Island in Nassau is FANTASTIC!! White sand, crystal clear water...amazing. Took my breath away!

Carnival Triumph Here We Come!!!
[img]http://escati.linkopp.net/cgi-bin/countdown.cgi?trgb=000000&srgb=00ff00&prgb=800080&cdt=2004;06;19;16;00;00&timezone=GMT-0500[/img]

[britt-britt]

We are also considering taking this cruise in Oct. or Nov. We did this one in July 2001 and loved it ! And that was before it was redone. We weren't crazy about Freeport. We went on the Miracle in March and we didn't go into port while it was there. Nassau was very nice. We went to Atlantis, but didn't go to their waterpark. It looked very nice. We would also like to know what else there is to do.

[processchik]

isn't Atlantis a hotel in Nassau? What is there to do there?

[britt-britt]

Atlantis is an upscale resort. They have a casino, beautiful beach, an aquarium called the Dig, expensive shops,ice cream parlor, restaraunts... We went through the Dig. It was very nice. We peeked at the private beach and it looked vey peaceful. DM & MIL played in the casino, but didn't have any luck.

[tankersbabe]

My husband and I sailed her in February. Loved every minute!

Freeport was OK...next time I will just skip the "shopping" and head straight for the beach. Just ask the cabbie for Our Lucaya, he'll drop you off, walk through the lobby and out the back door and you are on the beach! Whoo hoo!

Nassau was great...we did the freebie tour of Atlantis, and then went on a snorkle excursion with Stuarts Cove...highly recommended! Loved Nassau and would like to go back soon!

The pools were closed and night and when we were in port. We never got in though because we were too busy getting into other stuff. 4 days just isn't long enough for hubby and I, we are already saving for a seven day next year.

Hope you enjoy it!

Stef

Fantasy February 2004
Looking for my next cruise! WHOOO HOOO!

[momofmeg]

Well I have not done Fanasty but I have been on Fasciation and Inspiration.(sister ships) I have also done Sovereign and been to Nassau. I was just in Freeport this past weekend on the Miracle.

Nassau has that Atlantis close by that everyone loves. You can also do the dolphin encounter there for like $85-$90. Freeport has that nice world bazaar-otherwise it is a boring place. Though my hubby did book a dive on his own. Carnival did not offer any dives there.

Have you thought of doing a cruise from Jacksonville? It is a great port and 2 hours closer then Pt. Canaveral from US HWY 95. You have missed the Miracle probally since she is leaving Jacksonville but Jubilee is coming to take her place. Now that is an old ship so you can't expect much out of it-but the 5 day cruise goes to Nassau and Key West and runs about the same price for the 4 day on Fanasty.

You are right Fanasty has been refurbished so it should be really nice. I heard Carnival spent several million redoing it so that is something to consider.

I will say this. We were on Inspiration 4 months ago. We were on Miracle last weekend. As far as shape of the ships. Inspiration was almost as nice as Miracle. The difference in Miracle was the food was a whole lot better and they had tons more live music to choose from in the lounges. I love the paino bars, guitor players, bands etc. and Miracle had choices of all this every night. It seemed they pulled out all the stops as far as food and entertainment. I loved my Miracle cruise every bit as much and more then the one Princess cruise I have taken. I just wish ALL the Carnival cruises were as nice. I have enjoyed all the Carnival cruises I have taken-I always have a good time-but this last Miracle cruise was like ten times better then the others.

You know how nothing compares to that first cruise experience-well this last cruise was just as wonderful as our first cruise.

[ruttie]

another suggestion in nassau with kids your age is teh PIRATE MUSEAUM.. it is a 10 minute walk there and costs like 10.00 to get in but my kids love it!! I would not spend the money to go to atlantis to pricey but if you want a good nbeach I would prob do the blue lagoon beach day or whatever it is called not very exoensive and nice beach with bathrooms etc.... Fantasy is great lots of stuff for the kids to do one of my fav cruises you will enjoy!

[fttw223]

the pools are salt water and like someone else said they are closed at night, and night i think. I didnt go but i always hear great things about cable beach in nassau. It is odd that everyone didnt like freeport I had a better time there then nassau we swam with the doplhins and drank some good drinks and had a good lunch it was a fun laid back time. blue laggon was a waste of time there were drunk 16 year olds all over the place but that could have been from the time of year we went.

uss t roosevelt cvn-71 1996-2000
fantasy 4-16-00

Carnival pride 12-07-02

Carnival miracle 02jan05
[img]http://escati.linkopp.net/cgi-bin/countdown.cgi?trgb=000000&srgb=00ff00&prgb=808000&cdt=2005;1;02;9;00;00&timezone=GMT-0500[/img]

[paminohio]

I originally thought about the one out of Jax as we have relatives there, also, but it wasn't leaving on the day of the week that worked best for us (don't remember right now when it was sailing). The Fantasy leaves on a Sunday which works perfect for us as we are driving from Ohio and want to leave Saturday morning and drive straight through, or leave Friday afternoon and stop to spend the night. Either way, we'll be able to spend Saturday night with my Aunt and she can take us to the port on Sunday. We also want to go to Anna Maria Island on the west coast to visit relatives after the cruise. SO...the 4 nighter works perfect for us. I'm so glad to hear such good things about the Fantasy and it's stops. All we want to do is swim on the beach while in port. Are the beaches in Nassau and Freeport close enough to return to the ship for lunch?

Pam

until Voyager
[img]http://escati.linkopp.net/cgi-bin/countdown.cgi?trgb=000000&srgb=00ff00&prgb=228b22&cdt=2004;5;16;22;00;00&timezone=GMT-0500[/img]

[britt-britt]

We loved the Miracle. Beautiful ship, great crew members, fantastic bands...we had an awesome time. But, in all honesty the food on Fantasy was better. We had 6 in our party and they all felt the same way. Not saying it was terrible on the Miracle , just thought Fantasy's was better. Fantasy was our first cruise, so that might be why we feel this way.

[momofmeg]

britbrit- I am surprised you thought Fanasty food was better. I beleive you it was just for us Miracle was so great and much better then our Inspiration cruise 4 months ago. I was really disapointed in the food then. It did not seem as good as it had been when we were on Fascination in 2000 or Tropicale (our first cruise we loved it as we had nothing to compare it with) in 98.

I had already decided if we do another mini-cruise that direction (unless we decided to do Jubliee as it is two to three hours closer for us)I would go for Fanasty since we have been on Sovereign twice-I think though our next cruise will be Glory as that is still a fairly new ship. We want to do a 7 day next.

Some people we met from Jacksonville said they heard Miracle will go out of Jacksonville again for a couple of months next spring-if that is true I am sure we will book another Miracle cruise. We know Miracle will be going out of Tampa come November but as we did Inspiration just this past December we figured we would go for Glory for it's eastern caribbean-St. Thomas cruise so we would do a different ittineary.

[nikken79]

My husband and I are also going on the fantasy on may 16. Hope to see you there.

<BLOCKQUOTE class="ip-ubbcode-quote"><font size="-1">quote:</font><HR>Originally posted by paminohio:
I would like to ask some questions if I can fine someone who has been on this sailing.

Pam

until Voyager
[url="http://escati.linkopp.net/cgi-bin/countdown.cgi?trgb=000000&srgb=00ff00&prgb=228b22&cdt=2004;5;16;22;00;00&timezone=GMT-0500<HR></BLOCKQUOTE>"]http://escati.linkopp.net/cgi-bin/countdown.cgi?trgb=000000&srgb=00ff00&prgb=228b22&cdt=2004;5;16;22;00;00&timezone=GMT-0500<HR></BLOCKQUOTE>[/url]

[img]http://escati.linkopp.net/cgi-bin/countdown.cgi?trgb=000000&srgb=00ff00&prgb=0000ff&cdt=2004;5;16;16;30;00&timezone=GMT-0500[/img]
5/16/2004 FANTASY

[beckzay]

My husband and I have done the Fantasy twice. We didn't care for Freeport much but that's probably to blame on the weather we had while we were there. It was chilly (60 degrees) and windy. We went to Our Lucuya (sp.?) Beach and it was really beautiful, just not good weather. Other than that beach, I'm not sure if there are any close to the ship to go back for lunch. In Nassau we rented scooters and went to the beach at Atlantis and went on a snorkeling excursion. Very nice beach, but this one was not close enought to the ship to just "hop" back on the ship. We were just on in Feb so everything is still fairly fresh in my mind if you have any more questions.

Becky



Carnival Fantasy 09/98
Sovereign of the Seas 01/03
Carnival Fantasy 02/04

[paminohio]

Is the one beach within walking distance of the ship? As this is going to be an extra surprise vacation, I need to do it cheaply and so won't be doing excursions, etc. (Unless my husband decides to once we're there!) I just want to be able to walk to a nice beach and be able to go to the ship for lunch. If we can do that, then I'll be happy!

Pam

until Voyager
[img]http://escati.linkopp.net/cgi-bin/countdown.cgi?trgb=000000&srgb=00ff00&prgb=228b22&cdt=2004;5;16;22;00;00&timezone=GMT-0500[/img]