Fascination and Half Moon Cay Review! (4/30/11-5/7/11)

[Shelbyjane56]

And now, for my new favorite beach day EVER! Half Moon Cay... People, it's every thing you've heard and more. White, powdery sand. Blue, blue water! It's perfect.

 

We were in cabana #9 and I picked it intentionally. I was SO happy that I did. We hit the shore excursion desk as soon as it opened. Only 4 and 7 had already been picked. I think 9 was perfect for us because it was just far enough away that the music from the "sunken ship" bar could just barely be heard enough to give that islandy feel, the restrooms are right behind you, but no one uses them because they're so far away from everything else, however, you only need to take about 100 steps to get there from 9, and it's not so far away that you can't get to whatever you want to get to in relatively good time. I think the buffet was maybe a five minute walk.

 

There were 8 sodas, four waters, snacks, and very comfy loungers waiting when we got there. They even came by and checked to make sure we were OK and didn't need anything else. We had four floating mats, and four bags of snorkel equipment, as well. We used all of it. I basically floated on a mat, or sat in a lounger reading my Kindle for almost 7.5 hours. Pure heaven!!!

 

It doesn't look like much, but looks are deceiving... :p

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Thanks for all the info, we will be sailing on saturday on the liberty and so looking forward to it as we havent been to HMC. We also have the cabana, getting quite excited, doesnt matter how many times we have sailed but its always exciting! We are hoping to get #8 but can be happy anywhere. Congrats to your son!!

[Kristi Williamson]

Final thoughts:

 

Food: I must admit that we felt like the food quality on the Fascination was not up to Carnival's standards. The only night we had great food was Wed. when we had Fillet Mignon. Other than that, the food was just sub par. The buffet at lunch was the worst. No really hot food, no carved meats, etc... just burgers, deli, pizza, and hotdogs every single day. Breakfast was good, but the omelet station is outside at the pool area, and we didn't find it until day three. No waffles, either. (bummer!) However, the CMC was good as always. We rank the food a C-.

 

Service: The service was top notch in almost all areas. Even the bartenders didn't poke along to fill our oldest son's soda card. He was really happy about that as we've consistently had problems with that. Our steward and waiters were really GREAT! Service gets an A+.

 

Entertainment: This was hit or miss. The family comedy was good, but they run the same stuff night after night. So, if you've seen it once, you're done. We love comedy so that kind of stunk. The shows were also just OK. Mostly just the singing/dancing numbers. Nothing really wow'd us, so after two we didn't go back to the shows. Trevor is still the CD and he's OK if you care about who the CD is. We don't, so maybe that's why I don't have more of an opinion on him one way or another. Entertainment would get a C.

 

Ship: The Fascination is an old girl, but she has a good layout and the crew works hard. We really love the size of her, but think maybe a good overhall in basic stuff would be a good idea. New carpet and a fresh paint job and she'd be excellent! We also loved our suite U70. It's nothing like the suites on the Dream, but something about it, plus the connecting of U68 really worked for us. It felt like we had tons of space, and we loved the location of our room. I'd give the ship a B- simply because she really does need a little TLC.

 

Overall this was a great trip and we'd do it again. We prefer 7-10 day cruises though, and the Fascination is a 4 and 5 day girl. This was her first 7 dayer out of Jacksonville and she's on another one now. After that, it's back to the shorter ones and we don't do those except for a quick "marriage retreat". ;) If you get a chance to go to Half Moon Cay, don't miss it. Heck, I might take the 4/5 day cruise just to get back there. It really is that good, IMO.

 

If anyone has any questions, please don't hesitate to ask!

[Roe95695]

Thank you soo much for taking the time to write this review. We don't sail on her until November but I am sooo counting the days..

[Cruisegirl6]

I know you didn't have a bad cruise just a disappointed one as you seen the drastic cuts that Carnival has taken, more than any other cruise line! I also have cruised many carnival ships and the past May we took the Fascination and I never will go on carnival again until they boost up certain things that they drastically cut back on. I understand cut backs all cruise lines have done this but I found the quality, secltion especially in the buffet lunches to be terribly disappointing as you have told us here in your review and certainly agree with me.

 

Two months ago I had people arguing with me and saying that I bashing carnival etc. but I know I only speak the truth and again this board is all about our experiences and opinions, those who bashed me well all I said to myself they just not know good and bad. As you state I also found the lunch buffets to be all fast food quality/secltion type foods. I not eat burgers, pizza, hot dogs, chicken fingers....and sandwiches I not want that I eat that everyday during the week, in fact my sandwiches/subs are far more better lol We had no carving meats, we had no soups and we had no selection of hot foods (other than always a fish hot dish which we not eat seafood), one vegetable dish only (other cruise lines give minimum 3 choices), one potato or rice dish (others give multiple side dishes) it was worse for us as we didn't get to eat breakfast, the dining room closed way too early am (think around 9:30am) and I am on vacation I not go to bed early and wake up break of dawn! I go to sleep by 2am and wake up around 9:30am I not think thats asking too much for the MDR to stay hopen until 10:30am? The breakfast buffets ended a bit later around 10:30am so when I got up, dressed then headed up to breakfast buffet it was done with which meant wait for noon for lunch which we did but again fast food type foods yuck! The biggest laugh was when they offer steak in the MDR each night but that low quality flat iron steak, they could at least serve a sirloin which is in the middle of better and lower quality beef. Maybe they changed this?

 

Entertainment I always accepted was low quality unlike the production shows you get on RC, Celebrity, Princess and NCl, but I found them to be even less of quality as you agreed. Cocktails are even a higher cost on CArnival go figure....service in dining room did you find the beverage guy only to show up once and you never seen him again? We never ever on all carnival cruises have had the beverage guy come up to us a second time without asking the waiter to get him for us. We also find a very lack and extremely limited choice of foods after 11pm, again burgers, fries, hot dogs and pizza, they even took away the ceasar salad! The pool deck party buffet is a joke, mexican inexpensive food...other cruise lines serve you on bbq fresh steaks, chicken, all other types of meat, suckling pork, all types of sides, but noooo carnival gives you that stuff that you get in taco bell, shame and so disapointing. :(

 

Did the Fascination remain to keep the rock n roll band that played to the wee hours in the night? We had that and cannot complain as other cruise lines did not offer this after 11pm. I do hope they kept the band...

 

For those who call carnival low budget and good for low budget I am in the middle of planning two cruises for this year, and I finding carnivals prices to be just as equal to RC, NCL and even handful of cruises on Princess. I not consider carnival a budget cruise when it comes to price unless you taking one of the shorter cruises then I agree with that. But for a 7 night cruise I can get on a better quality cruise line/ship for the same price.

 

I do like the fact that carnival allows kids to have their stateroom anywhere on the ship as long as the child is at least 16 years of age. This did allow us last year to give our daughter her own stateroom which was inside and we got the balcony.

 

I like the casino's on all carnival ships, like the outdoor deck space and the larger staterooms they offer plus the rock n roll band. But I eat healthy and to be offered that fast food stuff and not having breakfast served at least to 10:30 surely is not a cruise line for us any longer. I like to eat meats and love the carvings, veggies and a fresh salad bar (unlike those soggy tomatoes and warm like salads they offer) that is cool....to me eating is more important to me just as being on a clean ship. This is why I will not choose Carnival until they make some changes for the better and at least try to compete with their competitors who offer sooo much better and more variety/selection.

[iluvdoxies]

We were on the 4/30 cruise as well. I did feel very badly for the person they had to take back to Jax, never did hear what happened.

 

I thought the food was excellent, but the soups seemed a little bland. I did have waffles at the buffet one morning--they were outside and I loved the new sticky pecan buns.

 

Our wait staff was great as well as our room steward.

 

Loved HMC (our 4th time there). The line for the tender to go back was way long and you should have seen the looks and heard the comments when we got to go to the front lol--being VIP was reakky worth it that day.

 

Jack's Shack was lots of fun--our 1st time there= lots of crew were there, so you know it's a good place. Jack gave us a ride back to the pier, thank youo Jack.

 

Our next cruise is in Oct on the Dream and cant wait.

 

Congrats to your son !

[Eight_sailors]

We were there with you! The very same cruise...suite U115 and connecting U117 plus U109 across the hall. Loved the whole thing but especially the Half Moon Cay day...we were in Cabana #1 and it was perfect. Can't wait to read the rest of the review.

[vanityfur]

The carving stations were between the grill and Mongolian Wok on lido. They were there daily. One person next to me in line for the wok chose VIRGINIA HAM to go in the Thai BBQ sauce. I almost gagged.

 

So, they did have a carving station. They also had one at the buffet at the very end of the line, starboard side near the utensils and bread.

 

Lyndamr, I almost took a picture of the carving station just to shut you up. I KNEW you would be all up in this thread and in my review causing drama...

[Cruisegirl6]

Vanityfur so this is what you say to people on the boards as you said this to me?

 

Lyndamr, I almost took a picture of the carving station just to shut you up. I KNEW you would be all up in this thread and in my review causing drama...

 

Your a very nasty person and sarcastic.....thats all I have to say to you. If you can't be nice and pleasant to people you should just keep it hush.

 

FYI each ship in the Carnival ships has its own person who is in control of what is being served in the buffets and its budget, take a look at the post of the fascination who also confiremed that there were NO MEAT CARVINGS. Don't bother writing me back your just plain nasty and this is not what the board is all about.

[vanityfur]

Vanityfur so this is what you say to people on the boards as you said this to me?

 

Lyndamr, I almost took a picture of the carving station just to shut you up. I KNEW you would be all up in this thread and in my review causing drama...

 

Your a very nasty person and sarcastic.....thats all I have to say to you. If you can't be nice and pleasant to people you should just keep it hush.

 

FYI each ship in the Carnival ships has its own person who is in control of what is being served in the buffets and its budget, take a look at the post of the fascination who also confiremed that there were NO MEAT CARVINGS. Don't bother writing me back your just plain nasty and this is not what the board is all about.

 

I was also on that sailing. When I get home, I will post the pic of the fun times where it even gives the times and location of the rotisserie.

 

So sorry that you have one less thing to complain about when it comes to CCL. All you do is complain. It's not healthy to dwell on things like carving stations for YEARS after your last cruise on the Fascination.

[Cruisegirl6]

As you put it here "It's not healthy to dwell on things like carving stations for YEARS after your last cruise on the Fascination". Its not even been a year since my cruise on the Fascination!

 

For those who are reading this I like to explain why meat carvings, vegetables are important to me on the lunch buffets as I have already told Vanityfur in prior posts:

 

I live with celiac disease (this person does not want to understand if I eat anything with gluten I get severely ill). I not need a gluten free special diet just count on carnival offering meat carvings/hot main dishes in its buffet lunch and include vegetable dishes, potato rice side choices. I don't know about anybody else but if I had to eat rotisserie chicken everyday on my cruise I minds just stay home.

 

Other cruise lines offer an abundent of soups, hot main dishes along with a great selection of vegetables and sides, we didn't even get any soups on the Fascination!

 

Maybe if vanityfur had celiac disease he/she would understand the importance of having meat and vegetables dishes available!

[nessz79]

The last two days were sea days and we really enjoy those. We find them to be days to just relax and hang out together, which is awesome!! We read on the balcony, ate, drank a bunch of Kiss on the Lips, and made nightly deposits into the casino.

 

I will say that the casino on this ship is probably the worst I've ever been in. Not one single person hit anything to be announced as a "big win" and we've never had that happen before. The most we won was 200.00 bucks on one machine and we deposited that back in by the end of the cruise.

 

The Ocean Players Club did send us chocolate covered strawberries 2 nights, plus 2 photo coupons were waiting on us when we boarded. We used those and I think they were good for 30 dollars off. (15 dollars a piece)

 

Here are a few more photos and then I'll do a wrap up of our over all thoughts of the food, ship, crew, etc...

 

 

The towel animals:

 

 

 

The towel animals with our Build a Bears that the kids made on the first sea day. (that was MUCH more fun that I anticipated!!) :)

 

 

 

Freddie at the Camp Carnival talent show:

 

 

Our youngest son "holding" the sun up because he wasn't ready for the day to end:

 

 

What a cute picture!

 

Great review- thank you for posting :)

[vanityfur]

You play the celiac card every time... You missed the soups and rotisserie. Not Carnival's fault. At some point, you have to accept the fact that it was there and you missed it.

 

But, then you wouldn't have as much fun complaining on the RCCL boards.

 

People with celiac disease are responsible for seeing to it that they contact the special needs dept. Don't blame a cruise line bc you cannot find the carving stations or soups. That is all on you.

 

As you put it here "It's not healthy to dwell on things like carving stations for YEARS after your last cruise on the Fascination". Its not even been a year since my cruise on the Fascination!

 

For those who are reading this I like to explain why meat carvings, vegetables are important to me on the lunch buffets as I have already told Vanityfur in prior posts:

 

I live with celiac disease (this person does not want to understand if I eat anything with gluten I get severely ill). I not need a gluten free special diet just count on carnival offering meat carvings/hot main dishes in its buffet lunch and include vegetable dishes, potato rice side choices. I don't know about anybody else but if I had to eat rotisserie chicken everyday on my cruise I minds just stay home.

 

Other cruise lines offer an abundent of soups, hot main dishes along with a great selection of vegetables and sides, we didn't even get any soups on the Fascination!

 

Maybe if vanityfur had celiac disease he/she would understand the importance of having meat and vegetables dishes available!

[Cruisegirl6]

There is another review on the fascination recently the person said the very same thing as I did.

 

They will not accomodate my gluten free eating at a buffet, only in the MDR which lunch is only served there 2-3 days which are only on sea days and they do not accomodate after 11pm where they serve the burgers, pizza, etc.

 

I am not the only one with celiac disease...and your right, RC does accomodate in all its meals even in the buffets providing gluten free foods and after 11pm they serve various types of gluten free foods and include salads.

[kenrod]

Kristi,

Thank you for your pictorial review. I thoroughly enjoyed it!

[vanityfur]

There is another review on the fascination recently the person said the very same thing as I did.

 

They will not accomodate my gluten free eating at a buffet, only in the MDR which lunch is only served there 2-3 days which are only on sea days and they do not accomodate after 11pm where they serve the burgers, pizza, etc.

 

I am not the only one with celiac disease...and your right, RC does accomodate in all its meals even in the buffets providing gluten free foods and after 11pm they serve various types of gluten free foods and include salads.

 

And, you always have the option of ordering from room service after 11. You can order as needed. BUT, again... THAT would leave you with less to complain about.

 

The fact is that there ARE carving stations. People miss them. But, they are there and available... Or, did I imagine eating carved turkey at lunch...

[vanityfur]

Lynda, you have already started up in my review. If you want to keep debating the FACT that there are carving stations, please at least keep it to my thread and let people read and enjoy hers.

 

I had a funny feeling you would show yourself again after I cruised and reviewed.

[caribbeach]

is the dining room open for lunch on day of departure?

[Hurricane Girl]

We will be on Facination this Sat., 5-14-11, I will take pics of the buffet and carving station (if they have one) (haven't been on a cruise in a couple of years to know if they still have it) and post them here for you. That will proove, one way or another, if they do have it. ;)

[vanityfur]

We will be on Facination this Sat., 5-14-11, I will take pics of the buffet and carving station (if they have one) (haven't been on a cruise in a couple of years to know if they still have it) and post them here for you. That will proove, one way or another, if they do have it. ;)

 

Look for it between the Mongolian Wok and Grill area on the lido area. It is almost directly behind the beverage area. At dinner, they have stations at the buffet on starboard. It is listed as the Rotisserie in the fun times.

 

[Cruisegirl6]

Thank you Hurricane Girl, I like to know if they now offer meat carvings, roast beef, pork loin, etc. :) Also people saying they have soups during buffet breakfast again, I did not have any last May on my cruise on the same ship. BonVoyage!! :)

[Cruisegirl6]

I always thought rotisserie is chicken/turkey (poultry) I like to find out by Hurricane Girl whether they offer meat carvings and truely appreciate it Hurricane Girl. :)

[vanityfur]

I always thought rotisserie is chicken/turkey (poultry) I like to find out by Hurricane Girl whether they offer meat carvings and truely appreciate it Hurricane Girl. :)

 

UNBELIEVABLE. You were proven wrong and you still find something small to try and argue about.

 

You cannot even admit that you were WRONG. Chicken and turkey ARE meat! Don't tell me that now you require the meat carvings each day to feature pork and beef to suit your "needs."

 

Turkey, roast beef, ham, etc. are all served. I am sure it must be humbling to go down in flames like this.

[SweetpeaOne]

Very nice review and pictures. Thanks for sharing.

[Cruisegirl6]

Im not proven wrong, roteisserie ISA chicken/turkey NOT beef, lamb, pork, etc. I not want chicken each and everyday. I will believe the wonderful person here who is going this week Hurricane Girl may she have a wonderful cruise!

[Cruisegirl6]

Vanityfur how would you like to eat the same chicken/turkey for every lunch well maybe you would but I like to have a choice and a different selection each day. I not eat the same things over and over each day. lol thats insane.