fuddhist1

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I've got a few days off and was trying to book a quick, last minute vacation. I'm looking at Fascination on Oct 1st. We live 10 min from port and have been on Fascination many times, but never very last minute. The ship is sold out. Has anyone had any luck calling a couple days before and getting a cabin that was a cancellation? If so, was the price reasonable?

Just did a mock booking on the carnival site on ship and date you mentioned and there are still interior and suites still available. 289 pp and 829 pp

I'll believe this when I see proof that it's real. Scoured Johns blog, Google, and Carnivals website. No mention of it anywhere. Sounds like someone is trying get everyone's panties in a bunch. If you know it to be true then post the link. Gotta love CC rumors.

Rates are still the same. For every 8 rooms you book one person will get their cruise for free. Plus many times each room will get OBC and might include a bottle of champagne. Groups are mainly all about the perks not a cheaper rate.

Doug on Cruise radio said it will be a fantasy ship but didn't know which one

Do people really not understand how business works? If the ship is filling up at a higher rate, why would they lower the rate just to please you? It doesn't matter that the price of fuel went down or the price of this same cruise was cheaper last year. It is all about how much people will pay now. Want lower cruise rates? Stop paying the prices and they won't fill the cabins and only then will the prices come down. It's that simple. Ok rant over.

Not supposed to leave balcony doors open anyway, so I would say if you are following the rules the smoke won't bother you. [emoji106]

Really? This thread is blowing up ove 14 cents? It's sales tax, 7% on a dollar. Therefore a soda is $1.95 plus 14 cents. You pay it at 7-11 so why wouldn't you pay it on the ship? If 14 cents is gonna break you, come see me on my cruise and I'll give you your 14 cents back. You're on vacation, stop fretting the small stuff and enjoy your cruise.

What you do is, grab the burger with cheese and bacon, then head over the the Blue Iguana and add the toppings over there!

Now that one hell of an idea. Will have to try that.

never had one but they must have 2000 calories. heart attack on a bun

The best tasting food is always the worst for you, but hey if I die on a cruise it's a still a good day. Eat up!

Very rare for a hurricane to go that far south. You'll be fine

Our cruise is in October so our final is due next week. Yes we got an email a couple weeks ago reminding us of our date. I booked through a Pvp

Thanks everyone! I just watched the fare go up today but I am not in position to lay down a deposit for everyone just yet so I am worried I won't get the low fare. Maybe they will offer a sale and prices will drop in November. Crossing fingers[emoji16]

Does anyone know if Carnival ever offers third and fourth guests free like Norwegian does. If so when do they normally have that sale? Am trying to book a family cruise for next year and want to get the very best price.

http://www.***********/Carnival/winepackages.html

CRUISE THE VINEYARDS PROGRAM

Prices recently went up (January 2012).

You can still save up to 25% off the regular bottle prices by using this program.

If you order by calling Bon Voyage you avoid paying the 15% gratuity charge that you get if purchasing the package onboard.

Once onboard you can purchase a wine package through the gift shop or through your waiter in the Main Dining Room. Both of these ways will incur the 15% gratuity charge.

Any way you order you will not have to select the actual wines in your package till you are in the Main Dining Room ready to drink one of them.

How the program works:

When ordering you select your wine package size and type: 3 or 5 & Basic, Deluxe, or Premium.

You then will receive wine coupons. If you purchase by calling Bon Voyage your coupons will be left in your cabin. If you purchase through the gift shop or Main Dining Room your coupons will be given to you at that time.

The number of coupons you receive depends on the package size you select (ex. 5 wine package = 5 coupons).

You don't actually select the specific wines until you are ready to drink them.

You can use your wine coupons at any onboard bar which serves wine or in the Main Dining Room.

Once you have given the bartender or waiter your wine coupon and wine choice, the bottle is then brought to you.

If you order in the Main Dining Room and do not finish the bottle you will have 3 options: you can either take the bottle with you, have it delivered to your room or they will re-cork it and save it for your next visit to the Main Dining Room.

*******************************************************************************************

3 Wine Package Pricing: Basic $77, Deluxe $97, Premium $114

(available on cruises 5 days or shorter)

5 Wine Package Pricing: Basic $131, Deluxe $153, Premium $193

(available on cruises 5 days or longer)

*******************************************************************************************

Basic Wine Package

Barefoot Bubbly, Brut Cuvee

Copper Ridge, White Zinfandel

Zonin, Pinot Grigio

Clifford Bay, Sauvignon Blanc

Barefoot, Chardonnay

Barefoot, Pinot Noir

Bogle, Merlot

Twisted, Zinfandel

Black Swan, Shiraz

Smoking Loon, Cabernet Sauvignon

Deluxe Wine Package

Zonin, Prosecco

Castello Del Poggio, Moscato

Oyster Bay, Sauvignon Blanc

Schmitt Sohne, Riesling Spatlese

Kendall Jackson, Vintner’s Reserve, Chardonnay

Murphy Goode, Merlot

Concha y Toro Casillero del Diablo, Cabernet Sauvignon

Bodega Santa Elena, Malbec

Domaine Darons de Rothschild Lafite, Bordeaux

Premium Wine Package

Paul Louis, Blanc de Blanc

Ecco Domain, Pinot Grigio

Ferrari-Carano, Fume Blanc

Pouilly-Fuisse, Burgundy

Frei Brothers, Chardonnay

Kendall-Jackson, Vintner’s Reserve, Pinot Noir

Kendall- Jackson, Vintner’s Reserve, Merlot

Hess Select, Cabernet Sauvignon

Melini, Classic Riserva, Chianti

Yangarra, Shiraz

"Education is when you read the fine print. Experience is what you get if you don't." Pete Seeger

RTFM = Read The Fabulous Manual aka FAQ;s

hello

 

 

Is this something you buy on board or can I pay/buy it now before sailing in AUG?

You have to prove you are over 21 so therefore you have to buy it once you are on board.

Do they limit you as to what you can order? (meaning, if I want to drink tequila one day and wine another day and vodka another does it feel make a difference?

You can order anything under $10 per drink with some things excluded such as souvenir cup drinks and certain other drinks. They will give you a paper when you purchase it that explains everything. Or you could go to carnivals website and search Cheers program and it will detail it all.

also, do they try to upgrade to MORE PREMIUM alcohol when you go to buy this card?

anyone with experience using this card..please chime in. I would think if you have 5 drinks in one day (without the card) it would be about the same cost ($50)

Yes if you drink more than 5 drinks a day it's paid for.

I just pre ordered/paid for 8 pack of 50 oz bottled water to be delivered to my cabin. It was $20. I thought that was very reasonable. (Must stay hydrated while having fun!) Plan to take my water bottle/straw with me to refill all day.....I carry it daily when traveling.

As far as water goes, they have the 12 packs of 16.9 oz bottles for $2.99 you could save about $14 by buying 2 of those instead of the 50oz 2 12 packs of 16.9 oz equals 405.6 oz of water for $5.98 versus 8 bottles of 50oz equals 400 oz for $20

Have a good cruise!

thanks

It all has to do with expectations. A few years back you would have heard me say how great the food was (can't say regarding Carnival, because at that time I was only sailing Celebrity and RCCL), but in recent years, the food has declined across all lines, IMHO. With that said, considering the number of pax they have to serve, they do a pretty good job and it makes cruising a very good vacation value.

Exactly! I Am going on the Fascination in October, I got an OV for less than 300 for 5 days. For the amount of money I am paying, I don't expect the food to be much above edible. If I don't starve I am good. On a normal vaca my room would cost well above that on its own.

Thanks for doing this! I have searched these boards for Fascination tips, but no luck! We will be in her in October.

 

Can you tell me about the internet plan you have?

http://boards.cruisecritic.com/showthread.php?t=2202584 here is another good review of the fascination

And also this one http://boards.cruisecritic.com/showthread.php?t=2155662

Hope this helps

Thanks for doing this! I have searched these boards for Fascination tips, but no luck! We will be in her in October.

 

Can you tell me about the internet plan you have?

What day in October? We are going on the Fascination October 19th.

Was there a reason you didn't book the Seattle round trip?

My wife and I booked a cigar tour at the Graycliff while we're their in October. Anyone else done this? If so, How is it?

Thank you so much for this wonderful review. My wife and I booked our first cruise ever on the Fascination leaving this Oct 19th. We are going to Nassau and Freeport instead of HMC. We were really fretting that we booked the wrong ship because the Fascination doesn't have the Movie screen, the same restaurants as the newer ships such as Blue Iguana and Guys Burgers, but I think reading your review has eased our minds that this is the perfect first cruise for us as we are not big people persons anyway. Did anyone you were with happen to try the pizza pirate on the ship? Really hoping the pizza is good. I think we are going to love the fact that the ship will be a little less crowded and a little quieter than the bigger ones. I loved your review and all your photos. I can't wait to get my hands on one of those CMC's that your dad is so fond of. [emoji1] Thanks again for easing our minds about going on an older ship. Can't wait for October to hurry up and get here.

Robert

DW and I are on this ship October 19th, for our first ever cruise so it was nice to see this review. We were worried that we were missing out by not being on one of the newer ships. After reading your review I am certain we will have a great time. It would be nice to have Guys burgers and the Dive in Movies, but won't miss the crowds of the bigger ships that everyone always speaks of. Thanks for the insight.

Thanks for the replies. I guess I have a bunch more research to do, but one thing is for sure, We will be going to Alaska. @Suitetraveler all I can say is WOW!!!! Those vids are amazing. Can't wait to show them to my wife. She will definitely be sold on the trip.

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