Carnival Fascination

the ships decor and atmosphere is terrific. but every activity costs a fortune and you have to use a sail and sign card (no cash accepted). the fine dining wasnt that fine, they had alternate dining of crappy food wiht fancy names, like fresh eggs that were powdered eggs, and only unsweetened tea and water and coffee to drink. They only have coke products for your fountain card, and they only come in can form. I didnt purchase one and i had tea or water all day, and oj in the morning. When i asked for oj in teh day they wanted to charge me. So if you dont enjoy water or tea you will be thirsty. Their 24 hour pizzaria offers pepperoni that id never pay for so thank god it was included, adn the five deli options never change. The other pizzas offered had weird things on it like artichokes and anchovies, and the pizza maker loved to ignore customers. My fine dining was awful, wrecked by some redneck with no shoes always comming to dine drunk and loud, and even though we asked the waiter to ask him to calm down they did not, and I didnt want to return for a third try at "fine dining" in which the food portions are so tiny and they bring you coke in a can to sit next to your fine silverware. Overall it did not feel fancy at all. The bingo offered on the ship is $20 for three tiny squares, and everything seemed to have a hidden motive to get you to spend money. I felt so hungry at the end of everyday that i ordered room service ( inclusive) but the ten options on room service were awful to, and I ate pbj all week. It didnt seem liek we ever ported long enough to spend a true day at either destination, and you cant swim in the two pools onboard because they are super tiny and full of children. The nicest person I met was greg, our housekeeper, and the best activity offered was the casino and the comedy acts. The songdance shows they put on are good if your into that kinda thing, but all the free giveaways come with long seminars that push you to buy things from them. They had cheaper alcohol onboard but you can only order it and receive it when you get OFF the ship, and if you have access to any military posts you get the same price because its tax free. Overall i had an awful time and wasted enough money that i couldve gone on four other vacations. Ill never cruise carnival again, id rather spend the same amount flying ot the same destinations to visit. And be careful of the hidden gratuities they try to sneak on your sail and sign bill, and the 2 dollar gratuities tacked on to every alcoholic drink. I had more fun in jacksonville before boarding the cruise, and I had more fun on my ten hour drive home than my five day all inclusive but so inclusive cruise. Please research carefully before choosing your vacation on the water. The pictures and excursions are not what they seem, and they offer things you can experience and buy anywhere else for cheaper or the same price. although i cruised fascination, i feel that i was deceived and do not feel as though their other ships would be any better.