I am scared now! Booked Carnival Inspiration!

[time11130]

Can anyone please tell me this is a great cruise? LOL We have only been on 2 cruises, both Royal Carribean and I was "sold" on this one by a Carnival rep. This was a last minute ideal to take a cruise for our 25th wedding anniversary and due to son going away to college. he is 18 and will be going with us. We booked a Suite because I have always dreamed about sitting out on a balcony and watching the waves go by. Since this was also our anniversary I thought this would be nice and since this is just a 5 day cruise it really did not cost much more. Anyhow, I have read horror stories about this ship and Carnival in general. Has anyone been on a Royal cruise and then a Carnival and been happy with it? We are not hard to please really but hate the thought of us wasting $ on a cruise that will be terrible! Not only that but time with our Son, he will be going away for College and will not be back home for a year! Any advice PLEASE? I am so nervous about this being a big mistake! Thanks for any help you can give me! Lisa

[KroozFoolz]

Can anyone please tell me this is a great cruise? LOL We have only been on 2 cruises, both Royal Carribean and I was "sold" on this one by a Carnival rep. This was a last minute ideal to take a cruise for our 25th wedding anniversary and due to son going away to college. he is 18 and will be going with us. We booked a Suite because I have always dreamed about sitting out on a balcony and watching the waves go by. Since this was also our anniversary I thought this would be nice and since this is just a 5 day cruise it really did not cost much more. Anyhow, I have read horror stories about this ship and Carnival in general. Has anyone been on a Royal cruise and then a Carnival and been happy with it? We are not hard to please really but hate the thought of us wasting $ on a cruise that will be terrible! Not only that but time with our Son, he will be going away for College and will not be back home for a year! Any advice PLEASE? I am so nervous about this being a big mistake! Thanks for any help you can give me! Lisa

We went on a Royal Caribbean cruise in 1999 after taking a Carnival cruise in 1997. We have been on nine Carnival cruises since 1999. We are very happy on Carnival. :)

 

Enjoy your suite and balcony!

[babies12]

Can anyone please tell me this is a great cruise? LOL We have only been on 2 cruises, both Royal Carribean and I was "sold" on this one by a Carnival rep. This was a last minute ideal to take a cruise for our 25th wedding anniversary and due to son going away to college. he is 18 and will be going with us. We booked a Suite because I have always dreamed about sitting out on a balcony and watching the waves go by. Since this was also our anniversary I thought this would be nice and since this is just a 5 day cruise it really did not cost much more. Anyhow, I have read horror stories about this ship and Carnival in general. Has anyone been on a Royal cruise and then a Carnival and been happy with it? We are not hard to please really but hate the thought of us wasting $ on a cruise that will be terrible! Not only that but time with our Son, he will be going away for College and will not be back home for a year! Any advice PLEASE? I am so nervous about this being a big mistake! Thanks for any help you can give me! Lisa

 

RELAX! You will all have a fantastic time! It's all up to you.

[calicruise74]

RELAX! You will all have a fantastic time! It's all up to you.

 

 

That is EXCELLENT advice!:D

[BrendaB1]

Haven't done RC but have salied on Inspiration twice with most recent being Jan 2009. Smaller ship but recent upgrades were done. Food & service were excellent. Relax & have a good time. :) You should be fine.

[time11130]

oh.... Thanks guys! I feel better! Any advice on where to park/stay in Tampa? We are driving down the day before and are looking for a place to sleep and park for the days we are on the cruise. Looking for clean/safe/cheap ~ LOL :) Is this possible?

[mom2girls]

I've been on two RCI ships. The Inspiration is my second favorite ship. My favorite is the Legend. (I know people think I'm weird because the Liberty of the Seas is not a favorite.) Anyway, I've been on the Inspiration twice. The crew is awesome! I'm sure you'll have a wonderful time! :)

[firefly333]

oh.... Thanks guys! I feel better! Any advice on where to park/stay in Tampa? We are driving down the day before and are looking for a place to sleep and park for the days we are on the cruise. Looking for clean/safe/cheap ~ LOL :) Is this possible?

 

There is a board just for florida departures and a east coast thread, where florida has its own specific thread.

 

Host Mach did a cruise last year out of Tampa, so Im sure there are lots of good ideas on where to stay.

 

We do both RCL and Carnival and there are cheerleaders for both. I find the RCL ships to be more beautiful, but enjoy having a larger cabin on Carnival for the money. Food, both have good things I like. About equal. Id be hard pressed to pick one or the other. The only drunks out of control were on rhapsody 2 years ago, never had issue since then with drunks or kids, pot luck. both cruiseline cater to similar crowds.

[Majesty Fan]

We did the Inspiration after 26 RCI cruises! And have not been back to RCI since. We really liked the Carnival ships. Very laid back as compared to RCI. Port of Tampa is very easy.

Lexi

[sappygirl]

Can anyone please tell me this is a great cruise? LOL We have only been on 2 cruises, both Royal Carribean and I was "sold" on this one by a Carnival rep. This was a last minute ideal to take a cruise for our 25th wedding anniversary and due to son going away to college. he is 18 and will be going with us. We booked a Suite because I have always dreamed about sitting out on a balcony and watching the waves go by. Since this was also our anniversary I thought this would be nice and since this is just a 5 day cruise it really did not cost much more. Anyhow, I have read horror stories about this ship and Carnival in general. Has anyone been on a Royal cruise and then a Carnival and been happy with it? We are not hard to please really but hate the thought of us wasting $ on a cruise that will be terrible! Not only that but time with our Son, he will be going away for College and will not be back home for a year! Any advice PLEASE? I am so nervous about this being a big mistake! Thanks for any help you can give me! Lisa

What would you consider a horrible cruise? People who wait on you hand and foot, you don't have to cook,clean or do anything you don't want to. You could stay in bed all day if you wanted, you can sit on your balcony all day, you can get free room service, great food that you did not have to prepare,great service,free entertainment. If all that sounds horrible you might want to rethink about booking.;)

[skylock]

If I felt like that I would IMMEDIATELY cancel and go with something I know I like.

[time11130]

That is what I was thinking when i booked this cruise! I thought surely we would find something to eat that we would like... we are not picky, and enjoyable to me will be just sitting on the balcony watching the waves go by, then go to dinner, and maybe a show, what could possible go wrong with that? Guess what worries me the most is if our 18 year old son will also have a good time. He really isn't into dancing and since he is going by himself I hope he can meet up with other people his age to hang out with and keep out of our hair for part of the day anyhow! Thanks for everyones help on here! You guys are the best!

[DGP1111]

In regard to the original question, I hope you'll enjoy your sailing on Carnival Inspiration has much as I've enjoyed both of mine (one of those even had rain every single day), and as much as I hope to enjoy a future one this September. I hope you'll enjoy the same quality of relaxation, and delicious food, that I did. :)

 

That being said . . . I beg that you'll please not read any upcoming reviews (if there are any) for the current sailing, taking place right now, on Carnival Inspiration [5/28/09]. I fear it would cause you to possibly cancel your own booking, as it would possibly cause me to cancel my own, if I didn't know better. There is a unique group onboard who fits the old Carnival stereotype much more than the current standard.

 

Bon Voyage!!! :)

[firefly333]

Carnival does seem to have more X rated comedians you might think about if your 18 year old should hear or not? If you let him go to Quest, then I guess off color jokes are not any worse. The costumes for the shows on Carnival seem a bit skimpier too.

[casieleigh]

Been on Inspiration twice, LOVED both cruises. It is a smaller ship, but not too small at all. We still got lost, even on the 2nd one. :) The service and food was GREAT on this ship and the casino was a lot of fun as well. You'll love it I bet!

[time11130]

Our Son did not go to Quest before, he was too busy with the other kids his age when we went on Royal but he was also younger and had his Sister with him, who this time is not going. He is afraid that Carvival is too "childish" for him. But; I think with all of the different eating stations he could spend his whole day just eating! He is 6 foot 5" and a bean pole so eating will do him good, unlike myself, who needs to loose a few pounds before this cruise! LOL

[mdvlprof]

He should have a great time. Too bad they don't have a college-age club. I'm travelling in Dec with two college-age kids.;)

[calicruise74]

He should have a great time. Too bad they don't have a college-age club. I'm travelling in Dec with two college-age kids.;)

 

 

18+ year olds can go into the normal night clubs and the Casino.

[LisainFL]

We did the 5-day Inspiration cruise during Christmas this past year. LOVED IT LOVED IT LOVED IT!!!!!

[xsellent]

If he is into playing xbox/or playstation, have him bring his games and xbox along... that is what my 15 year old son is doing. If he won't use it and finds better things to do no harm done and it's not that heavy(not much more then my hair dryer and stuff) on the other hand my son is not into gambling, sunbathing and so on so he can order room service all he wants and play his games as much as he likes and go see shows with me and hubby IF he likes it will be up to him it is HIS vacation too :) whatever he likes to do at home if he can bring it along let him thats my thought..... have fun

[dan40]

oh.... Thanks guys! I feel better! Any advice on where to park/stay in Tampa? We are driving down the day before and are looking for a place to sleep and park for the days we are on the cruise. Looking for clean/safe/cheap ~ LOL :) Is this possible?

 

I've been on 10+ Royal Caribbean cruises and 10+ Carnival cruises.

For me, the first priority is itinerary, next is price. If the price was the same, I'd take Carnival. Most of my RCL cruises were because they had the itinerary we wanted or to try their new ships. When the itinerary is essentially the same, we take Carnival, the food is better.

And regardless what you have read, the clientèle is exactly the same.

[sappygirl]

He should have a great time. Too bad they don't have a college-age club. I'm travelling in Dec with two college-age kids.;)

Carnival does need to consider that age group more. I was thinking about bringing my 20 year old but not sure if he would enjoy it much. Not much for them to do other than hang out in the clubs which is not his thing.

[crusinpsychRN]

Make sure you go to the roll call for your cruise. Your son might find there are others his age going.

 

Serenity area is great! I've been on the Inspiration once and am going again in August. I had a great time!

[morganboys]

not to bash but if you come into this with a bad attitude thinking it will be bad it most likely will. you can't always rely on what you read. I have read reviews on ships where people had a terrible time and then another review on the same ship and cruise and be just the opposite. relax and have fun and everything will go well.

[DarthGrady]

I have been on Inspiration more that any other Carnival ship, and she has always given me a great cruise. I have been on RCI's Monarch as well, and enjoyed that too. Its true that the RCI ships are fancier, but Carnival is more relaxed and casual.

 

What type of suite did you get?