Marion

Age: 35
Occupation: teacher
Number of Cruises: 9
Cruise Line: Carnival
Name of Ship: Fantasy
Sailing Date: July 6th, 2003
Itinerary: Bahamas

Our family of 5 went with another family of 4. We had an excellent time. There was a variety of activities for everyone. Everything was pretty easy to do-from boarding to debarkation and gathering luggage. We were off the ship in no time! The shows were wonderful. The food was outstanding and the dining room staff was exceptional. The kids loved the towel animals and our cabin steward was very attentive to our every need. The kids got a kick out of ordering room service any time and signing their names. I strongly suggest getting the drink cards for kids. Big savings there.

Camp Carnival activities were great, as long as you have "normal" kids. My husband, our friends, and I were very surprised at the lack of medical training there is by the Camp Carnival staff. Case in point, my daughter is a type 1 diabetic and must carry her blood sugar machine at all times to monitor her glucose levels. Two weeks before the cruise, I was asked to complete an information sheet on her and fax it in. I had the travel agent call the cruise line as well a week before to make sure everything was in place. When I registered her and the other kids, I got a letter saying she would have to keep her supplies in the cabin and go back to check her blood sugar. That is not acceptable. (Walking will make her go even lower.) Even after talking to the nurse and getting permission they said "no." After she had already gone in, I had to make her leave. After a heated conversation, they said she could bring it in a locked bag. Still not good enough. So....she couldn't stay (they weren't going to bother the nurse or doctor after hours). None of the other 4 kids wanted to stay because she wasn't staying. So... moms got to bed every night by 11 while the dads went out. This also applies to any child requiring an epi-pen for allergies. No needles allowed. Period. It seems with the ADA (Americans with Disabilities Act) that such a large cruise line would have trained personnel on duty at Camp Carnival for each shift who could respond to an emergency.

This is my only concern with this ship. Better communication is the solution when a special needs guest comes on board. I know the adults would have had a much better vacation, and my daughter would not have cried half the night if that communication had been there.

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