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All text and photographs (unless stated otherwise) © Paul Timmerman The Fantasy class consists of the following vessels: Fantasy (1990), Ecstasy (1991), Sensation (1993), Fascination (1994), Imagination (1995), Inspiration (1996), Elation (1998), Paradise (1998). These ships have introduced several innovations to the cruise industry: - Paradise is the worlds first non smoking cruise ship, as is shown on the ships side by the non-smoking sign: Passengers caught smoking (even on the outer decks) are kindly requested to leave ship the next port and must pay a fine. - Elation and Paradise differ from there sister ships in their propulsion system. They are powered by two 14 MW Azipods. Azipod has several advantages like saving weight, giving increased speed, reduced vibration and thus adding to passenger comfort. Because no propellor shaft is needed and part of the machinery is housed in the outboard pods there is extra room for passenger cabins. - Apart from their promenade, each ship in this class features a 6 deck atrium forward, in which “miles’ of neon tube lightning are used which in some cases change colour during the day. Before these could be installed, problems concerning the warmth produced by these neon tubes had to be addressed. It was solved by dimming these lights by using a lower electrical current. In Carnival’s Fantasy class ships, to change decks passengers can only use the glass panorama elevators in the Atrium which take you from deck 7 all the way to deck 12 where the atrium is covered by a glass dome. There are no connecting stairs. This obstructs passenger flow a bit.
Beverly Hills Bar, Promenade deck In all 8 vessels
the lowest four decks
are dedicated to passenger
cabins.
Further below the ships stores, machinery spaces and crew quarters are situated. Fascination’s interior is a bit calmer, with less glitz than her sister ships Fantasy, Ecstasy and Sensation which entered service before her. Her interiors were designed by Carnival’s house architect Joe Farcus who used the theme Hollywood movies on this ship. Apart form decorating public spaces following along this theme, he added something special: wax figures of life size Hollywood stars standing and sitting along Hollywood Boulevard, the main starboard promenade connecting public spaces on Promenade deck. It adds flavour to this already lively Carnival “Fun Ship”. Along this promenade, two rooms attract your attention. First the Passage to India lounge. It has two statues of strikingly dressed elephants at its entrance, standing there like guardians of this room. Inside,
Passage to India Bar, Promenade deck more elephant heads are found staring at you from several columns. A seated Buddha, a statue of Shiva, multi armed like an octopus, and the special furnishing gives this adventurous lounge the atmosphere of India at the time of the British Raj…… Another very special room is the Tara, with its uninviting chairs. Two famous figures in wax, Rhett and Scarlett are standing by the fire place. It is difficult to label this room, Victorian style would probably be the most accurate, I guess. Showtime! The Palace, seating appr. 1000 passengers, where spectacular Broadway style shows are performed. No need to mention that sound equipment is state of the art here. Far more intimate is the Puttin’on the Ritz nightclub on the other end of Hollywood Boulevard. Cabaret performances take place here. A place not to be missed at night is the Diamonds Are Forever Discotheque, where sparkling glass is to be found everywhere: on the walls, on the ceilings (especially the marvellous lighting fixtures), and even the tables seem to radiate. The above mentioned public room are all situated on Promenade deck, along with some additional watering holes like Bogarts Café, where wax figures of Bogie and Bacall await you, and the art-deco style Beverly Hills Bar at the far end of the connecting promenade, Hollywood Boulevard.
Diamonds Are Forever dicotheque, Promenade deck On the deck below, Fascination offers two restaurants, the Imagination and Sensation Dining rooms, each seating 650 passengers. They are partitioned, by the use of panels and they have two levels, making them quite intimate in spite of their size. Informal meals are possible on Lido deck, where the coconut Grove Bar and Grill is an excellent spot for having breakfast and lunch. Two serving counters on either side and a salad bar in the middle offer plenty of choice. It is adorned with bamboo and palm trees, strengthen the Caribbean feeling…… On Lido deck, Verandah deck and Sun Deck literally everything is present for quiet sunbathing or fun in the sun. Swimming pools, whirlpools, a water slide, a spot for playing volley ball, it is all there. Presently, the first of this successful series of sister ships, which highly contributed to Carnivals stunning success since it was founded in 1972 by Ted Arison, has already been in service since 1994 and Fascination was extensively refitted in 2007. A spectacular new pool area with created. The kids part features a 4-story tall and 300 foot long "Twister Water Slide." Another slide consist of three side-by-side tubes 82 feet long. Also, a new nine-hole miniature golf course was added. Staterooms were upgraded as well with new fabrics and finishings and flat panel televisions and new interconnecting staterooms for families are now available. Further more, enhancements indoors include a coffee cafe with specialty coffees, a new art & photo gallery was created and the atrium bar has been remodeled. New sound and lighting systems have been installed in every public room, and all over the ship flat screen televisions giving info about life on board which also show (sports) news were installed. Carnival has renamed Fascination to Carnival Fascination (just like the other ships of the series) so she will follow the naming convention of the other ships in the fleet. The eight Fascination-series of ships marked Carnivals entry into the mega cruise liner era, and today -not in the least because of their extensive refits- remain very popular among the cruising public. End
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