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Simply Fantastic – Fascination Review 2/8/14 with pictures

GeorgiaMomof4

By GeorgiaMomof4,
in Carnival Cruise Lines

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GeorgiaMomof4

GeorgiaMomof4

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Thank you very much for the review. We are sailing in 11 days and it will be the first time on the Fascination. We learned a lot of great information.

 

All of the pictures were great. We are getting more excited about the cruise actually seeing what to expect.

 

Again, Thank you!!

 

 

Thanks for reading! I'm so glad my review helped you - that's why I did it. When we book a cruise I spend so much time here on CC reading reviews and gathering information that Glen and my kids tell me I need CC Anonymous - but they never complain when we board and I know exactly what is going on and what to expect!

 

Hope you have a wonderful trip!

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GeorgiaMomof4

GeorgiaMomof4

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Thanks for your review, I really enjoyed it! I can't wait to be on there in 19 days, especially after today, a lot of ice/sleet/snow! Makes me ready to go even more!

 

 

 

Thanks for reading! I'm sure you'll be ready for some warmer weather after the ice/sleet and snow. I'm jealous of all you who are getting ready to cruise!

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jagsgirl2005

jagsgirl2005

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Awesome! I will be on the ship 2 weeks from today! We are on the empress deck towards the back but not very back. Looking forward to this vacation but have to get rid of this sinus infection first! Can't wait to be in warm weather and snorkeling! Thank you again for the review!

 

 

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GeorgiaMomof4

GeorgiaMomof4

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I'm snowed in this morning so I just LOVED reading your review! Definitely a great way to virtually escape this weather. Thanks for sharing :)

 

 

 

 

Lucky you! We missed our big snow when we were cruising and I had been praying for snow all winter! We just don't get that much here in Georgia and I hated to miss it but I loved my cruise.

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sjb.illinois

sjb.illinois

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Following! Thanks for your review and pictures. I think you just helped me decide what to do in Nassau. We had been considering whether to do a resort day or not, but we are also on a budget. it's always hard to know if it's worth it it. Thanks for the information!

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sjb.illinois

sjb.illinois

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Thanks for reading! I'm so glad my review helped you - that's why I did it. When we book a cruise I spend so much time here on CC reading reviews and gathering information that Glen and my kids tell me I need CC Anonymous - but they never complain when we board and I know exactly what is going on and what to expect!

 

Hope you have a wonderful trip!

 

This!

My husband gives me grief about the time I spend researching and planning - but frankly, for me that's part of the fun. This has been the worst (and longest) winter EVER, and having a cruise to look forward to helps me hang on. Also, my husband and kids really DO appreciate how the planning pays off when I know things ahead of time about the ship and ports to help us enjoy our cruise more. Not in an overplanned or overscheduled kind of way, but in a "hey if we go to this beach there's shade and restrooms and calm waves" kind of way.

Again, thanks for your review. You seem to be on the same wavelength as me with the kind of things you notice and comment on. Thanks for taking the time to write your review!

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GeorgiaMomof4

GeorgiaMomof4

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This!

My husband gives me grief about the time I spend researching and planning - but frankly, for me that's part of the fun. This has been the worst (and longest) winter EVER, and having a cruise to look forward to helps me hang on. Also, my husband and kids really DO appreciate how the planning pays off when I know things ahead of time about the ship and ports to help us enjoy our cruise more. Not in an overplanned or overscheduled kind of way, but in a "hey if we go to this beach there's shade and restrooms and calm waves" kind of way.

Again, thanks for your review. You seem to be on the same wavelength as me with the kind of things you notice and comment on. Thanks for taking the time to write your review!

 

 

LOL! I'm glad to know I'm not the only one. It's part of my fun too. My kids and husband tease me all the time about how much time I spend on CC when we have a cruise planned. Unfortunately we don't have one planned right now and when my review dies down I guess I'll be off for a while. I am looking to book another one but with 4 children who are college age all the way down to 3rd grade it's hard to get one scheduled that works for everyone.

 

I hope you have a great time when you go.

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disneyfan4ever

disneyfan4ever

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First, thank you for your review. I enjoyed it so much, and loved the pictures. I've been feeling bad since Sunday, but you helped to lift my spirits. Can you please tell me if there was much movement on the smaller ship? My husband is very worried about getting seasick. This is one reason we have yet to go on a cruise. Also, is cigarette smoke a problem? Can we listen to the band in the lounge and not smell smoke. I get bad headaches from certain smells. Did you all feel "safe" in Nassau? I read John Heald's facebook page sometimes, and several posters seem to not like nassau. I love John too, and think he is great. Thank you for any info. Oh, is the sweet tea good?

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luvmysox1

luvmysox1

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Nassau is safe. Very touristy. Lots of place to shop very close the ship. Fascination is an excellent ship. Most places are smoke free. You can easily stay clear of smoking areas as there very few of them. Movement is on every ship so it's best book a midship cabin on lower decks to not feel movement .

 

 

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GeorgiaMomof4

GeorgiaMomof4

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First, thank you for your review. I enjoyed it so much, and loved the pictures. I've been feeling bad since Sunday, but you helped to lift my spirits. Can you please tell me if there was much movement on the smaller ship? My husband is very worried about getting seasick. This is one reason we have yet to go on a cruise. Also, is cigarette smoke a problem? Can we listen to the band in the lounge and not smell smoke. I get bad headaches from certain smells. Did you all feel "safe" in Nassau? I read John Heald's facebook page sometimes, and several posters seem to not like nassau. I love John too, and think he is great. Thank you for any info. Oh, is the sweet tea good?

 

 

Thanks for reading and I'm glad my review helped to lift your spirits! I hope you're feeling better soon.

 

Now for your questions - Having cruised on bigger and smaller ships I honestly don't know the answer to the movement question. It really depends on weather and speed of the ship I think. I've notice movement on all the ships we've been on but even in rough weather none of us have ever been sick - we just aren't prone to get sick I guess. I really don't know that I can say the smaller ship was worse than the bigger ones - even though we did have the "listing" issue on our last night on the Fascination. Does your husband tend to get sick in a car or in a boat just on a lake? If you are afraid of sea sickness my thoughts would be to get a midship cabin lower in the ship. Everyone says that is the best place for the least amount of motion. Maybe more seasoned cruisers can help you with this one. I would also suggest not cruising around September or October as those are known months for hurricanes and even though they won't put you in danger and may even change your itinerary we have had some rough weather during those months. We've cruised in September, October (rates are great - what can I say), February and April. I believe the April sailing was probably our calmest one - but it was on the biggest ship we've sailed on too. Donna and Michael (our friends who cruised with us this last time were first timers) and worried about the motion and sea sickness but neither of them got sick either. I had them to start taking Ginger pills (you can buy them at Walmart - 100 pills for about $4.00) several days before the cruise and continue taking them through the cruise. They also bought the non-drowsy dramamine type medicine just in case but I don't think they ever had to use any of it. You will never really know until you try so maybe start out with a 4 or 5 day just to get your feet wet so to speak.

 

Smoke - We are non smokers also and I have a very sensitive nose when it comes to smoke. If I have to pass through a smoking area I normally do it quickly. I'm not passing judgement here for you smokers, but it really does bother me. I respect their right to smoke, but just don't want to be around it myself. I've never been on any ship that the smoking was so bothersome to me that I wouldn't go to an area of the ship because of it. On the Fascination passing through the lounge area outside of the casino you could smell the smoke but if you passed through and didn't linger it wasn't a problem. I played in the casino several nights (all at non-smoking tables) and never had a problem in there either. I did walk through the smoking section on the Lido deck and didn't realize where I was and it took me by surprise - it was quite bad there but I just wasn't prepared I guess. I definitely believe it's something you can avoid if you just prepare ahead of time.

 

 

Nassau - This was only our 2nd trip to Nassau and I had read the same things you've been reading here on CC about the safety of Nassau. I have to say that I never felt unsafe there. I really believe common sense comes into play when you go places like this. I live in a mid sized town but even here I wouldn't get out at night on some streets or in some areas by myself. We did the resort pass thing and traveled by taxi there and back and were dropped off in town for shopping. With that being said, I did end up doing some shopping by myself and walking back to the ship by myself and I just stayed with the crowds. I wouldn't have gone down an alley or roadway that was deserted - but I wouldn't do that here at home either. Just use common sense and you'll be fine - don't flash all your cash, jewelry, etc and I really don't believe there will be an issue.

 

Sweet tea - I see you are from Alabama and like me from Georgia probably love your sweet tea, but you won't find any sweet tea on Carnival. It's all unsweetened tea and it reminds of me instant. That being said, I put lemon and sweet and low in mine (I use sweet and low or splenda at home) and I like it just fine. Just don't go thinking it's going to be the same you make at home!

 

I hope you decide to go and give cruising a try. It really is the ultimate vacation to me. Let me know what you decide and good luck deciding which ship to take!

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ARgal30

ARgal30

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First, thank you for your review. I enjoyed it so much, and loved the pictures. I've been feeling bad since Sunday, but you helped to lift my spirits. Can you please tell me if there was much movement on the smaller ship? My husband is very worried about getting seasick. This is one reason we have yet to go on a cruise. Also, is cigarette smoke a problem? Can we listen to the band in the lounge and not smell smoke. I get bad headaches from certain smells. Did you all feel "safe" in Nassau? I read John Heald's facebook page sometimes, and several posters seem to not like nassau. I love John too, and think he is great. Thank you for any info. Oh, is the sweet tea good?

 

I personally love Nassau, and the tea isn't sweet but they have all types of sweeteners you can add to make it sweet.

 

 

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GeorgiaMomof4

GeorgiaMomof4

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We have been on the Fascination three times and love it. Jacksonville does have it together. We have always been on the ship by 12:00.

 

 

 

Yes, they do have it together! Best port we've cruised out of of the 3 we've sailed from.

 

One thing though and I forgot to mention this in my review - the security guard in Jacksonville is dead serious about no electronics - cell phones, cameras, etc being used in the que line going through security. He kept yelling at people who had their cell phones or cameras out!

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GeorgiaMomof4

GeorgiaMomof4

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hello did they offer you the unlimited drink deal when you got aboard thanks gene

 

 

 

Are you talking sodas or liquor?

 

Couldn't tell you on the liquor as we aren't big drinkers and haven't purchased that one.

 

If you're talking sodas I'm not sure if they actually ask you (they are too busy pushing the alcohol) but you can go to a bar and purchase it as soon as you board. Now I've been told if you can wait until you sail you don't have to pay tax on it but I'm not sure that's true. I do know they pro-rate it by day so if you wait until the day after you sail and so on it does get cheaper!

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