CarniCruiser
First Mate
Jacksonville FL
Joined 05/2019
11
Cruises2
Reviews33
Helpful VotesGot bit by the cruise bug when my wife surprised me by booking my first (her second) cruise in 2013, and she's called me obsessed ever since. She bought me an "O.C.D. Obsessive Cruise Disorder" t-shirt to prove it. Living so close to port is especially nice when our annual cruise rolls around. Love getting to meet new people from all over the world while enjoying an amazing vacation. As a Carnival crew member once told me "There are no strangers on a cruise ship, only friends you haven't met yet!"
Upcoming cruises
Past cruises
May 2023 - 5 Night Bahamas (Jacksonville Roundtrip) Cruise on Carnival Elation
May 2022 - 5 Night Bahamas (Jacksonville Roundtrip) Cruise on Carnival Elation
Great anniversary cruise! Already booked same cabin and cruise for next year.
First cruise since the restart couldn't have been much better. The new e-muster is so fast and easy I think it took longer to get my Guy’s burger. Really enjoyed getting to make new friends on a cruise again, as well as have a surprise reunion with our favorite Carnival crew member and personally congratulate him on his recent promotion and engagement since we last seen him. Since we enjoy cruising phone free, we weren't crazy about the fact that Carnival is pushing the use of the Carnival hub app so much, but we found ways to work around not using our phones once again. Also, Happy 50th Birthday Carnival, we enjoyed celebrating such a milestone with you!
May 2019 - 5 Night Bahamas (Jacksonville Roundtrip) Cruise on Carnival Ecstasy
May 2018 - 7 Night Eastern Caribbean (Jacksonville Roundtrip) Cruise on Carnival Elation
May 2017 - 5 Night Bahamas (Jacksonville Roundtrip) Cruise on Carnival Elation
April 2016 - 10 Night Southern Caribbean Carnival Journeys (San Juan To Jacksonville) Cruise on Carnival Elation
May 2015 - 5 Night Bahamas (Jacksonville Roundtrip) Cruise on Carnival Fascination
April 2014 - 5 Night Bahamas (Jacksonville Roundtrip) Cruise on Carnival Fascination
March 2013 - 5 Night Bahamas (Jacksonville roundtrip) Cruise on Carnival Fascination
They say you never forget your first...
Overall a terrific first cruise for me (second for my wife). My wife booked it as surprise Easter getaway. The only downside was we didn't realize it was also spring break for a lot of kids. No issues onboard as a result, but it did mean we were one of 5 ships in port at Nassau. Senor Frog's was standing room only due the ships in port & lower drinking age, but at least it wasn't boring.
Carnival Elation
Sail date: May 21, 2022
Great anniversary cruise! Already booked same cabin and cruise for next year.
First cruise since the restart couldn't have been much better. The new e-muster is so fast and easy I think it took longer to get my Guy’s burger. Really enjoyed getting to make new friends on a cruise again, as well as have a surprise reunion with our favorite Carnival crew member and personally congratulate him on his recent promotion and engagement since we last seen him. Since we enjoy cruising phone free, we weren't crazy about the fact that Carnival is pushing the use of the Carnival hub app so much, but we found ways to work around not using our phones once again. Also, Happy 50th Birthday Carnival, we enjoyed celebrating such a milestone with you!
Carnival Fascination
Sail date: March 30, 2013
They say you never forget your first...
Overall a terrific first cruise for me (second for my wife). My wife booked it as surprise Easter getaway. The only downside was we didn't realize it was also spring break for a lot of kids. No issues onboard as a result, but it did mean we were one of 5 ships in port at Nassau. Senor Frog's was standing room only due the ships in port & lower drinking age, but at least it wasn't boring.
Cruise tips
Love having a cruise port in our city.
Princess Cays (Cruise Line Private Island)
Rented an Adults Sanctuary Bungalow. Seems a little pricey, but we thought it was a good deal with everything it includes and the fact that it's for four people. We invited a couple from our dinner table to join us. A little bit of a walk to the beach access and buffet, but there is enough fruit, veggies and dip, and chips, salsa, and guac in your bungalow that you could skip the buffet if you wanted. Will definitely rent again. Great view from our bungalow and no crowd or noise around. The beach area and water near the bungalows also has less people, so it made for some great snorkeling. Got a good pic of a ray at least 3 feet wide buried in the sand at the bottom.
We booked the Blue Lagoon Dolphin Encounter, Waterpark, Beach & Lunch. Our bag was too big for the small lockers provided, so my wife missed out of the dolphin encounter in order stay with the bag. I enjoyed the encounter, so we will rebook this again for her to experience. The lunch was nothing special, but just as described in the excursion details and not much different from what you get @ HMC or Princess Cays. Would have liked something with a little Caribbean or Bahamian flair. New crew members joined the ship in Nassau. Loved seeing that considering that due to staffing issues, crew members are working even harder than usual to make everyone's cruise memorable.
Carnival Elation
Don't book our new favorite room before we can. Lol! Enjoy the ease of getting around a smaller ship before they are all gone.
Catamaran/snorkeling excursion was fun. Plenty of fish to see, but according to crew the coral was dying off and not as colorful due in large part to human pollution. Senor Frog's was non-stop entertainment.
Half Moon Cay, Bahamas (Private Island)
Simply breathtaking! The pristine looking beach and bright turquoise water were even more beautiful than we had imagined! It was even more amazing than pictures we had seen.
I'm a little biased since it's my hometown, but Jacksonville Zoo & MOSH (Museum of Science & History) are both great experiences if you have extra time and less than 15 minutes from port. Apparently lots of people like to watch from the top deck as the ship passes under the Dames Point Bridge looking closer to hitting the bridge than it really is. I can't deny the fact that I was one of them.
Carnival Fascination
Being a smaller ship, walk everywhere you can. You'll generally get wherever you're going faster than if you wait on an elevator.
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