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Inspiration at Pier 12-04-2002 Cozumel, Mexico
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We celebrated our 42th Wedding Anniversary aboard the Inspiration. |
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We boarded the Inspiration in downtown Tampa, Florida. This is a new Terminal for Cruise ships with covered parking within a block. Parking cost $10 a day or $70.00 for the cruise. There were plenty of baggage's assistances available for $1.00 a bag. We started on the ship at about 12:00 noon. Going thru a couple of lines, we were on the ship by around 2:00 PM. This is not as bad as it sounds, but it still took a couple of hours to get check-in and board the ship. What one has to remember is from about 9:30 AM to 3:30 PM, approximately 2400 people check-out and get off the ship and then, 2400 people check-in and get on the ship. |
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Inspiration sailed from Tampa, FL on December 1, 2002 for a seven day cruise to the Western Caribbean. We made port calls in The Grand Cayman Island, Cozumel, Mexico and New Orleans, LA |
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Inspiration |
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Eating on the Lido Deck |
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We were able to get lunch by 2:30 PM. So, even with the long lines, we still made lunch. This was our first meal on board the Inspiration, hamburgers and french files. For me, it was excellent and only a short line. This was Carmen and my second cruise, so we are not experts on cruises. The first cruise was on the Veracruz in 1985 out of Tampa. Our stateroom on the Inspiration was at least twice as large and nice as the cabin we had on the Veracruz. |
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On the Stair |
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5 or 6 stories of glass |
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The Inspiration is beautiful ship. It was extremely hard to believe you were on a ship. Ica, Carmen sister from Spain, kept going to the Lido Deck to make sure we were on a ship. Except for lines to most function, it was a very good cruise. The service on board was outstanding. If you had a request, they would try and full fill your request beyond your expectations. We selected late setting for dinning. This gave up Breakfast at 9:15AM, Lunch at 1:30 PM and Dinner at 8:30 PM. Now do not panic, you could almost always get food on the Lido Deck from 6:30 AM to 11:30 PM. |
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Ica and Carmen in Dinning Room |
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Our Group for Formal Dinning |
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This was the group that share a table for late sitting in the Dinning Room. Standing is Carmen, Chuck and Ica. Setting is Roger and Pam Popel from Bristol, England and Mary and Roy Anderson from Georgia. We enjoy their company and share life stories with them. This is one of the best things that happen on the cruise, the meeting and sharing experiences with very nice people. Getting early or late settings; getting a table by the window or a booth or a table in the center of the dinning room was not the individual choice. |
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| I believe, they should have be able to assign you a table that was available when you check in. This should have be your choice not the computer or individual who was checking you in. It would only take a minute more during check-in, but would give you a choice in the matter rather than 2 hours later getting into another line to change your sitting arrangements. If you are traveling with friends, you should be given the opportunity to select from available tables your choice. In our case, we check-in early and booked the cruise early, we should have had our choice of tables. | |||
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Roger and Pam Popel |
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Mary and Roy Anderson |
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Waiters nightly dance |
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MARDI GRAS DINNING ROOM |
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A picture of the setup of the Mardi Gras Dinning Room is to your left. The gold table is were we set with the Andersons and the Popels. We only had seven people at our table of 10, although most of the tables were full. We were assigned a booth 145 for early sitting, but we preferred late sitting and a table. I believe that because we were three, we did not get a window table even when we booked five months in advance. This, of course, was one of my dislikes about the cruise |
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Roger and Pam on formal night |
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We had two formal setting for dinner during the cruise. Roger and Pam Popel on our first formal setting. The Popels live in Bristol, England where Roger works for the University of Bristol and Pam works in retail. I think these formal settings were more for their photographers than for us. However, I am sure some people would of preferred formal dress every night. If you did not want to go formal, you could always eat on the Lido Deck. It has four lines, two inside lines and two outside lines with food. The Lido Deck also had a pizzeria which was open almost 24 hours a day. Although the food was not the best we have every eaten, it was plentiful. I believe the service we received and the company we share at dinner was outstanding. |
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Chuck and Carmen on formal night |
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One of the Lounges |
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We went up to the lounge to wait for dinner time. Had a drink and just enjoyed the beautiful surroundings. You could have your picture taken by at least 5 different photographers, in 5 different locations on the ship. We had our pictures taken several times, but they did not turn out to our liking. This, of course, included most of the pictures on this web page. |
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On the Lido Deck |
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We spent a lot of time on the Lido Deck. I guess, the Lido Deck was the fun deck for us. You could eat, inside or outside. Your choices for food, was very good. Lunch and Dinner, you had couple of items to select from for a meal or you could have hamburgers or pizza. Here you could enjoy two hot tubs, a swimming pool or just set at a table over looking the gulf. We eat most of our breakfasts and lunches on the Lido Deck. |
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