Carnival Inspiration Review May 29, 2008

[Travel Angel]

Hey, it is what it is. Everyone has things that make their cruise "experience" good or bad for them and I certainly don't fault you for things you would like to see improved. Thanks for a balanced review with lots of detail. Even complaints are great if they are detailed so that the reader can decide for themselves if it is an important issue to them!!

 

Our Holiday cruise in December was not up to par...but if you cruise as much as we do...you are going to run across them every now and then!!

 

The Legend last month made up for it in Spades. It was fabulous!!

 

Hope your next one is all Aces!!! :D

 

In all my cruises taken over the years both personal and business, I have learned to take the good with the bad....but feel that if everyone was to place """glowing""" reviews of their cruises, it will only give a false sense that all cruises are perfect in every way !

 

It was not intended to be a nit-picking review and by all means did not cover other minor issues we experienced.

 

As one poster in this thread stated "A cruise is what you make it" and I agree and always have followed that philosophy and went in with a positive attitude. Unfortuantely our bubble got "burst" on this one, but it will certainly not keep us from cruising any time soon !

 

Thanks to all for their responses on my review.....

 

May all your future cruises meet or exceed your expectations, but just be prepared for possible "rouge waves" distorting your expectations, along the way !

[Travel Angel]

Thanks for your review - looking forward to being back onboard the Inspiration at the end of this month.

 

Do you recall the name of the band in the Avant-Garde lounge?

 

Tom

 

Gosh, for the life of me I can't recall their name.....they were EXCELLENT though. Sorry.

[BOW]

So we,ll see. But The Inspiration was my first , so I have a soft spot for her. I think it all is in what your expectations are. What you are use too. Don,t get me wrong I respect your review. So far Carnival never let me down. I,am hoping this is not the first time. Right now I,am packed an ready to go.

[Travel Angel]

Have a GREAT CRUISE......

[Kurbanfan]

In all my cruises taken over the years both personal and business, I have learned to take the good with the bad....but feel that if everyone was to place """glowing""" reviews of their cruises, it will only give a false sense that all cruises are perfect in every way !

 

 

 

I totally agree and am glad you posted your experience. It did not sound like nitpicking at all.

But I guess everyone comprehends differently as with the poster below:rolleyes:

Which is why we need more reviews of the good and the bad so everyone can make up their own minds which is best for them:)

 

Angel, If you went to a baseball game and the vendors did not come around to offer you peanuts, popcorn, or a soda as often as you would have liked...would you say it was a lousy game?

To give your cruise a grade of 3.5 out of 10 because your shampoo wasn't labled or you didn't have instructions on your safe, or you didn't like the blue mat in the bathroom is so nitpicking that I'm glad I wasn't on your cruise and one of the 10 people sitting at your 8 person table.

You can't go on a cruise with the attitude that "I've paid my money, now everything better be perfect". A cruise is what YOU make of IT. It's about the people you meet and the things you do. Not the room steward or the M'D or the cruise director.

I'm sure there were plenty of things not "perfect" on any of the cruises I've been on...I just can't remember them. But I've got many new friends from all of the country that I keep in contact with. And I've got plenty of fond memories of every cruise. I just don't have any negative memories because I chose to have a good time before I went.....and I did.

[Cruisin' Ron VA]

Ron,

I was on the Liberty awhile back and a friend from CruiseCritic was sailing on her a few months after me and asked me to get the Maitre'ds contact info because they had special needs for the dining room.

 

I got their email addresses and they said to contact them a couple of weeks before their cruise to have the issue taken care of.

 

When they contacted the Maitre'd they told them that the seating was done in Miami and they couldn't help.

 

Why they didn't just tell me this from the beginning I have no idea.:confused:

 

Bill

 

I knew it.

 

Some people have tried to convince me that the Maitre'd sits at a computer week after week and personally assigns each person to his or her table. This is just not possible.

 

In the old days when ships may have had just a couple of hundred passengers, sure. But now with 3,4 or 5 thousand people one guy couldn't possibly do that. It would take all week and he wouldn't have time for anything else.

[Cruise, J.D.]

Angel, If you went to a baseball game and the vendors did not come around to offer you peanuts, popcorn, or a soda as often as you would have liked...would you say it was a lousy game?

To give your cruise a grade of 3.5 out of 10 because your shampoo wasn't labled or you didn't have instructions on your safe, or you didn't like the blue mat in the bathroom is so nitpicking that I'm glad I wasn't on your cruise and one of the 10 people sitting at your 8 person table.

You can't go on a cruise with the attitude that "I've paid my money, now everything better be perfect". A cruise is what YOU make of IT. It's about the people you meet and the things you do. Not the room steward or the M'D or the cruise director.

I'm sure there were plenty of things not "perfect" on any of the cruises I've been on...I just can't remember them. But I've got many new friends from all of the country that I keep in contact with. And I've got plenty of fond memories of every cruise. I just don't have any negative memories because I chose to have a good time before I went.....and I did.

 

He listed a lot of things that reasonable people would find as a problem. Alone each item may not be a big deal, but taken in the aggregate it makes for a poorer experience. I'm sure he had fun, but it wasn't as good as other cruises. He is a TA - I think he knows how to fairly judge a cruise. This wasn't a newbie expecting the Love Boat.

 

It never ends, a negative review cannot be posted without someone challenging the reviewer - it is his opinion and he gave the facts to back it up.

 

Why don't we all just post glowing reviews and drown in a sea of gooeyness? :rolleyes:

[Kurbanfan]

She listed a lot of things that reasonable people would find as a problem. Alone each item may not be a big deal, but taken in the aggregate it makes for a poorer experience. I'm sure she had fun, but it wasn't as good as other cruises. She is a TA - I think she knows how to fairly judge a cruise. This wasn't a newbie expecting the Love Boat.

 

It never ends, a negative review cannot be posted without someone challenging the reviewer - it is her opinion and she gave the facts to back it up.

 

Why don't we all just post glowing reviews and drown in a sea of gooeyness? :rolleyes:

 

 

I think she is a he:)

[Cruise, J.D.]

I think she is a he:)

 

:o My apologies to the OP. HAHA.

[Travel Angel]

<-------looking at plumbing downstairs.... Yeppers, she is a "He" ! :D

[dixiediva761]

I too enjoy a balanced review. I find it just as hard to believe the perfect ones as the totally negative ones. I sailed the Inspiration in 2006 and loved it but our room steward was not the best I have ever had nor was he the worst. I agree that a bad room steward is a big negative as it is frustrating to want some ice and there is none and you cant find him/her and it is unacceptable to be expected to re-use towels, (bath or beach) or birthday cake. I dont find the review hard to take and give the OP credit for not busting out laughing during the cake ceremony as I would have had to let it out and let them know how absoultely ridiculous it was. Thanks for the review and sorry you dont find the Inspiration as great as we did. As a matter of fact it is right up there with one of my faves (of course I won enough in the casino to pay the fare so I may be a bit biased ;) )

[Travel Angel]

Any cruise you go on I honestly think will have a glitch... and this is understandable... I have had many great cruises on CCL, HAL, NCL, Princess, RCL and Celebrity....this one will not deter me from sailing or suggesting that clients sail with Carnival in the future, as a matter of fact I will be with clients on the Fascination in Sept. outta JAX.....2 hr. drive to the ship... an itinerary we can live with and to get to meet clients face to face will set the tone for a GOOD TIME :D

 

Thanks again for all the positive responses from you guys... I just called it as I PERSONALLY saw and experienced.

[Kurbanfan]

Any cruise you go on I honestly think will have a glitch... and this is understandable... I have had many great cruises on CCL, HAL, NCL, Princess, RCL and Celebrity....this one will not deter me from sailing or suggesting that clients sail with Carnival in the future, as a matter of fact I will be with clients on the Fascination in Sept. outta JAX.....2 hr. drive to the ship... an itinerary we can live with and to get to meet clients face to face will set the tone for a GOOD TIME :D

 

Thanks again for all the positive responses from you guys... I just called it as I PERSONALLY saw and experienced.

 

Would you book the Inspiration again?

[Travel Angel]

I think that knowing what I now know about the ship and depending on the price, I would consider it.... I don't hold a grudge ! :D

[Kurbanfan]

I think that knowing what I now know about the ship and depending on the price, I would consider it.... I don't hold a grudge ! :D

 

LOL! Fair enough......

I had a similar experience on the Holiday and there are waaay too many choices for me to even consider her again no matter what the price:D

[Travel Angel]

I had the chance to sail on the Celebration on one of her last sailings before being retired out of JAX.....and I have to say that the crew, food, entertainment and overall ambience of the ship was of some the best experiences I have had on a cruise in years.... The ship although old was well maintained and the crew just seemd so happy and it was like sailing with a family ! It certainly did not have all the bells and whistles the newer ships have, but it just had a warm fuzzy feeling about it and is one I will not soon forget !

[dixiediva761]

[quote name='Travel Angel']I had the chance to sail on the Celebration on one of her last sailings before being retired out of JAX.....and I have to say that the crew, food, entertainment and overall ambience of the ship was of some the best experiences I have had on a cruise in years.... The ship although old was well maintained and the crew just seemd so happy and it was like sailing with a family ! It certainly did not have all the bells and whistles the newer ships have, but it just had a warm fuzzy feeling about it and is one I will not soon forget ![/quote]

LOL and right after we got off the Celebration in (1999) we felt at the time we had the exact opposite experience. Of course looking back on it after the initial anger passed it was not the crew's fault and we actually had the best bartender we have ever had on that ship, besides Celebration was the one that got my husband started so hooray for her in that respect. Funny how each sailing can be different but honestly none have been bad enough to ruin my vacation or deter us from cruising again.

[CarribbeanTina271]

I just read your review and yes it is sorta balanced but I just had a few questions
(1)Did your room steward not come around at the beginning of your cruise for you to sign a sheet of paper saying you met him/her? (they always chase me down the hall)
(2)was your dining room table round?
(3) Why didn't someone question the bday cake deal.... I find this very strange and I would have question this.. If you do not purchase a bday cake, they will bring you a PIECE of cake to eat and sing to you.

Again as others have said Hope your next experience is better, I was just on the Inspiration in April and found it to be wonderful, even Felipe was awesome.
Tina

[Travel Angel]

dixiediva761: It's all a matter of opinion as you say.... we sailed her in Feb. 2008, you sailed her in 1999.... big time difference and you would think that a ship that is soon to be retired would start slipping in it's appearance as well as staff morale..... but I guess that was one of the lucky sailings we had on her !

At least it got your hubby hooked on cruising !

[CarribbeanTina271]

HUH I just sailed on her in April and I was seriously asking some questions, but I guess you can answer or no...
And yea I have my hubby, kids and friends hooked on cruising!

[Travel Angel]

[quote name='CarribbeanTina271']I just read your review and yes it is sorta balanced but I just had a few questions
(1)Did your room steward not come around at the beginning of your cruise for you to sign a sheet of paper saying you met him/her? (they always chase me down the hall)
(2)was your dining room table round?
(3) Why didn't someone question the bday cake deal.... I find this very strange and I would have question this.. If you do not purchase a bday cake, they will bring you a PIECE of cake to eat and sing to you.

Again as others have said Hope your next experience is better, I was just on the Inspiration in April and found it to be wonderful, even Felipe was awesome.
Tina[/QUOTE]

1. Tina that is the normal procedure I am accustomed to, but NO, he did not even come around for that signature which I thought was normal protocol !

2. Yes, round dining table.....and YES I have sat at round tables on many cruises in the past and they were larger in diameter, but never had the feeling of being as cramped.

3. We were all so amazed at this new concept, I guess we were just stunned ! I have never seen this type of birthday celebration provided on any of the 30 + cruises I have sailed on over the years !

Perhaps it was just an off week for our sailing and the cards were just not right for us....life goes on and there are many other cruises we can sail on in the future that will override the less than memorable ones ! :D

[Travel Angel]

[quote name='CarribbeanTina271']HUH I just sailed on her in April and I was seriously asking some questions, but I guess you can answer or no...
And yea I have my hubby, kids and friends hooked on cruising![/QUOTE]

I was responding to "dixiediva".....perhaps our posts on this thread crossed as I did answer your questions above. :D

[CarribbeanTina271]

Sorry about that, yes the post were all about the same time...
Thanks for clearing those few things up.. But as far as the tables, all the round ones should all be the same size... Hopefully they are not downsizing...
Thanks again