GraphicsChyk ~

The Inspiration is a great ship.  I was on it in November for back-to-backs and had a wonderful time.   The Serenity Deck at the back of the ship is a great place to try to grab a chair when leaving port and watch the 'real' world drift away...

 

~ Lizz

This is a great ship.  Took her last year and now going on her again.  We had a blast on it. 

 

irishlizz:

GraphicsChyk ~

The Inspiration is a great ship.  I was on it in November for back-to-backs and had a wonderful time.   The Serenity Deck at the back of the ship is a great place to try to grab a chair when leaving port and watch the 'real' world drift away...

 

~ Lizz

 

Thanks Lizz. I'm really looking forward to it. It's the 2nd cruise for myself & son, but the first for my husband. And I can't remember the last time we had a real "family vacation" so that makes it even better.  

 

~Heather

Wow. That's all I can say after reading this entire thread. Wow.

First off, I will be sailing on the Carnival Inspiration Sept 21,09 and am very excited to be sharing the experience with my husband, our 10 month old daughter, my mom and my aunt, this being my husband's and aunt's first cruise EVER (I was pregnant with baby last time we went, so I count that as her first cruise), I'm sure we will have a blast--but that's expected, as we always do!

Interesting point: I have worked in healthcare for over 5 years and have talked to many physicians who choose to be the 'onboard physician' on all sorts of different cruise lines. From what I was told, the cruise fair is free. Now...what I don't understand is why, 4Vicci has chosen to go on a '1.5 star' ship if the fair will be taken care of...?  With all the money wasted by Carnival Cruise Lines (free fair for you and your PHYSICIAN husband), exactly who was being ripped off?  That Cat 11 'suite' could have gone to someone who would have appreciated it much more than you. 

 As far as the Spa treatments go; dang, what did you have done? Do you need that much work?  I didn't know they had a working Plastic Surgeon onboard along with your PHYSICIAN husband. I enjoyed both of my spa treatments while on the Carnival Inspiration last year for under $100 each (facial, massage, hair done up for formal night).

I'm guessing since you had Indian cuisine 3 of the 5 nights, you must be Indian? Pfft! Suprised your PHYSICIAN husband is allowing you to get online and post these nasty things you are saying about Carnival Cruise Lines. He needs to get you under control!

Gold AMEX? Are you trying to impress us? I'm impressed no one shoved you over the side of the ship. (can I say that and not get in trouble? lol)

 One last thing...I'm part of the blue collar community that goes behind your PHYSICIAN husband and his Doctor buddies and makes sure they didn't order something that's going to kill them. That's right, a NURSE.

 amen

Chassie...Loved that skit!! Luved his little hat....laughing just thinking about it!! (I am still trying to figure some of this out....how do you copy the quotes?)

Just got back form the 9/7/09 sailing! Loved it :) All of the food was wonderful, the renovations look awesome compared to when I first sailed on the Fantasy years ago. We ran into a few not so nice cruisers! I wonder if this lady had her family take a reunion while we were there!! All the other cruisers kept acting like the ship would run out of food. Seriously, do the galley tour and George the Greek from the Carnivale dinning room will tell you the TONNAGE of the food they get every trip back to Tampa. Over all a wonderful 7th cruise for me :) Working my way to platinum! I'm so ready to go again :) Linden our waiter was AWESOME!!! Nyomand our room steward was great :) Love the water slide and the new deck chairs :) You would never guess the age of this ship!! The whole crew was great except for one cocktail waitress. If you see Laura in the captain's welcome or past guest party (tall Russian sounding blonde long curly hair with a bad attitude) RUN!!!! Go shopping, jump over board, do laundry, or find another activity. She yelled at me during the president's dinner after I reminded she promised to bring my mother-in-law back a glass of white wine ~15 min ago (this was my mother in law's first cruise too!). When I say yelled at me, it was more like screamed like a banshee and all sound stopped from upstairs near the sound board where we were sitting. She later screamed at another guest behind us for asking for a second drink. I complained, but that did not stop her being rude. Then at the past guest party I saw her slap a guest hand as they were asking for a drink. She came to a table of eight in front of us, gave one person a drink that had none, three of the others did have drinks, and left the other four without. So the one lady asked for a drink and Laura slapped her hand hard. I didn't know if the guest was going to hit back, but she just sat there in shock. I ran to guest services. I've never had this happen on any ship. I'm just glad it didn't ruin it for the first time cruisers we had with us since they didn't want to be our guest at the past guest party after what happened at the captain's welcome party. Did the end of cruise survey and listed what a nightmare this chick was.

Thanks for the info.   I sail in 26 days on the insperation and I will stay away from her.

Sorry 4Vicci,

The ship was refurbished in 2007 FYI

We just got back from our first cruise 9-07/9-12. Like I said it was our first cruise so I don't have anything to compare Inspiration to but I thought it was awesome. We started lookin for our next cruise as soon as we got home.  At first glance, you would think the ship is brand new. I'm workin on a review from start to finish, will try and post it soon. If anyone has any question feel free to give me a shout.  kymater@yahoo.com

I went on a 5 day cruise on the wonderful Inspiration with my 16 year old daughter and 10 other mothers and their 16 year old daughters, and us lowly blue-collar workers had the time of our lives.  In fact, I am leaving on another cruise in October with my new husband, same delightful ship, same ports of call, because it was so much fun I just want to do it again.  I certainly hope that you are not on the ship.  And the food was wonderful as well.

vicci

so sorry to here you had such a bad time, inspiration was my husband's and my very 1st cruise and usually after each trip my husband says ok we did that lets find something new

well after this trip on the INSPIRATION my husband did't want to get off the ship and both of us cant wait til we go on another

 cruisers forever NOW THANKS TO CARNIVAL AND THE INSPIRATION AND THERE WONDERFUL CREW who were very helpful and attentive

kat

What a sad little person you are! If your husband is indeed a physican (which I seriously doubt) why were you not in a Penthouse or the Owners Suite?? (reserved for Celeb's and Carnival Exexs)?? Oh thats right....problem with the credit card!! You certainly know what you were in store for, so stop your whinning!! (you should also know that the Veranda deck is not the top floor for rooms on the Inspiration--the Owners suite is on deck 12)

We just returned from the 10/1/09 sailing. The OP must have rocks in her head! We were treated like royalty the entire cruise. Our Maitre'D "Joseph the Supercharged" took care of our every need. My wife left her purse in the dining room by mistake, and by the time we got back there, it was already turned in to the Purser's desk. Our cabin steward, "Wichit", was fabulous. He had our room done to perfection every day! The food, drinks, entertainment, and service were all top notch. IMHO this is a 5 star ship. We would cruise on the Inspiration again in a hot minute!

Just read through this thread.  We live in Tampa, so the Inspiration is berthed at our home port.  We are booked on the Inspiration for the 11/21/09 cruise.  We have cruised on RCCL and Carnival, and I actually like Carnival better.  I do plan on sailing at least once on RCCL's Freedom and Genesis class ships, but overall I think Carnival is just a better value.  The food is, hands down, better on Carnival.  On the larger ships (we were on Valor earlier this year) they have a Fish and Chips window with fresh made Fish and fresh made potato chips.

 Only disagreement is with the comments on lobster.  I was raised at the end of Long Island, in the town right before Montauk, NY, where we catch LOTS of lobster.  I have eaten many a 10+ pound lobster, and believe me, they are not tough.  Of course, you don't find many that size anymore, but if you do, don't hesitate.  Just don't overcook it...

 Best,

Kathryn