kyrisong1

You guys have been so helpful, thanks so much!!!!

They don't tell you that until you get on the ship, you will get a invitation (confirmed booking) in your stateroom.

Carole

One of the first things I suggest you do is stop at the Guest Service desk and grab a handy layout map of the ship (no need to stand in line they are always on the very end on the counter)

This will help you figure out what decks you want to visit and which are all rooms. Also helps you figure out which decks are dead ends and don't go all the way through.

Remember room service is free. I'm amazed at people coming back and saying oh I didn't know we could order from RS for free. But I always keep a stack of dollar bills to tip the room servers.

When you get on the Lido deck the first day, there will be waiters wandering around offering you exotic looking drinks, these are not a free welcome aboard drink, you will have to pay for them, that said, it's not a cruise till I have my first Funship Special (the red drinks)!!

Have an amazing time!!!

Carole

We vote for Mothers, love it. Amazing food, interesting servers!!!! Fun place, good prices

Thanks guys, all great suggestions. I've been looking at the West Coast departures but not seeing what I want. I think I want to park my sister on a warm beach (she has a very bad back) so my nephew,his fiance and I can maybe do some parasailing. I'll just keep lookign around, we may just do the golf carts. Thanks again.

Carole

zydocruiser usually keeps an updated menu, I did see it on his site, just google his name and follow the links.

Carole

Love the Fantasy class. Everything is easy to get to. Except for that aft MDR. If assigned to that wait upstairs in the aft bar in front of the comedy club.

The Inspiration doesn't have many bells and whistles but she is a fine ship.

 

Been on the Inspiration at least 6 times since she's been in Long Beach. Going again in two weeks.

 

When are you going? The weekend cruises will be a bit wilder than the 4 day cruises, the energy gets higher as it progresses to summer.

Hi Sadie, we are going in April on a 4 day during the week, leave on a Monday!!

Do you have suggestions for beach at Catalina? Was looking at Lovers Cove because it's close to port, are there chair rentals? Food and drink stands and maybe some water toy rentals around this beach or area???

Thanks so much for any advice you can give me.

My sister and nephew are from Temecula, sister has been on one Carribean cruise with me, nephew and fiance are cruise virgins, can't wait to show them the ropes!!!

Carole

My wife and I sailed the Inspiration in October on the 3 day Ensenada cruise. Loved the ship. For an 18 year old ship she was very well kept. I made a review of our cruise with pics here if you want to see

 

http://boards.cruisecritic.com/showthread.php?t=2120175

 

Ensenada is a boring port though. If time would have allowed we would have rather sailed on the 4 day catalina/Ensenada cruise.

Those people next to me better not make any noise :D ( the people next to us are my nephew and his fiance)

Happy Cruising!!!

Carole

My wife and I sailed the Inspiration in October on the 3 day Ensenada cruise. Loved the ship. For an 18 year old ship she was very well kept. I made a review of our cruise with pics here if you want to see

 

http://boards.cruisecritic.com/showthread.php?t=2120175

 

Ensenada is a boring port though. If time would have allowed we would have rather sailed on the 4 day catalina/Ensenada cruise.

Yamsi thank you so much, we are doing the Catalina/Ensenada. I'm totally a east coast cruiser and haven't a clue of what to do in these ports. I know Ensenada is a shopping and grabbing mexican food port, not exciting but still, good prices on silver and the food is good.

Catalina, I'm at a loss, not sure what to do, the one resort they have there has terrible reviews and they are expensive as heck!!!! Gotta research this one a LOT!!!!

Thanks for you input, Carole

I am treating my sister, nephew and his fiance to a quicky cruise out of Long Beach this spring......ports are no big whoops but it has to be less that 5 days due to childcare issues. Tell me what you think of the ship and why. I've never been on a Fantasy class ship, been on a lot of the others, fav class is spirit class because of ease of getting around and less crowded feeling.

Thanks!! Carole

What did you love about the elation? How was the cruise when you went through the gulf of Mexico- was the seas rufer than the sea around the Caribbean places like cayman islands, jaimaca, etc?

 

I'm just hoping the weather in Feb will be warm in the Caribbean

Why not join the Dream out of NOLA on Feb 1st? The prices are pretty good since we are close to sailing.......... got a great group of people going!!!! And NOLA? How can you beat that????

Carole

Nice shorts are allowed. I really don't care what anyone wears, I take care of my own self and let everyone else do the same.

I don't really look at anyone elses legs either so hairy or not, they don't bother me. ;)

Whatever happens, you will be late boarding because I will be on this ship and.........they will have to find me and get the handcuffs off,that I will bring to handcuff myself to some solid piece of the ship. This will probably allow me to stay on the ship at least another hour or two ;)

Plan B is fog.

Carole

They have the brunch every sea day!!! If you are a steak lover the steak and eggs is delicious, that steak is a filet!!!! Really good. We love MDR breakfast and I especially love the brunch.

We went to the 15 day Hawaii last year and had 9 sea days, we have Brunch and high tea every sea day!!!

I think it depends on your kids, how old they are, when they are used to eating. A lot of the kids opt for eating with their peers at Camp Carnival, but if it's family dining you want then I'd go with early seating. But at the same time, you can always do Anytime dining and request the same server and how large of a table you'd like. We love the Anytime because we don't have to hurry back from excursions and we don't miss the shows we want to see. It's all win win!!!

Carole

I drink a lot of water throughout my days, don't drink soft drinks or juice so bottled water is a must for me.

Bon Voyage now offers water packages, kinda pricy but you don't have to tote them around, I just get a 20.00 case of water and be done with it, it's always waiting in my cabin when I board. I bring a soft sided cooler and get my steward to keep it iced for me (I slip him a tip ahead of time and explain I know it's an extra thing I'm asking but I'd appreciate......) Never have been disappointed!!!

Carole

I might book close to the bridge just to get the dark balcony!!! I love, love, love star gazing in pitch black skies. Nothing so beautiful!!

I am so glad they removed the cornish hen (cheap) and put sea bass back on!!! I guess we'll have to try the Chefs Table again!!!! We were disappointed in it the second time, but I will say it depends on your Chef. Our first CT had an amazing Chef who had a great relationship with his staff and it made our time so fun and easy. Also the food was AMAZING. The wine is so so, not their worse but certainly not the cheap bottle you get when you go to the Steak House the first night. Our second CT was with the cornish hen on the menu, our Chef announced he wasn't a "people person" And truthfully he spent so much time browbeating his staff it felt stiff and uncomfortable. I hope that he was only forced to run the CT that one night and was not a regular, he really made it uncomfortable.

We'll definitely want to try the new CT, but I will ask the Chefs name before I sign up.

Cheers, Carole

I always bring my own little medical supply kit, the shops onboard are just very expensive.

I take : Tylenol, Advil, Benedryl, Tums, Immodium, Biscodyl, Cortisone cream, Aloe lotion, Off (or some other bug spray) band aids, triple antibiotic ointment, meclizine and zofran (in case of sea sickness)

If you need any of these things you will be glad you have them, I don't take big bottles, little travel sizes so it doesn't take up tons of room.

Cheers, Carole

I'm a huge fan of Charmin Ultra, but I've never brought it on the ship, what they have is fine, and it won't clog the system and cause back ups that cause foul odors. the ship system has smaller pipes and such and the plumbing is different. I would never take the chance of clogging my toilet on the ship, yuck :-)

looks really good!!! I loved the sea bass the first CT menu so hopefully it'll be just as good!!

One of our party did this on the first night, we did the steak house and his wifes favorite was the same, he requested she get the creme brule at the steak house, they happily did this and she got it for desert the rest of the cruise. They really do try to keep people happy.

I've always brought a rolling carry on filled with bottled water and I have a collapsible cooler that folds down to nothing and weighs next to nothing for keeping it cold, the fridges might reach a "coolish" state but I like my drinks COLD......this has always worked great because then I have an empty suitcase going home to pack stuff I bought.

They also now have a really convenient water package from Bon Voyage shops, you can have it waiting when you come aboard.

Carole

I agree, if it's not bothering you why tattle??? I am around several people that Vape and it's not no smell, it doesn't bother me....

I totally agree with Acme Oyster House, but I don't think that is a hole in the wall place.

I'm shocked no one mentioned Mothers, this place has amazing food, inexpensive and really fun. Yes it's a counter where you get your food and then all crowded with people in the big room you eat. Oh but the po' boys..........shrimp hot, pops in your mouth it's so fresh. The Debris oh yummy......... and for breakfast, the pancakes are awesome. We stayed at a hotel across the street last time we were there and just loved this place!!! Google it, you can see the menu.

Carole