Fantasy From Mobile - Dining and Cheers Question

[projectorguy1]

Greetings all! Sailing next month on the Fantasy - Does anyone know if either main dining room is open on embarkation day for lunch? My DW and I have kind of a tradition of eating our first meal there on NCL.

 

Also - I am aware that the cheers drink package could only be purchased on day two out of Mobile in the past. We pre booked it, and were charged for all 5 days of the cruise. I'm assuming it is effective as soon as we board and get our stickers then? I think in the past, you just purchased it for your cruise length minus one day, and paid for your drinks and/or consumed your carry-on wine or champagne on day one...

 

Thanks in advance!

[msmith198025]

I think they recently changed a state or local law that allows Cheers to be activated on the first day out of Mobile. We went in december and were able to use it as soon as we got on board.

 

In the past this was not so.

[projectorguy1]

I think they recently changed a state or local law that allows Cheers to be activated on the first day out of Mobile. We went in december and were able to use it as soon as we got on board.

 

In the past this was not so.

 

Thanks! Thats great news!

[SummerXU]

I think they recently changed a state or local law that allows Cheers to be activated on the first day out of Mobile. We went in december and were able to use it as soon as we got on board.

 

In the past this was not so.

 

 

Yes, this was the case for us as well at the beginning of February. You can use Cheers as soon as you board. Enjoy!

[stobe1]

Cheers is available in port in Mobile, but it is only a limited selection of beer, wine and liquor and keep in mind that you will still be paying state tax on every drink you get while in port. Once you get offshore a bit after sail away the everything will be available.

[Anton]

As said above, while in Mobile and until you reach international waters, the ship has to use the "Alabama Bar Menu" which is a reduced list of beer, wine, liquor. It's the same as Carnival ships that sail from Texas in that they are only allowed to sell alcohol purchased from the state liquor control board so they keep it to a small list in order to not have to buy as much of it. Once in open seas, they actually do a short shutdown at the bars and take away the Alabama bottles and put up the duty free booze bottles and beers. I watched them do it on Fantasy at the casino bar in November. It took about 5 minutes (they moved fast).

[msmith198025]

Ahhh yes, I forgot it was a limited "Alabama Menu".

 

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[bobbismith]

As said above, while in Mobile and until you reach international waters, the ship has to use the "Alabama Bar Menu" which is a reduced list of beer, wine, liquor. It's the same as Carnival ships that sail from Texas in that they are only allowed to sell alcohol purchased from the state liquor control board so they keep it to a small list in order to not have to buy as much of it. Once in open seas, they actually do a short shutdown at the bars and take away the Alabama bottles and put up the duty free booze bottles and beers. I watched them do it on Fantasy at the casino bar in November. It took about 5 minutes (they moved fast).

Does anyone have a link to this information? Thanks

[projectorguy1]

Has anyone or no one seen the MDR open at lunch on embarkation day?

[loanshark]

MDR will be closed at lunch time on embarkation day.

[rattleshoe]

Please don't judge all ships by the Fantasy.

 

 

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[projectorguy1]

Please don't judge all ships by the Fantasy.

 

 

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Can you elaborate? Or just trolling?

 

Not very helpful as it stands. And why would I judge all ships by one older one?

 

I've cruised NCL only so far on the Sky, Getaway, and Escape...Have stayed in balcony rooms, mini suites, suites, and The Haven... The differences between the Sky and the others is HUGE, but I have enjoyed all of our cruises...

 

I will judge this upcoming cruise against not going on a cruise! Also, I will judge it on the value received for the cost...a little over 900 for two, including tips, for a 5 night cruise in a ocean-view room would have to be pretty bad to not be a good value for that price! :-)

[bobbismith]

Please don't judge all ships by the Fantasy.

 

 

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Wierd. We were all learning things....then this.

[msmith198025]

Please don't judge all ships by the Fantasy.

 

 

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Please do the judge all posts by this one.

 

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[rattleshoe]

Being a Senior citizen , the only trolling I have done is in a boat. Not a ship. We did a 5 day on the Triumph and two days after returning, did the same itinerary and same menu on the Fantasy. No cruise on Carnival has ever been a bad cruise! But the food in the dining room was not as good and trying to a clean table 0n the Lido was always a challenge. I remembered the same thing from an earlier cruise on the same ship. Even the help was " downbeat ", with the exception of a great dinner team and steward. It was just a noticeable difference doing both in 12 days time.

 

 

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[tennboy1981]

Yes the fantasy is their oldest ship but ive been on her twice. Very well kept up....

 

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[projectorguy1]

Being a Senior citizen , the only trolling I have done is in a boat. Not a ship. We did a 5 day on the Triumph and two days after returning, did the same itinerary and same menu on the Fantasy. No cruise on Carnival has ever been a bad cruise! But the food in the dining room was not as good and trying to a clean table 0n the Lido was always a challenge. I remembered the same thing from an earlier cruise on the same ship. Even the help was " downbeat ", with the exception of a great dinner team and steward. It was just a noticeable difference doing both in 12 days time.

 

 

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When did you sail the Fantasy - If you dont mind me asking? And which port?

[rolltidebama]

Hello OP. I hate to "butt in" but I just wanted to say that I love the Fantasy. My family has sailed her many times. Yes, she's the oldest ship in the fleet but they have kept her looking great in my opinion. I have sailed larger Carnival ships and tend to enjoy them all. The Fantasy had some of the 2.0 upgrades last year and that added some great new options. To me, the Fantasy is a little quieter and doesn't seem so crowded as others. It is a great value and that's one reason we tend to sail her often....and it's a short drive for us.

 

 

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[projectorguy1]

Hello OP. I hate to "butt in" but I just wanted to say that I love the Fantasy. My family has sailed her many times. Yes, she's the oldest ship in the fleet but they have kept her looking great in my opinion. I have sailed larger Carnival ships and tend to enjoy them all. The Fantasy had some of the 2.0 upgrades last year and that added some great new options. To me, the Fantasy is a little quieter and doesn't seem so crowded as others. It is a great value and that's one reason we tend to sail her often....and it's a short drive for us.

 

 

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Thank you for your input! I want to make it clear that Rattleshoe is certainly entitled to his/her opinion...I was just curious about timing. Your opinion is very similar to many I am seeing since the Fantasy came to Mobile. I wouldn't be shocked to read that there were issues before drydock, or before she came to Miami or Mobile, however, especially if most of the crew were nearing the end of their contracts at the same time...

[RoperDK]

We just returned from the Fantasy on Mar.16.

 

They do have the dreaded "Alabama Menu" in the bars like they did years ago along with a pretty hefty additional tax added per drink. I don't know that many people would find the reduced types of liquor a problem, but I could not get a Cosmopolitan. I could get a vodka and tonic. The thing that bothered me the most was that it was at least 4 hours after sail away until we reached international waters....a long time in my book.

 

We did not purchase cheers, but did buy a couple of bottles of liquor and water from bon voyage to be delivered to the cabin at embarkation. When we got to our cabin the water was there, but no liquor. After a while we called about it and they said that they couldn't deliver until after we got into international waters. I think that should have been annotated on the bon voyage website.

 

The casino isn't open until international waters, also. That is new to me and just added to the things that bothered me about cruising out of Mobile. I know that at most ports international waters are fairly close, but not in New Orleans. It's about 7 hours to get out of the river and the casino is open minutes after sail away. Still not enough to keep me from cruising on the Fantasy, but wait there's more.....

 

This was our 21st Carnival cruise and the food on this ship is definitely not up to par. I know that Carnival's food has slipped a bit in the last few years, but this was our worst for food by far. We ate at all the venues. Guys Burgers was the best. The dining room wasn't terrible, but many things came out just plain cold. The pizza and deli were okay. The buffet was okay at breakfast, but finding something edible at other times wasn't easy. Also, some of the produce on the salad bar was rotting. Trays on the buffet weren't refilled. We ordered a pot of coffee from room service each morning and none of the carafes had lids. You had to pour it over the bathroom sink because it just spilled down the sides. We asked about it and they said there were no lids available! To me it just shows that food services weren't managed correctly.

 

The cabin steward, bar service and guest services were excellent. Most of the crew around the ship were friendly and helpful. Service and table cleaning at the buffet was adequate. The only service negative that we found.

 

We've sailed on the Fantasy before, but it has been several years. The ship is showing it's age, but is clean and well kept. We had cruised several times before out of Mobile on the Holiday as we only live a few hours away. We won't cruise out of Mobile again. It just wasn't enjoyable. Maybe a newer ship with balconies would change our mind.

 

Just my opinion.

 

Dawn