Roger25375

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CarnivalParadise Click here to view the cruise

One of the Shots of the outside Lido Deck Area.

We just returned from a 4 night cruise on Carnival Imagination to Key West and Cozumel. The ship looks amazing and I have nothing to complain about on this trip. This was my 8th Carnival cruise, number 9 is booked for May to Grand Cayman and Cozumel and number 10 is booked for November to the Southern Caribbean from San Juan on the Valor. We used the Faster to the Fun, it is so worth the $49.95 to be escorted to the front of the line in the check in process, your roomis ready the minute you step on board and your luggage is brought right up as well, plus you can use the Diamond/Platinum line at Guest Services. I did this again for the May cruise so we can get the priority tenderover to Grand Cayman. This was the first muster drill that I have been to that started in a lounge and then you were escorted to the life boat area. Nice not to have to stand up and outside the whole time, but this seems to add to the time it takes to complete the drill. Cabin: Outside Oceanview E16 on Empress Deck Portside Forward. Great location and easy to get to where you were going. The only real noise you heard was from the thrusters as the ship went into and out of ports. Key West: Very charming city, we booked the Ducks of Key West tour on line for a 9am tour so that we would have time for some shopping afterwards. Well at 9am we were told that due to a technical issue and a sickness the tour was cancelled and she did not know how to do refunds, we were welcome to do the 11am tour and still make it back to the ship on time as the tours are 1.5 hours long. We agreed. We still think it was cancelled as we were the only 4 people who booked it. Nice tour saw looks and the drive/boat ride around the harbor was nice. We had 10 minutes to spare to run back to the ship only to see the longest line ever to get back on board so we were good. Cozumel: We booked a Ancient Culture/Mayan Ruins/Island Sightseeing tour from Carnival. It also was great, best tour guide on any excurision in a long time. He explained looks and really gave us the history of what we were seeing. After the tour we ate dinner off the ship at Three Amigos, best mexican food ever. The weather was great the first three days, the sea day back to Miami was rainy windy and all of the upper decks were closed due to high winds, so no water slides, mini golf, running track etc, but there are plenty of other things to do, and besides I was still on a ship. Staff was friendly and always spoke no matter where they were or what they were doing. Can't wait for May and the 2nd cruise of the year.

Thought I would share a couple of pictures. Rainbow as we sailed towards St Lucia. The Pitons in St Lucia.

We did a St Kitts Highlights tour that included admission to Brimstone Hill Fortress, the views are amazing. You can negotiagte prices with the monkey people.

St Lucia, did a catamaran cruise to the Pitons, WOW. We also like St Kitts.

Bridgetown, Barbados....If you get out of the city it's ok, if you only stay downtown, you will be highly disappointed. This is one port where you need to take an excursion. Just my opinion. We have been twice and avoided downtown the last visit. There are stores/shops at the cruise terminal.

We completed our second cruise on the Carnival Victory Nov 4-11 2012. We cruised on her previously the same week exacly one year ago. With such a port intensive cruise, there was no way to see it all the first go around, so we knew we would have to do this again. We flew in a day early on the 3rd and stayed at Casablanca on Old San Juan. It was $25.00 for the taxi including our bags from the airport to the hotel. Nice hotel, but no elevators and our room had no hot water, by the time we realized it, it was too late to switch rooms as they were full. We did ask at the front desk that we receive a different room after the cruise as we were staying over again and not flying home until Monday evening. When we do this cruise again (planning Nov 2013 on the Valor) we will fly home after the cruise and not stay the extra night. We met some friends from work at Senor Frogs that flew in on a later flight before calling it a night. We checked out of the hotel a few minutes before noon and made our way to the pier. They had already started boarding so we gave our bags to the porters, showed our ids and proceeded to go check in. It took all of 30 minutes from dropping bags to walking up the gang way. Our room 1057 Balcony on Panorama Deck was ready so we left the carry on bags and headed to lido for lunch. The ship was not at all crowded yet. The four of us ate and decided to get back off the ship and explore old San Juan. We stayed off until 6:15 and were suprised at the long lines of people just now checking in for the ship. Dinner the first night is open seating and you go at anytime you like. We split up for a few a decided to meet at 7pm, that would allow for enough time for dinner and to go back to the room to see if the bags had arrived yet. And then wait for the dreaded muster drill at 9:30 pm. This time, the drill was longer, hotter and more miserable than in the past. They explained more, I assume due to the Costa accident and them hadto repeat everything in Spanish. It took almost 30 minutes to complete, but we were one of the first groups to get to leave. The staff, Harry Cabin Steward, Anthony and Iputuin the Altantic Dining room were amazing, always willing to go the extra mile. We never encountered any rude staff except for one in the Photo Gallery, and they seemed short staffed. No big deal. Always pleanty of food to eat and I could always find something to eat, no complaints from me on the food or it's availability. Staff always spoke to us, no matter where we were, they seemed to carei if you were having a good time or needed anything to help you have a good time. St Thomas we booked private excursion/Island Tour with Papa Bear from Air Force One Tours. Barbados, we went to Harrison's Cave and then back to the ship, we did not like downtown Bridgetown last year and decided to avoid it this time. St Lucia, we booked a catamaran cruise to the Pitons, best tour we took all cruise. Food swimming and drinks included on this excursion. St Kitts, we booked St Kitts Highlights with Brimstone Hill Fortress. St Maarten, no tours just shopping and walking around and my first Chicken Mac at McDonalds. Overall, this was a fantastic cruise, best ports that Carnival offers on a single cruise. We hopeto do it again Nov 2013 on the Valor as it will be a new ship for us to experience. Currently planning the next Carnival Cruises, 2 short 4 days cruises in Jan Key West and Cozumel and May to Nassau and Half Moon Cay.

Looking for ideas for St Kitts and Barbados. We will be on Carnival Victory. Island tours sightseeing or shopping ideas are welcome. Thanks for any information you can share.

Mardi Gras was my first Carnival Cruise, 3 times on the Fantasy, Carnival Glory, November 6th on the Carnival Victory, Can't wait. 58 days.

5 on Carnival Number 6 in November on the Carnival Victory. Number 7 next June to Alaska Rhapsody of the Seas, Number 8 April 2013 NCL Epic.

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snacks delivered to the cabin (cookies,pies etc)

Early then go see shows or casino, bars etc.

Thank you for sharing the menus.