Just off Fantasy EC --Highs and Lows

[My2Qtz0205]

We just got off this past Saturday.

Highs:

• We stayed at Universal prior to the cruise, so we used Happy Limo to take us to the port. The ride was comfortable, our driver was friendly, and he got us to the port in 40 minutes!
• We were amongst the first group going through security at the terminal, so we walked right up to an agent.
• The family area on Deck 12 was empty for quite a while after we boarded, so my crowd-weary DD was very happy to have that little wading pool to herself.
• Adult areas in Europa=great fun. We took part in a couples' game show and DH did the Thriller dance on stage.
• Bartenders at Skyline, Ooh La La, and O'Gills
• Brett at The Tube
• Dinner at Palo
• DD is a picky eater but loves calamari, so we requested to have it as an appetizer one night. We received two huge platters of it!
• Chocolate and liquor tasting
• Turtle Cove excursion in St. Thomas
• Baths excursion in Tortola
• Ordering room service breakfast on the day we had an early excursion

Lows:

• Other than our head server, Luis, not very impressed by our servers this time. They were both very quiet. The service was very slow.
• Pirate night menu
• Eating dinner in Cabanas--next time will order room service
• My birthday was not recognized in the MDR. If we cruise on my birthday again I will order a celebration cake.
• Food in general this time--just not overly impressed. Thanksgiving dinner was my favorite of the MDR meals.
• We rented a car after we disembarked to take us to Disney Springs. I got a rental through Priceline for Enterprise. What they don't tell you at the port when you are waiting on the shuttle is that Enterprise has two locations, and the shuttle only takes you to one of them (not the one we needed). When we got to Enterprise, they offered to call us a taxi at our expense to take us to the other location. We declined, and ended up voiding the first rental and taking a smaller vehicle. They did give us a 10% discount for our trouble.

 

[moremouse]

Was Luis from Eastern Europe?

 

[My2Qtz0205]

Was Luis from Eastern Europe?

He is from Portugal.

 

[WDWChloe]

Brett is back!!! Yay! This is the first time I've seen him back on the Fantasy according to reports , I believe he's been on the Wonder. Excited to see him again, he's awesome at the Tube. Thanks!

 

[ThreeBoyMom]

How was the snorkeling on the Turtle Cove excursion?

 

[ThreeBoyMom]

Also meant to ask about lunch. Anything you can tell me, really. Thanks!

 

[steves100]

We just got off this past Saturday.

Highs:

• We stayed at Universal prior to the cruise, so we used Happy Limo to take us to the port. The ride was comfortable, our driver was friendly, and he got us to the port in 40 minutes!
• We were amongst the first group going through security at the terminal, so we walked right up to an agent.
• The family area on Deck 12 was empty for quite a while after we boarded, so my crowd-weary DD was very happy to have that little wading pool to herself.
• Adult areas in Europa=great fun. We took part in a couples' game show and DH did the Thriller dance on stage.
• Bartenders at Skyline, Ooh La La, and O'Gills
• Brett at The Tube
• Dinner at Palo
• DD is a picky eater but loves calamari, so we requested to have it as an appetizer one night. We received two huge platters of it!
• Chocolate and liquor tasting
• Turtle Cove excursion in St. Thomas
• Baths excursion in Tortola
• Ordering room service breakfast on the day we had an early excursion

Lows:

• Other than our head server, Luis, not very impressed by our servers this time. They were both very quiet. The service was very slow.
• Pirate night menu
• Eating dinner in Cabanas--next time will order room service
• My birthday was not recognized in the MDR. If we cruise on my birthday again I will order a celebration cake.
• Food in general this time--just not overly impressed. Thanksgiving dinner was my favorite of the MDR meals.
• We rented a car after we disembarked to take us to Disney Springs. I got a rental through Priceline for Enterprise. What they don't tell you at the port when you are waiting on the shuttle is that Enterprise has two locations, and the shuttle only takes you to one of them (not the one we needed). When we got to Enterprise, they offered to call us a taxi at our expense to take us to the other location. We declined, and ended up voiding the first rental and taking a smaller vehicle. They did give us a 10% discount for our trouble.

Not sure how the rental car issue was Enterprises fault. Using Priceline you should have read the small print

 

[My2Qtz0205]

Not sure how the rental car issue was Enterprises fault. Using Priceline you should have read the small print

I did read the small print. It says nothing about not picking up from port, or about not transferring from one location to another. Isn't their slogan "We'll pick you up"? We gave them poor ratings on a survey, the corporate manager called to speak to my husband, and she agreed that they should have picked us up. So they WERE in the wrong.

But hey, thanks for coming to add your snarky comment.

 

[My2Qtz0205]

How was the snorkeling on the Turtle Cove excursion?

FAVORITE EXCURSION EVER! We saw a lot of fish, sea turtle, and a stingray. One turtle swam right up to me then dove back down to the bottom, then came up again behind me. Amazing! The crew was fun. The Painkillers are yummy. They sell tank tops on board as well, so be prepared for that if you think someone in your party might like one. They are $20/each.

Pics!

 

[My2Qtz0205]

Also meant to ask about lunch. Anything you can tell me, really. Thanks!

Do you mean lunch on the ship? We always ate at Cabanas. We didn't want to spend time at a table service restaurant, and DH had a bad experience in 2014 when he ordered a lunch from Flo's. There were usually crab claws and cocktail shrimp, chicken breasts and fish, pizza, chicken tenders, Mac n cheese, salads, soups, and desserts.

When we did the Bath's, we got back to our room around 2, so we ordered room service. That was very convenient.

 

[dclpluto]

Just make sure your servers know the day before your birthday and they will recognized it. No reason to buy a cake on a cruise.

 

[jdb in AZ]

Just make sure your servers know the day before your birthday and they will recognized it. No reason to buy a cake on a cruise.

There's always a lot of celebrating in the main dining rooms, but how will the waiters know who's celebrating what unless you tell them? DH told our waiter that my b-day was during our cruise, and they were happy to bring me a cake. I wish they hadn't sung and made such a fuss (yes, I'm introverted that way) but the cake was a nice gesture.

 

[My2Qtz0205]

Just make sure your servers know the day before your birthday and they will recognized it. No reason to buy a cake on a cruise.

Well, since we set sail on my birthday, that wasn't possible. I was wearing a button, a shirt, and a tiara, though.

 

[thebrundogs]

What time did you arrive at the port to be in the first group? Or maybe when did you leave Universal? We will be doing the same next year!

 

[My2Qtz0205]

What time did you arrive at the port to be in the first group? Or maybe when did you leave Universal? We will be doing the same next year!

Our Happy Limo driver picked us up shortly after 9 at Cabana Bay. He got us at port in 40 minutes! By the time we unloaded, paid his tip, and made our way to the gate, it was probably around 10. We had to wait awhile before they would let us in!

 

[NZMUM]

My birthday was not recognized in the MDR. If we cruise on my birthday again I will order a celebration cake.

Did you have your birthday noted on your reservation? We have cruised twice on my DH's birthday. Got it put on out reservation and both times they "celebrated" it in the MDRs. We never mentioned it to our servers prior to the night. He also received a certificate & birthday button in our cabin from Guest Services.

 

[VFL]

FAVORITE EXCURSION EVER! We saw a lot of fish, sea turtle, and a stingray. One turtle swam right up to me then dove back down to the bottom, then came up again behind me. Amazing! The crew was fun. The Painkillers are yummy. They sell tank tops on board as well, so be prepared for that if you think someone in your party might like one. They are $20/each.

Pics!
View attachment 188637 View attachment 188639 View attachment 188640

What camera did you use for your underwater pictures? Thanks!

 

[steveyjc81]

Do you remember who the entertainers were?

 

[ASchwa]

Well, since we set sail on my birthday, that wasn't possible. I was wearing a button, a shirt, and a tiara, though.

I embarked on my birthday in June on the Magic and was solo. Meaning no one told my servers it was my birthday. I noted it on my reservation and got my button. They sang Happy Birthday and gave me another button. When I first stepped on the ship, they don't announce you in Northern Europe, I got a happy birthday from the person at the scanner who swipes the card to allow you to board. Why didn't your DH say anything? He could have gone to the bathroom and talked either to the head server or even one of your servers.

 

[Starwind]

We note our celebrations (e.g. birthdays) on our reservation. On our last cruise, on the Dream, on the first night our servers asked what day we wanted to celebrate the birthdays.

SW