1st Cruise: Facsination

[dayfun]

Where to start? I am now thirty eight years old, am married for 19 years, to my husband Allen. We have two sons, ages; almost 18 and 15. Our family loves to "do things" camp, go boating, and especially the amusement parks! With not alot of extra money, we try to find the most inclusive of adventures, for the best price.

 

Last year after much looking, researching and debating, we decided that

we believed a cruise was by far the best value for our money. We booked a four night on the Carnival Facsination, out of Miami. We live in South Carolina, and we made the trip by car. Now we usually enjoy road trips, however with two teenagers, ...you have your moments!

 

Now, embarkation: first, let me thank the heavans for GPS!...made it straight to the port of Miami without a problem. Without it, I don't know

if we would have ever gotten there....We arrived at the Port at about 11:30 am, went thru check in/registered and then sat to wait for boarding. Very nice terminal, I believe i recall hearing that it was new? Or at least recently renovated. Our wait was only about 20 minutes! We were on Lido deck having lunch by 12:10. After Lunch we explored the ship some, and then were able to go find our cabin.

 

We had booked an inside guarantee, and got assigned to a 5A outside

with port holes!...not very big, but was great to look out at the sea from our room, and the boys loved the "ledge"...had they been younger they would have slept there! Cabins are very nice, have everything you need ,including several channells with movies, as well as shipboard activity videos and info.

 

Ship: As this was our first cruise, we had no comparison going in. We thought the ship was grand!...Seemed to be huge!...very nice condition, so many things to Do and see! The cabin steward ,in addition to our wait staff at dinner, were absolutely wonderful!...always very helpful, friendy and available if anything was needed.

 

We had the early dinner seating (as requested) and ate dinner in the dining room every night for dinner!....Never ordered anything that was not devoured!..and how much of whatever you wished to have, so long as you order it all at the same time. The hamburgers, salads, hot buffetts, and of course the pizza!....desserts....more buffetts.....room service...-what else need I say?..lol

 

In key west our sons went parasailing, we watched, and I do believe we all had the time of our lives!.....In Cozumel, we took a carnival booked excursion on a catamaran boat w/drinks, snorkeling, private beach time.....again, what is there to say?...

 

Our boys did not utilize the children/teen clubs as they found more than enough to occupy themselves: game room, basketball, swimming, slide, put put, and ping pong...etc......-myself and the mr. enjoyed the casino (came out a little ahead!)...and the shows....

 

I had already decided halfway through our trip the I WAS a cruiser!...and within 2 days of being home, we have booked our second cruise on the new Carnival Freedom!....I am so excited and cannot wait!...If I was blown away by the Facsination...The Freedom will probably put me in shock!-...LOL!

[Catrin]

Thanks for your review.....

 

CC Gang.... looks like we "hooked" another one!

 

Catrin

[johnlcruise]

Welcome a board.

You have caught the bug! And it will be with you and the family for ever. :)

[grandmato4]

Glad you enjoyed your first cruise on the Fascination. If you were blown away by the Fascination then you're in for a real treat on the Freedom!:)

[4cruizers]

Our first cruise was on the Fascination, and well we got hooked. We will be doing our sixth cruise in July on the Freedom, with possibly a five day cruise in between there, if time allows (I sure hope it does.) We love cruising.

[pursediva]

OUr first cruise was the Fascination TOO! And I am totally hooked for life along with my husband and teenage children! We are also going on our first bigger ship in two weeks, after many smaller ones I can not wait!!!! I have cruise fever BAD!!

[Donna - dsw]

Thanks for your comments - and how wonderful to get the kids hooked at such a great age.

 

I took my two grandsons on the Disney cruise for their 5th birthday and they loved it. Next month we are taking them again with their little sister on the Carnival Imignation.

 

You will ove the Freedom!

[slang1272]

Thanks for the review. I'm glad to hear that they worked out the computer issues at the port for embarkation. When I sailed on Celebration last year, embarkation took less than 45 min total. I was shocked to hear about the long waits during the first sailing of Fascination from Jaxport in Sept. Glad to hear things are moving smoothly again.

 

We'll be on this ship in December. Thanks again for the review.

[gkrnjlr]

Our first cruise was on the Fascination and we loved it! She's a great ship!

 

Glad you had a good time and you wrote a great review.

 

So you're an addict now, too, huh? I also recommend the Legend for another upcoming cruise for you. Between that and the Fascination we're "stuck" on cruising!

[BettyPC]

Thanks for sharing your vacation with us! It sounds like it was a great time

[beach410]

Welcome to the cruise addicts club! Glad you enjoyed your first experience. And its great you were upgraded, you mentioned the rooms are small, but by industry standards, Carnival has some of the largest rooms by comparison!!

[Jilpo]

My first cruise was also on the Fascination. It was a wonderful time and now I'm looking forward to my 2nd (and longer) cruise on the Miracle. Looking to book next year's cruise soon, also.