Not-So-Lucky 13th Carnival Cruise--Fascination 11/26/11

[JAXCRUISER]

I'm enjoying your review, Thanks for taking the time. Sorry about your phone, wow, talk about the "perfect storm"!!!!

[pe4all]

Loving your review! I can't imagine our upcoming #13 being worse than #12 last Christmas, when dd got ill on Dream and we were left behind in a Belize hospital! Can't wait to hear more of your adventures - and I hope your shoulder is doing better!:)

[Lv2Camp&Cruise]

So sorry to hear that your cruise was a let down. I have had a couple of those myself. I leave for #13 Thursday so hopefully it won't be a bust. Hope your PT goes well.

[firefly333]

I lost my phone in a NOLA boarding. I am thinking it get left on a chair before boarding?

 

I was lucky to be able to transfer everything over to a new phone, no harm done. You might have similar luck. Im guessing your phone was more than mine which was only a $20 phone.

 

I never drop my phone either, but managed to drop it last week on Oasis right on the metal outside and scratched the face. Cruises are hard on my phones too.

[NCTribeFan]

Have a minute for a quick installment. Yes, I did my exercises last night and this morning. I know I wasn't as hard on myself at the therapist was because I didn't quite make myself cry! ;)

 

I've been to Nassau several times, but cousin had only been there once. She had foot surgery several months ago and now has developed arthritis in the top of her right foot, so she was hobbling quite a bit. So I decided that a carriage ride would be a good idea. She'd get to see quite a bit of the town without having to walk.

 

We had the "honor" of being in port with Allure of the Seas. OMG. That is one ugly ship. Hey, I think Glory is too big! But, seriously, she is ugly. Looks like a floating office building with all the glass from the thousand balcony cabins and the lower hull painted dull grey. Contrast that to the Disney Dream, who was next to us, and which, I thought, was a beautiful design. I love ships with a long, pointed prow.

 

Anyway, let's just assume there were lots of people in port.

 

I went up and got in line to order my omelet. Ham, cheese, mushroom, and tomatoes, well done, please. I'm just old fashioned, I guess, in that I actually still say please and thank you to people, even to the lowly crew and staff! :p

 

Again, I turned around to get my tea started brewing. When I turned back to the line, there was my omelet, full of green peppers, which I cannot eat. Oh no, I exclaimed! No peppers! He glared at me and threw it out and started over. At least I got my four ingredients, well done, this time. I've NEVER had any problem getting exactly what I want from the omelet station.

 

At least it was partly sunny!!!! :D

 

So we did a carriage ride ($30 plus $10 tip just because we failed to bring much in the way of small bills). As you are probably aware, the Straw Market was damaged during one of our latest hurricanes. The vendors are now lined up along the waterfront, although it certainly appears that the building is finally ready (maybe not the interior, though). Cousin likes to buy souvenirs. I hate it. The only thing I normally buy is a pair of earrings or two for DD. Does buying a grandchild a comic-book character t-shirt that has Bahamas across the bottom really qualify as a gift from another country?

 

Oh well. Not my money!

 

We then decided that we'd just pay for a round trip on the water taxi to Atlantis and back. Had a bit of a wait to return and sat in the nice, hot sun for a while. When we returned, it was right at noon, and I knew exactly what I wanted. The food vendor that is at the end of the terminal building, just outside of the ladies restroom, has The Best Fried Grouper Ever. I get this every time I'm there. Well, her food was late arriving, so I stoof there, along with about a dozen locals, waiting. And waiting. But it was worth it. Got a Kalik to wash it down, then it was off to the ship.

 

No idea what we did that afternoon, I'm pretty sure I had my 3 p.m. hotdog and fries.

 

Then it was time for the PG party. Have to say that I didn't care much for our CD, Jen. I know she has no control over her facial features and not much over her build, but it was almost as though she thought that if she wore these absurd outfits, complete with 7-year-old big bow in her hair, that people wouldn't notice how unattractive she is!

 

I dislike how Americans just seem to be SO entralled with an English accent that they will listen to anything that comes out, regardless of how annoying it is! Hey, I lived with an Englishman for several years. It's why I dislike John Heald so much. He's just like his father - think they are WAY more clever than they actually are and that we're all supposed to just enjoy everything they say because they have an accent. :mad:

 

She was every bit as annoying as Josh was on Glory. Again, I understand the need to sell the extra-cost activities and items. After all, they've kept fares SO LOW while their costs have increased considerably. But I don't have to like the LOUD ANNOYING ANNOUNCEMENTS do I?

 

Had 3 or 4 glasses of bubbly, which was actually pretty tasty, unlike that stuff I had once in the art gallery! No idea what I had for dinner. I tend to have the same things every cruise.

 

No luck in the casino. Again. And I was so worried about having to pay a chunk of money (more than the cruise fare) to replace my phone, that I was obsessing about spending any money at all. And that's no fun. I kept trying to talk myself into just relaxing and enjoying myself, but I was just so depressed. And add the other little things that had gone wrong and the not-great weather, and I just wasn't having as good a time as I usually do.

 

But the next day was Half Moon Cay! My favorite place ever! :D

[laumicmah]

She was every bit as annoying as Josh was on Glory. Again, I understand the need to sell the extra-cost activities and items. After all, they've kept fares SO LOW while their costs have increased considerably. But I don't have to like the LOUD ANNOYING ANNOUNCEMENTS do I?

 

 

I thought Josh, on the Glory, was super asnnoying too. I thought I was the only one, though...glad to hear you agree. I've been on Fascination twice, but didn't have Jen...so I don't know about her.

 

Thanks for the nice review. I am hoping there is a silver lining to your trip. Sorry about your phone...I can totally understand how losing it would put a damper on your cruise.

 

By the way, on 1 of our Fascination cruises, DH and I stayed in E112 or E116. That had to be the nosiest location we've ever had on all of our cruises. Gobs of loud people walking down the hallway constantly. Did you experience any of that?

[TriciaEMTB]

Sorry your trip was less than spectacular, love how you seem to keep a good attitude about it despite the pitfalls!

[Mutumbojimbo]

Have to say that I didn't care much for our CD, Jen. I know she has no control over her facial features and not much over her build, but it was almost as though she thought that if she wore these absurd outfits, complete with 7-year-old big bow in her hair, that people wouldn't notice how unattractive she is!

 

 

My wife and I just returned from a cruise on the Fascination, and We didn't care much for Jen either. Why ask people to say 'hi' to you if they see you out and about, and then ignore them if they do?

[NCTribeFan]

This was my first quaranteed cabin and I just knew it would be in a horrible location. It was whatever the "top" cat 6 is and was just forward of the aft stairwell, but, yes, it was just under the galley.

 

No noise at all from above, which was good! There was a crew door right across from us and a storage area next to us. I did hear a couple of bangs, but it wasn't bad. DD was in a cabin adjacent to a crew door once and, being a late sleeper, which I'm not, it did bother her.

 

I really liked how I could "sneak" up and down that all-the-way-aft rather-hidden staircase.

 

The cabin was fine. I'm used to having insides for two where the beds are in an L configuratoin with the foot of each in the same corner. Because this was a cabin for three, I guess it wasn't practical to have one bed against the wall under the drop-down. Didn't occur to me to ask. That confiuration makes the cabin seem quite a bit larger and makes it much easier for the person against the hull to get up and use the bathroom in the middle of the night.

 

Re Jen - As on Glory, it was difficult to find a spot that was quiet to just sit and read. Once Serenity filled up, and was full of people stuffed into the hot tubs bellowing at the person next to them, it was even noisy back there. One of my favorite spots on the Fantasy-class ships is along the Promenade, in the window seats. So I'm sitting there, drinking my tea, in a relatively peaceful spot, and she comes dashing down the hall waving her arms, shrieking HELLO!!! HELLO!!! HELLO!!! :mad:

[Sh1035]

OMG small world....I was the guy standing about 10 feet away on the railing when you dropped your phone. You were as far back on the ship as possible between the stairs and railing. I recall you had short hair and I think a red jacket.

 

I was trying to determine why suddenly you were speaking French. I looked over to see what I thought was a phone hit the water. Was perplexed why it took so long but makes sense if it made a pit stop on the way down.

 

Sorry about that .. I was not happy with this cruise whatsoever. I was in Balcony E237 and mom 241. Will jump on later with my comments. Like you I felt others would feel I was being negative. Only the cabana on hmc saved the cruise.

[jzygail]

Wow. Yeah, losing my phone like that would have colored my cruise, too. Is it possible to claim it as lost on your homeowner's insurance, or would it just trigger your deductible? (and that's a personal question, so don't feel like you have to answer me :) I'm just mentioning it as a possible solution if you haven't checked on that yet.)

[NCTribeFan]

Yep, tall with short hair. That was me. I can only imagine the look of horror on my face. :(

 

It really wasn't a bad cruise. It just wasn't as good as most of my cruises have been. I thought the food was, for the most part, very good and we had excellent waiters in the dining room.

 

The people at the service desk were very helpful (guess it helps that I could go to the front of the line, too). And we had some very pleasant bartenders. I avoid the shops and didn't go to the spa. I think the non-Carnival employees are not nearly so nice. The shop people are always a bunch of stuck-up brats, imho!

 

I guess I should check my homeowners, but I was under the impression that "lost" items weren't covered. I recall my mother losing her diamond (it disappeared from on the windowsill over the kitchen sink) and it wasn't covered.

 

Also guessing the deductible is higher than the replacement cost. I did get a partial credit since I had phone for 13 of the necessary 22 months, so at least I didn't pay full price. Not a cheap phone though. Replacement is the newer version - a Samsung Galaxy S 4G. Almost the same but is a 4G rather than 3G and has a front and back camera while the other had only one.

 

Now to find a cover that will absorb shock but not be quite so bouncy!!

[Sh1035]

I think my issues were more just the little things and the food. Living 15 minutes away it was my 4th trip out of JAX and my 8th Carnival cruise. I have been doing Celebrity lately. So not quite a platinum. Plus since only 2 people and 2 balcony rooms it was 2k but still thought a deal for 5 days. I so wanted to still love everything about this cruise :)

 

We chose to arrive at about 2 to avoid the early rush....wrong the line was out the door. We stood in the security line for over and hour, then waited in the check in line. Last time I had a suite and the VIP was a longer wait then my fiends in the normal check in.

 

Finally on board and waiting for that cheese burger I love and only eat on cruises. In line out of ketchup, asked and instructed at the tables. Bottle on table empty so mentioned to staff. Sir try other table, OK 5 bottles later all still emplty. Asked 3 staff members, no luck. After about 30 minutes gave up and got a salad. Almost everything I wanted from things like salad dressing, to croutons, to condiments were always empty.

 

Anytime seating....sir the wait will be at least 45 minutes on formal night...well had a cake ordered fro moms 75th but she was not interested in waiting. Nothing looks good in the cafeteria food line or did all week so more pizza and a salad.

 

Next night dining seated right away and 4 out of 6 people returned thier meals. Mostly over cooked and impossible to cut with a chain saw. just had more of the shrimp tempura. As usual the chocolate melting cake is always good.

 

Also, dont ever order a grilled cheese from room service. We were cracking up and I have a photo. Basically, 2 pieces of stale toast with about 5 pieces of cold cheese in the middle. No melting involved.

 

Casino: I did fairly well on the tables and the pit bosses and dealers were great for the most part. I even got a few free drinks. Of course the slots and VP were a waste of $$$$.

 

HMC: We rented cabana number 9 on half moon cay and it was the highlight of the trip.(but still no ketchup...hehe) Was overcast most of the day but still enjoyable. Tender over and back were quick.

 

Balcony rooms: probably the smallest cabin I have ever had but OK for one. Plus they opened up the two balconies so mom and I could hang out some.

Our room steward was fantastic and we made sure he got a big tip for such great service.

 

As mentioned I have been on 4 trips out of JAX so I hope it was just a fluke this time.

 

Sorry not to hijack your thread but since it was the same cruise thought it might be OK.

[ImmortalxKiss]

I definitely wouldn't say it was my favorite cruise ..here are some things that bothered us but in no way really affected the overall experience:

 

We did not like our cabin (R56). I know some people are for placing two people into a room with bunks but we found it incredibly uncomfortable. The beds are NOT the same beds in other cabins. We woke up basically sore every morning from how firm they were.

 

Food was nothing to write home about ..but then again, I pretty much say that about every cruise. Luckily, I don't go for the food lol. I love the desserts but as far as meals, it all gets tiring after a while.

 

We loved our cabana (#6) and would definitely book it again and maybe invite some people over; far too much food for two people! I did get bitten by many small bugs, I'm thinking which was due to the fact that it was rainy out ..but it wasn't something we found to be some massive problem that ruined or made the cruise any less enjoyable. Our fan was also already on when we got to the cabana ..and we were unable to use the railing to get down because it would send an electrical tingle down anything it touched lol No big deal, could have told someone I'm sure ..we just worked around it.

 

Nassau is a port we've done every single cruise. Very old after you've seen it 6 times but we made the most of it. Hated the way the straw market was laid out.. it was like you HAD to walk by them all.. no thanks.

[clackey]

Sounds like our average trip.:rolleyes:

[KimtheCruiser]

Just back from the Fascination - and I have to agree with the comments about Jen. Interestingly, she was the Cruise Director on our Legend cruise, and she was not quite so annoying.

 

But, more than anything, it seemed that she and her staff did not do anything!! At the deck party, it was just the band playing - no one encouraging dancing or other interaction. No appearance at the Fun Farewell Party either.

 

I've always said the Cruise Director does not make or break my cruise - but in this case, there was a lot she and her staff could have done to make it more fun.

 

 

And, oh my, I was standing in that exact same spot using my brand-new Droid Bionic to take a picture of the bridge when my DH very nicely asked me to put my phone away and use my camera (with a wrist strap) instead.

[jetsfan]

oops!

[ImmortalxKiss]

I do agree about Jen, too. She was quite ...unique, lol

[Sh1035]

One disturbing point after an hour in security line I get to be scanned and realize oh my I have an open water..no one noticed but me so asked what do I do with it? Sir we have no trash cans here and guess you can take it outside and wait in line again or drink it..glad it was not filled with vodka. For you smugglers nobody cared what was in the carry on. I chugged it and said I might need a restroom before the next line. They made all my searches by TSA seem far more lovable.

 

Suddenly missing my cool towel and champagne from Celebrity. At least they pretend they like you! I hate champagne BTW.

[richstowe]

Given all the MANY MANY comments about Jen, I am hoping she will not be our CD in January.

 

CD list is still not out so I can still hope for a CD change.Hope hope.

 

Good review. I am guessing that without the phone issue, you would have had a much better cruise and a better review.

I know losing my phone would harm my enjoyment.

[Crusin Karen]

looking forward to hearing about HMC. Bummer about the phone. :mad::(:mad:

[NCTribeFan]

I still think the hot dogs are the best I've ever eaten, and I'm a hot dog fan.

 

I don't "do" the regular buffet line, so can't comment on the food. And I don't eat ketchup! :p

 

HMC coming up!

[NCTribeFan]

I think I set the wake-up call because we wanted to get over early, get settled in a clamshell, and then I had to hike back to the dock area to get my stingray excursion at 9:15.

 

Threw back the curtains and...

 

very cloudy and dreary. No sign of sunshine.

 

Oh well. It would burn off, right? It always does in the Bahamas/Caribbean!!! :D

 

Went to the buffet for breakfast. I gave up on the omelets after two tries and switched to the hard-boiled eggs. Hard to mess that up!

 

Ham, bacon, two eggs, a croissant, two cups of tea, mixture of orange & passion/guava juice.

 

Sat outside again, portside and watched the tenders arrive to take the supplies over. And then it started to rain.

 

Back to the cabin to load up our beach bags, then to the service desk to tell them we were ready for our VIP tender. We get down there, and it is absolutely POURING by then. We dashed onto the tender and down to the lower area, where one couple was waiting. Raining so hard that all the seats were wet from it blowing in. :mad:

 

So we waited and waited while a few hardy souls braved the elements. Finally, a group of crew/staff boarded and we headed off. By the time the tender docked, it was just a light drizzle.

 

We headed off to get our clamshell. Normally, I go down to around Cabana 8 or 9 as it is convenient to the restrooms, not too far from the food, across from the 2nd roped-off swimming area, and far enough away from the noise and activity that you can sit under there and just read and relax all day.

 

Except now, the clamshells only go down to Cabana 7 (I think that's the number - the purple one). And now that they've built that hideous ship bar, there was no escape from the noise. And we were just past the "toys" rental area, so there was lots of activity there.

 

Sigh yet again.

 

Anyway, I hoofed it back to the dock area, as out excursion was to meet at 9:15. I'd never seen the table set up with towels, but there she was by the bar, so I gave her my card and got two additional towels, and draped one over my shoulders. Stood under the bar overhang while I waited. Was seriously tempted to start drinking!

 

So off we went. There were only eight of us. They were expecting 15, so obviously some were put off by the weather. I'd done this excursion before after three different stingray encounters in three different locations (Grand Cayman's stingray city, Blue Lagoon in Nassau, and Gibb's Cay in Grand Turk). I had been very disappointed in the one at HMC because I'm not a swimmer and since there's a reef in the enclosure, I was told I had to stand by the stairs. And when they started feeding the stingrays, I couldn't get close. Not the best excursion I'd done.

 

But I'd gotten up my nerve and had gone snorkeling in Cozumel, so figured I could handle it this time. Well, this guy had no problem with people standing as long as they weren't on the reef! I tried to snorkel, but the shoulder problem made it very difficult for me to maneuver, so I gave up.

 

Three of the 8 people refused to even get in the water and stood on the stairs the entire time. Silly women!!! The water was considerably colder than I remember it being in prior stops there in mid-December. But, as usual, once you were in, it was fine.

 

Had a good time feeding the stingrays. I ended up "buying" a photo just because I had the $15 photo coupon from the casino. If I remember to, I'll bring it in and scan it.

 

Dried off, washed the food slime from my hands a couple of times, then we boarded the bus and headed back. Hiked back to the clamshell, gave cousin her 2nd towel, wrapped up in the dry one and sat to read.

 

Our tablemates arrived and took the clamshell next to us. It still was a bit misty at times, but at least the outright rain had stopped.

 

We headed to lunch at about 11:45. Loaded up with jerk chicken, a hot dog (no bun), some couscous and some pineapple. On the way back to our chairs, I decided it was time for a beer. Into the stupid ship bar I went. Immediately realized that I was NOT going to sit there and drink, thanks to the many smokers and the stiupid DJ blaring music.

 

Look, folks! I love music. Really. I'm losing my hearing because of spending so much of my teen years standing in front of PA speakers watching cute guys in pop bands!

 

But is it really necessary to have LOUD MUSIC AT ALL TIMES EVERYWHERE IN THE KNOWN UNIVERSE????? You can't have a conversation without shouting, which everyone already seems to think is a requirement.

 

So I took my beer and went back to my chair and sat and read. Decided I needed to get away from the noise, so walked almost down to the horseback area. It was SO peaceful and quiet down there! Next time, I may skip the clamshell and just find a lounger down there in the shade.

 

We headed back at about 3 pm. Normally, I want to stay as late as possible, but cousin was pretty much done by them and I realized I was getting hungy. Again! So we gathered up our stuff and headed back. I turned in the two towels and met cousin at a table. Dug into my bag for my S&S card and couldn't find it.

 

You have go to be kidding me!

 

Last I'd seen it, it was in my lap after I bought my 2nd beer from a roving barmaid. It's on a Behind the Fun lanyard. I figured it had slipped between the bands on the seat when I was loading everything up. So I hurried back to the clamshell using the same route I'd taken, but it wasn't there.

 

I headed back, walking along thinking "what the hell is going on with me this week?" Thankfully, whee I got back, cousin had goine through my bag and there was the card wrapped up in the towel and I had NOT turned it! Yippee! Not a disaster after all!

 

Back on board, I jumped in the shower then went up for my hotdog and fries.

 

Another evening of good food and no casino winnings.

 

Speaking of LOUD, several times I tried to sit in the sports-bar sort of area in front of the aft lounge, over the dining room. Tell me why it was necessary to have the volume for the karaoke at about 12 out of 10 when there were maybe 2 dozen people in the lounge? It was so loud that it was impossible to hear the tv. And the doors were closed.

 

I just don't get it. :(

[wmjrdn4ever]

It's why I dislike John Heald so much. He's just like his father - think they are WAY more clever than they actually are and that we're all supposed to just enjoy everything they say because they have an accent. :mad:

 

I have never met John Heald, so do not know about liking or not liking -- I am just curious as can be -- who is his father? Or am I misreading something?

[NCTribeFan]

No, sorry, he is just like my ex's father!

 

Plus, Mr. Heald tends to mis-speak intentionally and everyone thinks that is so cute. Uh, no. And just how many times does he need to say and write "blog thingy" before people are tired of it?

 

I guess I'm just not as easily amused as some. And, no, I'm not just an old grouch. At least not all the time. A lot of people seem to think I have a pretty good sense of humor, so it isn't that I don't find anything amusing. Just not the CDs!