My husband and I just got off the Carnival Fascination. We were first time cruisers, taking a 5-day to Key West and Nassau Bahamas for our 5th anniversary. Not knowing quite what to expect, we can honestly say that we had a great time and will definitely be scheduling another cruise. Embarkation was a breeze. Jacksonville Terminal was easy to park; porters met us at our car and took our bags. It was a very short walk to the terminal and once inside we breezed though the Fun pass and passport checks. We got our Sail and Sign cards and were direct to a sitting area. We did arrive early, about 11am. I recommend getting there early if you want to sit instead of stand. By the time we were boarding there was a large line of other passengers standing in long lines. By noon we were headed out to the ship, had our pictures taken and by 12:15 we were finding our way around the massive ship and eating.

The food was average on the Lido deck. There was always a choice of different food. I never had to wait long for Cheeseburgers or the buffet. Granted, if you went right at peak lunchtime, there was a line but that is to be expected. The dining rooms for lunch and breakfast never had a wait and we were in and out within an hour, tops. The food was much better and always hot in the dining rooms. The buffet food was at times cold or lukewarm. Dinner in the Sensation Dining Room was always wonderful! Our server always remembered my name and drink and his recommendations were constantly delicious.

There was always something to do during the day. The caper had many shows and activities to join in on. We did not do much of the suggested activities. Instead we took our time, walked around the ship and relaxed. We did spend a lot of time in the casino. We had a blast. We noticed that someone was always cleaning the ship and our steward Bootie was great. Our room was cleaned twice a day, clean towels, ice and anything we asked for. Our room was a bit noisy at night, a constant bumping that I never figured out what it was and a few days at sea were a bit uneasy. The beds were very comfortable, and my only complaint was only one outlet in the whole room. Read more