We had a great time on the Fantasy! We flew in a day early and stayed at the Residence Inn by Marriott at the port. I can't recommend this hotel enough. Large, clean rooms, nice decor, and a great breakfast is served in the mornings. We had rented a car from Budget at the airport, and returned it the morning of the cruise around 10:45. We were promptly shuttled to the port, and went thru security and were checked in within a matter of minutes. We were told boarding would start around 11:30, but it was more like 12:00, but that was okay because we had seats to sit in and were comfortable.

We found the ship to be very clean and in good condition. The colors aren't to my taste, but that's okay. We have only cruised once before on Sovereign of the Seas, and I think I like their public areas decor better. However, the staterooms and showers on the Fantasy are much nicer and more spacious, and the bedding is terrific like everyone says. I especially liked the Promenade deck on the Fantasy. It is gorgeous, with plenty of space to just kick back and enjoy a drink. Look for the Via Marina.

Our room steward, Hadi, was terrific. Every need was taken care of. We got to have a long conversation with him one night, and he told us all about his job and family. He misses his family very much, and nearly cried when talking about them. It made me really appreciate what the crew does to take care of their families. Hadi is going to take a 2 month vacation in June, and was so excited to go home. He said it had been 6 months since he had seen them. He also told dh and me about his duties. We learned that he has 2 assistants helping him, and he does the beds and dusting, and someone else does the bathrooms. If you clean the bathrooms, you aren't allowed to make beds, and vice-versa. We found that interesting. Also, if he cleans a room that is being used by someone who is ill, he cannot do the other rooms for fear of cross-contamination. He also said that if someone rings him with a request during his off hours, he has to fully dress in his uniform before he can come up to that deck. So he tries to make sure every need is met before going off duty. We brought a cooler and some drinks along, and he kept us with ice. However, we decided it was too much trouble, and next time we'll just buy what we want on board. I cannot sing Hadi's praises enough..he was a terrific steward!! Read more