Newbie's review of Carnival Fascination sailing July 24-29

[alexney]

More comments from a fellow cruiser...:)

 

We had breakfast everyday at Coconut Groove and you're right... this is one of the few places we felt the ship move.

Our kids loved the water works play area. We really didn't go to the main pool. It was very crowded most of the time when we wanted to get wet. I do wish they had a larger pool.

We all thought the pizza was just ok as well. The deli was excellent and the kids enjoyed the frozen yogurt all day long!

Our kids are a bit older, but they enjoyed the camps too. My son is 10 and daughter 13, so it was nice that they were in separate camps. They have enough together time at home. We hardly saw my 13 year old.

I agree about the late night sign out at the camp. My son stayed one night and my husband went to get him. It was over an hour before he came back to he room. My son likes everyone, he really does. But there was one counselor he complained about each time he saw her. He ended up not dong any of the last day activities because he didn't want to see her. All he would say is "she's mean to all the kids." He did go to the after hours party from 10:00pm - 3:30am and he thought that was really cool. They even gave him a certificate saying he stayed awake that long.:)

[future1sttimecruiser]

Alexney - The dinner the last night was some sort of bourbon chicken. I agree, it was just OK. The crab cake was good though.

[future1sttimecruiser]

tburtz - I was in line around 12:15, 12:30 pm I think. There were 2-3 people ahead of me who also booked a cabana; I was probably in line for 10-15 minutes. There were still at least 6 or 7 left when I got to the Excursion Desk counter. There was 1 person behind me. I am not sure if they sold out or not for our sailing, but they looked pretty full on our HMC Day.

[future1sttimecruiser]

Monday, July 26 - Half Moon Cay

We decided to try breakfast in the Sensation dining room - bad move. The waffles were so “dry” and “tough” I couldn’t eat them. Our waiter had a lot of issues. We were sitting right behind the maître d' and he was up there every 5 minutes with a new “problem.”

 

We then went to Level 3 for the tendering process. There was only a short line and we all got on the tender - yeah! Once we got to HMC, we turned in our excursion ticket for the cabana and caught a tram over to #7. It was just about 10:00 am. The cabana was already stocked with our drinks, floating mats, towels, snorkel gear and snacks. The air conditioner did go off for about 10 minutes, but it was quickly repaired.

 

I didn’t realize there were so many pathways around the island and couldn’t remember where lunch was, so I just followed the crowd. The lunch was ok; the burgers looked almost burnt. You can order a veggie burger; you just have to ask as there are not “out”. We could hear the music coming from the main pavilion from our location.

 

We stayed near the cabana all day. My son didn’t want to go to the playground (it was too hot anyway), or the little water play area. We just hung out in the water, or rested in the cabana.

 

HMC is beautiful (total understatement. Sometimes a place doesn’t live up to the hype, but HMC DOES!) The water is pretty and the sand is so soft - no rocks, pebbles, broken shells.

 

We spent an easy 6 hours (applying sun block often) here. We did have some interlopers, I literally told 6 people from their party that our cabana was “private” as they attempted to hang out on our steps, use the shower, etc. They were pretty obnoxious. They attempted to take someone else’s clamshell while they were at lunch…”didn’t know.”

 

We were also able to hitch a ride back to the main area which was great because were just tired, too tired to eat in the Main Dining Room. We had dinner in Coconut Groove. We retired early because we had a super early excursion at Dolphin Encounters in Blue Lagoon on Nassau the next day.

 

Fascination from the beach

 

Cabana #7

 

Cabana snacks

 

View of Cabanas from beach

[alreadypacked]

Wonderful review and beautiful pictures!

[laumicmah]

I love your review. It's building my excitement for embark this Saturday...yay!!!!!! Do you reccommend a cabana that's farther down the beach, like #10-15? I was wanting to get #4, but don't want interlopers. Thanks!

[cruz.n.carebear]

We had cabana #9! I'm in your picture! LOL We were in the pink cabana and had a fantastic time. I did witness the attempted "takeover" of the clamshells around lunchtime. Some people are just so rude!

 

We had a fiasco with our shuttle service from Springhill Suites (running late, wrong shuttle showing up for us, etc) that I ran in to check the weather on the internet when it started raining to make sure it was going to blow over and not stay around. My son ran in to tell me they were there and I hurried out ....WITHOUT my folder including the funpasses, birth certificates, passports that I had been guarding with my life all morning! Didn't realize it until we arrived at the pier and our shuttle guy said they were going to ask for it. SO - we had to turn around and come back - and it was about 12:30 by the time we were on the ship and in line for the cabana. There were still about 4 left when I got there.

 

After the elegant night fiasco with Camp Carnival - we didn't do any more late night events. My 9 yr daughter could sign herself in and out and I instructed her to sign herself out at 10pm each night so we wouldn't have to re-live the craziness. It was my main complaint of the cruise.

 

However - my son had an absolute blast with Circle C. He is still texting and facebooking all his new friends that he made on the ship.

[Cristallo]

Please keep the reviews coming. We're going in Nov and my number one fear is not getting a cabana. I'm sensitive to light and heat (my DH really, really, really want to go here for our anniversary.) and I'll pretty much have to have it if we want to go to the island so I'm feeling better that as long as we're onboard and in line by noon we might have a chance.

[missdebi]

I am sailing at the same time as Cristallo~I am with a group of 12 "girls only", your review is very good love the pictures making me even more excited~if that's possible~I absolutely love HMC~it is a piece of heaven. I hope it is warm enough to swim, I have been the first of November and we got sunburned but have not sailed late Nov.

It sounds like Camp Carnival needs a overhaul! We will be traveling minus the children so we will not have that worry!

[future1sttimecruiser]

laumicmah - #10-#15 would probably be ok. I think that I just had some obnoxious people near us, but they didn't stay long and I didn't let them ruin my day. I think that cabanas #1-#5 usually get the "crowds" due to their proximity to the main area.

cruz.n.carebear - We were so close! I know what you mean about guarding documents with your life! I will know better next time and I will probably break down and renew my passport and get one for my son.

Note: I did have an official Consent to Travel letter from my ex-husband, but no one ever asked for it. Better to be safe than sorry though!!

[cruisin07family]

So the pink cabana next to number 7 is number 9? The cabanas aren't numbered sequentially? The picture of the three cabanas are a bit far for my "old" eyes but it looks like 5, 7, 9 rather than 6, 7, 8.

[future1sttimecruiser]

cruisin07family - The pink one is #8 and the purple is #6. They are in sequential number order. Facing the photo...#9 would have been to the left of #8.

I believe, if memory serves me correctly that #6-#9 were generally in the same area. There is a break and then you get the next group of cabanas. I hope this makes sense.

[luvmysox1]

Ok, here is my question? When can u reserve a cabana before you come port, on port, or it would be great if you could this before cruising through carnival? How much is it and what do you get in them? Do have a lot of them?

[future1sttimecruiser]

luvmysox1 - On Carnival, you can only reserve it onboard at the Excursion Desk. The cost is $225. You will have 4 towels, 4 sets of snorkel gear, 4 floating mats, 8 sodas (you can chose), chips, guac, cut fruit & oranges. There is an air conditioner, shower & 2 fans at your disposal.

[creeblee]

Is there a deck party one night on this cruise? My buddy and I have always had a blast at those.

[cruz.n.carebear]

The deck party was the night we left Nassau. (Night #4) It was fun!

[Princess:)]

Can someone tell me what all goes on at the deck party?

[laumicmah]

Can someone tell me what all goes on at the deck party?

And is that when they have the Mexican midnight buffet?

[marshhawk]

We'll be on the Fascination the first week of December-different itinerary, can't wait to hear about Nassau. Great pics, love the blue of that water. No kids, just adults acting that way. Thanks for the review!

[GrammyJill]

My son has autism, so I’d contacted Carnival special needs department in advance for expedited boarding.

 

Can you give me a little more information about this? My daughter has special needs & epilepsy so I wanted to make them aware of this in advance. Any info is appreciated

 

Also, THANKS for taking time to post the review & pictures, we will be on her in one month exactly! So excited.

[homeofthedogs]

Oh My Gosh! What a wonderful review. I can't wait to read more. We sail on the Fascination Sept. 18. Can't wait to see her new look.

 

Thanks for your review.

[nothomeonacruise]

I love your review. You have a way of fairly assessing each part.

We had people crowd up to our cabana and take our chairs that we'd put in front (by the stairs) at HMC. I almost expected them to try to take our loungers...sigh

 

Your pictures are gorgeous. :)

[future1sttimecruiser]

Princess - I fell asleep and didn't go, but from looking on the tv the next day...they did the world's "longest" conga line

 

laumicmah - Yes, that is the night of the Mexican buffet, that part begins at 11:15 pm

 

RBLWMN - I sent an e-mail to Carnival's special needs needs department letting them know the areas that my son had difficulty and requested assistance in the boarding process, pager for Camp Carnival. They were supposed to notify JAX Port staff about our needs, but they didn't. However, I had my original e-mails and gave it to the staff for review. Also, my son and I stayed in the room during the muster drill and we did self assist disembarkation. Guest services gave me two options for disembarkation.

[future1sttimecruiser]

Tuesday, July 27 - Nassau, Bahamas

 

Today was our last port day, Nassau, Bahamas. We had a 8:30 am (not my first choice) reservation for the Dolphin Encounter on Blue Lagoon. So we were up at the crack of dawn and off of the boat early. We misread the Fun Times and didn’t get a hot breakfast like we thought. Hot breakfast begins at 7:00 am in Coconut Grove and we were standing there around 6:30 am in a state of confusion :rolleyes:. Since the ship was docked, it was an easy walk off into the city. There were 4 ships in port that day, 3 Carnival ships -Fascination, Sensation and Triumph and the Disney Wonder. Since it was so early, the main building wasn’t open and we walked around to the taxi area. Security was visible, and we didn’t get hassled.

 

We took a taxi (shared with another family off of the Sensation who headed to Atlantis) for $4 per person over to Paradise Island terminal where we waited to check-in with Dolphin Encounters. You will receive a wristband, then board the ferry. Around 8:30 am, we were off to Blue Lagoon Island. We saw a lot of the really nice mansions along the way and the water was beautiful. We got to the island after maybe 20 minutes and after a short orientation, we were off to our Dolphin Encounter. Our dolphin was Andy and we had really great interaction. My son wasn’t too keen on the experience at first, but later warmed it. First, you do the group kiss photo opportunity, then they take 10 people into the water at a time to rub the dolphin, feed them, hug & dance with them, etc. Adults have to be on their knees for this, so I felt a little off balance the entire time. We ended up buying the $58 video and some photos. I’ve already watched the video. We really liked this excursion.

 

After the excursion, we went to their beach. The beach was pretty, but you definitely need water shoes here as there are some rocks. They also have a new aqua park, $15 for one 2-hour session, or $25 for the day (we didn’t partake). We did rent an aqua trice (must go to gift shop to purchase item) for $15. They had over-sized Connect 4 and Chess games that we didn’t get around too, but they looked like fun. Life vests are complimentary and there are also plenty of sand pails, buckets for kids to use free of charge; just return them when done. If you didn’t purchase lunch in advance, then you have to go to the bar to purchase a plastic voucher. The bar was a slow-moving operation because you had to get your ticket while people were also ordering drinks. Purchase the lunch ticket early! The cost was $12 per person. Choices for lunch included hot dogs, hamburgers, veggie burger and a chicken breast sandwich with chips, a small watermelon wedge and a very sweet fruit punch. The chicken breast sandwich was really, really good.

 

We left on the 2:00 ferry which will take you back near the port area (so you don’t need another taxi from Paradise Island) and headed back to the ship. After a shower, we walked around Nassau with no real plan. I’d wanted to go to Fish Fry, but didn’t feel like it. We tried conch fritters in the Festival Market Place near the port, probably not the best choice, but they were only $3 and pretty tasty. We really liked the Gombak Smash punch too - made exclusively in Nassau. We walked by the Straw Market, but didn’t go inside. Customs was a breeze, just your state ID is needed.

 

We ate in the Sensation Dining room tonight. They sat us in a different section that before, don’t know why. We should have said something, but didn’t. Dinner was good, fried fish and panko crusted shrimp. We also tried escargot and it was excellent! Who knew?! We waited a bit longer for the meal to come out.

 

Side Note: We tried the sushi which is located on the Promenade (Level 9), near the Casino. It’s open from 5:00 - 8:00 pm. I thought that it was pretty bad, I’ve had better California rolls from the grocery store. I didn’t even finish mine.

 

Tonight was the Hey Mambo show! I liked it, it was very colorful. We were going to the Mexican buffet/Lido Deck Party, but….sigh…fell asleep and didn’t make it.

 

Fascination docked in Nassau

 

Blue Lagoon entrance

 

Andy, our dolphin

[cruz.n.carebear]

We did the dolphin encounter last time and thought it was a great time. And I lied - we were in #8, not #9. So we were neighbors and I remember you and your son!

 

As far as the cabana questions, the higher the number, the more secluded you will be. I would not enjoy being in 1-4 as much as I did where we were. When I originally saw the diagram, I thought #15 would be way too far down the beach, but really it isn't. We had the bathrooms directly behind us and the food was a nice walk.