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ABOUT THE SHIP
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Writer Lisa Costantino based this independent review
on her 5-night Western Caribbean cruise departing from Miami, Florida.
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Like
a display case spilling with costume jewelry, Carnival’s Imagination
is all flash and brash, with loud colors and glittering lights. Brought
into service in 1995, this Fantasy-class vessel wears it well, though
you won’t see much in terms of refurbishments or cutting-edge features.
Still, most people don’t mind: The typical Imagination cruiser
is in it for the fun, the reuniting of families, and the gathering of
friends. The strictly Caribbean cruises are short and convenient for
many, and best of all, they’re reasonably priced.
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Heard on the deck
(during the lifeboat drill): “Did he just say, ‘Women and children go
first?’ Hey, it’s just like on TV!”
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Why Imagination?
· All-ages show: No stodgy
sailing here. The passenger list runs from toddlers to honeymooners to
fun-loving retirees, creating a happy, if sometimes chaotic, ambience.
· Diversity rules: Imagination
attracts people of all different ages and backgrounds, making the ship
a truly integrated at-sea community.
· Sing-alongs at sea: Party and participation go hand
in hand with karaoke in the Xanadu Lounge,
sing-alongs in the Mirage Bar, and celebrity
impersonations in the Dynasty Lounge.
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Who should go
Families -- the more of them, the more fun. Kids find diversions on
every deck, whether it’s a Camp Carnival ping-pong tourney or a
boisterous board game with the siblings. A waterslide, nine-hole
mini-golf course, video arcade, kid-friendly movies with popcorn -- the
only thing missing is the refrain “I’m bored.”
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Who shouldn’t go
Peace and quiet is limited to your cabin (depending on your neighbors),
so those seeking a restful vacation will need to readjust their
expectations. Seniors may also find the environment a little too
fast-moving for comfort. Surprisingly, given the relatively young
average age of passengers, this is not a singles cruise.
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INSIDE EDGE
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Hits and misses
· Don’t miss: The midnight gala
buffet is splendid in presentation and a feast for carnivores, chocoholics,
and fans of exquisitely carved produce.
· Best part of the ship: Soaring
upward in a neon, glass, and brass spiral to a gleaming glass dome, the
atrium dazzles with a towering plexi-art
sculpture and a six-deck glass elevator, where kids commandeer the
corners and go along for endless rides.
· Best experience: Breathing! Imagination’s
smoking areas are confined to the casino and the port sides of the
Pinnacle Bar and the Lido Deck -- a very welcome policy on this
family-oriented ship.
· Best shipboard activities:
Karaoke auditions culminate in Carnival Legends, a final-night
showcase of the ship’s best passenger talent for imitating the greats.
On our cruise, the James Brown and Aretha Franklin impersonators gave
uncanny performances. Give those folks a contract!
· Needs improvement: Providing
helpful information and direction to passengers -- particularly
regarding shore excursions and gear rentals. Equally inefficient is the
lifeboat drill (Why two muster stations? Why wear life jackets before
instruction?), and the flow of passengers on and off the ship.
Disembarkation can be a nightmare.
· Activities
to skip: Ports of call sailaway parties
-- including a band, a few more bar staff than usual, and not much
else.
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How to meet the captain
Attend one of two cocktail receptions on formal night and be greeted at
the door by the ship’s master (plus enjoy free hors d’oeuvres
and cocktails). You may also meet the captain after the disembarkation
talk on the last day of the cruise, where he introduces his team of
officers and engineers.
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DINING
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Imagination’s
dining choices are basically limited to identical twin dining rooms
(hosting dinner in four staggered seatings; one
restaurant also hosting lunch and breakfast) and a Lido Deck buffet.
For those seeking more exciting options, there is a small Sushi Bar
open each evening, and a café with popular coffee drinks and decadent
desserts.
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Spirit and Pride (main dining rooms)
A subtle palette and comfortable environs make up for the main
restaurants’ unintuitive layout, which necessitates diners passing
through narrow serving stations to get to and from their assigned
tables. Round or rectangular tables seat groups of 6, 8, 10, or 12;
cushy booths seat 4. Those looking for a cozy table for 2 might want to
order room service. Recommendations from your waiter help you navigate
the menu, which features decent but not outstanding fare, the
highlights of which are prime rib, lobster, salmon, and some
imaginative soups and desserts. A spa menu serves calorie counters, and
there’s a nightly vegetarian option (though not often at lunch).
Service is excellent at dinner but a crapshoot mornings and noontime:
You may be served with efficiency one day, ignored by idle servers the
next.
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Horizon Bar & Grill
Dark blue and gray but splashed with bright colors and metallic
accents, Horizon teems with hungry diners who jostle amid crowds while precariously
juggling plates (trays being inexplicably absent). Smallish buffet
stations serve the same morning menus, with an omelet station
complementing the usual scrambled eggs, breakfast meats, and pancakes.
At lunch, one station offers up grub such as roast lamb au jus, cheesy
mashed potatoes, mushroom fritters, and prepared salads; the other
hosts the Taste of Nations, a daily culinary visit to a different
country, each of which offers one or two tasty dishes amid mostly bland
versions of the real thing. A third buffet station offers a salad and
fruit bar, desserts, and soft-serve frozen yogurt and ice cream (alas,
the selections stop at chocolate and vanilla). Come evening, the buffet
becomes the Seaview Bistro, with limited fare
that samples the dining room menu.
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Other dining options
· Pizzeria: Tucked into the aft
corner of Horizon, the Pizzeria offers Caesar salad, one kind of
calzone, and six kinds of pizza -- all adequate but a bit disappointing
given their appealing descriptions. Best thing going? It’s open 24
hours.
· Hamburger station: The Lido
Deck’s snack station grills up hamburgers, cheeseburgers, hot dogs, and
veggie burgers, with fixings that include chili con carne and sautéed
mushrooms. Crispy French fries and a few prepared salads serve as
accompaniments.
· Vittorio’s
Café: This bright café serves the only good coffee onboard via an
array of espresso drinks. Better yet, it doubles as a soda fountain and
bakery and the goods here are really good: Banana splits, peach Melba,
chocolate-covered strawberries, tarts, strawberry cheesecake, and
wonderfully creamy milkshakes. A don’t miss, despite the price tag (up
to $4 per dessert).
· Sushi bar: From 5 to 8:30 PM most
days, this little kiosk tucked into an unassuming spot on Promenade
Deck offers a small but tasty selection of sushi favorites (note that
the fish is not raw for food safety reasons).
· Afternoon tea: Dainties are
accompanied by live piano music daily from 3 to 4 PM.
· Room
service: Cruisers who want to lay low can order food and beverages
free 24 hours a day, though breakfast items are only available until 10
AM. The menu includes a wide array of sandwiches (several veggie),
salads, desserts, coffee, sodas, and beer. Tips are expected.
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Best dining
· Dish: It’s a toss-up between
the chateaubriand and the smoked duckling breast (for non-meat eaters,
the Madras-style vegetable curry).
· Dessert: Decadence of chocolate
-- a luscious cake with dark chocolate, heavy cream, and a touch of
rum.
· Restaurant: Not surprisingly,
the Spirit or Pride dining rooms serve the best food.
· Food
seminar: As there are no food seminars onboard, the ice-carving
demonstration takes the prize.
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How to:
· Get a table for two: Better
plan on a buffet dinner -- there are no tables for two in either dining
room.
· Celebrate a birthday or
anniversary: Visit the Formalities shop on Promenade Deck to order
one of several delicious cakes (small $7.95, large $9.95) to be
delivered to your waiter (and thence your table at the appointed time).
Allow no less than one day’s notice.
· Change seating: Notify your
maître d' as early in the cruise as possible if you’d like to change
tables or seating times.
· Dress for formal night: A lot
more flash and a bit less sophistication still means cruisers in glitzy
gowns and suits will outshine dressed-down diners.
· Dress for
casual night: Nice, restaurant-friendly clothes are expected, but
we noticed some shorts-wearing passengers making the cut on some
nights.
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Tips:
· Dine in Spirit or Pride on the last
night of the cruise to witness the wait staff donning frilly-sleeved
tops and dancing around the room to Arrow’s “Hot Hot Hot,” a goofy spectacle that replaces the usual
baked Alaska parade.
· Celebrants bringing their own wine or
champagne aboard the ship (only during embarkation; port purchases are
collected until cruise’s end) can expect to pay a $10 corkage fee.
· A daily Funship Feast menu is available for kids who’d
prefer a PB&J to broiled lobster tail.
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Heard on the deck:
“Normally I hate to waste food, but there’s so much here I’ve never tried.
I’m going to load up my plate with everything and take one bite of each
dish.”
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CABINS
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Roomy
at 185 square feet, Imagination’s cabins are more than adequate
for two people to relax in comfort. The twin beds, left apart as
singles, are laid out in an L-shape rather than side by side, affording
much more space to move about, and cabins for three or four feature
pull-down berths with mattresses as comfy as those on the lower beds.
The cabin décor is as plain as it is showy everywhere else, but
passengers with ocean views will hardly notice. Storage is ample for
Imagination’s four- and five-day cruises, with two closets for hanging
clothes, another with five shelves (and a mini safe), five drawers in
the vanity/desk, and room for the suitcase under the bed. A full-length
mirror hangs behind the door, and there’s a good-sized TV that offers
plenty of channels but very few movies. The tiled bathroom is equally
spacious in comparison to many other ships, and the mirrored cabinets
have three shelves to hold plenty of toiletries. Shampoo and soap are
provided, as is a basket of promotional goodies such as disposable
razors, lotion, and toothpaste. The shower is of the handheld variety
and has decent water pressure. Hair dryers are only available on
request. Terry cloth bathrobes are a nice touch (oceanview
cabins only).
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Cabins for guests with disabilities
Twenty of Imagination’s cabins are geared for guests in
wheelchairs. Accessibility is good throughout the ship, with few lips
to navigate. Even the topmost decks can be reached via elevator, then
by an admittedly steep ramp.
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Tips:
· If you want a balcony, book a suite
and do it early, as there are a mere 54 suites, all located on Verandah
Deck and offering little extra than the balcony, a bit more space, and
a sleeper loveseat.
· Phone calls from your cabin (even to
toll-free numbers) start at $6.99 a minute.
· Don’t lose your cabin’s plush beach
towel or it’ll add $22 to your cabin account.
· Laundry
rooms are located on the Empress and Upper decks, each with washers and
dryers ($2 each), irons and ironing boards, and soap dispensers ($1 per
box). Or wait for the final at-sea day and have a bagful of dirty
clothes washed and folded for $15.
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ENTERTAINMENT AND
PUBLIC AREAS
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Eschewing
the art collections and vintage memorabilia that many ships integrate
into their décor, Imagination’s designers created a unique style
resulting in a hodgepodge of mosaics, pillars, collages, and murals.
Flat-screen TVs hang at nearly every turn, taking your getting away
from it all and setting it right back in the midst of CNN, Oprah, game
shows, and, oddly, New York City’s local news. The heart of the ship is
Promenade Deck, where lounges, dance floors, and the casino line up and
vie for your attention and patronage. At the same time, you’ll also
find numerous nooks and crannies with chairs, tables, and cushioned
window ledges where more than one passenger can be seen peacefully
napping. Activities aren’t quite as frequent or organized as on other
ships, but you’ll still find plenty of things to do to while away the
at-sea days: Bingo (including pajama bingo), dance lessons, trivia, and
name that tune, and a hugely popular towel-animal making demonstration
(buy the book for $12.95).
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Bars, lounges, and casino
There’s a bar for every taste on Imagination, from the
Shangri-La, popular with the older set for live cocktail music and
dancing, to Illusions Disco, a neon-flashy dance club where a DJ spins
hip-hop into the wee hours. The chandeliered elegance of the Pinnacle
Club belies its masculine proclivities: Here you’ll find a bank of
flat-screen TVs, a cigar bar, and the ship’s twice-daily Texas Hold ‘Em games. The neo-deco Mirage Bar is a mid-evening
favorite, as cruisers gather ‘round the pianist in the middle, making
requests and joining in the singing. Several smaller bars offer
cocktails to go but no vibe. The expansive El Dorado casino houses 15
tables offering blackjack, let it ride, three-card poker, craps,
roulette, and, of course, Caribbean stud poker. This place could rival
a Reno joint in size, smoke, neon, and noise. Nickel slots, strategically
placed at the entrances to lure the hesitant, are among the 170 slot
machines. Win a Megacash Jackpot and get your
photo posted on the Wall of Fame. Parental alert: The minimum age in
the casino is 18.
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Heard on the deck:
“No more rum punch! I’ve already had enough alcohol to last me a
lifetime!”
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Swimming pools
Tiled in primary colors, Lido Deck’s pool is ruled by kids throughout
the day, and no wonder: Its 115-foot-long, 14-foot-high waterslide is
one of Imagination’s biggest attractions. With a depth of about
4½ feet, it’s kid-friendly for all but the smallest of youngsters, who
have their own pool and mini-slide at Camp Carnival. The aft pool on
Verandah Deck is overlooked by many, which is for the best, as it
resembles an extra-large spa tub good only for getting wet. Signs state
that kids must be accompanied by adults, but it was a rule not
well-enforced during our cruise.
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Heard on the deck:
“For future reference? No more black bathing suits. I can’t find you
in these crowds!”
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Shows
Tiled floors and striped carpets, mosaic tables and paisley sofas:
Dynasty Lounge certainly doesn’t depart from Imagination’s
eclectic décor, but it’s exceptionally comfortable with good sight
lines and decent acoustics. The Imagination Dancers put on several
Broadway-style revues in this two-tiered show lounge, all characterized
by sleight-of-hand costume changes, amazing amounts of stamina, and
talent that runs from earnest to enthusiastic. The Xanadu
Lounge hosts comedy acts, including the popular late-night adult shows.
It also functions as the ship’s movie theater, showing a featured film
of the day (including a midnight showing of The Rocky Horror Picture
Show). A counter sells popcorn and other snacks during movie
showings.
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Shore excursions
Reserving a shore excursion with Carnival’s online booking engine takes
only a few minutes and saves you the frustration of standing in yet
another line once onboard (and the shore excursion desk keeps very
limited hours). However, due diligence is required when it’s time to
meet up for your outing, as signage is poor in some stops and Carnival
direction is virtually nonexistent. One woman on our cruise went on the
wrong excursion -- twice -- without anyone noticing. The activity
levels in the tour descriptions can be misleading, particularly for the
Dunn’s River Falls, which is a lot more difficult than its rating. All
cancellations carry a 25 percent fee, and tours canceled within 24
hours of port arrival time are nonrefundable.
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Weddings and vow renewals
Onboard or destination weddings can be arranged through The Wedding
Experience, a wedding planning company contracted by Carnival (and most
cruise lines). Imagination nuptials can be performed in Miami,
Key West, Grand Cayman, or Jamaica, or onboard the ship in a designated
lounge. A nondenominational officiant
presides over weddings, but vow renewals (starting at $385) are
performed onboard by the ship’s captain. Wedding packages start at
$750.
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Looking for:
· Quietest spot: The Curiosity
Library is filled with plenty of polished-wood tables and chairs and,
best of all, solid glass doors that stay closed.
· Liveliest spot: The Lido Deck
-- for pool games, Water Wars, Carnival Survivor, hairy-chest contests,
and the late-night Tropical Deck Party with its Mexican buffet, music,
and dancing.
· Best view: Head to the bow of
the ship on either Verandah or Sun Deck, where you can gaze into the
horizon, usually in privacy.
· Best drink: The Funship Special may not be the best, but it’s
certainly the most popular. It’s a fruity concoction of Amaretto, 151
rum, vodka, apricot brandy, and fruit punch.
· Best
show: Shout features nonstop American pop tunes through the
decades. Nearly outshining the show is the opening video montage of
vintage TV ads and concert clips.
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Tips:
· Stay in touch with the 24-hour
Internet café. Purchasing a package (30 minutes for $16.50 or 60
minutes for $24) is recommended, as the pay-as-you-go rate of 75¢ per
minute racks up faster than you’d think. Sign up on embarkation day and
get up to 10 minutes free. Wireless access and laptop rentals
are also available.
· No cameras, please: The Funnel Deck
offers tops-optional, adult-only sunbathing.
· Looking to
meet someone? Singles gatherings are broken into age groups: Seniors,
over 35s, over 25s,
and 18-24s. Each gathering is held in a
different lounge.
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KID STUFF
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One
of the best things about Camp Carnival is its rather secret location,
making for a truly kids-only retreat away from uninvited adults. The
“camp” includes two playrooms and an outdoor play area with plastic
play sets and a wading pool, though activities take place throughout
the ship. Kids are grouped by age: 2-5, 6-8, 9-11, and 12-14, with
activities (“Coke-tail” parties, face painting, cookie decorating,
fitness programs, scavenger hunts, talent shows) geared to each group.
Teens 15-17 have their own dance parties, movies, karaoke, and sports
competitions grouped under the aegis of Club O2.
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Tips:
· Attending Camp Carnival? Parents and
participating youngsters must attend the embarkation night orientation
meeting, which is followed by a family welcome aboard party with ice
cream sundaes.
· Parents take note: While kids ages
2-8 must be signed in at all times while at Camp Carnival, those 9 and
older can register for and attend specific activities as they choose.
· Babysitting (basically a pajama party
for children 4 months to 11 years) by experienced youth counselors is
available from 10 PM to 3 AM in the Camp Carnival playroom. The fee is
$6 per hour, plus $4 per hour for each additional child in the same
family. Childcare for infants and toddlers is also offered on port days
until noon; parents are given beepers to stay connected.
· Appealing
especially to teenage girls is the NuEmage
airbrush body art kiosk on Lido Deck. Ask Mom for a temporary tattoo;
they’re $12.50 to $16, plus $3 for extra colors.
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Heard on the deck
(from an 11-year-old commenting on Camp Carnival): “That’s for the
little kids. I’m too old for that.”
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SPA AND FITNESS
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Spa and salon
Imagination’s pamper palace features all the services and
specialties expected from a spa-at-sea. Eight massage rooms and an ionithermie treatment room lie between the locker
rooms and the coed spa, where lounge chairs curve around two bubbling
whirlpool baths. The salon is a galley-shaped, cheerfully lit room with
a handful of stations. It buzzes with cuts, manicures, and pedicures
all day. Aromatherapy massages for couples are popular: At $49, couples
take away tips and a bottle of massage oil. Also popular are formal
night specials and island hair braiding -- the latter especially
popular with young men. Deals on spa treatments and salon services,
such as $29 facials and $89 massages, can be had toward the end of the
cruise (and on embarkation day), though appointment times fill quickly.
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Fitness areas
A hallway and closed doors separate the gym from the spa, providing a
buffer between the clanking of weights and the desired serenity of the
massage zone. Cardio machines (six exercise bikes, four stair steppers,
four treadmills, and two elliptical trainers) are placed to make the
most of the big blue scenery beyond the nearly floor-to-ceiling
windows. Somewhat older weight machinery and racks of free weights fill
the mirrored back half of the room. Near the attendant’s desk sits a TV
blasting pop videos. Free fitness classes include step, express
pump, circuit, and stretch; yoga, Pilates, and cycle spin come with a
$10 per-class price tag. Other sports spots include a basketball hoop,
three ping-pong tables, a golf driving net, and an excellent nine-hole
mini-golf course.
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Tips:
· The fitness instructors assume class
participants know what they’re doing. If you have any physical limitations,
inform the instructor before the class, and then proceed carefully at
your own pace. Don’t let a pulled muscle ruin your cruise.
· Carnival’s Golf Academy is manned by
a pro who offers video lessons and clinics, sells Nike golf equipment,
and presides over putting contests. Discounts are given to kids ages
7-12.
· Kids 12 and
up (accompanied by an adult) can choose spa and salon services from the
YSpa menu, with cuts and fun colors, acne
treatments, fake tans, mom-and-daughter massages, and other treatments
geared for teens.
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Heard on the deck
(halfway through first yoga class): “Oooph.
This isn’t what I expected at all! I thought we were going to just sit
around and meditate.”
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AT-SEA SHOPPING
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The
Galleria Shopping Mall is somewhat of a misnomer, given that it
consists of two large shops, two sales tables, and a narrow tunnel of
duty-free items. The souvenir store proffers a good supply of resort
wear and kids’ clothes and toys, along with a multitude of
Carnival-branded items of the photo album, coffee mug, and T-shirt
variety. Far more upscale is the jewelry and perfume shop, with an
impressive display of diamond- and gem-encrusted pieces. The
salespeople are more professional than the average cruise ship clerks,
but along with the expertise comes more pressure to buy. One deck above
is a $10 gift boutique selling purses, scarves, ties, watches, belts,
jewelry sets, shawls, and sunglasses. You’ll also find Formalities,
where you can rent formal wear or purchase birthday or anniversary
cakes, champagne packages, red roses, or candies by the pound.
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Tips:
· Most of Carnival’s ships now use an
in-house art auction firm rather than operating under a vendor, so the
buyer’s premium tacked onto the price runs lower than most. At least
come for the free champagne and art raffles.
· The kiosk tables offer deals on
jewelry throughout the cruise, raising the bargains a notch on the last
cruise day, with specials such as two for $20 T-shirts.
· All fine jewelry and watch purchases
come with an unconditional one-year guarantee.
· Free liquor and rum cake
tastings occur during the cruise, as do diamond and gem seminars, $10
gemstone sales, and raffles for free watches and jewelry.
· Shoppers who make purchases in port
at any of Carnival’s recommended stores (you’ll get a flyer listing
them) should fill out a buyer’s guarantee form, which guarantees your
goods for 30 days.
· The Photo
Gallery sells film, memory cards, waterproof cameras, and next-day
processing.
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ITINERARIES
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Imagination's primary cruise offering:
West Caribbean from Miami (4
or 5 nights)
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Tip:
When it comes to leaving the ship, Imagination’s free-for-all
disembarkation doesn’t work. Save yourself some trouble and use the
“self-service” route: Passengers willing to tote their own luggage off
ship get to leave first.
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SHIP FACTS
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· Cruise line - Carnival
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· Ship name - Imagination
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· Type of cruise -
Fun/Casual
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· Total cabins - 1026
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· Private balcony cabins -
54
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· Decks - 10
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· Passenger capacity -
2052
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· Total crew - 920
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· Officers nationality -
Italian
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· Ship size - Large
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· Year entered service -
1995
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· Tonnage - 70367
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· Ship length - 855
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· Registry - Bahamas
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Review
first published on Expedia.com ©2005.
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