Anyone Back From Eastern Itin. Fortuna???

[RatherBCrusin]

Have heard a lot about the first voyage and the Medit. but not much about the Eastern including Catalina and Casa De Campo. If you have gone, please enlighten us!

Does the Fortuna dock in St Thomas and where?

Can you see shows after late dinner?

Anyone been in Grand Suites?

Any and ALL info will be appreciated!

[Dolphin Girl]

I think the first cruise on Fortuna that includes both Catalina Island and Casa de Campo departs on Dec. 30, 2007.

 

Hopefully, someone (or many) from that cruise will post some reviews or comments on both locations! Our group of 6 will be on Fortuna on March 9, 2008 and we are looking forward to advance information! (hint, hint) lol!

 

 

Debbie

[kaboom30000]

we're doing that itinerary next weekend (dec 16th)

[megnsamsgracie]

We just did this and got back the 9th.. but did 2 nights at Disney after.. hope I can help

 

1) In St. Thomas we docked at the Havensight Pier

2) For all shows (except the last) there are 2 showtimes. For second seating, you have an early show (7:15) and for first seating, ours was 8:45ish

3) no grand suites for us.. just OV

 

Anything else, just ask!

 

Steph

 

Havent had time to write a review

[texastriple]

Just got back 12/2 - 12/9. Suites are nice. My in-laws had a suite and it was quite spacious. In addition to the cabin steward, they had a butler, but he wasn't very helpful. Generally speaking, the cabin stewards were nice and friendly, but the mostly Italian Purser's desk (Customer Service) were quite rude and unhelpful. If you are an American, expect the cold shoulder. Every American I spoke with on the cruise didn't plan on a return trip to this cruise line. Expect a 2-hour dinner seating. Service is slow. The private dining club (extra fee) wasn't any better, but they did wave the added fee due to the slow service.

[retdon]

Hi Steph and others who have been on Fortuna,

 

We are on the New Years cruise and I was also wondering about some things.:confused:

You said the show time for late seating dinner was 7:15, correct?

 

We are in suites and I was looking forward to the butler, what ever they do, but it sounds like they are not very helpful. Did they do anything?

 

Were there any ports that you had to tender, if so, was it a slow process?

 

What did they do on the ship for the evening in San Juan and Casa de Camps, we usually don't do tours?

 

What was the food like, we have a professional chef in group?

 

How did boarding go, when would they let you on the ship?

 

Did you use the hair salon, if so were you pleased with results?

 

ANYONE WITH ANY COMMENTS WILL BE APPRECIATED....................

[megnsamsgracie]

Hi Steph and others who have been on Fortuna,

 

We are on the New Years cruise and I was also wondering about some things.:confused:

You said the show time for late seating dinner was 7:15, correct?

 

We are in suites and I was looking forward to the butler, what ever they do, but it sounds like they are not very helpful. Did they do anything?

 

Were there any ports that you had to tender, if so, was it a slow process?

 

What did they do on the ship for the evening in San Juan and Casa de Camps, we usually don't do tours?

 

What was the food like, we have a professional chef in group?

 

How did boarding go, when would they let you on the ship?

 

Did you use the hair salon, if so were you pleased with results?

 

ANYONE WITH ANY COMMENTS WILL BE APPRECIATED....................

 

I saved all my TODAY flyers and will take pics to show everyone as soon as I can. But I believe most shows were 7:15 for the 2nd seating.

 

 

For tender in, it was just Catalina Island and it went pretty fast for us. If you arent on an excursion, you have to wait until they announce that anyone else can get off. That was around 9ish,they then announced that you could get a #. We went down, got a # and then were escorted right down to the deck and tendered. Quick and easy ride in.

 

For the nights in San Juan and Casa de Campo.... I went into port in San Juan and walked around (it was all decorated for Christmas!) so I dont really know there. Casa de Campo,we were at dinner and then saw a show after. Nothing special i dont think.

 

I hated the food personally and so did my husband. The buffets were very boring, cookings and such. It seemed that several of the beef dishes were "redone" for the next night. The same beef just a different sauce. My husband liked the breakfast buffet and so did the kids (scrambled eggs, waffles, pancakes, french toast, bagels, bacon, sausage, etc). Lunch, we mostly ate the hot dogs and the hamburgers on the pool deck. My 4 y/o most ate the pizza! We felt the pasta was okay. We were spoiled rotten with food on RCCL so this was a let down for us. Others loved the food so maybe it was us?

 

Boarding was TERRIBLE! We got to the terminal around 11:30 and didnt get on the ship until 1ish! They were VERY VERY slow! There was a LONG line first for security. Then you put your carryons threw and there was a second line to register. That was even SLOWER even though they had several people working it. Debarktation was just as bad. We just wanted off the ship so we did self debarktation. They said to be IN the Rex theater at 7-7:45. We went up there at 6:45 and were off the ship at 7:15. NOT ONE staff member came over to tell anyone what to do. Some people were sitting in the theater, others in the hall as NO ONE knew where we were to go. Finally, after no one gave ANY instructions, someone came out around 7:10 at the door by the customer service desk and said we could start getting off. Then we were just hurried off

 

We didnt use the salon but we did a "demo" there and the people that were getting their hair done WERE pleased

[BambiRumsey]

Can one of you folks who has just returned tell me when they held the lifeboat drill?

 

When we did the western itin on Magica last year we didn't have the drill until the 2nd day after we left Key West (which I thought was kinda odd....)

 

Trying to figure out a time and day to meet up with my roll call buddies and don't want to conflict with the drill.

 

Thanks!

[chicago59]

The life boat drills, as with all cruise ships happens before you leave your starting port of call. The ship can not head out to sea without the life boat drill first. Costa makes you go to your life boat and wear your jacket. Princess puts you in there lounges without the life vest on. Not sure which one I like? Hope this is helpful. Also Costa, at least in our munster station scan our vests to make sure we were all there.

[megnsamsgracie]

The life boat drills, as with all cruise ships happens before you leave your starting port of call. The ship can not head out to sea without the life boat drill first. Costa makes you go to your life boat and wear your jacket. Princess puts you in there lounges without the life vest on. Not sure which one I like? Hope this is helpful. Also Costa, at least in our munster station scan our vests to make sure we were all there.

 

We were at station C and they randomly asked ppl for their Costa Cards and scanned those

[BambiRumsey]

I always thought it was supposed to be done the day of embarkation as well but last year on the Magica, it was done on the 2nd day, in the afternoon once we had left Key West...I thought it was very odd...

 

The scanning the vests/Costa cards must be a new procedure...they called out cabin numbers on the Magica.

[chicago59]

I always thought it was supposed to be done the day of embarkation as well but last year on the Magica, it was done on the 2nd day, in the afternoon once we had left Key West...I thought it was very odd...

 

The scanning the vests/Costa cards must be a new procedure...they called out cabin numbers on the Magica.

 

 

 

Not sure why your's was the second day, Is it possible you missed the first day or were you late getting on the ship? Maybe with you going to Key west and were still in the USA the laws are different. From my understanding the ship can not leave for the cruise until the have a life boat drill.

[retdon]

Hi Megnsams,

Thanks for the comments. We (7 couples) are all in suites and are to get priority boarding and disembark, we shall see what happens.

 

We have not sailed RCCL in a long time but liked the food on X and Holland Am. We are all seniors or close to being seniors, so no children will be with us and I know we want more than hot dogs and hamburgers. How were the salads and sandwiches?

 

Were the cabins/bathrooms clean? Was there any norovirus on board. I got it on our Feb. X cruise even all of us took every precaution. I have never been that sick and certainly don't want it again.

 

Thanks again for the comments, looking forward to the photos. Linda

[hoss23]

Have heard a lot about the first voyage and the Medit. but not much about the Eastern including Catalina and Casa De Campo. If you have gone, please enlighten us!

Does the Fortuna dock in St Thomas and where?

Can you see shows after late dinner?

Anyone been in Grand Suites?

Any and ALL info will be appreciated!

Just got back on sunday 21/9 was on the fortuna. First off, beautiful ship, spotless, efficient and courteous staff. Food, all pasta great, everything elsi horrible. All you heard aboard the ship were people complaining about the food except the pastas. Catalina island, their private island was beautiful, the ships tenders take you the short ride to the beach where there are hundreds & hundreds of lounge chairs. beach fantastic, water great to swim in, they load up boats and literally bring a BBQ to the shore, where they cook the usual BBQ fare and have 4 lines serving, plenty to drink, both free, and alchohol for a charge. Delightful day. Casa De Campo was one hour away and we never got off the ship for that. We docked in St. Thomas, my favorite island, next to Freedom of the Seas, an awesome sized ship, and Carnival Valor, went to Meghans Bay, in my opinion one of the most beautiful places i have ever been, if you like the beach, dont miss it. Late seating people have their show around 7pm while the early seating is eating, then it is reveresed after that, with the early seating show going on about 9:30. We had a balcony room and it was fine, although there were no amenities in the bathroom whatsoever. Only bath gel, so bring all your toilitries. All in all, a very enjoyable cruise, but they have to do something about the food, both the quality, and selections, dont let that scare you off though, you will have a good time

[BambiRumsey]

Curious to see if any recent cruisers have pics of menus to post to see if it has changed significantly from last December's Magica cruise.

 

Having a hard time believing only thing you guys ate was the ceasar salad and beef dishes. Of the two salad options - one of them always appealed to me and the 3 dressing choices were interesting. I had grouper that was very good, Osso Buco that was amazing, quail which was new for me, lamb that was quite good, the bruschetta made fresh in the lido was excellent.

 

Personally, I enjoyed sampling different items from various regions in Italy.

 

I think a lot of it is personal taste and willingness to try something new. We hated hated hated our RCL cruise and you seemed to really like yours so I guess there is a cruise product out there for everyone.

[megnsamsgracie]

We dont eat anything but chicken, pork or beef so quail wouldnt appeal nor lamb. I ate the scallop appetizer one night and had shrimp with my beef tenderloin too (that was great!). I liked one soup I admit.. cant remember which one but seriously. I ate the beef entree every night and had an appetizer when it was the scallops. But you are right, we loved RCCL and didnt care for Costa.. so there is something out there for everyone

[sakapfet]

Trying different types of food are something that my wife and I look forward to when we travel.

 

In the evening what are the hours for the kids club?

[megnsamsgracie]

On the 2 formal nights it was 5:45-11pm. On other nights it was 3-6pm and then 9-11:30

[VegasMark]

We had a balcony room and it was fine, although there were no amenities in the bathroom whatsoever. Only bath gel, so bring all your toilitries.

 

Can anyone confirm the bathroom offerings in a standard room? I'd be surprised if there isn't at least shampoo and a bar of soap. How about conditioner? Thanks!!!

[BambiRumsey]

Not sure why your's was the second day, Is it possible you missed the first day or were you late getting on the ship? Maybe with you going to Key west and were still in the USA the laws are different. From my understanding the ship can not leave for the cruise until the have a life boat drill.

 

It wasn't just us - it was the entire boat. We were in the 1st hundred or so people on board so I am certain we didn't miss it the first day. Kind of hard to miss in general - with the 7 long loud whistles and the announcements blaring...

 

We also assumed that since KW is still a US port that is why we did not do it until we left US waters...

[megnsamsgracie]

Can anyone confirm the bathroom offerings in a standard room? I'd be surprised if there isn't at least shampoo and a bar of soap. How about conditioner? Thanks!!!

 

I am pretty sure there was bar soap.. I brought my own anyway. Also, there was just some hanging thing in the shower.. shampoo or bath gel? Not sure as again, I used my own

[retdon]

Hello, :confused:

 

RatherB and I are looking for someone who stayed in a suite...............

 

Any comments,

was there shampoo, etc. in bathrooms? How well are mini-bars stocked and with what? What are prices for cocktails at bars?

What does the "butler" do? Was boarding and disembarkation smooth and timely? Were bed comfortable????

 

BIG QUESTION?????? HOW WAS THE CASINO???????, LOOSE OR TIGHT????

 

Sounds like we are gamblers and like our cocktails, yes we all (14) do.......

 

Any comments are appreciated, we are so excited to be going for New Years and got such a GREAT price that we could overlook at lot of what other cruisers call problems.

[joetrizeo]

Not sure why your's was the second day, Is it possible you missed the first day or were you late getting on the ship? Maybe with you going to Key west and were still in the USA the laws are different. From my understanding the ship can not leave for the cruise until the have a life boat drill.

 

LAW states that lifeboat drill must be done within 24 hours of sailing. SO if you leave at 7pm SUNDAY and do the lifeboat drill at 4pm MONDAY (the next day after you leave Key West at 3:30pm) you are well within the law :)

[G.M.T.]

Hello, :confused:

 

RatherB and I are looking for someone who stayed in a suite...............

 

Any comments,

was there shampoo, etc. in bathrooms? How well are mini-bars stocked and with what? What are prices for cocktails at bars?

What does the "butler" do? Was boarding and disembarkation smooth and timely? Were bed comfortable????

 

BIG QUESTION?????? HOW WAS THE CASINO???????, LOOSE OR TIGHT????

 

Sounds like we are gamblers and like our cocktails, yes we all (14) do.......

 

Any comments are appreciated, we are so excited to be going for New Years and got such a GREAT price that we could overlook at lot of what other cruisers call problems.

 

A very knowledgeable cruiser from this forum is cuuently on the Fortuna, he will be posting his review on or about 15th. Dec. If you have any questions then just ask him - name "Cruise4Andy".

 

Ron

[chicago59]

Can anyone confirm the bathroom offerings in a standard room? I'd be surprised if there isn't at least shampoo and a bar of soap. How about conditioner? Thanks!!!

Sorry to say, the inside cabins only had a bar of soap and something in the shower. Not sure. But I like to bring my own anyway, so this did not bother me. I thought I heard someone asking at the Purser's desk to have Shampoo and Cream rinse sent to their cabin. You may want to check there.