Imagination 8/11-16 Review with pictures

[GamerMom64]

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[Terry305]

Very good review ,thanks for sharing your vacation with us, we are sailing on her in 3 weeks, I have a question, does the Imagination has that big screen on the Pool?

 

Thanks for all the info .

 

:)

[pitchersmom02]

...no it does not..but she is a beautiful ship non the less

[pitchersmom02]

....after the DD's did the slides and the lazy river we had some lunch, just across the large pool behind us there was both a fast food area where you could get burgers,nachos, fries etc,there was seating available ...The lines moved fast and it was expensive...There was also an outside resturant ..DD #3 wanted to go there but I did not want to have such an expensive lunch...she was dissappointed ...in retrospect it would have been a better choice....

 

We had 1 burger,3 fries,nachos, conch fritters, and 5 drinks....for $40 ..

the food was OK...

 

After lunch we spend some time just reading and relaxing

DD# 3 reading......

 

 

 

DD #2 ..enjoying her visit to Atlantis....

 

The DD's and BFF decided to take one last trip on a slide ..so off they went..

I floated around in the pool..

when they returned we decided that we had about as much sun as we could take,,,we took last swim ..

...here we are under he water falls...DD #1, me, BFF,DD #2 ,DD #3

 

we took one last look and off we went...we walked towards the casino ..and out to a cab..the walk was about 20 minutes, we did not rush...we easily found a cab and for the same $4/PP headed for the ship...

 

There was alot of traffic and again took us about close to an hour from when we left until we got to the ship..

 

The DD's wanted to do some last minute shopping so we headed to the Straw Market,,,before we got there we decided it was too hot and we really did not want anything that bad..so we headed back..knowing the sushi bar was wating for us...

 

we were docked next to the Disney Wonder

 

 

and the Fascination

 

 

 

....up next pulling out of Nassau.....and our last night

[momofsamandeden]

I love the pics of the sushi and Atlantis! Really lets you know how beautiful that resort is!

[pitchersmom02]

...Atlantis really is beautiful....I really have never looked forward to the port call in Nassau but Atlanits was great ..:D

[Payd]

I'm really enjoying your review. The pictures are awesome!

[linnylu92]

We got on our first slide at 10 and did all the slides (except the tall double slide) once by noon so I would say the lines weren't all that long. We also walked through The Dig and really enjoyed the different aquarium exhibits that we saw. We ended in the casino and still had time to visit the Straw Market. We walked in and pretty much out of the straw market. I just couldn't take it. It seemed like every stall had the same stuff and it was so hot and crowded in there. We finished our time in Nassau by having a drink at the Hard Rock Cafe.

 

I wasn't sure I wanted to spend the money on Atlantis (also went through Comfort Suites) but my dh and I both decided it was worth it.

 

This was a great cruise itinerary. The only way it could have been better for me was if there was one more day at sea after Nassau.

[pitchersmom02]

..yes that is just how we felt...one day at sea after Nassau would have been perfect...but still a great trip

[bplazo]

Love the review!

 

I am glad to finally see what BFF stands for.

[pitchersmom02]

...well sadly it was time to leave Nassau..we had a great time at Atlantis and were sad to go as we knew it would soon mean our cruise was over...

 

BFF and I wanted to watch the sail away and get some more pictures

BFF with Atlantis in the background

 

Not sure what this is..but I think it may be the Hilton...

Senor Frogs....

[pitchersmom02]

...well sadly it was time to leave Nassau..we had a great time at Atlantis and were sad to go as we knew it would soon mean our cruise was over...

 

BFF and I wanted to watch the sail away and get some more pictures

BFF with Atlantis in the background

 

Not sure what this is..but I think it may be the Hilton...

Senor Frogs....

 

 

 

The pilot taking us out of the harbor

 

 

 

 

Paradise Island and the Atlantis

 

 

 

Goodbye to Nassau...as I mentioned earlier I have been to nassau a number of times and did not like it at all. As a matte of fact last year never got off the ship.

But going to the Altantis was great. But unless you are there for a full port day I am not sure it would be worth the money.

 

 

 

next up....our final dinner and dismenbarkation....

[pitchersmom02]

.....BFF and I spend some time walking around the ship trying to soak in every last little bit ,knowing that this was not only our last night on the cruise but our last night together. The next day we would be going our seperate ways which always made us very sad...:(

 

 

BFF at the mini golf course...we never did get a chance to play but it looked fun when ever we saw anyone up there. This was also the location of the track...a place BFF and I spend 30 minutes a day..we walked for 30 minutes when we would fit it in.

 

 

We finally decided to head back to the cabin to get ready for dinner..

we were going to self assist and therefore did not have to worry about getting our bags outside the cabin....

 

we headed to our last dinner and of course everyone was sad..

the meal as always was good..

 

the DD's wanted to take some pictures of our wait staff..

 

 

Our assistant waiter....we gave him a very good evaluation in hopes that he would get promoted to a head waiter.. We were told promotions were based on comment cards

 

 

This is a photo of our bar guy..sadly at this moment I can not recall his name...the DD's of course are now FaceBook Friends with him

they also gave him a very good review on the comment cards...

he was a great waiter, he had diet coke for BFF and I waiting for us each dinner as well as the drinks for our table mates...

 

I gave both he our assistant waiter and head waiter and extra cash tip that I handed to them...I like the ease of having tips on sail and sign but it does take away the personal aspect of tipping in person.. I also gave our room steward extra $$ in person...

 

We had a great last dinner and the girls all exchanged facebook information..and said our goodbyes....

 

BFF and I decided not to go the show..although we did watch a little from the back, rather we spend the evening on the Prom deck taking in every last moment..

 

At about midnight we decided it was time to call it a night and off to bed we went .....

 

 

next up ..last breakfast and disembarkation.....

[GaryWT]

The picture that you were not sure about is the Hilton, my son and I headed over there and rented a boat to drive around for awhile, those are the boats in front of Senior Frogs. We actuall drove by Atlantis while we were there.

 

We had your bar waiter once or twice, he came over to help the one we had, he seemed pretty good.

[Charming01]

I'm sad that this review is coming to an end.:(

[pitchersmom02]

....we woke up knowing we would be leaving our beloved Imagination ..

as we were sefl assiting we still had our luggage...kind of like that part

 

..the DD's of course wanted to sleep until the very last minute...

 

 

 

DD #1.....

 

 

DD #2...

 

 

 

BFF and I headed up to the Dining Room for breakfast,,,we sat at a table for 10 by the window,,,it was kind of sad to look out and see Miami..

 

we were with a couple from Canada ..who were on their honeymoon...and a group of women who spent the meal talking on their cell phones...:mad:

 

I had our cell phones in the safe...I want my vacation to last as long a it can..once you turn on your cell phone it is over!

 

 

so we enjoyed our breakfast and headed back...the DD's were still asleep . I woke them up and off we went it was about 8:30AM...thanks to the airlines new charge /bag policy we each only had 1 bag which made self assist easier..well it seems as if this new option has become very popular...it seems like half the ship self assisted...

 

we were off the ship pretty quickly and than waited and waited to get thru customs...

 

there were at least 4 people taken from the line...one person must not have believed the signs that cameras and cell phones were prohibited...they decided to take a picture...well out of the line to the "room in the back" they went....

..a few others were taken away as well..not sure why or what they did ...

but it slowed the line...

 

It seemed like it took us an hour..but finally we were out...

 

..next up....DD #2 goes home, we rent a car...visited a college and dropped off BFF...

[Nancy717]

this is a great review ....I feel like I am on the trip as well...

[2TNCruisers]

Thanks for sharing your pics and experiences...I looked forward to every post.

[miyucruises]

Thank you so much for the great review. I am getting married on the Imagination of November 14th. We are doing a b2b, 3 night Bahamas (with wedding guests), 4 night Carribean (alone). We will definitely be booking Atlantis! Your review has gotten me so excited I can hardly stand it!

[pitchersmom02]

I am happy to hear that ..my DH and I were married on the Imagination 7 years ago...he was not able to take this trip due to work ..the DD's were along with us as well as his BFF and his wife.

Our wedding was wonderful, we were marreid in the library and had our reception in the mirage lounge...

I will try to can some pictures and post for you to see...:D

[pitchersmom02]

...well our cruise was over.. we were on the sidewalk ...watching other passengers arriving ..how sad we were..

 

DD #2 was leaving at noon from Miami so after hugs, tears and kisses I put her into a cab and off she went....:(

 

We had rented a car from Alamo and we did have to wait about 30 minutes for the shuttle..but once we got there we did express pick up, I was pleased to see we were upgraded from a sedan to a mini van...

I made the mistake of pre-paying for gas. I thought it meant that they filled up with the pre-paid amount only what you used , but no it is for a full tank , no matter how much you use. We ended up only using a 1/4 tank,,,my bad ..

 

..so off we went to Lynn Univeristy to tour and meet the softball coach..hence the screnn name pitchersmom;)

DD #3 when she is not cruisin..and eating sushi...

 

 

 

 

 

DD #3 loved the school and the coach...and moved it up on her list to #1..

 

 

after visting the school it was time to drop BFF off for her flight...

again many tears , hugs and she was off...

 

...now it was just DD#1 and #3 and me...we spend a sad night at the Comfort Suites in FLL, near the airport...it was OK, I got it free with points.

 

at 5AM we left for our 7 AM flight...we dropped off the car and took the shuttle to baggage check in..we did outside check in as the line was shorter..again we did not have to pay..

we went thru security, picked up some breakfast , and it was time to board...

 

we took off early, arrived early , had no problem with luggage..DD #1 booze made it with no problems...and suddenly we were back in DC..

 

.....In summary...having been on 9 other cruises, 4 with CCL 2 with Celebrity and 2 with HAL...this was by far one of the best trips we ever had..

..many things contributed to this...traveling with ones BFF can't be beat...

there is nothing that takes the place of that relationship.

 

..traveling with 3 DD's who ae now young adults...

 

..great weather

..great ship

..great table mates

..great excursions

..good food

..beautiful islands

..good planning..thanks to CC

 

.so this is my last installment of my review..thank you for taking the time to read and comment I hope some of what I have written will help others as much as I have been helped...

 

and our thoughts and prayers to those in harms way....today and every day..

..

[Sol y Mar]

A great big hug to you, pitchersmom! I really enjoyed the review. I know how hard it is to leave your BFF, whenever I see mine (I grew up in Michigan and moved to Georgia when I was 19) parting is hard! I'll be sending my DD#1 to college next fall (I hope she does her core close to home). :o

 

Thanks!

Sol y Mar

[punkidoodle]

Thank you so much. Your review was absolutely the best. I relate to you in so many ways. I've sailed the Imagination twice (before it was refitted with waterworks, etc) and she's my favorite ship so far. I have 2 daughters, both in college so I understand how it feels to say goodbye!!! And I too sail with my BFF's (highschool buddies) who live in St. Louis while I live in Florida. I'll be sailing on the Fascination from Jacksonville 11/1 going to Nassau and Half Moon Cay. While I've also been to Nassau several times, you're info on the Comfort Suites was very helpful. I've never been to Half Moon Cay and loved your pictures and the info you provided about the cabana. Again I say thanks!!!

[quickrate]

Hey Mattscruising dad,

My husband and I are also going to be on the Imagination on Nov. 3. I see you are from southern Mn., we are in Mn. right now as my husband is a performer at the Renaissance Fair and I have a booth at the fair. See you on the ship!

Pat

[pitchersmom02]

...your all so very welcome...:D

 

learned so much from these boards that I wanted to give back with practical information that someone else could use..without the advice of CC I would never had ventured out on my own and would still only be doing ship sponsered excursions.

 

Not that I still would not do those at times..when DD's want to do something I am not interested in I send them on ships excursions..

 

BFF and I are already making plans for our next trip...we are thinking of a river boat cruise...in May ..