Carnival Imagination 12/24 - Nassau - Fisrt Timers

[luvdodo]

Hello Friends,

 

I'm off on my first cruise to the Bahamas with my spouse and 2 kids aged 7 and 3. This is the Carnival Imagination from Miami to Nassau (3 day).

 

I'm in the process of gathering information but there's so much to read and am not sure what the best links are to go through.

 

A few questions that will help me get to a flying start -

 

1) Is wearing a suit etc mandatory every night (dinner time) or it it just one of the nights? If mandatory, do just sports coast with casual pants work? Hate to overload my baggage :)

 

2) Any recommendations to do on the ship (do not miss suggestions) ?

 

3) At Nassau, we are there for a day. What's worth seeing and missing? I am avoiding deep water activities like snorkeling since we have a 3 year old.

 

4) For the trips/excursions within Nassau, should we book tickets independently or through Carnival?

 

5) Is hotel Atlantis worth a visit? How far from the port?

 

6) What else do we need to know or be waer of as first timers.

 

A bit puzzled, still reading through tons of posts.

 

Thanks so VERY much,

 

dodz.

[cb at sea]

NOpe...Carnival is one of the more "casual" lines....dockers and a collared shirt are fine..don't even need a jacket, unless it's "Elegant" night.

 

Atlantis.....if you just want to roam about the hotel, shops, casino (although, you can't do that with a child!) there's no charge....just hop in a cab and go. They have a beach/pool/waterpark, but it's quite pricy...over $100 pp.....not worth it, IMO!

Just off the ship is the straw market....lots of kitshy vendors...fun if you've never done it.

A guidebook on your ports will help you get the most out of your port time. Most things are quite easy to do on your own, but you do need to know what there is in each place!

Libraries have them in the travel section, or you can get one at a bookstore!

 

A cruise is simply a vacation...there's no real mystery to it!

[luvdodo]

Thanks for all the useful information.

 

How do I found out if there's an elegant night on my cruise. I am on the Carnival Imagination.

 

Also is it recommended to reserve the kids camp in advance? do they run out of spots?

 

Thanks again.

[Essiesmom]

There is an elegant night on every cruise. It will be the night you are in Nassau. You do not need a jacket, although it would be nice. there will be others without. But there might be a tux or two also. You will see the full gamut of dress.

You will be in Nassau on Christmas Day. I am wondering how many businesses will be open...that said, you will be sharing the port with Eurodam, Norwegian Sky and MOnarch of the Seas. It is hard to fathom that the shops would not want to be open for such a large crowd.

One of the best things to do in Nassau is to be on deck when you come into port. Fortunately, you are not do in until 10am, so you do not have to get up really early. Just be on deck by 9:30. The best place to be is the observation deck over the bridge. It can be accessed by walking all the way forward on the Lido deck and climbing the stairs. Or you can go up to Verandah Deck, go through the suites corridor to the 'secret' door that will let you out onto the deck. NCL Sky will already be there, but Eurodam is doe in the same time as you. It is fascinating to watch the ships come in, especially if they turn around and back into the dock. Monarch of the Seas is not due in until noon, so stay around to see her come in. By then, you will have missed the rush to get off and can make your leisurely way ashore. Maybe grab a bite of lunch first. EM

[305Fraggle]

Hello All -

 

We too are sailing on the Imagination on 12/23 and were curious, as this too is our first cruise, what exactly *is* Elegant Night? I know you get dressed up and have dinner - but other than that, what else goes on? Is it even worth going to? Is there a special menu? Free Drinks? We are in Nassau on 12/24 departing 7AM Christmas Day, so we will be on the ship all day Sunday and thought that would be the elegant night (have recently read that they don't do that on the last night of the cruise due to packing).

 

Its just the hubs and I, and we do formal dining where we live quite frequently and always when we travel so not sure if we are better off hanging in port for the evening and experiencing Nassau till we get tired and head back to the ship, or ditch Nassau that evening and do the formal night? Feedback would be appreciated (and will save me space in my luggage LOL)

 

How are the drink prices on board? Specialty coffees? I have been reading some really nasty reviews on the Imagination and am hoping they are a select few just venting. Would like to not run into any surprises, so the more we know, the better we are prepared :) Also, heard the Serenity area does often have kids running amok - is this also just the sound of one person or do they not really enforce "adults only".

 

As for Nassau - has anyone done the pirate museum? We live in Miami so hanging at a resort for the day is not on our to do list and want to wait till i know the weather forecast a little better before booking any excursions - but def want to hit up the Pirate Museum just for fun. Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated!!

 

Thanks for your feedback! :)

[CruiserBruce]

Welcome to Cruise Critic!

 

Hopefully you realize you opened a year old thread. Lots can change in a year.

 

It would be much more informative if you looked over on the Carinval board, here:

 

http://boards.cruisecritic.com/forumdisplay.php?f=215

 

The stuff you see thare will be much more current.