Fascination Review - Freeport/Nassau with pics

[bradm77]

We flew to Jax out of Columbus, Ohio on Friday the 13th. We had a group of 8 cabins, 8 couples, plus our youngest son, Kirk (aka K-dizzle or Dizz) was with us for his first cruise (our 3rd). We booked a block of rooms at the La Quinta Airport hotel. We picked this hotel for three reasons:

1. Free airport shuttle
2. Free Cruise shuttle
3. Leave your car at the hotel for free (they normally charge $25 for this, but told us they would wiave the fee since we were a group)

Myself, DW and Dizzle, along with two other couples were the last ones in Friday night, landed in Jax around 10PM to find out that the La Quinta free airport shuttle shuts down at 9PM, no exceptions. So.... 20 minutes and $70 later we finally get to the hotel. The desk clerk checking us in informs us that all the free cruise shuttle spots are taken, but we are welcome to call a cab (geee, really?). I also find out at this time that the one couple who drove was charged $25 to leave the car.

Needless to say, I am starting to get a little..... ummmm.... cranky?

After discussing all of this with the night auditor (who has no real authority to fix any of this, my decade of hotel mgmt experience tells me), and pointing out that the three reasons we chose this hotel have become three reasaons that don't exactly exist for us, we decide to just call it a night and speak with the manager in the morning.

I will say this for the La Quinta - for $53 a night, the rooms were fairly nice and clean and we all got a good night's sleep.

Next up..... EMBARKATION DAY!!!

We decide to just deal with everything in the morning when a manager is on duty

[bradm77]

The next morning we all meet up in the lobby for continental breakfast. SOME of our group are in good shape. Of the 17 of us, 8 come in early enough (prior to 2PM) to have spots on the free cruise shuttle. The la Quinta Cruise shuttle holds 7 people, and runs from 9:45 to 3:30. 7 passengers per trip, and one trip every 45 minutes.

After doing a quick rundown, we know that we have 9 people (including me, our fearless group leader), who have no ride to the cruise terminal. I go to talk to the Asst Manager, Janna, who came on duty at eight AM.

As someone who has over a decade of experience in the hotel industry, I knew enough to know that there is a right way and a wrong way to complain about things you are not happy with. Fortunatrely for us, the night auditor, Cheryl, has filled Janna in on everything that transpired and was discussed, so when I walk up ready to make my case, Janna introduces herself to me and says (this is as close to a direct quote as my memory allows)

Good morning Mr Bradley. I understand we have some people who nmeed a ride. I have 2 spots left on the 9:45 to take care of 2 of your people. We can do an extra, unscheduled run at 9AM to get the other 7 to the port. I have also issued a refund to the dawson's account for their parking fees.

Ok, so Janna is now my "best friend for the day"!!

We were not thrilled about getting to Jaxport so early, but in the grand scheme of things, I felt like she did a great job of getting us taken care of.

We take the 9AM shuttle to the port. This was as early as we have ever been to the ship. We had to wait outside for about an hour before ther doors to the terminal opened, but they have some nice benches to sit on, and the weather was nice, so no big deal there.

We were on board by 11:30 and ready for some FUN!!

Now, just as an aside here, my wife's birthday was Tuesday (Nassau day), so I had pre-ordered the birthday cabin decoration. Carnival will only do this on embarkation day, however, so DW got a decorated cabin 3 full days before her birthday. It did, however, throw her off so that she was genuinely surprised by the singing and cake in the dining room 3 days later!

DW and son in Cabin E169 on Embarkation day

[bradm77]

Our friends Heath & Monica posing next the FASCINATION!

The sunset as seen from Verandah deck aft after sail away.

Felipe, our CD for this cruise, doing a show intro in the Palace show lounge

[bradm77]

OOOOkkk.... zero responses here, so I think I have my proof that I do suck at review writing as much as I thought. Rather than waste lots more time and typing with the day-by-day stuff, I will just close this up with a synopsis and a link to the 180 pics from the cruise.

Our waiter in the MDR, Dennis, was awesome and we had pretty much 5-star service from him each and every night. He even got the shy DW to get up and dance with him on her birthday!

Lorraine Ingle in the piano bar was wonderful - very energetic, funny, and really got everyone involved in the show - Lorraine, you should know that BIG DADDY (of the "Ohio Eltons") misses you already! Our bar waitress in the piano bar, Mandy (from South Africa) was a very charming and attentive bar waitress and I really enjoyed the extended conversations we had about life on a cruise ship during the piano bar quiet times.

Golf at Our Lucaya was fun. The golf pro, Rob Wilson, is a master at teaching and was able to, in under an hour, remove mistakes from my swing that had been there for decades!

The Discover Atlantis excursion was worth every penny and you have to visit the straw market in Nassau at least once, just because, well you have to!

All in all, our 3rd cruise was a wonderful time, and anyone who wants to see the pictures (including Destiny, Sensation and the Holiday docked at Freeport) can visit http://ohiovalley.zenfolio.com/p226222980

BIG DADDY has left the building.... hey Sugar Plum - call me!!! LOL

[family cruisers]

omg lol.... your review is fine. Maybe everyones out for the weekend !!! Your pictures are great.
We were in Freeport, Nassau, Port Canaveral the first week of November and had a great time with great weather. We took the Carnival Pride , our first CARNIVAL cruise and loved it.

Carrie

[cantwait06]

I didn't think you sucked at review writing! I was enjoying it actually, especially because you handled things so well at the hotel and everything got fixed for you! I love hearing stories like and not ones where people flip out and expected everything to be righted for them. I hope you had a great trip, thanks for sharing!

[Elationismyship]

Awesome pictures!

[myangel]

I was on the Fascination in May, so it was wonderful "reliving" the cruise with your review!!! I had a great time!!!

[Hap]

We are on the Fascination Dec 12 with a group of 16. We all live in central Fla so we will drive there. And it is a great review. Like they said earlier maybe everyone is out for the weekend or heading out for Thanksgiving.

[kimcruiser]

I had a big Saturday and now today I had a lot to do up until now. I was really enjoying your cruise review. we will be on her on 11-28-09. I would like to hear more if you would be so kind. Thanks

[mrs06chris]

We were on the ship with you! You're review is great!

[gatour]

Please continue. Posting on Friday afternoons sometimes cause new threads to be relegated to the bottom, since many people are simply replying to existing threads which cause them to pop up to the top.