What is the fascination like

[damaskprint]

Is it in good shape? Clean? Well kept and in good condition? Is it generally a good crowd? I know that these things vary according to season, but I am trying to get a feel for the ship. DH and I have been on Carnival ships that I loved and on others that were very worn and dirty. Thanks!

[Bhutch08]

Took my first cruise last year, sadly my group decided on the fascination. To many negative things to list. The best part of the trip was señor frogs in Nassau. We have decided to pay the premium and will be on the breeze next month, I am confident I will report with great satisfaction.

[damaskprint]

that is what i was worried about...

[oldrailfan]

One respondent, that has made one post, says "all things are bad!" and you're ready to go elsewhere? Funny, there are a lot of us that go back to Fascination time-and-time again. Though it's one of the older and smaller ships in the fleet, it is beautifully kept up, and the staff is marvelous. Don't know what Bhutch's problem is, but whatever it is, he would probably be unhappy if he got the gold ticket to Willy Wonka's, because it wasn't platinum!

 

Look thorough other posts about Fascination, especially the Roll Calls, and see what most of us think about her before you decide.

[damaskprint]

no not ready to go elsewhere. We are already booked. I'm just worried that the ship will be run down. I have read reviews but many did not address whether the ship was dirty or shopworn. As I said in my original post, DH and I have been on carnival ships that were amazing (Fantasy) and ones that were very run down and dirty. we always make it a good time, though. I'm just trying to get a feel for what this ship will be like. thanks

[UKJJ]

no not ready to go elsewhere. We are already booked. I'm just worried that the ship will be run down. I have read reviews but many did not address whether the ship was dirty or shopworn. As I said in my original post, DH and I have been on carnival ships that were amazing (Fantasy) and ones that were very run down and dirty. we always make it a good time, though. I'm just trying to get a feel for what this ship will be like. thanks

 

 

The Fascination was renovated in 2010, and is definitely not run down. It shows it's age in certain places, but is in good overall condition. It is a small ship, but that can be a positive or a negative depending on what you look for in a cruise. The only knock I have is the location of the lifeboats at the top of the ship. It takes away from the views at the top of the ship.

[teddybarehead]

I've been on the fascination twice, and I loved it both times. It's clean and the staff is so very helpful. Don't listen to trolls that have no actual points to make and try to scare you. The fascination is a great ship.

[deanswife1990]

DH and I were on the Fascination in November and actually won another cruise thru the raffle during bingo on that cruise. We booked the Fascination again and will sail on her June 1. It is small but the staff is very friendly and we never felt we were short changed by sailing on her.

[kingoftheicedragons]

Fascination just had a dry dock in January, and we were on it about a week or so after that. I can't say that it was dirty or run down at all. And like I said in another post, I think Fascination ranked pretty high on John Heald's top five list compiled from guest satisfaction surveys. So take that and do with it what you will.

[Express Man]

We just got off at Easter. Ship was CLEAN.. No drunks all over. Was great family type of groups. We never had any issue an had a great time. The crew was awesome also, always keeping bust as expected.

 

Had such a great time we booked again after we got home for July...;)

[Jamman54]

The Fascination is our favorite Fantasy Class ship!! Enjoy your cruise!!

[Gypsywych]

We love the Fascination. It is a smaller ship, friendly crew, easy to navigate, and the decor isn't totally garish.

[kerovick]

I just got off the Fascination on 4/22. The ship was very clean, the staff was wonderfull and the ship didn't feel old at all. You'll have a great time!

[cruise_girl2002]

no not ready to go elsewhere. We are already booked. I'm just worried that the ship will be run down. I have read reviews but many did not address whether the ship was dirty or shopworn. As I said in my original post, DH and I have been on carnival ships that were amazing (Fantasy) and ones that were very run down and dirty. we always make it a good time, though. I'm just trying to get a feel for what this ship will be like. thanks

 

don't listen to the reviews. some people would rather post/write about the bad than the good. I don't read the reviews and go with an open mind. im sailing on the fascination next week. I like the smaller ships and older ships. (heck I really like them all).

[Tapi]

Is it generally a good crowd? Thanks!

 

What's your definition of a "good crowd"? I have some stories to tell you about my fellow cruisers the last time I sailed on Fascination. Lets just say I almost chose to never cruise on Carnival after that.

 

About the condition of the ship: Considering that she's almost 20 years old, she's in remarkably good shape. As someone mentioned, this ship was renovated a few years ago so she was freshened up quite well.

 

What other Carnival ships have you been on? The best piece of advice I can give you is that you can have a great time as long as you go with REALISTIC EXPECTATIONS. She's an older ship, doing short, inexpensive itineraries our of a "drive to" port catering to many first time and budget minded cruisers. But for what you normally pay for these cruises, you'll get more than your money's worth.

[damaskprint]

For me a "good crowd" would be people that are appropriately clothed, aren't falling down drunk, and don't put their fingers in the buffet food. I'm pretty flexible. lol. On my honeymoon cruise with DH there were some GROSS people. Even the crew looked disgusted (and I'm sure they've seen it all). People were loud in the serenity deck, one guy vomited in the serenity pool. you get the idea...

[Mizzouaholic]

Is it in good shape? Clean? Well kept and in good condition? Is it generally a good crowd? I know that these things vary according to season, but I am trying to get a feel for the ship. DH and I have been on Carnival ships that I loved and on others that were very worn and dirty. Thanks!

 

We cruised on her last June and she was very clean and we had a lot of fun...

[Tapi]

For me a "good crowd" would be people that are appropriately clothed, aren't falling down drunk, and don't put their fingers in the buffet food.

 

We have been on the Fascination 4 times. The last time was out of Jacksonville. Unfortunately, fellow passengers on that specific sailing almost made us decide to NEVER cruise on Carnival again.

 

We encountered many inconsiderate passengers and had more than one situation that had us scratching our head. Pushing, shoving, heavy smoking, ignoring rules, smoking in non-smoking areas, cursing and yelling, tank tops and t-shirts on Elegant night, vandalizing, etc. I can see how some people would choose to ignore negative behavior from other passengers and say that the cruise was perfectly fine, but these things really bothered us.

 

The Fascination is in Jacksonville doing short, inexpensive cruises from an "easy to drive to" port. The same factors that attracted us to this sailing unfortunately attract several cruisers who (in my humble opinion) would not even consider going on a cruise under different circumstances (or even place themselves in a social situation were some basic behavior skills, rules of etiquette, or awareness for others is required).

[crusinfamof4]

Is it in good shape? Clean? Well kept and in good condition? Is it generally a good crowd? I know that these things vary according to season, but I am trying to get a feel for the ship. DH and I have been on Carnival ships that I loved and on others that were very worn and dirty. Thanks!

 

Clean? Yes, I would say for the most part, I really wasn't grossed out by anything.

 

Good Crowd? It was gospelfest 2012 when I sailed, so I guess they weren't bad, no drunks or anything that I can remember.

 

The part I didn't like, where they held trivia, it was right next to the casino, it was a lot of smoke. DH and I do not smoke, so it was difficult adjusting to.

 

I didn't care for this ship too much, don't care for the CD, Paul. Disembarkation was horrible, no organization. I would sail her again if I was desperate for a cruise.

[waynbo]

Just got off a Fascination B2B on 27 April and had a great time. The ship itself was beautiful and clean (much cleaner than what I saw on the Dream over New Years). We interacted with a lot of the crew and they were wonderful. The staff in the Coconut Grove (buffet) was busy but always had time for a quick chat. The staff in the MDR was some of the best I've had (had different tables each half).

 

The passengers on each half were different as night and day. Both "good" crowds but the first half seemed to be more party people (the dance floor was full and hopping every night) where the second half was more layed back, still fun, just more relaxed.

 

With that said, "Good" and "Fun" are very subjective terms. How "Good" a crowd/ship is or how much "Fun" you have is completely up to you and I'm sure you know you should never rely on somebody else's opinion (even mine) to decide it for you. Go with what ever you think fits your style/situation and take everyone else's opinion with a grain of salt.

 

I hope you have a wonderful cruise no matter which ship you're on!

 

Cheers!

[dallas52]

good ship, clean and well kept, great staff and would sail her again. there are always people on a cruise that should have stayed home but that is on all ships, not just carnival. we had a great time on her last year.

[zabaco]

I've sailed on the Fascination 4 times, with this April the most recent. It's a perfect size in my opinion. It's got a friendly crew and is clean. You will smell smoke if you hang out near the casino, but that is my only complaint.

 

Is it absolutely perfect? No. But what ship is?

[kimmimom]

I love fascination as you can tell by my history... Well kept, easy to get around, great staff. Who goes on it will vary. The shorter, the more likely to be "partiers", but I have never really seen any bad drunk behavior on any of my 10 cruises (9 Carnival, 1 RC).

[ragen]

Very Clean, Everything was Cleaned and freshened up in January's dry-dock,. Very Happy friendly crew, No worry's, You'll have a great trip.;)

[OCruisers]

QUOTE damaskprint

For me a "good crowd" would be people that are appropriately clothed, aren't falling down drunk, and don't put their fingers in the buffet food. I'm pretty flexible. lol. On my honeymoon cruise with DH there were some GROSS people. Even the crew looked disgusted (and I'm sure they've seen it all). People were loud in the serenity deck, one guy vomited in the serenity pool. you get the idea...

 

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Agree with your definition of a "good crowd".

 

LuLu

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