Fascination trip review

Sailed on Fascination on July 8, 2018 from Puerto Rico and visited St Thomas, Dominica, Barbados, St Lucia, St Kitts, & St Maarten. We arrived in Puerto Rico on July 4th and were able to enjoy the island prior to sailing. In Puerto Rico, we rented a house via Airbnb in Rio Grande and rented a car from Enterprise upon arrival at the airport. We visited Old San Juan, took the ferry to Culebra Island and went to Flamenco Beach, El Yunque Natl Forest, and even drove an hour and a half to Cayey and spent the afternoon eating Lechon at Lechonera Los Pinos and enjoying the live bands and all of the locals selling their items.

El Yunque closed early that day as Hurricane Beryl was coming, fortunately it was down graded to a Tropical Storm.

At the ports, we did the following excursions; but none were thru Carnival.

Day 1: St Thomas- Since it was 90% chance of rain, Carnival canceled all of their excursions and Magens Bay was closed as well. We took a taxi to Coki Beach.

Day 2: Dominica- Such an awesome excursion thru Bumpiing Tours with Levi!!! I highly recommend this tour. He picked us up at the port and there were about about 12 of us in his shuttle bus. It was a fully planned itinerary from beginning to end. First stop was snorkeling in Champagne Reef, then to Titou Gorge (such an awesome experience), then Trafalgar Falls.

Day 3: Barbados- Took a taxi to The Boatyard. $20/pp which included a free drink and a boat ride out to swim with the turtles. It also includes the taxi ride back to the port.

Day 4: St Lucia- Excursion thru Spence Ambrose. We were taken to the Sulphur Mud Baths (remember to take off all sterling silver jewelry!), Toraille Waterfall, then we were taken to a beach were we were provided snorkeling gear to snorkle between the two pitons and were also provided a delicious lunch. Here, we even got to see a Snowflake Eel! We then departed the beach at 2:30 to be taken back to port.

Day 5: St Kitts- Took a taxi to Shipwreck. Upon talking to taxi driver, he suggested Reggae Beach bc he said Shipwreck had too much seaweed along the shoreline. So we agreed and paid the extra fare per person. He stopped for photo op where the Atlantic and the Carribean Sea meet. Service was great at first, but as more guests arrived, the waitress was less attentive. We placed a lunch order at 12:30 and by 2:30 that we were ready to leave, it was not ready yet! The water was ok and service was slow. I wish I would have continued with my original plan and gone to Shipwreck.

Day 6: St Maarten- This was the best island in my opinion! The island is still devestated from last year’s hurricane, this one is in worse shape than the other islands visited. We did a private tour thru Bernard Augustin for $50/pp. First visit was on the French side. Then we got to feed the iguanas. Next stop was a beach stop thru a restaurant called Rainbow Cafe. Such a clean beach and friendly staff. 2 lounge chairs with umbrella were only $15 and the bucket of 6 beers was $20. We spent an hour and a half at the beach and then the van picked us up and took us to a festival being held where there were food trucks and shopping booths. Then they saved the best for last! Maho Beach! As I was already on the ship turning in my liquor, I saw that someone had BBD, which I thought was only sold in either Cayman or Jamaica. I rushed off and was able to purchase 2 bottles.

On debarkation day, we took our time getting off as our flight to Houston was not until 3:30. I purposely took luggage tag #20 to be the last off. Left our cabin by 8:30 and went to go have breakfast in the dining room. We finally left at 9:45 to get off the ship. Got a porter to help out with our luggage and were off and thru customs and on a taxi by 10:15. The taxi for 6 of us with 9 pcs of luggage was $35 to SJU airport.

Hope you enjoyed my quick review on our trip on Fascination!

Please feel free to ask questions and I will try to answer the best that I can.

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Thanks for the review.

Was the beach at The Boatyard crowded? Did you book ahead of time?

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Thanks for the review. Would love to do a cruise from San Juan some day.

how much did you pay for the BBD

Nice review., thanks.

Great review especially the detail on the port excursions. Thanks for posting.:cool:

Appreciate the review, we loved those islands!

Thanks for the review. I loved that cruise. Can't wait to do it again!

Enjoyed your short review. We plan to do this same trip the end of March next year.:)

I know this is an older ship, but did it still seem to be in pretty good shape?

We are to be on Deck 6. When going to the dining MDR/s, (that is, if you used either of them) do you have to walk through the casino?

Was the beach at The Boatyard crowded? Did you book ahead of time?

 

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We went straight there when we got off the ship. I did notice folks getting there around noon and there were not any chairs left, but it didn’t feel crowded

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how much did you pay for the BBD

$22

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Enjoyed your short review. We plan to do this same trip the end of March next year.:)

 

 

 

 

 

I know this is an older ship, but did it still seem to be in pretty good shape?

 

 

 

 

 

We are to be on Deck 6. When going to the dining MDR/s, (that is, if you used either of them) do you have to walk through the casino?

Not thru the casino, but by the piano bar area, but you can still see the casino and some nights, smell the cigarette smoke

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For some reason all of my photos didn’t use upload...

These are of Puerto Rico

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Day 1: St Thomas - Coki Beach

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Day 2: Dominica; excursion with Levi with Bumpiing Tours

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Day 3: Barbados; The Boatyard

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Day 4: St Lucia

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Day 5: St Kitts; Reggae beach

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Day 6: St Maarten; excursion thru Bernard Agustin

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Still Day 6: St Maarten at Maho Beach

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Thank you for posting those good pictures too.:)

I appreciate you letting me know we will go through the piano area to the MDR, although we may still smell the smoke. Yes, that's the reason I ask, as I cannot stand any type of smoke, or the smell.:(

Thanks for the pictures and review. Love this itinerary! We have been on a Southern Caribbean cruise 3 times-- different ship each time. I have to say that the Fascination was my favorite. The crew was the best! Yes, it is a smaller, older ship, which I worried about at first, but it was simply wonderful.

Thanks for the review and pictures! Less than 30 days till we leave for the same cruise.

Great pics! Gotta love The Boatyard and that water!! I especially loved the Titou Gorge one because it shows a different perspective from what I’ve seen before. Hope to make it there someday!

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