SoCalKJ

Congratulations on turning Platinum!!! Love your pictures... My son will be turning Platinum next week on the Inspiration... I am sure he will be posing for pictures too :D

 

Was there any big changes made on the Inspiration?

 

Thanks for the review!

Most changes were cosmetic and maintenance related...but I will say...

What I noticed: The two electronic blackjack tables in the casino are gone...grrrrr! Replaced with 2 more regular BJ tables. The electronic Poker table that was outside next to the iPad/cash draw machines is now inside the casino next to the slot machines and the cashier's cage.

Game show mania is gone, show cast is now down to 8: 4 males/4 females. All sing AND dance.

Superstar Karaoke was back-to-back on the schedule and not 8pm and 11-ish as was on prior trips.

I'll list more as I remember.

So once we step foot inside the Atrium, I do my usual happy dance a few feet in, jump up and down, get misty-eyed and smile and laugh unapologetically to the staff around me. That initial "I'm back to my second home" emotion is awesome and I love to take those first few moments in.

Once done with that little ritual, I remembered we could go directly to our stateroom. We're in E-185. Initially I thought we were midship, but after walking around all of the center Empress deck area...and having to try to navigate through the sealed entries (they're closed tight!!), we finally figured out that our room, while on Empress, is actually down a separate hall directly under the MDR.

They are inside bunk bed cabins....no staterooms across from us! This was great...weekend Ensenada cruises tend to have LOUD boozer cruisers and being that far away from main stateroom traffic was a Godsend! It's a small room...no big deal...bunk bed, desk, bathroom, closets, drawers, the usual. I took the top bunk.

DH teased me about my great big Platinum room!! LOL...I reminded him that 4 cruises in one year doesn't exactly allow you to cruise in luxury....besides...Alex and I are hardly ever in the room so who cares??

After we unpacked, we decided to head up to the Mongolian Wok...which on this ship is: if you're at the pool on the Lido Deck and you're staring towards the general buffet direction, it's on the right side outside corner. (The fried slop of chicken tenders, fries, chili, cheese dip, nachos, etc. is on the left side.). I convinced myself to try to eat a little more conscientiously this trip. Nothing sucks more than having to come home after a cruise and needing to suck down a bottle of Magnesium Citrate to get the body normal again. So...Mongolian it is! Usual bowls of different veggies to help yourself to...only they handle the main stuff...probably to control the waste/cost. Pictures from my iPhone....apologies for lack of clarity in some!

We then found a 2-top off to the side on the Lido and enjoyed the moment. We were there for less than 30 minutes and had about 5-6 different DOD offers come by. No thanks! No thank you! Nope! Scram! I don't drink...and I usually bring my own water and 12-pack of soda. I also bring a largo Via-type coffee mug with a lid so I can have a LARGE coffee and I don't spill it everywhere. I also pack a large cold drink container with a pop top so I can carry that around when a cold drink sounds good. Room service in the morning rocks because when the big coffee comes, I immediately fill up my Via and drink the rest with breakfast. Breakfast ALWAYS includes a bagel with salmon lox, cream cheese, plain yogurt and the two fresh fruit options. For a few bucks room delivery tip, it's the best way to start the day!

Anyhoo, it was overcast and sprinkling on Friday, embarkation day, but I refused to let that put a damper (har har) on this day!

As per usual, I leave my house with my swimsuit already on. Because after I eat, I always go to the Serenity Deck and jump in the hot tub. It is literally the only time that we will have the hot tub and the deck to ourselves. I got in, Alex dipped her feet in and we hung out for about an hour. The water was not as hot as usual and after a request to turn up the heat, which didn't really help, we decided to make our way back inside. We hung in the room for a bit, we walked around the ship and eventually made our way into the Candlelight Lounge where Muster Station E begins.

To be continued...

I'm currently at the vet having my Basset's (recently twice-amputated) tail checked and sutures removed....cuz life is definitely back in session once they announce "this is the FINAL announcement for ANY and ALL remaining/lingering/loitering last-minute guests to make their way to the atrium for debarkation" (I wait 'til the very last minute...why battle Monday morning 405 traffic if it ain't necessary??).

Anyhoo, as many of you know and/or can relate, this was the "IT" cruise: Number 10! Platinum, Baby!! I told my friend I'd be at her casa by 9:30 so we could zip on down and be at the LB Terminal by 11-ish. We met that goal, parked (it's $51-$17/day) and happily made our way to a friendly porter who stapled the green "priority" tags onto our stuff and handled it from there. We tipped 5 bucks for 4 mid-sized bags and proceeded to the elusive VIP lounge to the left of the steel check-in dome.

I have to confess: I'm seriously much more impressed with my new status than anyone I know, have met or encountered...I wasn't expecting a red carpet roll-out; really, the earth didn't stand still when my newly-minted platinum self sashayed into any area of the terminal, the VIP waiting lounge or the ship itself. Ego mildly crushed...LOL...(yet, not surprised), I pretty much had to accept that the silver-colored card was my gift to me and no one really was gonna notice it or appreciate it as much as I would. I really am that self-centered....LOL...glad to know spiritual recovery can happen!

Alex and me moments after arriving inside the VIP...

Cool, calm, collected and very much refined. I'm trying to come out of my shy shell.

The one that I posted on the actual day of embarkation (11/22/13).

We would dub Alex the "Green Dot Mooch!" She would be sucking off my benefits (we'd soon learn there'd be very few to suck).

As much as I'd have loved my DH to accompany me, he had to work Friday and Monday. While there's no way in hades he'd get to platinum by 12/31/13, he absolutely encouraged me to reach my goal. What a guy!

By about noon (they were running late...probably because of people like me, although they said "we're waiting for customs to clear."), we were informed that we were ready to board!! Before you know it, we're "walking the plank!!"

Okay. Break time....dog is ready to go home!

Will continue later....thanks for reading and BTW: Happy Thanksgiving everyone!

Yayy! That's so great!! I'll be there one day... ONNNEEE DAYYY haha! Can't wait to read your review! :)

I'm gonna wait until I've had a good night sleep...otherwise I may be posting a little more negatively than my spirit usually allows and I can never write a fair review if I'm tired and crabby.

Note: I rarely get enough sleep because my head is always "go! go! go!" The 3-days go so dang fast, I never wanna go to sleep, because upon awakening, it's that much closer to debarkation. :-(

I took a couple pics from the Inspiration...probably similar to your ship...

The only one, though, that may answer your main question:

I'm home...exhausted....will post a review of the changes I noticed...some good, some that just downright SUCK!

Anyhoo...before I do anything though...I stand corrected...I could've sworn they already had a Hasbro game on my September sailing, but apparently that was "Game Show Mania," a different program...this time, there was neither. They did mention that certain bits of entertainment aren't up and ready yet since only being 2 sailings out of dry dock. I need to now figure out what the heck it actually was...since i know the game show mania (which I've played during the Friday night sail away)...and if this wasn't Hasbro, it was SOMETHiNG.

Anyway...review to come...but I'll leave you with some Behind The Fun sweets:

Never tried the salmon ,something about fish for breakfast :D

The salmon lox...LOL. Whatever! :-)

As a long time FOB I always smile at the responses to these questions from people that don't have a clue what the fellowship of alcoholics anonymous it is all about and how it works.

 

If your friend is attending meetings at home they will be fine attending the meetings on the ship. It really doesn't matter if the meeting is in a bar that is closed and private or the chapel or anywhere else -- your friend knows why they are at the meeting and knows where it is held is immaterial.

 

Many meetings on ships are held in a closed bar as it affords the privacy which is important to many members of AA.

Not always true. As a FoB myself, all of the mtgs on the Inspiration (all 4 sailings I've taken this year) have been outside the coffee shop. People milling about everywhere...watching tv, playing cards, reading/watching an iPad, drinking coffee or eating a specialty pastry, whatever. No visible other FoB.....no BB, no 12&12 or other visible literature (I'm guilty of not providing mine, so I'm responsible as well) to give a hint.

In 2011 on the Spirit to Alaska, the mtgs were in the Chapel.

On the Ecstasy in the Bahamas, the mtgs were in the library.

Two or more always seemed to be gathered in the private areas. On the Inspiration, the story is always different. :-)

No, I didn't ask random strangers if they might be hangin' for a meeting. I looked long and hard for people who might also have been looking long and hard for people like me. After a while, I turned back around and continued on with my day.

:-)

I always tip for room service. I do morning salmon/cream cheese/bagel/fruit/coffee EVERY MORNING. 2-3 bucks tip to save my under-caffeinated lovely self from having to traipse up to Lido is more than reasonable.

I stop caring about where my prepaid gratuities go and how they're split up about the time I hit the "book now/pay now" button on my computer. If someone is carrying a heavy tray to my room, I'm tipping. Spread the wealth, attract the wealth. :-)

Platinum in 2 days!! First selfie will be the usual serenity hot tub photo with the platinum S&S card!! Holla!!

Hint: have your friend bring his Big Book with him so someone having trouble spotting another FoB will see that and know he's found who he's been looking for.

This is usually a good suggestion when whatever Carnival ship decides to have it out in the open where anyone and everyone is walking/sitting/milling around. Not all meetings are in the chapel or a private area. Some are outside the coffee shop. Not EVERYONE is comfortable asking a random stranger, "Hey, are you a Friend of Bill?" ;)

Well, make sure YOU leave it as you found it, because we're boarding on Monday after you get off. If you find anything new & exciting, I guess I won't hear about it unless you post here during your cruise :D hint... hint... ;)

I can't guarantee that! LOL! Tell me what cabin you're in and maybe I'll sneak in and hide out until YOUR sail away!! I'm not even there yet and I don't wanna get off!!

I don't drink. How much champagne at the initial welcome and wine with dinner is served? Basically, is it a significant amount towards the overall $75 price? Do they either make price accommodations for those who don't partake in the adult libations or, if not, offer reasonable non-alcoholic options (other than the already complimentary onboard beverages)?

Leave some fun for me...I'll be hangin' in VIP waiting for you to DISembark so I can EMbark! :-)

Another awesome thing to remember: if you're short on cash for the next day's in-port/off-ship adventures, you can avoid the ATM fees by charging an amount from your S&S to the slot machine and then cash out your balance at the casino cashier cage. Granted your folio will reflect the "entertainment" charge, but you won't worry about w/d fees!

Try the Breeze and you wont even think of that old ship.

I'm sure it's lovely. However, being an hour away from Long Beach with limited time and options, this wonderful vessel serves me well.

I'm fairly loyal...my dog is old, too, but I would never think to abandon him for that reason...because he's still amazing.

Hasbro already started...

I'll make other notes as I go...

Miss the whole ship , its old and boring.

I disagree...and in 5 days when I board her for the 5th time, I'm gonna see 2.0 and more after she gets out of dry dock. Excited!

Everything!

Two specifics, though (other than hanging with my DH on the water), are:

Beating all the men at the final table during the Blackjack tourney on the Ecstasy in Nov., 2012

-----------and------------

Being asked to sing with the Motown Band during a sea day on the Inspiration in September.

So many more...

LOL KJ, I totally understand what you mean by a hound on Tramadol! Hope your pup is healed up good as new soon, and enjoy your cruise!!

Poor baby! :rolleyes:

T-9! Inspiration is in San Francisco (unsure of exact dry-dock schedule) gettin' all 2.0-ified...and I'm making a list of things I absolutely must do and see on the new and improved vessel I call my second home (even it it's the 4th sailing on her this year...this IS #10!!)

Last cruise saw a fender bender a week before sailing and this one has me and DH dealing with pet medical crud (2 tail surgeries...one partial amputation leading to another longer amputation to clean up the wreckage from the first one...both within 2 weeks...gah! Poor doggie...thank God for Care Credit!!)

The long and short of it is that I'm on the tail end of the wait! This feels better than a hound on Tramadol!

So...pretty soon, I'll be goin "...to the right, to the right, to the right, to the right...to the left, to the left, to the left, to the left...now kick, now kick, now come on baby kick...." on the Lido!!

In Ensenada, zip-lining/canopy tour is a MUST! Google Las Canadas Campground for information. While it's not a Carnival sponsored excursion, you can either book it in town or negotiate your own taxi. We've gone twice and it's the best excursion in Ensenada: HANDS DOWN!

BTW: you can book the zipline/Bufadora excursions together. Really reasonable combo rate.

That sucks! I'm a childless adult and I love the arcade. Why can't I get the credit that I paid for?! :confused:

I'm boarding my PLATINUM INDUCTION SAILING in a few weeks and I'd like to capitalize on all my "achievements!" :rolleyes::D

Very classsy the way you handled the complaint. Good job. I love your review.

In his teaser, he did allude to telling the story to another "mega-striped officer." He also said something about not having any martinis when reporting the incident to Jennifer.

This oughta be a gem. WHENEVER WE DO GET TO READ IT!! :D