Imagination 11/29-12/3/07 (warning very long!!!)

[tw67]

I know a few others who were with us have chimed in on their trips, but this is the first chance that I have had to write in detail!!

 

There are four of us in my family, I am 40, husband is 41, and two sons, 9 and 4 (4 will be 5 in January)

 

We flew into Miami late on Wed night 11/28/07. We took a cab to the Radisson downtown where we had a one night reservation. We paid $49 for the night, we had gotten it on hotwire back in August.

 

When we arrived it was about midnight. With the Radisson, you arrive in the "motor lobby" and you have to take an elevator up to the main lobby. They were working on some of the elevators. The first elevator we went in, it started to go up, it opened up, and we weren't at a floor, all we had was like the inside of the elevator, so we pushed the button to go down again, and we went back to the motor lobby. When it opened up, we weren't flat with the floor, there was a slight step down, but we could get out. The bell man rode up the elevator with our luggage, and we rode up a different elevator. We all met in the lobby, and he called for service for it. Check in seemed to take forever, there was a small line, but it seemed that the staff had to keep going to a back room for everything. So to get to our room on the 16th floor we headed to another bank of elevators, most of these were also out of order. When we got on one, it stopped at almost every floor. Everytime we took the elevator, it seemed to do that. So we get to our room, and I was really not expecting much by this point. It was late, kids were cranky, etc... BUT I was really surprised!! The room was really nice. 2 beds, and a view of the port! (great to see the ship in the morning!!) The view was great at night because we could see the basketball arena (big hit with all my boys!!). There was a lot of room for our luggage, and the bathroom was also a good size! In the morning, the boys got showers, and then went to Burger King across the street for breakfast while I got a shower and dressed. Before they got back I had connected with a cruise critic friend on the same sailing, that was Stacy. We all went to look around the hotel, found out you could walk across the parking garage and connect to the Doubletree and Marriott, so we did to check out stores, and low and behold, we found a store that sold wine! So I bought 2 btls to bring on board. This was a big deal to me since I have been sailing Royal Carribean for the last 2 cruises and you can't do that there!!! So then we went back to get our bags, and took off for the motor lobby! Big adventure with the elevators, took awhile, but we got there!! The bell man was great, when he saw all of us and our bags, he called for a larger van to bring us to the port!! That was a quick ride, we got to the port, handed over our bags, and went to do our check in. No line until we got to the real inside of the building, but all went quickly! We got on the ship after only waiting maybe 20 minutes, including time for the photo for our passes! We got on ship, and went to the Lido deck to eat.

 

This is where we met up with Brook and her family, and then Heather and Eric! (more people from our ROll Call). I couldn't believe how easy it was for all of us to find each other!!

 

When we went to our cabin, our bags arrived one at a time, but not too late. We did think it was strange that the pools weren't open until the next morning. I also found it a little annoying that you needed a separate key from sail pass. So at one time I had my key, my pass, the passes for my 2 kids, and 2 soda cards....but I got over it quickly!!

 

Room was great. We had E40. Our first inside cabin. All seemed so nice and clean since the refurb! I was shocked at how much room we had. I am used to the RCCL cabins, and I can say that Carnival has larger ones! The bathroom was a good size, and the shower was much larger than I expected. There wasn't enough room for toiletries. I brought 3 dollarstore shoe hangers with me, and was glad I did! One for the sink area, and one for the shower itself. The other was in the cabin. I can't remember the name of my cabin stewart, he was nice, no real complaints, except for one thing...the first night while we were about to get ready for dinner, he wanted to come in and turn down the beds...we had late seating, and I told him that, but he said he wouldn't be long...we felt really in the way, and we were trying to get the kids ready for dinner, etc....the next night was formal night and he tried to come in as we were getting ready for the captains cocktail hour...we said we had late seating, and he couldn't come in because we were getting ready. He said he thought we would be at the first cocktail hour...I said, no we have late seating.... after that, I put the sign on the door, when we were in there it was not to bother us, when we went out, we switched to tidy up! We didn't have another problem!!

 

Dinning room was great! The matri de (sp?) was great. We had 8 o'clock in the Spirit. He managed to get all 10 of us roll call friends at the same table! Out wait staff was good, not great but good. I wanted lemon with my water, but each night had to ask for it. I also seemed to have a problem getting drinks! I had to look for the drink staff, and hunt them down for glasses of wine, and refills. I think I would have drank more, if I could have been able to order with out a hassle!!

 

My kids enjoyed the kids area. What helped the most was that Brook's son was there to hang out with them, and he turned 9 on the cruise, so at night time in the camp they would play video games together. Kids ate with us first two nights, and then in the camp the last two. My 9 year old chose to eat with us the last night, he wanted a burger, and camp didn't have it. But he went back to camp right when he was done. I can't thank my Cruise Critic friends enough for putting up with my kids, no matter how out of control and tired they got!!

 

Key West was fun. We had signed up for the Trails of Margarittaville tour, and was the whole reason we went on this cruise to begin with! My 9 year old (with our help!) has become a parrot head, and was given this tour as a present! The tour was good, kept the attention of my 9 year old (not so much my 4 year old, but I didn't expect it to either!!). The tour person was Tim, and was fantastic!! My biggest complaint about Key West is the lack of time you have there!! Only from 7-2. Our tour was at 9, so that was 2 hours we stayed on the ship and ate breakfast.

 

We try to eat breakfast in the dinning room as much as possible. I find it easier and more enjoyable with the kids. I am not up and down the whole time, and they still can order what they want.

 

When we did eat on Lido deck, I found lines long, except for pizza and the rotisserie chicken. Pizza was good. Once in the line for chicken there was a person smoking while waiting...I found that annoying...you can feel free to smoke, but do it where you are allowed to, and not around my food!! I am not a big person for lines, so I kept to the pizza, salads, chicken and mac and cheese if I had to be there!!

 

I did find I liked drinking dirty bananas, and a burnt suntan! They were the two drink hits for me! As I reported before on the board, the piano player/singer wasn't very good, so we sat at the atrium bar a lot and complained to the bartender. She smiled a lot, we were not the only ones to complain about him!!

 

Calica was a lot of fun. 10 of us signed up for a tour with Edventures! They had a van waiting for us, with a car seat for my 4 year old. The van driver was wonderful. His name was Carlos, but told my 4 year old to call him Uncle Charlie! My son has been asking to go back and visit "Uncle Charlie" since we have come home!! Ed was our guide, and we met up with Bonnie at the end of the night. We did Tulum, snorkling in a lagoon and then in the ocean off a boat to see the sea turtles, and back to shore. My 4 year old has snorkled before, and never had a problem! That day he was a typical 4 year old, and decided he didn't want to snorkel! He spent a lot of time with Ed and Carlos! They made sure he was ok, and we could snorkel! I couldn't snorkel off the boat, I couldn't jump into the water, I am a wimp! I sat on the beach with my 4 year old, and we watched everyone else snorkel to shore. The it was off to a Mexican Restaurant on a beach with treetop seating and swings at the bar! It was a big hit! And on top of all that Ed and Bonnie had a cake for the birthday boy!! I can't say enough about Ed and Bonnie. Edventures is the way to go!!

 

Day at sea was windy. Kids loved the water area, but that day it was not used much because of the wind. We also did minature golf, but again, really windy! Kids did camp for awhile, and adults did the hot tub in the adult only area. The wind wasn't bad there, they had shelter! My kids even got me down the blue water slide, it was fun!

 

One benefit to an inside cabin...the kids slept until after 11 am on the sea day!!!

 

Disembarkation went easily. Even though we had a lot of luggage, we did the self carry off, and that is really the way to go. I never did that before, but from now on, I think I will!!

 

A few things I couldn't live without! My over the door shoe hangers for all my stuff! My husband makes fun of me for them, but he said they were a godsend this time!! Also an extension cord. There was one outlet by the desk and one in the bathroom. Our extension cord had a night light on it, so it was really helpful.

 

When I took my first Carnival Cruise I didn't think I would take another Carnival Cruise, I didn't have a great experience, but I am sooo glad now that I gave it another chance. My CC roll call friends really helped! It was great to hang out together, we had great times, and lots of laughs. One night I went to bed with my ribs hurting I had been laughing so hard! So thank you Stacy, Brook, Heather, and all spouses and kids!!

 

I am so sorry this is so long, but I didn't want to leave a thing out!! Please ask questions, I will be glad to answer!!

 

Terry

[bragstarr]

Thanks for the extensive review. How did you find the public areas of the ship?

 

What is a Burnt Suntan? Never heard of that one?

 

One more quick questions. With the late dinner seating, did you have a problem getting to the shows on time? Did you have 8PM or 8:30 PM, which dining room?

 

Any/all pictures would be appreciated.

 

Again, thanks!

[tw67]

Robin,

 

Public areas were nice. I felt like it was a small ship, but with a lot of spaces!!

 

We had 8 pm seating. We didn't really do any shows. We did the first night, and that was all. If we had a smaller group at dinner, I know we wouldn't have had a problem with making the shows, but we were having such a fun time at dinner, we didn't want to get up!!

 

The burnt suntan was a drink of the day the day we were at sea. I don't remember what was in it, but I will find out and report back!!

 

I am not great with downloading pics, but when I do I will add them!

 

Terry

[Avril]

Terry,

 

Thanks for the great review!! :D What was the new main pool area on the Lido Deck like? I can't wait to see your pics!! :D Upload them onto Webshots (www.webshots.com) then post the link to your album on here. It's really easy!! I'm planning a Back 2 Back on the Imagination wth my Moom and Aunt for April 2009 so I'd like to hear about all the new features and what they have done to update the ship. Imagination was the 1st real cruise ship I ever sailed on (back in January of 2003) so I can't wait to see the changes!! :D

[tw67]

The pool area was fine. My kids don't like the salt water in the pool, but they liked the hot tub, it wasn't very hot! It was never too crowded, and I could always get a chair.

 

We spent more time in the water park area than in the pool.

 

I am sure you will love it!!

 

My pictures are still on the memory card in the camera!!!

 

Terry

[Illinoisgal]

Hey Terry it is an Ultimate suntan :)

[tw67]

Hey Terry it is an Ultimate suntan :)

 

You know I can never get these names right!!

 

Terry

[pacerzfan]

Thanks for the review, Terry.

[SueW]

Terry,

 

Thanks for the great review, our family will be cruising on the Imagination on the 27th of Dec.

I've asked this question before but there was some confusion on the exact location. Where is Camp Carnival? Thanks for your help.

 

Sue

[Charming01]

Thank you so much for the great review! I can't wait to get on the ship in 68 days!!:D

[Illinoisgal]

Terry,

 

Thanks for the great review, our family will be cruising on the Imagination on the 27th of Dec.

I've asked this question before but there was some confusion on the exact location. Where is Camp Carnival? Thanks for your help.

 

Sue

 

 

Hi Sue3 this is Brook not Terry but I can tell you the newly redone Camp carnival is located on deck 11 forward. When you come out the elevators you go towards the Rt side curve around the atrium for 5 and Under , 6-11 is on the left, unless it is afterhours then P/U is on the 5 and under (rt side) The maps still show there old location but it is on the 11th deck I promise

[Avril]

My pictures are still on the memory card in the camera!!!

 

Get them downloaded onto your computer then post some (or all) of them here!! I'd love to see them and can't wait!! :D

Thanks again for the great review!! :D

[tw67]

Hi Sue3 this is Brook not Terry but I can tell you the newly redone Camp carnival is located on deck 11 forward. When you come out the elevators you go towards the Rt side curve around the atrium for 5 and Under , 6-11 is on the left, unless it is afterhours then P/U is on the 5 and under (rt side) The maps still show there old location but it is on the 11th deck I promise

 

 

I am sure Brook will tell you, every time I had to go to the camp to pick up the kids, she had to redirect me!! We finally realized it was because of the elevators, one side of them stopped at deck 10, and only the other side went to deck 11!

 

Terry

[hlb76]

Pictures yet? We leave in 48 days and love looking at new pictures.

[SueW]

Thanks Brook and Terry for the information regarding Camp Carnival. My kids (9 & 11) loved CC on the Elation last year and I'm sure they will this year as well. Gives hubby and I a chance to visit the casino!!

Thanks again.

Sue

[Illinoisgal]

I am sure Brook will tell you, every time I had to go to the camp to pick up the kids, she had to redirect me!! We finally realized it was because of the elevators, one side of them stopped at deck 10, and only the other side went to deck 11!

 

Terry

 

Nah it was from all those boat drinks you had! It is true though that only one set of elevators go to 11. If you are facing forward they are on the starboard side (see I can talk like a salty dog) the port side only goes to the lido then you have to huff it to deck 11.

 

WARNING we were late once picking Riley up as the tv time and the time they had in CC and the hallways was about 10 in differance Oops!

[Curt Jerome Wild]

As Desperate Heather and Eric's friend (they were trying to get me to join them on this cruise - but work wouldn't let me)...

I am anxiously waiting for more reviews and pics and info from all of you from the group!

(I'm jealous that you got to hang out with my CC pals, and I didn't!)

[swimswiththefishes]

Your review is lovely ! We sailed the Imagination for our first cruise in 2001 and had a great time.

 

I just want to add that I am not a fan of drinking (makes me sick) but those Dirty Bananas really got me. After the cruise I came home and found the recipe online and no wonder I liked it , it has two scoops of ice cream in it!

[Illinoisgal]

As Desperate Heather and Eric's friend (they were trying to get me to join them on this cruise - but work wouldn't let me)...

 

I am anxiously waiting for more reviews and pics and info from all of you from the group!

 

(I'm jealous that you got to hang out with my CC pals, and I didn't!)

 

 

Yes, they asked if I knew who you were and I said of course I do :) I told them I really got a kick of the spoof review you did last year or this year. Heather sure had us laughing really hard, and Eric and my hubby are in the same line of work, his residential and mine commercial so they had tons to talk about :rolleyes:

[dolphinwyo]

Hi Sue3 this is Brook not Terry but I can tell you the newly redone Camp carnival is located on deck 11 forward. When you come out the elevators you go towards the Rt side curve around the atrium for 5 and Under , 6-11 is on the left, unless it is afterhours then P/U is on the 5 and under (rt side) The maps still show there old location but it is on the 11th deck I promise

 

 

Maybe I am having a moment - but I don't know which deck is deck 11? Does it have a name? I'm confused...and it has been a very long day.....

Also, I was wondering if the after hours program is combined ages - you said that the afterhours P/U is on the rt side - so was thinking that meant they were all together then? I have a 6 and 3 year old, would be nice if they were together at the afterhours times. Thanks for any updates!

[beccadoby]

I am also awaiting pics! ;)

 

How was camp canival? Is it spacious? I heard they expaned after the drydock. Any complaints with CC?

[daynab]

Brooke, Were the 6-11 year olds together on your cruise? My kids are 6 and 9 and I would love for them to be together.

 

Dayna

[daynab]

bump

[Illinoisgal]

Brooke, Were the 6-11 year olds together on your cruise? My kids are 6 and 9 and I would love for them to be together.

 

Dayna

 

 

Hi It is 2-5, 6-8 and 9-11. They dont want a 6yo doing the same things as a 11 yeao old. No 11 Yo would want to hang with a 6yo :) they will be together after 10 pm babysitting time if they go. It may be a nice break for them to have a bit of time apart. I have an only child so he is used to going with the flow. Hope that helps

 

 

To the other poster Yes it is expanded moved from I think the 5th deck to deck 11, whole new huge area!

[Beverlyf]

Will be on the Imagination 1/28, does anyone know if they have hair dryers in the cabin?