Good Fascination Cruise

[cruiseapril]

Review- Fascination April 23-27

 

Overview- We three family members took our annual cruise on the Carnival Fascination to Nassau and Freeport this year. This was our second time together on a Fantasy ship and our first time sailing out of Jacksonville. We had a very good time in spite of high winds in Nassau and Freeport.

 

Jacksonville

Pre-cruise we stayed at the Embassy Suites Baymeadow. Our taxi driver asked us why we stayed so far away from the cruise port- we had a free suite at the hotel as my daughter had Hilton Points. If you don’t have a free hotel room, the places to stay are near the airport or at the Holiday Inn Express Blount island near the port.

 

We enjoyed the Embassy Suites- the rooms were clean and pleasant- the hotel has a great Atrium with lots of tables and chairs to use during the Manager’s free reception (wine and beer and mixed drinks and snacks) and during the free breakfast buffet.

 

This Embassy Suites hotel had an in-house Omaha Steak House which was pricey and delicious. So we had a good start to a great vacation.

 

The Ship

The Fascination is in very good condition for an older ship (1995.) It looked clean and polished with lots of refurbishments such as the upgraded dining room décor and the Atruim bar. The only concern we had was some excess rocking and rolling during the high wind times- but this was a very windy time in the Bahamas.

 

The Cabin

We had an Oceanview on the Main Deck. Comfortable and spacious for three people. Carnival has installed new bathroom floors- a dark blue non-skid flooring which is quite an improvement. All cabins have been refurbished.

 

Food

We totally enjoyed the dining room entrees- our group had quite a variety: Flatiron Steak, Tilapia fish, Chicken a la Greque, Lobster& Shrimp on Elegant Night, Sweet & Sour Shrimp, Veal Parmigiana, Perch, Salmon, and Chicken Fettucine were some of them. Shrimp cocktails and several entrees were available every night, as was the Warm Chocolate Melting Cake,which gets oohs and aahs from new Carnival cruisers.

 

We shared a 6 person booth with 3 other cruisers and had a great waiter- Subrata from Bali. He was also our wine steward- we bought a $65- 3-bottle wine package which enhanced our meals.

 

The Lido food was good. A special comment on the delicious gateau layer cakes. Yum! Carnival has some of the best Lido desserts.

 

 

 

The Deli and Grill food was also good. Didn’t try the Pizza or the Bistro from 6:30-9:30 (in the Lido.) As we’re up early- we had coffee and pastries in the Lido at 6 a.m. and then breakfast at 7. It is relaxing in the Lido at that time of day.

 

Entertainment

The Karaoke was fun, fun, fun with some incredible singers and a few who just sang for fun and laughs. Songs ranged from Country to Pop to Rock to Rap to Crooners to Classics such as “Midnight Train to Georgia.” Karaoke took place in Puttin on the Ritz and the place was hopping- lots of folks danced, even did the Electric Slide. It was a good time. The last night, the 6 top singers performed for everyone in the Palace

 

There was plenty of entertainment for all- we also enjoyed the pool band from Dominica- Tropic Thunder. They sang in several languages which was an added interest.

 

We attended the Captain’s Reception, used the Internet, sunned by the Aft Pool, checked out the library, shopped in the Galleria, had fun exploring the ship and relaxing. My sister went to the Newlywed Game and spent time in the casino. There are so many activities for everyone-plenty to do all the time.

 

The Ports

We were in Nassau on the 25th and in Freeport on the 26th.

In Nassau, we took a $5 pp van over to Atlantis to walk around and enjoy the flowers and atmosphere while the winds calmed and the sun broke through. (We had spent a day at Atlantis and Cabbage Beach before, so this was a quick visit.)

 

When the sun came out, we got our gear and took another $5 pp van over to the Wyndham/Sheraton Cable Beach Resort. For $40 pp we bought a day pass with buffet lunch included and had a good lunch at the Wyndham before heading over to the Sheraton to change, get some towels, and sunbathe on the loungers. We did some wading, but it was too windy to swim. However, this resort, with several pools and a nice beach, was a discovery we would like to return to in the future. After a good day, we took the #10 Jitney Bus back to the pier (about 4 miles away.)

 

We docked in Freeport on a Sunday. We don’t know why the cruise lines go there on a Sunday, as so much was closed. It was windy and not a good day for excursions, many of which were canceled- so we took a van over to the Westin/Sheraton Our Lucaya Resort to check it out. It is a nice place with a big beach and pools- but is kind of isolated as it is 10 miles from the pier. It is across from Our Lucaya Marketplace, but things were fairly quiet there on a Sunday.

 

 

Disembarkation

Disembarkation was disorganized and slow. We waited nearly 3 hours to get off the ship. There was a long Self-Assist line. Have never waited this long to disembark. Hope others have not had this long wait.

 

 

Post Cruise

My daughter flew home and my sister and I stayed a day at the Wingate Wyndham Lenoir St. in Jacksonville. This hotel is located in a business hotel area- nice walking area with an Applebees and a Cracker Barrell- lots of flower gardens. We headed home to New England the following day after our pleasant days in Jacksonville and a good 4 night cruise on the Carnival Fascination.

[NCTribeFan]

Glad you enjoyed it.

 

We had slow disembark in December, too, but I thought that was because of the two people who they called over and over and over and over to report to Immigrations (non US passport holders), and they didn't begin self-disembark until about 8:30. We were in no hurry (only drove up to Savannah to spend the night), but every time people now ask about getting a 10:30 flight, I have to caution them that it doesn't always go very smoothly!

 

Personally, I think they should do away with the self-disembark unless you can show you have an early flight. And if you book earlier than recommended, it's your fault if you miss the flight.

 

I love the Fantasy class and really enjoyed sailing from Jacksonville. I'm trying to figure out how/when I can book a B2B and do the Key West/HMC itineraries. Maybe next spring. :D

 

I do like Freeport. Last time we were there, we took the shared van/taxi to the Lucaya Marketplace and just wandered around (I guess that was last May). It was very hot, but it was the last day and our 4th port, so we just wanted to take it easy.

 

Thanks for the review!

[FirsTime@C]

Great review! Me, hubby and a few more relatives are going on this ship June 4th. So I am getting excited! Did ya'll visit the Fish Fry area? I would really like to try their cuisine and I have read other posts that talked about it. Now I don't want to spend money going to Atlantis but I really wanna parasail for the 1st time! Even though I am scared! And I heard alot about Cable Beach. But I have my list of things to do that I have read from so many posts. And as it gets closer I will narrow down what I will do.

[DGP1111]

I leave in the morning for my rather short drive up to Jacksonville to take a spin on this ship as well. It's my first time on Fascination, as well as first time sailing from JaxPort.

Glad to read you had a good time, as I anticipate the same for me. :) :)

[Ms. Fun Bunch]

I really enjoyed your review!

[cruiseapril]

NC- Agree that they should limit the Self-Assist disembarkation.

 

First & DG- Enjoy your cruises and let us know how they were.

[jbhcw]

April,great review!! Glad you enjoyed the Fascination, we also did last year. I think it was also a bit rocky sailing from Jacksonville but still a great cruise:)

[A&Jfamily]

Self-assist debarkation on the Fascination was very slow on our cruise in March too. We were in a suite, so not affected, but they had only called the bottom deck by 9 when we were escorted off. Between seeing all the people in the halls waiting to leave, and an even worse crowd on the Legend last spring, I will stay away from self-assist. In the future I forsee a relaxing breakast in the dining room and a nice cup of tea on the Lido deck.:D

[RAVI360]

thanks for the review

[cruiseapril]

Hi- Is the Self-Assist disembarkation available on all Carnival ships and does it work on some?

[erinmarie424]

We were on the Fascination a week ago and - in the second group (of three) after the self-assisters and they called our group at 9:30 - guess we were lucky!

[firefly4423]

thanks for sharing!

[407dm]

good info for future cruise

[bahama daydreamer]

I was wondering about the rooms for 3. Some of my family members are wanting to book and are trying to figure out how many rooms to book. Due to a budget crunch they are thinking about booking 2 rooms with 3 per room. There will be my parents with my nephew (age 8), and my brother and sister sharing a room with my nephew (age 15). Is there enough room for them to make this happen?

Thanks

[cruiseapril]

Hi- The Oceanview cabins are big enough for three people. Carnival has some of the most spacious Oceanviews. There is an upper bunk on the Fascination for the third person- that person should be agile.

[bzymom22]

Thank you for your review. I will be on this ship with the same itinerary on May 21st. Now I am looking forward to it even more. :)

[cruiseapril]

bzy- Have a great cruise and let us know all about it.