Any tips for sailing on the Fantasy?

[mrstbalt]

We are leaving on Saturday..yea!!! We have been on the Magic and Wonder, but can anyone give us any additional tips about things to do or not do, best times to go into rainforest room, AquaDuck, dining and etc. Best drinks, food.. you know Thank you.
My brother got a boarding time of 11 and we got 1pm. We have gotten different answers from DCL..yes we can board with them because our ressies are linked and also no you can't. Anyone run into this problem? Also, will there be any chance they will show the Bears game?

 

[disprincess4ever]

Try to ride the Aquaduck on days you are in port! On sea days, the line is longer, and its really windy waiting on the side of the smokestack! If you do excursions on port days, run over to the aquaduck before going back to your room to shower.

Another fun thing to do is walk around the outdoor track on...deck 4 I think?? when its dark out/night. It's really peaceful, not to windy, and the ship lights up the water which is really amazing to look at.

 

[asemaria]

We really loved to check out all the enchanted art. The kids loved it and we enjoyed it as well. A great way to learn to navigate around the ship and to see some of the enchanted art is to do the Midship Detective Agency. It was our favourite part!
I can't help you with your boarding time, but I don't think you can board early if that is not YOUR time.:-(
Oh- and don't forget Goofys minigolf, it' really fun!

 

[kcashner]

Hi Mrsbalt!

OK, while they may CALL it a boarding time, it is really a terminal arrival time. Your boarding pass number is tied to that time, but boarding usually starts at 11:45 (although it started at 11:30 on our last cruise!)

You can arrive at the terminal with them and will likely be allowed to enter the terminal (if there are large crowds, you can be asked to wait, but that is rare). As to boarding together--technically no, but it is really up to the CM actually doing the boarding. You will each have your own number. Now, if there are 4 of you, there is no way the CM will know whether you are in one or two cabins, so no problem boarding together. If there are 8 of you, the right way for you to board together if for them to hang back until your number is called (you can board any time after your number)

Do note that if you are using DCL transportation, the terminal arrival time is moot.

Aquaduck times--any time something else big is happening. Do it during a show that you've already seen, during the opposite dinner seating, during the princess gathering...and of course on port days. That said, our longest wait was only about 20 minutes. Rainforest--it was never busy. We like late dinner. Lunch--again, never saw it crowded. Sit down was better than Cabanas. We had a ton of very young kids on our Fantasy cruise, some with parents who were not supervising them--I looked at the fast food outlets and Cabanas, and honestly didn't want to deal with the mess. The ice cream area in particular was constantly being cleaned and still messy. Flo's was OK some of the time.

DO the crazy stuff like midship detective agency, mini golf, etc. even if you don't have kids. It's fun.
When getting out of the aquaduck raft, roll out, then stand up. MUCH easier than trying to stand in the raft.

 

[nannylori]

Although we had only known the Magic and was in love with that ship,once we did the MV on the Fantasy,we might love that ship now as much.
It isn't as overwhelming as one might think. Once you get "the lay of the land", you'll be better able to make plans.
I believe one of the best places to see sports on TV would be the Irish pub (O'Gills(?)). I hung out there while my husband watched the end of March Madness & the place was packed with sports fans(While my husband sat at the bar to get a close up view of the action,I sat towards the back wall & made friends with a couple who wasn't into sports,but liked the atmosphere & menu there).
Take the AquaDuck advice from those who have already left messages,it's all good advice.
I believe you will be allowed to board with your rellies.The CM's are there to make sure you're happy & they are not going to allow you to start off the cruise on a negative note-they'd prefer to avoid saying NO as much as possible-they just might want you to be quiet about it,so as to not start a flood of people wanting to board earlier than their time.

 

[scootch]

I was expecting the pools to be unbearable on sea days, but we just cruised 11/3 and ended up spending every sea day on deck 12 while the kids played in the pools, aquaduck, watched funnelvision.... longest line on aquaduck(even 2pm on sea day) was 20 min. My daughter rode it at least 20 times during the cruise. If you want it all to yourself, go in the evening. We went one night about 8pm, no line at all.

Creme brulee was to die for. One of our tablemates asked for it to be brought every single evening. Oh my... how I would love to have a spoonful right now!

Vanessa in the kids club was tops with my 10 year old Mackenzey, she is still talking about her. Bears game will likely be on in the pub. There were alot of people there watchign games. Is your cruise Eastern?? If so, the full day snorkel to Buck Island and Honeymoon beach was one of the best excursions I have done. Wave runners were great too(although wear goggles). There was no availability for Wave runners online, but we only had four in our group, so check with guest services for any excursions that might have been previously booked.

 

[merriwthr]

We'll be on the Fantasy this Saturday as well! I'll be the really loud, crying Steeler fan in the corner... we're gonna get our butts whooped!!
Come on, Ben! Get better quick!!!

 

[mrstbalt]

We'll be on the Fantasy this Saturday as well! I'll be the really loud, crying Steeler fan in the corner... we're gonna get our butts whooped!!
Come on, Ben! Get better quick!!!

I will be looking for ya in the pub Bears are playing the Seahawks..not so sure, they don't do well against them. I will have my jersey on anyway

Everyone else thanks for the tips. Kids can't wait for the Aquaduck and Tween club. My 12yr old is SO disappointed she misses the chill spa by 1yr. I want to try yoga class and rainforest room.

In San Juan we canceled our zipline..too much money. So we are going to go Isla Verde and check out some watersports and have lunch. St Thomas we are doing the Dubloon turtle snorkel sail half day! Hope the weather is better at Castaway Cay this time. We went 2yrs ago and the weather was 74 and overcast..not very warm

 

[lsjones]

Relax!!!! I was so busy...spa, tastings, bingo, shows...didn't even get to the AquaDuck, or to an adult pool! I swear next cruise, I am not doing anything!!! I vow to relax! Hope you have a great cruise! And if you do play bingo, tell Kristina and Luke I say "Hi!!!!"!! Lol!!

 

[Bear3412]

If there is any chance for weather activity, do the AquaDuck immediately.
Even wind will close theAquaDuck.
On our 7 day sailing AquaDuck access was only available for a half the time in the first part of the cruise. We decided to stand in the lines for 30 minutes several times, thank goodness, because later the AquaDuck was closed due to wind.

I feel they close the AquaDuck at 40 knots. At 55 -60 knots they close upper decks(12 & 13). At 70 - 90 knots they confine you to your cabin. Just sharing my experience. We were thrilled later that we stood / waited in such a line for AquaDuck, because it was never available again. Just a thought.
A thought I would have never considered a possibility initially. Life is ironic.

Do what you can, when can, without hesitation.
Knowing access could be limited at any point for any reason. for any function.

Accept it and work with it. And have fun.

 

[pjacobi]

I feel they close the AquaDuck at 40 knots. At 55 -60 knots they close upper decks(12 & 13). At 70 - 90 knots they confine you to your cabin. Just sharing my experience. We were thrilled later that we stood / waited in such a line for AquaDuck, because it was never available again.

Don't cruise during hurricane season. Sometimes a bargain is not a bargain!


-Paul

 

[castawaycayfans]

Glad that you started this, we will be on our first Fantasy cruise and are really excited! We have been on the Doubloon excursion in ST twice and loved it!

 

[Moxin]

Glad that you started this, we will be on our first Fantasy cruise and are really excited! We have been on the Doubloon excursion in ST twice and loved it!

My FAVORITE excursion is the Doubloon! Loved the pirate flag so much I got it tattooed on my back. Not a big one...