First all I can say is OMG and again OMG....This cruise was so much more than expected when first walking on the boat my mouth few open my husband and kids were just as amazed as I was.  Reading the post you kind of get a general idea of what to expect but when I got on the boat the return of my expectations were tripled.  I went on the cruise stating that the pre trip was too much and I wasn't going to pay $200 in trips but when I tell you they deserved the $200 that I left and then the extra they deserved every penny of it.

The exciting points:

1. arriving to the room every night to see the towel creation
2. being able to eat all day without anybody telling me anything
3. all of the nice staff~ in todays time you wouldn't think there are that many nice people still left in the world and for all of them to be in one place
4. all of the different activities there is something to do from 9am to 3am the next morning
5. this one should have been #1 CAMP CARNIVAL ( my son would wake up ready to go to camp carnival)
6. the dinner the variety of things to eat or everything on the menu to try...
7. the list can go on and on.........

Everyone always want to know about packing and I didn't listen to the other people you will NOT need all of those clothes I know women will always overpack but for my next cruise the only thing I will overpack is swimsuits and cover up.  My family and I would get dressed in the morning go eat breakfast and maybe walk around for a little then 10 minutes later we will be changing into our swimsuits and trunks, that is mostly everything they wear all day swimwear and coverup.

 1 thing not to do!!!!

Do not think the boat won't leave you everyone on this cruise will remember what happen on the return to dock day from Cozumel, with the boyfriend and girlfriend they literrary had to run and jump on the boat while the doors were being closed and just as in a horror movie the girl fall and the boy never looked back and the funny part was she dropped her sovenir cup and it started rolling away and she ran behind it to get it and the straw and was about to get left.  If you don't believe they will leave you go to youtube and you will find a video of a couple getting left and the boat will not stop first it is in the water they will not stop or turn around.

This is a last message but just GO and ENJOY every moment any questions ask and I will try to answer

 Thanks for the great reviews, I will be going in Sept for my first cruise.

I tried and tried to find the video but didn't know what keywords to look for. So, if you find it will you link it? LOL, thanks!

 Send the title of the youtube video, we just returned on the 22nd of June and also loved it.

We (me and 6 others) were on this cruise and it was also our first. UNDESCRIBEABLE! Totally awesome. All the Carnival staff made you feel like you were #1.....the food was SUPERB.......the ship itself was outstandingly BEAUTIFUL and very comfortable.....the entertainment was FANTASTIC......not 1 time in 5 days were we ever bored....the saying time flies when your having fun is soooo true on the Fantasy....seeing the BEAUTY of God's creations..the clear blue ocean water....the sunsets on the ocean were BREATHTAKING....I count this a blessing to have been able to experience this cruise and ALL it offered and we are booking another for next year! Thank you Carnival for your wonderful hospitality and memories that will last a lifetime!  

We also just returned from paradise on board the Fantasy's 6/27 sailing ... and I second each and every wonderful thing that has been said about crusing ... about the Fanasy ... and about the wonderful, wonderful staff on board this ship.  I agree, I did not think there were THAT many genuinely nice people left on this planet - and to have them all on one ship was nothing less than a miracle!

We will most certainly be cruising again next year!  I have already announced to my family that any gifts in the upcoming year (i.e., birthday, mother's day, etc.) should take the form of a cash deposit into our soon-to-be opened '2010 Carnival Cruise' savings account!  ... and I have my new 'monkey head' bank that I brought home from the cruise to save all my pennies too!

My "list' of most notable Fantasy memories would be:

1) My towel creations ... (loved each one of them!)

2) My stateroom steward, Pedro.

3) The captain's accent.  Now, I have to admit that I didn't always understand what he was saying ... but it didn't really matter - I could have listened to him all day long....!

4) The top deck on the front of the boat ... especially at night.  I felt as if I were on the top of the world.  It was awesome!

5) The gym.  What a great little facility ... and what an AWESOME view laid out before you while you are getting your workout!

6) Stitch ... this guy's enthusiasm and outrageous humor was contagious.  How could you NOT have a great time while being entertained by someone like this!

7) The food.  The quality and the quantity ... and the availability.  I gained weight ... despite the fact I worked out every day, and I have no regrets... (lol).

... my list could go on and on and on ... I loved every minute of this wonderful cruise on board this wonderful ship.  I can't imagine that there is a better ship in the Carnival line!

Debbie

 Debbie what dining room did you dine in at what table we loved our host Ronnie and one of the ladies at our table we desginated her to be the translater because we could not really understand hime but still loved to hear him talk..We were in the Jubliee late seating table 377 with the most wonderful people that you can be and believe me when I say I can get along with just about anybody but honestly I did not know white people were so friendly you would think racism never existed with all of the nice people my husband and I meet.  TERRIFIC PEOPLE!!!!!!

 I was actually read a post on here and they had the linked posted in their blog but I will try and find it and post it. But if you see it or not please believe they will leave you.

We were in the Celebration dining room for the early seating.  Our wait staff was wonderful ... but I know what you mean about sometimes feeling the need for a translator! (lol!).

I agree 100% about cruisers seeming to leave their prejudice behind. We were all like one big happy cruisin' family, weren't we?  I have absolutely no tolerance for racism, and my 'radar' can usually pick up even the most subtle forms of prejudice.  It was so nice to see that there didn't seem to be ANY of this on the ship.  We were all having a great time being treated like royalty by that incredible crew .... which proves that it's just the truly unhappy people who lower themselves to racist thinking.

The secret to unity is: EVERYBODY should cruise 24/7, 365 days a year! (on Carnival, of course!!)

Debbie