Had a great time. Exotic island stops are everything we expected. Ship was affordable and in acceptable shape.
Embarkation
5 out of 5
30 minutes from curb to room
Ship experiences
Food and Dining
3 out of 5
Venues that are good on most Carnival ships are good on Fascination (Guy’s Burgers, Blue Iguana abs pizza). Main dining room is average in my opinion & buffet is terrible, overran and provides little selection. I got bored rotating the good places over 7 days + limited hours (other than pizza).
Onboard Activities
4 out of 5
Gave it a 4 star instead of 3 since loungers away from pool and hot tubs were always available. Was surprised how many children were on a late September cruise. Make sure you watch sailaways from each island and sunsets; very relaxing.
Entertainment
3 out of 5
Only went to 2 shows and 1 comedy act. Each was about 30 minutes long & walked out of 1 show after 10 minutes.
Service and Staff
4 out of 5
Room attendant was great. Make sure to ask for ice bucket to be filled at least daily (most rooms did not have fridge). Ship was kept clean.
Ship Quality
4 out of 5
Did not find all the rust folks keep harping on. Yes, it is an older, smaller ship. But I bet you’d pay a heck of a lot more to fly to these 5 destinations.
Cabin / Stateroom
4 out of 5
Ocean view cabin on deck 5. Cabin size/layout was fine. We chose near midship & lower to reduce sea sickness likelihood. Was closer to front gangway on level 2 but most food options are level 10 aft so elevator use was almost mandatory.
Ship tip
Find enjoyment in the less crowded things-deck 9, 10 & 11 loungers away from pools. Plan your port activities if possible & go with the flow (as we did) if a port stop changes or gets cancelled.
The amount of shops in port is unbelievable. And a food court with a swimming pool. Prices cheaper here: embroidered bags-$10, Hawaiian style men’s shirts-3/$20.
We took a taxi to Palms Court Gardens which is a small day resort with an infinity pool overlooking the harbor. Was $7/person. Just checked website & now looks like $12. Still worth it. Bring your Carnival towel to save renting one.
Barbados had the best beaches by far. Went to the Boatyard which was not crowded due to being only ship in port. Get on snorkeling list as soon as you arrive.
A little slower on final disembarkment. Ship was in port before 7am & carryoff started about 8 and people crowded the elevator areas.
In each port there was little foot traffic. We were actually the 2nd couple off at St Maarten and had to wait to fill a taxi.
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