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Carnival Imagination Cruise Review to Mexico

tanishafanney

Contributor Level: Purser

Cruises: 1 cruise (first)

Review: 1

Helpful Votes: 18

Overall rating:

1 out of 5

Verified Review

4 Night Catalina & Baja Mexico (Los Angeles Roundtrip)

Sail date: March 06, 2016

Ship: Carnival Imagination

Cabin type: Inside

Cabin number: r45

Traveled as: Singles/Friends

Reviewed: 8 years ago

Review summary

This trip was by far the worse travel experience I've ever had. I decided to take my first cruise as a way to celebrate a milestone birthday. Despite the fact that we couldn't dock in Catalina as scheduled, I was excited to explore the ship and have some fun. The crew was so rude and unenthusiastic that I soon grew anxious and apprehensive about having to interact with them at all. Each customer service experience made me feel increasingly alienated. The staff made no effort to make me feel valued as a guest or to make my vacation a special, enjoyable experience. By dinnertime on the evening of my birthday, I felt so berated by the staff's rudeness that I ended up bursting into tears in the dining room, just after my server, Leroy, walked up to take my order and greeted me by saying, "Okay, you can start now."

Besides the poor service, the activities offered on the ship are not much fun, unless you are a die hard gambler and don't mind playing in a "dead" casino. The shows and activities are not very entertaining; the first prize for the trivia contests was a shiny, plastic, golden ship trophy. The pool is quite small and filled with children, and the hot tubs, which I was looking forward to, were constantly monopolized by college kids. And finally, the food, which became the only thing to "do" after a while, was typical.

The only bright spots in this trip were our time in Ensenada, which is beautiful; Kostadinka, the one superstar server who worked in the Pride Dining Room, and my steward Kervin, who helped make my birthday special.

Ship experiences

Food and Dining

3 out of 5

Onboard Activities

1 out of 5

Entertainment

1 out of 5

Children's Programs

3 out of 5

Service and Staff

1 out of 5

Ship Quality

3 out of 5

Cabin / Stateroom

5 out of 5

The room was fine, I ended up hiding in my room and reading a book, to escape the Twilight Zone effect of the ship.

Ports of call

Long Beach (Los Angeles), California

5 out of 5

Catalina Island, California

1 out of 5

Ensenada, Mexico

5 out of 5

31 Comments

StevieBGood 8 years ago

I am leaving on April 10th. This is my first cruise and I'm a little nervous and excited at the same time. My husband has been on dozens of cruises and so has his friend that is going with his wife. There are 4 of us and 2 of us are newbies. (Us girls) I am so looking forward to it!! !4 days from today!! Woo Hoo!!

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legofire 8 years ago

We just got back from the 4 day cruise on the Inspiration and had a blast. The crew and staff amazing. We did have to change our itinerary around a bit due to the tenders not being able to arrive at Catalina due to not being able to leave LA due to an oil spill. We visited Catalina one day later and had the day at see first day. Great times great ship and crew.

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SASA63 8 years ago

Jalockw come on our cruise I will show a good time !!!

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thatguy581 8 years ago

Lol... Now now jalockw.... Be nice... Lmfao

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SASA63 8 years ago

WiLL DO HAPPY CRUZIN !!!

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thatguy581 8 years ago

Keep the Westcoast safe.... I'll hold down the Eastcoast

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thatguy581 8 years ago

Oh trust me... We will... No doubt

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thatguy581 8 years ago

It's awesome cause we keep in contact with ppl we cruise with and end up booking future cruises...... Life's short, carnival on!!!

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SASA63 8 years ago

I wanna be an APRIL FOOL!!! Have a great time !!!

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thatguy581 8 years ago

April fools.... We are always "that group" at the pool

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SASA63 8 years ago

Well hell !!! I'm sure I could find something to celebrate in April !!! Maybe we will join you !!!!'

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thatguy581 8 years ago

Lol, we're leaving on April 16th....

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SASA63 8 years ago

Thanx Lance !! Come on our next cruise we are leaving on Easter Sunday gonna find me a golden egg!!! And toast my buns in the sun We are celebrating a bunch a birthdays lots of cake and champagne !! Come one come all we will be the decorated deck!!!!

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thatguy581 8 years ago

Lol Sasa... You're cool 😆😆😆😆

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SASA63 8 years ago

I'm running and I won't touch ground oh no I've got to keep on movin

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SASA63 8 years ago

For the second lil eat and drink and be merry !!!

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SASA63 8 years ago

EXACTLY !!!!' I remember my first cruise I was CRAZY !! Didn't leave my room for 2 whole days on the third day I came out cause I was starving didn't know they had room service lol anyway in the third day I pulled up my boot straps came out of my room and made my carnival vacation a VACATION to remember and I LOVE CRUISING although I lost 20 pounds on the first cruise can't say that for

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thatguy581 8 years ago

Bahaha, whoop whoop... Life hands you lemons, I make lemonade

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thatguy581 8 years ago

Sasa, this clown is a trip, I've cruised many cruises since 2000 and some were not as catered too than others, but like the song says "ain't nobody gonna break my stride, ain't nobody gonna hold me down, oh no

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SASA63 8 years ago

Omg you two ?? I hope your both on my next cruise !! I'll be the one with the pins colada at the pool !!!

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SASA63 8 years ago

Nobody was trying to be rude or assholes we were simply saying have a more open mind about people and things in general I was simply giving ideas for a better next time How to make lemons into lemonade in other words if she had of did more homework there was tons of fun to be had !!!!!!

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thatguy581 8 years ago

Lmfao.... OK 👌Brockly

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thatguy581 8 years ago

Woa Woa pitiful me..... Cruises are about fun times, meeting ppl, having fun.... Kinda like "what happens on Carnival, stays on carnival..... Happy belated birthday tho, lol

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SASA63 8 years ago

I was thinking the exact same thing !!!!

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SASA63 8 years ago

Ohhh and last thing !!! If you had taken some items with you and decorated your door !!! And let everybody on ship know it was your birthday you can be real darn tootin that Everybody on ship would of helped you celebrate your birthday !!

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SASA63 8 years ago

As far as the casino goes no body in my group gambles except for me but both my cruises I've won enough to pay my trips So I'm not complaining and trivia and prizes plastic ship take it home to your grand kids make a story they will never for get LIFE IS WHAT TOU MAKE OF IT TANISHA DONT BE SUCH A STICK IN THE MUD !! A ROCK AT SEA !!

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SASA63 8 years ago

We will be leaving on our cruise soon celebrating a bunch of birthdays in the process You can or somebody that knows you can can always call ahead of time and have your room decorated for your big day or a birthday cake sent to the dining room Like I said life and cruising is what you make of it if you have already decided you are having a bad time then that's what you will have

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mzepke 8 years ago

Sorry you didn't have a good time. This is my first cruise for my birthday too, we leave April 14th. I am excited. Still positive thinking even after bad things I've heard. I think however, any vacation is what you make of it, so hopefully you will cruise again in the future!

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SASA63 8 years ago

Wow !! That sounds like a lot of complaining to me !! Cruising is what you make of it !! Why didn't you join the college kids !!! They would of loved to help you celebrate your birthday !!! And you must remember that most crew on ships are of a diff culture and your idea of politeness is probably taking way outta of context What did you want !??? Them to roll out the red carpet and caviar

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ocmama 8 years ago

Sorry you had such a bad experience, especially for your first cruise. I've been on that Baja cruise and had a fabulous time. Trust me, what you experienced was not the norm.

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brockly 8 years ago

Wow I see a lot of ships at this time not able to port in Catalina.... and that kinda sucks.... they should hit San Diego. ... or something .... and yeah I had one bad cruise. ... I know what your talking about ... sorry to here that ....

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