We just got back from a cruise on the Fascination, which was the first cruise for our kids 18 & 7. Overall, we had a great experience and because of the wonderful staff, we will definitely cruise on Carnival again. Yes, the ship is dated but that should be expected when looking at the age of the ship. Our waiter, cabin steward and other staff we encountered treated us all like kings and queens.

A few things you should be aware of. A balcony room for 4 people works, but is extremely small. If your child will not participate in the kids club, there are not a ton of things to do. The pool is very small and doesn't leave much room for kids to swim. The waterpark was great, and my son enjoyed this area very much. We paid for faster to the fun, which was worth it b/c you miss all of the check in lines and are first to disembark when the boat gets back to Jacksonville (very much worth the $60 per cabin, in my opinion.)

Our first stop in Nassau, we had paid for the Atlantis Aquaventure, which was very expensive but I would say is worth the money if you have children that enjoy water rides. Just be careful with the cab drivers and make sure you are with a legit taxi or they will charge you whatever they want, not the alloted $4 per person. Freeport, in my opinion, should be scratched off the list, wasn't much to see and didn't seem worth the time. Food was comparable to other ships and there was always an option throughout the day if we or the kids were hungry. The shows were great and we were able to enjoy them all as a family. Bingo is pricey and can add up for a family of 4. Carnival provided beach towels which was nice, b/c I wasn't sure if I should bring them, so it will be one less thing to pack next time. If you want a good cruise, for an affordable rate, in my opinion, you can't go wrong.