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

NCTribeFan

By NCTribeFan,
in Carnival Cruise Lines

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cruisinnewbie629

cruisinnewbie629

Posted
Posted
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

 

Looks like we will be sailing with you on 8/14! After reading a few reviews, right now it looks like we are going to plan on being there by at least 11 am....maybe try a little earlier and if we get turned away just drive around a little and go back....I'm hoping as more cruises come and go before ours that things will begin to run smoother and maybe we can get on sooner :D

 

Sorry if I missed it, but have you joined in on our roll call yet? Can't wait for August!!!!

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NCTribeFan

NCTribeFan

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We started loading up the school bus at about 11:20. The info given to us at the front desk at checkin said we would leave at 11:30, but we didn't get started that early because of the luggage issue.

 

But I was checked in, done with my deli sandwich, and sneaking to my cabin at 1:00.

 

No, there really doesn't appear to be any reason to get their very early. Check the "All Things Fantasy" thread. There is quite a discussion about how the parking works and when they will let folks into the building/lot. The space really is quite limited and they need to pretty much clear the building before they start letting cars in. I imagine most people would prefer to park in the "shed" (it isn't really a parking garage; looks like an empty warehouse), than to leave their car in the hot sun all week.

 

Even with a dropoff, there's no point in getting there super early. You'll still have to be dropped off at the luggage area and then shuttled over to the terminal, and the shuttles are all taking people from the ship to the parking early. There is very, very limited seating area in the terminal once you've checked in.

 

It all flows smoothly, but there's just no point in rushing to the pier wanting to be the first on. I wouldn't even bother trying to get there before 11:30, especially when you have carry-on luggage to haul around.

 

Of course, this was my 5th cruise on a Fantasy-class ship, so I already know my way around and know where everything is. There just isn't much to do until you sail.

 

It's a totally different setup than any other port I've seen. There's also info on the East Coast Departures board.

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F5Loar

F5Loar

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Great review! Can't wait to read more as they come back from Fantasy's new port.

As far as the redneckers, bubba's,smokers, chair hoggers, etc. you must remember each week will be different. It's not the ship or the port. You can choose your cruise, your ship, where you go and when you go but you can never pick the other 2000 +/- people going with you on your week.

Your week may be packed full of little kiddies with their smoking socker moms and cigar smoking dads. Then again it may not. If you choose a week a nearby NASCAR race is going on expect to see less bubbas and redneckers. You just never know what to expect of your fellow passengers until you arrive on board and see them. Charleston can draw just as many driving Northerners as Southerners. I bet more drive to Charleston then any of the Florida ports. That's why the congestion in the small cruise area in Charleston.

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bigtoeswim'n

bigtoeswim'n

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nctribefan: Sure did enjoy your review of the Fantasy. You have a fun writing style. I might try to copy as it is funny.

 

DH and I sailed Fantasy out of Mobile last Dec 2009. We enjoyed the trip too. I agree sooo much with what you said, good and bad. We skipped the MDR bc of reason you give. We go MTD or whatever CCL calls it. We also eat early. We, too, discovered the other eating places and took food back to our room, like the deli sandwhiches. They don't provide to-go boxes, so I just inverted another glass plate over my sandwich or covered it with a cloth napkin and left the silverware behind. We had room service on port days, and they were promt. I think I ordered the smoked salmon. Portions were plentyful and coffee good. It was nice not to fight the crowds of WJ and not put on my face just to eat. We tipped the nice waiter cause they all work soo hard on those ships.

 

I braved those long Mongolian grill lines and share my meal with DH (he stayed parked on that adult-only deck to protect our loungers). I like fresh grilled food. I had a few interesting conversations with my fellow cruisers while waiting in line. I must say, however, CCL is stingy with their servings there, but if you just speak up and ask for more, they pinch a bit more on there.

 

I didn't see any sushi bar, but next time I'll look more intensely. Also I didn't see any past-guest party. I'll search that out too.

 

DH and I spent much time on that adult-only deck. Wonder if some folks thought we were dead or something. We sailed in Dec, so the temp suited us just fine. We don't enjoy having that skin peeling off us feeling. We also spend romantic evenings in our room. Their tv music channel wasn't too bad. Our room had portal windows, so that was nice too.

 

We did the Highlights of Cozumel via the cruise line and enjoyed that very much. We bought tequilla for adult son's Christmas gifts. Next time, we will buy Habinara hot sauce. Yum. We also enjoyed, very much, their Behind the Scene Tour.

 

I think you don't right by not going with those two engineers.. Girl, what could have happened to you?

 

Glad to know that a single woman can enjoy cruising. Three cheers for you that you did it in style with that Suite pre cruise. You did things I would do if I found myself cruising alone.

 

Though we are true RCI fans, we are booked to sail out of Mobile this upcoming Dec on the Elation as we live near that port. Hopefully, we won't be fogged out of the port like last year. Fog is a problem in Dec. in Mobile. That wasn't CCL's fault. Though greatly inconvenienced, we ate well that extra night.

 

Thanks again for the review.

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NCTribeFan

NCTribeFan

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Glad my writing is appreciated (by some, at least). My sense of humor is a bit dry, and sometimes it is difficult to tell when I'm joking or when I'm genuinely annoyed.

 

The Sushi Bar is right at the forward end of the promenade, just between the casino and the atrium/photo gallery. Have a look at the deck plans. Should be shown there. It's in the same place on all the Fantasy-class ship.

 

I took the FunTimes in but didn't get to scan them. Will try at the beginning of the week.

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SpecialEd

SpecialEd

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We leave tomorrow! I will be doing a review as well with pics. It may be a few days after though. Usually need a vacation from my vacation

 

I'm still in detox mode from not being on the ship. Hopefully can review all of our pics this weekend. One more day of work to go. Really thinking about setting another trip back to HMC in either July or August. Have fun!!

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NCTribeFan

NCTribeFan

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Yeah, all day at work on Wednesday, all I kept thinking was "one week ago, I was at Half Moon Cay!"

 

And a whole lot of that sunburn I acquired there has peeled off. My forehead is rather gross.

 

Should be in the 90s and mostly sunny here, today. Just isn't the same, though, is it?

 

I am seriously considering looking at HAL cruises because they go to HMC more frequently. But with a new job, I need shorter cruises and HAL doesn't do short cruises.

 

In fact, I was just looking at cruises this fall, and just may have to drive to Jacksonville again. Had hoped to do a B2B from there and combine the 5-day with HMC and the 5-day with Key West, but I just can't get that much time off. Yet. So what if I'd "have" to go to Nassau twice. I could deal with it. Maybe could even chair-hog under an umbrella on the Serenity Deck ALL DAY one of those days! :p

 

Just wish there were more options for shorter cruises that call there without having to fly. I don't want the expense of flying for just a 5-day cruise.

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SpecialEd

SpecialEd

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Definitely feel your pain about the flying. I was just looking at the Miracle out of Barcelona for next year. The cruise prices were just right but the flights will cost $1800/person! That's more than the cruise :eek:

I have to fly to Palm Beach, FL next week due to my job and will have to re-fly back there two weeks after. I am really tempted to just stay in between and just grab a cruise in between. However my garden will not make it that long. I still have a few more days to use up for vacation before Sept and still looking at either July 17 or Aug 14 back out of Charleston to HMC.

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NCTribeFan

NCTribeFan

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Well, you know, she probably did after she walked away and I just didn't see her! :p

 

My PVP called me last night and we talked for 45 minutes! He wanted to know all about it. I told him I would send him a link to my review, but he said he really isn't all that interested in spending time browsing and reading Cruise Critic after spending all day on the phone talking to people about cruises.

 

He thinks I'm amusing. Maybe I should try stand-up comedy at one of the talent shows? LOL.

 

Anyway, I told him ALL about everything.

 

And I scanned the FunTimes this afternoon just before I left work and then forgot to email them to me here at home. Sigh. Maybe tomorrow. Of course, ours was a rare 7-night itinerary, so they may not be all that helpful to people.

 

You know what else I thought about? Here I was, sailing solo for a whole week, and I don't recall seeing anything about a Singles get-together anywhere the entire time. The one time I might have been interested in going to one and I don't think they had any! They had Friends of Dorothy meetings more than once. But if all the older, solo men were like my dinner mate, then I guess I didn't miss anything.

 

I also whined to my PVP about how now that I FINALLY didn't have to pay for both me and DD, and could maybe sail for a little less, they've done away with the single supplement. We discussed options on other cruiselines. Told him I might have to go sail with the oldsters on HAL. :(

 

He was totally sympathetic. I'd give his name but that isn't allowed (so many stupid things ARE allowed and then so many useful things aren't. I just don't get this place some times).

 

Anyway, hope to be able to tell you the FunTimes are available tomorrow evening.

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Bermuda C

Bermuda C

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I'm pretty sure you no longer have to wear the life vests. At least we didn't for the Valor in January. Not sure if it depends on the ship though. I thought I read on CC sometime ago that Carnival no longer requires you to wear them to the muster drill.

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cruisinnewbie629

cruisinnewbie629

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I'm pretty sure you no longer have to wear the life vests. At least we didn't for the Valor in January. Not sure if it depends on the ship though. I thought I read on CC sometime ago that Carnival no longer requires you to wear them to the muster drill.

 

I agree...I remember reading it in one of the reviews that the reviewer was happy that they did away with wearing the life jackets....must make for a silly looking group photo though :rolleyes:

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NCTribeFan

NCTribeFan

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NCTRIBEFAN, Can you please tell me where they held the muster drill and if you had to wear the life jackets? Thanks

 

I touched on Muster Drill way back in Post #9. Haven't needed life jackets for about a year now. It's pretty hot anywhere in August unless you're cruising to Canada or Alaska. I avoid mid-summer. This cruise was even a little later in the year than I like. I prefer late April/early May and mid-December.

 

Well, I thought I'd have the FunTimes up, but I scanned them as a .pdf file and Webshots won't accept that. I don't have Acrobat on my laptop, but maybe I can save the pages as gif or jpeg from my desktop. If not, I'll have to try re-scanning them on Monday. Just got a new printer at work that prints/scans/copies in color, so maybe I'll give it another try then.

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  • 2 weeks later...
cruisinnewbie629

cruisinnewbie629

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Finally! I did it! Uploaded the FunTimes to Webshots. Not easy to read, but if you make them full-page, they are much more legible.

 

I realize this itinerary isn't very common, but for those who wanted to see them, they are available.

 

http://travel.webshots.com/album/578014287qxHDCv

 

Thank you, Thank you, Thank you!!! We are cruising this itinerary in less than 50 days!!!!! I am so excited to be able to look at these:D:D:D

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NCTribeFan

NCTribeFan

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You are welcome! I almost didn't bother, since it's been a month since we sailed, and there's only a handful of these 7-day cruises.

 

Let's see. Four weeks ago, we were at sea, heading back north from Grand Turk. Sigh.

 

I need to book another cruise. I'll never make it another 16 months until Bermuda!!

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sjn911

sjn911

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Thank you so much for this review..it was great..really want to see Charleston and Savannah one day and your shores..

 

I would take a flight to the Paradise any day (MY MOST AFFORDABLLE LAST MINUTE AND PRE-PLANNED OPTION)..love the Fantasy class and seeing the redo's on the avbx balconies..even though I'm saving balconies for the future.

 

Thanks so much OP for all your efforts.

 

 

Also just love all the regional differences etc. I say wow on shrimp and grits for breakfast..ooooweee...could not do that one..but loved seeing it..thank you for all your efforts. Great review. sjn911 Sarah

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