Carnival Imagination Bahamas Review March 27-30

[EricaLovesCats]

Carnival Imagination Bahamas Review March 27-30

This was a quick weekend getaway for three girlfriends. We are stationed in Key West, so we simply drove to the port. One of the girls was running late AND she forgot her bathing suit (we were 15 minutes out and turned around to get it), plus traffic in the keys caused us not to reach the port till 2:30 (left at 0930)!!! This drove me crazy, as I HATE cutting things short. Oh well.

Right after the muster drill we went to the casino area for a drink. We ran into Beth and Kenyan (LizKyle from CC) and they bought us a round. Thanks again guys and it was great meeting you! We just chit chatted in that area for awhile then went down to the room to unpack our stuff and get ready for dinner (8:15 sitting). Food and wait staff great as always. We went to the show afterwards, which was a waste of time. The cruise director (forget his name) just made some guests come up on stage and made them do a silly dance. Few people laughed. He was followed by an even un-funnier comedian. He told jokes we have all heard before…nothing original.

Next day we docked at Nassau at 1000. My friend and I took our time getting ready and eating breakfast and then walked off the ship around 1100. Our other friend (the one who was running late) did her own excursion to Atlantis. Karen and I had plans to go to the beach at the British Hilton, but first stopped at the Straw Market and Senor Frogs. Karen got a cute little wrap, but I didn’t get anything. I felt uncomfortable actually, because everyone is begging you and a few even pulled on my arm to come look at their booths. I was glad to get out of there. We went in to Senor Frogs just to say we had been there and had a drink. The bar staff was very friendly and the drinks were tasty. There weren’t many people there yet, which I loved. I’m sure it got much more crowded later.

We then continued walking to the Hilton, which was just behind Senor Frogs. It was $20 admission and WELL WORTH IT. We had access to the beach, pool, and garden area with hammocks. The chairs and towels were also included. It was so pretty and relaxing. Karen and I just chatted and read our books. It was so peaceful!

After a few hours we were done and just walked through the touristy shop areas as we walked back to the ship. We each grabbed a cake at the Tortuga Rum Cake shop. We got back on board and ate pizza and salad and relaxed in the room watching T.V. We went ahead and took showers for formal night so that when the third friend, Liz, got back she could have the shower. Once we were all ready we went to the Captain’s Cocktail Party. I knew that on a weekend overnight Bahamas cruise there probably wouldn’t be many people participating in formal night. I would say about one-third of the ship was there. Maybe a tad less actually. We really wanted to do it though cause we felt you got more of your “monies worth” doing the formal night (free drinks, lobster, the best show, etc). Everything was great. The show was “Living in America” which I thought was great. I know there are a lot of jokes about cruise ship dancers and singers but I think they are great. Afterwards I went back to the room and the other two stayed out a bit more in the dance club.

Next day was the sea day and Karen and I spent all day at the adults’ only serenity area. Major kudos to Carnival for this addition. Comfy chairs, Jacuzzis, peaceful atmosphere, and 80s/90s music playing low on the speakers. I like this way better than loud Caribbean music played at the main pools, just my personal taste. Like the day before we just chatted and read our books. I LOVED it. Just lounging around and reading in the sun is perfect for me, I am not a fast-paced person at all.

Later we watched the sun set in the front of the ship. We just layed in the area past the mini golf section. We were the only ones there for awhile, later just a few people showed up to watch the sun set too.

Afterwards we went to the room and ordered room service and packed our bags. The other friend was on an opposite schedule…slept most of the day in the room and hung out in the casino while we were in the room eating and packing. I’ve actually left out a huge drama…I just didn’t feel like writing all of it, plus you probably want to hear about the cruise and not some girl drama…but in case you haven’t figured it out by now the third girl Liz and us were just not getting along. A few days before the cruise Liz had done some stuff that was wrong, then just behaved badly during the cruise. Again my apologies to all the Carnival employees who crossed her path. When our room steward introduced himself she snapped at him because we had a roll away instead of a ceiling bed (even though I was perfectly happy sleeping with a roll away), she snapped at the waiter because she didn’t know anchovies came in a ceaser salad, she yelled at an employee for not speaking good English after she tried to ask her a question, and she yelled at the lady who called with the wake-up call…because she was 5 minutes late. Sigh. That’s not even all of it…she was really embarrassing. Oh and when I say she snapped at someone I mean she dropped the f-bomb every other word very loudly.

Overall Karen and I had a good time relaxing. I definitely prefer a longer cruise to a shorter one though. The ship was in good condition, food was great, and staff was great, though the cruise director was a bore. A nice getaway for people who live close by, but personally I wouldn’t come from too far just to go on this little cruise.

[cantwait06]

thanks for the review and pics-I am going on the imagination but on the western carb. trip-but the review helped to get me even more excited (if thats even possible) I'm glad you made the best of your situation and had fun regardless of the drama!

[Sol y Mar]

thanks for the review and pics-I am going on the imagination but on the western carb. trip-but the review helped to get me even more excited (if thats even possible) I'm glad you made the best of your situation and had fun regardless of the drama!

 

After a couple of cruises full of drama due to a petulant teen and her even more petulant mother, and others, I now proclaim DH as head of the "drama department" and turn all issues (other than deciding what drink to have next) over to him. He handles it, or he doesn't........now about that drink....

 

Sol y Mar

 

On the Imagination in THREE WEEKS!!!

[cantwait06]

After a couple of cruises full of drama due to a petulant teen and her even more petulant mother, and others, I now proclaim DH as head of the "drama department" and turn all issues (other than deciding what drink to have next) over to him. He handles it, or he doesn't........now about that drink....

 

Sol y Mar

 

On the Imagination in THREE WEEKS!!!

 

Sol, i am so nervous for my daughter to be a teenager! Are we the only ones sailing the Imagination coming up????

[dolphin1313]

Sol, i am so nervous for my daughter to be a teenager! Are we the only ones sailing the Imagination coming up????

 

Jamie, are you forgetting anyone????

[dolphin1313]

OP, thanks for the review! I'm glad to hear that you had a great time and didn't let anyone else ruin your cruise. I'll be sailing on a B2B starting on the 4/20.

[jpmaximus]

Super pics!...Really captured the feeling of being there. Thanks for sharing!

[charlnel]

Thanks for the review. We'll be sailing on the 3 day cruise on 4/24. Sorry you had some problems, but sounds like you made the best of a bad situation. I'm curious about the British Hilton. It's behind Senor Frog's? Do you have to reserve before you go, or can you just go there and pay to get on the beach? We were thinking of doing something like that, but the prices at the other hotels are much more expensive.

Thanks for the information.

 

Can't wait for our little get away!:D

Charlene

[cruiseapril]

Glad you enjoyed the British Colonial Hilton. Nice place- we enjoyed it too.

[ThisFemmeKat]

imagination on the 20th.. cant wait.. i need a frickin vacation.. :o

[cantwait06]

Jamie, are you forgetting anyone????

Mark I could never forget you;)

[EricaLovesCats]

Thanks for the review. We'll be sailing on the 3 day cruise on 4/24. Sorry you had some problems, but sounds like you made the best of a bad situation. I'm curious about the British Hilton. It's behind Senor Frog's? Do you have to reserve before you go, or can you just go there and pay to get on the beach? We were thinking of doing something like that, but the prices at the other hotels are much more expensive.

Thanks for the information.

 

Can't wait for our little get away!:D

Charlene

 

You can just show up, no need for a reservation. As you go through the front entrance go to the reservations desk on the right and tell them you would like the beach/pool access. They will give you a receipt which you will need to show out at the beach area to the attendant. He will take the receipt and hand you a beach towel. And the rest is up to you! There was hardly anyone there which was great. We had a nice comfy chair (included - I know some places make you pay extra for a chair) under an umbrella. They have waiters coming around taking drink orders (not included...lol). There was also a garden area with hammocks. Bathrooms are there too, along with a lunch grill type food place. We didn't eat there, we just waited till we got back to the ship.

 

I would go there again in a heart beat!