Fascination 1-19-09 recap

[Cinderose]

We were on the Fascination Jan 19-24 and we seemed to have picked the coldest week that Key West & Nassau has had in a long time. After staying the night before at the Clarion in Jacksonville we were shuttled to the pier and arrived about 12:30 only to be held up boarding due to a death on the ship. We also had one of our group that realized they had left their passport home in his filing cabinet back in Az. We were trying to figure out what to do, if he wasn’t able to get onto the ship how he could get the passport or his birth certificate over knighted to Miami and have him meet the boat in Key West. He had filled out his fun pass with the passport number on it so they had that. Well guess what? Carnival let him get on the ship without either! They told him it wasn’t getting on the ship that’s the problem it's getting off. And gave him a fax number to get his birth certificate copy faxed to him on the ship. He was able to get a hold of his son and get the birth cert faxed within hours (before we even sailed from port). Guess this was ok cause he didn’t have a problem getting off the ship. He lucked out. Probably didn’t hurt that he was a police officer either and had his ID from that. (Note: All smuggled alcohol made it on board and no one was called to the naughty room),

[Cinderose]

Lifeboat drill was short and sweet and gave us plenty of time to get up on deck to do sail away and take pictures of the ship going under the bridge. I missed meeting the group from my cruise boards since I had to run and get my camera. There sure were a lot of older people on this cruise that we have had experienced it past trips.

[Cinderose]

First night we did our cabin crawl card game – (20 players paying $5 each - visiting 7 cabins, taking 7 shots, and collecting 7 playing cards along the way - You chose your best 5 to make your hand and best hand takes pot- worst hand gets their $5 back) (You sign your cards as you get them so no one trades). We had way too much fun and sure had a bunch that wanted to join our group. We made many new friends this trip.

[Cinderose]

Watched the Welcome aboard show and loved it. Don’t miss this as it was way better than the Mambo show the last night. We did kararoke - Tobys keiths - I love this bar.

[Cinderose]

Sea day. Too cold to lay out on deck in swim wear to get some sun. Played the games and in the casino I won $150 and Brent won't $100. Other friends went to play bingo and Barb won the $250 pot. Formal night / captains party. Also had our group photo taken on the stairs.

[Cinderose]

Had Lobster for dinner and warm chocolate melting cake. Loved the Dakota band playing in the Passage to India lounge and danced the rest of the night.

[Cinderose]

Woke up in Key West. Didn’t do an excursion. Just walked around and shopped. Found a lot of shops selling everything for $5 an item. Got some good deals. Was surprised at all the statues and artwork. Was still cold most of the day until the sun came out for a few hours.

[Cinderose]

day 3

[Cinderose]

We all met up at Margaritaville and had lunch and drinks. Would have loved to had more time to spend but had to be back on the ship by 3:00.

[Cinderose]

Loved key west. more pix... (saw Elvis along the way)

 

Buddy's turn to win he got $150 playing bingo. We did karaoke and found our favorite drink server (cant remember her name) working the Putting on the Ritz lounge. They also had a pipe break behind the bar and there was a couple of inches of water all over the floor. Carpet was wet and floor was slippery. Buddy fell and hit his head.

[Cinderose]

Danced and partied the rest of the night. Gotta love those towel animals every night.

[Cinderose]

Slept in, was nice. Woke up about 10 and went down and had breakfast with the group already up and out on the Lido deck. Still a little cool but not cold as it had been. Not the nice warm weather we were planning on but better than the snow back home. (They had canceled out prepaid excursion to Sandals due to the time we arrived in port which was fine because it was still too cold to be in swimsuits or water. We received on board credit for our refunds.) Watched on deck as we cruised along the islands and into the pier in Nassau arriving right at about the noon time that we were scheduled for.

[Cinderose]

Everyone decided to go do their own thing. 6 of us walked off the ship and purchased a tour at the dock to do the area. I wish we would have walked down a little farther and got the one that others in the group got as they were taken over to the Atlantis area and got to see some things we in our tour didnt.

[Cinderose]

day 4

[Cinderose]

My group did the Fincastle and Queens staircase and such sites.

[Cinderose]

Since we were in port until 10PM we all met up at 4:00 at Senior Frogs and had dinner and drinks. We had a good time.

Walked back to the ship and I think we were the last ones to get back on

[Cinderose]

More photos in Nassau (straw market, school kids, flower, having fun)

[Cinderose]

Our last Sea day. Still was too chilly sun worship on deck. We tried our hand at the games again. I got picked as one of the game contestants and would have won but mess up on the last question. The song I named was from the US but could not remember the title of America the beautiful. I didn’t get my ship on a stick but got a medal instead.

We clean up in 5 game bingo. I tied with 3 others for the first game of $100 (winning $35), Lori won the second game of $110, again I three way tied for the third game of $120 (I got $45). In all our group walked away with $590 in bingo earnings this cruise. And around $500 in casino winnings.

[Cinderose]

We had our semi-private party in the Puttin on the Ritz lounge and you gotta love those free drinks.

 

The show was Mambo and it was ok.

[Cinderose]

Watched the ice carving up on deck and did the galley tour...

Got to see my first sunset on this cruise.

[Cinderose]

They had the Mexican buffet and Lido deck party this night and we got a little crazy with shots up on deck. The food looked a lot better than it tasted. But in all the food on this trip was rather good.

[Cinderose]

We danced and had a fun time not wanting to have the party end.

[Cinderose]

We watched the adults only comedy show and then off to bed. (plus Pics of our dining room waiters & assistants)

[Cinderose]

Woke up sad as it was time to go home. We put our luggage out the night before and had zones 10 and 12 to get off the ship. Just made it at 8:00 to have breakfast in the dining room. The waiters were not as friendly this morning. Guess they would have rather had us eat at the buffet. Some of the group had been up early and were up on the Lido sitting around chatting when we finally made it up there. Our numbers were called and we were through immigration and off the ship and at the airport by 11:00. Saying our goodbyes to friends that were flying at other times and to other states.

Our next adventure will be NCL Spirit Feb 1, 2010 out of New Orleans down to Belize – hopefully we will have warm weather if we go that far south.

[SweetpeaOne]

Really enjoyed the review and pictures. Thanks for sharing.