bigboatrider

Having sailed Fantasy several times, as well as several others in the line, including the largest at the time Dream.I can honestly say Fantasy is our favorite of them all! Yeah, she's got some age on her, but she's aged well, IMO. If you go in expecting Taj Mahal, you'll be disappointed. Unlike many, I don't find her to be crowded, or anymore crowded than any of the other vessels. Our first cruise was on Jubilee, which was quite a bit smaller than Fantasy. Loved her too!!

Next month, we'll sail our 17th on Carnival since 2004. Yeah, there have been changes and cutbacks, but for us, CCL still offers what we are looking for, a budget friendly getaway. While we enjoyed the shows and the "fluff" on our earlier cruises, we are to the point of happiness simply walking around the ship, enjoying the experience that we are fortunate to have. We don't sail for the shows, and dang sure not for the Cruise Director, mints, or robes. We sail for the experience and fun of exploring the ports. It is what you make of it, plain and simple. If you go in thinking you're supposed to be pampered, and it will be like a fairyland tale, then you are setting yourself up for disappointment, regardless of which line you sail with. JMHO.

56 nights. Did the Inside Passage (Alaska) in 2011 for our 10th. Grandfathered in as Platinum when the parameters changed. Currently sitting at 88 nights after 16 sailings. #17 on tap in late May.

Great story!!! Seeing how she had such an impact on your plans, will your first child (if a girl) be named Irma?!?! :D

having sailed with several different CD's, and heard or read the varying opinions on many of them, I can say that a CD can't "make or break" a cruise for my DW and me. However, out of all our cruises, the first two CD's that come to mind are Malcolm and the girl from SC, I think Resa or something like that. Malcolm because he was an outrageous blast!!!! His antics, and that Whoo Hoo!! made for a fun week. Unfortunately, everyone in our group still does the Whoo Hoo, and it's been several years, lol. Now, the girl from SC... might as well been watching paint dry. Very bland, not entertaining, and frankly only saw her face to face once the whole cruise. Again, a CD just doesn't have the that type of impact for us. JMO

It's been a couple of years since the DW and I have cruised. After booking a Dec 7th sailing out of Charleston, I paid CC a quick visit, and saw something about the embarkation process being a lil different, something about staggered boarding times, or something to affect? Can't seem to find the thread now, soooooo........ have their been changes made to the process in Charleston???? TIA for any help.

By some act of God, my friend was able to convince Carnival to let us have 2 balconies! :D They are side by side, but not adjoining. Will we be able to have the divider removed, so we can share the balcony? If we have the divider removed, does it really matter if our rooms are adjoined or not? Also, can we flip-flop roommate either before or at check-in?

 

Thanks!

After you board, go to Guest Services with the women that need to be "swapped", and they'll hook you up.

I surprised my son at Christmas. I wrapped boxes with clues and he had to guess what it was.

We give our adult kids "vacations" every year, as Christmas gifts. This is what my wife came up with. Sometimes it gets really fun watching them try to guess where they're going, lol. Of course, some of the novelty has worn off over the years, but they still "play along" for mom, lol.

OP - depending on where you're sailing to, you can include "clues" about the ports, cities, countries, etc. A "toy" ship. As someone mentioned, a luggage tag, but if you have a Carnival tag, it would be better as the last clue, obviously. We've even looked up famous people from areas that we are going to visit and used things associated with them as clues. A lil imagination could make it really fun! Good luck!

Call me nostalgic, but I'd love to see a Carnival MadiGras and Carival Carnivalle Wouldn't mind a new Jubilee, Destiny or Celebration either. Just not the same as the other guys please.

 

 

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I agree with the nostalgic names. I think Mardi Gras was the first Carnival ship ( a pre-owned ship ), and Carnivale was the first "purpose built" ship for Carnival, so maybe Mardi Gras II and Carnivale II would be in order. After that, I would be surprised to see any "duplications".

Either way, I won't be sailing any of the new boats. Just too big IMO. Maybe they'll name the next one MegaFloat! lol

There's a lot of great advise on this thread. I've been away from Cruise Critic for a couple of years, just doing other stuff, but the DW and I will resume cruising in Dec when we take Ecstasy out of Charleston. Like others, we have sailed from Charleston several times, and will echo the sentiment, it is a unique port, so take it in stride, after all you're on vacation, right?!!

Yes Ecstasy is a Fantasy class vessel. We haven't sailed her, but have sailed others in the class, with Fantasy being our overwhelming favorite in the whole Carnival line up!! Yes, even over Glory, Spirit, Legend, and others.

While some may "look down" on Nassau, we have always had excellent experiences there, including wandering through Atlantis, and rented a scooter for the day and toured the island on our own (something that is not recommended by the cruise lines). Depending on the ages of your children, there is plenty to do within "hoofing" distance of the port, if you aren't scared of a lil exercise, lol.

Half Moon Cay is an awesome lil stop! Owned by Carnival, so your Sail & Sign card works as if you're on the ship. As others have stated, don't waste money on an excursion, explore the island on your own!!

Same at Grand Turk. It's another quaint lil plot of dirt that is absolutely beautiful, and snorkeling in the harbor right at the boat offers some great views, without paying for an excursion.

As for "walking past" Margaritaville and the $24 Cheesburgers, well, what can I say, I'm a Parrot Head, and can't resist at least one drink. No, we don't pay the outrageous prices for the food, because as mentioned, there are other options that offer "local" fare and are much more budget friendly!

Bottom line, particularly on your first cruise, remember, we don't live in a perfect world, and TV commercials are not what your experience will be like, lol. Go in with a carefree attitude, roll with the flow, and enjoy yourself!!

A few of the changes in the last two years that jump to my mind:

 

1. The change in beverages brought onboard at embarkation policy. You are no longer allow to bring bottled drinks on board (exception is the bottle of wine at embark). Cans up to 12 per person 12 oz or less are still allowed.

Good to know. I would've packed at least a case of Pepsi (bottles) lol

 

2. Multi prong plugs, extension cords and power strips can NOT have a surge protector. I am not sure when this change occurred but I have only been aware if it in the last year or so.

Understandable

 

3. On cruises 5 days or less lobster is no longer served on "formal" night.

Hmmm, good thing I don't like Lobster, lol.

 

4. There has been a new menu rolled out. It is not on all ships It is call the "American Table. You will find some that love it, some that hate it and others that just don't care.

Our last couple of cruises included something they called "comfort foods", for us rednecks I guess, lol. I'm assuming this is just an extension of that effort. Again, good info. Thanks.

 

5.On the MDR menu each night there is a feature call "Steakhouse Selections" even on ships without a steakhouse. You have the option to pay an upcharge of $20 and choose from the items offered that night.

In 15 cruises, I've only had one or two occasions when the Steak was worth a $20 bill!! Decent, but def not worthy of a $20 upcharge!

 

Welcome back to Carnival. You will likely notice some cutback overall but a cruise is still an excellent vacation value.

No argument here on the "value" of a cruise. We are also of the mindset that it is what it is, and it is what you make of it!

Thanks for the feedback.

same ship, different day!! ;)

lolol

We've sailed out of Charleston several times, but not recently. Unless something has changed, their process was maybe different than other ports, but nothing that we found terribly bad. As for Ecstasy, never sailed her, but have sailed Fantasy class several times, and like another poster, the class is our favorite. Looking forward to getting back on a big boat in December!

After 15 Carnival cruises, the DW and I took a lil break. It's been 2 years since our last sailing. A couple of our friends convinced us to sail with them in December. The friends.. husband has never sailed, the wife only once many moons ago, so it should be interesting.

We're sailing Ecstasy out of Charleston SC. Never sailed Ecstasy before, but looking forward to it.

Not only have we not sailed in a couple of years, I've been really "disconnected" from cruising, even my last time logging into CC has been over a year ago! lol

I'm sure there have been changes, in cruising, and with Carnival particularly. Anyone care to share some of the new "issues"???? Recent ups and downs with cruising Carnival? Any interesting happenings?

Look at the new 7 day itineraries on the Fantasy, it will go to a new port, Amber Cove.

Yeah, I saw that. Along with HMC and GT, that does look like an inviting itin. After our week in St Thomas, we may have to give that some serious consideration.

They know exactly what they are doing. IMO I don't think Charleston is S.O.L.. The Fantasy has filled up every week at higher prices then some other ports. I see a bigger ship heading there. Don't know about itineraries though.

LOL, yeah, I'm just venting a lil. I too think Charleston is in line for a larger ship. As you stated, they know exactly where and when everything in this round of moves will happen. While we love Fantasy, and Charleston being our closest port, we've had enough of Nassau and Freeport. We've decided to do a week in St Thomas this year for our anniversary, and prob won't cruise at all unless Charleston gets some new itins, whether they're on Fantasy or not. Heck, if time permits, we may finally look at another cruise line, while Carnival plays their lil games.

Guess I'll check back in a few weeks when Carnival decides to tell everyone what's in store for Magic and Triumph, as if they don't "have a plan in place" before sending Magic and Liberty to TX! Kinda irks the hell out of me that they string out the information, sometimes for months. They should know damn well, the peeps that are gonna cruise are gonna cruise!! Those on the fence are likely to be turned off by the smoke and mirror games that the marketing group (or beards) play. I mean seriously, how hard is to tell us that Charleston is S.O.L. getting a larger boat and better itins??!!

Awesome capture!!!

Mine is 11!!!

Two more and we're single digit dancing!!! lol

We sail Fantasy again in a couple of weeks. This will be cruise #15 for us, and we've sailed on the smallest and the largest in the fleet, going back to Jubilee, which is smaller than Fantasy. We fell in love with Fantasy when we first sailed her out of new Orleans. It's a bonus that she's ported in our home state these days. Fantasy, as mentioned has held up better than other vessels in the class, but she is starting to wear a bit, but she's still a fantastic ship, and we can't wait to step aboard again!!!

My drink of choice is the Long Island Iced Tea

 

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The "Tea" always rocks.

As a Diamond Passenger, I couldn't care less. In fact, as a CCL Stockholder, I LOVE the fact that they're adding a few dollars to the bottom line. Keeps my dividend checks coming! :cool:

 

"SKY"

LOL, my feeling exactly! (except as Platinum, lol) Keep the dividends coming!

Thanks!!!. Hey Hubb...glad you could laugh with me bro!! You all are going to enjoy the ship. I will say this, be positive and NOTHING can go "wrong" even if it does go wrong you know? My GF pointed out stuff she felt I was missing...that is offered on other ships..or maybe Carnival cut back fleetwide...but at EOD none of it mattered cause we were together and had a blast!! Enjoy your trip, and hubby..grab a seat nearby cause I hope review gets better.

I haven't been on CC since coming back from our last cruise a couple of weeks ago. Don't know how I missed your review before hand, but am glad I found it this morning. It is def "morning chuckle" material. Trying to make it through before commenting, but this post deserved a note.

Dude, I've cruised 14 times and have met many "veteran" cruisers who simply miss this point! To board your first cruise with this attitude, you are def a rare bird. You are the kind of people I love to cruise with!!

Your 6'3" black dude, fruity drinks, and dancing with the grandmas cracked me up too! Hilarious!! Looking forward to the rest of your review.

Oh BTW, the DW and I sailed Fantasy when she was still in New Orleans and fell in love with her. The move to Charleston was our gift from Carnival! lol. We've now sailed her 4 times, and she is our favorite by far.

Thanks for your review, having a blast reading it. Maybe someday we'll be fortunate enough to sail with you.

How many shares do you have to own to get anything? Since we are cruising more I would consider it.

100 shares minimum

Yep, we're Platinum too!:D #11 booked in December