Miami/Imagination July 10 (4 day) Review with pictures

[snc421]

:) We do seem to think alike. We're going to have to book a cruise together!;)

 

Oh yeah!

And I may have found a way to move to Florida! Long story short, a few computer classes, one certification, and I may have a nice job waiting! **fingers crossed**

 

BTW Thanks again for your review... and the great pics!

[mom2girls]

Oh yeah!

And I may have found a way to move to Florida! Long story short, a few computer classes, one certification, and I may have a nice job waiting! **fingers crossed**

 

BTW Thanks again for your review... and the great pics!

 

Wow, that's great! What part of Florida would you move to? We definitely have to get together!

[lorasmom]

What a great review, I'm strongly considering this same cruise for my kids' first cruise in March :)

 

How old are your girls? They look to be about the same ages as mine!

[mkg]

What a great review. Best I've read so far. My daughter (22) talked me into taking this cruise with her this Oct, so we just booked it and our airfare!! After all my cruising and using this site, I finally got her to check it out and we were both following your review with great excitement. We now want to do both the trolley tour and the beach in Cozumel which looked great. So I have a few questions for you. How much was the taxi ride, and did they charge you to get into the beach? And when the boat is at a port is the slide open?? We thought that would be a good time to try it when there weren't alot of people around....

Thanks again for a wonderful review, your kids look like that had a great time, I'm so glad they did the camp to give you some time for yourself by the pool!!!!

[mom2girls]

What a great review, I'm strongly considering this same cruise for my kids' first cruise in March :)

 

How old are your girls? They look to be about the same ages as mine!

 

The girls are 7 and 9. This would be a great ship for your kids first cruise. My girls have only been on the Fantasy class ships so far. They are eagerly waiting the bigger vessels, but of course are VERY happy with the cruises they have already been on.

[mom2girls]

What a great review. Best I've read so far. My daughter (22) talked me into taking this cruise with her this Oct, so we just booked it and our airfare!! After all my cruising and using this site, I finally got her to check it out and we were both following your review with great excitement. We now want to do both the trolley tour and the beach in Cozumel which looked great. So I have a few questions for you. How much was the taxi ride, and did they charge you to get into the beach? And when the boat is at a port is the slide open?? We thought that would be a good time to try it when there weren't alot of people around....

Thanks again for a wonderful review, your kids look like that had a great time, I'm so glad they did the camp to give you some time for yourself by the pool!!!!

 

The taxi was $15 each way. So, $30 round trip. I also tipped an extra $2 to each driver as well. So, my total was $34. No there was no fee to get on the beach. Basically, they just want you to purchase food or drink.

 

Yes, the slides are open while we were in port. I know we used them while in Miami as well as while we were in Key West.

 

Yes, it was nice to get a little time to myself. But, I love to spend time with them as well. A cruise is a great vacation for families!

 

I'm glad you enjoyed my review! If you're doing the trolley ride make sure to book online. You get a little discount for booking in advance. Here's the website: http://www.trolleytours.com/Key-West/rates-and-reservations.asp.

[lorasmom]

The girls are 7 and 9. This would be a great ship for your kids first cruise. My girls have only been on the Fantasy class ships so far. They are eagerly waiting the bigger vessels, but of course are VERY happy with the cruises they have already been on.

How funny!! Mine are 7 & 9 too, plus we'll be travelling with a 2 1/2 yo :p . You've convinced me :p

[mom2girls]

How funny!! Mine are 7 & 9 too, plus we'll be travelling with a 2 1/2 yo :p . You've convinced me :p

 

That's great! They certainly will have a wonderful time. Emily was 3 years and 2 months on her first cruise. Dinner time was a bit rough. But, otherwise she just loved cruising. She never wanted to leave camp.

[poochierebelbear]

Oooo I loved the review! I loved the photos. They were so clear. What type of camera did you use? Is it waterproof? I'm going to have to try priceline again and see if I can land a 4 star. How far from your cruise did you bid on priceline? Ah, the millionaire homes, it's just so unfair! Carnival Imagination is a beautiful ship. I hope Triumph is nice too, especially since it's going into Drydock soon.

 

Erica

[mom2girls]

Oooo I loved the review! I loved the photos. They were so clear. What type of camera did you use? Is it waterproof? I'm going to have to try priceline again and see if I can land a 4 star. How far from your cruise did you bid on priceline? Ah, the millionaire homes, it's just so unfair! Carnival Imagination is a beautiful ship. I hope Triumph is nice too, especially since it's going into Drydock soon.

 

Erica

 

Thank you so much! My camera is a Kodak Easy Share. No, it's not waterproof. (My boyfriend has an awesome waterproof camera, but he didn't go on this trip. His is a Sanyo.) I booked this trip about 3 weeks before sailing. So, I'm pretty sure I booked the hotel 3 weeks before as well. Yes, the Imagination is a beautiful ship. I'm sure you'll enjoy the Triumph as well. (I believe it's newer than the Imagination.) I'd love to hear about your trip when you get back!

[snc421]

Wow, that's great! What part of Florida would you move to? We definitely have to get together!

The Tampa area! :D :D :D Love the Bay area! We spend a long weekend there every year, and we got engaged at sunset on North Beach, Fort DeSoto Park last year. OMG to think I might be moving there, to the beach! And just a couple hours (including lunch stop) to you... and Mickey!

[mom2girls]

The Tampa area! :D :D :D Love the Bay area! We spend a long weekend there every year, and we got engaged at sunset on North Beach, Fort DeSoto Park last year. OMG to think I might be moving there, to the beach! And just a couple hours (including lunch stop) to you... and Mickey!

 

That's awesome! I'm sure you'll enjoy living in Florida. My mother-in-law lived in Brandon. It's a nice area. When would you be moving?

[mkg]

Thanks so much for the info. and the website!! We are so looking forward to going and just relaxing. That beach sounds awesome and the trolley just enough. This will be our 3rd time in Key West, but all we've done before is walk around, I think this will be real interesting, plus we really don't need to shop.

You are right, a cruise is a great family vacation. We started when my daughter was 13, (now 22) and we all love it. One of my friends thinks that my kids are too old to vacation with us. We love the fact that our kids STILL like to vacation and cruise with us. We've hoping it will extend to when they have families themselves, and we can still all go together.!

[mom2girls]

I'm glad I could help! I have vacationed many times with my parents as an adult. A couple of years ago my mom and I went on the Glory. I would love to get the whole family together, but since my mom had 7 kids getting together with spouses, children, grand-children is near impossible.

[snc421]

That's awesome! I'm sure you'll enjoy living in Florida. My mother-in-law lived in Brandon. It's a nice area. When would you be moving?

I'm not sure of when I'd move. I need to look into the certification and what if any schooling I need first. I would absolutely love to live in Florida!

[mom2girls]

I'm not sure of when I'd move. I need to look into the certification and what if any schooling I need first. I would absolutely love to live in Florida!

 

Let me know all of the details when you get them! :) I'm sure you're very excited!

[qns1980]

i love the pictures! I actually went on the Imagination in Dec 07, I loved it and the cruise director, Jorge, was excellent and funny!

[Avril]

Kelli-Ann, I just wanted to say thank you so much for the wonderful review and pictures. :D My very 1st cruise, way back in 2003, was on the Imagination and we did the exact same itinerary that you, Megan and Emily did. It was wonderful to see the ship again and to see the changes that have been made since when we were onboard, they still had the old pool (like on the Inspiration - although she has the changes now as well - and Fascination), no Waterworks area and no Serenity. I have so many fond memories of the ship (as she was my 1st) and this brought back a lot of them. I would love to sail on her again someday and see the changes for myself. :D

By the way, I love Cozumel as well!! :D It's my favourite port in the Western Caribbean. I've been there 3 times on 3 different cruises. My favourite port in the Eastern Caribean is St. Maarten!! :D

[beccadoby]

Thank you sooo much for the review! I know it takes a long time to do a really good one (which you did). I love the reviews with LOTS of awesome pics! :D

 

I actually just came across this today and sat and read the whole thing (yes, you are keeping me away from working)

 

We are sailing Imagination on the same itenary as this one on Aug 21! I have a large group going.

 

I am so glad to see that the waterslides and pool were open while you were still docked in Miami. I had been told that the slides and waterpark area wasnt open on the first day. Boy, we were sad... So now, we are happy to hear that they ARE OPEN!

 

Also, I know you said it was open when you docked in Key West. Was it open the whole day (key west day)? We have been to key west a few times. So, its kinda like been there, done that. I was thinking of staying on the ship with my kids while DH escorts my Mom and neice on the trolley tour. It would be a prefect time for the kids to enjoy the pool and water park area while its "quiet".

[mom2girls]

Kelli-Ann, I just wanted to say thank you so much for the wonderful review and pictures. :D My very 1st cruise, way back in 2003, was on the Imagination and we did the exact same itinerary that you, Megan and Emily did. It was wonderful to see the ship again and to see the changes that have been made since when we were onboard, they still had the old pool (like on the Inspiration - although she has the changes now as well - and Fascination), no Waterworks area and no Serenity. I have so many fond memories of the ship (as she was my 1st) and this brought back a lot of them. I would love to sail on her again someday and see the changes for myself. :D

By the way, I love Cozumel as well!! :D It's my favourite port in the Western Caribbean. I've been there 3 times on 3 different cruises. My favourite port in the Eastern Caribean is St. Maarten!! :D

 

I'm very glad you enjoyed my review. :)

 

Thank you sooo much for the review! I know it takes a long time to do a really good one (which you did). I love the reviews with LOTS of awesome pics! :D

 

I actually just came across this today and sat and read the whole thing (yes, you are keeping me away from working)

 

We are sailing Imagination on the same itenary as this one on Aug 21! I have a large group going.

 

I am so glad to see that the waterslides and pool were open while you were still docked in Miami. I had been told that the slides and waterpark area wasnt open on the first day. Boy, we were sad... So now, we are happy to hear that they ARE OPEN!

 

Also, I know you said it was open when you docked in Key West. Was it open the whole day (key west day)? We have been to key west a few times. So, its kinda like been there, done that. I was thinking of staying on the ship with my kids while DH escorts my Mom and neice on the trolley tour. It would be a prefect time for the kids to enjoy the pool and water park area while its "quiet".

I'm also glad that you enjoyed my review. The WaterWorks area is open from 9:00 or 10:00 (I can't remember which) until 5:00 every day. It's on a different level of the ship than the pool. It didn't matter that we were in Key West, it was still open. I did notice that the best times to go to the Water Works area was when we were in port.

[mandms40]

Hi Mom,

We are going on this same ship in Oct. with a bunch of people I work with, Our employer is paying for the cruise. I loved the pictures and review very much. Do you happen to have any of the Capers from Imagination, I would love to see them if you do.

 

Thanks again,

Sandy

[mom2girls]

Hi Mom,

We are going on this same ship in Oct. with a bunch of people I work with, Our employer is paying for the cruise. I loved the pictures and review very much. Do you happen to have any of the Capers from Imagination, I would love to see them if you do.

 

Thanks again,

Sandy

 

I'm glad you enjoyed my review. I do have the Capers, but I don't have a scanner. I'm sorry!

[JeanneW1956]

Great review! I loved reading it, I'm going on this same cruise 09/18/08 with 11 other friends from Orlando and I am getting so excited.

I have only been on a very short fri-sun cruise to the Bahamas over 20 yrs ago so this literally feels like my FIRST cruise :D

[phabric]

Is there a safe in the cabin. Do you use a card or key a number in?

[mom2girls]

Is there a safe in the cabin. Do you use a card or key a number in?

 

Yes, there is a safe. You use a card with a magnetic strip. I used my drivers license.