Our FIRST cruise... Review time....

[Hockey Addict]

Fun time is over.... time for dinner.... time to change AGAIN and head down to see our buddies!

 

I think I got the steak again tonight. They were so good I couldn't help it. Samson and Charnel of course were happy to see us. Samson got to go onto the island today to help with lunch. He told us as soon as he saw us that he "fell down a mountain" today. WHAAA???? :eek: Where WERE you?

He said he went scuba diving and fell down the mountain... we asked if he was OK and he giggled and said yes. He showed us his scratches on his leg and arm... poor thing! He said it was fun tho!

 

Another joke from Samson and dinner was good as usual. Chocolate Melting Cake all around!

 

Tamika wasn't feeling good, she said it was rocking too much for her. So she didn't eat too much. Samson told her he would be right back and brought her a plate of cut up apple, cored. He told her to eat some... it would help her stomach. So she did and she said before we left that she was feeling a little better.

 

Tonight Samson and Charnel and all of the other guys and girls in the dining room danced for us... MAN can Samson dance! He was going crazy! Charnel was next to him and just moved out of the way a little bit so Samson could have all the room he needed. It was awesome... Jama handed me some dollar bills and I got up and put them in Samson and Charnel's vest. That got a good laugh out of our table mates and Samson and Charnel's other table next to us. We were in the middle of the dining room and there were 4 tables of 10 (round) and 1 table for 6 (square) EVERYONE was watching Samson. The other guys were just dancing a little and watching Samson and everyone watching Samson... it was great. Then Charnel takes the dollar I put in his vest and goes over to Samson. Samson took the dollar in his mouth and finished the dance with it in his mouth. Samson even took off his vest and threw it at our table... It was great! I was laughing and clapping so much I forgot to take pictures but Jama took video... maybe I can get it from her and post it.

 

The fun was over and we thanked our guys for everything as usual and headed back to our staterooms to change.... this time there wasn't a screach from me for the towel animal. Jama went back to her stateroom during dinner to get her cam corder and told me what the towel animal was. I was bummed. I love surprises and I looked forward to seeing them every night.... so here he is.... next addition to the towel animal family...

 

 

 

After his photo shoot I had no more room on my window ledge. So the seal had to move to the shelf under the TV. My family was getting bigger and bigger!

 

We ended up back in the casino I think for a little bit because we didn't want to go to the show tonight... it was The Motown Sounds of Jerome. We're not into motown so we skipped it. The lido party was starting so we headed up there.

 

Remember I was telling you about the girl in the Passage to India bar how good she was? I just found her name in the Capers... it is Kristin. She was onstage for the Lido Party. She's really good!

 

I wanted to stay longer but not too many people were up there yet and my nose was starting to do the stuffed up thing so we headed in for a bit. We stopped in the duty free store to check out cigarette prices.... for you smokers out there.... 5 cartons of Marlboro for $91.00! That's good for us in Florida! Or if you wanted you could do 2 cartons for $40.00.

 

After we got those we went to the other gift shop. I picked up a stuffed Fun Ship Freddy... and yes, it was for me! :D I'm like a kid!

 

We dropped those off in our staterooms then boogied back to the Lido. (tissues in pocket)

 

We had enough for the night around 1ish so we headed in for the night.

 

Next up.... our last fun day at sea!

[BalconyBumz]

I hope you left your fabulous servers an extra tip the last night because they sounded above and beyond and great! :)

[Hockey Addict]

Wow! This ranks up there with one of the best reviews EVER!!! I absolutely love your pictures especially the ones of the sunsets! I could tell that you had a great time!!!!

 

I have a couple of questions:

 

1. What type of camera did you use?

2. What was in the DOD "Miami Vice"? I have never heard of this drink....

****Is it a sweet drink? I love sweet drinks....

 

Thanks! Crystal :D

 

Hi Jeans Fanatic!!

 

I have a Nikon D40. I LOVE LOVE LOVE it! It's a great camera. I charged the battery 2 nights before we left. I didn't have to charge it at ALL while on the cruise and I took about 545 pictures!!

 

Miami Vice.... oooo baby... nice and fruity... it comes SWIRLED in the glass together! It's a Pina Colada and a Raspberry Daquri!! Man is it good! :D

 

Thanks for the kind words!! I'll put a link at the end of my review for my pics on photobucket... there's lots of sunsets in there!

[Hockey Addict]

I hope you left your fabulous servers an extra tip the last night because they sounded above and beyond and great! :)

 

Ohhh yeaahhhh!!! :D

[Hockey Addict]

I think I am going to call it a night for now... I've been at this computer almost ALL day!!

 

My back is starting to bother me a bit... I'll finish up tomorrow... The last Sea Day but it was a full sea day!! Lots to do!!

 

Everyone have a good night and see ya tomorrow!

[BalconyBumz]

Ohhh yeaahhhh!!! :D

 

Oh good for you. I'm glad you knew to do this. It really wasn't my business to ask, but I'm happy you realized when some of these guys go so far above and beyond, that it really is nice to give them extra. I always do to my cabin attendants and waiters as long as they have really done a great job. I've only had a few times where it didn't warrant it and I didn't do it, but I do love to give them extra! Your waiters sounded and looked absolutely adorable and you were lucky to have them. We've had a few duds and also many outstanding ones. They really do help "make" your cruise.

[BalconyBumz]

I think I am going to call it a night for now... I've been at this computer almost ALL day!!

 

My back is starting to bother me a bit... I'll finish up tomorrow... The last Sea Day but it was a full sea day!! Lots to do!!

 

Everyone have a good night and see ya tomorrow!

 

Thanks, I have really enjoyed it! I go through such bad cruise depression and with drawls for weeks when I get home. I hate it! I can't book another one for a while due to this economy, which usually helps keep me going with something to look forward to. You are lucky you live near ports so you don't have to fly and you can get some great last minute deals too.

[BalconyBumz]

We live near ports but we get so sick of doing the same itinerary to Mexico, that we would love to fly to Florida more often to do the Carib. Until these airlines get better and this economy gets better, we're going to have to stay put for a while.

[newt98]

you are hysterical. :D my wife is gonna kick my $$$ if i dont get up and do something, but this very entertaining. keep it up, thats what she said. lol :o

 

mike

[SenatorsFan]

Absolutely wonderful review and I love all your pictures, too. So glad you had such a good time.:)

[BalconyBumz]

I still can't wait to hear the last day at sea!

[Avril]

First of all, I just want to say thanks so much!! :D Your review is absolutly wonderful. It's very captivating and your enthusiasim and excitment is contagious!! :D You and I have the same impresison of Nassau, I was just there a couple of weeks ago aboard the Valor. We did an excursion through Carnival that took us to Atlantis so we saw the Aquariums and our guide explained a lot. The fish have a lot more room than you think, it's awesome to see the whole thing!! :D If I remember right, the excursion was called Discover Atlantis and Historical Harbour Cruise. It was definatly worth it. I'm going to Half Moon Cay this December onboard Holland America Line's Eurodam so it was nice to see some pics of it. I'm doing the Horseback Riding Excursion (it looked interesting and I'm 24 and have been riding since I was 8) in the morning with 2 other people from our roll call. What should we be sure to do after? What's the bar like? I would like to see ALL your pictures sometime (yes, all 545 of them)!! :D

 

Miami Vice.... oooo baby... nice and fruity... it comes SWIRLED in the glass together! It's a Pina Colada and a Raspberry Daquri!! Man is it good!

 

You're close, it is nice and fruity and I can't figure out how the swirl it like that!! :D However, it is made of Pina Colada and Strawberry Daquri. It tastes even better though if you replace the Strawberry Daquri with Rum Runner!! :D

[FlipFlop Girl]

Wow girl!!! I am absolutly amazed by your review. Do you have carpel tunnel yet?!?! It's been great reading it and reliving the trip. I've started looking through your pics - may take me a while to do it!! :D

[falkcor]

this is one of those reviews that you just read all the way through. great review, you obviously had a blast!

[Surbie]

Steph, What a great review, and yes, it was a spectacular trip! This was our first cruise too, and we are totally addicted. We knew we would have a great time, but had no idea that it would be so much more than we expected. The staff was incredible too. Everything was so perfect! I've heard that the Fascination cruises are not as great as the bigger ships, but I could not have asked for a better time!

[homeofthedogs]

Oh My Gosh!!!! Your review is the best I've read in a L O N G, LONG time!!!!!

 

Thanks so much! I can't wait to finish reading. Please, oh please, post all your pictures of the cruise. Would love to see them.

 

My SIL and I will sail the Fascination 1/24/09. Can't wait, especially now, after reading your review.

 

How about sailing with us??????? We've booked a inside cabin for $249 pp. My SIL lives in Jax too, so I will drive down the day before and stay with them. Want to come?????

 

Lu

[JMNL]

Thanks HockeyAddict for your fabulous review. I have hundreds of reviews over the years and your's is exceptionally great. It is so special because I have never seen a review of a cruise I have sailed. And I appreciate the pictures very very much as I only got a few poor results from my cell phone camera.

 

It was fun meeting the "beads bunch" at the funnel and seeing some of you around the ship. The November 1 thread was a great group of people and I hope other "roll-callers" can enjoy the pre-cruise anticipation as much as I did.

 

All-in-all, the Fascination is a wonderful ship and Half Moon Cay is gorgeous. I expected the best part of the cruise would be our balcony because after 13 sailings we had never treated ourselves to one. For DH, his splurge on his first parasailing experience was totally worth the money. But, while we liked the balcony, I don't think I would pay extra for one again but save up for more cruises. It was fun "popping outside" to say "hello" or "good-night" to the ocean but we did that almost as easily on ships where we sailed in promenade deck cabins. The Fasciantion balcony is tiny but that isn't the reason we didn't spend lots of time eating or relaxing on it. We found that one interesting part of cruising is co-experiencing the trip with friends or just fellow-cruisers.

 

Happy future sailings to all!!

[glrounds]

Thanks for a great review, Steph. I've also read a lot of reviews over the years and find this one superb. Love the play by play commentary. :D I take a lot of pics also and love seeing what others find interesting.

[Hockey Addict]

this is one of those reviews that you just read all the way through. great review, you obviously had a blast!

 

Thank you!! We had a TOTAL BLAST!! I can't wait to go again!!!

 

Oh My Gosh!!!! Your review is the best I've read in a L O N G, LONG time!!!!!

 

Thanks so much! I can't wait to finish reading. Please, oh please, post all your pictures of the cruise. Would love to see them.

 

My SIL and I will sail the Fascination 1/24/09. Can't wait, especially now, after reading your review.

 

How about sailing with us??????? We've booked a inside cabin for $249 pp. My SIL lives in Jax too, so I will drive down the day before and stay with them. Want to come?????

 

Lu

 

You're tempting me!!! Hmmmmm I would say YES in a heartbeat... Steve on the other hand... well... he may be tempted too. His vacation time doesn't start again until mid February. So we have to wait until after then. :eek:

 

 

 

Thanks HockeyAddict for your fabulous review. I have hundreds of reviews over the years and your's is exceptionally great. It is so special because I have never seen a review of a cruise I have sailed. And I appreciate the pictures very very much as I only got a few poor results from my cell phone camera.

 

It was fun meeting the "beads bunch" at the funnel and seeing some of you around the ship. The November 1 thread was a great group of people and I hope other "roll-callers" can enjoy the pre-cruise anticipation as much as I did.

 

All-in-all, the Fascination is a wonderful ship and Half Moon Cay is gorgeous. I expected the best part of the cruise would be our balcony because after 13 sailings we had never treated ourselves to one. For DH, his splurge on his first parasailing experience was totally worth the money. But, while we liked the balcony, I don't think I would pay extra for one again but save up for more cruises. It was fun "popping outside" to say "hello" or "good-night" to the ocean but we did that almost as easily on ships where we sailed in promenade deck cabins. The Fasciantion balcony is tiny but that isn't the reason we didn't spend lots of time eating or relaxing on it. We found that one interesting part of cruising is co-experiencing the trip with friends or just fellow-cruisers.

 

Happy future sailings to all!!

 

HEY THERE! You can steal some of my pics if you want!! How was DH's parasailing? I want to do that so bad!!

 

 

 

I'm gonna work on the last sea day now for a bit!! Gimme a few to type and re-size pictures. I hope photobucket isn't as slow as it was yesterday!

[Surbie]

These are a few pictures from the air when we were parasailing on Half Moon Cay... That was a blast!

[Hockey Addict]

Our last fun day at sea. We did our usual coffee from room service and got a couple cheese danish. Got ready and headed up to the dining room for breakfast.

 

We had a window seat again. There was a older couple sitting already that we joined. They were very sweet. We later ran into the hubby in the night and he was TOASTED! Anyway... so we're talking and I look over to the left and there's Diane, Diane, Mark and Paul! Hey guys!! Fancy meeting you here!!

 

We go back to talking to our table mates when something outside the window catches my eye.... uhhhh.... where are we exactly.... near Miami maybe??? So I start snapping pics....

 

 

Everyone at our table is looking outside and Diane asked what it was... I told her we were speeding and we were being pulled over. They were coming straight for us! They were all waving too. That was pretty neat.

 

After breakfast we headed next door to the Piano Bar.... we had found this place the other night... I think I didn't mention it... the piano player was good but he didn't have that good of a voice I thought... we had cash in our pocket from what else.... the casino... and gave him a little tip that night..... Sorry I got off track again.... there was no one playing since it was too early but it's a good stop for us smokers!

 

Steve was complaining that he ate too much yet again... come on, you're not use to that by now???

 

At least he's smiling now... usually I have to tell him to smile... by the end of the cruise he was smiling automatically!!

 

 

Another shot of the Piano Bar.

 

 

After our smoke break we bummed around again until it was time to go to the Towel Animal class. I wanted to see how my little family was born afterall!!

 

 

We made the elephant.... mines on the left and Steve's is on the right.

 

 

We then learned the dog... making his body was hard! There were stewards walking around helping if we needed it... we needed it!! My dog, Jester is part German Shepard part Malimute. He looks like a german shep tho. Except... he has one ear that stands up and the other lays down! So... I used Jester as my towel dog model.....

 

 

I think Steve's was better on this one! Jama didn't come up on stage, she stayed by the boothes making hers.... so I didn't get a pic of hers.

 

After towel animal's bummed around for about 30 minutes then went back to our stateroom to drop more crap-ola off. We ran into Greg, Nicky, Kristi and Heather by our stateroom. They asked if we wanted to meet in the dining room for lunch. SURE! We agreed to meet at the piano bar next to the dining room at 12:30. But first since we are newbies we need to go see Trevor our Cruise Director in the Palace Theatre for the Debarkation talk.

[Hockey Addict]

Before I knew it I was balling like a baby. They had a big screen projection of highlights of everyone having fun and smiling from the cruise. The song they had playing had me tearing up before I knew it. I didn't want to get off tomorrow, I didn't want this to end... DANG IT!! (or enter what you know I really thought there instead of DANG IT) We had so much fun and Steve admitted to me the night before that he loved it and that we WERE booking a cruise for next year. I told ya before I am not a cry-er. It takes a lot for me to cry.... I was like a baby!!

 

 

Anywhoo....

 

Trevor came on stage THANK GOD (no more tears, it's a cruise! There's no crying on cruises!)and he told us that he wouldn't keep us long he would be straight to the point.. BUT he said he wanted to read to us his top ten list. His top ten of the stupidest questions he has been asked basically. It was funny and I was glad I never asked any of the questions on the list. He went over all the stuff for debarkation and then he asked if we had fun... a loud response and then he said let's bring out some of your crew and you can thank them. Almost everyone stood as they came down the stairs in the middle of the theatre. There was a graduating class of waiters and waitress'. Trevor said they were keeping the good ones. He also announce the 2 employees of the month. They got one FULL day off of work and $100. The guy in the chef's hat and the guy to the left of him were the 2 employee's of the month!

 

 

Here's Trevor our Cruise Director. He reffered to himself as Julie McCoy too!

 

 

 

 

Then the captain came on stage. That was cool for me because we didn't do the Capatains reception because I thought it would be pushing it with Steve. Steve did say that next time we're gonna go to it tho... YAYY!

 

 

Time for us to head outta there and meet those guys for lunch.... thanks for making me cry, Trevor!

 

Off to the Piano bar to meet everyone. We took a few pictures of everyone on the window ledge and then off to the Sensation dining room. This was the first lunch we went to the dining room. It was nice! Guess who was at the entrance when we walked in! Yep, Charnel and Samson! Samson seated a couple in front of us and Charnel started to take us to our table. Next thing I know Samson was running over to Charnel and Charnel gave him our menu's and Samson took us the rest of the way to our table. On our way to the table he was telling all the other servers to make way, important people coming thru! I had Samson snap a picture of us all at the table...

 

Starting on the left back to the window.... Kristi, Heather and me. Starting on the right back to the window.... Greg, Nicky, Jama and Steve.

 

 

I didn't take any pics of food at all until now.... here's a couple....

 

Fruit Plate.... the pineapple on the ship was hit and miss, sometimes it didn't taste like anything and other times it was REAL good. This piece was really good.

 

 

Steve and I had the build your own burger. It was VERY good. Nice and juicy.

 

For dessert Steve and Heather had the German Chocolate Cake. They said it was AWESOME. I meant to try a bite but forgot. Steve doesn't like coconut and the cake had it in it... he didn't care... that's how good it was. They said it was REALLY moist.

 

[Hockey Addict]

Most of the rest of us had the Cinnamon Bread Pudding. Everyone like it except Jama. It doesn't have a lot of cinnamon in it.

 

[Hockey Addict]

These are a few pictures from the air when we were parasailing on Half Moon Cay... That was a blast!

 

 

WOW that's cool! I am SO doing that next time!!! Thanks for the pics... I just LOVE the water there... it's beautiful!! It was so peaceful there.

[Hockey Addict]

We had a nice lunch, everything was great. We then all headed up to the Lido deck for the ice carving demo. We were late but we got to see him working on it a little bit. The ice wasn't crystal clear but it was still cool. One thing on Trevor's top 10 list..... what do you do with the blocks of ice after they melted?

 

 

I wanted to make sure I got a picture of the artist too!

 

 

As soon as he walked over we all started snapping pictures. As I was walking off of the stage I told him how cool it was and thanked him. He was all smiles and said it was his pleasure. GEEEEZ everyone is so NICE on this ship!!

 

Off to the Palace Theatre for the Millionaire game. Just like who wants to be a millionaire. Our host said we had all the life lines. If we wanted to phone a friend to go for it... it would only be $6.99 a minute!

 

None of us won the ship on a stick... I was really starting to want a ship on a stick too!

 

After the game Nicky was ready to head to her stateroom for a nap. Steve and Greg had been discussing Mini Golf and Volleyball. So Steve, Greg, Jama and I took off for Putt Putt....

 

I think I told you guys we played putt putt already... I was a little outta synch. This is the day we played putt putt. Oooops.

 

It was SO windy!!! It was a fun game! The DOD's helped too... Ultimate Suntan...

 

 

It's almost 4pm... off to the Galley tour. We met up with Kristi, Heater, Nicky was done with her nap, Flip Flop and her DH. ( I don't know if Flip wants me to share their names )

 

It was pretty cool. I love the behind the scenes stuff.

 

Our Maitre D greeted everyone and talked to us with his trusty microphone. He told us that the dining rooms were on either side of the galley, and that the galley was the same size as one of the dining rooms. I can't remember what the square footage is. He gave us a little run down of the sections and how things are done. Then he introduced us all to CHARNEL his head waiter.... YAYYYYY Charnel would take us to the galley. As soon as we entered the Galley Charnel was there all smiles. Have I told you that we love those guys?

 

Here's a couple pics... Cooking some red potatoes for dinner tonight.

 

 

 

No more Midnight buffet with all the food out for show... but we did get a peek at it. I was glad they did because I was looking forward to seeing what I saw here.....

 

 

It's amazing... I wish I had been there when he was working on the watermelon. I would have loved to see how he does it... we saw him do the orange rose tho.... pretty neat!