Just off Fascination, Made Lots of Lemonade

[ready2cruzagain]

Thanks for the review! Was on the Fascination on a b2b last year and just loved it! Who was your CD? We had Jen and there was usually always something going on. I really enjoyed her as a CD. One of the best ones I have ever had IMHO.

 

We also went to Stars every night. Was able to sit, have a drink and listen to music. Sad to hear it didn't start till after 9:eek::eek:

[Georgiagolfer]

Thanks for the review! Was on the Fascination on a b2b last year and just loved it! Who was your CD? We had Jen and there was usually always something going on. I really enjoyed her as a CD. One of the best ones I have ever had IMHO.

 

We also went to Stars every night. Was able to sit, have a drink and listen to music. Sad to hear it didn't start till after 9:eek::eek:

 

We also had Jen in May and she was a hoot, and we felt like you that she was one of the best we ever had as CD. This time I have forgotten the name of the CD, it will come to me shortly. He was OK, but not like Jen.

[Chigirlcruzin]

Carnival did away with the Captain's party with the free drinks a few years ago...no later than 2010. That you got the "old" party in May was a bonus. Still a cutback no matter how you look at it.

[Georgiagolfer]

Day 4, Nassau

 

Up early (as usual) go to Lido for coffee, and it's raining. No problem as we are supposed to dock at 9 am and leave at 6 pm. Take DW breakfast and still raining. She goes to gym to work out, showers, and meets me on Lido. Boy is it ever raining now (10 am).:( Quits raining around 11 am, and we get off ship.

 

Have no excursions planned, as we have been to Nassau numerous times, and done all we desire at this time. We make the mandatory visit to the International Straw Market, haggle over some items (this is fun), then head to Senor Frogs for our ritual drink. Not as crowded today, as only 2 other ships besides ours in Port. Back on ship around 2 pm, spend some time in Serenity, then off to room to get ready for dinner and the VIFP Party.

[Georgiagolfer]

Carnival did away with the Captain's party with the free drinks a few years ago...no later than 2010. That you got the "old" party in May was a bonus. Still a cutback no matter how you look at it.

 

Odd, because we had both the Captains Party and the Past Guest Party on the Dream in June 2011. Oh well, we were blessed.

[Georgiagolfer]

OK....THIS is a lemon

 

I feel I need to re-emphasize that not every little mis-step or situation was a Lemonade Event, but they added up to Lemonade Makers. But that is also 1 of the reasons we love to cruise. We just have to make adjustments and find/try things different from planned things. This is good sometimes because it may help us (DW and me) get out of our comfort zones.

[girlsjustwannacruise]

so what happened? did you get another port to make up for missing HMC.. im booked on this cruise next week and its making me sad to think of missing HMC as we have never been there :(

[Scott34787]

[/color]

 

I feel I need to re-emphasize that not every little mis-step or situation was a Lemonade Event, but they added up to Lemonade Makers. But that is also 1 of the reasons we love to cruise. We just have to make adjustments and find/try things different from planned things. This is good sometimes because it may help us (DW and me) get out of our comfort zones.

 

Well put! Cruising really can be an adventure full of

unanticipated events and danger. :cool:

Oh yeah, and romance :o

 

That's why I like it better than ANY land vacation.

[Georgiagolfer]

Go to dinner and have to leave before dessert is served because we want to attend the New VIFP Party for Gold, Platinum, and Diamond members. I say we had to leave dinner early, because there is only i Party time 7:15-8:00 for both dinner seatings. The Party was in the Putting on the Ritz lounge, and not the Palace Theatre. There were less in attendance than the old Past Guest Party. Best Past Guest Party we ever attended. Small, cozy crowd of less than 100 people, so no problem finding a place to sit.

 

Instead of walking around with the usual pre-mixed drinks, wait staff were also taking orders for any drink we wanted. We had made friends with 1 of the servers earlier in the cruise, and he kept us supplied with our "drink of choice." He received a well deserved tip. Didn't try any as I had just had dinner, but the hors d'ourves also looked very tasty and were plentiful.

 

There were more Platinum than Gold members, and only 2 Diamond members at the Party. Thumbs up to CCL for the new Party, but feel bad for the Red VIFP members who are now cutout of attending.

[Georgiagolfer]

so what happened? did you get another port to make up for missing HMC.. im booked on this cruise next week and its making me sad to think of missing HMC as we have never been there :(

 

Hang on, that detail is coming up.

[Georgiagolfer]

Well put! Cruising really can be an adventure full of

unanticipated events and danger. :cool:

Oh yeah, and romance :o

 

That's why I like it better than ANY land vacation.

 

Scott, you've got that right, and I think it (adventure and the uncontrollable) makes cruising more exciting than most land based vacations.:D

[sjn911]

Love your review Georgia golfer..very good..very witty..very positive..very truthful to your experiences....thanks soooo much!!

[Georgiagolfer]

Love your review Georgia golfer..very good..very witty..very positive..very truthful to your experiences....thanks soooo much!!

 

Thanks. As I stated, I've never done this on any cruise before, but as I type, I am really enjoying thinking about the cruise and our experiences.:D

[Georgiagolfer]

Day 5, Sea Day

 

Not really a sea day. The Captain had announced the afternoon that we missed HMC, that the ship had received permission to stop in Freeport to compensate for our lost stop.

 

Well, for DW and I this was not interesting as this is our least liked Port. We were in Freeport from 7am to 2pm. If you have never been to Freeport, you have to take a taxi or van to town from the dock as it is in an Industrial area of the Island. Been there, done that for us, so we were not overly excited for the stop, but to new cruisers, I'm sure it helped somewhat with missing HMC.

 

They have added a few little shops at the dock since we were last there, so we did get off and walk around for about an hour. Back on ship for our last lunch at Lido. I think I tried to eat everything I hadn't tried previously. After lunch, went to MDR to try and use our free drink coupons. As Platinum, you receive a coupon for 1 free drink in the MDR at breakfast or lunch or at the Comedy Club Brunch (if available). Maitre'd took us next door to Piano Bar next to MDR where we redeemed our coupons.

 

Took our drinks to Serenity and enjoyed the afternoon here. Both of us took a short nap in Serenity, but soon it was time to head back to room to do some pre-packing and get ready for our last evening on the Fascination.

[Crusin Karen]

Enjoying your positive thoughts in regards to your cruise. HMC and GT are 2 of my favorite ports. If I was on a cruise that had to cancel HMC I would NOT be in the mood to make (or drink!) lemonade! :(:mad::o:eek:

[Georgiagolfer]

Go to dinner and didn't really see anything that interested me, so I decided to try the flat iron steak. I don't want to influence anyone from eating this, but it was absolutely the worst meal I have ever had on a cruise.:( I had never tried this item before, and believe me when I say I will Never order it again. I can't describe the taste, but I only had 1 bite, and it was almost sickening. Our Head Waiter (Roy) did bring me 2 of the same appetizers which I had before the entree,:) so this was my dinner the last evening.

 

After dinner we go to the 2nd Production show of the cruise, an 80's event. DW and I had seen same show in May and this was even better because of the break dancers.:D Wow, they made the show, plus the theme of the music was something we (our age) could and did relate to.

 

After dinner spend a little more time in casino, then off to bed for an early morning for both of us, then the drive home (only 4 hours).

[Georgiagolfer]

Enjoying your positive thoughts in regards to your cruise. HMC and GT are 2 of my favorite ports. If I was on a cruise that had to cancel HMC I would NOT be in the mood to make (or drink!) lemonade! :(:mad::o:eek:

 

Karen, thanks for your kind comments. As for HMC, as I mentioned, it was very windy and I feel the Captain made the correct decision, although I was very disappointed. HMC, IMO is one of the prettiest beaches anywhere.

[Georgiagolfer]

OK fellow cruisers, I have to take a break before Day 6, Embarkation Day, and my wrap up and general comments about different items (service, eating venues, entertainment, etc.) Hopefully I will be back this evening, but if not I will finish tomorrow.

[gusandgidgetsmom]

Thanks for your review. We are leaving tomorrow for Jax and will do the same itinerary on our 2nd leg of the cruise. I hope we make HMC. I am not a key West or Nassau lover so it would stink if we did not get in-but I booked the cruise with the knowledge that it is sometimes skipped. Seems like most of the cruise experience was a positive one. I miss the live music, but it is not a deal breaker for me. I plug in my ipod and go!

[Gail & Marty sailing away]

Thanks for the info ..

[Delta Dear]

Great review. The title hooked me into reading it. So glad I did.

[DG2007]

We were on this cruise as well. There was plenty to love but I was disappointed in a few things (missing HMC though I understood why, runny WCMC, other rude passengers, slow/broken elevators). I loved our first cruise on the Conquest, this one not as much. I believe in making lemonade as well so overall I can say we enjoyed our cruise.

 

The mahi mahi in the MDR was really good on the last night. I didn't try the flat iron steak.

 

 

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[Crusin Karen]

In all our cruises, I have never ordered the flat iron steak. I remember reading years ago that it was like shoe leather, but recently I have read some reviews that people love it, so I figured maybe they were serving a different cut of steak or something and was planning on trying it on our next cruise. Now it looks like it's back to the awful beef again! :( Thanks for the warning! ;) I can't wait to try the bacon mac and cheese. They didn't have this the last time we cruised. :)

[SMSACE6]

Thanks for the review Georgiagolfer! I think that some of the things that bothered you, would bother me too. I find the inconsistencies between ships annoying, ie; drinks on us program, was on 5 day cruises and now no longer. It is on some ships, but not on others. Past guest party, entertainment, ice bucket filled or not in the evening, etc, just has had me so confused lately. I enjoyed all 5 of my Carnival cruises, but inconsistencies on my last cruise, and what I have been reading on Carnival's own website, have caused me to try another cruise line for my next one. Sure I will be back to Carnival some day, when a good deal comes up, and they streamline their product, but for now, I just need to try something different. Thanks again for your balanced review. BTW, I love lemonade, I just hate making it!:D

[chipq]

Mike, I enjoy your style of review very much. Thanks for sharing.

 

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