Learn more about Carnival Fascination’s ports of call: Half Moon Cay, Key West, and Grand Turk
When you sail aboard the newly renovated Carnival Fascination, you will have the trip of a lifetime! This “fascinating” ship sets sail from Jacksonville, Florida, and offers 4- to 5-day Bahamas cruises that include Freeport, Nassau, Half Moon Cay and Key West. You can also choose a 7-day Eastern Caribbean cruise, which includes many of the same ports and Grand Turk. This article will discuss some of the many options available to you in the stunning ports of Half Moon Cay, Key West, and Grand Turk.
Half Moon Cay It is often referred to as the “favorite” port for cruise ships. As the sign on the beach says, “You will never want to leave here!” It is spectacularly beautiful and offers a perfect beach day with rich vegetation, cornstarch sand, and warm, turquoise waters. This island has been rated “best private island” by porthole magazine for the past four years. It is a private island used by cruise lines and includes a stunning beach, restaurant, shops, excursion activities, playground, and an outdoor area for lunch. Stroll the island trails for great views and discover a playground, shops, and stingray habitat.
At Half Moon Cay, most people choose this incredible stop as a beach day, but others choose to take one of the many excursions Carnival offers. One of the best are the private cabins. One of the best benefits of this “excursion” is that you can be one of the first to get off the boat. Since the download takes hours and this is a world-class stop, you’ll want as much time there as possible. The cabins offer shade, vaporizers, some snacks and drinks, snorkeling gear, comfortable chairs, and some floats. Other excursions Carnival offers include horseback riding, nature walks, eco-lagoon tours, glass bottom boats, stingray encounters and deep sea fishing.
key WestThe southernmost city in the continental United States, it is the largest and most vibrant in a chain of small islands called the Florida Keys. Closer to Cuba than Miami, Key West, nicknamed the “Republic of the Shell,” is a popular destination on Western Caribbean itineraries, and is easily one of the funniest and most extravagant ports of call of all cruise ships. Key West is famous for its appeal to all types of people, and it is especially a magnet for artists and hippies, as well as cruise ships. It is a colorful and magical visit at any time of the year. Duval Street is considered the main thoroughfare and is a must see. Most of the most popular bars, shops and art galleries are located here, as well as restaurants and museums. This street has all the magic and color of Key West … be sure to try a key lime pie! You can easily walk here, but you can choose to rent bicycles or mopeds, which are the most popular modes of transport. Your best option to get a great overview of the island is to hop on and off the Conch open-air tourist train. Buy tickets on board or at Mallory Square, where you depart. If the weather is bad, take the covered Old Town Trolley that also departs from Mallory Square. Trains often give you a tour of the city as well, usually including a view of Earnest Hemingway’s home.
The Ernest Hemingway Home and Museum is a great stop. A tour will take you inside his writing studio filled with tons of books, past the old typewriter where he wrote “Farewell to Arms” and into the swimming pool (the first in Key West). You’ll also see about 60 well-groomed felines, descendants of the many cats that lazed on Hemingway’s lap as he wrote, now roaming the entire property. You can also walk across the street and climb the nearly 90 steps to the top of the Lighthouse Museum for jaw-dropping views or take a photo at the southernmost marker in the United States. If you are lucky enough to see a sunset, they are especially spectacular here and are usually a beautiful red color. Carnival offers Key West excursions such as glass bottom boats, catamaran, snorkeling, tours of historic houses and gardens, conch train, city tours, snorkeling, kayaking, parasailing, and even a pub crawl.
Great Turk It is a port of call in the Caribbean, perfect for lazy days on the beach. This is where you can enjoy a slow pace of life, and it is the capital of the Turks and Caicos Islands. It is a small island with no fast food restaurants or chain hotels. You can visit the narrow alleys of the historic town of Cockburn, but most choose to stay in the new cruise terminal which is a destination in its own right, with retail shops, a beach recreation area, and a huge swimming pool. Beach chairs are lined up and await you on the white sand as you get off the boat. Carnival’s Grand Turk Cruise Center also has a FlowRider where you can practice the perfect curl, or you can relax poolside with a cold Margaritaville drink. Grand Turk became famous for its exceptionally brilliant white beaches and tourmaline waters. One of the biggest draws here is scuba diving, with the islands located along the third largest barrier reef in the world. Carnival excursions offered on Grand Turk include 4×4 safari, bike and snorkel, fishing, off-island and snorkeling, catamaran, kayak, conch world, Governor’s Beach, scuba diving, and much more.
Whether you choose to swim with stingrays in Half Moon Cay, ride the conch train in Key West, or go horse riding in Grand Turk, you’ll have the time of your life aboard Carnival Fascination. The ship and its ports offer you such a variety of activities that you will surely find the right day plan to suit your needs. Once back on board your ship, you can enjoy all the luxury, incredible service and relaxation that the Carnival Fascination Cruise provides. Enjoy your cruise!
