Carnival Fascination 9/3/11

[mj]

Just got home a couple of hours ago from Disney World and will write a review of the Fascination that went to Half Moon Cay and Nassau. Overall, it was a great cruise. Of course, there were some disappointments, but not that many. This was a solo cruise and had booked this one before they raised the solo supplement to 200%.

 

Left SC and got to the port at 12:00. Fairly easy process as I dropped off my luggage. Anyway, I did not have to get out of my car as the porter got my luggage out of the backseat. There was some rude guy directing traffic, but things like that don't bother me.

 

 

 

 

Che

 

Check-in was very easy and was onboard the ship in no time. Very friendly staff at check in and very quick and was escorted to the ship. You enter in on Deck 3 and headed to the Lido Deck for lunch. This was the first time being on a Fantasy Class ship since the Paradise on 2004. The Lido deck had the usual suspects for lunch, but at 1pm, there was no place to sit. I got in a lounge chair around the pool and had lunch.

 

 

Well, this will get the review started and this is my first review with pictures, so we will see how this goes. More later

[ATL2LAS]

Great start. I am on the Fascination in 14 days. I am also going solo so I am waiting to see your take on the ship.

[mj]

Checked into my !A Cabin which was U167. Had trouble finding the cabin at first until I realized it was in the middle of the ship. First time in that cabin and it was more than enough room for one person. No complaints about the room at all. My suitcase came around 3pm and started unpacking. Meet my room steward for the week, George, who was pleasant and friendly. He was a good room steward. Not the best I’ve ever had, but not the worst. He was definately above average.

 

 

 

Then it was time for the lifeboat drill at 3:30. That seemed to last forever. Had to meet in the aft lounge on Deck 9 and then had to climb the steps to go to the lifeboats. It was over about 4pm and then it was announced that we would not sail until 5:30 in order to get under the bridge. That was a neat to sail under the bridge. Then it started getting windy around 6:30 or so and Carnival employees started taking up the chairs and telling people that they had to get out of the chairs. Here are some pictures.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Whew! We made it!

 

 

Went to casino and started playing slots and won $30. Great start for the cruise. Had the Anytime Dining and had no wait. Then went to dinner around 8:30 and had the Flat Iron steak, which was good. Had strawberry cheesecake for dinner. The new menus were now being used as I saw "Didja". Darn, no shrimp cocktail all week. All of the dining room food was well prepared, though. The server was slow to get to the table, but once he came, his service was good. This must be new thing Carnival is trying. The first thing tried to do was sell me water and then disappeared for awhile. But once he took my order, the service improved. My favorite waiter came a couple of nights later. Wow, after dinner, I was tired and went to bed. There was some "Welcome Aboard" show that evening.

[gred1994]

Anxiously awaiting more! We go next Saturday!!!:D

[mj]

Sea Day(Sunday September 4)

 

Sea days are great. Started out with room service that consisted of coffee and juice and was delivered within the 30 minute time frame. The rest of the week, they were prompt and often times early. No complaints with the room service. Went to the dining room and service was slow. Nothing that bothered me, just an observation.

 

After my exercise routine, went out on deck to find a chair. This is one of the few times on a cruise that was difficult to find one. In the afternoon, it became easier and easily found one on the Serenity Deck. The Serenity Deck became of my favorite areas and spent a lot of time on it. Anyway, there were plenty of chair hogs on this cruise.

 

 

Formal Dinner was good as always. Service was good as well. The Dessert menu consisted of Bitter and Blanc. That has become one of my favorites. Did not go to a show as they had a production show and some late night comedy. Just don't attend the shows like I did. My purpose was to get some rest and relax.

 

Up next... Half Moon Cay(Will post lots of pictures and my favorite port).

[mj]

Monday (September 5)

 

This was my 15th cruise on Carnival and don't pick a cruise for the ports anymore. However; this one was picked due to the fact that I love private islands and have heard wonderful things about Half Moon Cay. Got on the island after 9 and it was already hot. Lots of chairs to chose from and stayed there until about 12:30pm. Took the tender to take a break for an hour as I had a massage around 3pm. The island was in great shape. Well, when I was on the tender, that was when I realized that I had forgot my camera. No problem, go back to the room and rest and take some pictures. Got to my room around 1 and my room had not even been made up. That surprised me, but, it was eventually made up. Got on the tender and was back on the island and got some pictures and had a wonderful back massage. Anyways the island is in great shape and here are some pictures.

 

 

 

 

 

[mj]

 

 

 

 

 

[buckeyefrank]

We were on the same cruise as you. I am very interested to see your review of the trip.

[mj]

 

 

 

 

 

[mj]

IMG]http://i1105.photobucket.com/albums/h344/mjolly9197/Disney/Disney2011142.jpg[/img]

 

 

 

 

 

[lsw9658]

We were on the same cruise. Thanks for sharing your review!

[mj]

More of the Review

 

Casino

 

Had some fun in the casino this time. Normally for me, it is Blackjack that I win and slots I lose. However, the slots were kind and blackjack was brutal. Even the free blackjack tournament entry was brutal. You play seven hands and at the end, I had $100 left. Most people were out pretty quickly. When, I played with real money, it was not much better. It seemed if I got a 19 or 20, the dealer always wound up with the same amount. Never got a 21 the entire time and that is rare. So, on the last day, took my last money to play and it started out the same way, me losing almost every hand. So, I just stopped after a few hands.

 

Here was the ironic part. There was a certain slot machine that I played that would win me money. I would go to the slot machine and win back some of my losses. Never had that happen before. Everytime, I would win money and after the brutal blackjack session on the last day, went to the slot machine and recovered my money. One night, it yielded me $85. All said and done, I won probably $175 counting in my losses from blackjack.

 

 

Serenity Deck

 

My favorite place on the cruise besides the casino. I found that going later in the afternoon was less crowded and would often times stay there until sunset reading. In Nassau, hardly no one was there and even empty at one point. That was true Serenity until the rain came and ruined it.

 

 

 

True Serenity. That was what it was like the day we docked in Nassau

 

 

A Visitor on the Serenity Deck

 

 

Oh No! The rain is coming and it is time to take cover.

 

 

Up Next: Dining Room Food, Cruise Director, Disembarkation, and some more pictures

[keiann]

Looking forward to the rest of the review. We will be on the Fascination in January of 2012.

[oldrailfan]

WOW! Look at all the folks that were on the cruise and never stopped by the roll call. Sorry I missed everyone, but I didn't know you were there! :(

 

We were in Cabana #9 on Half Moon, and left early when we all got royally cooked in spite of SPF 50, (Guess the stuff wasn't as waterproof as advertised) and we stayed aboard in Nassau. From the look of that shower that MJ posted, I'm kinda glad we did...

 

We had a blast, and hope you all did, too.

[mj]

Dining Room Service

 

On this cruise, I did the Anytime Dining or whatever Carnival calls it. The third night of the cruise, my server was Godfrey and he was clearly the best waiter I had on the cruise. He was the only one to acknowledge my name and he was very talkative. Anyway, the fourth night came and since we were in Nassau until 10 pm, not many were eating in the dining room. Carnival asked me did I have a preference and so Godfrey was my waiter again. Anyway, the assistant waiter saw me and brought my tea to the table without asking.

 

Had a chance to talk to Godfrey and said he had been with Carnival around 11 years and started out on the Tropicale. It really showed in his service. His most recent ship was the Dream, but said he preferred smaller ships and loved the Fascination. My only regret was not bring my camera on the last night to get a picture.

 

Dining Room Food

 

I've done mostly seven night cruises and had not done a five night. The thing that struck me was a lot of my favorite items was missing on the cruise. Normally, I enjoy lamb, braised ribs and filet mignon, and prime rib on the last night. Those items were Missing in Action on a 5 nighter. Bitter and Blanc was offered on the lobster night. Cheesecake was offered on the first night. Again, the dining room food was well prepared, but missed some of the variety on the seven nighter. Tried the Alligator and the frog legs. Enjoyed the alligator, but found the frog legs to be bland.

 

Cruise Director

 

The cruise director was Jen Baxter. Cruise directors don't really affect me one way or another. I equate most cruise directors on Carnival to used car salespeople. Come buy this or buy that and tune them out. But to her credit, saw her out and about on the ship and she was friendly and said hello. I had a lot of cruise directors walk by and not say anything.

 

Disembarkation

 

Did the self-assist on this one. Since, I was platinum, met in Ritz Lounge at 7:30 and we disembarked at 7:45. They escorted us to the middle deck to the fourth floor and had to take the luggage down one flight of stairs to the third, which wasn't bad. After that, it was easy as it was all on the ground level afterwards. Was in my car around 8am and off to Disney World.

 

All in all, a good cruise. Nothing is perfect, but a nice getaway. Now the interesting part for me. This cruise was purchased before the solo rate became 200 percent, so now my solo cruises are going to be less with Carnival. I truly hate that, because Carnival offers a good cruise and enjoy their dining room food. My next cruise will be on the Allure of the Seas and then in May, the Carnival Legend. Both of those will be sailing with other people. My solo cruise for next year will be on Ruby Princess unless something changes. The price for 7 nights is almost what it would cost me for 5 nights on Carnival.

Here are some more pictures:

 

 

 

 

 

View of Nassau from Serenity Deck

 

[Jimmy Geegitz]

love your pics!

[mj]

love your pics!

 

Thank you. I am going to check and see if there are some more that can be posted.

[mj]

 

 

 

 

 

[atlanta_living]

Hi MJ,

I am going on my first solo cruise in Dec. on the Fascination and loved reading your review. I have been a little anxious about traveling alone but reading your review has given me some more insight on what to expect.

 

Thanks!

 

~Helen~

[ATL2LAS]

Thanks MJ for a great review. I have one question. What dining room did they do Anytime Dining? I will be on her in 11 days and also have this option.

[mj]

Thanks MJ for a great review. I have one question. What dining room did they do Anytime Dining? I will be on her in 11 days and also have this option.

 

It was the Sensation dining room. It. was in the middle of the ship.

[RSparky]

Hi everyone~ I am getting ready to sail Oct 15-20 on the Fascination. We will be heading to both Half Moon Cay and Nassau. Any suggestions on excursions?

[themnms]

Hi everyone~ I am getting ready to sail Oct 15-20 on the Fascination. We will be heading to both Half Moon Cay and Nassau. Any suggestions on excursions?

 

hello

 

I am on the same sailing!!! Have you been over to the roll call? We are going to just relax at HMC and then Nassua we will go to the Atlantis!!

 

 

To MJ

 

awesome review...thanks so much

[luvmyboys2]

Does anyone know if there is a water trampoline at HMC? Thanks.

[ATL2LAS]

It was the Sensation dining room. It. was in the middle of the ship.

Ok:( I was hoping for the Imagination...as you can see from my sailings LOL:D