Carnival Imagination Detailed Review - 7/29/18 !!!! Pictures to Follow!

[SonoranDevil]

We found Camilo! I will try to post some pix. He remembered you both!

 

 

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We hope you enjoy him as much as we did! Enjoy your cruise!

[trex-de]

 

 

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[trex-de]

 

 

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[trex-de]

By the way, we are from Philly. Been on a lot of cruises. Having fun!

 

 

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[ShaniBell]

Love it! Have a great cruise.

[SonoranDevil]

Day 5 Continued and Debarkation

 

We finished dinner just after 7:30, after both having the Baked Alaska. We were sad that we wouldn't see Camilo or Margo again before debarkation. We were even sadder knowing that tomorrow meant heading back to the real world after almost a week of having our every whim catered to. But, it's the balance required to make these trips so sweet.

 

We headed to the Dynasty Theater at about 7:40, with the show starting at 8. We were the second group in line and waited about 10 minutes for the theater to open. This would be the only production we would catch this cruise and the Epic Rock Show received good reviews here on Cruise Critic. The show started with a young guitar player coming out and playing solo riffs from an assortment of popular rock anthems. He played well and was faithful to the original recordings we are all familiar with. He was enjoyable to listen to.

 

The show was...well, we weren't terribly impressed. We love rock and enjoy all of the songs played, but we just weren't impressed by some of the arrangements. It wasn't bad, but we thought it was less than epic. To each their own.

 

This would be an early night, knowing we had to get up and moving the next morning and I had a 6 hour drive ahead of me. So, we returned to our cabin to finish packing our suitcases. We decided to have our luggage picked up prior to debarkation. We knew we still had to pick up several bottles of wine and we wanted to cut down on the items we were carrying of of the ship. In retrospect, we would have been perfectly fine with the self assisted debarkation.

 

We got a decent night's sleep and awakened in time to grab breakfast in the MDR, prior to picking up our wine and heading to the FTTF waiting zone which was located in the Dynasty Lounge. I ordered an omelet while DW went with the Port Day Express. My omelet was really good and we both had enough coffee to get our minds focused for the journey home.

 

The alcohol pick up was located in one of the lounges on the Promenade. I was expecting a rush of people picking up their finds in Ensenada, but we either out waited the big rush or there just wasn't a lot of alcohol purchased in port. We claimed our haul and transferred it to a tote we purchased in the Fun Shop, to make it easier to carry off. Off we went to the Dynasty Lounge while we waited for the zoned debarkation to begin.

 

The wait in the lounge was quiet and comfortable. We had Zone 2 and soon the announcement was made for zones 1-6 to head to the Atrium and off to the gangway. Once in the debarkation line, we were off the ship within five minutes (common theme and the small waits were very welcome). We made our way through the terminal and quickly located our luggage.

 

On our way out of the luggage area and to the Customs line, we came across the group of porters. We didn't really need assistance and we were prepared to carry everything out to the garage ourselves until the following proclamation was made by the porter supervisor...

 

IF YOU USE A PORTER, YOU CAN USE THIS EXPEDITED CUSTOMS LINE WHERE THERE IS CURRENTLY NO WAIT!

 

Thank you very much! Porter hired! For the price of a tip, we proceeded directly to the special Customs line and boom! We were out of the terminal and back to the garage! Soon, we paid for parking ($80 for the 4 day cruise) and were on the road back to Phoenix.

 

So, that's a review of our trip. We did really enjoy ourselves in spite of some less than perfect hiccups. My next post will focus on some miscellaneous items and any things I may have inadvertently left out. I will also spend some time with my overall observations and opinions. I will also post the daily Fun Times. I hope this helps anyone thinking about taking the Imagination on this short itinerary!

[trex-de]

Thanks for your review. We will keep it alive as we are Live on the Imagination.

 

 

 

 

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[SonoranDevil]

Fun Times

 

 

 

 

 

 

[SonoranDevil]

 

 

[BENHANDEL]

Thank you for posting the fun times and schedules!

[cruise love]

Thank you for posting the fun times and schedules!

Hi

 

Doing this cruise on the 26th Sept

 

Could you please tell me what time we can leave the ship from as we have a transfer meeting us at the port at 9am

and I would like to be waiting by 8.45

 

We will self disembark

 

Thanks

 

Cruise Love

[SonoranDevil]

Hi

 

Doing this cruise on the 26th Sept

 

Could you please tell me what time we can leave the ship from as we have a transfer meeting us at the port at 9am

and I would like to be waiting by 8.45

 

We will self disembark

 

Thanks

 

Cruise Love

 

Self assisted debarkation started at 7:30 AM.

[smitty89]

Great review, thanks for all the work!!

[cruise love]

Self assisted debarkation started at 7:30 AM.

 

 

 

Thankyou

 

Does it take long to go through customs etc

 

 

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[ShaniBell]

Thankyou

 

Does it take long to go through customs etc

 

 

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On our way out of the luggage area and to the Customs line, we came across the group of porters. We didn't really need assistance and we were prepared to carry everything out to the garage ourselves until the following proclamation was made by the porter supervisor...

 

IF YOU USE A PORTER, YOU CAN USE THIS EXPEDITED CUSTOMS LINE WHERE THERE IS CURRENTLY NO WAIT!

We didn't use the actual line and walked right through. I have no idea how long it took to get through the line that had developed though. It was fairly long when we came out.

[SonoranDevil]

Observations and Opinions

 

This certainly was a lot of information to digest for a 4 night itinerary. Even so, I'm sure that a week from now, I'll remember something else that was surely relevant that has already escaped my addled mind. And while I've given a detailed account of what we did on our trip, I didn't include any aggregated opinions. Hopefully, this post will help in those areas.

 

Arriving, Parking, and Embarkation

Arriving at the port, parking and embarkation were a breeze. In spite of the ongoing construction on the 710 exchange to the port areas, we encountered no problems. As noted before, just follow the signs for the Queen Mary until you reach the parking structure. I have heard some rumblings of late that the parking structure isn't available until 11:30 AM. We did not encounter that and we easily found a parking spot right at 11 AM. With the arrival of the Panorama in 2019, I could see that parking will become an issue, though my understanding is that there are currently plans to add to the available parking at the port. If you plan on driving to the cruise terminal, make sure that you account for L.A. area traffic, especially if your cruise departs mid-week when traffic volumes increase. Though anymore, it's hard to tell the difference in some areas between a weekday and a weekend.

 

We purchased FTTF and we walked right into the terminal, were immediately checked in and had no wait at security. To me, this is a golden experience. The terminal seemed appropriately staffed and Carnival must be doing something right with the staggered check-in time process. We had a short wait inside the terminal before anyone could start boarding. Once on board, we were able to access our room and pick up our S&S cards immediately, once we inquired with a friendly face. I did hear from another cruiser currently on the Imagination that they were not able to access their room immediately, even after inquiring with a staff member. This is clearly contrary to published materials for FTTF and I would imagine that they have a legitimate complaint if they choose to follow up with the appropriate staff. It was nice having out bags dropped off in our cabin, S&S cards in hand and on the Lido Deck with a cold drink to watch everyone else make the mad dash to the buffet or to the bar with their boarding documents in order to purchase a drink.

 

Excursions

 

When we first booked the cruise, I didn't have high expectations for the two ports of call. Neither particularly interested us and I had been to Ensenada 23 years ago, and I wasn't overly impressed. Well, the two Carnival booked excursion we chose changed my mind. The Taste of Catalina tour was as good as almost any excursion I've taken on a cruise. The wine country tour in Ensenada was also a good quality excursion and we both enjoyed ourselves. I always felt safe and our tour guide made us feel like we belonged as part of their community. Great hosts. When we go back to Ensenada in 2019 for the Panorama inaugural cruise, I'm confident we'll find something equally interesting to do.

 

The Ship

 

We had sailed on the Imagination in 2013. Since then, she did receive the Funship 2.0 upgrades. I was hoping that some of the other areas had been refreshed as well, but it just wasn't the case. I enjoyed the relatively small size of the Fantasy class and definitely see the market value of the Imagination and other smaller ships. But there are some things that Carnival could definitely address to make the experience on board more pleasurable.

 

The first observation is that as much as I wanted to overlook the occasional sewage smell, we simply could not. I had already mentioned that it was a constant presence in our cabin bathroom. I know enough about plumbing to know that often this type of smell can be eliminated by simply running water down a dry drain. This didn't seem to help. The smell could also occasionally be noticed in other areas of the ship. We noticed it at least twice on the Lido Deck near the pool and my DW noticed it one evening in the Pride Dining Room. It was never a constant presence anywhere, and it didn't prohibit us from having a good time, but I cannot deny it was there. I can understand that someone more sensitive to olfactory nuisances could have their experience negatively impacted by this experience. I also know this issue not limited to the Imagination or Carnival ships.

 

While on the subject of smells, there were a few places on the ship that had a distinctive mildew smell. It was detectable in the Karaoke lounge the first night we were there, though not overpowering. However, one of the Carnival Fun Shops smelled like a damp basement. Again, it didn't prevent us from buying a tote bag in there and it certainly didn't prohibit us from enjoying our trip, but it was certainly there.

 

The Cabin was in good shape, though there is debate between my DW and I as to a dark substance at the top of the shower. She was concerned it was mold though I thought it was remnants of some glue residue from flashing that may have been there at one time. The bed was very comfortable and the bedding was as fine as some 4 and 5 star hotels we've stayed at.

 

The furniture in some of the public spaces have definitely seen better days. Of note, a couch in the Alchemy Bar and the seats in the Piano Bar had obvious signs of wear and patching to repair. It is also difficult to discern what is Carnival's unique festival like decor from the outdated and the gilded all too much of it. The areas that did receive attention during the last dry dock looked fabulous. The pool area, outdoor Lido bars and eateries and the Alchemy Bar (with the exception of the aforementioned couch) were all a visual pleasure.

 

I just unleashed quite a few words critical of the Imagination, but let me tell you what is right about her. There is a simplistic beauty in the Fantasy class ships. It has all of the things a cruise ship should have and the ratio of passengers to public spaces is just about perfect. As mentioned in the previous paragraph, there are public spaces that shine and the addition of Guys Burgers and the Blue Iguana as included food options is wonderful. In addition, the crew does a find job as stewards of the old girl. They were constantly cleaning and tidying in the public spaces.

 

There are some that think Carnival should give up on the Imagination. I can understand where those opinions are coming from and the industry trend is certainly pushing for bigger, newer and better. But I think the Imagination has a role to still play in the cruising world and I would LOVE to see Carnival invest some TLC in an effort to update her so she can continue to fill the 3-5 day cruise fix on the West Coast.

 

Food

 

As cruise lines spend more money in expanding additional fee dining, it is not totally unexpected to see the quality of included food options take a hit. I also know that it's not limited to any particular line. I have accepted that this is the reality that cruisers are going to experience and I see no alteration of the current course the industry is taking. If you want higher quality food, you're going to have to pay for it. There is something to be said for the a la carte experience as it can keep overall prices from soaring and put cruising out of reach for many people. On top of all that, you will typically not find entrees made to order in the MDRs. So many steak dishes, X number of chicken dishes and Y number of fish dishes are made en mass and shuttled off to the hungry hoards waiting in the dining room. So, it didn't shock me that the food on the Imagination was hit and miss. As a rule, I would steer clear of choosing items that rely on the kitchen to prepare it to an exact standard (think steaks cooked to a specified temp, reaching the optimum resting time for certain cuts of grilled/roasted meats, etc.) and stick to more forgiving dishes (think soups, baked dishes like lasagna, etc.). While not foolproof, I think it will lead to a more pleasant culinary experience.

 

Service

 

For the most part....BRAVO! When everything is done for you, every moment of the day, expecting service perfection is a challenging ask. You are going to run into individuals who would otherwise provide a memorable, positive experience, if not for a monkey wrench in their day. In a short amount of time, it's very difficult to discern the true grouches from those who are just off their game a little bit. With the exception of being disappointed in the lack of attention from our room steward (he didn't do anything wrong, but he didn't interact with us once and we only received turn down service the first night...when we tipped him a $20 up front in addition to our prepaid gratuities) and one stone faced server in the Piano Bar, the staff we interacted with were a bright spot for our experience. For comparison, Nobody does service like Disney, but the staff on the Imagination really had to make me stop and think about the small differences between the two experiences. Of course, the likes of Camilo and Margo go a long way towards the personalized experience that so many cruisers have come to expect over the years. In no small part to their efforts, the Imagination receives high marks for service. We did our best to provide both Camilo and Margo with some extra compensation that they undoubtedly deserved.

 

Miscellaneous

 

• Cabin E75 - Wee booked late, just a month out. My DW is prone to motion sickness, so we really wanted an Oceanview room, midship. There just weren't many available options left. Our PVP steered us away from a room directly underneath the Piano Bar, but we still would have to settle for a room under the Library, just off the Atrium. For the most part, there were no noise issues. We would here activity in the Atrium until around 10:30 - 11:00 each night, but it was nothing that couldn't be drowned out with a white noise application. The final two nights of the cruise, we did hear a brief bought of significant noise from some furniture being rearranged in the Library at around midnight. It woke us up one night, but as mentioned it was brief in duration and we fell right back asleep. I don't believe it would ruin anyone's trip, but if you can avoid being under a public room and further off the atrium, we would encourage you to do so.
  
• FTTF - We hate standing in lines. The disease of privilege I suppose. For us, the modest charge for this itinerary was very much worth the expense.
  
• Cheers Package - We probably broke even. We are not heavy drinkers, but in the right environment (i.e. on a cruise ship with nowhere to go) we can put a few away. Couple that with the fact we enjoy wine with dinner, and it can add up. We definitely got our money's worth on Embarkation day and the At Sea Day.
  
• Demographics - There were a lot of families and there were several celebratory and multi-generational groups. It didn't have a booze cruise vibe, though people were certainly enjoying themselves. Carnival definitely has a good time bent on their activities and we found that some of the shows we wanted to see just started too late for us (i.e. the more adult oriented comedy shows). Maybe we're older than we think we are or maybe we purposely chose to not over do the experience. Anyway, as previously noted, we would have had no issues bringing our 11 year old daughter along with us, and often caught ourselves telling each other, "She would enjoy this!"
  
• As you would expect, there is a marked smoke presence near the casino. With it's location, opening up to the Promenade, it made hanging out in that area unattractive to us. It's a shame, because there was a stage with live music in the Dream Bar area. We're former smokers and may be a little extra sensitive to the smoky air.
  
• We enjoyed the Piano Bar and the interaction it facilitates. We spent two evenings in there. I wasn't too keen on the list of Carnival approved songs as I believe it led to more of a scripted repetitions of certain songs instead of an organic evolution based on the make up of the crowd. Again, we still had a great time.
  

The big question that remains...Would we take this cruise on the Imagination again. Our answer is nuanced. It depends, just as us deciding to take this cruise was dependent on a couple of factors. If the timing and situation is right, we probably would consider it. If Carnival gave the Imagination some extra love she deserves, it would probably increase the likelihood we would choose this trip again. We have a lot of other places we want to go and because we're still limited in opportunities to travel, It will most likely be a while before we find ourselves considering another spin on our old friend. Of course, if you put Matchbox Twenty and the Goo Goo Dolls back on as our cruise directors...that all changes!

 

While this concludes my unsolicited offerings, we would be more than happy to answer any questions or engage in any philosophical discussions about the Imagination. Thank you for letting us share a little piece of our experience and we both hope you all have many more enjoyable voyages ahead of you, including on the Imagination!

[katibug]

So glad you enjoyed your trip - following along was a blast! See you on the next matchbox tour. :)

[AZcruisegirl]

Wow! I've been a member on Cruise critic for many years having taken 10 cruises in all. Hands down, the best. Review. Ever. 😀Thanks so much for your extensive review and insight on all things Imagination! It sounds like you had an enjoyable trip overall. So glad you and your wife did!

I cannot wait to go......

[SonoranDevil]

Wow! I've been a member on Cruise critic for many years having taken 10 cruises in all. Hands down, the best. Review. Ever. 😀Thanks so much for your extensive review and insight on all things Imagination! It sounds like you had an enjoyable trip overall. So glad you and your wife did!

I cannot wait to go......

 

Thank you. Those are very kind words. After the enjoyable experience, I think we are both a little more excited about our upcoming sailings on the Panorama in 2019 and 2020. We hope you have an opportunity to make the trip to Long Beach soon!

[BENHANDEL]

I will miss following along with your review...thanks for taking in all of the details so you could share them with us. Your writing style made me feel I was right there with you!

 

You mentioned your 11 yo DD...my youngest will be barely 12 when we sail this itinerary in March (along with my other two teens, my sister and her 3 kids.) She is gifting the cruise to us and she chose it mostly for the date/duration and therefore, price. Is there anything in particular that your daughter (and by extension, my kids+), wouldn't want to miss?

 

We do not plan to take any excursions, but simply explore Catalina and Ensenada on our own. Any tips for those ports with kids?

 

Thanks again for your engaging review!

[greatestvalue]

Awesome review...I was looking for a review of the imagination, as you indicated I hadnt found any found anythng in depth prior to yours. Im booked in December.

 

You have made my excitement to wisk my husband away on this cruise, even higher than it already was. Thank you for sharing...

 

Roberta

[Rosefloater]

 

We do not plan to take any excursions, but simply explore Catalina and Ensenada on our own. Any tips for those ports with kids?

 

On Catalina: fun and challenging mini golf right behind Crescent Ave. There is also an arcade non Metropole with normal arcade games and 2 arcade bowling lanes (balls have no holes and are similar to large skee balls).

 

Check out the California and Mexican Riviera boards for other ideas.

[KmomChicago]

We were given the same 1 hour period of free drinks and offered a credit for our next cruise as well. At the time, I believe it was for half of what we paid for the 1995 sailing. Being brand new to cruising, I was naively mad at Carnival for the whole situation. I mean, it wasn't their fault there was a hurricane. Again, a healthy dose of maturation has been good for me :). Hope you have a blast on the Imagination when you sail!

 

I love this review! And your "mature" attitude about it all. Next time I am annoyed by someone ranting on the boards about "horrible" Carnival, I may go ahead and point out that their immaturity is the real problem here. I am sure that would go over very well, settle the debate, and help the poster gratefully see the error of their ways. :evilsmile:

 

I too have gone from Disney and a balcony on what was then the brand-new Celebrity Millennium, back to an inside cabin on the poor old Carnival Fantasy class and still had excellent results - as you note, you need to have realistic expectations of what you are getting for your hard earned $$ and decide if it's worth it for you. Some of us are perfectly fine with moving up and down the luxury scale in order to maximize our travel options, and others just can't. If you can't then don't.

[bluewater5]

Best review. Thank you

[moviegal]

Just wanted to say how much I enjoyed this review! Been on this cruise several times (headed back next month) and I’m even more excited. Haven’t sailed the ship since they’ve added Guy’s and the Alchemy Bar, so that’ll be neat. I also think my hubby and I would love hanging out with you two (we’re huge wine lovers and foodies), so maybe we will see you onboard sometime in the future. :-)

 

 

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