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Carnival Fascination gains 98 balconies at Grand Bahama

Carnival Fascination gains 98 balconies at Grand Bahama
Carnival Fascination resumed its year-round four- and five-day schedule from Jacksonville today following a $34m drydock at Grand Bahama Shipyard that added a water park, adults-only retreat, redesigned main pool area and 98 balconies to existing staterooms.

The renovations are part of the line’s $350m ‘Evolutions of Fun’ refurbishment program for its eight 70,000gt Fantasy-class vessels. Carnival Fascination is the sixth ship in the series to receive the upgrades.

The 1994-built vessel operates Jacksonville’s only year-round cruise schedule, carrying approximately 170,000 passengers annually.

‘The Fascination has proved to be a tremendous draw for cruise passengers from throughout the southeastern US with the ship typically sailing at 100% capacity,’ said JAXPORT ceo Rick Ferrin, adding that the new amenities will ‘refresh the experience for repeat customers and enhance the experience for first-time cruisers.’

Carnival Fascination’s open decks now feature a WaterWorks park including a 300ft twister slide, a pair of 82ft racing slides and a splash zone for kids. The Lido Deck pool was also renovated with a colorful tropical theme and gained oversized umbrellas, vibrant tile work, thatched roofing and huge stylized palm trees.

The 98 balconies were added to existing accommodations, creating 230sq ft balcony staterooms. Several suites were also retrofitted with larger balconies.

Another addition was the adults’ aft deck retreat, Serenity, with teak-style decking, colorful umbrellas and two large whirlpools.

New to the casual poolside restaurant are a Mongolian wok venue and a chicken rotisserie. The two main dining rooms were refurbished with fresh carpeting, upholstery and other cosmetic enhancements. One restaurant was also reconfigured for Your Time Dining with the option of open seating between 5:45 p.m. and 9:30 p.m.