Carnival Imagination Embarkation Day

No matter whether it’s your first or fiftieth cruise, embarkation day is always special. Carnival Imagination was berthed at the new Carnival terminal in the Port of Miami today, which made the embarkations process all the more efficient. We were getting our photo taken at 12:30pm and were on board shortly afterward. While waiting for staterooms to be ready at 1:30pm, we found a comfortable seat in the atrium lobby and enjoyed a rum punch from the lobby bar. While full, the ship doesn’t seem at all crowded.

Our standard outside stateroom on Upper Deck was worth waiting for—as part of the “Evolutions of Fun” enhancements, all accommodations now have flat screen televisions, Carnival Comfort beds, and new furnishings and bathroom fixtures. Particularly useful are bedside tables and a corner shelf beneath the television for storing small objects. There’s plenty of closet space, including shelves. The vanity/desk has drawers for even more storage. Bring your own hair dryer, though… they aren’t provided, although you may be able to borrow one to use during the cruise if you ask immediately after boarding. You won't have to ask for fluffy terrycloth robes to use; they are waiting in the closet.

While exploring the rest of the ship we were equally impressed with the fresh appearance of lounges and public rooms. A major improvement is that tables have replaced "dated" booth-style seating in the dining rooms, resulting in more room to move around for both guests and waiters. And our dinner was excellent—it’s hard to beat the food on a Carnival ship.

Another upgrade can be found in public restrooms throughout Carnival Imagination—fashionable basin-style sinks, heavy duty hand dryers, and all automatic fixtures. You don’t have to lift a finger to turn on the water, the powerful hand dryer, or even flush.

We’re sure to find a lot more to like tomorrow during our day at sea. Follow along as we tour the ship and discover other changes aboard Carnival Imagination.