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Why Go?
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 Only major cruise ship sailing year-round from Jacksonville
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Camp Carnival kids' program one of best in cruising
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12,000-square-ft. spa features latest treatments
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Good ship/sailing experience for first-time cruisers
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Ship offers 4- and 5-day getaways to the Bahamas and Key West
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Itineraries and Ports of Call: Bahamas
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Carnival Fascination Review
A flurry of new ship launches for Carnival Cruise Lines over the past few years has overshadowed one of the fleet's more venerable vessels, Carnival Fascination, which debuted back in 1994. In fall 2006, the 70,367-ton, 2,052-passenger ship received the first part of its major "Evolutions of Fun" upgrade, part of a $250 million program to revamp the line's eight middle-aged Fantasy-class ships through extensive makeovers to public areas and staterooms.
For adults, the line added an art gallery and an Internet cafe, complete with 10 work stations. Bow-to-stern Wi-Fi is an added convenience for passengers who seek to stay in touch with home or the office via a personal laptop -- even from one's own cabin. Spa Carnival was gutted and now, at 12,000-square ft., features new treatment rooms, updated exercise equipment and cosmetic enhancements. Additionally, the line added a new cafe -- Bogart's -- a patisserie serving specialty coffees and sweets. In response to a burgeoning trend for businesses to hold meetings at sea, a new 1,200-square-ft. conference room was also added during the fall 2006 dry-dock.
For kids, aside from the three onboard pools, there's a nine-hole miniature golf course and both a teen club and 1,600-square-ft. Children's World play area.
For passengers of all ages, staterooms and suites received upgrades. Since adding the Carnival Comfort Bed sleep system in a previous makeover (plush mattresses, high-end duvets and high quality pillows and linens), the line introduced flat-screen TVs, new wall coverings, new light fixtures and even spruced up the bathrooms with new tiles and lighting.
Upgrades in carpeting and upholstery, and some modifications to the layout of the aft lounge and casino area to accommodate larger groups, have also been completed. The line even refurbished Fascination's 1,300-seat Palace Lounge. Mostly a technical refurbishment, new sound and lighting systems were added.
What you won't see aboard the Fascination -- yet -- is an overhaul to the aft section of the sun deck. So there's no Carnival Waterworks Aqua Park or 300-foot-long corkscrew waterslide, the most visible top-deck elements of the Evolutions of Fun upgrades. Nor will you see, just two decks below, the line's vaunted adults-only "Serenity" area, complete with whirlpools, plush chaise lounge chairs and colorful oversized umbrellas. While these enhancements have been completed aboard three other Fantasy-class vessels (Imagination, Inspiration and Fantasy), passengers won't see them added to Fascination until early 2010.
Fascination may lack the bells and whistles many Carnival fans have come to expect aboard other ships in the fleet, but it's a great ship for first-timers or vacation-challenged residents in the tri-state homeport area (Florida, Alabama and Georgia). For those who have sailed on her in the past, given the newish alterations, she's also worth a second look.
The ship's four-day cruises depart Thursdays and visit Freeport and Nassau -- look for beaches and myriad watersports opportunities -- while five-day voyages depart Mondays (Nassau and Key West) or Saturdays (Nassau and Half Moon Cay). A private, crescent-shaped Bahamian island, Half Moon Cay features a children's water park, beach-side cabanas and a number of passenger-friendly shore excursions. The island is owned by sister-company Holland America Line.
Read Complete Carnival Fascination Review
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Carnival Ships: Carnival Breeze • Carnival Conquest • Carnival Destiny • Carnival Dream • Carnival Ecstasy • Carnival Elation • Carnival Fantasy • Carnival Fascination • Carnival Freedom • Carnival Glory • Carnival Imagination • Carnival Inspiration • Carnival Legend • Carnival Liberty • Carnival Magic • Carnival Miracle • Carnival Paradise • Carnival Pride • Carnival Sensation • Carnival Spirit • Carnival Splendor • Carnival Triumph • Carnival Valor • Carnival Victory • Holiday
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