Imagination 4 day Key West & Cozumel Review

[teetee6263]

When I was researching for our cruise I didn't find too many Imagination reviews, so here's my attempt to help someone out in the future...

 

This was my annual girls getaway cruise with 3 of my closest friends; Traci, Felicia & Kim to celebrate Fee’s birthday. We’ve been friends since elementary school, 3 of us are still in NY & Fee lives in NC. We always plan at least one getaway together a year ,even though we see each other often. But this is our time to leave the families behind & just let loose. This was my 5th cruise, 3rd w/Carnival, Traci's 3rd, Fee & Kim's 2nd. Kim's 1st was on Princess, that ended up in Boston due to hurricane Sandy, so this was gonna be a completely different experience for her.

 

We all arrived in Miami the day before cruise & I was the first to arrive, having a 6am flight. I must say this was the easiest travel day I've ever experienced. I was at JFK airport by 5am, checked in, through security & boarded by 5:35am. Landed at FLL airport at 9:05am & to my surprise had my luggage by 9:30. Called SAS Transport & was on my way to Holiday Inn POM at 9:58. Got to HI around 11am just as everyone was checking out & it was a complete mad house, so I parked my butt in a chair & waited…..Fast forward to the gangs all here & spent the rest of the day exploring Bayside & the evening on South Beach.

 

Holiday Inn POM - nice hotel & great location

 

The view from room #801

 

Me at Bayside Marketplace

 

Me being Forrest Gump- "life is like a box of chocolates"

 

On Ocean Drive, South Beach

[teetee6263]

I don’t know how I managed to get up as early as I did after the night before, but I was up & ready by 7am. After a light breakfast in the hotel which was horribly slow, we went down the block to CVS for some water & ran into Reynold a Carnival waiter, who we would later run into several times throughout the week. Trying to check out at 11am was a bad idea, only 1 elevator was working & it took forever just to get to the lobby. However once we got to the lobby, checkout was easy peasy.

We had FTTF but quite honestly didn’t need it, we were checked in & heard my first “DING” by 12; however it was great to go straight to our room & drop off our carryons. I know most would never consider a quad cabin, but I just wanna let you know it can be done & not only by some young 20 something year olds. We’re no spring chickens & it worked out just fine, even climbing the top bunk drunk (more about that on Cozumel day).

 

Now I love my BFF’s to death but this is where we differ, while they require a lot of R&R, I’m always on the go. So with that said I’m off to explore the ship. We managed to meet up for the safety briefing, which was held in one of the lounges, before we went to our life boats as a group. Well now that that’s over with its time to hit Lido for sail away & get my cha cha slide, wobble, cupid shuffle & electric slide on.

 

We had early seating for dinner & I had the cream of broccoli soup, lasagna Bolognese which were both very good. For dessert, the strawberry cheesecake, which tasted like….umm, well I was taught if you don’t have anything nice to say don’t say anything at all!!! After dinner I decided to check out the free liquor tasting at the fun shops, well me & everybody else…the line was ridiculous, so I passed. I attempted to try my luck in the casino but it was way too smoky for me, so after I lost my $20 in less than 2 minutes I was off to see the break dancers perform in the atrium. I ended the night with the Welcome Aboard Show which I learned if you've seen one, you've seen them all, but none the less it was still entertaining.

 

E186 - Quad setup

 

Atrium

 

Eldorado Casino

 

1st DOD of the week

 

Lido

 

The outrageous line for the free liquor tasting

[teetee6263]

Sail Away Line Dances

 

Disney Wonder

 

Majesty of the Seas

 

 

 

Bye-Bye Miami

[KatieCharlotte]

I'm considering taking this same cruise as a girls' cruise, possibly with four in a quad, so I'm enjoying your review. How did you handle getting ready for dinner and in the morning?

[teetee6263]

I'm considering taking this same cruise as a girls' cruise, possibly with four in a quad, so I'm enjoying your review. How did you handle getting ready for dinner and in the morning?

 

It really wasn't a problem for us, since we're used to it. I was usually the first one up, so that was a big plus:D

[cuted126]

When I was researching for our cruise I didn't find too many Imagination reviews, so here's my attempt to help someone out in the future...

 

This was my annual girls getaway cruise with 3 of my closest friends; Traci, Felicia & Kim to celebrate Fee’s birthday. We’ve been friends since elementary school, 3 of us are still in NY & Fee lives in NC. We always plan at least one getaway together a year ,even though we see each other often. But this is our time to leave the families behind & just let loose. This was my 5th cruise, 3rd w/Carnival, Traci's 3rd, Fee & Kim's 2nd. Kim's 1st was on Princess, that ended up in Boston due to hurricane Sandy, so this was gonna be a completely different experience for her.

 

We all arrived in Miami the day before cruise & I was the first to arrive, having a 6am flight. I must say this was the easiest travel day I've ever experienced. I was at JFK airport by 5am, checked in, through security & boarded by 5:35am. Landed at FLL airport at 9:05am & to my surprise had my luggage by 9:30. Called SAS Transport & was on my way to Holiday Inn POM at 9:58. Got to HI around 11am just as everyone was checking out & it was a complete mad house, so I parked my butt in a chair & waited…..Fast forward to the gangs all here & spent the rest of the day exploring Bayside & the evening on South Beach.

 

Holiday Inn POM - nice hotel & great location

 

The view from room #801

 

Me at Bayside Marketplace

 

Me being Forrest Gump- "life is like a box of chocolates"

 

On Ocean Drive, South Beach

 

Yeah, we did the Imagination back in September and I couldn't find any reviews! I was going to do one when I got back, but I was so mad that I lost my camera on that trip that I didn't want to relive it:mad: Great start!

[AutumnBM]

My husband & I just did this cruise in mid-April! We loved it :) Hope you all had a blast & can't wait to see more of your review.

[wrigley80]

Great start to your review. We just booked this cruise and itinerary as the first cruise of a back-to-back but it's not until December. I'm looking forward to the rest of your review and I'm subscribing

[cruizinisthebest]

We sailed the Imagination to Grand Cayman and Ochos Rios a while back. It was great! Hope you and your girls had a great time!

[teetee6263]

Today is the day that I planned to climb the lighthouse, photo op at the southernmost point, mile marker 0 & eat a slice of key lime pie. Noticed the word “Planned”, well once again I’m up & ready bright n early & go on deck top watch us sail into port. I really don’t know how we manage to find each other at the Horizon Grill but we always do & by the time we get off the ship it was about 10:30. Well Fee has bad knees & can’t walk very fast (remember, we might look good but were no spring chickens ;)) so we hop on the first trolley we see….Old Town Trolley. Never again, it took forever just to get to the southernmost point at 11:50am. At this point only Traci & I got off, luckily the line to take a picture moved quick, we got our photos & high tailed it back to the ship. We did manage to stop at Kermits for a slice of pie, an ice cream shop for Cuban coffee ice cream & Diamonds International for my free charm. BTW, the ice cream was delish & never got around to eating my pie & of course when we got to the dock the line to board was the length of the pier & some.

 

Sunrise over Key West

 

Back on board & I’m on the Lido for sail away. I noticed they were setting up for the master mixologist competition & was the first to sign up. Sidebar…for 2 weeks prior to sail date I've been practicing my mixes & now is the time to see if I got what it takes. Well with a couple of shots of tequila, amaretto, banana daiquiri mix & blue curacao….I am a Master Mixologist!!! After my big win I decided to take a dip in the pool with Felicia. Before you know it, its time to get ready for dinner. Tonight is elegant night & I just love playing dress up. I missed the 5-6pm captain's celebration, but hoped to make it to the 7-8pm one. Unfortunately dinner was very slow & we didn't get out til almost 8. Tonight I had the shrimp cocktail, barbecued pork spare ribs & grand marnier souflee. The ribs were absolutely delicious, just don’t know why they serve it on elegant night & I really missed the bitter n blanc. We all went to the adults only comedy show with Azeem & boy o boy, it really was adult only. He is hilarious & if your ever on board with him, make sure you catch his show. Felicia & I went to the Motown & Michael Jackson special at illisons, where we stayed till after midnight for the Booty shaking contest, that Felicia entered…she cant walk far or fast, but can shake her booty like a 20year old. Time for some late night pizza & call it a night.

 

 

 

[Mizzouaholic]

Looking good so far!

[teetee6263]

 

 

 

 

This is as close to the lighthouse that I got

 

Traci & I at the southernmost point

[deedle7544]

LOve your review! I dd this itinerary on Destiny and loved it. Looking forward to the rest and thank you for the review

[teetee6263]

Mixing my drink

 

Shaking it up

 

The Wild Imagination

 

Reynold from CVS

[teetee6263]

Felicia & I in the pool

 

This guy was the life of the Lido deck & photo bombed my picture

 

Unlike many I LOVE elegant night

 

Traci & I looking elegant

 

Fee waiting for the Booty Shaking Contest

 

Me just being me...Crazy, Sexy, Cool

[Avril]

Teresa, thanks so much for your review, I'm loving it so far!! Looks like you girls had a blast!! I really love the Formal (Elegant) nights as well!! The Imagination was the 1st ship I ever sailed on and I'm going on her again this November/December on a B2B (going with a friend, we're doing the 3 day then the 4 day). :D I haven't found many Imagination reviews so I love seeing and reading them (especially the pics in them)!! :D I can't wait to see the ship again after 10 years!!!! :D

 

Oh, and by the way, congrats on winning the Master Mixologist!!!! :D

Edited May 4, 2013 by Avril

[spacepotatoes]

Thanks for the review, it looks like you all had a great time! And congrats on the Master Mixologist win :) Looking forward to reading more!

 

Btw, for those of you looking for more Imagination reviews, there is one in my signature. We sailed last January and enjoyed it. There is a good gapearl review kicking around as well.

Edited May 4, 2013 by spacepotatoes

[msolberg]

Great review - loving all your pictures. You sure know how to have fun!!

 

Diane

[Rottweiler Puppy]

Thanks for the review. I sailed on it last summer and it was a great ship, great crew, and overall great cruise.

[elaineb]

I'm considering taking this same cruise as a girls' cruise, possibly with four in a quad, so I'm enjoying your review. How did you handle getting ready for dinner and in the morning?

 

I have read on the boards that 2 people get ready in the room and 2 go to the spa area to shower. Just a suggestion. We've never had more than 2 in a room. :)

[Bjcruzn]

Great review!!! Been on The Imagination 2 years ago and will again in 3wks with my dd11!!! Getting my morning fix reading your review. Think we will go also to the Southern most point while in The Keys. We also like dressing up for dinner to me all part of the ambience of cruising. Looking forward to more of your review. Wondering what more to do in Cozumel.

 

 

 

 

 

Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk

[teetee6263]

Woot Woot..The day I’ve been waiting for is finally here!!! Mr Sanchos here we come.

Once again I’m the first one up & out, so I enjoyed a nice quiet breakfast on Lido by myself. I honestly cant recall what I did between breakfast & Cozumel, but I probably just wandered around the ship. When I went back to the room for my beach bag as we were approaching Cozumel, the girls were almost done with their daily primping ritual. I told them we were just about there & that I was going up on deck to watch us pull in & would meet them on gangway when we got to OK. Well shortly after we docked I decide to head down to the gangway to bet the crowds. We get the all clear, I’m off the ship & step foot in Mexico for the first time at 1:15pm. And I wait, & wait & wait….now if I ever wanted to leave the ladies today was the day; but of course I would never. So after almost an hour they appear & I didn't wanna kill them until I asked what took so long....They didn't hear the all clear, so they stopped for lunch. Why would you eat when you know your about to go to the beach where you can eat & drink all you want for the next 4 1/2 hours (well 3 1/2 now). We finally make it to Mr Sanchos, after a leisurely stroll through the shopping area & short cab ride. Not sure what time we actually got there, but I know it really wasn't enough time. However we definitely got our $50 worth in such a short time, I must have had at least 4 mango madness & 2 ticket to fly, and they weren't weak watered down drinks either, I told Marin our waiter I like my drinks strong like my men & he complied…Traci joked my drinks were so strong that he was trying to take me home with him. The only thing I ordered to eat was the shrimp nachos which were very good. Now I am not the most sociable person & I really surprised myself today, by spending most of my time in the water with complete strangers. (Sidebar...Traci is deathly afraid of the sun, Kim was unable to enjoy the water due to timing & Fee who is usually right along with me was, well IDK what she was doing but she wasn't in the water with me) So I played around in the water alone & I had my snorkel gear on (or so I thought) & guess it was quite obvious that I had no idea what I was doing as I was adopted by a group of snorkelers. Mind you I can’t swim a lick & was only sticking my face in the water trying to see the fish. But they held on to me & took me to where the fish action was. Now in this group I met Sylvester, he was there with his family on a land vacation. He was amazed that not only was I in the water without knowing how to swim, but that I was on a cruise...a Carnival cruise at that:eek: He insisted that everyone can float & I informed him that I was unique & could not. Well I guess I'm not as unique as I thought, because it took a little while but I got the hang of if & was floating. Before you knew it, it was time to leave my little slice of paradise.

 

Back at Puerta Maya, we did a little souvenir shopping & the girls headed back to the ship. I hung out a little while longer & stopped by Fat Tuesday for a 190 Octane & people watch...it was very entertaining!!! It seemed like it took an eternity to get back to the ship through the duty free shop. I only purchased one bottle of tequila & a tequila cake, but must have had over a dozen free samples. I honestly have no idea how I made it back on board & to my cabin, but I never made it to the monster deck party or Mexican buffet. Also don't know how I made it up the ladder to my bunk, but I did!!! I remember saying I needed food in my system & the girls asking if I wanted room service, but that’s about it for the night.

 

Pulling into Cozumel

 

Saw this guy at the dock while I was waiting

 

Carnival's version of Pirates

 

Cozumel's version of Pirates

[teetee6263]

Think its some kind of ferry

 

Cozumel!!!

 

 

[teetee6263]

 

 

 

 

 

[teetee6263]

 

 

 

 

Me with my float instructor Sylvester