Fascination Review (1/13-1/17)

[coachk34]

Since their is a lot of information on this cruise ill keep it short, please let me know if you have any specific questions. This was out 7th cruise, but 1st on carnival.

 

Embarkation and Disembarkation: If you have checked luggage, when you first arrive make sure you go to the right and drop off your luggage and then proceed to the parking area. This was not signed real well. We were on the ship in just over 30 minutes, arriving at the port about 11:45. On the final day we were in the last group called, but were off the ship and driving home by 9:55.

 

Drinks and Alcohol: We carried on 6 bottles of coke and 6 bottles of water, all in our luggage. We were never asked to open the luggage. We purchased 6 bottles of liquor while on-board, and did not have to pay any duty upon return. I checked prices while at Nassau and the prices on-board were cheaper.

 

Casino: Played a lot of Blackjack, their were four $5 tables open at all times. The minimum was never raised.

 

Weather: When we left Jacksonville it was 41 degrees and while in Freeport it was 58 degrees. Not what you hope for when cruising, but you have to make the best of it. On these days the hot-tubs were not very popular. So we used them to warm up and they felt great. While in Nassau and our Sea Day the weather was much better and in the 70's each day.

 

Comedy: The R rated shows are R rated for a reason, but they are certainly not any worse than any comedy club on land. If language and sexual references bother you, I would strongly suggest the PG show. Their were comedy shows every night of the cruise, this we liked very much.

 

Entertainment: The opening night show and 80's show were very good, the mamba show on the final night was not so good. The Piano Bar was great, but be prepared for the smoke.

 

Drinking: Their was a ton of drinking going on this cruise, more than I have ever seen on RC or Norwegian. But everyone was very well behaved and having a very good time.

 

Cons: I have never been asked for a drink so many times, I normally dont mind this but it got really old. The waiters were never overbearing or pushy, but they were asking every 30 minutes or so. Freeport, enough said.

 

Pros: Chocolate Melting Cake was awesome, but give me some more of the french fries. Overall the food was great. Won $50 playing blackjack!!

 

If you have any specific questions please let me know.

[beach410]

Great memories of our FAscination trip, but we went to HMC, beautiful there. We love stops at Freeport, we take a taxi to Our Lucaya and do some shopping and spend the day at the beach.

 

Sounds like you had a nice time, thanks for sharing.

[CruizCuz]

Thank you for the review. We leave for our cruise on the Fascination in a little over 2 months! I am happy to hear that the entertainment was good! When you catch your breathe, any other details would be great! Thank you!

[Aquajac]

Thanks for the review - especially about the embark and debark. We'll be on Fascination 2/5 to Nassau (Atlantis) and HMC!!!!!

[mama_2_boys]

Thank you for the review! We are cruising on the Fascination in May and can't wait! Like the other poster said after you get settled back in if you want to post more details that would be great :)

[marriednlovinit]

Thank you for your review, we will be on this ship in 37 days. cannot wait!!! I am hoping for great weather, but planning for some cool weather at least when we leave and arrive back into Jax.

[momof4girls]

Thank you for sharing details! We sail on the Fascination next week. :eek:

 

Could you elaborate more on the luggage part of JAX? My BFF and I are being dropped off so no parking will be necessary. Just want to make sure we "do it right". :o

 

Wow it was cool in Jacksonville!:eek: Since I'm flying in from KC, I will def be dressed for the cooler weather! With it being so cold in Freeport, I wonder if a beach day is kind of a waste then? :confused:

 

I was wondering what kind of dining you had, and where your room was located?

[javamom]

Do you remember who the comedians were?

[coachk34]

One of the comedians was Scotty, but I cant remember the last name. They were good cruise ship comedians, but not what you would expect at a comedy club.

 

If you are just being dropped off at the port. When you first arrive you will be asked to show your boarding pass and photo ID. Then proceed to your right and you will see the warehouse where you drop off your luggage and then board. Their will be security telling you where to stop. Very easy process, you wont have any problems.

 

I would prepare for cool weather in Jacksonville, but it was well below normal when we were there. A beach day in Freeport on most days will be fine, again I think it was below normal when we were there.

 

Ill try to add some more stuff later.

[coachk34]

A couple other comments:

 

* I had read the boat was kind of cold and this is probably true especially if you are "cold natured." It would be a good idea to have some kind of sleaves available just in case.

 

* I had seen a bar menu from one of the ships that offered a $3.99 12 oz beer, but this option was not available on the Fascination. I felt the best deal on beer was the fosters at $6.75 per can.

[coachk34]

* We did the "Anytime Dining" and really enjoyed this option. We went between 6:00 and 7:00 each night and the first night was the only night we had to wait. We requested a table for 2. They gave us a buzzer and said it would be about 20 minutes, no big deal at all. If you like meeting new people at dinner or like having the same wait staff each evening this is not the option for you. But if you prefer to be flexible and not be on a schedule this option works great.

 

* I did keep a copy of the alcohol and liquor that you can buy onboard. If anyone wants to know a price or if a certain choice is available let me know and Ill check the list. No Bourbons were available, which kind of surprised me.

[spdztr]

Thanks for the review! We'll be on Fascination in less than 72 hours!! Can't wait!

 

With regards to getting off the ship, did you carry your own luggage? We have an 11am flight, so I'm hoping that if we carry our own luggage we can get off the ship faster.

[klmorg]

Thanks for the review! We'll be on Fascination in less than 72 hours!! Can't wait!

 

With regards to getting off the ship, did you carry your own luggage? We have an 11am flight, so I'm hoping that if we carry our own luggage we can get off the ship faster.

 

With that early a flight, I highly suggest self-debarkation. You will be among the first groups off. We always take our own luggage off, actually we prefer it.

 

Have a great cruise!! And come back to report on it, please. I've got my eye on a Fascination cruise in the near future.

[coachk34]

Self-Debarkation was between 8:00 and 9:00 and they called 1 floor at a time. With that early of a flight you will need to do the sel-debarkation and I would talk with guest services about being sure you were one of the first groups called.

[spalmer114]

Thanks for the review!! I was glad to read a review on the 4 day cruise, seems like every Fascination review I have read has been on the 5 day. We are doing the same cruise on the 24th after getting married onboard while in Jacksonville. I was just wondering, when is the formal night? I thought I read somewhere that it was the last night of the cruise, but can't seem to find that info. Thanks in advance!!

[SteelerCruiser]

Do you remember who the comedians were?

 

Hi.....we were on this same trip....The Comedians were Greg Russell and Scotty K. They were both very funny but the better of the 2 was Greg Russell.......apparentely he has been doing the Carnival thing for around 30 yrs....2nd best we have seen on a ship.....Alyn Ball being the best:cool:

[Mary Ellen]

Thank you for sharing your experience with us.

[SteelerCruiser]

Thanks for the review!! I was glad to read a review on the 4 day cruise, seems like every Fascination review I have read has been on the 5 day. We are doing the same cruise on the 24th after getting married onboard while in Jacksonville. I was just wondering, when is the formal night? I thought I read somewhere that it was the last night of the cruise, but can't seem to find that info. Thanks in advance!!

 

Hi there we were on this cruise as well and the formal night is Freeport night....the 2nd night......hope this helps.

 

Congrats on getting Married!!!

[spalmer114]

Hi there we were on this cruise as well and the formal night is Freeport night....the 2nd night......hope this helps.

 

Congrats on getting Married!!!

 

Thanks for the quick response!! One more question I forgot to ask earlier, do you know if their was a past guest party on the cruise? This will be the shortest cruise I have done and I have heard mixed reports from people on whether or not their is a past guest party on a 4 day cruise.

[klmorg]

Thanks for the quick response!! One more question I forgot to ask earlier, do you know if their was a past guest party on the cruise? This will be the shortest cruise I have done and I have heard mixed reports from people on whether or not their is a past guest party on a 4 day cruise.

 

No past guest party on 4-day cruises. Only on 5 day and higher. However, there should be a Fun Farewell party on the last night of the cruise that's sort of the same, in that there are LOTS of trays of free drinks & entertainment. :D

[momof4girls]

Hi there we were on this cruise as well and the formal night is Freeport night....the 2nd night......hope this helps.

 

Wow...this I did not expect at all! I was all set for it to be the only sea day! :p This is very good to know ahead of time. TFS!

[spdztr]

Self-Debarkation was between 8:00 and 9:00 and they called 1 floor at a time. With that early of a flight you will need to do the sel-debarkation and I would talk with guest services about being sure you were one of the first groups called.

 

Thanks, that's my plan. I'm hoping guest services will let us be amongs the first to get off the ship (self-debarakation, of course).

 

If we can be off the ship by 9 then I think we'll be ok.

[ReelG8r]

Fascination was my first cruise. I really enjoyed. We are now booking it with our kids for the 4th of July weekend. I think it's a great starter cruise.

[coachk34]

Just to confirm, formal night is the 2nd night of the cruise. This was the only night that jeans were not allowed in the dining room, most people followed that rule.

 

* The other nights in the dining room a lot of people wore jeans. I really enjoyed this rule, I wore jeans and sweaters each night and was very comfortable. I have to dress up everyday for work so not having to on vacation was very nice.

 

* There was a free liquor tasting the first night of the cruise, but I would not waiste your time. They only had 4 liquors to choose from and their were a lot of people in a very small area.

[momof4girls]

I thought of another question I had. Was there late-night buffets or guest party type things?

 

And I have anytime dining, but I do like meeting new people. :( Guess I should not have chosen that, but I don't do well with a scheduled eating time either. :rolleyes: