Fascination cruise out of Puerto Rico

[ranchette]

I have a few questions hopefully someone can answer

What time does the casino open?

Does it make sense to purchase the cheers package on the first day?

How much is the chefs dinner and is it worth it?

[cruisin_addict]

We also were wondering when the casino would open being that we leave late from Puerto Rico. We are the sailing g going out of Puerto Rico this Sunday.

[ranchette]

We also were wondering when the casino would open being that we leave late from Puerto Rico. We are the sailing g going out of Puerto Rico this Sunday.

 

Have a great trip and please let me know about the casino. Also what pier does the Fascination sail out of?

[Stinger-pr]

If I'm not mistaken it should open once they reach international waters on the night they set sail. So maybe around 11-ish...pm??

 

BTW, the Fascination sails from the Old San Juan docks.

[ranchette]

Thanks for your replies

[Desiree D]

OH WHAT FUN, our first cruise from San Juan, on the Fascination May 1996. WOW, I would love to be sailing this one again. We had a blast! Hooked us on cruising, for sure! Wish we could afford to go more often! The Fascination will always be our favorite, such great memories! Have fun!

[evandbob]

If I'm not mistaken it should open once they reach international waters on the night they set sail. So maybe around 11-ish...pm??

 

BTW, the Fascination sails from the Old San Juan docks.

 

One can get a casino fix prior to sailing in several of San Juan's hotels. If that is a priority, board the ship, have lunch and get settled in your cabin, leave to explore SJ and then be back for muster, dinner and sail away and ta-da the casino opening on board the ship.

 

Just use repellant as PR has had the most cases of Zika (and possibly dengue and chikunganya as well).

Edited October 6, 2016 by evandbob

[cruisin_addict]

Thanks for all the replies, I figured they probably wouldn't open the casino till we got into international waters.

 

Super excited for this itinerary, we haven't been to any of these ports yet.

[Goggie28]

We will be taking the Fascination out of San Juan in February. It will be the first cruise we have taken that leaves at night. What time to they let you begin to board?

[Island Hopping]

We boarded around noon. You can check in, then get off and explore more of Old San Juan. We were told to be back on board by 8:30.

 

First night in the MDR is open seating. Don't wait to long to go to dinner as Muster will be called around 9:30.

[sparks1093]

One can get a casino fix prior to sailing in several of San Juan's hotels. If that is a priority, board the ship, have lunch and get settled in your cabin, leave to explore SJ and then be back for muster, dinner and sail away and ta-da the casino opening on board the ship.

 

Just use repellant as PR has had the most cases of Zika (and possibly dengue and chikunganya as well).

 

I saw slots in the airport and in the local grocery store we went into, so there seems to be plenty of opportunity.:)

[sternfanla]

Does anyone here know the reason this cruise leaves so late?

Thanks.

[Wildgrits]

The ships normally leave the dock at 10pm. I assume it is because St Thomas is right next door and takes no time to get to for the next morning.

 

Drink Package:

If you by the package before the cruise, it is $49.95 a day and 15% tax. That's 57.44 a day coming to 402.08 for the cruise per person.

 

If you buy the package on the ship, it is $54.95 a day and 15% tax. That's 63.20 a day and $442.40 for the entire cruise. If you buy it on Monday $379.20 per person.

 

I thought I had read somewhere that the price was different again if you bought it on Monday but I cannot find any web site to support that.

[evandbob]

Does anyone here know the reason this cruise leaves so late?

Thanks.

 

If the next port is {usually} St Thomas, the ship can get there with little diesel assist if the tide and winds are moving east.

[Stinger-pr]

If the next port is {usually} St Thomas, the ship can get there with little diesel assist if the tide and winds are moving east.

 

Nah...sea turtles, mate. Sea turtles... (pirates of the Caribbean reference...lol)

[Songbyrd8403]

I'm looking to book the cruise to SJ October 29th 2017 for my birthday, and although this will be the smallest cruise ship i'll be on my question is is there a movie screen/movie night aboard this ship?

[Hornet441]

I'm looking to book the cruise to SJ October 29th 2017 for my birthday, and although this will be the smallest cruise ship i'll be on my question is is there a movie screen/movie night aboard this ship?

 

Negative, no on deck screen or Dive In movies.

[CLS/KAS]

can you still purchase booze, right before you go through security, then walk right on w it? this is the only port I have seen this..saves so much $ :D

[sparks1093]

can you still purchase booze, right before you go through security, then walk right on w it? this is the only port I have seen this..saves so much $ :D

 

No longer, security is after the stores now.

[Snowbaby369]

No longer, security is after the stores now.[/quote

 

Are you still able to carry your own purchases , or does the store send them to the ship?

[sparks1093]

Are you still able to carry your own purchases , or does the store send them to the ship?

 

That I don't know for sure. It could be the security table was there for stuff that was already in someone's carryon and not something they had just purchased.

[IntrepidFromDC]

I have a few questions hopefully someone can answer

What time does the casino open?

Does it make sense to purchase the cheers package on the first day?

How much is the chefs dinner and is it worth it?

 

"casino" opened about an hour after leaving each port and closed when the tables were nearly empty, between 1:30am and 3am.

 

"cheers": I can't drink 15 martinis in a day, so I don't get cheers.

 

"chefs dinner": We did "Chef's Table" and for $75 I recommend doing it once. There are two parts. After meeting the sous chef at the atrium bar on Empress deck, part one commences - a tour of the kitchen with some standing amuse bouche. I found the amuse bouche to be better gourmet than the sit down dinner. During the kitchen tour you get to see a lot, including a demo of a warm melting cake made from start to finish (my daughter and I thought this was the most "fun" part of the evening). Part one ended with a walk to the Library on Promenade deck. Part two is much more formal - a sit-down, eight course (small portions) meal and the presentation was just about as good as some of the finer restaurants we've enjoyed in NYC (the food, not so much). Six couples all seated at one long table. And it had a tablecloth! The best part of part two was that the the sous chef did a very nice job describing in detail the impressive efforts behind each dish. None of the food approached Michelin star status, but it truly is gourmet, chef-inspired foodie food.

 

Free photos were taken while we were seated and delivered by Pixels.

 

Total time was three hours.

 

I recommend it for the experience, but we both felt the food at the steak house was better than the Chef's Table, although they really pamper you at Chef's Table.

[love4trvl]

I know that you can pre purchase liquor for your room. Do you know if they also sell it on board that can be delivered to your room?

[Luke gs Daddy]

Our experience from SJ. Very easy to take booze, beer or wine.

Store right before security.

Once you buy what you want they usually place a zip tie on bag. We took a small pair of scissors and cut off the tie, place in baggage and walked right on.

Since the ship leaves late we made another run to the store for more beer.

Just saying.

[v3cruiser]

Does anyone here know the reason this cruise leaves so late?

Thanks.

 

I believe it to give those flying in from the States on day of departure more time to get to port. Especially since getting down there may require 2 flights.