B2B Inspiration 8/30 to 9/4: Review with pix.

[DarthGrady]

I am still finishing it up, but I will go ahead and post up what I have. I'm gonna do this in pieces since it's kinda long. I will mix in some relevant pictures as well. So here goes, hope it's helpful. Feel free to ask any questions!

 

Introduction:

 

This is a review of my eighth and ninth cruises with Carnival. They were taken back to back; the first cruise began on 08/30/08 and went for five days. The second half of the trip began on 09/04/08 and went for four days. The first cruise had to be booked only two weeks prior to sailing due to some unforeseen events. It was booked as a category 4a guarantee, Carnival then upgraded us to a 5a on Empress Deck. We booked the second cruise in early 2008 as a category 1a guarantee, and we got upgraded to a 4c on Upper Deck. I have been on Inspiration twice before, but not since she received the Evolutions of Fun renovations.

 

Day 1, Embarkation:

 

We arrived at the pier at around 11:00 AM and were dropped off by a family member which saved us oodles in parking fees. After going through security, it only took about ten minutes to get to the embarkation desk. We got our Sail and Sign cards and were put in group #7. They hadn’t started loading the ship yet, so we had to wait in the lobby for about a half hour. We were given a letter from Captain Basso stating that, due to Hurricane Gustav, we would be calling on Key West on the following day and our call on Grand Cayman was cancelled. Later that day he informed us via the intercom that the call on Key West would have to be cancelled also. He also told us that due to the imminent rough seas that we would traveling through, we would simply be cruising very slowly straight to Cozumel. Everyone got a $25 on board credit to refund port fees.

 

A welcome sight.

Downtown Tampa

The Aquarium

 

Once on board we went right for the Brasserie Bar and Grill up on the Lido Deck. As always, the deli station was very good. The rest of the Brasserie food during the trip was so-so, and the pizza was on par with the other ships I have been on.

 

After lunch we went to our room (E-1) and unpacked. Our cabin was a category 5a, which had two port holes instead of a window. I may be in the minority here, but I now prefer the 5a room to the category 6a Ocean View. I really liked having the ability to close off the portholes. I am a fan of interior rooms mostly for the price, but partially for the lack of light, which allows me to sleep in late without interference by the sun.

 

Notice the Belkin power strip (a CruiseCritic tip from NolaAlive) worked great!

[DarthGrady]

The muster drill was held as usual at around 3:45 PM. It appears that they have changed the procedure again. We went to our muster stations as usual, and tried on the life vests. After that, they simply dismissed us. No march up to the boat deck, no standing in the sun, just dismissal right from the muster station, it was sweet. I thought that it might have been due to the rain on the first day, but they did the same thing on the first day of the second cruise.

 

We then set sail at around 4:00 PM. We passed under the Sunshine Skyway Bridge at around 6:15 PM and were out to sea. Our waitress Chonmila and her assistant I’ Made in the Carnivale Dining Room were excellent. The food was consistently well prepared every night of the cruise. I was disappointed that George the Greek was still off. We had looked forward to having him as our Maitre d’. I found out that he will be back in time for my January cruise, so I was happy about that.

 

 

Sail away

Leaving Tampa

 

 

Ok, thats it for right now, time for dinner. I will be back on later with the next days and more pix.

[TakeMeAway1001]

Nice review so far, love the pictures :) I have almost the same one of the lighthouse in Tampa from our Legend cruise.

[rebeljohn]

Enjoying your review and pics...........Thanks for posting 'em..........

[Luanne21]

Very good start. Can't wait for the rest.

[DarthGrady]

Day 2, Sea Day:

We sailed through the outskirts of Hurricane Gustav and it got pretty rough at some points throughout the day. We mostly just hung out in the cabin, and went to tea time that afternoon. We had a small Cruise Critic meet and greet at the Brasserie. We got to meet Susan (hogladyrider) who is going with us on our upcoming Alaska cruise. The winds were really whipping the seas up, and it got worse through the evening and night. They had formal night during the evening, but we didn’t attend. We were both feeling a little woozy after a day of rough seas. Our cabin being at the very front of the ship didn’t help much either. I was disappointed to miss the lobster dinner, but I just couldn’t get it together.

I took the opportunity to explore the newly refurbished areas of the ship during the day also. The renovations look very nice, and the cabin remodeling has done wonders. All of the public area restrooms have been remodeled and look very modern and clean. They removed the nasty, dusty blue cloths from the ceiling of the Rhapsody in Blue piano bar, and it looked like they also installed new couches next to the windows. The lido pool area looks very open now that the old slide is gone. I liked the spiral staircases, they are just as functional, but take up less room on the deck. They have also replaced the old plain white plastic chairs that used to inhabit the lido’s exterior dining areas with nicer faux wicker pieces. They are more comfortable, and certainly not as cheap looking. Additionally, the old blue and white striped plastic deck loungers have been replaced with modern brushed metal framed models with dark mesh.

From atop the Wheelhouse

 

Waterworks

 

 

Atrium Bar

Atrium Elevators

 

 

 

 

The new "resort style" pool area.

[DarthGrady]

Day 3, Sea Day:

Breakfast in the Mardi Gras dining room was very good. I would highly recommend that everybody try to eat at least one breakfast in there. It is so nice not having to deal with the huddled masses that pile into the Lido buffet. We only ended up eating breakfast at the buffet (Brasserie) once during the nine days.

We had really nice weather in the afternoon. Once we got out of the final bits of Gustav, we didn’t see any bad weather the rest of the trip. My Fiancé went to the Serenity area and got some sun during the day. That night they hosted the Past Guest Party. Risa the cruise director told us that there were about 950 past guests on board, and of those about 30 were Platinum Guests.

 

Its show time! Obviously this was "Hot Hot Hot" night.

Towel Animals

[Payd]

Can't wait for the rest...

[DarthGrady]

Day 4, Cozumel:

After two and a half days on a ship, you would think we would be itching to get off and walk around. Well, it didn’t quite happen that way. We did get off the ship and walk around for about an hour. After that we just got back on the ship, since we were coming right back to Cozumel the following Saturday with friends.

Welcome to Mexico.

The main drag.

Pancho's Back Yard.

Dontown Cozumel

Inspiration at the Punta Langosta pier.

A view down the beach, thats the Holiday off in the distance.

[DarthGrady]

That was a decision I am immensely pleased with. Being on board that day was very nice, the ship was totally deserted. We were able to spend time in the Serenity area, and ride the both Waterworks slides several times. I went to a Famous Faces trivia game and got a “Ship on a Stick”. There was only me and two other people playing, so I figured I had a decent shot at winning! Later we went up to the observation deck above the bridge before sail away and watched the drunks and “port time hogs” ambling back to the ship. That evening we attended the comedy show with Tony Esposito, he was very funny.

Heading back to the ship.

Back at the Punta Langosta pier.

 

About to take the plunge for the first time.

The racing slides.

From atop the new Twister Slide.

A boat drill in progress.

 

[marktac]

12 more days until our second trip on the Inspiration this year. Thanks for the pix. We're taking our son, and our daughter and her family are coming along this time.

[blivey]

We were on the Inspiration 8/30 also. It was rocky the first two days but, we had a wonderful time.

We weren't ready to leave. Wish we could have cruised an additional 4 days!

[DarthGrady]

Day 5, Sea Day:

We mostly just hung out on deck, and went to the Serenity area. The hot tubs there are very nice, and there are no kids in them. I do miss the old pool area formerly located where the Waterworks now sits. Mostly because the Serenity area does not have a pool, and it gets hot back there since there is no breeze. A lot of people were also commenting negatively about the lack of pools on board, since the main pool is the only one now. We went to afternoon tea time again. That night we got packed up and then attended the “adults only” comedy show, again with Tony Esposito.

I also talked to Risa Barnes, the Cruise Director after her Debarkation Talk. She told me that her new contract will be on the Fantasy starting after December. I was a little disappointed since she won’t be there for my cruise on Inspiration in January. For those that don’t know her, Risa is a very good Cruise Director. She is pleasant and personable, and holds Q&A sessions at the coffee shop with passengers during some cruises.

[DarthGrady]

Day 6, Tampa:

 

On the previous night we were given a letter from the Pursers desk informing us how the back to back procedure would go.

We simply went through Customs at the Rock and Roll disco with the non-US citizens at 6:45 AM. We then went to the Pursers desk and they informed us to come back at 11:30 to get our new Sail and Sign cards and set up the new accounts. After that, we had a nice long breakfast and parked ourselves up on the Promenade. During this they moved our luggage and hanging clothes to our new room on the Upper Deck. It was strange walking around the empty ship during the time between the 5 day cruise passengers debarking, and the 4 day folks embarking.

 

 

 

Pictures around the deserted ship.

[blivey]

I agree about the Serenity area being hot. We actually left there and we up to the water works slides to cool off. Adults are able to enjoy the water works area also.

[DarthGrady]

Carnival handled the transition for us very well. Aside from a little confusion caused by different pursers, it went off without a hitch. I wish we could have had the same cabin for both legs of the trip, but it wasn’t possible. When we do another back to back, we will definitely get the same room for both trips. Thus ended our five day cruise, it was certainly different since we spent almost the entire time on the ship. That was fine by me, since relaxation was all I was after. It was a great cruise, and we still had another one coming!

I have never seen the Brasserie so empty!

The back deck, aft of the Brasserie, my favorite lunch spot. Those are the new chairs.

 

 

 

 

 

 

[DarthGrady]

Heres some more pictures from around the insode of the ship between the cruises. This will be all for tonight, I will be back on tomorrow and post the review and pictures from the 4 day cruise.

 

The Lobby bar.

Elevator landing on Verandah deck.

The glass elevators and grand staircase.

We snuck into an open Cat. 12 suite. They look really nice after the drydock.

[jimvern1966]

Thanks for taking the time to post the review and the pictures. We will be sailing on the Inspiration in 3 weeks. I can't wait. I am loving the pictures too. Keep up the good work...lol

[Grayce]

What a great oppurtunity to get pictures when the ship was deserted between cruises. Very nice pictures:)

[Catrin]

Terrific Review and Pictures!

 

Since we got off the day that you got on, it was nice to re-live through someone else's eyes....

 

BTW>>> We are BTB winners on Famous Faces Trivia! BUT>> there were at least 30 people playing on my cruise! Smitty said he had never seen so many people playing that game.... looks like it went back to normal on your trip!

 

Catrin

[alwaysmomof1]

wonderful review! I will be on her in 25 days! Can't wait to hear more. :D

[crusinpsychRN]

I won the famous faces too with the help of a lady who joined a few minutes late. I didn't know some of the young rock stars but was the only one who knew Lady Bird. The other guy said Margaret Thatcher. My first genuine 24 carat gold platic ship on a stick! I won another game by default as only one other person showed up.

 

Did you do the genius IQ quiz?

 

I didn't think the food was up to other cruises I've been on. The pork chop was tough, no escargot on the 4 day. Lobster was good. I ddin't like the chocolate melting cake.

[DarthGrady]

Did you do the genius IQ quiz?

 

No, that was one of the things I kept meaning to do, but never got around to it.

[GAMOMOF2]

Thanks for a great review. I am going back on her again in 2 days and that got me even more excited.

[Catrin]

 

Did you do the genius IQ quiz?

 

quote]

 

That was fun! I got 26 right..... but another lady got all 32 right! THere were so many people playing trivia that day, that they did an extra game.... but having it on the Promenade was Distracting!

 

Catrin