Just off fascination...long one

[Janespup]

Just off the Fascination 3 day trip. It was great! It was the perfect short vacation for us as we were able to follow our own schedule 100% of the time. We ate when we wanted, sunned when we wanted, slept when we wanted and socialized when we wanted. Because we had a suite, we had VIP boarding which took a total of 10 minutes. It was 11:45 when we boarded.

We were supposed to leave port at 4:15, which involved turning the ship around. We didn't actually leave until 5:00, made the turn and then returned to the pier TO PICK UP 7 LATE PASSENGERS! I was shocked that they did that! We don't know the circumstances but assumed that it was somehow Carnival's fault that they were late! (Several people booed the new arrivals from the observation deck as they boarded!)

We went directly to the Lido deck after boarding and ate. There was the greatest chocolate pie with a raspberry on top which we both loved. Had we known that it would never be available again, we would have taken an extra back to the room. It was the best dessert of the trip, IMO. Major point that I had never read on these boards is that you can take any food from Lido or grill back to your room. Many people did. Plates full! If you have a refrigerator, like we did, it is great.

We went to the DR on the first night and had great food! Strawberry soup, pumpkin soup were surprisingly good. Lobster tail was Maine lobster and the (2) tiger shrimp that came with it were also very good. Choc melting cake, as discussed on these boards, was a disappointment after the choc pie on Lido.

Because we were so busy, we never made it back to the dining room. Ate at the buffet , had pizza off schedule, were never hungry at dinner time. Went to the casino 3 times and I won all 3 times, mainly on a "money To Burn" niclel slot...total of $220! My DH lost about the same amount. Casino was much larger than I expected, smokey and had that great "casino noise" that I love. The Atlantis casino, on the other hand, did not impress me. It was not up to Las Vegas par, IMO. (I lost there, maybe I have an attitude!) We were looking to see if that was a future vacation spot for us and it isn't.

Movies in cabin were 3 different per day that played all day. One kid's movie, 2 adults. Casino Royale, The illusionist, Pursuit of Happiness, and a few others that I don't recall the names of were playing.

We went to the Wyndham Hotel on Cable Beach on the #10 Jitney (easy to find, many of them in a line, behind the end of the Straw market)for $1 pp each way. Beach was okay. Water was pretty chilly. Not a very long stretch to walk on which disappointed me. Pool was nice, as was the casino.

 

Lots of other things to comment on. Loved the ship and will sail her again, I'm sure. There is not one thing we can complain about, re the ship. I would be happy to answer any questions about the ship or cruise itself.

 

Jane

[pacerzfan]

Thanks for the review and info!

[1BDNANA]

Thanks for the info. I have never taken a 3 or 4 day cruise. It looks like you can still have a great time on a short cruise.

[HockeyMom44]

Thank you for the info. When we board I'll look for the chocolate pie. I'll even have an extra piece for you.;)

[Janespup]

Hockeymom,

There was a bride onboard our ship on the first day, along with a number of bridesmaids dressed in beautiful purple gowns. When docked in Nassau, we could see another bridal party out on the deck of the Soverign of the Seas, one slip over. Is your daughter getting married on the ship? It appears to have been a wonderful way to do it! A 3-4 day party!.

 

Have a great time.

Jane

[HockeyMom44]

Janespup;

My DD will be married on board b4 we sail. In the Palace lounge (where all the production shows are held.) We have 81 people attending the wedding and reception, 50 of them will stay on and sail with us for 4 days. Cannot wait only a few more days!!!:eek: :D

[Chris and Em]

Hi Jane,

 

Thanks for the review. I'm so happy to hear all went well for you and that you had a great time. I'm so excited for my cruise I can hardly contain myself at work!! doing more daydreamin than actual work (LOL) Take care and thanks again

Chris

[mainer208]

We sailed the Fascination on the 4-day cruise in llate March. Enjoyed the ship very much! The dining room was empty the night we were in Calica (Playa Del Carmen). Our favorite bar tender said it's the same way on the 3-day in Nassau. Did you find the dining room empty as well? Glad you had a nice time on the Fascination. We did too!

[CARIBBEANBLUESKY]

Several people booed the new arrivals from the observation deck as they boarded

 

Very immature behavior.:rolleyes:

[Curt Jerome Wild]

Because we had a suite, we had VIP boarding which took a total of 10 minutes.

Lots of other things to comment on. Loved the ship and will sail her again, I'm sure. There is not one thing we can complain about, re the ship. I would be happy to answer any questions about the ship or cruise itself.

Thanks for your review, I love this class of ship.

Did you have a Category 12 suite on the Upper deck?

Or a Category 11 on the Verandah Deck?

CJW

[Janespup]

Hi CJW,

 

I had a cat 11, actually V11, suite. It was perfect! Have to thank you as I had changed my original booking (from Empress deck OV)to this cabin after reading several of your posts. I am so glad that I did. The location couldn't have been better! Close to everything, great view, etc! We commented that we could have easilly done 2 weeks in that room!

 

And, as someone had suggested that the balconies on this class ship have no privacy, I totally disagree. The deck where a few (maybe 10) people did walk by below us, is about 8 feet below the bottom of the balcony. They could see that we were on our balcony and, if we were standing up, looking over, we said "Hi". If not, they barely knew we were there.

I am already looking into doing the 4 day on the Fascination next year and will try to get the same exact room. Loved it!

 

Jane

[Janespup]

Hockeymom,

The bride we saw had also gotten married before we sailed. It is going to be wonderful! I am sure you will have a great time! Again, I think that has to be the best wedding celebration I've heard of in a long time! 50 people on a cruise! One big, 4 day party! Wish I was going instead of returning to work! Have a wonderful time, mother-of -the- bride! You must be so excited! I can't even imagine!

 

Jane

[buddyjo143]

We went directly to the Lido deck after boarding and ate. There was the greatest chocolate pie with a raspberry on top which we both loved. Had we known that it would never be available again, we would have taken an extra back to the room. It was the best dessert of the trip, IMO. Major point that I had never read on these boards is that you can take any food from Lido or grill back to your room. Many people did. Plates full! If you have a refrigerator, like we did, it is great.

 

Went to the casino 3 times and I won all 3 times, mainly on a "money To Burn" niclel slot...total of $220! My DH lost about the same amount.

Jane

 

Thanks Jane. DH and I love that chocolate raspberry pie. And yeah, they rotate the desserts so if you like something, take an extra.

 

My theory about the casino and couples is that one wins what the other loses. So cut out the middle man and just have your husband hand you his money. :rolleyes::p

 

One of these days we may to a back to back on the Fascination...3 day and 4 day, gets in two cruises in one week.

[maggieq]

Janespup,

 

We just got off the Majesty yesterday. We wondered why your ship stopped and docked again. We were thinking the worst and I almost started to panic.

 

We also went to the Wyndham. Can't beat it for the money.

[Janespup]

Hi Maggieq,

I never thought of how you, on the other ship, were reacting to our turning around and stopping! Happy to say that it was not an emergency and no one ever mentioned it after we finally did embark. Captain had told us not to worry, we would catch up on the hour and a half we were behine, and we did!

I agree, Wyndham was a great deal ($34 for both of us, including transportation!) I don't know about you, but I knew "almost" exactly what I was doing because of the posts on these boards! I would have been lost without them!

 

Jane

[Wennfred]

Can you remember if they had WIFI, or an internet cafe onboard?

 

 

 

Fred

[Janespup]

I don't know what WIFI is!! They do have an internet area where I printed my boarding passes for $7. 8 or 10 computers and wireless access.

[Curt Jerome Wild]

Hi CJW,

 

I had a cat 11, actually V11, suite. It was perfect! Have to thank you as I had changed my original booking (from Empress deck OV)to this cabin after reading several of your posts. I am so glad that I did. The location couldn't have been better! Close to everything, great view, etc! We commented that we could have easilly done 2 weeks in that room!

 

And, as someone had suggested that the balconies on this class ship have no privacy, I totally disagree. The deck where a few (maybe 10) people did walk by below us, is about 8 feet below the bottom of the balcony. They could see that we were on our balcony and, if we were standing up, looking over, we said "Hi". If not, they barely knew we were there.

I am already looking into doing the 4 day on the Fascination next year and will try to get the same exact room. Loved it!

 

Jane

 

And unquestionably You're Welcome!

It is so nice and great when you hear back that any help or advice that you have given to people on CruiseCritic was well received!:D

I guess I should officially welcome you to the F.C.V.D.C (Fantasy Class Verandah Deck Club) now!;)

I think you completely understand all of the great quirks and reasons I love that area and location so much!

That being said, when you have some spare moments, will you please (pretty please with a cherry on top) give a review of the V11 cabin on this main thread link here (click below):

http://boards.cruisecritic.com/showthread.php?t=298868

You will definitely be a valuable addition there...

And then, I don't blame you at all for trying to book another in that location!

V15 is my absolute favorite with V17 and V11 as tie-ing for second place if I can get them!

Glad that you had such a great experience!

CJW

[mainer208]

We were on Verandah deck as well. We had one of the partially obstructed view cabins but it was the "best" one the partially obs - not a big deal at all...I think V23 if I remember correctly. The cabins next to us were really obstructed. The balconies are narrower than on the newer ships but we still spent a lot of time on ours. The rooms were very nice and our room steward was fabulous! We were apprehensive about being on Verandah deck but it was extremely convenient.