Fantasy Review: 11/24-11/29

[nawlinscruiser22]

Our 7th trip aboard the Fantasy, 5 day November 24-29 [Thanksgiving week]

New Orleans to Progreso and Cozumel

 

 

 

Embarkation

We arrived at the cruise terminal around 10:45am. Parking is $14/day so $70 was handed over. We proceeded to VIP check-in. That went relatively quickly and we were on board enjoying lunch by 11:30 am! Sad to report there was no fruit punchL But there was strawberry frozen yogurt on a few days and that made up for the lack of fruit punch, at least in my book!

 

Room

We were on Upper deck. I never caught the name of our room steward, but he was very efficient. I was surprised to see that they didn’t do much in way of improving the staterooms except the flat screen TV. The same old dirty furniture and cigarette burn holes in the wall. The mattresses did seem new.

 

Ship & Entertainment

I was impressed with the condition of the newly refurbished parts of the ship but was disappointed to see some of the things that were not addressed during dry dock. New carpets in the public areas, much-needed new furniture in the lobby and a few fixed tiles were a good start. The dining room improvements as well as the Lido buffet area renovations are stunning. The new waterworks area is a nice addition although I expected a little more pizzazz after all of the hoopla about it. The adult serenity area on Promenade aft is my favorite spot. The only improvement I would make would be a pool but 2 hot tubs will do. Too bad they are really tiny.

 

I enjoyed spending some time in the piano bar with Rob. He was a hoot! We didn’t go to any shows as we have seen them all multiple times. The casino is our favorite spot. We made a hefty donation! It did seem to pay off better the last day as we won back about 75% of the money lost for the week. I was disappointed in the casino host this time around. We didn’t even get a welcome aboard letter! Typically we get to know the slot attendants and casino host very well but they weren’t overly friendly this time around.

 

Progreso

To say that this is my least favorite port would be the understatement of the year! However, this time we decided to go to the ruins. Chichen Itza is too long of a bus ride so we settled on Dzibilchaltun which is only about 20 minutes away. We signed up with AutoProgreso at the pier for $29. We rode on a very nice air conditioned bus. It included your entrance fee to the site. The guide, Elias, was one of the best I have ever had. He was very informative. If you are going to do this, do not book through the ship. They charge $54 but those people rode with those of us who only paid $29!

 

Cozumel

One of our favorite ports. We typically go to Nachi Cocum for the $49 all inclusive day-which I highly recommend. However, this time we were on a jewelry shopping mission. We were in search of pearls! Great Christmas gifts!! They really do have great deals on Mallorca pearls in Cozumel. If you pay with cash, they will typically come down on the price.

 

 

Food

The food in the main dining room was great the first night. The pork chop, macaroni and cheese and the lasagna are all superb. Our waiter & asst waiter were the worst we ever had. They were slow and refused to refill drinks. We did not return the other nights except for Thanksgiving dinner. That was a mistake. Dinner that night was just not edible. The “filet mignon” was definitely not that and the “turkey” was like cold cuts with gravy on it. But on a positive note, they seemed to have improved the lido buffets. Also, the new chicken strips on the outside grill were good.

 

Debarkation

We did self-debark. We were in the car by 7:45am or so.

 

I'm sure there are things I have forgotten, feel free to ask!

[happy cruzer]

Nice review.

 

Can you give some time details on your autoprogesso tour? When did you leave? How much time at the ruins? and when did you get back? Did you have anytime to shop after the tour? I've been looking for details about DZIB for awhile. So glad you had a good tour.

 

Thanks.

[cassie225]

We are leaving this Thursday. Are you a breakfast person? If so how was breakfast? Is the ship cool at night? When you got to cozumel did you take a taxi or did you stay at port. Was there still a smell on the fantasy. Thanks

[nowendy]

what is the VIP gift now. Hopefully not the thermos. I have 2 and have no use for them.

[nawlinscruiser22]

nowendy- It was a thermos.

 

cassie225- The ship was very cool a few nights and really warm other nights. I would bring a light jacket or sweater and have it readily available in your room just in case. We only do Lido buffet breakfast or room service continental. I am never awake in time for the dining room! Lido has grits, oatmeal, cereals, fruit, cheese, yogurt, omlet stations, bacon, sausage, ham, hashbrowns, toast, bagels, danish...thats all I can recall at the moment. It is pretty standard breakfast fare. 2 omlet stations by the pool and one in the back of the buffet area by the pizza. The line for the one in the buffet area is typically shorter.

 

In cozumel, we take taxis. It was $6 there and $6 back to the dowtown shopping area for 4 of us.

 

I did not notice the smell that has been reported. I was on upper deck and didnt go to the lower decks so it may have been there.

 

happy cruzer- The tour started from the bus stop in town at 10:15. The bus ride took about 30 minutes as we had to turn around and pick up the people that were late: aka- the ones that had signed up through the Ship. We were at the ruins until 1:30. The guided tour is about 2 hours and then they let you swim in the cenote for about a half hour. After leaving the ruins, you have the option of being dropped off in town to shop/go to the beach or you can stay on the bus and they will bring you back to the ship. We looked into just getting a taxi and doing it on our own. The taxi to the ruins is $80 and then its $10pp to get into the ruins. This works out to be about the same price for our family of 4 as the AutoProgreso Tour and you don't have a guide.

[happy1]

I'm disappointed they didn't update the non-suite cabins during dry-dock. Cigarette burns and old furniture are a bummer. However, the rest of the trip sounds great. Thanks for sharing.

[nawlinscruiser22]

Happy1- They could have at least painted and re-upholstered the chair/stool but no such luck-at least not in our 2 cabins.

[rangerdog]

nawlinscruiser: you stated it was $6 per way for a taxi to the downtown shopping areas in Cozumel. When we sailed the Fantasy last January, we docked downtown. Has this changed? We will be sailing again in Jan. and I was hoping we would dock downtown again and NOT have to worry about taxis.

[nawlinscruiser22]

Rangerdog- Carnival has re-opened the Puerta Maya pier. I believe its about 5-6 miles from downtown.

[rangerdog]

Rangerdog- Carnival has re-opened the Puerta Maya pier. I believe its about 5-6 miles from downtown.

So, the Fantasy docks there everytime now, or does it alternate between docks? Do you know? I really don't want to have to take a taxi, but it looks like we might have to. There are 10 of us in our party. Do they have taxi vans and what is the cost???

[nawlinscruiser22]

Rangerdog- Yes there are large taxi vans. We always try to grab one of those as we are very tall and don't like to put our 6'-6'7'' bodies into the tiny taxi cars! I am not sure if there is a cost difference as we never ride in the smaller cars to compare.

 

I am not sure about alternating piers. My guess would be it will always dock at Puerta Maya. Try checking the schedule on cozumel insider the week before your scheduled arrival or if that is too long to wait to make your plans, you could call Carnival. Sorry I am not much help!

[rangerdog]

Rangerdog- Yes there are large taxi vans. We always try to grab one of those as we are very tall and don't like to put our 6'-6'7'' bodies into the tiny taxi cars! I am not sure if there is a cost difference as we never ride in the smaller cars to compare.

 

I am not sure about alternating piers. My guess would be it will always dock at Puerta Maya. Try checking the schedule on cozumel insider the week before your scheduled arrival or if that is too long to wait to make your plans, you could call Carnival. Sorry I am not much help!

Nawlinscruiser: I see this was your Platinum cruise, too!!! Congratulations!! Mine will be in Jan. How was it???? Do they make you feel special? How were the perks??

[nawlinscruiser22]

Rangerdog- I love being platinum! It was funny how many crew members actually acknowledged the fact that I was carrying a platinum card. They were all very welcoming and asked many questions about my cruise history. I think the best perk is the separate line at the information desk. It was great to skip the line when it was like 20-30 deep. Free wash & fold laundry was also nice. I sent our bathing suits and some undergarments in the morning and they came back nicely folded by dinner. We also did the slot tournament which was fun as I had never participated in one prior to this cruise. The canapes, petit fours, the stationary and the thermos all seem to be a waste in my opinion.

[Hot2Travel]

We are leaving this Thursday. Are you a breakfast person? If so how was breakfast? Is the ship cool at night? When you got to cozumel did you take a taxi or did you stay at port. Was there still a smell on the fantasy. Thanks

We were on this Thanksgiving cruise also. The eggs Benedict in the dining room are excellent, as is the fruit, croissant, danish etc. and service is great. :) The water in the dinning room as well as other parts of the ship is just horrible. :mad: I questioned the Matri-d (sp) in the dinning room about the quality of the ships water. His curt :rolleyes:answer was the poor quality of water was blamed on New Orleans water as this is where they get water, "so just buy bottle water".:( I can't believe the Fantasy does not have a desalination system:confused: Did not notice any foul smell.:D

[cassie225]

Thanks to everyone for the answer to my questions. I will take something to keep me warm as I get cool very easily. The breakfast buffet as well as in the dining area sounds great. Also think I will bring a few bottles of water. The rest of my party are prodding me about bringing water-saying I am just gonna have to lug it along until we get to our cabins. So what. I am so excited only 3 more days. Yippee!!!!

[islndtme]

We were on the Fantasy 24-29 also, I didnt have any problem with the water, we drank it, brushed our teeth, ect with no problem. We always bring some bottled water though, for the ports and for the pool deck, and on the way home, you have some room in your luggage! I liked the canapes, the chocolate things were overwhelming though! It was our first platnium also!

[amberc]

Just wondering if anyone who cruised on the Fantasy recently noticed if there were any tables for 2 in the dining rooms. Thanks in advance! :D

[cruisegal07]

I will be going on this ship for the 3rd time in March and I still can't seem to get the layout down until the 3rd day or so.... I am SO SO forgetfull!!lol! Any tips on this subject would be great. :)

 

Hey NAWLINS!! Thanks for the review! I am so siked about seeing the newly renovated ship!! This will be my first cruise without the DH!!.... GIRLS CRUISE SPRING BREAK '09

[Banjo]

Thanks for the review, I was on the cruise also.

 

I drank the water in the dining room also and did not find it bad.

 

One thing I liked was the deli bar for lunch. Cruised on the Fantasy last year and never noticed it. My son, who was with us said he remembered it.

 

Also, regarding tables for 2, I saw several. In the dining room the 3 of us (wife, son and I) sat at a table for 9. The other 6 never showed so after 3 nights they made it a table for 4.

[Naomi John]

Is there a difference between being Platinum and VIP? I have a suite booked on the Upper Deck for Late February and was told we would get VIP passes. Is that the same? This will be our third cruise.