Fantasy Review (6/15 - 6/19)

[Caribbean Buckeye]

Yup, Blackwing beat me to it. Second night.

[Az_Redneck]

We are on the 4 night cruise leaving on Thursday 6/29/06 to 7/3/06 so what night would the formal night be?

[kathy32259]

We are on the 4 night cruise leaving on Thursday 6/29/06 to 7/3/06 so what night would the formal night be?

 

Hi AZ - from what I can tell it will be Friday night leaving from Nassau. We actually changed our dinner request to late seating, so we didn't have to rush back to the ship. I hope we get our requested time.

[Az_Redneck]

Hi Kathy........My name is Kathy also:) We requested late dinner seating too because of what port and time that we leave so we don't have to rush to get ready. I am so ready to go cruising I can't stand it!:D Just a few more day to go!

[Kathy Q]

Hi Kathy........My name is Kathy also:) We requested late dinner seating too because of what port and time that we leave so we don't have to rush to get ready. I am so ready to go cruising I can't stand it!:D Just a few more day to go!

 

LOL Kathy... even counting the seconds!!! :D

 

Kathy Q

[Top-Cat]

Great Review. We were just off the Fantasy May 8th (Hi Bunkie!). I too am jelous of those yet to go. I like having a cruise booked. Guess we need to book another:rolleyes: .

[skyscanr]

First time poster! We (me, D(19) & S(16) are going on our second cruise on Saturday. :D After our first cruise last year on the Sensation,we couldn't wait to take another. I was a little concerned when they switched us to the Fantasy, but not now. I have heard nothing but great reviews. I do have a couple of questions: The weather forecast for Grand Turk, Nassau, and Half Moon Cay show scattered or isolated thunder storms next week. Should we worry about not getting to some ports? And secondly, we did not book any excursions. Are we able to just go to the beach and walk around the islands on our own without having to spend money? These boards are great. If anyone has some pictures of the Fantasy or Half Moon Cay, Nassau, or Grand Turk to share, that would be awesome.

 

Don't worry about the rain . We just got off this great ship and had a great time . We also had the late dinner which was nice to be able to take a nap. You really don't know how tired you can get after doing some great snorkling:) We did book both snorkling trip as the 1st group to beat the heat and the afternoon rain :).

 

I would add do not book the Nassau tour at $49. When you get off the boat you will find pleanty of taxi drivers who will give you a 2 hour tour of the island and the walk threw atlantis for around $21 to 24 a person:)

 

I have pleanty of pics about 500 still looking for where we put the last memory card or it would be over 800 .

 

I have not compressed them but if you have dsl or such could email you some or send them threw one of the im programs.

 

We where in cabin u79 and if you are looking to get windows on the sea fast just head to the last bank of elevators to the rear of the ship much faster and open right there

[quallabone]

The reason she was talking to me was to distract me from the sales job they were putting on my wife! LOL This was hilarious when I look back b/c I can just see these two ladies planning it. "Okay, you distract husband while I sell to wife." As you would expect, my wife spent another $100 in facial treatments they used on her. She didn't even ask how much they were! I didn't really care though. I easily outspent my wife on wave runners and alcohol throughout the trip. It was her vacation too and that's what she wanted so what the heck. Still, almost $400 in the spa nearly doubled my S&S balance.

I don't think a lot of cruisers are aware that the spa employees are required to retail products like it is their fulltime job. They don't get paid any type of salary. Their wage is completely based on commision from products and services. These commisions are relatively low so most of the spa wages come from tipping.

 

Ahhh.... DANI..... I was still working on the Fantasy when she was there. I remember waking up to her listening to rap one morning. Ahhh. Memories... We missed her when she took off.

[quallabone]

First time poster! We (me, D(19) & S(16) are going on our second cruise on Saturday. :D After our first cruise last year on the Sensation,we couldn't wait to take another. I was a little concerned when they switched us to the Fantasy, but not now. I have heard nothing but great reviews. I do have a couple of questions: The weather forecast for Grand Turk, Nassau, and Half Moon Cay show scattered or isolated thunder storms next week. Should we worry about not getting to some ports? And secondly, we did not book any excursions. Are we able to just go to the beach and walk around the islands on our own without having to spend money? These boards are great. If anyone has some pictures of the Fantasy or Half Moon Cay, Nassau, or Grand Turk to share, that would be awesome.

Nassau and Grant Turk were never missed in the 4 months I was on the ship. The first 2 times we tried to go to 1/2 moon we ended up skipping it due to weather issues. It doesn't have to be that bad out to miss half moon.

[Caribbean Buckeye]

I didn't know that about the girls in the Spa, gullabone. Well, they must have loved us then since we ended up tipping them well and also buying several products that amounted to about $100.

 

What did you do on the Fantasy? Were you a musician in a band or were you in the piano bar or somewhere else.

[kathy32259]

Nassau and Grant Turk were never missed in the 4 months I was on the ship. The first 2 times we tried to go to 1/2 moon we ended up skipping it due to weather issues. It doesn't have to be that bad out to miss half moon.

 

I have a question for you - I haven't tendered since my first cruise where we tendered at Belize - so bear with me -

 

Are the shops and casino open while tendered at HMC? :confused: I cannot spend too much time in the sun so I will be looking for something to do while everyone is enjoying the island. Thanks in advance.

[Caribbean Buckeye]

Hey Kathy,

 

I'm going to give you a 90% yes to both. Although I didn't use the casino while onboard, I'm pretty sure normal hours were observed. The shops were open when we got back so I'm assuming they were open while we were gone. There were so many people who stayed on the ship for much of the day, Carnival would have been incredibly foolish to close anything. I know the dining rooms and bars were all open.

 

Just don't miss HMC altogether though. There are places to get out of the sun there. The covered bar was my favorite. We were there during the rain storm that swept through. Also, hopefully you know this by now: You can rent "clam shells" on HMC. These are little tents they set up for you that provide shade. There are beach chairs too but you'll want to get there early to get one of these. This place is really so beautiful. I never wanted to leave.

[kathy32259]

Hey Kathy,

 

I'm going to give you a 90% yes to both. Although I didn't use the casino while onboard, I'm pretty sure normal hours were observed. The shops were open when we got back so I'm assuming they were open while we were gone. There were so many people who stayed on the ship for much of the day, Carnival would have been incredibly foolish to close anything. I know the dining rooms and bars were all open.

 

Just don't miss HMC altogether though. There are places to get out of the sun there. The covered bar was my favorite. We were there during the rain storm that swept through. Also, hopefully you know this by now: You can rent "clam shells" on HMC. These are little tents they set up for you that provide shade. There are beach chairs too but you'll want to get there early to get one of these. This place is really so beautiful. I never wanted to leave.

 

Hey Steve! Thanks for the information. I think I can rent a clam shell on the ship before we get there??:confused: I do want to see HMC - but I know I can't stay too long. After moving from Ohio to Florida 20 years ago - my skin decided to get basal cell cancer - so my detmatologist would kill me if I was out in the sun too long. I have really good sun screen - but it only lasts for awhile.

 

Did you happen to see the glass bottom boat while you were there? I was thinking about booking that excursion, as I thought it might have a cover. Nothing like waiting til the last minute....

 

Hey I will be on a ship - don't care if I do nothing but cruise!!:D

[quallabone]

I didn't know that about the girls in the Spa, gullabone. Well, they must have loved us then since we ended up tipping them well and also buying several products that amounted to about $100.

 

What did you do on the Fantasy? Were you a musician in a band or were you in the piano bar or somewhere else.

I played bass in the showband until June 5

[quallabone]

I have a question for you - I haven't tendered since my first cruise where we tendered at Belize - so bear with me -

 

Are the shops and casino open while tendered at HMC? :confused: I cannot spend too much time in the sun so I will be looking for something to do while everyone is enjoying the island. Thanks in advance.

If I recall correctly the shops and Casino did not open until around 5:00pm on HMC days. Both of those departments work late nights right before HMC so they're probably sleeping.

 

Once you're at HMC you'll definately be fine with spending the better part of the day on the beach. I'm probably the whitest guy ever and I still spent every minute possible down there. It's one of the most beautiful places I've been. The water, sand, shade are absolutely fantastic. It was 107 degrees F the last time I as there though.

 

Well... You've convinced me... It's time to post a couple of pics.

 

Here's Half Moon

 

 

Here's what Half moon looks like when you don't go

 

 

Nassau from crewdeck at sunrise

 

Don't worry. Carnival isn't as much "FUN" as it could be

[quallabone]

Hey Kathy,

 

I'm going to give you a 90% yes to both. Although I didn't use the casino while onboard, I'm pretty sure normal hours were observed. The shops were open when we got back so I'm assuming they were open while we were gone. There were so many people who stayed on the ship for much of the day, Carnival would have been incredibly foolish to close anything. I know the dining rooms and bars were all open.

 

Just don't miss HMC altogether though. There are places to get out of the sun there. The covered bar was my favorite. We were there during the rain storm that swept through. Also, hopefully you know this by now: You can rent "clam shells" on HMC. These are little tents they set up for you that provide shade. There are beach chairs too but you'll want to get there early to get one of these. This place is really so beautiful. I never wanted to leave.

The pursers told me that there are usually under 200 guests on the ship by noon at Half Moon

[Caribbean Buckeye]

The pursers told me that there are usually under 200 guests on the ship by noon at Half Moon

 

Probably so then. It just seemed like many people went back much earlier than our scheduled departure time though. People who had too much sun or drinks (or both), people with young children, and people with who had early seatings for dinner. By 3:00, there were already chairs freeing up and many of the rented floats had been abondoned or returned.

 

We were on one of the later tenders back to the ship. I wasn't leaving that place before I had to.

[caribbeancruiser90]

Thanks for the review Caribbean Buckeye!

i am going on the Carnival Fantasy on Aug 10 on the 4 day cruise

i cant wait only 12 more days i am taking my grandmom on this cruise for her birthday. I am 16 so that means i have a few questions for you...

 

1.do you know anything about the teen program onboard the fantasy?

 

well thanks for the review and keep in touch

[quallabone]

Thanks for the review Caribbean Buckeye!

i am going on the Carnival Fantasy on Aug 10 on the 4 day cruise

i cant wait only 12 more days i am taking my grandmom on this cruise for her birthday. I am 16 so that means i have a few questions for you...

 

1.do you know anything about the teen program onboard the fantasy?

 

well thanks for the review and keep in touch

I'm not sure if my friend Olga is still the club 02 director there or not. If she is, I highly recommend the program. If she isn't, I highly recommend the program.

 

I know they have an XBox 360 as well!!!

[caribbeancruiser90]

thanks, quallabone..

i really appreciate the information..

i cant wait for the cruise in 10 Days

[cruise_pirate]

Did anyone notice if there is a Deli type sandwich bar around the area where you get pizza? The rubens are the best!

[Caribbean Buckeye]

CaribbeanCruiser90,

 

Sorry I don't know anything about the teen program. We have much younger kids who didn't make the trip with us. We checked out Camp Carnival but didn't look into teen activities.

 

I can tell you that they had a night club for the teens. It seemed very popular. During the day, I saw lots of teens on the back of the ship near the basketball courts. That seemed to be the unofficial gathering place.

 

I wish I knew more. Hopefully, someone else will jump in here and give you the whole story. Thanks for reading the review. You're going to have a great time. Let me know if there's anything else I can help you with, like Nassau or Half Moon Cay.

[caribbeancruiser90]

thanks caribbean buckeye

i appreciate the information.

i will let you know if there is any info i need.