WHAT:

Carnival Fascination Cruise

WHERE:

Port: Orlando, FL
Destinations: Key West, FL & Nassau, Bahamas

CONTACT:

1.800.764.7419

WEBSITE:

http://www.carnival.com/cruise-ships/carnival-fascination.aspx

At the bottom of the Queen’s Staircase in Nassau, Bahamas

THOUGHTS:

Eat. Drink. Dance. Explore. Sleep. Repeat. The ship had everything: clubs, casino, gym, pool, water slides, all-you-can-eat buffets, bingo, comedy shows, plays, spas – it was insane. It was gluttony  at it’s best! Haha. Out port was at Orlando, Fl. Key West and Nassau Bahamas were our two stops. We had about half a day out of the ship for each stop. Most people headed for the bars, while Mikey and I decided to explore and reserve a few hours for excursions. We figured we can drink and get shit-faced anytime back in Atlanta.

My captain.

We rented these speed boats at The Lazy Dog in Key West for a water tour that took about three hours. It was definitely worth it! Our tour took us to a few nature preserve areas and a sand bar where we got off the boats and hung out for a bit. The tour guide was really nice and laid back. He even offered us some drinks while waiting for our ride back to the heart of Key West. One of our friends took advantage and was given a mimosa. Mikey and I still wanted to explore a bit so we declined. I liked the not so touristy areas of the place. It reminded me almost of Hawaii. Almost.

While we were in Nassau, we booked an island tour, which included hopping from a bus, a boat and a submarine. The bus took us all over the famous sites in the island, like the capital, cemetery, etc. The highlight of the bus tour was the water tower of the island – the highest point of the island. There, we were able to get off and take a closer look at the water tower. We were also able to check out the Queen’s Staircase, which was small but very beautiful.

Checking into the ship.

Afterwards we stopped in front of a hotel, because we found a free wi-fi spot. A few minutes into looking at my Instagram, a rude lady started asking for five dollars for standing in front of the hotel and using their wi-fi. It all seemed really sketchy. Why not just use a password for their tenants? She really got in our face, which put Mikey in a bad mood. Everyone in the island seemed to really hate the tourists and were VERY rude. I don’t really blame them. There were so many under age drinkers that were so obnoxious, sloppy, and drunk. A lot of them were practically throwing up on sidewalks and almost walking into oncoming traffic. I blame Senor Frogs – where all of my friends told me to go, because they apparently don’t check for ID. Drunk underage kids getting drunk as hell and being stupid? No thanks. Instead we found McDonald’s for some free wi-fi (It’s free all over the world). We bought sweet tea and a chocolate sundae as payment. Afterwards, we wandered off to some beach, took some photos, went back to McDonald’s for more wi-fi, and went back to the ship.

Looking awkward as usual trying to pose in front of the water tower in Nassau, Bahamas.

The whole experience was incredible. I loved the fact that everything is planned for you with so many choices – especially the food. You didn’t really have to think about anything. The only thing that really cost us money were the excursions and the drinks. Alcohol on the ship was surprisingly super cheap though. I guess Mikey and I are used to prices of drinks in clubs.

Eat. Drink. Dance. Explore. Sleep. Repeat. Cruises are awesome, and we will definitely do more!

Cruisin’ in a speed boat in Key West.

Mikey booked the trip through Expedia. It cost about under $800 for both of us. The only annoying thing was having to pay an extra $50 to change the name of the passenger. I lost my passport and had a name change issue. I was irritated and disappointed. It’s just a name, better yet – just the first name for Pete’s sake!

Mikey chose the Orlando, FL port, because it was only about a six hour drive versus paying for an expensive flight to Miami. Hence, we spent more time on the ship and a little less time at each of our destinations, which we didn’t mind at all. If you want to spend more time on out of ship, choose the Miami port. The ship will be closer to its destinations, which means more time out of the ship. It’ll just cost you a pretty hefty Miami flight price.