​The Carnival Fascination is scheduled to undergo a major dry-dock in February 2018. During the ship's dry-dock it will receive several of Carnival's Fun Ship 2.0 features as well as general maintenance to various areas around the ship. As of the time of writing this (12/14/17), the Carnival Fascination is being chartered by FEMA to aid in Hurricane Irma relief efforts. The Carnival Fascination will undergo this major dry-dock prior to re-entering service from its charter. Some of the features the ship is scheduled to receive are: 

Guy's Burger Joint -  This is a popular Fun Ship 2.0 feature that Carnival has been expanding to its ships. Guy's Burger Joint serves free hamburgers and french fries at lunchtime. On the Carnival Fascination, Guy's Burger Joint will be located on the Lido Deck (10) in the outside section of the buffet. 

Blue Iguana Cantina -  The Blue Iguana Cantina serves burritos and tacos at lunch. Usually, the Blue Iguana Cantina also has some breakfast options too. To compliment tacos and burritos, Carnival's Blue Iguana Cantina also has a salsa bar. The salsa bar has a multitude of options available for cruisers. The Blue Iguana Cantina is complimentary! On the Carnival Fascination, the Blue Iguana Cantina will be located on the Lido Deck (10) in the outside section of the buffet near Guy's Burger Joint. 

Red Frog Rum Bar -  The Red Frog Rum Bar serves frozen drinks and beer for cruisers to purchase. This new Caribbean themed bar will be located on the Lido Deck (10) near the pool. 

Blue Iguana Tequila Bar - The Blue Iguana Cantina Bar serves frozen drinks and beer for cruisers to purchase. This new Mexican themed bar will be located on the Lido Deck (10)  near the pool. 

Alchemy Bar -  The Alchemy Bar is another Fun Ship 2.0 feature that will be added to the Carnival Fascination during its dry-dock.  The Alchemy Bar allows cruisers to purchase mixed drinks in a pharmacy themed bar setting. Cruisers are able to tell bartenders to mix ingredients to make a drink a certain way. The ship's Alchemy Bar will be located on the Promenade Deck (deck 9).

Cherry On Top -  This shop sells candy, gifts, and a few other things. The ship's Cherry On Top will be located on the ship's Promenade Deck (deck 9). 

Bonsai Sushi Express -  Some of Carnival's newer or recently upgraded ships have Bonsai Sushi, but the Carnival Fascination will be getting Bonsai Sushi Express. Essentially Bonsai Sushi serves things such as sushi, sashimi, rolls, and other sushi related foods. Based on the deck plans on Carnival's website, it appears Bonsai Sushi will be located on the Promenade Deck (9) near the casino and ship's atrium. 

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For more information on the Carnival Fascination I recommend you check out Carnival's official press release (click here). This link will open away from RyG's Cruise Guide. 
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       Earlier this week, Carnival Cruise Line announced additional itinerary changes for several of its East Coast based ships that will take place in 2019. 
        The Carnival Sunshine will repositioning to Charleston, South Carolina, in May 2019. From Charleston, the ship will primarily sail 4 & 5 night cruises. Typically, four night cruises will sail to Nassau and 5 night cruises will sail to Nassau and Half Moon Cay. Carnival's press release notes, the Carnival Sunshine will sail a special 11 night voyage from Charleston in December 2019 and this cruise will be a throwback Journeys cruise. The Carnival Sunshine has several of Carnival's popular features such as Guy's Burger Joint, Blue Iguana Cantina, Red Frog Pub, Red Frog Rum Bar, Blue Iguana Tequila Bar, Havana Bar, Cucina Del Capitano, SportsSquare, WaterWorks, and much more. 
                Since Charleston is getting the Carnival Sunshine, the Carnival Ecstasy is moving to Jacksonville, Florida. The Carnival Ecstasy will begin sailing from Jacksonville in May 2019. While sailing from Jacksonville the ship will sail 4 & 5 night cruises. The Carnival Ecstasy has several of Carnival's Fun Ship 2.0 features including Guy's Burger Joint, Blue Iguana Cantina, Red Frog Rum Bar, Blue Iguana Tequila Bar, and Cherry on Top. The ship also has Carnival's WaterWorks. 
                 The Carnival Elation will be repositioning to Port Canaveral (Orlando), Florida in May 2019 as well. In September, the Carnival Elation went to dry-dock and received major upgrades such as Guy's Burger Joint, Blue Iguana Cantina, Red Frog Rum Bar, Blue Iguana Tequila Bar, WaterWorks, and an additional deck of staterooms. 

For more information about the upcoming itinerary changes for 2019, click here to view Carnival's official press release. The link will take you to Carnival's news website. 
              

         Last week, Carnival Cruise Line announced the Carnival Panorama will be the name of its third Vista class ship. The Carnival Panorama will debut in the fall of 2019. 
         The ship will be approximately 133,500 gross tons and is being built at the Fincantieri Marghera Shipyard in Italy. At this time we do not have interior renderings or deck plans. The Carnival Panorama's homeport and itineraries have not yet been announced. 
           The other ship's in Carnival's Vista class are the Carnival Vista and Carnival Horizon. At this time, the Carnival Horizon has not yet entered service, but will begin sailing in April 2018. The Carnival Vista began sailing in 2016. After the Carnival Panorama makes its debut in 2019, it is unclear whether or not Carnival will pursue building an additional Vista Class ship. 

​For more information, check out Carnival's press release:  Click Here  (Link will take you away from RyG's Cruise Guide)