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Nice of you to share such interesting details. Didn't realize this when we signed up for leaving from SJ; so it's good being enlightened with some of the happenings we will see on this cruise. Thanks.

The walkway used to transfer from the upper level of the terminal where you check in to the ship was damaged by hurricane Maria. That's why they are embarking using deck 3. You now have to go back downstairs to gain access to the gangway to enter the ship.

Thanks. Obviously, not all that important, but in reading these postings I hadn't come across your explanation, so was a bit puzzled. Likely other differences in reading postings from before last year's hurricanes and reading posting of those afterwards as recoveries are made.

It will be interesting to see if and when they return to using the walkway to Deck 7, as it appeared to lend itself to a bit more glamorous and warm welcoming atmosphere than the gangway on Deck 3.

Thank so much for the info on this I have a bad knee and was wondering as well. Taking the May 6th sailing.

What deck did you find for embarkation in San Juan? natefish95 showed him boarding on deck 3 on his May 27th cruise. Guess it varies?

The cruise begins!!

Day 1

 

I woke up, showered for like the 20th time since I've been in San Juan (it's hot, y'all), and got ready. I'm pretty sure my check-in time was at like 1:30, but I decided to just head to the port anyways and see what happens. The Fascination docks at the port in Old San Juan (I did see the Royal Caribbean Freedom of the Seas at the other port across the bay).

 

Uber was fast and affordable like always.

 

My first glimpse of the Fascination in person!

 

Outside the terminal building there are porters taking luggage like every other cruise port in the world. They check your ID's and cruise docs like normal, and then you walk down this covered walkway into the building. This building was like a maze. Let me explain.

 

You go up an escalator and you're at the embarkation photo station. No thanks. I look like a hot mess already and posing alone is awkward. You then the corner and that's check-in. I got there around 11:30 and it was EMPTY! I walked right up and was checked in in five minutes. Fastest ever. You then walk around a wall (photos are on the other side) down some hallway and through security. It was weird doing that after checking in... You then go down another hallway, turn, down another hallway, down an escalator, across the baggage claim area, outside and then you enter the ship on Deck 3. Thankfully people were directing us.

 

Entering the ship in 3...2...1...

 

I am finally onboard the Carnival Fascination, my first Carnival cruise in basically forever and I was stoked! Honestly, one of my first thoughts was that this carpet is hella gaudy. It's like purple and gold, but I don't care. I want food and a drink and maybe not in that order. They had a lunch express elevator up the lido.

 

Looking down into the lobby

 

Lido deck. Looks inviting, huh?

 

Blue Iguana Tequila Bar

 

Guy's Burgers menu

I thought another review showed embarkation on Deck 7, Empress. You clearly boarded on Deck 3. You think it might vary on different occasions. Guess it's not a big deal, but curious.

Thank you for doing a review of the Fascination cruise. We are booked for October and still trying to figure out what we want to do in the ports and looking forward to the pictures too!.

What's your date? We're looking forward to being on the October 7, 2018 cruise. The only port we know for sure right now for us is St. Thomas, arriving there on the 8th, our 20th wedding anniversary! We will be renewing our wedding vows with a local minister on the beautiful beach of Megans Bay where we were married back in 1998.

Keep praying for a mild hurricane season. No repeat of last year, please. :'):halo:

True. The OP did not say if they booked directly with Carnival or through a TA - if the latter, the TA will have to handle the payment as there is no way to make any payments on the cruise via the web site (including gratuities).

Does this hold true after the final payment is paid? No direct payments to Carnival for pre-paid gratuities if you have a TA?

We paid for FTTF directly to Carnival, but that is considered an Excursion, so different.

Do you pass the lower price info to your TA and rely on them to act in a timely fashion to obtain the lower price while it exists, or can you deal directly with managing your account on the Carnival site?

We booked through cruise.com and emailed them the lower price we found. They provided us with a new invoice having the lower price, but there was a time factor involved. Just wondering if we have the option of going directly to the Carnival site for obtaining a new invoice?

We changed our dining preference directly with Carnival without going through cruise.com, so wondering if we might be able to do the same with obtaining a lower price? Of course, it didn't involve them having to send us a new invoice - just wondering?

I did have some points, so that's probably why I didn't have to take quizzes. Not sure where the points came from.

Thanks for clarification. Just now purchased 5 $100 Gift cards from AARP for $450. Didn't have to do any quizzes , so not sure why that is mentioned.

Just want to say I enjoyed this discussion very much. Nicely done.

Good read - thanks for sharing.

Good reading your review - thanks for taking time to share. Mixed thoughts hearing of some of the things you ran in to. With the recovery going on there, you have served us well as a Pathfinder, as it most likely should continue with improvements as time passes. Your positive attitude a good example to follow.

Great things exchanged here. I solved it by getting a different flight that leaves at 1:00 p.m. So I guess I'm good. Thanks for the good thoughts.

Good shared thoughts - thank you all.

Thanks WiddyTwo and jayowl - sounds hopeful. What does "two words self assist" mean? And how would that work? Do you have some advice to help in getting off the ship earliest as possible?

Had me wondering. You cleared it up very nicely.

Thanks. We would like to go with Southwest AL, but 11:10 a.m. is the latest one they show that day flying out of SJU back here to Austin, TX. Guess we will ponder it a bit before deciding.

Thanks. I sorta thought it sounded like catching that flight would be calling it a bit too close. Would you have a suggestion as to what the earliest flight time out of SJU one might want to consider?

We are wondering if it practical to book an 11:10 am flight from San Juan airport SJU following debarkation from "Fascination" on Sunday, October 14, 2018? How does the timing generally go for most leaving the ship and getting to the airport?

Interesting - One person on here said they embarked on the Empress (7th) deck. Maybe the Deck 3 response relates to debarkation?

I had that happen a few months ago for our Feb 2018 booking. I called my PVP, and in order to get the casino rate I had to cancel our original booking and then re-book into the same cabin under the new rate. I think we lost a $50 obc we'd had, but the savings were several hundred dollars so it was worth it. [emoji849]

 

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We haven't been on a cruise for years, so have newbie questions. Wondering who receives or how does one hear about a Casino Rate? We booked last June for Oct 2018 cruise and have a Military and 55+ Rate. Would we be considered for the Casino Rate?