Great Trip by
A Traveler from Washington, DC
Sailing date: Nov 2009 Pros:
The staff was great, the ship was clean and well kept. The food was good.
The cruise director, Philippe was the greatest and the staff was very helpful and accommodating. I would definitely recommend this ship and would book it again, but for different ports of call.
Ship Quality very clean and well kept ship.
Dining/Food
Stateroom Quality I was very clean and well kept. We always had our needs met.
Ship Staff Quality Very helpfull
Entertainment & Activities Phillipee the cruise director was great.
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Fantastic Cruise by
Sharin H. from Farmington Hills, MI
Sailing date: Dec 2007 Pros:
Food
Cons:
Smoking was permitted in the staterooms
I attended this crusise on my own and was a little apprenhensive if I would have a good time on my own. Wow, were my concerns misplaced. The people that I met on the cruise and the activities that were available did not leave any time to my own devices. I had a stateroom with an ocean view and the beauty of waking each morning to watch the sunrise over the ocean is almost beyond words. Each night I was able to share my daily cruise experiences with my tablemates as we had the best meal on the high seas and then afterward we were able to enjoy a very unique entertainment experience in the theatre. I highly recommend this cruise to new cruisers who want to try cruising. My travel agent at US Air did such a great job informing me of all the fun I was going to have and she was so right, this was a Fantastic Cruise!
Ship Quality
Dining/Food WOW!!!!!!! I think I gained 5 pounds.
Stateroom Quality Always choose a view, the ocean is SO WORTH IT!!
Ship Staff Quality
Entertainment & Activities
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Calica, Mexico Don't Miss: The Mayan Ruins of Tulun are incredible.
Key West, Florida The island is not that big, with a guide book and a good pair of walking shoes you can get a good tour on your own, but the Conch Railroad provides a great tour of the island and all the not to be missed sights.
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Had a great time for not a ton of money! by
Rudy P from Pittsburgh, PA
Sailing date: Nov 2007 Pros:
Lots of fun activities onboard.
Cons:
The late 90's decor in the Club Sensation dining room
This was our first cruise, so we have nothing to refernce from. What we can say is that the ship was on the small side. Not that we had a cramped feeling, but cozy and made it easy to get from one end of the ship to another. The food was good. Not 5-star but not Hoss's either. The ship was clean. The staff was friendly and always willling to go the extra step. There was plenty to do onboard: dance club, game shows, gambling, the newlywed game, and even karaoke....my favorite activity. What was nice about karaoke there is that you had a real stage with a professional sound system and lighting. So I felt more like a star than being in some smokey hole in the wall. We got a lot for our money. My only negative is the dining room looked a little dated with its 90's decor. This cruise and ship are geared toward newlyweds and recent college grads. Don't worry, you are not going to see toga parties on this cruise. They have clubs and activities for the kids and teens if they come along. If you are looking not to spend a ton of money, this is the cruise for you. Everything is one step less than luxury, but 2 steps more than everyday. You will come from this cruise very pleased.
One last note about our vacation. USAir had us depart from the Miami instead of Ft. Lauderdale. They did transfer us in time to get the right airport in time but that is all they did about it other than saying they were sorry. So please check your flight numbers to see exactly what city your are really flying in or out of.
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Cozumel, Mexico Can't say a whole lot about Cozumel, since I spent all day at the Mayan ruins of Tulum.
Don't Miss: The Mayan Ruins of Tulum...if you are into archaeology.
Key West, Florida what can i say about Key West that hasn't been said before?
Don't Miss: FInd the bar that has "Elvis" performing requests.
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Carnival Fascination by
A Traveler from Northeast USA
Sailing date: May 2007 Pros:
Friendly staff helped with anything we could have needed. Excellent food.
Cons:
Poor communication when leaving the boat on the last day- very hectic. Too many different cards for room, soda, "sail & sign"- a lot to keep track of. Must be an easier way.
After taking multiple cruises with Royal Caribbean, this was my first Carnival cruise. It was a great deal, but it also lacked many of the little touches that Royal included. For example, in Key West we had to wait a long time to debark and then we were shuttled into Key West. It seems that it would have been easier to do what RC does and just pull into port and let people walk off the ship and into the town. Also, too many keys for different things. They need to make room keys the same as "sail & sign". The overall group of people on board seemed to be there for the unlimited food buffetts rather than on vacation.
Debarking the ship on the final day was very unorganized. We were woken up at 6 am, and told we needed to debark when really we could not get off the boat until around 10 am. It seemed that they were pushing us to leave so they could get the next group on.
Overall, it was a good time though. It's hard to beat the service from the staff and the food was very good. I would definetely take another cruise, but probably not on Carnival.
Ship Quality It seems like an older ship. Defentely from the early 90's with the neon colors and decor.
Dining/Food Food was excellent. I would not recommend the late seating options.
Stateroom Quality Flat screen TV. Very comfortable bed!
Ship Staff Quality They are very friendly and ready to assist.
Entertainment & Activities Entertainment was hit or miss. Went to two commedians, one was good but the other was a dirty old man making sexual comments/jokes that were grossily out of line. We really enjoyed the dance show about the 80's though.
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Cozumel, Mexico We took the Fiesta Party Boat and it's fun but I would definetely recommend finding out who else is on the tour before signing up!
Don't Miss: Senor Frogs is a fun spot!
Key West, Florida Great town. I would recommend just walking around- maybe stopping in at Sloppy Joe's, The Flying Monkey, any of the bars on Duvall Street are great. Fun shops with an array of items!
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excellent value by
Ray F. from Elmira, NY
Sailing date: Dec 2006 Pros:
entertainment
Cons:
getting to the port of Miami
This is a large comfortable ship even in heavy seas. It is not a new ship but it is well maintained and the experience is well worth the money. Remember it is not the most expensive ship out there. If you have a lot of money to blow, go to another line. But dollar for dollar this is a great vacation.
Ship Quality Easy to get around and find things
Dining/Food Nice food well presented.
Stateroom Quality very nice stateroom with eager and agressive attendants
Ship Staff Quality The staff was friendly but not overly noteworthy. The higher the rank the less friendly.
Entertainment & Activities many, many options for fun
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Calica, Mexico Calica is a brand new port on the mainland so you dont need to take a tender ride from Cozumel. The tour taxis, busses and vans are right there and there is a small shopping experience. A cab to or from Playa del Carmen is only $10 each way if you just want beach and shopping. We did the ruins at Tulum last time so did the horse back riding adventure this time.
Don't Miss: The Mayan Ruins
Key West, Florida Key West is just a fun place to be. Do the train or trolley tour. We did the ghost and legend tour and it was worth it. They will take you on a walking tour that hits the great spots too. Avoid if you cant walk. Big problem is lack of time here.
Don't Miss: the tours
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A wonderful cruise by
Rona B from Palm Beach Gardens, FL
Sailing date: Sep 2006 Pros:
friendly staff & guests
Cons:
tempting foods & smokers
We were on a 4 days cruise on Fascination & had a great time.
Good food. Friendly & helpful staff. Very comfortable beds & bedding. Great shower - lots of hot water & great water pressure. Evening shows were terrific.
Lots of non-smoking areas. Good size casino. And I won the Blackjack Tournament!!
Ship Quality
Dining/Food
Stateroom Quality We were on the Empress deck which proved to be the best deck for ease of getting to.
Ship Staff Quality
Entertainment & Activities
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Nassau, Bahamas We went on a tour of the Atlantis Hotel which is amazing. A bit too big for me.
We have been to Nassau before -the fancy shops & the straw market.
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We enjoyed the cruise so much. by
Frances Wilson from Las Vegas
Sailing date: Jun 2006 Pros:
Being catered to all day and the animals made out of towels on our beds. They were so cute.
Cons:
It was too many kids running around unsupervised and letting kids into the clubs.
The shows were terrific.
The crew was so nice, anything we wanted they got it for us without question.
We like the food on the first night but the next few nights wasn't so good.
Ship Quality The ship was clean.
Dining/Food They should give you more food choices. They should have people with proper attire in the eating areas inside. Too many people walking around with bikinis on, some not a pretty site.
Stateroom Quality It was ok. Love the towel animals.
Ship Staff Quality The crew was so friendly and helpful.
Entertainment & Activities The shows was terrific, not as good as Las Vegas but they come in 2nd to none.
Children's Programs Too many children unsupervised.
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Nassau, Bahamas The shopping was great. The beaches were beautiful.
Don't Miss: The beaches.
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Being Single on your First Cruise by
Harold L from Charlotte, NC
Sailing date: Jun 2006 Pros:
Service on this ship was fantastic
Cons:
Assigned seating for the main dining area as it can be awkward
This was my first cruise and I loved it. I was a little hesitant, since I would be going alone and didnt know what to expect. On a cruise it makes no difference!
People are very friendly and you will always find people. Everyone on the ship is there for the same reason - to have a great time. Though the ship is a bit older, it has been kept up very well. The staff is ALWAYS cleaning and maintaining to make the ship appealing to its guest. There is something for everyone on this ship - from bars with Rock and Roll bands, to a cassino, to broadway type shows, to Comedy shows, and even special events for teens or toddlers. All you have heard about the food on a ship is true. There is ALWAYS something being cooked for you! And if you are concerned about overdoing it, there is a great salad bar, or fruit bar. The staff is always very friendly and concerned that they make this your best trip ever. Considering we had 2500 guests on this ship, I am truely amazed at the service they could provide. Now a fiew things to remember about cruising as I have found out, there are a few things that is not included in the price. Any alcoholic beverages or carbonated drinks are charged a premium price. In addition, there is a mandatory gratuity (at least on the alcoholic drinks). For an alcoholic drink, such as a beer, expect to pay around $5.00. Also, there is a gratuity for various other services. FOR THESE services, such as cleaning your room, you can opt to just pay at the end of the cruise at a rate of $10.00/day (when you break this down to who all gets a tip from it, this is NOT a bad price). The other thing to keep in mind are shore excursions. You are able to go ashore and explore on your own for free. But to really get the most out of your trip, check out the shore excursions. They have something for everyone. These excursions will run you anywhere from $33 - $150, depending on what you choose. Again, if you are single, do not fear cruising alone. Its a great way to vacation!!
Ship Quality It was an older ship, but you only know this from reading. It has been kept very well, and only with close inspection would you know the ship is older
Dining/Food Food was excellant. I took most of my meals at the alternate dining areas, only because I decided I wanted to stay in shorts and tees the whole cruise (the main dining rooms requires long pants for men)
Stateroom Quality a little older, but well kept and clean. I was concerned it may seem a little small at first, but it was very comfortable AND QUIET, which I think surprised me most
Ship Staff Quality Everyone wore a smile, and many would stop and ask how your cruise is going. If there is anything disappointing, they want to know so they can correct it
Entertainment & Activities Many guest participation events - great way to meet others on the boat
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Cozumel, Mexico I took the Island highlights and shopping tour here. As I didnt know much about Cozumel, I was a little disappointed. It has been hit by several large huricanes and has had a large impact on the environment. As for the beaches and sea, it is still very pretty. The inland has been hit pretty hard though, and will take another 3 yrs or so before it is back (as I was told) As far as shopping, be prepared to bargain the price. Never accept the first price on what you want. It is a huge help to listen to the cruise shopper as she will offer many valuable tips
Key West, Florida I took the bicycle tour here. IT IS THE BEST WAY to see Key West. Very flat and easy peddling, the tour guides will give you a lot of insight in Key West and it will be very difficult to see so much in a day without a guide
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