Fantasy Only Questions ...

[LA Lady]

We got to the port around 10:45, and we walked onto the ship at 11:50. Next time I will get there a little earlier, because we had to sit and wait at the very back of the room, where all the chairs are lined up.

 

 

 

Quick question for you Fantasy experts. I sail on the Fantasy Thursday and was wondering what it the best time to arrive at port and what time do they typically start boarding?

 

Thanks.

 

Lewis

[LA Lady]

Girl,, get ready to eat! The 2 main dining rooms of course are great, they really spoil you. Formal night we got lobster and shrimp. Hubby was still hungry so he ordered a steak! The Lido deck has a good breakfast buffet...omelette station. Also french toast or pancakes, sausage, ham, bacon, fruit, cereal. The Windows buffet has a good breakfast also, but no omelettes. The Windows buffet has a different "theme" daily...like French, Carribbean, Asian, etc... The pizza is 24/7...good crispy crust. I tried the goat cheese/mushroom pizza... UGH One bite was all I could handle. The pepperoni and margherita pizza was great though! They have a deli, and make good panini sandwiches. We only ordered room service one time, the day we went to Cozumel. ( Too many margaritas and mexican superior beer and yard drinks from C & C's to go to dinner that night!) And the best thing IMO...the 24/7 icecream/FFyogurt machine! We hit that up 2-3 times a day!! The first night we were back home, sitting on the couch, and hubby looked at me and said he would like some ice cream..lol I said yeah, go get us some. We live 25 miles from the nearest city, so we just said oh well!! You will really get spoiled from just having the food available 24/7, no prep, no dish washing, etc.... Just lose about 10 lbs before you go, so you don't have to worry about eating too much. I know my shorts were a little snugger the week we got back.

 

 

My husband and I are looking to book our spring break trip on the Fantasy, 5 nights on March 2. We are really excited! What are the alternative food options like? Definitely want a sushi bar!

[LA Lady]

Forgot about the sushi! Its on the Promenade deck by the casino nightly from about 5:30 -8 I believe. They have 3 different kinds of rolls made up, and you get 3 slices of whatever you want. Of course you can go back and get more...lol The crab, cream cheese, and avacodo was my fav. Can't remember the name of it though. Oh yeah, make sure you go to the captain's reception before your formal night dinner. Free appetizers...meatballs, chicken wontons, some kind of chicken pate, all really good. And FREE DRINKS! We had about 6 whiskey sours between me and hubby! There is a bistro cafe that costs extra...kinda like Starbucks coffee, biscotti, etc.... I never tried it though...too much stuff already paid for! There was also a Mexican buffet, late one night.

[arom729]

Thanks!! We literally just booked it! I am sooo excited. Only 228 days until we sail the Fantasy!

[DixiesMom]

I have been looking at excursions that do not include a meal but are for most of the day. Can I ask for a box lunch to be prepared for me while on board?

[amy16_]

This is probably somewhere else...no time to search. I heard Fantasy housed people for Katrina and they have redecorated it since. Is that true?

[Rowan555]

This is probably somewhere else...no time to search. I heard Fantasy housed people for Katrina and they have redecorated it since. Is that true?

 

I believe it was not the Fantasy, but the Ecstasy, Holiday, and Sensation - they were used to house relief workers for 6 months or so, then all of them were refurbished thanks to the huge contract with FEMA.

 

Edited to add: Many of the Fantasy's public areas have also been refurbished, with more improvements to come this September.

[jetskier]

Like Rowan555 said, the Fantasy was not used for any of the Katrina refugees. Only the Holiday was used for actual refugees first in Mobile and then Pascagoula. The Sensation and Ecstasy was used to house displaced firefighters and police officers in New Orleans.

 

Not that it should matter as the ships that were used were refurbished afterwards. The Fantasy is going into drydock in Sept for the Evolutions of Fun upgrade.

Dave

[jetskier]

I have been looking at excursions that do not include a meal but are for most of the day. Can I ask for a box lunch to be prepared for me while on board?

 

You are not suppose to bring food off the ship because of the possibility of introducing an invasive organism not native to the area.

 

Dave

[DixiesMom]

That's what I though, but wanted to check with others who had more cruising experience. Thanks

[MESPal]

Quick question for you Fantasy experts. I sail on the Fantasy Thursday and was wondering what it the best time to arrive at port and what time do they typically start boarding?

 

Thanks.

 

Lewis

 

We sailed on June 28th and arrived at the port at 11:20, parked our car and took the elevator down. We were in line for about 10 minutes, went to the boarding desk, had our pictures made and were literally onboard the ship within 5 minutes.

So for us the total time from the time we entered the parking area was maybe 25 minutes max. We had a great boarding experience.

HTH,

Missy

[spleenstomper]

Forgive me if this has been asked before: I'm searching and not finding the info I need.

 

Generally speaking, I gather we tender at Cozumel? If so, if the departure is at 5:00, what time is the last tender?

 

I have a dolphin experience booked at 1:00 (the first one available) and want to be sure we have plenty of time to get back to the ship.

 

We will be going to Chankanaab Park.

 

Thanks!:cool:

[Rowan555]

Forgive me if this has been asked before: I'm searching and not finding the info I need.

 

Generally speaking, I gather we tender at Cozumel? If so, if the departure is at 5:00, what time is the last tender?

 

I have a dolphin experience booked at 1:00 (the first one available) and want to be sure we have plenty of time to get back to the ship.

 

We will be going to Chankanaab Park.

 

Thanks!:cool:

 

 

Barring anything strange happening, you should be docking at Cozumel.

[jetskier]

Forgive me if this has been asked before: I'm searching and not finding the info I need.

 

Generally speaking, I gather we tender at Cozumel? If so, if the departure is at 5:00, what time is the last tender?

 

I have a dolphin experience booked at 1:00 (the first one available) and want to be sure we have plenty of time to get back to the ship.

 

We will be going to Chankanaab Park.

 

Thanks!:cool:

 

It depends on the number of ships in port. Right now 4 (5 if it is small) is the max that can dock. Once the Puerta Maya pier is reopened that number will go up to 6 in another couple of months.

 

There have been 7 to 10 ships in port at the same time in Cozumel during the winter months. If you were the unlucky ones to be tendering, the last tender is usually 45 minutes from the departure time. If you are docked, you are required to be onboard 30 minutes before the departure time.

 

You should not have any problems with the excursion either way.

 

Dave

[jkp_9192002]

i am so excited about possibly booking a trip on fantasy. i am still waying my finances at this point. i am fine with booking the trip at 1500.00. i can swing that, but i am so concerned with the hidden cost. i have never been on a cruise before so i don't now. it will be my husband, myself and 6yo son. the excursions i know can be pricey. i am more concerned with the onboard costs. especially tips!!! i love to give tips don't get me wrong but 10.00 per person per day? what if they are not worth that??!! i just found out that the food is all included. i was told that not all food was included. which is true?

[spleenstomper]

Thanks! I'll keep my fingers crossed for docking. The seniors wont' like tendering....

[Rowan555]

Thanks! I'll keep my fingers crossed for docking. The seniors wont' like tendering....

 

 

We tendered on our cruise in 2005 right after Katrina, but on our last SEVERAL we docked at Punta Langosta. I have been enjoying docking downtown because I just have a short walk to the stores I visit to purchase my liquor and medication.

 

Dave, isn't Puerta Maya re-opening sometime soon?

[arom729]

i am so excited about possibly booking a trip on fantasy. i am still waying my finances at this point. i am fine with booking the trip at 1500.00. i can swing that, but i am so concerned with the hidden cost. i have never been on a cruise before so i don't now. it will be my husband, myself and 6yo son. the excursions i know can be pricey. i am more concerned with the onboard costs. especially tips!!! i love to give tips don't get me wrong but 10.00 per person per day? what if they are not worth that??!! i just found out that the food is all included. i was told that not all food was included. which is true?

 

Hi! You will enjoy it I'm sure! However, I'm unsure that you are understanding what they mean by $10 per person per day---that means you, your husband and child (which might be less???someone help me out there) will pay $10 each for every day of the cruise. That gets split among many service people---who will DEFINITELY deserve it. But, what it doesn't mean is that you tip each person $10 a day.

 

All food IS included. There are no special "extra cost" supper clubs on the Fantasy.

[jkp_9192002]

as i was reading it i realized that. $150 is not alot . does anyone tip extra or is that not allowed.

[djacobson]

as i was reading it i realized that. $150 is not alot . does anyone tip extra or is that not allowed.

 

You can always tip extra, either from the Purser's desk or in person to the particular employee you want to extend an extra gratuity.

[djacobson]

i am so excited about possibly booking a trip on fantasy. i am still waying my finances at this point. i am fine with booking the trip at 1500.00. i can swing that, but i am so concerned with the hidden cost. i have never been on a cruise before so i don't now. it will be my husband, myself and 6yo son. the excursions i know can be pricey. i am more concerned with the onboard costs. especially tips!!! i love to give tips don't get me wrong but 10.00 per person per day? what if they are not worth that??!! i just found out that the food is all included. i was told that not all food was included. which is true?

 

You would only pay for soft drinks and alcohol on the ship and speciality coffees and cakes (they have a great carrot cake), which are sold at the Bistro on the Promenade deck. All other food (and believe you me, there is a lot of it available) :D is included in the price of your cruise.

[jetskier]

Dave, isn't Puerta Maya re-opening sometime soon?

 

When I was there in April, they had most of the supports poured and had just a couple of the pier portions to install. So it should not be too much longer.

 

They still have plans to expand it so that a third ship can dock in addition to the new larger ships.

Dave

[jkp_9192002]

thanks!!!! are there any hindden expenses for the children? crafts that i would have to pay for.

[jetskier]

thanks!!!! are there any hindden expenses for the children? crafts that i would have to pay for.

 

I would not call it "hidden" as it is posted. They do have a Build a Bear session. I believe it is $19.95 plus an additional amount if you want the voice recorder.

 

Dave

[jkp_9192002]

i just want to know how much extra i need to bring with me. we just went to disney and oh my gosh.:eek: