Cruise Review: Carnival Imagination June 1999

Occupation: Computer Analyst
NumberOfCruises: 2
TravelAgent: No
Ship: Carnival-Imagination
SailingDate: 6/22/99
Itinerary: Western Caribbean
Cabin: Riveria Deck
FoodDiningRoom: 87
CruiseDirector: 85
CabinComfort: 95
FoodRoomService: 98
CruiseStaff: 93
CabinAmenities: 99
FoodLidoDeck: 92
DiningRoomService: 100
CabinQuietness: 75
FoodMidnightBuffets:
CabinSteward: 99
ShoreExcVariety: 90
FoodVariety: 83
DeckService: 95
ShoreExcValue: 95
GoodForHoneymoon:
CasinoStaff: 92
PrivateIsland:
GoodForFamilies: 70
LoungeService: 85
TenderService: 85
GoodForSeniors: 70
BeautySalonStaff: 95
EntertainmentLounges: 85
WheelchairAccess:
ExerciseFacilities: 100
EntertShowLounge: 85
OverallPortsofCall: 95
BeautySalon:
EntertainmentPoolside: 85
CruiseActivities:
Casino: 89
AirSeaProgram: 90
MedicalFacilities:
ShipCleanliness: 87
EmbarkDisembark: 85
DiscoNightclubs: 90
DeckSpace: 95
Stabilization: 92
ShopsOnBoard: 85
SpaceRatio:
OverallCruiseValue: 92


Comments

We decided to go with Carnival because of this cruise opinion.com website. I have e-mailed many
many people who have submitted reviews and you are welcome to e-mail me.

I was really worried about this cruise because I had done most of the planning for myself and 3 of my
best friends in the world. We booked a year in advance through Carlson-Wagonlit Travel. We are all
single unmarried and really just wanted to meet people and have a relaxing time. I had been on a
cruise before (Royal Caribbean - Europe) and knew they were really fun…but convincing 3 other
25ish years old the same was a little difficult.

Anyway, the other three agreed on an itinerary - I really didn't care where we went…and they
decided on the Western Caribbean. Our ports of call were Cozumel, Grand Cayman, and Ocho
Rios…and they were great…. We purchased the cruise insurance and let Carnival do our
arrangements for our air and Ground Transportation…..

We left Knoxville around 8:00 am and arrived in Atlanta - from there we flew to Miami - with no
problems. We met several others on the flights who were going on the same cruise and continued
friendly conversations whenever we saw them during our cruise…I panicked because I didn't pack a
change of clothes or anything (BATHING SUIT????) in my carry on - and my suitcase was the last to
come out. I recommend packing at least ONE DAY to relieve panic if this happens to you. There are
independent airport personnel who will help you with your bags etc getting to the buses, which will
take you to the port. (You have to tip them separately) The port ride wasn't very long (15-20 minutes)
and we met people on the BUS!!! Everyone was really friendly and excited.

We had booked a guaranteed Inside - Main - Deck cabin…. My friends - having watched Titanic one
too many times didn't want to be on the bottom passenger deck (I really didn't either). When we got
our documents our tags said cabin TBA…I called the travel agent and they said not to worry that we
wouldn't get anything less than that, but that our cabin had not been assigned. We get off of the bus
and the entire luggage is piled up in huge piles according to Tags. The port personnel ask you if you
have a TBA tag to find yourself on this list for cabin assignments…We were assigned Riviera
deck…and we were really upset when we found our rooms - more on that later. We went inside and
got our sail and sign cards and then continued on through to the ship…. The first thing we wanted to
do was find our cabin - well it was on the BOTTOM of the ship and 3 rooms from the FRONT of the
ship. We found out that a Riviera Deck - Outside (we were upgraded from inside to out) is an
upgrade to a Main Deck Inside…We really didn't think it was that great of an upgrade. If you don't
want to be on the bottom of the ship - tell your travel agent.

We had lunch on the Lido Deck (along with everyone else) and they served pretty much hamburgers,
fries, usually some pasta, and desserts everyday. It was fine and not really THAT greasy. We got a
drink from the pool bar and just sat around wondering what to do next. They made an announcement
that it was almost time to do the lifeboat drills and so we went to our cabin and got our lifejackets -
then reported to the lounge. This took forever to do…we all fell asleep. Finally you go up to your
lifeboat and then you're lined up - and then you leave to party for a week.

We had late seating dinner so we explored the ship…it was nice - not super gorgeous but well kept
and big. We were able to learn our way around pretty quickly - which was good.

We went to dinner and had a great table by a window - but my roomies would never open the curtain
afraid it would make them sick!!!!! Our tablemates were 4 ladies from Atlanta - they were great and
terrific fun. We have kept in contact with them ever since. The food was good - not great -- but good.
If you like seafood its great - from what I was told. Our server and tablemates were the highlight of
dinner every night.

Every night we danced at the disco. That was fun when the music was good. Usually that is where the
twenty-thirty somethings would hang out. Sometimes there were activities where they would have
contests etc…

Our first stop was Cozumel…We took a cab to Playa del Sol…That cab driver drove 100 miles an
hour…it was crazy and he didn't speak any English…There were several shops there and a beach.
We rented a jet ski and rode around for a long time - they gave us 30 extra minutes????? Anyway
we shopped there and went back to the ship to get ready for Carlos and Charlies…We got off of the
ship again and got Henna tattoos at the shop right outside the dock…They were great and lasted
(for me) all summer. We then took another cab to Carlos and Charlies - stayed until it was time to
board the ship. It was wild - that is all I will say about that.

Our next stop was Grand Cayman. This was my least favorite of all of the islands. My friends and I
split up here…two went swimming with the stingrays and me and my other friend went on a reef
snorkel tour… My friend got sick snorkeling - but I thought it was fun. The other two were divided in
their opinions as well…One LOVED swimming with the stingrays - the other hated it.

The third and final stop was Ocho Rios…we booked our excursion through the ship…it was a Party
Boat to Dunns River Falls…We had a BLAST!!!! I have really really bad knees and it wasn't bad at all
for me. We had the best time…everything good everyone says about the falls is true. We got on our
party boat where they served free "punch" the entire way back…. We decided to go in to Ocho Rios
on our own - so we took a cab and went into town. We shopped around - If you can say no to people
politely, you'll be fine.

There was this one guy who was on this cruise with his parents - He returned to the ship with some
err-um- illegal substances and was caught by customs when we returned. Don't do this at all…they
take it VERY seriously.

The shows were okay on the ship - not as good as RCCL…We went to the comedy shows whenever
possible and they were good…I won (over time) exactly the amount I put in to the casino…. The bars
were ALWAYS packed. If you don't drink, a cruise is really cheap after you pay for the actual
cruise…if you drink its expensive - depending on how much you drink. J I LOVED the aerobics
classes. I went everyday they had aerobics…and the instructors were great. The pictures the cruise
line takes are usually good and always expensive. If you can't resist them, I wouldn't have them
taken. I ended up buying just about all of them! I bought a thing of fingernail polish at the salon (OPI)
- and its normally $6.95 here - it was $12 on the ship…

This is one of the BEST vacations I've ever had…. We had a blast. I've been begging my boyfriend
ever since to go on one with me…Feel free to e-mail any questions.