Carnival Fascination Elegant nights

[beshears]

Looking forward to reading it.:)

[Hillbillygram]

Just a FYI, my review finally got published:

 

https://www.cruisecritic.com/memberreviews/memberreview.cfm?EntryID=631746&et_cid=3110946&et_rid=258678321&et_referrer=Boards_WAR_CC

Just read your review. In St. Thomas, where were the "flea market" vendors located? We were there in May but had done an excursion so didn't get to do a lot of shopping. This time around we are just going to do what strikes our fancy.

[salty dingo]

Just read your review. In St. Thomas, where were the "flea market" vendors located? We were there in May but had done an excursion so didn't get to do a lot of shopping. This time around we are just going to do what strikes our fancy.

We walked from the ship over to town. We are not in great shape, so if we can do it, anyone can. The flea market is a bunch of stalls that you encounter just as you get into town. So if you were walking from the ship it would be right there before you got to any shops.

 

Just before there is the Federal Court building and an old fort looking place and then you get to the shopping area.

 

It is easy to take a $4 ride from the ship but we wanted some walking and it was good for us.

[summersigh]

We aren't required to participate in the formal nights, correct? It's just expected that we will dress up for our 6pm dinner slot in the MDR if we go there??

There is no more "formal night" on Carnival. It is now called "cruise elegant". The dress-up bar is much lower than it used to be.

My DH wears black cotton slacks, a short sleeve collared shirt and the loafers he wears to travel. I wear black slacks, a sparklie top and strappy sandles. We are neither over or under dressed - somewhere in the middle.

[Crazy4Camping]

There is no more "formal night" on Carnival. It is now called "cruise elegant". The dress-up bar is much lower than it used to be.

My DH wears black cotton slacks, a short sleeve collared shirt and the loafers he wears to travel. I wear black slacks, a sparklie top and strappy sandles. We are neither over or under dressed - somewhere in the middle.

 

Thank you. This gives me a much better idea of what to pack!

[Crazy4Camping]

We walked from the ship over to town. We are not in great shape, so if we can do it, anyone can. The flea market is a bunch of stalls that you encounter just as you get into town. So if you were walking from the ship it would be right there before you got to any shops.

 

Just before there is the Federal Court building and an old fort looking place and then you get to the shopping area.

 

It is easy to take a $4 ride from the ship but we wanted some walking and it was good for us.

 

I have told our friends that are cruising with us that many people have posted about walking to things right from the ship and they insist that the ship docks in sketchy areas and it isn't safe to walk. Is this true?

[beshears]

On 9/7/2018 at 6:19 AM, salty dingo said:

Just a FYI, my review finally got published:

 

https://www.cruisecritic.com/memberreviews/memberreview.cfm?EntryID=631746&et_cid=3110946&et_rid=258678321&et_referrer=Boards_WAR_CC

Enjoyed reading your review.

[Aplmac]

On 8/27/2018 at 4:29 PM, Crazy4Camping said:

I am a bit concerned about being exhausted after this itinerary as well!

With only one day at sea and essentially not seeing San Juan

(except for the airport-lol)

but wanting to see all the other islands, I can imagine it will be quite busy!

.

That's why I like to do half-day excursions off the ship

whether by car/tour or by foot.

 

I rise early,

hit the Dining Room for breakfast when they open those doors at 0730 hrs,

and try to get off the ship and start my day ashore, by 0930 or so.

If I can, I like to be back on the ship for Lunch by 1300 hrs. - 1 p.m.

and take a nap after that!

 

Then again, I live on Barbados and have done this before

and probably will again, so I can afford to be laid back

in my approach to not wearing myself out in the heat.

As I've always said

This going ashore business is hot sweaty work!

Pace yourself accordingly.

 

_________________

Pics are Antigua

[beshears]

Aplmac, thank you for sharing those pictures.  You are blessed that you are able to be closer to these islands, then thoe of us who live in the USA. 🙂   Yes, we won't have a lot of time to spend (my friend and I are 75, but most people think I am 65, by my looks/actions. 🙂 ) resting on the ship, unless we CHOOSE to do so.  I like the itinerary as there are so many place to check out, some of which I have not been to for years.

[Ten9T6]

We were on the Fascination last week, and I can confirm that "Elegant" night is still Tuesday and Thursday. If you do the Chef's Table, they will do that on Wednesday, so you do not miss either of the other nights.

 

Have a great time! Wish we were still on the ship.

 

-Kenny

[beshears]

Kenny, thanks for informing us of elegant night on the Fascination.

 

I have a question.  I have heard a lot about Chef's Table, but have no clue what it is about.  What is the cost?  Do they prepare/give you different food than what is at the MDR?  In other words, what's so special about it?

[LittleYiaYia]

Hi Kenny, glad you enjoyed your cruise on the Fascination.  We are going back for another cruise on her next month.  I have a few questions for you.  Who was the piano bar player?  Last February it was a man named Gregg and we did not enjoy him at all.  Any chance there was a guitar player named Larry?  We have sailed with him before and really enjoy him.  Did they have the special cakes at lunch on Lido?  How did muster drill go?  It was a complete cluster last year and hoping that the crew has it's act together by now. 

[Ten9T6]

3 hours ago, LittleYiaYia said:

Hi Kenny, glad you enjoyed your cruise on the Fascination.  We are going back for another cruise on her next month.  I have a few questions for you.  Who was the piano bar player?  Last February it was a man named Gregg and we did not enjoy him at all.  Any chance there was a guitar player named Larry?  We have sailed with him before and really enjoy him.  Did they have the special cakes at lunch on Lido?  How did muster drill go?  It was a complete cluster last year and hoping that the crew has it's act together by now. 

Hello LittleYiaYia,

 

The piano bar had a guy named Andy. I do not remember his last name. There was an acoustic guitar player named Roland Flyn. We really enjoyed the band United. 

 

The cakes - I thought they were supposed to have them, but the only time I remember any was during the chocolate extravaganza. 

 

The muster. Haha. Well, I do not think that has changed any. Our muster station was F, on Lido. The acoustics are terrible, many people talking loudly, and you combine that with announcements done in both English and Spanish, made it hard to follow. I think some of that comes from the drill being a lot later than the other ships we’ve been on, giving people more time to drink. 

 

I hope this helps. 

 

- Kenny

[Ten9T6]

3 hours ago, beshears said:

Kenny, thanks for informing us of elegant night on the Fascination.

 

I have a question.  I have heard a lot about Chef's Table, but have no clue what it is about.  What is the cost?  Do they prepare/give you different food than what is at the MDR?  In other words, what's so special about it?

Hello beshears, 

 

The overall cost was 75 per person plus gratuity. (Worth it for the experience, but not sure I would do it a second time.) It is totally different than anything you will find in main dining. It starts with everyone meeting in the atrium bar area. You are given sparking wine to sip on until everyone arrives. You are then walked through one of the dining areas and escorted to the kitchen. You get to see some “behind the scenes” stuff (not as much as the Behind the Fun tour. I recommend that one if you can get on it. ). 

 

While in the kitchen area you get to sample appetizers that they are thinking about adding to the menu and you get to give your opinion. After sampling about 5 (small portions) you walk to another area where they show you how the chocolate melting cakes are made, and someone gets to help mix up a small batch. (At the end you get a printed copy of the recipe. )

 

Next everyone heads to the library for the rest of the meal. Many small portions of some really good food. I liked it all, but was not that impressed with the Wagyu. Overall it was a good experience, but it was a long night. It was about 3 hours. You will not find any of the food, anywhere else on the ship. The only thing you will find elsewhere is the red and white wine that is served. 

 

Let me me know if you have anymore questions. 

 

-Kenny

[LittleYiaYia]

Thanks for the quick reply.  I was really hoping that they had solved the muster problem.  1 and 1/2 hours last Feb., in the lobby of the theatre and then the theatre.  They kept everyone in the lobby before the theatre, they were trying to check S&S cards at the door before letting anyone into the theatre, but that caused a backlog and so they let everyone in and then 2 (yes 2) crew members tried to come around and check S&S, it was now almost 10 o'clock and small children were crying and they would not let their parents leave with them until the Cruise Director ended his spiel.  What a mess. 

 

This was the fifth time we did this itinerary and probably our most favorite Carnival Cruise, I think the ship had a lot to do with it.

[Crazy4Camping]

13 hours ago, LittleYiaYia said:

Thanks for the quick reply.  I was really hoping that they had solved the muster problem.  1 and 1/2 hours last Feb., in the lobby of the theatre and then the theatre.  They kept everyone in the lobby before the theatre, they were trying to check S&S cards at the door before letting anyone into the theatre, but that caused a backlog and so they let everyone in and then 2 (yes 2) crew members tried to come around and check S&S, it was now almost 10 o'clock and small children were crying and they would not let their parents leave with them until the Cruise Director ended his spiel.  What a mess. 

 

This was the fifth time we did this itinerary and probably our most favorite Carnival Cruise, I think the ship had a lot to do with it.

Oh my goodness is this for real?  The whole first night is shot because of this muster drill?  I hate to think that I'm going to struggle getting up the next morning for excursions because the staff can't get this handled.

[LittleYiaYia]

Yes, that was our experience.  I am hoping that the crew has got this straightened out before the end of February.  Kenny says it was pretty much of a cluster still a week ago.  I don't mind everything being said in English and Spanish, I understand why this is done, I just think that 2 crew members trying to scan the S&S cards of a full theatre in ridiculous.  No one was happy, especially the small children. 

[Crazy4Camping]

1 hour ago, LittleYiaYia said:

Yes, that was our experience.  I am hoping that the crew has got this straightened out before the end of February.  Kenny says it was pretty much of a cluster still a week ago.  I don't mind everything being said in English and Spanish, I understand why this is done, I just think that 2 crew members trying to scan the S&S cards of a full theatre in ridiculous.  No one was happy, especially the small children. 

I agree that is crazy!!  If everyone on the ship is in these areas, can't they have more staff help to expedite this?  Then there is some kind of sailaway thing afterward right?  Are we allowed to skip that since we can't skip this muster thing?  We have an excursion planned for the next morning and I'm usually an early-to-bed-early to-rise person! 

[LittleYiaYia]

We missed sail away because we were still in muster.  It was raining anyway so they had moved any dancing etc. to the atrium.  After muster you are free to retire or do whatever you want to.  Last year the ship did not sail until 10:00 PM so the muster was at 9:00.  Now, they have moved sail away time to 9:00 so I am assuming that muster will be at 8:00.  Dinner on this night is open seating, in either restaurant, and they will close the restaurant promptly 1 hour before muster, so you must be done and out by 7. 

[beshears]

On 1/23/2019 at 6:00 PM, Ten9T6 said:

Hello beshears, 

 

The overall cost was 75 per person plus gratuity. (Worth it for the experience, but not sure I would do it a second time.) It is totally different than anything you will find in main dining. It starts with everyone meeting in the atrium bar area. You are given sparking wine to sip on until everyone arrives. You are then walked through one of the dining areas and escorted to the kitchen. You get to see some “behind the scenes” stuff (not as much as the Behind the Fun tour. I recommend that one if you can get on it. ). 

 

While in the kitchen area you get to sample appetizers that they are thinking about adding to the menu and you get to give your opinion. After sampling about 5 (small portions) you walk to another area where they show you how the chocolate melting cakes are made, and someone gets to help mix up a small batch. (At the end you get a printed copy of the recipe. )

 

Next everyone heads to the library for the rest of the meal. Many small portions of some really good food. I liked it all, but was not that impressed with the Wagyu. Overall it was a good experience, but it was a long night. It was about 3 hours. You will not find any of the food, anywhere else on the ship. The only thing you will find elsewhere is the red and white wine that is served. 

 

Let me me know if you have anymore questions. 

 

-Kenny

 

[beshears]

Kenny, thanks for the reply about the Chef's Table.  Very interesting, but I think for us, we could probably find another place or thing to put that amount of money to. 🙂