Just off the Inspiration. My impression

[paleskin]

Chanelling his inner douche bag! Ha! I cannot stop laughing! I will be going on this cruise in January when everyone goes back to school. I have never had any problems during January, the ships always seems underbooked. I actually prefer Fantasy class because it carrys less passengers. the Freedom is only 40sft. bigger and has another 1200 people.Quite noticeable on picture night on the promenade. Every year I ask staff (piano player, or director)their favorite ship on Carnival and they always say any of the fantasy class ships.

By the way, do you remember the name of the rock band that played on the ship?

Thanks for the laugh!!!!:p

[halos]

Just off the Carnival Inspiration this morning. Four nights from Tampa to Cozumel. It was interesting, a lot of good things, and a lot of not so good things. Just thought I would share.

 

First, a little background: This was a return to the Fantasy Class, 16 years after my first foray into these ships. Needless to say the Ecstasy was a lot more impressive when it was barely two years old, than its sister ship, Inspiration is at the age of 14!

 

This was a quickie trip for three of us (married friends of mine and me). We opted to go basic and got interior rooms forward on the Riviera deck.

 

The Good:

 

The staff was outstanding. Everyone is super nice, eager and attentive.

 

The food in the main dining room was quite good. My last two cruises were on newer RCI ships (Freedom and Oasis), and this was much better than either of those.

 

The Entertainment: The comedian was actually funny! Something I haven’t encountered on a cruise in a while. The musicians were all excellent.

 

Cozumel: Specifically, the Mayan Ruins of Tulum excursion. This was a 7 hour excursion, but it was fantastic! I highly recommend it.

 

The stateroom was nice. Basic inside cabin, but well appointed with a comfy bed, flat screen television, plenty of closet space and an adequate bathroom and shower.

 

The casino is shockingly spacious! I have been on many larger vessels where the casino felt cramped and very smoky. This one was great. (It probably helps that I cleaned up at the blackjack table!).

 

The Bad:

 

Carnival ships are all a little over the top, but I forgot how extreme this is on the fantasy class. All the public spaces are just horrid. They are clean, but they are ridiculous. It’s like someone stole every bit of absurd 1980’s Las Vegas Kitsch they could get their hands on and then crammed it on board. It’s really, really awful.

 

The smaller Fantasy class ships just don’t compare to the larger ships. And to have two sea days on a four night voyage was a bit much with such limited options. I missed the spacious decks, multiple pools, and ample options for indoor spaces I find on the larger ships.

 

The lido buffet is terrible. It’s just so small and crowded, and doesn’t have nearly the options of the larger ships.

 

The Ugly:

 

Okay, this is a bit touchy, but I’ll say it anyway. I speculate that it is a result of this being an inexpensive, shorter itinerary, but, this was the most low class bunch of ugly Americans I have ever seen in one place at one time.

 

First, the Riviera deck is a disaster on these trips. Hindsight being 20:20, we should have spent an extra $30 to be up one deck. This bottom price point attracted a bunch of 20-somethings who wreaked havoc in the halls until some ungodly hour of the morning. I awoke early and I thought I was back in a college dorm. Trash and beer bottles in the hallway, doors opened with people passed out in the rooms, graffiti on the walls and broken doors. Seriously, it was ridiculous.

 

Unfortunately the rest of the ship wasn’t a lot better. Pushy, rude people, screaming and swearing. Kids absolutely running wild (who lets kids jump into a hot tub at all? Much less with fins a mask and snorkel? Oh, that’s right; the parents are nowhere to be found!). Smoking wherever people please. Leading to only one of two possible conclusions- either they are just inconsiderate trash, or they are illiterate. Still not sure which.

 

I could care less about formal night (I mean, it seems like such a silly dated concept). But I think a guy has to be channeling his inner douche bag to pick formal night to wear a tank top to the dining room. No, it didn’t ruin my meal, it just demonstrated how low class some people are!

 

The singing waiters!!!! I feel so bad for these hard working people! I mean, talk about an idea born somewhere in the ‘70s that should have died in the 80’s! Are there still people who get their rocks off watching the hard working wait staff stop what they are doing and attempt to dance to Flow Rida Get Low blasting over the sound system? It’s really embarrassing all around.

 

Overall Impression:

 

As is demonstrated above, the negatives usually tend to stick out in your mind more than the positives. But it is important to stress that they did not ruin the trip. It was a great time, and a nice quick getaway. I just think it’s important that one go into this with the right expectations. I would recommend it, but with qualifications as mentioned above.

 

Feel free to ask any questions. Otherwise, flame away!

 

No flaming from me...I have experienced similar, especially on short cruises. I can relate to everything you posted.

[gogetter]

Hello,

 

With all due respect and since you opened the flame door.

 

Are you an idiot? Seriously, your first 2 BAD complaints were opinions really.

 

After 689 posts you didn't know of all your bad and ugly complaints? If not you deserved what you got!

[mgg42]

Are you an idiot? Seriously, your first 2 BAD complaints were opinions really.

 

After 689 posts you didn't know of all your bad and ugly complaints? If not you deserved what you got!

 

Wow. No, I am in fact not an idiot. But thanks for the insult.

 

Yes, I realize the first s "BAD complaints" were opinions. That was the point. I was sharing my opinion. And in my opinion, there were some GOOD points, and some BAD points. I'm not really sure how that concept seemed to confuse you. I thought it was pretty straightforward.

 

I'm not sure what the number of posts has to do with sharing an impression either. Perhaps I wasn't clear in stating that none of this surprised me, or was totally unexpected. However, I don't see what's so odd about commenting about how over-the-top the decor is, particularly when I hadn't sailed that class in 16 years. Likewise reflecting on how a smaller ship might not be as appealing on a sea day seems like a pretty reasonable thing to share.

 

I'm not sure why you seem to have taken these so personally (Mr. Farcus? Is that you?)

 

But thanks for the really odd criticism! :rolleyes:

[DTC]

Great review. We are going on the Inspiration shortly after she comes out of drydock.

 

Living in WI, we cruised once in June for our honeymoon. WILL NEVER DO THAT AGAIN!!! We prefer to vacation when it's cold and crappy here and the kids are in school. I'll gladly take mine out of school.

[yogimax]

The Bad:

 

 

 

The lido buffet is terrible. It’s just so small and crowded, and doesn’t have nearly the options of the larger ships.

 

 

The decor in the buffet has to be the worst of any ship in any fleet. The worms on the ceiling are simply unbelievable! I do wish Carnival would get rid of the awful 70s Vegas look and go more contemporary.

 

The highlight of our Inspiration cruises has been Joseph the Supercharged Maitre D'

[yogimax]

 

Are you an idiot?

 

SHAME!

 

A totally rude and uncalled for comment.

 

You should apologize, but my guess is you won't!