All Things Fantasy

[All4fun&fun4all]

Thank you, thank you, thank you!! I am getting so excited.

 

You are welcome. This stuff is so much fun for me.

 

Nancy!! You are awesome!! Thank you so much for checking out the Shem's Inn...This might be where we crash if we decide to drive down early. The only draw back is I don't want to wait for a cab to take us back to the hotel.

 

I really liked Shem Creek Inn. I drive by it everyday and had never been inside. Although, I have been to Red's and Vickery's. I remember there being taxis waiting to take people around at the end of the pier when you debark. That might help.

 

 

You are so awesome for doing this!

 

Thank you for saying so. I like helping folks out who are coming to visit my city.

[Nickymjw1]

Official bed tester! Sign me up!

 

I have a friend that brings a topper for her bed but it is memory foam and very bulky. They sell those mattress toppers at walmart (i got one for my son) and they are quite comfy. You could probably put one in your checked luggage. They fold small enough for a rolling carry on.

 

Is anyone else not able to see the Shem creek inn pictures?

 

also, All (I guess that's what we starting to call you lol) I was planning on checking out Walmart before spending a lot of money on Amazon for the self inflatable thing. My concern with that one was that it's build to retain keep you warm by retaining your body heat. (i guess when they sleep in a tent you need that) since I am hot natured I might be burning up if I use it on the ship! DH always complains about me freezing him to death...lol

 

http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B001QWIUTY/ref=ox_sc_act_image_1?ie=UTF8&smid=A7QEO1E135RVN

[NCTribeFan]

I think the beds aren't firm enough. Anything other than extra-firm and I wake up with lower back pain. Maybe Carnival can add some Sleep Number beds and charge a premium for those cabins. :p

 

Anyone out there done the 7-day itinerary and have the FunTimes? We're trying to decide when to have our Meet & Greet. It would be nice to know what's happening our first day at sea.

[Nickymjw1]

Nctribe i didnt have a problem on the Dream an even the imagination (or wathever the Jax ship is) but Fantasy felt rock hard. Maybe i was extra sensative that week. I'm a side sleeper and i need cushioning for my hips. Maybe they haven't upgraded all rhe matresses on the Fantasy in a long time. But u should be fine if u need a hard bed :-). Btw, haven't heard back from Carnival about my special request besides the auto reply that they received my email

[lauraezzell]

I think the beds aren't firm enough. Anything other than extra-firm and I wake up with lower back pain. Maybe Carnival can add some Sleep Number beds and charge a premium for those cabins. :p

 

Anyone out there done the 7-day itinerary and have the FunTimes? We're trying to decide when to have our Meet & Greet. It would be nice to know what's happening our first day at sea.

 

We're looking for the same thing. I've done the 6 day and have those, but the 7 day would be nice!

[NCTribeFan]

I remember being a little disappointed in the bedding on HAL. They're supposed to have great beds, too, but it didn't seem as good as my usual Carnival beds. Bed on my last cruise on Fascination was pretty good, as was Glory.

 

Actually, now that I think about it, my last Fantasy cruise was the first time I had a cabin with the big bed! I'd always sailed with DD or a friend and had separate beds. And I didn't think it was that great.

 

Maybe they haven't replaced them on the old gal recently. :(

[jovifan78]

We're looking for the same thing. I've done the 6 day and have those, but the 7 day would be nice!

 

I will be on the 7 day Fantasy cruise in just 30 days! :D If nobody posts them then I can do it when I get back. Along with lots of pictures. lol

[lauraezzell]

I will be on the 7 day Fantasy cruise in just 30 days! :D If nobody posts them then I can do it when I get back. Along with lots of pictures. lol

 

That would be FANTASTIC! Thank you very much!

[Medtech2]

West Ashley is fine!

 

North Charleston near the convention center and Tanger Outlet is fine!

 

I really wish my neighbors from the other side of the Cooper River would QUIT putting down West Ashley and North Charleston!

 

Compare prices and go with what fits your budget. ALL these areas are just fine...

[lauraezzell]

I agree that North Charleston near the Convention Center/Coliseum/Tanger Outlet is a good area. I also agree that some places in West Ashley are good places. Some of these places offer GREAT stay and cruise specials! I priced out some of these places for a friend of mine coming from out of state. She liked the idea of staying in North Charleston because she'll be out of all the cruise traffic and will be further down the road when she left.

[All4fun&fun4all]

West Ashley is fine!

 

North Charleston near the convention center and Tanger Outlet is fine!

 

I really wish my neighbors from the other side of the Cooper River would QUIT putting down West Ashley and North Charleston!

 

Compare prices and go with what fits your budget. ALL these areas are just fine...

 

Personally, I live in Hollywood,SC and while I agree with comparing prices and going with budget I would be remiss if I didnt let folks know who are asking if their choice of hotel stay is safe. There are parts of West Ashley that are not good places to be. I grew up in West Oak Forest and I lived in Ashley Arms Apartments for 5 years on the back side of Ardmore. I can tell you of multiple evenings listening to gun shots in the parking lot. Also, the murder of Marley Lion and the murder that occurred at the Evergreen Motel (both this year and both in West Ashley) are reasons that I will gladly give my input.

There are also parts of North Charleston, like near the Radisson and the Sheraton that are also sketchy and my advice to folks is to just be mindful of their comings and goings. Just trying to be helpful. As a 3rd generation Charlestonian (very proud of that) I just want people who visit this beautiful city to be safe.

[lauraezzell]

I agree with Nancy! Some parts of North Charleston and West Ashley are not places that I would feel comfortable going to during the day more less stay the night at regardless of my budget. However, most of the places we've listed on here are pretty decent places. You just have to decide what is best for you.

[bobsfamily]

ALL these areas are just fine...

 

 

NO they are not and yelling does not change the fact....

 

All4fun&fun4all is doing a great service, I agree completely with her. I travel from Awendaw to Moncks Corner to Edisto all the time and bad areas are just that - BAD. If I was going to New York (gasp) I would want someone to point out a good SAFE reasonable place.

[lauraezzell]

I agree that Nancy is doing a great job! I also agree that if I were to travel to an unfamiliar place, I would like for someone to point out what areas are safe and which ones are not so safe.

 

I do think that both North Charleston and West Ashley have some good places and some that are not so good. Doing your research and speaking to locals will help decide which areas are the good ones and which ones should be avoided.

[bobsfamily]

I do think that both North Charleston and West Ashley have some good places

I completely agree... and we know what parts are what. Nancy (All) is doing a great community and CC service.

[NCTribeFan]

OK boys and girls. Let's play nice! :p

 

Perhaps all the "where to stay and park and eat" info should go in the thread on the East Coast Departures board, where both bobsfamily and All4 have contributed, and we can leave this one to mostly info about the ship.

 

http://boards.cruisecritic.com/showthread.php?t=628998&page=12

 

It is nice to have all the info in one place, but the port city discussions really belong on the departures board (even though, at present, only Carnival uses Charleston).

 

I don't want to have to play moderator (I used to moderate a sports board - no fun!), but let's try to keep this thread mostly for info about the ship!

 

*****

 

Thanks Jovifan! I may check some of the recent roll calls for the 7-day and see if any of those folks posted reviews.

[All4fun&fun4all]

OK boys and girls. Let's play nice! :p

 

Perhaps all the "where to stay and park and eat" info should go in the thread on the East Coast Departures board, where both bobsfamily and All4 have contributed, and we can leave this one to mostly info about the ship.

 

http://boards.cruisecritic.com/showthread.php?t=628998&page=12

 

It is nice to have all the info in one place, but the port city discussions really belong on the departures board (even though, at present, only Carnival uses Charleston).

 

I don't want to have to play moderator (I used to moderate a sports board - no fun!), but let's try to keep this thread mostly for info about the ship!

 

*****

 

Thanks Jovifan! I may check some of the recent roll calls for the 7-day and see if any of those folks posted reviews.

 

You have a very good point NCTribeFan. Lets keep this about the ship. I didnt even think about the East Coast Departures section. :o That is a much better place for discussion of Charleston and it's hotels.

[mommytotwins]

I've been checking the Fareviewer to see if there are any price drops yet. Have any of you gotten price drops on the Fantasy??

[All4fun&fun4all]

I've been checking the Fareviewer to see if there are any price drops yet. Have any of you gotten price drops on the Fantasy??

 

I have received one so far. We are on a 7 day cruise and booked at $489.00pp. We got a drop to $429.00pp. Pretty decent!

[fromthebus]

OK boys and girls. Let's play nice! :p

 

Perhaps all the "where to stay and park and eat" info should go in the thread on the East Coast Departures board, where both bobsfamily and All4 have contributed, and we can leave this one to mostly info about the ship.

 

http://boards.cruisecritic.com/showthread.php?t=628998&page=12

 

It is nice to have all the info in one place, but the port city discussions really belong on the departures board (even though, at present, only Carnival uses Charleston).

 

I don't want to have to play moderator (I used to moderate a sports board - no fun!), but let's try to keep this thread mostly for info about the ship!

 

*****

 

Thanks Jovifan! I may check some of the recent roll calls for the 7-day and see if any of those folks posted reviews.

That's funny coming from the guy who keeps asking about hotels and still hasn't booked one yet. Nancy has also taken pics of w ashley hotels also. If you really want to see something, I will show you some of the bad ones. I'm not scared.

[lauraezzell]

I was downtown today while the Fantasy was boarding. I could see people playing miniature golf and some on the Serenity deck. I couldn't tell if they had the waterslide open or not. She's a wonderful ship. Counting down the days until I cruise in December!

[bobsfamily]

I was downtown today while the Fantasy was boarding. I could see people playing miniature golf and some on the Serenity deck. I couldn't tell if they had the waterslide open or not. She's a wonderful ship. Counting down the days until I cruise in December!

I cruise on her 3 times over the years, one of them being out of Charleston, which was great with a 10 mile trip home!

[CaryN8V]

I was downtown today while the Fantasy was boarding. I could see people playing miniature golf and some on the Serenity deck. I couldn't tell if they had the waterslide open or not. She's a wonderful ship. Counting down the days until I cruise in December!

 

Ahhhh, almost feel like I'm there...

25 days. 25 days. 25 days.

[Nickymjw1]

$50 price drop on one 1 cabin (military rate) and $10 on other (past guest).

 

Price viewer doesn't show Military rate so if you can qualify check the regular book a cruise way.

[NCTribeFan]

I had a few price drops. I don't normally book ES and had these drops as PG. I don't check the price after final payment normally because I just don't want or need to know if the price dropped and I can't take advantage of it.

 

I switched to ES for Leg 1 only on the last day it was available, which gave me another drop then and I submitted my Very First Early Saver Price Drop form the other day for TEN DOLLARS!! Woot! :p

 

Outside chance my sister may decide to take her first cruise and join me for Leg 1, since she'll be at DDs wedding. So things could still change. At least I have a regular inside booked, so neither of us old ladies would have to climb a ladder to a bunk!

 

I did go back and have a look at the first sea day FunTimes from back in May 2010 to see if there was much happening. We're trying to decide what time to have a M&G. There's trivia at 11:30 across from the casino bar, so I thought 11 might work there next to the piano, across from the coffee shop.

 

Anyone happen to have any prices for port-day spa specials? I thought I might treat DD and her hubby to a couples massage after we leave GT. We're only there until 2, so that would be a god day for a visit to the spa.