~*Fantasy Review with pics (1/28/15)*~

[swalton85]

My dh and I booked this cruise only a few months before sail date. It was kind of a last minute Christmas/anniversary present to the both of us :)

 

We flew down the day before from Baltimore, to Charleston. We stayed at the home2 suites by Hilton. The hotel offered free airport transportation and breakfast. They have a cruise package that has a shuttle to the cruise port as well.

 

Our stops this trip were Little Stirrup Cay and Nassau.

 

I was a little apprehensive about sailing on such an older and smaller ship, but the Fantasy is an oldie but goodie! :)

 

Here's our hotel room:

 

The hotel also had complimentary shuttle within a 5 mile radius. We had walked to Firehouse Subs in the afternoon for lunch and it was very good! At night, the shuttle took us to Jim & Nick's BBQ which was also very good. The outlet mall is also in close proximity to the hotel too.

[swalton85]

The next day we got up, had our complimentary breakfast and waited for the shuttle to pick us up at 10:30. We made it to the port quickly, no traffic. After going through the security checkpoint we were off to drop off our bags. After that, we sat on the shuttle for maybe 30 mins and were on our way to the terminal. Went right through security, got our S&S cards and were on the ship in no time! The whole process was pretty smooth. We were the first group on the ship.

 

Some pictures of the ship:

[swalton85]

We had lunch (burgers and fries... fries were freezing cold!) and continued to explore our home for the next 5 days.

 

Some more ship pics:

[swalton85]

 

Overall, I was very impressed with how great the ship looked for her age. I thought many of her common spaces were quite pretty and she was impeccably clean!

[swalton85]

 

After wandering around a bit, we headed to the room around 1 or so to see if it was ready. We had an oceanview cabin M44. This was our first oceanview. We usually get balconies, but paying for a suite didn't seem worth it.

 

Here's our room:

 

 

After unpacking our carryon we wandered around a little more until it was time for the muster drill. This was the longest muster drill we have ever been to. First, we met in the Universe Lounge where everyone was so strict about talking, whispering, anything! It felt like we sat there in complete silence for awhile before they actually started doing anything. We weren't really sure what was going on. After sitting in the lounge, we had to go up to where we would board the lifeboats and stand around in silence for awhile longer. It all just seemed very strange!

[swalton85]

It was finally time to set sail!

 

 

That night we went to the Celebration Dining Room for dinner. It was FREEZING in there! Service was also very slow. That seemed to be the trend on service in the MDR.

 

After dinner we walked around a little and check out the lounge where they have Punchliner's Comedy Club. That room was even MORE cold than the dining room! It literally felt like a refrigerator! We decided we wouldn't be going to the show because it was way too cold.

 

[swalton85]

The next day we had breakfast on Lido like we did every morning. The omelettes were very good as well as much of everything else they offered on the breakfast buffet. We lounged around by the pool all day, relaxing and reading! :)

 

The only pic from that day is this guy

 

 

We had gone to the comedy shows that night with Azheem and Kelly Terranova. Neither one was very funny. We had seen Kelly before on the Pride and remembered him being funnier. His act this time around seemed more geared to Southerners and with us being from up North didn't find it very amusing lol. That was the only night we went to the comedy shows. If you do go to see them, make sure you get there early because seating is limited!

[swalton85]

The next morning we got up early, had breakfast, got ready and went to the lounge to get our tender ticket to Little Stirrup Cay. We were tender #3 and were off the ship in no time!

 

[swalton85]

Little Stirrup Cay is beautiful! We found our way to Barefoot Beach and that is where we settled down for the day. We wandered out in the beautiful clear, shallow water and discovered some sea life. We lounged in the chairs for awhile, had lunch, explored the island a little more then headed back to the ship before it got busy with the tenders.

 

[swalton85]

 

Once back on board we sat by the pool for a little while and hung out.

[swalton85]

The next day we were in Nassau and stayed on the ship since we've been there a few times before. We had a peaceful day by the pool in the sun!

 

 

The rest of our trip was pretty uneventful. We had a little bit of rough seas on Sunday morning. It got better later in the day.

 

Sunday night was superbowl so we went to the Universe Lounge where they played it on the big screen with lots of fried food snacks. We watched it through the half time show then went back to our room to pack and finish the game in our room.

 

We got up early Monday morning, had breakfast and were off the ship by 8 am. We did self assist with our luggage. We were through customs and on our shuttle to the airport by 8:20. It was all very smooth and easy!

 

We enjoyed our trip on the Fantasy, but prefer the larger ships with more amenities.

 

If anyone has any questions, please don't hesitate to ask! :)

[audcc77]

Wow - LOVE LOVE LOVE your nice big photos.

 

Thanks for taking time to post. We are going to the same ports on Fantasy in 3 weeks. It will be 3rd or 4th time for me. Other ships are defintely better but Fantasy is okay for a less expensive cruise.

 

 

I have a few questions.

1. How many minutes walk is Barefoot Beach from the food area where Carnival sets up?
   
2. Also are there public restrooms at Barefoot Beach ?
   
3. Did you have Anytime Dining? If so, did you have a good waitperson?
   

Thanks again for doing the review with such great photos.

 

:)

[swalton85]

Wow - LOVE LOVE LOVE your nice big photos.

 

Thanks for taking time to post. We are going to the same ports on Fantasy in 3 weeks. It will be 3rd or 4th time for me. Other ships are defintely better but Fantasy is okay for a less expensive cruise.

 

 

I have a few questions.

1. How many minutes walk is Barefoot Beach from the food area where Carnival sets up?
   
2. Also are there public restrooms at Barefoot Beach ?
   
3. Did you have Anytime Dining? If so, did you have a good waitperson?
   

Thanks again for doing the review with such great photos.

 

:)

 

Barefoot beach was only a few minute walk from the food area. There is a bar and restroom very close to the beach.

 

we had anytime dining and had different waitstaff each night. Some better than others, but I don't remember any names :)

[M&T ReadyToCruiseAgain]

Great pictures, thanks for posting. We are going on the same itinerary in about 3 weeks. How was the water and air temperatures in Little Stirrup Cay?

 

Did you take any pics of the cabaña area at LSC?

[swalton85]

Great pictures, thanks for posting. We are going on the same itinerary in about 3 weeks. How was the water and air temperatures in Little Stirrup Cay?

 

Did you take any pics of the cabaña area at LSC?

 

The temps were about mid 70's. Felt nice in the sun! Water was tolerable :) wasn't freezing cold and we walked all around in it.

 

I'll look and see if I have any cabana pics. The cabana area was really nice though. It was it's own private area with an entrance and a bar I believe. It was a little walk to the beach though.

[SMSACE6]

I am enjoying your review very much. It has been quite a long time since I have been on a Fantasy class ship, but would not rule it out. the Fantasy and the Paradise are the two that I would like to sail on, because of where they sail from. Your photos are excellent. Thanks for sharing:)

[mawvkysc]

Love the pictures! Where were those chairs with the red cushions? They are in the picture right after the Ravenel Bridge.

[swalton85]

Love the pictures! Where were those chairs with the red cushions? They are in the picture right after the Ravenel Bridge.

 

They were right up above the Lido pool area, on the end where the bars are.

[tami61860]

Thank you so much for such a great review and pictures! We sail on Fantasy Sept 19. This will be my first Carnival Cruise. We are going with a group of 20! May I ask what were the rates at the hotel you stayed in? thanks so much!!

Edited February 5, 2015 by tami61860

[swalton85]

Thank you so much for such a great review and pictures! We sail on Fantasy Sept 19. This will be my first Carnival Cruise. We are going with a group of 20! May I ask what were the rates at the hotel you stayed in? thanks so much!!

 

We paid $101 for the hotel (included all taxes) we didn't book the cruise package, but the hotel gave us the information for the shuttle service they use and we booked through him directly. Probably should have just booked the cruise package though!

[5soccer9]

We paid $101 for the hotel (included all taxes) we didn't book the cruise package, but the hotel gave us the information for the shuttle service they use and we booked through him directly. Probably should have just booked the cruise package though!

 

 

Love your review thanks for sharing. We are staying atthe same hotel in a few weeks before our cruise. We did do the cruise package. Do you how you sign up for the time you want to leave for the ship? Do you think the time you left was a good time? We do have FTTF. Also, what about when you got off? How did they know to pick you up?

 

I can't see the pictures now since I am work computer and they block them out but can't wait to look at them tonight. Getting very excited. I like the bigger ships with the extra's but this was just for a quick get away.

[swalton85]

Love your review thanks for sharing. We are staying atthe same hotel in a few weeks before our cruise. We did do the cruise package. Do you how you sign up for the time you want to leave for the ship? Do you think the time you left was a good time? We do have FTTF. Also, what about when you got off? How did they know to pick you up?

 

I can't see the pictures now since I am work computer and they block them out but can't wait to look at them tonight. Getting very excited. I like the bigger ships with the extra's but this was just for a quick get away.

 

When you check in with the hotel they figure out your pickup time. We were told he usually does pickups at 10:30. The driver's name was Nathaniel and he was a very nice guy! We were the first group onto the ship. Leaving at 10:30 was perfect I think.

 

As far as him picking you up, he takes down your name and cell phone number and gives you a call in the morning once the ship docks. You then let him know when you expect to be getting off so he has an idea of when to get there. Once you clear customs give him a call and he'll be there waiting in the taxi/limo shuttle area. Very simple! He took us right to the airport instead of back to the hotel. We did self assist debark and carried off our luggage. Our deck was to debark at 8 am. We were in his car by 8:20. Extremely easy! :)

[Cruisegirl6]

Nice photos thank you!

[JMHAM1]

Thanks for this and especially the deck pics with the pools and the slides. We were considering this ship as a quickie cruise in Oct but I salied on Fantasy waaaay back in the day and was thinking we might be disappointed in an ship as old as this one.

 

As long as there are slides and pools, the kids are happy. This one is back in the running because it is within driving distance for us.

 

Thanks!!

[Soleil's Mom]

Your pictures of the ship are beautiful. Thanks for posting. I will be on the Fantasy in 66 days with my nephews. My last cruise was on the Breeze, but the boys (one's first cruise, the other's second) will be happy with a pool and the slides, whereas I will miss Guy's Burgers and the Blue Iguana burritos terribly!