All Things Fascination

[mitaha]

We are sailing on her again in May 2011. I havent seen her since the new upgrades that was done last year. We stayed on the Empress deck last time. Does anyone have a favorite room that you absolutely recommend and why? We are booked on the Main deck right now, but are thinking of moving back up to the Empress Deck again.

[javamom]

We are sailing on her again in May 2011. I havent seen her since the new upgrades that was done last year. We stayed on the Empress deck last time. Does anyone have a favorite room that you absolutely recommend and why? We are booked on the Main deck right now, but are thinking of moving back up to the Empress Deck again.

 

When in May? We are sailing May 14.

[mitaha]

When in May? We are sailing May 14.

 

 

We are sailing on May 23rd! You get her a few days before we do.:p

[NCTribeFan]

Can't let these very useful threads die, people!

 

Just booked another Fascination cruise for 11/26 - this will be my FIFTH time to HMC. And I'm not really a "beach person." I just can't resist that place.

 

So, she's had the upgrades since I last sailed her.

 

Have been on Fantasy since she got the Serenity and Waterworks and thought the chair hogs were pretty bad by the last sea day. Whole groups of people hogging not only loungers, but the chairs in the shade, too, and moving back and forth and shouting back and forth to their friends.

 

Sadly, on my two cruises on ships with Serenity areas, I've found that they aren't all that serene unless you're out there at 8 am. :mad:

 

I love the Fantasy class. Just off Glory for the 2nd time, and while she's a lovely ship, there are just too many people. And I've sailed Fantasy class often enough that I could find my way around blindfolded.

 

Booked a Pack and Go - missed the $179 IS cabins, but got an OV for $209. That's just crazy!

 

So, being Platinum, did I get one of those surprise upgrades that I'm always reading about? NOOOOOOO. We're under the galley! We're on Empress, port side, just forward of the aft stairwell as you get into the 6E cabins.

 

Could be worse! ;)

[ready2cruzagain]

Thanks for bumping this thread up. I have tried searching for a thread like this but for some reason my search bar comes up with totally different stuff than I put in.

 

We are doing a b2b on the Fascination next month, our first time on this ship. I seen the prices for the 11-26 sailing last night and thought wow. It has some awesome military rates on it.

 

Once again, thanks. I will have to go through and read from page 1 now.:D

[NCTribeFan]

Here's how I search...

 

I always use the Advanced Search; need more than one word in the search string (so you may have to try different combinations), select 'thread titles only;' then select just the Carnival board.

 

I've always been able to find what I want if I use the right search string.

 

I don't know why they won't "sticky" a thread on the board to explain how to use the search functions SO THAT THEY ACTUALLY PROVIDE USEFUL INFO!!! ;)

 

I totally had not planned on this cruise. I mean, I just got off Glory two weeks ago! But I couldn't pass up that price.

 

Now I'll have to spend the weekend finding recent reviews and reading through them although I do feel like I have a pretty good grasp on what to expect. Still, I love reading reviews and looking at photos.

[ready2cruzagain]

Here's how I search...

 

I always use the Advanced Search; need more than one word in the search string (so you may have to try different combinations), select 'thread titles only;' then select just the Carnival board.

 

I've always been able to find what I want if I use the right search string.

 

I don't know why they won't "sticky" a thread on the board to explain how to use the search functions SO THAT THEY ACTUALLY PROVIDE USEFUL INFO!!! ;)

 

I totally had not planned on this cruise. I mean, I just got off Glory two weeks ago! But I couldn't pass up that price.

 

Now I'll have to spend the weekend finding recent reviews and reading through them although I do feel like I have a pretty good grasp on what to expect. Still, I love reading reviews and looking at photos.

 

Oh wow thanks! I tried what you said and got exactly what I was searching for!

[NCTribeFan]

You're welcome!

 

Really, if they'd just TRY to put a sticky note on the board explaining how to do this, then maybe these "useful" threads could have a longer shelf life and there wouldn't be quite so many "I tried to find it, but..." threads that are started over and over and over and over and over!

 

Can't believe I'm this excited after just getting off a ship two weeks ago (which was a nice cruise, but not great).

 

It's the return to Half Moon Cay. And if we can't tender in, I'll cry all the way home. OK, probably not. I'll probably just spend that extra sea day in the casino. :eek:

[bobbybear13]

Does anyone know if you can get lobster without going to the mdr?

[NCTribeFan]

You know, I've had late dining for the past few years, which means that I end up eating about five times a day (breakfast, lunch, mid-afternoon hot dog & fries, early eveing sushi, late dinner).

 

I actually thought about going to the buffet (on Glory a couple of weeks ago) and having lobster and shrimp at about 6 pm, and then going to my regular dinner and having it again, because I can't eat all the items I want that night at one sitting. :o

 

But I didn't. I should have at least walked through the buffet to see if it was available.

 

I really don't do buffet food - for lunch, it's always a deli sandwich, fish & chips (where available), or room service, and I've never even been in the buffet during dinner hours, but I was under the impression that most of the entrees were available in the buffet.

 

You might want to ask this on the board, since it wouldn't be ship specific.

[ready2cruzagain]

This is my first time on the Fascination so cannot say for this ship but have been on several other Carnival ships. We like to walk through and look at the buffet before we go to late dining. In all the times and different ships we have done this we have never seen lobster on the buffet. So my vote would be no. If you specifically ask that question on the main boards I bet someone has the answer.

[Hockey Addict]

Dh and I are sailing on Monday for our 5th time on her. We have never seen lobster on Lido.

[marshhawk]

I really had to wonder about this thread and then figured out it was started more than 3 years ago. So I hope all that have asked, now know. There was a great Fascination review that was started three days ago, but I'm not sure if the OP has finished it yet.

Oh, and no -no lobster on the lido.

[bobbybear13]

Ok,Thanks everyone, no lobster on Lido, but wonder if one might tip a waiter and get a couple to go.

[NCTribeFan]

As many times as I've sailed Fantasy-class ships, you'd think I'd know this by now. And it sounds so silly to say I've sailed so often the past few years that I can't keep my ships straight! :eek:

 

There is a hair dryer in the desk drawer, but there is NO magnifying mirror in the bathroom. Is that correct?

 

Going to pack only one case and don't want to bring ANYTHING that isn't absolutely necessary.

 

Is there a 3-bottle wine package offered on these 5-night cruises? Pretty sure there was last time, but it's been almost three years since I've done a 5-night cruise.

[ready2cruzagain]

As many times as I've sailed Fantasy-class ships, you'd think I'd know this by now. And it sounds so silly to say I've sailed so often the past few years that I can't keep my ships straight! :eek:

 

There is a hair dryer in the desk drawer, but there is NO magnifying mirror in the bathroom. Is that correct?

 

Going to pack only one case and don't want to bring ANYTHING that isn't absolutely necessary.

 

Is there a 3-bottle wine package offered on these 5-night cruises? Pretty sure there was last time, but it's been almost three years since I've done a 5-night cruise.

 

Have not been on the Fascination yet but according to several TA websites there are no hair dryers in the room:

 

This is from CCL and it states that hair dryers are only in suites if I am reading correctly. Taking mine.

 

https://www.goccl.com/irman/bookccl/the_fleet/DE_StateroomAmenities.htm

[NCTribeFan]

Well, I seem to remember taking a hair dryer on a Fantasy-class ship only to discover that there was one in the drawer after all. Trust me, I don't book suites, either!

 

I thought perhaps the Fantasy-class ships that had been refurbished had had these added but the FAQ and other info just hadn't been updated.

 

See what I mean about getting my ships all confused?! :eek:

[tami60429]

As many times as I've sailed Fantasy-class ships, you'd think I'd know this by now. And it sounds so silly to say I've sailed so often the past few years that I can't keep my ships straight! :eek:

 

There is a hair dryer in the desk drawer, but there is NO magnifying mirror in the bathroom. Is that correct?

 

Going to pack only one case and don't want to bring ANYTHING that isn't absolutely necessary.

 

Is there a 3-bottle wine package offered on these 5-night cruises? Pretty sure there was last time, but it's been almost three years since I've done a 5-night cruise.

 

I was on the Fascination 11/7 in an aft balcony - no hair dryer and no magnifying mirror.

 

Enjoy your cruise.

[jwjax]

I was on the Fascination 11/7 in an aft balcony - no hair dryer and no magnifying mirror.

 

Enjoy your cruise.

 

 

This is from TripAdvisor's Fascination Review.

 

All cabins have private bathrooms, a pair of bathrobes and shower-mounted soap and shampoo. If you're looking to have that well-coiffed look before meal time think again -- hair dryers are not part of the decor. Your cabin steward will locate a standard, no-frills hair dryer for you, but you should really plan to pack your own.

I have been on the Fascination twice and my wife 3 times ( once after the re-furb), and I don't recall packing a hairdryer on any of them? I thought they were on the Banned list, like curling irons, irons etc... My wife can't remember, but is checking with her mother who will know if they had one for sure....:)

 

jw:cool:

[NCTribeFan]

No, definitely not on the banned list.

 

Just that I could swear I packed one because I was going on a Fantasy-class ship and, voila, there was one in the desk drawer after all.

 

But I surely could be mistaken!

 

I know! I'll tell my traveling buddy she needs to bring hers! :p

[cruise_pirate]

On all of the other fantasy ships I have been on the hair dryer was in the desk drawer..:)

[bobbybear13]

We were on the Nov.12th cruise on the Facination and there are no hair dryers . You are right that there were on other Fantasy class ships, but not on Facination.

[NCTribeFan]

Well, that would help explain my confusion. I guess I was thinking of my latest Fantasy cruise. I took a hair dryer because there wasn't one on Fascination.

 

Yep, going to tell cousin she needs to pack one! :p

 

Thanks, folks.

[4wheelr]

We've been on several Carnival cruises and my wife uses a hairdryer. She asks our cabin steward on the first day after we get settled in the cabin for a hairdryer and he delivers one and it is ours for the remainder of the cruise. She does bring her flat iron, but has to keep it 'hidden' from view when not in use.

 

I've read thru all 34 pages over the past week or so. The day we are in Nassau is from 7 am to 10 pm. I wonder if that is still the formal night for dinner. If it is...that is some terrible planning. Now, we're not fans of Nassau anyway, but for guests that might be visiting for the first time and have excursions planned, that is unfortunate to miss the nice dining room evening on the ship.

 

I LOVE Half Moon Cay. We were there in August and had a cabana for the 4 of us. This next trip is just a quick getaway for the 2 of us. I wouldn't mind being left stranded on that island for a few weeks :)

 

Has anyone booked the horseback riding on Half Moon Cay? We saw it in August and everyone looked like they were having a great time. I'm thinking about it.

 

January is going to be a loooonnngg month here in Ohio. February 4th can't get here quick enough!

 

-T

[gusandgidgetsmom]

Why does your wife have to keep her flat iron hidden when not in use? It is not a forbidden item--just a different type of curling iron. Only regular irons are contraband.

I love HMC as well. If you find a way to get stranded there, please let me know. I would love to live there.

We've been on several Carnival cruises and my wife uses a hairdryer. She asks our cabin steward on the first day after we get settled in the cabin for a hairdryer and he delivers one and it is ours for the remainder of the cruise. She does bring her flat iron, but has to keep it 'hidden' from view when not in use.

 

I've read thru all 34 pages over the past week or so. The day we are in Nassau is from 7 am to 10 pm. I wonder if that is still the formal night for dinner. If it is...that is some terrible planning. Now, we're not fans of Nassau anyway, but for guests that might be visiting for the first time and have excursions planned, that is unfortunate to miss the nice dining room evening on the ship.

 

I LOVE Half Moon Cay. We were there in August and had a cabana for the 4 of us. This next trip is just a quick getaway for the 2 of us. I wouldn't mind being left stranded on that island for a few weeks :)

 

Has anyone booked the horseback riding on Half Moon Cay? We saw it in August and everyone looked like they were having a great time. I'm thinking about it.

 

January is going to be a loooonnngg month here in Ohio. February 4th can't get here quick enough!

 

-T