Carnival Fascination Cruise Review

The Carnival Fascination debuted in 1994 and received a makeover in 2010. This smaller, older ship is simple and offers a more subdued cruising experience compared to the larger, boisterous ships at sea. Our first cruise in 2012 was on the Fascination and I am so glad we went! While our five day cruise to Nassau and Key West did ignite my cruising addiction, it also offered me a pleasant introduction into the world of cruising. We sailed out of Jacksonville, Florida, although the Fascination is currently departing from San Juan, Puerto Rico. This Fantasy Class ship has an Old Hollywood theme and offers traditional dining, a Dr. Seuss brunch, the Mongolian Wok and has a steakhouse, which is an extra cost. Being that this was our first cruise we chose an inside cabin, mid-ship on the seventh floor, or Empress deck. Although we  definitely felt movement on our cruise the first week of June, we were fortunate not to experience seasickness at all. Our son, who was 12 years old at the time loved the pool and water park area with the slides. As new cruisers we of course went to the art auction, every show and ate all day long! The cruise director was Jen Baxter- a feisty and funny English gal who really energized the crowd. We were very impressed with our room steward and dining wait staff as they remembered our names and preferences from the get go. The dinner menu at that time was excellent-and it offered lobster on the formal night as well as prime rib and veal on other evenings. We did experience the older menu both on the Fascination and the Triumph before Carnival changed to the American Table Menu, which we had on our Conquest and Liberty cruises. It is funny that when I look back at this cruise I realize how much the cruise industry and my family has changed. That being said, the Carnival Fascination is a delightful ship that is perfect for a new cruiser looking to test our their sea legs.