Fascination 12-13 review - an early return

[Sea Born]

Thanks for sharing the great pics! My daughter and I will be on the Fascination Jan 5th to Nassua and Key West, can't wait! I sure hope it will be warmer then!

[copper6606]

Thanks for the review. Question about the CD...is he a young, good looking guy in his late 20s from South Africa? Is this him? If so, he was a social host on my Miracle cruise a few years ago.

 

 

Oh my, I hope HE"S MY CD on my upcoming cruise! What a cutie! hehe:o

[NCTribeFan]

Shawn - I would love to spend some time in Savannah. Didn't care for the area we were (semi) lost in while trying to find Bay Street, but love the historic district.

 

Given a choice, though, I think I prefer Charleston. But that may just be because I know it better and already have my favorite spots.

 

Claire and I both have photo albums from our Glory cruise in May if you want to check them out. You must get the obligatory Casino Camel photo.

[babyh]

Copper6606, I had the same thoughts about the cruise director (he is yummy). I have a good chance because I will be on the Fascination Jan. 19th. I will keeping my fingers crossed.:D

 

Heather

[bobsfamily]

Thanks for the review and pics... we are 24 days away!

We have the 4 day cruise as it happens when the 10th grader is out and with church at Disney World (older is in college) so parents and daughters both have a great time.

 

And we love Charleston and Savannah... but we live 10 miles from downtown Charleston. It's funny how rarely go there unless with company... I guess that's everybody where they live.

[NCTribeFan]

If I lived on Isle of Palms, I'd probably never leave, either! :p

 

I just wanted to mention something additional about disembarkation. I noted in the body of the review that there were names that were called repeatedly for people that were supposed to have reported to immigration early Thursday morning, but didn't, which held everything up for quite a while.

 

We often get threads from people who say "I know Carnival says to not book a flight before 12 or 1, but I have one at 9:30. Will I make it?" and there are always plenty of replies along the lines of "oh, sure! Just do the self-disembark! You'll be off in plenty of time!"

 

DO NOT DO THIS!

 

Yes, things may go very smoothly and you may make it. But as I noted, the self-disembark didn't even begin until about 8:30 and they call by decks! The airport is not terribly close to the port, either.

 

Just save yourself some stress and book your flight in the afternoon.

[Djptcp]

Thank you for the review and photos of the Fascination. DH and I will be on board for the Jan. 15th and May 16th cruises. We sailed on her in the 90's, so this will be our first time back on this ship in awhile. Sorry it was colder than you would have liked. We were in Half Moon Cay two weeks ago on a HAL cruise and the water was freezing! It was very sunny and warm, but the ocean was cold -- took awhile to get in and DH never did go swimming with me. Glad you had a nice cruise!

[bobsfamily]

If I lived on Isle of Palms, I'd probably never leave, either! :p

 

 

We do get the "why are you here" question lots. I used to live on St. Johns and St. Thomas and after a few years went back to the states (many years ago) and shortly later met my wife of 21 years. I say that because even paradise gets boring after a while and you want to do something different... having said that I STILL like the water and beaches.

 

It is so chilly here today... ok for us it's chilly... let's see the temp is 43 out but should be 75 on Christmas.

 

BTW Merry Christmas to ALL!

[NCTribeFan]

I've added the Capers and the excursion price list to my Webshots folders.

 

http://travel.webshots.com/album/569332312cINzOv

 

http://travel.webshots.com/album/569334101KxQMKM

[JordanLovesCruisin]

CARNIVAL FASCINATION 12/13/08 BAHAMAS

 

Background: this was our 8th cruise, 7th on Carnival. I’m a professional in my mid 50s, and I travel with my Dear Daughter, who is 22.

 

I was curious as to how I would feel about returning to a Fantasy-class ship after having moved up the food chain by sailing Miracle last December and Glory in May. I must say I still love the Fantasy-class ships. Fascination was a lovely ship with lovely décor; not nearly as over-the-top as some of Farcus’ designs.

 

I specifically booked this cruise so I could drive to the port and because I absolutely love Half Moon Cay and wanted to return. We’d been there on our 2nd Fantasy cruise and followed that with the exact same cruise 7 months later, only Elation had replaced Fantasy, so it had been two years since we’d been there.

 

Friday, 12/12/08, drive & pre-cruise night in Jacksonville – We left the house at 10:25 and arrived in Jacksonville at 5:25, with only a stop for gas and fast food for lunch. I had booked a room at the Holiday Inn Airport using their cruise parking package. The hotel was attractive but the indoor pool in the lobby was a bit odd. The room was OK, but the bathroom could use updating. We drove to the other side of I-95 where there is a huge shopping area, and had dinner at Cracker Barrel, which was pretty average.

 

Which other line had you been on?

[NCTribeFan]

It's in my sig. Our 2nd cruise was RCI on Empress, back when she was called Nordic Empress. It was a 7-day repo cruise. She was being moved from Tampa to NY to start her summer Bermuda runs. Our leg was Tampa to San Juan.

 

It was a fantastic cruise. We loved everything about it except the teeny, tiny OV cabin. They had a salsa band playing on the pool deck at night, which was packed with Latin Americans dancing.

 

It was a wonderful cruise, and I've wanted to sail RCI again, but Carnival just beats them out for the prices. Once I hit Platinum, I plan on branching out and trying other lines, including RCI (but you won't see me on Oasis - bigger is not better, imho!).

[JordanLovesCruisin]

It's in my sig. Our 2nd cruise was RCI on Empress, back when she was called Nordic Empress. It was a 7-day repo cruise. She was being moved from Tampa to NY to start her summer Bermuda runs. Our leg was Tampa to San Juan.

 

It was a fantastic cruise. We loved everything about it except the teeny, tiny OV cabin. They had a salsa band playing on the pool deck at night, which was packed with Latin Americans dancing.

 

It was a wonderful cruise, and I've wanted to sail RCI again, but Carnival just beats them out for the prices. Once I hit Platinum, I plan on branching out and trying other lines, including RCI (but you won't see me on Oasis - bigger is not better, imho!).

 

Sorry, I had signatures turned off. But I totally agree about Oasis. I was excited at first, but now it seems like it is a floating town...and holds more people than my previous hometown...that just doesn't excite me. Plus the ports of call are horrible.

 

The reason I asked what line you have been on other than Carnival, os because we (my family) is going on the Valor after sailing on the really fun Voyager class ships on Royal Carribbean...and I'm nervous that I won't have as much fun, I'm not quite 21, so I can't do all that my boyfriend and parents can.

[NCTribeFan]

My DD has never had a problem keeping herself entertained. She was just shy of 15 on our 1st cruise. But neither of us requires constant stimulation and activity. We're both perfectly happy sitting in a quiet corner, reading.

 

I don't think she even went to the disco on this cruise.

 

The entertainment options are a little limited when you're in that 18-21 age bracket, though. You can go to the casino, karaoke and the shows, but you can't drink, unless you smuggle something on and make drinks in your cabin. Be very, very careful with that, though.

 

I haven't been on Valor, but sailed Glory last May. There was plenty to do.

 

I've read great things about the Voyager class. They sound like great ships.

[OhioGriffiths]

Great review!! Thank you so much for sharing.:o

[cruiseapril]

Wonderful review.

 

2 questions:

 

Did the noise near your cabin stay the same throughout the cruise?

 

Is there a good smoking policy on the Fascination? Thanks

[NCTribeFan]

Unfortunately, the noise was the same throughout the entire cruise. When we boarded and first went to the cabin, I was hoping it would abate once we were underway, but it didn't. :(

 

The smoking policy is the same as on many ships - open decks, starboard is smoking. Smoking allowed in some lounges and in the casino.

 

When we got home and I opened our cases to start unpacking/doing laundry, I realized that everything we had worn in the evenings when we'd gone to the casino absolutely reeked of cig smoke. So, I ended up washing everything we took, even stuff we didn't wear.

 

I complain about the smoke every time I write to Carnival. The ventilation was SO much better on Miracle that we really had no problems, even in the sports bar and the casino. But Glory was awful, and the Fantasy-class ships have been awful.

 

Honestly, you would think that there has to be technology out there that they could install that would clean the air in the smoking areas much better than it does currently. I'm sure it would be expensive, but I assure you I would spend much more time in the casino if I could actually breathe. I bet I'm not the only non-smoker who would do so!

[georgiapeach115]

Hi, I was wondering if the Fascination has the coffee shop on it, similar to Creams on the Glory? I just love their Mochacinos!

 

Me, my Mom, my Sister and her family are thinking of going on the Fascination on May 30 when her girls get out of school. I like the smaller ships better. We took the Glory this past September and it was just too crowded for me. I love the smaller ship feel much better!

[NCTribeFan]

Yes, there's a coffee shop. It's on the Promenade Deck. Called Bogart's Cafe.

[Georgiagolfer]

NCTribeFan, curious about the Captains Party. Do they have both parties, Past Guest and Welcome Aboard, or just 1 party? DW and I are doing the same cruise as you in February.

[NCTribeFan]

Yes, both parties. Captains' party was the 1st sea day (Sunday for us, day after sailing) and, surprisingly, the PG party was the next night (Monday, Nassau day).

 

Carnival's site is down, but if you go to the Past Guest section there, it tells you which cruises have PG parties. I believe it's all 5 day and longer. Of course, there is only 1 "formal" night on the 5-day, so that's the night of the Captain's party. We dress for dinner every night, so it doesn't really make a difference. I wasn't looking, particularly, but there was quite a mix for the PG party; some dressed for a formal night, others in shorts.

 

Drinks and hors d'oeuvres are always better at the PG party, and we always treat it as a formal night, even on 5 night cruises.

[Georgiagolfer]

Thanks, I thought they had both parties on 5 day and longer. We sail Sat-Thurs like you did. DW and I drink red wine, so never have a problem with the drinks at the parties (taste or getting served).

 

Did they have these in a lounge or the theatre? Also, was there parties for each dinner seating or were they combined?