Carnival Cruise Lines - Fascination Review

"You get what you pay for" was definitely true here. Got a free cruise when we bought a new Chevy last year and most of the people on board were comped via a distributor rewards program from a mini-blind company. It was a nice getaway, but well below quality of previous cruises I've been on (Holland America, Norwegian).

Food pretty much sucked, so no worries about gaining weight like most do on a cruise. In fact, our best meals by far were had when we got off the ship in port. Steak was tough, lobster was ok, not great, pastas like something you would whip up for the kids (random items from the fridge thrown in for variety - hey, don't call it mac n cheese!) I will admit, tho, desserts in the main dining room were good and you can't beat having unlimited access to ice cream. LOL

Shore excursion selections were outstanding and appropriate for all age ranges. Highly recommend the ATV, snorkel, and cavern jaunt in Calica, Mexico. It covered it all - ride in a bus with a crazy driver (yes, he backed up on the fwy when he missed his exit), crazier ride in the back of a pick up with benches through the jungle holding on for dear life, ATVs in the jungle, snorkeling on a pristine private beach, swim in a fresh water spring, and exploration of cool hidden caverns (ouch, watch your head!).

As a part-time travel agent and multiple time cruiser, I wouldn't really recommend Carnival unless you are on a super-tight budget. The price of the cruise is good, but you have to pay for virtually everything on board and yoru total cost is gonna be much more than you expected. Also, the crowd was a little redneck, and often rude for my tastes. Class shouldn't have to come in a rich package - ya know?