All4fun&fun4all

I went to Morningstar Beach but this was back in 2007. Maybe check trip advisor and see if it's still a safe place to go. There was only a small handful of people when we went.

Just took a look and the reviews seem positive, the pictures are beautiful like I remember and it's a cab ride there. I remember they wanted to charge us for loungers.

I have, in the past, gotten price drops in the form of OBC with a Past Guest rate but BEFORE final payment date as a few others have mentioned. I book Early Saver now when it comes available since I have noticed that price drops tend to occur after final payment date. Well, at least that has been my experience.

I leave tomorrow. If anyone needs me to get any information for them let me know.

*waves at my2monkees* How are you doing?!

Would you mind taking a picture of the brunch menu if you happen to think of it?

A friend of mine from my high school days is leaving tomorrow also.

Five day Fun Times Nov 2013

 

We just got back so I thought I'd post a current set for those that may be interested.

 

http://ppl.ug/f8eqsYRAUgI/ Cheers, Tip :)

 

I will post the SEVEN day shortly! As soon as we get back! :D

Thanks tip.n.ring! We are sailing again in May on Fantasy and am happy to have a recent copy of the Fun Times! Sad to see that the sushi station is gone. :( Interested in trying out the brunch. Was the menu the same as the regular MDR breakfast menu?

Please tell patthecma the Andrew and Nancy say hello.

Here is the luggage size restrictions for checked and carry on. This was copied from Carnival's FAQ site.

"Guests are encouraged to limit their checked luggage to two suitcases per person, with each suitcase not to weigh more than 50 pounds (22.68 Kilograms) and not exceed 16"H x 24"W (40.64 cm x 60.96 cm); there are no length restrictions. Please attach your Carnival Cruise Lines luggage tags PRIOR to leaving home and make sure that they are still on your bags when checking in with us. In many ports, guests have the option of carrying luggage on board at embarkation and off the ship at the end of the cruise as long as it does not exceed 16"H x 24"W (no length restrictions). This is an advantage you may want to consider as it will allow for quicker easier access to your bags. Please note that Carnival assumes no responsibility for carry-on luggage. "

It takes quarters. You can get quarters from the Guest Services desk. They can tell you exactly how much it costs but back in 2012 it was $3.00 to wash and $3.00 to dry if I am remembering correctly. The Laundromat was located on E deck forward.

There is a link to a picture heavy review in my signature below. I had a WONDERFUL time but truth be told....I like Fantasy much more.

I sure would too. If there is one posted somewhere already, I would really appreciate someone pointing it out.

I saw this youtube video showing the new menu/tables the other day.

On my last cruise I bought an adorable floppy hat at the $10.00 store onboard and I bought the license tag that says "my other car is a cruise ship" for $12.95.

I always buy drinks onboard as well as a Christmas ornament and at least one of the dining room pics. I have one from each cruise except one.

Thanks for the reply, any advice on what time to arrive (earliest)?

I would take the earliest shuttle that the hotel offers. Around 11:30 arrival has been a good time for me on my last 3 cruises. By then they have cleared all the previous passengers off the ship.

The good thing about the staggered arrivals due to the shuttles is that there never really is a crowd inside the terminal. We have had a bit of a wait at the security screeners for carry on luggage but once you get through that it's straight up to a counter with hardly any wait.

I have gotten there at 11:30am, checked my luggage at the luggage tent, hopped on the shuttle to the terminal, gone through security, checked in at the desk, taken the embarkation photo, taken my sail and sign pic, walked up the gangway and had my first drink of the day and plate of food in front of me by 12:30.

There are 3 links to my Fantasy reviews in my signature below. The December one we came in with folks who were parking at the terminal but the March 2012 one and the June 2010 one were both via a taxi ride which your hotel shuttle will follow the same route. There is a much longer wait for those that are parking in the terminal parking area.

Sorry, guess I wasn't clear before. We will be arriving by shuttle from the hotel so there are two shuttles involved. That was the shuttle I was referring to. I'll check with special needs.

If you are taking a shuttle from the hotel, you will be dropped at the area right where the shuttle picks you up and takes you to the terminal. There should be minimal wait because they run the shuttles quite often. After you offload your checked luggage at the luggage tent you will walk directly to the shuttle and get on. Once the shuttle is full they send it on it's way to the terminal and another shuttle will pull up in it's place.

I have yet to have to wait on a shuttle to the terminal. But just my luck, now that I have said this....next time I will have to wait. LOL :)

Barefoot Beach on Coco Cay (Little Stirrup Cay) had very powdery sand and the area in the water wasn't rocky at all. Just very shallow for a great distance out. It was beautiful and quiet over there.

hmmm must have hit send from my phone without actually typing anything

 

Bob- I know you are the ring leader!! trying to pressure us in to booking another cruise! glad someone is. :D I'll be spending the day looking at this cruise if we have yet another snow day and I think i'll stalk the roll call too. I would totally make another drive down to Charleston!

Do it! Do ittttt! LOL. This sailing is going to Nassau and Little Stirrup Cay! Book it!!!! Do it!!!!

working on the review now. however, my computer crashed yesterday :( so will post it as soon as it is fixed.

I can answer any questions in the meantime

 

 

 

my booking finger is getting itchy! I may need to book another one on the Fantasy soon!!

michelle1836 book the May 6th one! The Andrew and I are booked!

Lido deck for my first DOD!!!

Honestly the few who think that don't have businesses, could care less whether you go here or MB. I personally would suggest coming to Charleston, spend your money and tell the businesses that you are in support of them despite the few idiots.

Truly sorry you feel that way, again it's a vocal small minority!

A very small and VERY vocal minority, right Bob? :p

I have been in favor of the terminal all along. It will be a vast improvement over the eyesore that it currently is.

And being from Charleston, I wouldn't consider myself or Bob hoity toity. Ok, definitely not hoity but maybe a little bit toity. LMAO!

Nancy, LOVED the review. One of these days I want to sail with you! Take a look at www.kyssbag.com -- I am careful with my stuff too and this was my solution. Great peace of mind.

I have heard about those kyss bags! I think I may buy one before we sail again. I hate having to worry about leaving my stuff unattended. Thanks for the link!

Enjoyed all the pix from Halloween night. There were some great costumes.

I have to say that in the future I hope to sail on Halloween again. It was just boatloads (HA!) of fun! And I loved dressing up and having a different Halloween shirt each day. And of course let's not forget the tu tus.

Thanks so much for your AWESOME cruise review. I just booked a last minute deal on this ship and was curious to find some info, stumbled upon this and thoroughly enjoyed every post. I hope I find some party folk like your group on board, you really know how to enjoy yourselves.

 

Thanks again.

Thanks for reading! I try to cram as much fun as I can on those 5 day sailings. Heck, I try to cram as much fun as I can into my life in general. I think I do a pretty good job at it. :);)

Thanks for another great review Nancy! In my (so far only) cruise, I spent most of my time on Serenity deck with my iPod and a couple DoDs. I actually used the hot tub on a very hot day in Nassau - I got in just long enough to get wet, and then sat on the lounger to dry off and it cooled me down significantly. You might want to try that round.

 

I'm trying to talk my Mom into a mother/daughter cruise in December on the Fantasy since we've decided to give each other a trip in lieu of a gift for birthdays. She's voting NYC but I'm hoping the pictures of Little Stirrup Cay and Nassau sway her in my direction.

I am scared of those hot tubs but might be willing to try one on the first day before people get in there. I've gotten weird about hot tubs recently. I think it was because of something I have read here on CC but since there aren't kids on Serenity Deck, I might just try it on our May cruise.

LOVE the idea of a cruise as a gift! Maybe one day I can actually get my mom on a ship. She thinks I am crazy to go on cruises. :rolleyes:

Thanks for posting this. The menu looked pretty good. Tables didn't look bad.

But I have to ask, what was the mystery spam meat listed as on the menu. I think I will avoid it. :p

Great review! I have always wanted to cruise when there is a full moon. I bet that would be amazing!

The Andrew and I booked that May 6th sailing out of Charleston over the weekend when Early Saver popped up again. Are you still thinking of doing that sailing?

I know I'm really late reading your review, and can I say...LOVED IT! I found you through a post from GAPearl. Anyway, tell me more about these coupons. Where do I find them? How do I get them? any and all info would be so appreciated.

I am not booked on the Fantasy but she will most likely be my next cruise. I am currently booked on The Paradise, one of her sister ships and we sail in 26 days.This will be my first cruise. I've recently had some unexpected $$ drains and cash I had for my trip went to pay for other stuff so I am looking to save WHATEVER I can. HELP

Thanks for reading! I am about to book my seventh cruise today!

Well, unfortunately they no longer have the drink coupons. I hear they have something called cruise cash or cruise gift cards now that you can pre-purchase but I am not sure of the fine print rules that go with it.

My plan is to pre pay my gratuities again and then take $20.00 per paycheck and put it in a hiding spot at home for spending money. Then I will use my tax return to pay off the cruise itself.

Opinions are like belly buttons, everybody has one. :-)

 

Sent from my SAMSUNG-SGH-I337 using Tapatalk

That part is definitely true. :)

My daughter and her family live in Charleston. They are against the terminal expansion. They are not rich, rich, RICH. They have their reasons and a right to their opinion. After all, the residents are the ones who have to live there and passengers are transient.

 

It doesn't matter to me. I don't like sailing out of Charleston. I don't like the Fantasy and I don't like the itineraries.

You are entitled to your opinion but as a 3rd generation Charlestonian who has followed this from the very beginning I am quite aware of the financial status of those who are bringing this suit on. Some of them have only seasonal homes here, some don't even LIVE here anymore and most live in the very affluent areas of the downtown area.

The main issue that I have with these folks is that they claim that people who sail on Carnival are not the type of people who would spend money at our hotels, restaurants and shopping areas. That the class of a Carnival passenger is somehow LESS than say your average tourist. I beg to differ on that because of how many people on these boards alone inquire about tours and hotels for pre-cruise and post cruise stay.

If you go to the port of Charleston site you will see how local businesses are eager to welcome cruisers with open arms. It is a very small amount of people in our region that are against it.

I enjoy sailing out of Charleston, mainly because I live here and LOVE sailing on Fantasy since that was my first ship to sail on. I love the HMC, Grand Turk and Nassau itinerary as well as the Nassau and LSC itinerary. Heck I even like Nassau and Freeport! I am sorry that you don't.

The area surrounding the port needs a massive makeover and the terminal plans mirror the historical impression that Charleston is well known for.

It's so completely frustrating that a small group of rich RICH rich people can drag this out for so long. The new terminal is quite a beauty from the plans I have seen which will mesh easily into the historical area. Heck anything is better than the miles of chain link fence surrounding the property and the building next door whose roof is caving in.

I imagine that people who port into Charleston as a destination on other cruiselines must treat it like some people treat Freeport and after docking and looking at the surroundings decide to stay on the ship instead. Charleston is a beautiful city and our port terminal needs to reflect it.

We have been a port city all of our existence...why should the fact that a ship is in port for a few hours once a week make any difference what-so-ever.

Sorry about the rant...I am just sooooo flippin frustrated. :mad::o

Weve sailed out of JAX twice. Parked at the lot right by the port and got to the terminal by 10:45 checked in and through security by 11:30. And that included being searched back in the luggage area because I had pliers in my bag. FTTF would only be worth it to me if you were on a large ship with multiple tender ports.

I agree with lukeduke07. I didn't get FTTF just for budget reasons. There was absolutely no line in boarding. Once we got to the terminal we went straight up to check in and security and whoosh to the ship.

We went to LSC (which is a tender port) and I went up at 9:30 am to get my tender ticket. Right after I got it they called my number and there was absolutely no line to get on the tender. I imagine for HMC there would be a longer line for tendering.