Review: Fantasy 7-night 5-23-10 out of Charleston!

[G8R Cruiser]

Saturday, 5/23/10, embarkation day - continued

 

Got that photo taken, then it was down the gangway, around the corner, up another one, and onto the ship on Deck 3. Bear in mind that the Fantasy class ships start numbering Riviera Deck as Deck 4 – other classes of ships have Riviera as Deck 1. So, anyway, we entered at the same place where you disembark in port – the deck where the infirmary is located. A Carnival employee was running the elevator and you had no choice but to go straight to Lido deck. That was the only time I was in an elevator until yesterday, when I took it back down to disembark. I have no idea if they are all that dark or what, but it was very strange.

 

 

So, headed straight to the back of the buffet to get my first deli sandwich – a turkey & swiss on a roll. When I finished, it was about 1 pm. I decided that since I was alone, and had this heavy rolling bag with me, I was going to sneak down to my cabin, E93, which I did. And it was ready, anyway.

 

 

Then I was ready to stroll around and check out the changes to the ship. I headed back to the Serenity area first, then around the main pool area. Grabbed a deck chair up on Verandah, forward of the pool, under a cover, and just sat and people watched for a while.

 

 

 

Then it was off to the spa to get a raffle ticket, but I decided to skip the tour. I’ve done them before. I thought I’d probably check out the sauna and steam room later in the cruise, but I just never made it back. Went to the pool bar and got a bucket of Coors Light. Drank one and took the rest back to the cabin. Put my bottle of wine in to chill.

 

 

My bag hadn’t arrived, but I always make sure I have a swimsuit, my sleepwear, some undies, and something to wear to dinner in my carryon, just in case it doesn’t show up until late. I unpacked the rest of what I had in my carryon and waited for muster drill. We were Station B and met on Promenade outside the casino, up where the sushi bar is located. We were a very small group, so were the last called to proceed up to the lifeboats, which was OK, because that meant we had to stand around for the least length of time. Time for sailaway!

 

 

Thanks for the great review. We are sailing out this Saturday and can hardly wait - your review is a perfect preview!:D

[Froufie]

Hey Joan - LOVED your review - excellent details and 'observances'! :D:D

 

I booked my upcoming Destiny cruise based solely on the fact we will return to HMC - loved it there.....and appreciated your 'special' experience. Cruise buddy Ray is platinum so we were not only escorted to the HMC tender but had these red VIP stickers slapped on us! There was already a line waiting and we were of course brought to the front - and yes many people were not happy about that - and were wondering who we were.

 

The people who were 'originally' at the front were now 2nd in line - and were asking up how come we were VIP - I told them my father owned the cruise line - ha ha ha - well that quieted them down for a while. A few people seemed 'upset' but no one really did anything nasty - but your experience did not sound like fun! And I guess given what you described regarding certain behaviours you observed it seems anything goes even tho it may be inappropriate or unacceptable (or both?).

 

I too would have 'pointed' out the signage to the smokers (maybe they couldn't read?), and would even have 'moved' the chair hog stuff if it had been left there for over 30 mins - really now - can't people follow rules?

 

Sorry you missed jack's shack in GT - I shall have to go check it out on my own and I have already contacted them and informed them that you have given me permission to have your 'leftover' rum shot!!! :D:D

 

Hope the sunburn is all better, the pilot light works and you have a great 1st day at work!

 

Off to check the album!

[CWcruisers]

Hey Joan, the leather strap on your new purse perfectly matches the new boots I bought in Luca, Italy last month. You better guard that thing with your life next time we cruise. I'll have my eyes on it for sure!:p

 

Maybe the Fantasy doesn't look as guady to you now that you've sailed on the Miracle twice. Which ship do you really think reflects Joe's acid flashback?;)

 

As always, a fantastic review. Wish I had been there with you.

[Britbrie]

Great review!

[SpecialEd]

Nice review, only wished I could have taken more notes and shared all of my experiences as well. We took over 1500 pictures and still have to sort them all out! I lol'd at your pic of Kalik how it was out of focus. Doesn't take much for you to get tipsy! And oh my that Strawberry Bisque and cappuccino ice cream pie was the bomb. Just to add I mostly ate at the Mongolian grill for lunch each day. Even though it had the longest line it was worth it.

[SpecialEd]

What a wonderful review! Thank you so much. We leave on Saturday! YAY! My question for you is: We are going to bring on some water in our carry on. I cant find a 12 pack in the brand of water we usually drink. Only an 18 pack. Did you notice security being stringent about the amount of water brought on? We intend on bringing it in our roll-on carry on.

 

We carried on 24pk of water and 24 pk of soda b/c of some of the stories we've heard about Fantasy's water. Security was less than stringent. Come to find out the ship water was fine. We ended up bringing the 24pk of water back. Lugging that around was a waste of time.

[SpecialEd]

Thanks so much for posting your review! I hope it is the first of many about Fantasy between now and my Thanksgiving cruise!

 

I have seen somewhere that there are movies you can watch in your room on the TV -- are these pay-per-view? My kids will be in a connecting cabin and I am working on shutting down any way they can spend my $$ without me knowing it. :D

 

Am I reading correctly that on Fantasy you get a separate "key card"/key for your room, aside from your S&S? Is the safe one you use a magnetic strip card for, or a code on a keypad?

 

From the room we were in the safe was key pad. Our tv also did not have a pay per view option.

[NCTribeFan]

Thanks, everyone.

 

Also, I have the FunTimes. Hope to scan them and add to my Webshots album, but figured that probably isn't the first thing I should be doing during my first week back at work. ;)

 

Fantasy's deck plan handout and the larger versions by the elevators have NOT been updated since the changes, so they still show a kiddie pool where the Serenity area is now.

 

The instructions with the safe are for one with a card reader, but the safes still use the 4-digit code system.

 

Wendy, you might just be right. The things I used to think were pretty "far out" on Fantasy don't seem so bad now. Carpet is ugly, but it was ugly on most ships (especially Victory's aqua fish carpet). And I love my new Coach bag!!! The leather is SO soft. Why pay >$40 for a cloth counterfeit bag in Nassau when you can get the real thing in leather for $99?

 

I actually rather like the tile murals on the walls around the atrium. I'm not sure I noticed them before.

 

One thing I don't like is that the decks aren't labeled when you're taking the stairs. Other ships, it is marked at each landing. On Fantasy, I had to keep looking over at the signs between the elevators to be sure I knew which deck I was on.

 

I didn't carry on water. I would bring a glass of icewater back to my cabin and refill my water bottle. No, it isn't the best tasting water, but I simply refuse to carry all those liquids. They're just too heavy.

 

I wish I had taken some notes. I always intend to and then just don't, so I don't have the times for how long embarkation or tendering or any of the other "waiting" things actually took. I look at my watch and then can't remember when it comes time to write it all down. And as soon as I write my review, I start remembering all the things I had meant to include.

 

Froufie - I would ask for the chair hog stuff to be moved, but I don't usually stick around the 30 minutes. Once I realize that there is no where to sit, I go find somewhere else. The deck attendant isn't there until 9 am, so if someone has parked their stuff early, he won't know. They don't pay attention, anyway. They should also make sure that the people leave some way for others to actually walk through the area rather than blocking it with the loungers, but they just don't seem to care about that, either.

 

I was concerned that there wouldn't be much breeze back there, and that was the case. It gets really hot. The line of chairs at the rail get the most air, but also the most sun, unless they are by an umbrella. Back under the cover, where the seating is, it is very stuffy. They also need a few umbrellas in the second row of chairs. Still, it's a very nice place to get away from the noise and activity.

 

There really weren't a lot of kids. I was hoping that would be the case, as a lot of schools around here are only getting out this week. I did ask a coupld of pre-teens girls "why aren't you in school?" and they said they got out the week prior. Not sure where they were from.

[pcvtmom]

Wow! What a great, informative review. Thanks so much!

[osiebosie]

One thing I don't like is that the decks aren't labeled when you're taking the stairs. Other ships, it is marked at each landing. On Fantasy, I had to keep looking over at the signs between the elevators to be sure I knew which deck I was on.

 

 

 

Yep, me too, on the labeling of the decks. I'd rather they just put large numbers on them with the names of the decks in smaller writing, rather than the reversed way they have done it. It's very confusing. We knew we were on Upper deck and our friends were on Main. So John Heald starts disembarking the ship by numbers, and I think everyone was scrambling to find out what number deck they were on rather than the name.

 

Very confusing.

[SooNet]

Another great review! Sounds like you had a very nice relaxing vacation and are now ready to head back to the work world.

[SpecialEd]

Thanks, everyone.

I actually rather like the tile murals on the walls around the atrium. I'm not sure I noticed them before.

 

The tiles were nice to look at.

[NCTribeFan]

I thought of more things today at work, but, of course, I've forgotten what I meant to add! If I think of them again at work, I'll write them down! :o

[NCTribeFan]

Remembered one of the things - actually, just read a brief review by someone on our sailing who was not part of our roll call (who mentioned this and also talked about arriving so early that they weren't allowed to park - this was covered in detail in the "All Things Fantasy" thread).

 

The automatic flush toilets in the public restrooms!!!

 

They would flush just after you sat down, and then wouldn't flush when you stood up. Not sure who programmed these things, or set the sensors, but they got them backwards.

 

And, honestly, I don't believe the stories (including Mr. Heald's), about people getting "stuck" on the toilet because they flush while they're sitting. I was flushed all week and I didn't get stuck.

 

But then, while my butt is much larger than it used to be, it isn't HUGE, and there were lots of HUGE butts on the cruise. So, maybe someone else with a lot more real estate back there could get stuck! :p

 

Anyway, they need to fix this, because there were plenty of women who didn't bother to flush manually (there's a little button right by the sensor). Gross.

 

So, just be aware that the toilets are NOT flushing properly.

[scchasgal]

Thanks NCTribeFan for your wonderful and detailed review. We will be sailing her in December after her drydock.

 

Sorry to hear that it sounds like she will be gone in 2012 but maybe that was part of the deal with the new terminal being built in Charleston. New terminal, newer ship. Maybe we will get the Glory permanently here as we do love balcony cabins.

[futaba951]

.

 

Sorry to hear that it sounds like she will be gone in 2012 but maybe that was part of the deal with the new terminal being built in Charleston. New terminal, newer ship. Maybe we will get the Glory permanently here as we do love balcony cabins.

 

Based on history, not likely.

[NCTribeFan]

I'm not going to speculate. Well, maybe in the All Things Fantasy thread, but not here. Or on the East Coast Departures board where there are sailing-from-Charleston threads. It really isn't specific to my review. Just figured I'd mention it.

 

I'm going to ask someone to write to John and tell him about the issue with the toilets. Seriously. It was very annoying (although I did actually find the while-seated flush to be rather refreshing!). :o

 

Was trying to remember when they brought my Platinum yummies. They called to see if I'd be around to receive the canapes on Tuesday, I believe. No call prior to delivery of the petit fours. I think those came on Thursday.

 

I don't use the free laundry, as I just don't wear a bunch of light-colored cotton clothing and don't trust them to launder my colored, more-delicate items. What's the point of free laundry if they're going to ruin my clothes in those industrial washers & dryers? If I were a guy who lived in t-shirts and cargo shorts, it might be useful, but it isn't for me.

[LHP]

......

 

I don't use the free laundry, as I just don't wear a bunch of light-colored cotton clothing and don't trust them to launder my colored, more-delicate items. What's the point of free laundry if they're going to ruin my clothes in those industrial washers & dryers? If I were a guy who lived in t-shirts and cargo shorts, it might be useful, but it isn't for me.

 

That's all I use it for....my 3 guys shorts, jearsn, underwear, socks and tshirts that have no sentimental value.

 

(I would never send my youngest son's Nascar race shirts ~ the ones you can only buy the day of the race at the racetrack)

[osiebosie]

We used the free laundry, and loved it. I'd send in just my every day shirts and dh's, too, along with boxers and panties, my workout clothes, dh's dark socks for his suit. Just daily clothes, nothing special. It always came back fine and can really cut down on your packing.

 

We didn't "catch" anything from the laundry, or get sick. I think it's the best thing about VIP.

 

Shay

[NCTribeFan]

Naturally, one of the scanners in the office is on the blink, so I'm not sure when I'll get the FunTimes scanned. I think the IT guy is supposed to be there tomorrow, so maybe I'll get them scanned and added to my Webshots by Friday.

[All4fun&fun4all]

What sort of questions are on the health questionnaire? I had surgery two months ago. Is it anything involving issues such as that?

[dane225]

Thanks for the great review! I have sailed on the Fantasy twice and loved her. Looking at the pics brings back great memories!:)

[rlloyd3]

Sorry if I missed this in your great review:

 

Do you recall what times you started the embarkation process and when you got on the ship? Also, were there already many people on-board when you got on? Our group is looking to get on the ship as early as we can, so I've been trying to figure out when that might be. Thanks in advance. :)

[osiebosie]

The health questionnaire just wants to know if you've been sick recently, like the norovirus thing.

 

We started getting in line to park at 11:00; on the ship before noon. The first place we went was to the excursion desk.

 

Shay

[Bermuda C]

NCTribe Fan- Thanks for a great review and the pics. We are sailing on the Fantasy in August. Charleston is nice and soupy by then.

 

You may have discussed this, so I apoligize if I overlooked it. In your opinion would you say it's not worth it to get to the pier early? I know in sailing from Miami and Port Canaveral we have been on the ship sitting on the Lido deck as early as 10:45. It sounds like Charleston still has some hiccups.

 

We have a friend who lives in Charleston so we are just staying there on Friday night and will head over to the terminal on Saturday.

 

Thanks