Imagination Review: Santa Catalina and Ensenada, Feb 2015

[Kobayashi]

The first day signs up could be found for the Bottomless Bubbles, Cheers and the Chef’s Table on the lido deck:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

My preference is for a Mocha Chocolate Getaway and White Chocolate Cake the first day.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

[Kobayashi]

Dinner that night with the American Table set-up in the Anytime Dining Area. Table cloths are no longer used.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

[Kobayashi]

Entertainment for the night was the Playlist Production Show Divas.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

[cruiser fanatic]

You are doing a great job on your review! Thanks for taking the time to do one! I was on the Freedom last week and it had the new American Table/Feast menu and it had tablecloths. I wonder why this ship did not have tablecloths??

[Kobayashi]

Monday – Santa Catalina

 

 

Here is our ship’s position as well as a copy of the Fun Times

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

[Kobayashi]

We spent most of the night doing one big loop. We travelled 84 nautical miles to an island that’s about 25 nautical miles away. The ship arrives around 7:30 a.m. Tender tickets are required if you’re going to the island from 9:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m. If you tender between 7:30 and 8:30 no tickets are required. The boat ride over is about 5 minutes.

 

 

 

 

 

 

The previous tenders looked like this.

 

 

 

 

 

 

The tenders being used now look like this.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

[Kobayashi]

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

I've sailed this itinerary several times and at this point this is the only reason why I get off the ship. I'll wait until this restaurant opens and will order the bacon wrapped shrimp.

 

 

 

 

[Kobayashi]

Tonight is Elegant Night followed by entertainment by the Oh La La's at the Dream Bar and Playlist Production Show Epic Rock.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

[Kobayashi]

Tuesday – Ensenada

 

Here is our ship’s position as well as a copy of the Fun Times

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

[Kobayashi]

 

 

 

There are shuttles right as you leave the ship and enter into Mexico. The shuttle will take you to the downtown area for $2. The return trip is $1. You meet at the same place where you're dropped off. Or you can elect to walk the 15 minutes to the downtown area.

 

 

 

 

 

 

This is the main restaurant that everyone goes to. It's a popular place for spring break hangout and to grab a snack.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

[Kobayashi]

Dinner for the night followed by the Hasbro Game Show. I ordered the surf and turf from the steakhouse menu. Unfortunately, the spice rub at the actual steakhouse isn't available here.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

[Kobayashi]

Midnight Buffet and Lido Deck Party. The Lido Deck Party is one of my favorite parts of these cruises.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

[Kobayashi]

Wednesday – Sea Day

 

 

Here is our ship’s position as well as a copy of the Fun Times

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

[Kobayashi]

On embarkation day I signed up for the Behind the Fun Scenes Tour that is held on the last day. Everyone meets in the library. I previously toured The Inspiration and this would be similar.

 

 

 

 

After the tour a plate of chocolate covered strawberries were delivered to my cabin. Pictures with the captain also were provided.

 

 

 

 

Sea day brunch - steak and eggs!

 

 

 

 

Followed by the Chocolate Extravaganza. This is in the lido buffet where The Sweet Spot is normally located.

 

 

 

 

 

 

[Kobayashi]

Other activities for the day included watching the ice carving demonstration, tea time, bingo, trivia and the final show of the Hasbro Game Show. Also, since the ship is so close to Long Beach the ship actually floats at sea and decreases speed to 0.4 knots - notice our course direction.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

[Kobayashi]

After dinner and before the last showing of Epic Rock there was a Mardi Gras celebration in the atrium.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Here's my video of that night:

 

 

[YOUTUBE]HBgUO6UJihc[/YOUTUBE]

[Kobayashi]

Thursday – Disembarkation

 

 

We’ve arrived back in Long Beach after traveling 423 nautical miles!

 

 

 

 

 

 

Thank you for following along. Hope you enjoyed the adventure!!!

[JillySue]

Wow, you are certainly more thorough than I am! I loved your review; so much detail! I also spied myself in one of your photos :) That was great! I'm so glad we are both doing them, I like your style! Very comprehensive review!

[aubreyc1988]

Thanks for the review

 

some questions

 

 

How was the entertainment, maybe compared to an older NCL or RCI ship? like how were the shows at night?

 

 

Any 1c/1 min bet line penny machines?

 

How was the food? What were the for pay restaurants and how much were they

[JGB]

Great great review, very much appreciated. Taking the imagination 2 April.

One question how come you didn't leave l.b. till 7 p.m.??

JGB

[Kobayashi]

You are doing a great job on your review! Thanks for taking the time to do one! I was on the Freedom last week and it had the new American Table/Feast menu and it had tablecloths. I wonder why this ship did not have tablecloths??

 

 

Thanks for the comments! There were table cloths for elegant night. I was in the anytime dining room. So not sure about the assigned dining room.

[CaCanCop]

It was the same in assigned MDR. Table cloths on American Feast night only.

[SoBigSoSexy]

A big thanks to you! Loved the review.

[FlyingCruiserNJ]

This review really rocks. I was on the same itinerary about a month before this and had a good time. Awesome pictures and you're right about the sailing very slowly. I know everything is pretty close together there and at a few points it seemed almost as the engines were at idle which was weird for me because I'm used to those Caribbean cruises where you're full steam ahead to get from island to island.

 

I didn't know about the cruise tender tickets being required but we got off the ship after noon so we wouldn't have needed them anyway. I was really impressed with the American table as this was my first time experiencing it and had heard horror stories about it. The food choices are good, presentation is good and although they took a few things I like off the menu, there was new stuff I liked there. Assuming this is what they are going with networkwide, it could be a plus.

 

Catalina island is great and although we didn't go to the same place for lunch that you did, we did enjoy ourselves and felt it was a nice place to visit. I got a very similar picture of the ship from the beach as you did and we also witnessed a wedding there and saw the wedding party many times throughout the rest of the cruise.

 

Ensenada was ok to me, nothing special but not horrible either. Papas and beer was fine and they have free WiFi there and you can actually walk back to the ship from there if you so choose. We actually did that.

 

We had different comedians but I have seen Jorge Solano on another ship and yes, he is very funny. Was Noelle the entertainment director still there? She is nice and enthusiastic and not bad on the eyes either, haha.

 

The casino had no penny slots that let you bet less than 9 cents a spin but if you play smart, you can make a few bucks last a while or even end up a little bit ahead. I saw someone else had asked about that in this thread.

 

But anyway, thanks for posting, I enjoyed seeing someone else's perspective of that particular cruise route.

[aubreyc1988]

This review really rocks. I was on the same itinerary about a month before this and had a good time. Awesome pictures and you're right about the sailing very slowly. I know everything is pretty close together there and at a few points it seemed almost as the engines were at idle which was weird for me because I'm used to those Caribbean cruises where you're full steam ahead to get from island to island.

 

I didn't know about the cruise tender tickets being required but we got off the ship after noon so we wouldn't have needed them anyway. I was really impressed with the American table as this was my first time experiencing it and had heard horror stories about it. The food choices are good, presentation is good and although they took a few things I like off the menu, there was new stuff I liked there. Assuming this is what they are going with networkwide, it could be a plus.

 

Catalina island is great and although we didn't go to the same place for lunch that you did, we did enjoy ourselves and felt it was a nice place to visit. I got a very similar picture of the ship from the beach as you did and we also witnessed a wedding there and saw the wedding party many times throughout the rest of the cruise.

 

Ensenada was ok to me, nothing special but not horrible either. Papas and beer was fine and they have free WiFi there and you can actually walk back to the ship from there if you so choose. We actually did that.

 

We had different comedians but I have seen Jorge Solano on another ship and yes, he is very funny. Was Noelle the entertainment director still there? She is nice and enthusiastic and not bad on the eyes either, haha.

 

The casino had no penny slots that let you bet less than 9 cents a spin but if you play smart, you can make a few bucks last a while or even end up a little bit ahead. I saw someone else had asked about that in this thread.

 

But anyway, thanks for posting, I enjoyed seeing someone else's perspective of that particular cruise route.

 

Thanks for answering about the Casino - I might be going on the 4 - day in a couple weeks, depending on price! I have been doing RCI and NCL, havent dont CCL in a long time and am worried I will not enjoy such an old ship! But this review is very good and I'm sure its good enough for a short cruise!

 

How were the shows, not including the Comedian? Can you compare to larger CCL ship shows or other lines?