Inspiration 01/12/09- FULLY BOOKED !!!

[KNowme1st]

Last night I spoke with a TA at CCL and they said that the Inspiration Cruise on Jan 12th, 09 was 100% booked. Not a room left at that point.

Thats good with the economy as it is .

[carm225]

I was wondering about that....They called us yesterday and offered us an upgrade - Cat 11 for $150 per person, or Cat 12 for $250 per person. We didn't take it...must be someone did! It was a great deal, just not in the pocketbook for us!

[jamie2337]

Wow I would totally do that upgrade! Wonder if I call if they would do that?

[carm225]

Wow I would totally do that upgrade! Wonder if I call if they would do that?

 

 

They said they were only calling past guests to offer it to them. If you are a past guest, I'd give it a try....what's the worst they can say, no?

[KNowme1st]

Makes me wonder. We booked the cat 12 1 1/2 years ago. we are past guests and used the Military discount, and got an amazing rate. I wonder if the rate would have been comparable if we had booked something else and did the up grade. makes ya wonder.

[ShedQueen77]

You were able to book a Cat 12 with the military discount?

[carm225]

We paid 369 per person for our outside rooms...so it would have been 619 per person for the Cat 12! Awesome deal! But we'd like the money for other things.

[jaded99]

Wow I wish I got a Cat 12 for 619 lol/ Of anyone actually did they are very lucky. We paid 899pp for a Cat 11, which probably isn't a good deal, but you know what? It's our first cruise, who cares? It's paid for now, and I'm sure it will be worth it to us even if it wasn't the best deal to be had.

[kujobie]

I think the 1/8 sailing is sold out too.

[Riverfrontrobin]

We were on the Inspiration in December and it does not surprise me that the rates are so low. I haven't been on a Carnival cruise in quite a few years, and I guess I was spoiled by our last cruise on Celebrity.

Inspiration is a very outdated ship that looks its age. We were very disappointed in the quality of food, and especially with the our head waiter and his pushy attitude. There wasn't an overall feeling of being taken care of on this cruise and it will most likely keep us off of Carnival for good.

A couple of positives are that the Camp Carnival ladies were wonderful with our kids, the shows were good, and our room steward was great. The cruise director is as cheesy as they come, but many people seemed to enjoy his humor. Get ready to hear "Woo Hoo" a few dozen times on your trip.

We spoke to many people that really enjoyed the cruise, but I think anyone that has cruised before may feel the same way. Any cruise is better than no cruise, but I think this is a case of "you get what you pay for".

[Chigirlcruzin]

And I did a B2B on Inspiration in October-November that was wonderful. Yes, the ship is older, but the staff was overall phenomenal. I had the best room steward I've ever had and the best wait team I've ever had. Food was standard Carnival fare.

[KNowme1st]

yes, but as I said we did book 1 1/2 years ago. Things may have changed. or maybe they allow only 1 or 2 per cruise. I say that because a friend of ours called a month or 2 after we booked, and was told there were no more militry rates available for that cat. even though there were the cat 12s available.

[JMS920]

I did b2b on the Inspiration in Dec.. I haven't been back on a smaller ship since my first cruise and this was #8 & 9 for me. I was pleased with the ship overall. I thought it was clean and updated. I found the service to be as good as every other ship I've been on and I thought the food was outstanding! It was so good that I'm going on her again next week!

I knew I was going on an older, smaller ship, we knew that when we booked. As I said I was very pleased.

 

If you book a cruise on an older, smaller ship you can't expect to compare it to a new, large one. If you went knowing this, there is no room for complaint. As far as your head waiter, all you had to do is ask your MD to change your table. Plain and simple. As far as food, I thought it was very good. I only had one complaint, the potatoes on the lido deck for breakfast were cold...so I just didn't eat them. If that didn't satisfy me I would have chosen the dining room... different strokes.....

 

JoAnn

[Riverfrontrobin]

I should have been more specific. I had no problem with the size of the ship. I haven't been on a Carnival ship since 1986, so I could only compare it to the other cruise lines I've been on. My wife and I had a rude head waiter, on several occasions showed our fountain drink cards to waiters and never received a drink (both on the Lido deck and in the show room), and just never felt like we were being taken care of. I never thought about having our table switched, and I will remember that if it ever happens again.

A couple of positives that I did not mention- The guy that plays the guitar and sings at the bar next to the casino is great, one of the two comedians was great, the shows were very good, (they included Camp Carnival kids in the Christmas show), and, again, our room steward, Olinsky, was awesome.

I'm sure anyone that goes on the cruise will enjoy it, it just didn't compare to what I have been on in the past. I guess that is why there are so many cruise lines- there's something out there for everyone. Good luck

[Pyro Tec]

Wow I wish I got a Cat 12 for 619 lol/ Of anyone actually did they are very lucky. We paid 899pp for a Cat 11, which probably isn't a good deal, but you know what? It's our first cruise, who cares? It's paid for now, and I'm sure it will be worth it to us even if it wasn't the best deal to be had.

 

Jaded, you are going to LOVE the Inspiration! We sailed her last month as our first cruise and fell in LOVE with Carnival and cruising! The ship does NOT show her age in my opinion, the food was Awesome! the staff over the top friendly, it was literally the best time in my life, no exaggeration!

 

When you come back, send me a message telling me how much you loved her because i am sure you will! :cool:;)

[cruizinrican]

We were on the Inspiration in December and it does not surprise me that the rates are so low. I haven't been on a Carnival cruise in quite a few years, and I guess I was spoiled by our last cruise on Celebrity.

Inspiration is a very outdated ship that looks its age. We were very disappointed in the quality of food, and especially with the our head waiter and his pushy attitude. There wasn't an overall feeling of being taken care of on this cruise and it will most likely keep us off of Carnival for good.

A couple of positives are that the Camp Carnival ladies were wonderful with our kids, the shows were good, and our room steward was great. The cruise director is as cheesy as they come, but many people seemed to enjoy his humor. Get ready to hear "Woo Hoo" a few dozen times on your trip.

We spoke to many people that really enjoyed the cruise, but I think anyone that has cruised before may feel the same way. Any cruise is better than no cruise, but I think this is a case of "you get what you pay for".

 

I was aboard the Inspiration a year ago for the second time, after having sailed her the on my very first cruise out of San Juan in 1999. I loved her obviously my first time since I had never sailed before, we thougth she was awesome. But when I found out the singles cruise I booked was going to sail aboard on the Inspiration, I was very interested to see what I was going to think of her after having been on newer and more grand ships since then. But I figured a cruise is a cruise and no matter the ship, I will make it fun! I board that day and was pleasantly surprised on how much she had been upgraded for the better! The new waterpark area in the back of the ship was soo fun and our cabin though still burnt orange, was fitted with new beds, bedding and linens in the bathroom.

 

I would definitely sail aboard the Inspiration again being that I am only 30 miles from The Port of Tampa, her home port!! I think you will agree the ship has come along way!

 

BRAVO CARNIVAL!!;)