Review- Imagination 1/21 - 1/26

Well here it is my review of our wonderfull vacation. This was my first cruise so have nothing to compare it too. I am still dealing with cruise withdrawl so may go on and on.

Embarkation

We got to the peir later than we original thought we would. So there where people everywhere there where also 5 ships there. All 8 of us got off our shuttle and left our bags with the porter and headed inside we got through the security with out a problem and saw the masive lines and thought we would never get on the ship. There was a very nice man from Carnival who told us that since we where traveling with kids he would let us cut in the international line. All I can say is wow what a difference that made we where on our way in no time.

The ship

We found our room no problem and headed to the lido for some lunch and exploring the ship. The ship was very nice I could not belive the size I have never seen a cruise ship in person before. We walked around to get fimilar with it and thought i woud never be able to find my way but by that night i felt very comfortable. I thought the ship was very well mantained. I could find no flaws at all. You can tell it's age by the color scheme but thats small potatoes to me.

Stateroom

We where in E243 which is a inside room with 2 uppers. Our beds where made into 2 twins but did not mind that seeing it gave us more room. The kids 5 & 10 loved the uppers. Our friends had the small room but with the king bed and there room felt much smaller so would do the 2 twins a gian in a heartbeat. I was worried about how small the rooms would be but felt very comfortable in ours. With the amount of time spent in our room I am not sure if I would pay the price to get ocean view or balcony. But that is just my prefrence and leaves me more money for the casino or drinks on deck.

Staff

The staff was top notch they always greeted you with a smile. We had Vigor and Edwin in the dining room and they where excellent. On night Edwin made shapes out of the napkins for the kids and they thought it was the best thing ever. Our cabin stewards where Ron and Edward. They where great too. They always greeted us in the hall. Our rooms where kept up great. Ron always had a joke for my husband every night. Lido deck staff wonderfull as well. I had no complaints about any of the staff.

Camp Carnival

I can not say enough nice things about them. My 5 year old spent as much time there as possible. He would ask non stop if it was open. They made neat project played games. I felt bad we never saw him. My 9 year old liked camp. He really liked the all night party. He would of spent more time in camp if his freind and him where in the same age group I think. he was in the next up so they signed them selfs out a lot to play basketball or mini golf etc. But the camp staff where great. I felt very comfortable leaving my boys there.

Ports

We spent a wonderfull day in Grand Cayman. We had no problem tendering on or off the ship. We booked privately our excursion with Native Way and they where very proffesional and great. We did the rays. reef and rum piont. Chris and Charlie did a great job. They where only 12 of us on ther boat. When we got to they sandbar there where some baots filled with hunreds of passengers they where hearded around like cattle. The rays where the coolest thing ever. I loved it my kids where leary but had fun.The seas where a bit rough so we did not get to do the reef they took us to coral gardens to snorkel and that was lovely then on to rum point. While on the boat we where given a menu to choose a lunch and it was ready for us when we arrived at the beach. The food was awesome. The beach was great we hung out there for a couple of hours then back to the ship with plenty of time to spare. 2 huge thumbs up to native way. In Ocho rios we boked privately again with Phil Laffeytte. He picked us up at the pier drove us around showing us the sight and telling us some history of the place then off to the Falls just as it opened to avoid the crowds. We loved climbing the falls it was quite the experince. We got back on Phils bus and while we where at the falls another ship came in and he had more on guest with them. Well at least there bags as they where dropped off as we where done so he took us to Island Village for some shopping and asked us to meet him in 2 hours. So we looked around the village and grabbed a bite at Margeritaville. When our time was up we mett Phil and he was ready to drop us off at the ship almost 2 hours before we where to be back. I had to ask to see the fern gully and more sights. He said there was nothing more to see but did take us to the gully.I was not real impressed by him. I read lots of reviews on the port of call boards and expected so much more. I think we where rushed due to he was running 2 tours with 2 different ships.

Disembarkation

That went rather well too. We where called off the boat by 830 haf our bags and where greeted by our shuttle driver by 9am.I forgot to mention when we got to the pier the first dy we booked a ride to the airport from Sun tours. When we got off there was our driver holdng a sign with our name loaded us on the van no problems. Our flight did not leave till 2 pm so we had them take us on a tour of Miami and dropped us at the airport.

I loved our trip all went so well they exceeded my expectations. I am sure I forgot something so will updating this I am sure. Fell free to ask any question you may have.

Just remembered to add the the bed and bedding are so great. I wish I would of bought a set. I may have to look into it again.

glad you had a great time Heather! We'll be on the Imagination again in a few months, can't wait!

Thanks so much for your review! It brought back fond memories of our children at almost the same ages as yours on their first cruise. It was so gratifying seeing them enjoy themselves so fully. We leave on the Imagination next Saturday for some R&R (without the kids this time), glad to hear the ship still provides a fabulous vacation!

FrannyK

Costa Riviera 1985

NCL Seaward 1987

Carnival: Fantasy 1/2000

Sensation 2/2001

Imagination 1/2002

RCI Explorer 6/2002

RCI Monarch 4/2003

Sensation 2/2004

Imagination 2/2006

could you tell me anything about activities for the kids- my daughter is 12 -what might there be for her?

Did you find the boat ride rough ie to get seasick as my husband does .

comments ont he food too if possible-

thanks,

Debbie

leaving in 3 weeks:o :o :o

I was on the same cruise. I put my seabands on a couple of times, I didn't think that I would need them as much of the cruise was calm. I didn't care for much of the dining room food, just passable. I also had an inside room, U105, very tiny, had the king size bed broken into 2. The person sleeping against the wall on the king size, has to roll over the other person to get out of bed. I don't think so, we both get up during the night. A lot of the deck chairs are broken, you would think Carnival would spend a few bucks for new chairs. Did anyone go to the deck party? Is it worth it? We were too tired that day to wait until 10 and midnight for the games. Why does everything have to start so late? We could have gotten off the ship by 7:30 with the self assist, by 8 all colors had been called, we got off at 8:30 no line at all. We wanted to take the elevator to the lido deck for breakfast, but they weren't working. I dont know if this is true for all elevators? We would have had to carry our bags up 4 flights of stairs. It was a great cruise. The five nights was just right, we partied the night before in south beach, so 6 nights was plenty.

I do agree the food was just alright but anything that I do not have to shop for make and clean up after tasted good to me.I did almost like the lido food better but did not want to miss the dining room experience. I seas did bother me too but made the best of it. We did not notice deck chairs being broken but I was not ever pool side. We tired to go to the deck party one night but at 1030 still nothing going on so went to bed we where pooped anyway. I loved the trip on a whole and can't wait to book agian.

As for as camp for a 12 yo not quite sure my kids are not that old I do know camp goes to 130 am for them they do games board and games like fear factor. lot of hunts but not quite sure what else.

Hi Heather,

do you have a copy of the capers?

we also have booked the rays, reef and rumpoint tour with Native Way. What food did you get to choose from for the lunch on the beach?

I was told by a friend to book through nativeway, but I cant seem to find the site. Can you help?

Also what is Capers that the previous person is referring to?

Thanks for your help

The Capers are the ship's daily newspaper which is actually a list of the next days activities. Very fun and exciting to get! There will be one on in your cabin when you arrive and they slip the new one under your day every night or it is there even earlier so you can highlight the highlights you don't want to miss.

following is the link to Nativeways. used them myself and will be using them again next month

http://www.nativewaywatersports.com/shiptours.html

any questions? ask away!

Thanks for the great imagination reviews!

any other tips....food to order, to avoid?? another cruiser said steak is always "available" ...so that sounds good

I like appetizers too <grin>

I am planning on the sundancer in Jamaica, mon

and margeritaville

and ? just beach in caymans

any other tips appreciated...thanks

Cheri

Imagination May 8-13 Grand Cayman/Ochos Rios

Thank you Fiddle. I appreciate any advice you have to give.

I am going on the Imagination 6/19/06.

Excursions to book.

Formal wear needed-do men need a suit or just shirt and tie?

any way to save on drinks

Things not to miss on the ship.

thanks again