All Things Fantasy

[NYrunner]

Does anyone know what time the specialty coffee shop opens?

[bobsfamily]

Does anyone know what time the specialty coffee shop opens?

Shortly before you want it til and right after your done drinking. it's open a lot:D

[NCTribeFan]

Yes, it's open most of the day, since they serve specialty coffees. I believe it's something like 7 am until 11 or midnight. I know they're still open after late dinner is finished (and I sometimes haven't been out until 10 pm).

[NYrunner]

Thanks. I was hoping that they opened at 6am, but I guess 7 will work. :)

[NCTribeFan]

I went back and had a look at the FunTimes I'd scanned. On sea days, they were open from 7 am until midnight; on port days, they were open from 7-10 am and 3 pm til midnight.

 

Of course, that may have changed in the past couple of years, but my experience is that these sorts of things don't change a whole lot.

[EpcotBill]

Since Fantasy has been homeported in Charleston has there been a time that her itinerary was altered due to hurricane or any other severe weather? Where could she go to avoid the weather? Bermuda seems unlikely on a 5 night cruise.

 

I'm boarding in exactly 1 week and with what's brewing in the Atlantic I was just wondering. I'm not worried about it though. I've had a Western Caribbean cruise turn into an Eastern Caribbean cruise because of a hurricane once. It was actually pretty exciting not knowing where we were going until the day before we left. It definitely shakes things up. Of course there were people moaning about how their vacation was ruined because they didn't get to go to Cozumel and they should be refunded the full amount of their cruise.:rolleyes:

[Bella Dean]

One of the very best trips we ever had, was on the Fantasy ( love the Fantasy) out of New Orleans, with incoming Huricane, changed ports of call... we had a blast!

And your right it was exciting not knowing for sure where you were going!

Have a great time!

[NCTribeFan]

I don't recall reading any reviews of altered itineraries. But as you note, not many choices when you're "only" going to the Bahamas. And it isn't so easy to just divert and switch the ports around if they're already full, like it so often is in Nassau. It's not like they can just drive to the next mall to find a parking spot (like a lot of pax seem to think).

 

I often pick a cruise for a specific port, so I would be really disappointed to not get there. I pretty much only do these repeat cruises so I can keep returning to HMC, and I know a lot of people miss that port because they can't tender. I know it must be disappointing when you've saved your money and maybe can't get the time off for another year, and then the one place you really want to get to, you can't.

 

But weather happens. Especially at this time of year. I'm trying to not think about it in October. The fact that DD has a garden wedding on 10/20, at the coast, two days before I sail worries me more than the cruise.

 

Good luck and let us know what you think when you return!

[NCTribeFan]

Any recent Fantasy cruisers who can give us a lowdown on what goodies we can find these days in the bathroom basket?

 

Pickings have gotten pretty slim. I don't use a lot of what they give, but razors and lotions are always useful. Of course I always bring my own, but the smaller sizes/quantities I need to pack, the better!

[All4fun&fun4all]

Any recent Fantasy cruisers who can give us a lowdown on what goodies we can find these days in the bathroom basket?

 

Pickings have gotten pretty slim. I don't use a lot of what they give, but razors and lotions are always useful. Of course I always bring my own, but the smaller sizes/quantities I need to pack, the better!

 

I am curious too just to see if it has improved since March when we last sailed. I have a friend onboard right now that is due back on Sunday. I will find out from her and report back.

[SpecialEd]

Any recent Fantasy cruisers who can give us a lowdown on what goodies we can find these days in the bathroom basket?

 

Pickings have gotten pretty slim. I don't use a lot of what they give, but razors and lotions are always useful. Of course I always bring my own, but the smaller sizes/quantities I need to pack, the better!

 

We just got off the ship yesterday. There were actually two bars of soap (we used one). My in-laws were in the cabin two down from us and got the same thing (different steward). Don't know if it varies based on floors or type of cabins but we had the lowest you can almost get. R138. Do not get this cabin or ones around it. There is a dungeon below this cabin (you can hear the a chain banging on pipes rattling every few minutes.)

[NCTribeFan]

Thanks! I think it really does just vary (but not because of cabin type). I've had less in a balcony than in an inside. I think it just depends on what samples they receive from wherever they receive them!

 

I boarded once not realizing my little sample toothpaste was virtually empty. And then there was NONE in the cabin! :eek:

 

I left a note for the steward and asked if he might be able to locate some and several little packets appeared later that day.

 

I've never had any noise issues on Riviera. I actually like it down there. You might want to post this over on the Cabin Selection board in the thread about cabins to avoid, to warn folks about the noise.

 

How was the rest of the cruise? Food? Band? Ports?

[All4fun&fun4all]

I am curious too just to see if it has improved since March when we last sailed. I have a friend onboard right now that is due back on Sunday. I will find out from her and report back.

 

I just talked to my friend (who had an amazing first cruise on Fantasy btw) and she said that there wasnt much in the amenity basket. Two small things of toothpaste, tons of breathe right strips, small shampoo sample and that's about it. Pretty much consistent with the picture above. She was on Empress deck in an OV.

[kinggartk]

I just read a post that was pretty negative towards Fantasy. I generally take those types of post with a grain of salt. This one stated that Cig Smoke smell was all through the ship. Does anyone else agree with this?

 

We are taking my MIL on Fantasy in Nov and she will complain if she smells cig smoke. What do you think?

[BTSEN5]

I am curious too just to see if it has improved since March when we last sailed. I have a friend onboard right now that is due back on Sunday. I will find out from her and report back.

 

Bathroom basket? I just got off the fantasy yesterday, and I didn't get anything. Of course there was the shampoo and conditioner in the the shower, but nothing else for me.

[BTSEN5]

We just got off the ship yesterday. There were actually two bars of soap (we used one). My in-laws were in the cabin two down from us and got the same thing (different steward). Don't know if it varies based on floors or type of cabins but we had the lowest you can almost get. R138. Do not get this cabin or ones around it. There is a dungeon below this cabin (you can hear the a chain banging on pipes rattling every few minutes.)

 

We were in R191 on the same cruise. We didn't even have soap, but I didn't ask for it, because I always bring my own bar.....it last the entire cruise.

[BTSEN5]

I just read a post that was pretty negative towards Fantasy. I generally take those types of post with a grain of salt. This one stated that Cig Smoke smell was all through the ship. Does anyone else agree with this?

 

We are taking my MIL on Fantasy in Nov and she will complain if she smells cig smoke. What do you think?

 

The only place I noticed any smoky smell was in the casino. I loved the Fantasy. I love all the open places that you have to sit outside. The back of the ship...whether it be outside the Windows of the Sea buffet or the Serenity were fantastic. Also, the upper bridge wing was a great place to watch the ship swaying to and fro. I loved this first Carnival cruise of mine. I was loyal to Royal...still love Royal, but now have a love for Carnival too.

[NCTribeFan]

I'm pretty sensitive to smoke - both because of allergies and I just think that a lot of us ex-smokers notice it more. Plus, DD is asthmatic, and she's had problems in the casino in the past.

 

I think the Fantasy-class ships in general are pretty bad in the casino, even though there are a few areas that are non-smoking. It tends to get very smoky there at the casino bar, too, which drifts into the casino and right into the non-smoking area. These older ships just don't seem to have terribly good ventilation.

 

Maybe to compensate, it often seems that the A/C is absolutely frigid in the casino. Maybe they think they can just freeze the smoke particles out of the air. :(

 

When I was on her last, I did have to ask some women on the Serenity deck to put out their cigs. The space below that is crew area, and they are often out there having a smoke, so maybe these women thought they could smoke on the Serenity deck. They ignored me the first time, but the next time when I pointed to the No Smoking sign and asked again that they put them out, they weren't happy but they complied. If you're a smoker and you want to spend time in the Serenity area, all you have to do it go up the stairway on the starboard side to the outdoor seating area. Smoking is fine there.

 

Anyway, I don't think this ship is any worse than any other. The number of smokers will vary on any given sailing, just like the other demographics will vary. It's pretty much impossible to totally avoid the smoking areas, but you can avoid the heavy-use areas, for the most part.

 

As sensitive as DD & I both are, we never even realized that smoking was allowed in the cabins until I discovered Cruise Critic (after 5 cruises). That's how good a job they did with the smoke removal from the cabins. I haven't sailed since they banned in-cabin smoking, so that should also eliminate any in-the-hallway smells that I used to occasionally encounter.

[SpecialEd]

Thanks! I think it really does just vary (but not because of cabin type). I've had less in a balcony than in an inside. I think it just depends on what samples they receive from wherever they receive them!

 

I boarded once not realizing my little sample toothpaste was virtually empty. And then there was NONE in the cabin! :eek:

 

I left a note for the steward and asked if he might be able to locate some and several little packets appeared later that day.

 

I've never had any noise issues on Riviera. I actually like it down there. You might want to post this over on the Cabin Selection board in the thread about cabins to avoid, to warn folks about the noise.

 

How was the rest of the cruise? Food? Band? Ports?

 

I'll just do that. Thanks. The rest of the cruise was pretty much what I've expected for the Fantasy since it was our fourth time on the ship. Still one of my favorites even though the oldest. The ride was rough a couple of times. Even did a hard turn at one time don't know if we just avoided a fishing boat or something. Also had a bad storm with it raining sideways and an awesome lightning storm. Rougher waters the last sea day coming back.

 

The food haven't changed much and what I've expected. They did bring back the shrimp cocktail as an everyday starter. Didn't pay much attention to the bands. They did have them change up every night in different areas. The main spot seemed to be right in front of the casino bar. Also congested in that area.

 

I don't always sail for the ports but did get off at both Freeport and Nassau. Freeport has upgraded at the port since I was there last. Went to Junkaroo beach and was disappointed. Too much seagrass and murky from the storm coming in. We really thought we were going to the Sheraton beach and was misled. Oh well maybe next time.

 

The weather foiled my plans for Nassau and heard that most of the excursions for snorkeling were canceled. So we went shopping. They put some money into the "Straw Market" and now everything is in a covered building. They've allowed street vendors (mostly food) to sell along the seaside boardwalk. No I didn't try any of it. Still same ole Nassau. If I go back I'll pass on getting off the ship unless going to the beach.

[SpecialEd]

I just read a post that was pretty negative towards Fantasy. I generally take those types of post with a grain of salt. This one stated that Cig Smoke smell was all through the ship. Does anyone else agree with this?

 

We are taking my MIL on Fantasy in Nov and she will complain if she smells cig smoke. What do you think?

 

There was heavy smoke smell in the casino as you would expect. The starboard side on the open deck was used heavily as well. There was just a couple of times some smoke smell coming from the mid elevator section on Riveria deck. It wasn't all the time but think someone was smoking in their cabin. All other areas was fine.

[SpecialEd]

Bathroom basket? I just got off the fantasy yesterday, and I didn't get anything. Of course there was the shampoo and conditioner in the the shower, but nothing else for me.

 

My wife gets a kick out of what goodies are in the "basket" but all I need is the shampoo and bath wash. I just use the toothpaste I bring with me and I'm good. :D

[SpecialEd]

You might want to post this over on the Cabin Selection board in the thread about cabins to avoid, to warn folks about the noise.

 

Where is that board by the way? Can you post a link to it for me?

[BTSEN5]

I'll just do that. Thanks. The rest of the cruise was pretty much what I've expected for the Fantasy since it was our fourth time on the ship. Still one of my favorites even though the oldest. The ride was rough a couple of times. Even did a hard turn at one time don't know if we just avoided a fishing boat or something. Also had a bad storm with it raining sideways and an awesome lightning storm. Rougher waters the last sea day coming back.

 

The food haven't changed much and what I've expected. They did bring back the shrimp cocktail as an everyday starter. Didn't pay much attention to the bands. They did have them change up every night in different areas. The main spot seemed to be right in front of the casino bar. Also congested in that area.

 

I don't always sail for the ports but did get off at both Freeport and Nassau. Freeport has upgraded at the port since I was there last. Went to Junkaroo beach and was disappointed. Too much seagrass and murky from the storm coming in. We really thought we were going to the Sheraton beach and was misled. Oh well maybe next time.

 

The weather foiled my plans for Nassau and heard that most of the excursions for snorkeling were canceled. So we went shopping. They put some money into the "Straw Market" and now everything is in a covered building. They've allowed street vendors (mostly food) to sell along the seaside boardwalk. No I didn't try any of it. Still same ole Nassau. If I go back I'll pass on getting off the ship unless going to the beach.

 

That hard turn scared me. We were coming out of the comedy show, and the ship was obviously listing. I ran right up the steps. It did not correct itself immediately, and I thought, "This can't be good." :rolleyes:

 

The storms were wicked. I have never been on a cruise where it stormed so much. It was actually a neat experience. I got a little sick on Friday night. We were sitting and waiting for the marriage show to start, and I think sitting the way I was just caused the sickness to overtake me. I was not feeling well until Saturday afternoon. That is a first for me.

 

We had never been to Nassau, so we loved it. We walked to the Fish Fry, Junkanoo Beach, went to a couple of restaurants downtown, and shopped. We loved the stop, but I have to say that I had heard a lot of not so positive things, so my expectations were a little low. The funeral downtown was something else too. I came home to see who it may have been, because it was such a big "event" for lack of better words. It felt kind of strange walking the streets with that happening.

 

The only complaint that I have about the Fantasy, and really all ships, is that they keep the indoor area way too cold. I don't understand why it has to be so frigid inside.

[BTSEN5]

My wife gets a kick out of what goodies are in the "basket" but all I need is the shampoo and bath wash. I just use the toothpaste I bring with me and I'm good. :D

 

I may just have to request a "basket", because, like your wife, I would get a kick out of it too. It doesn't take much to make me happy. :D

[NCTribeFan]

Where is that board by the way? Can you post a link to it for me?

 

http://boards.cruisecritic.com/showthread.php?t=483344&page=64

 

The will take you to the most recent page.

 

Don't much like the idea of storms. I have had motion sickness issues my entire life. Was pretty green on my first cruise on little old Jubilee (12-14' seas on our Western Caribbean route). And we had a cabin in the bow.

 

But I've never actually missed dinner!

 

Since I "discovered" ginger root on these boards and started taking them, I've only experienced a little bit of discomfort, which was easily controlled by taking minimal amounts of Bonine. It truly has made a huge difference in my cruising enjoyment. I used to avoid sea days. Then I went to Hawaii in November with 9 days at sea. Not a problem at all. :D

 

If you've never had motion/sea sickness, you cannot believe what a relief it is to find relief!

 

I don't mind Freeport. I'm not a hang-around-the-dock-area sort of cruiser. I'm doing the von Humboldt sailing excursion (see how brave I am now! ;) ) since I'm solo. In Nassau, there are five ships in port, so I'm going to go visit the British Colonial Hilton. On Leg 2, I usually do the horseback ride & swim in Grand Turk, but not sure what my cruise buddy wants (but I know she will not want to ride). HMC, we have our first cabana. Nassau - again - we have "only" three ships (and none are Behemoths of the Sea), so we may just walk down to Junkanoo. I do want to see the new Straw Market.

 

I hate the frigid cold temps on the ships, too. My two cruises last year (Glory and Fascination), though, it was actually tolerable in most areas (other than the ice-cold casinos). Now I just pack a little black sweater that I can throw over my shoulders at dinner and I lug around a lightweight hoodie so I can sit inside and read. Isn't it silly that one needs to wear a sweatshirt when in the middle of the Caribbean? :(