Carnival Fascination Review

Don't get us wrong. As on all Carnival ships, there are comedy and big-stage production shows, live music and dancing, bingo and a line-up of daily activities. There are just far fewer of them on Fascination, and there are almost no alternative dining venues. The line scheduled few activities while the ship was in port, and even at night or on sea days, activities that prioritized selling you something (art auctions and seminars, spa and wellness classes, retail seminars, etc.) outnumbered "fun" stuff.

We also can't remember the last time we were on a cruise ship of more than 2,000 passengers that didn't have the option to dine somewhere other than the main dining room or buffet. (And we're not counting Guy's Burger Joint or BlueIguana Cantina because, while you might grab your food outside the buffet, chances are you're eating it inside.) That being said, the variety and quality of food in the main dining rooms is just fine, even quite good at times, and we loved the dining room crew.

The slim daily schedule doesn't daunt many on Carnival Fascination. Cruisers are a gregarious group and can easily make their own fun, chatting with new friends while trying out the variety of drinks onboard or comparing excursion notes with the person sitting in the lounge chair next to them. We heard the most complaints from cruisers in their 20s who wanted more to do at night than Latin dancing outside the casino or busting a move in the nightclub. Speaking of younger cruisers, during the summer, Carnival Fascination is overflowing with kids.

Overall, Carnival Fascination is a laid-back cruise ship that serves its role well as a home base for exploring ashore. You'll get a comfortable room, good food, excellent service from friendly crew who like to joke around and amiable company in the form of your fellow cruise passengers. But it's the port-intensive itineraries that will have you coming back onboard for more.