Carnival Cruise Line has announced that the Carnival Fascination will sail with a number of new features when it returns to offering San Juan cruises this February. The ship will add a number of new food and beverage outlets, including Guy’s Burger Joint developed by Food Network star Guy Fieri, the cocktail pharmacy-themed Alchemy Bar, BlueIguana Cantina Mexican eatery, Cherry on Top sweets shop, the poolside RedFrog Rum Bar and BlueIguana Tequila Bar, and a Bonsai Sushi Express venue, during a multimillion-dollar, two-week dry dock taking place February 4 – 17, 2018 in Freeport, the Bahamas.
Carnival Fascination had ceased cruises out of San Juan after the damage the destination sustained during Hurricane Maria. After that, it was chartered by FEMA to house relief workers in St. Croix. When it returns, the ship will offer seven-day southern Caribbean cruises out of Puerto Rico starting February 18, 2018, and calling at St. Lucia, Barbados, St. Kitts, St. Thomas and St. Maarten.
Here’s a look at the new food and beverage options that will be added during the dry dock:
- Guy’s Burger Joint: A complimentary poolside venue developed by the Food Network personality, serving burgers and fries with décor inspired by the chef’s California roots.
- RedFrom Rum Bar: Another poolside venue serving rum-based frozen drinks and beers, including Carnival’s private label ThirstyFrog Red.
- BlueIguana Cantina: A complimentary poolside Mexican restaurant.
- BlueIguana Tequila Bar: An outdoor, Mexican-themed bar, specializing in tequila-based drinks and beers.
- Cherry on Top: A candy, gift and novelty shop.
- Alchemy Bar: A pharmacy-themed cocktail bar where mixologists “prescribe” custom creations.
- Bonsai Sushi Express: A casual offshoot of the line’s full-service Bonsai Sushi restaurants.
Carnival returned to San Juan following the hurricanes on November 30 with a call by the Carnival Conquest, along with Royal Caribbean’s Freedom of the Seas. Fellow Carnival Corporation brand Seabourn has announced that it will return to San Juan starting December 18. Holland America Line has said it will return December 7; Princess Cruises on December 20; and Costa Cruises on December 17.
According to the Puerto Rico Tourism Company (PRTC), Puerto Rico is once again “open for tourism” and ready to officially kick off its winter season on December 20. More than 100 hotels are open and operating, the PRTC said, as well as more than 4,000 restaurants and a number of major tourism attractions. Additionally, all the island’s airports are now fully operational.
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