Quick Inspiration Review 09-05-11

[lindan1020]

We just got back from another great time on the Inspiration! Here are just a few comments....

 

Embarkation....as always in Tampa it was a breeze. Love this port. Live music playing on the Lido deck.

 

New MDR Menu....the new menus are being used. There were 8 of us in our group and we all thought it was yummy! A few of the guys had 2 or three starters and sometimes two entrees. Everything was delicious. My only issue was anytime ice cream was part of a dessert it came out half melted:( Also my DH was disappointed that Creme Brulee was not on any of the dessert menus...but he got over it with a Banana Split (again a bit melted but it still disappeared). Did notice a bit of a slack in the service...probably due to less staff. The waiters were great---they were just stretched a bit.

 

Lido deck....buffet was delicious as usual. A few new things. Love the Tiramisu cheesecake! Had a chocolate fondu on the last day which I have only previously seen on the larger ships. The late night Mexican party wasn't much of anything but Mexican food served in the Lido deck buffet.

 

Cabin was the usual---with a great steward on top of everything. Brought me my requested extra pillows, blanket and hairdryer and kept our little cooler full of ice for my diet PEPSI.

 

Shows were great....although one night there wasn't any show in the Paris lounge--it was replaced with laser tag. The comedians in the Punchliner were great. We had seen Diane Ford before on the Legend and enjoyed seeing her again.If you ever get the chance to see her you won't be disappointed. She is hilarious. Chris Wiles was the other comedian and he is hilarious also!!:D

 

Games---did a couple Trivia games that were fun. Watched the Jenga compitition--this was new for me and fun to watch. Friends with us enjoyed the pool games...but I unfortunately missed them. Must have been in the Casino making a donation :(

 

Cruise director--don't remember his name...but he is from Brazil and great. He did a great job with the Love and Marriage game. Love his accent.

 

Debarkation was pretty smooth except there were 8 of us traveling together getting off w/early VIP debarkation and for some reason they let passengers with Passports off but told the others with just birth certificates they would have to wait!!! This was new to us==never had that happen before. We had to wait outside for them. We asked Immigration what was up and they told us they had no idea why Carnival would do that. We never did find out. After about a 20 minute wait the rest of our group came out.

 

Any questions???

[Julesy]

Hi lindan-- very informative! I am taking my *first cruise* on the Inspiration on 9/24 and am so excited, but also a bit overwhelmed with the information out there. Do you think you might post any pictures?

 

Also, I am a Floridian as well and will be driving to the port on Saturday morning. It's only a couple of hours away and we will give ourselves plenty of time for driving. Did you park at the port in the official parking or off site? Is 14 per day a pretty reasonable price?

 

I am traveling with my SO and my two teenaged daughters...and this is a first for us all! Any tips or suggestions? We have somewhat of a budget and I have an idea of things I should and shouldn't do, but would love to hear any info that is off the beaten path.

 

THank you again,

Jules

[CapsR1]

Never took at cruise out of Tampa before but sounds like a possibiity for the future. Thanks for the helpful information.

[Julesy]

one more thing I have been wondering about and I saw you mention the casino....do they have Texas hold'em or other tournament type games? I have seen this mentioned on other carnival ships, but if I understand correctly, the inspiration is one of their smaller ships, so I didn't know if the activities were as varied.

[lindan1020]

Hi lindan-- very informative! I am taking my *first cruise* on the Inspiration on 9/24 and am so excited, but also a bit overwhelmed with the information out there. Do you think you might post any pictures?

 

Also, I am a Floridian as well and will be driving to the port on Saturday morning. It's only a couple of hours away and we will give ourselves plenty of time for driving. Did you park at the port in the official parking or off site? Is 14 per day a pretty reasonable price?

 

I am traveling with my SO and my two teenaged daughters...and this is a first for us all! Any tips or suggestions? We have somewhat of a budget and I have an idea of things I should and shouldn't do, but would love to hear any info that is off the beaten path.

 

THank you again,

Jules

 

I guess I should be embarrassed...we really didn't take pics. We've been on the Inspiration quite a bit and didn't really get the camera out this time but I will see what I can dig up.

 

We always valet park in Tampa. It is a very smooth and easy process--it costs a bit more but worth it. For our 4 day cruise it was $70 plus tip. When you get off you just give your ticket when you come out of the terminal and by the time you walk across the street your car is pretty much there with the trunk open and ready.

 

It's been awhile since our kids were teenagers so I'm probably not gonna be much help there. I can tell you we took them on an ATV excursion in Cozumel and it was so much fun!! We came back covered in dirt from head to toe but it was great!! We also did an excursion to Passion Island and it is beautiful there. If you and the teenagers like the beach you will love it there.

[lindan1020]

one more thing I have been wondering about and I saw you mention the casino....do they have Texas hold'em or other tournament type games? I have seen this mentioned on other carnival ships, but if I understand correctly, the inspiration is one of their smaller ships, so I didn't know if the activities were as varied.

 

They have a Texas Hold 'Em table (electronic) no limit--and some of the pots got pretty hefty--DH played and did pretty good. No Hold 'Em tournament--but they do have the Slot tournament and Black Jack Tournament--DH was a finalist but unfortunately didn't win:( It is a $20 buy in with $500 grand prize.