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Great fun!!!!! by
Pam G from Lake City FL Sailing date: Jun 2010Pros: My son lived the water slide and the kids club Cons: Dinner we were seated with five people who did not speak english at all. The food at dinner wasn't as good as i have had on other cruiselines. It was a first cruise for our son, andCarnival made it memorable from start to finish. As a family, we are hooked on cruising. Ship Quality
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Freeport, Grand Bahama IslandSnorkeling the reef was AWESOME! A must.
Nassau, BahamasSwim with the dolphins at Atlantis! It was just to little time with the dolphins for the money though. Still would reccomend it. My son and husband could have played all day on the water slides at Atlantis.
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  Perfect for a quick get a way! by
DM W from Green Cove Springs Fl (Jacksonville) Sailing date: Jun 2010Pros: Cleanliness of the ship and the friendliness of the staff. Cons: Dining First, we are usually dedicated Royal C.L. passengers. We wanted a quick, competitively priced 4 night cruise without having to purchase airline tickets. This one hit the mark on all the above. Leaving out of Jacksonville was the most convenient part. We arrived by 10:30 am and sailed right through the paperwork process. Parking was a breeze, almost right next to the ship, @ 15.00 a day in a gated, guarded lot. We left our "Royal" expectations on land, and took the ship for what it is. "The fun ship". It was not what we were used to, but I have to say, it was also not the horror stories many others have described, at least in our eyes. It was very clean throughout the cruise, the staff were very friendly and always made eye contact and acknowledge us. Our room was a little smaller than we were used to, but it was sufficient. Ship QualityThe ship is a nice size, not as big as some but large enough in most places not to feel crammed in. It was kept clean by a unstoppable housekeeping team, that did not go unappreciated. The sit down dining room was very understated and nothing special. It was almost like the Coconut Grill area, cheap looking. Dining/FoodThis is the area of our biggest disappointment. We kept reminding ourselves not to overly compare to Royal. There was a bit of confusion on change over times for certain areas in the Coconut Grill, which is buffet style. I'm sure if you kept track of their schedule it would have been easy to figure out, but who wants to keep looking at the clock? Some of the food was very good, but most of it was so-so. One thing that was frustrating was when trying to plan our excursions before hand, I called Carnival Customer Service to ask which night would be formal as we wanted to plan to do something onshore and needed to know which night we should be back in time to get ready and have pictures etc. They said they didn't know exactly, it was either the second or the third night. Now, mind you these are the only two days that we are docked! So, that didn't help a bit trying to figure to plan. The food in the Sensation/Imagination Dining room was very bland and not 5 star as expected. Stateroom QualityWe had Upper (6th) floor and although smaller than what we're used to, it was sufficient. Suitcases fit nicely under the bed, and the bed itself was very comfortable. The large window in our room was very dirty on the outside and not very enjoyable to look out for any length of time. No refrigerator.I did have to put towels at the bottom of our door as the light from the hall was very bright when we were trying to sleep. We had a "do it yourself" laundry area down the hall. Iron & board, washers and dryers. It said ".25", so I imagine much like laundromats. Our room was very central to most things, easy to get to where we needed to go. Ship Staff QualityI cannot think of one complaint regarding the staff. They always acknowledge us with a smile and a hello. Although some accents were thick, managed to get us going in the right direction when losing our way. Entertainment & ActivitiesPretty standard stuff in the way of cruises. Nothing special, but not really any complaints either.
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Freeport, Grand Bahama IslandWe were pretty disappointed with the Bahamas, overall. We won't be doing another cruise to this location. We took a van ride in $5.00 one way, about 1/2 an hour ride. Not too many sites to see along the way. Shopping was a bust. One thing we didn't know was that this ride put us steps from the beach by the hotels. If we had brought our swim stuff that is what we would have done. You don't have to have hotel access, very easy access. I didn't see any public facilities, and I'm not sure what the hotel does if you try to use theirs. There are bathrooms back across the street by the stores, so no biggie.
Don't Miss: There is nothing to miss.....unless you planned on going swimming there. Nassau, BahamasWe had a planned snorkeling trip. (figures too, this was formal night) Island Marketing, Booze-Cruise. The snorkeling was horrible. They dropped us near the shore, and the so called reef was nothing. The water was extremely choppy. Most people got in and out very quickly as it was too hard to navigate, and nothing worth seeing anyway. Waste of time...don't go this excursion. The straw market is redundant after you go down one row. EVERY vendor has the exact same thing, for the same price. The shops were ok to kill some time. We made found some souvenirs at Banana Bay that was pretty much one stop shopping, so if you need souvenirs, this would be the place. Something for everyone and competitively priced.
Don't Miss: Again, first timers might want to find an excursion to suit their needs. Figure 2 - 3 hours of shopping. If you're into drinking then it sounded like it was getting pretty rowdy at Senor Frogs. 1 out of 1 people found this review helpful.
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Great First Experience by
Justin D from Knoxville, TN Sailing date: May 2010Pros: Friendly staff, cleanliness, great room, great food, the shows were pretty good also Cons: Most of the shore excursions were not worth the money they cost, entering and exiting the ship seemed unorganized except for the firs and last days. Overall it was a great first cruise. I do not have anything to compare it too, but I know what fun is and this was very fun. We are very excite about going on another cruise soon. It was a great experience, so go hop on a ship and see for your self! Ship QualityGreat rooms, beautiful decor and very clean! Dining/Foodfood was great on the buffets, quick in and out and full! The dining room food was great also, but the dining experience just took too long. Stateroom Qualityseemed like it had been cleaned everytime we left and returned. The room was nice in size and easy to relax in. Ship Staff Qualityeveryone was very friendly and hard working and there was always someone available when you needed them. Entertainment & Activitiesthere was music and smiles around every corner. The comedians were funny, the bands and singers were all good, just wished there were more times available to see them.
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Key West, FloridaThis is a beautiful town on a beautiful island! A Clean looking place with very friendly people. We did a Pub Crawl and it was great! It consisted of a small walking tour and stops at 5 local pubs to enjoy a complimentary beverage. The guide was funny and nice and also helpful on the do's and dont's. For those of you over 21 I would recommend doing this excursion.
Nassau, BahamasThe water is amazing and paradise island is gorgeous. Thats about all the positives I have for Nassau. We now know that some of the shore excursions are a rip off and either need to be fixed or just removed. We did the "Blue Lagoon Private Island Getaway" and it was a complete disappointment. Yeah the lagoon was pretty, but the water was only 3 feet deep at its deepest points. So "swimming and playing in the carribean sea" (as it was advertised) really consisted of sitting in crowded, waveless water trying to cool off. I guess it would be great for children, but other than that i would not recommend this excursion. After the excursion we walked around the town and shopping areas. The town was dirty looking and half of the stores were closed at 5 (which is when we got back from Blue Lagoon island). We had until 9:30 to visit, but we just decided to go back to the ship and judging by the line of people getting on board they had the same idea.
Don't Miss: Dont miss the sunset if you get a chance to see it, I took some great photos (from the ship) of the gorgeous evening 1 out of 1 people found this review helpful.
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A "Fun Cruise" !!! Lots to do! by
AAC and AAP from detroit, MI Sailing date: May 2010Pros: Entertainment, food, service! Cons: Embarkation process was a little disorganized and annoying. The ship was very clean, there was lots to do, they were very accommodating, service was excellent. Staff was friendly. The food was great, many options were available. The adult drinks were somewhat pricey. The shows were fun. The entertainment was great. Various activities ensured that there was always things to do. Ports of call were fun and exciting. Ship Quality
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Stateroom QualityBigger than expected, bathroom was a little on the small side. There was a lot of noise where we were at from loading, unloading. Ship Staff QualityThe staff went above and beyond their duties to ensure a comfortable stay. Entertainment & ActivitiesCasino was fun. The shows were fun.
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Key West, FloridaGreat food, rent a scooter to see the whole island. Mangoes was a great place for lunch, appetizers and the state's signature key lime pie. Go to the lighthouse.
Don't Miss: visit the lighthouse and customs museum. shopping was fun. Nassau, BahamasATLANTIS!!! Definitely a must see. This resort is amazing. The aquariums were unbelievable. The rides were thrilling. The resort was very pretty and clean, the staff was friendly. Try the conch burger at Sharkbites in Atlantis.
Don't Miss: Atlantis. 0 out of 0 people found this review helpful.
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A Relaxing Time by
A Traveler from Columbia, SC Sailing date: Feb 2010Pros: Staff The Fascination was an extremely clean and well maintained ship. The staff were kind and our room was kept spotless. I didn't know what to expect because I had never sailed on a cruise ship as small as the Fascination, but I have no complaints. One would be hard pressed to find a hotel that provides you with same services as you receive on a Carnival cruise. I recommend this ship to others and plan to sail on it again in the future. Ship Quality
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a really good time by
Tammy D. from Knoxville, Tn. Sailing date: Dec 2009Pros: ship was beautiful and very relaxing Cons: carnival staff kept having problems with my credit car very unprofessional did not shop after 3 incident they even made me call my bank becuase they said my card was stolen. everything was great ! staff very friendly and helpful, guest services and everyone in white uniforms, not very friendly or helpful. I assumed these individuals had more responsiblity than other staff members and they did not seem very welcoming or helpful. Ship Quality
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Ship Staff Qualitydid not care for staff in white uniforms, room service, all wait staff was wonderful, attendants over rooms extremely helpful and willing to please. Impressed with staff always cleanning , the ship it was amazing. Entertainment & Activities
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A great budget cruise! by
Cindi S. from Roanoke, VA Sailing date: Oct 2009Pros: The room, Penthouse Suite. Cons: Dark decor, average party crowd, not very upscale. Still a good bargain! If not comparing to Royal Carribean I would say a good value for your money. Ship dated but due for an overhaul in 2010. Maps not laid out on the ship very well. Staff very helpful & friendly. It's a freat bargain if you want a laid back, party, come as you please attitude. Ship QualityVery dark decor & dated. Difficult to get around the ship even though it's small. Dining/FoodNo upscale restaurants to choose from outside of main dining. No adults only swimming pool. Take into consideration it's a small ship. Stateroom QualityGreat stateroom! Ship Staff QualityVery helpful & friendly! Entertainment & ActivitiesTV channels poor! Most people won't care about that but if you want to hang in room, don't plan on any TV options! Live shows & entertainment very good! 0 out of 1 people found this review helpful.
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Fabulous Trip!!!!!!!! WooHoo!!!!! by
Travis and Brittany W. from Joplin, MO Sailing date: Oct 2009Pros: The things that we liked most was how helpful and friendly all the staff was. You could really tell that they pride themselves on making sure that you have a good time. Cons: The thing the we liked the least was the ship that we were on (The Fascination) was an older ship so the decor was a little outdated and some of the elevator buttons didn't work. The wonderful time we had on the ship more than made up for those little kinks. The ship was an older ship and it had its quirks, but I wouldn't have picked any other ship than this one. Not only is it one of the inexpensive ones, but it had the most wonderful staff. Our waitor showed us tricks and told us jokes, and our stuard taught us how to make the towel animals. Ship QualityThe ship was very clean, but since it is an older ship the decor is outdated. Dining/FoodWe ate a lot at the buffets and at the little places that are open 24hrs and they were excellent. We ate at the sit down dinner 2 nights and it was really good too. Stateroom Quality
Ship Staff QualityEveryone on the ship was very friendly and went out of their way to make sure we were having a good time. Entertainment & ActivitiesAll the entertainment was very good except one of the comedians they had wasn't very funny. 0 out of 0 people found this review helpful.
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"Nice cruise" by
Jackiek. from Columbus,GA Sailing date: Oct 2009Pros: the massages at the spa Cons: small pool and game area Over all this was a good cruise. I didn't swim but the swimming pool and hot tub area was too small. The miniture golf area was small and only offered certain times of the day. Oh, watch your spending because it can add up especially if you are paying for drinks. I purchased one virgin drink about $6.00 with gratuity added. On the other hand, my spouse spent about $368.00 on alcoholic beverages. I took advantage of the gym, suna, full body massage, and facial. We also purchased a shore excursion for Free Port Bahama and Nasau offered by the cruise line. We got a better deal from the taxi driver in Nasau. I didn't like the submarine tour. Over all everything was good. Ship Quality
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Good times at sea! by
Chris S. from Jonesboro, Ar Sailing date: Oct 2009Pros: Snorkeling, swimming with stingrays, good food Cons: Too many young kids on the boat. More vegetarian dining options would be nice. More affordable alcohol would aslo be good. The ship was very nice and elegant. The lights in the dining room and main lobby were very interesting, and I loved the glass pane elevators. Most of the staff was very friendly, and it was great to be able to swim, work out, eat at all times, etc. on the ocean. Ship Quality
Dining/FoodI was impressed with the amount of food available at all times, though I think it would be nice if the deli was open 24 hours a day like the pizzeria. It would mean more options for people, like me, who are up late at night a lot. Also, more vegetarian options would be good. And it would be nice if the main dining room had a bit more leeway on when you could get meals. Stateroom QualityThe room looked nice, but I was led to believe there would be 2 twin beds in the stateroom that I could push together to make one big bed. Instead, one of my beds was a bunk, so my girlfriend and I were a bit uncomfortable some nights. The cleaning staff kept everything very clean though. Ship Staff QualityThe staff was very helpful, and our dining room server was fantastic! She really deserves a raise! However, some of the other service staff did get a bit irritable near the end of the cruise. Entertainment & ActivitiesI didn't take part in a lot of the activities, but the comedian was fantastic. I also enjoyed hearing music just about everywhere, so that was great. 0 out of 0 people found this review helpful.
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