Expert: Linda - 4/10/2001

Question
Linda, first of all thank you for answering my questions.  I am bringing my mom age 61 and myself 35 on the Carnival Imagination ship on Dec.10th this year doing a 5 night to grand cayman and cancun. As a your a great mom and thanks for helping me out gift.  We have a midship cabin on the Rivera deck.  Are we going to be happy with that one? Should be fly in the night before or will be be ok flying in that day.  We said at 4:00.  How is the food?  Did I pick a good ship for a leisure type trip.  I am leaving a husband and 5 kids to bring my mom, so I want to have a great time with her and get lots of R&R.  Any suggestions or sites I should check out?  Thanks again for your time.  

Answer
I can't give you an answer on whether you'll be happy with your cabin as I don't know you and your Mom, but I'll just give you some things to think about...then you'll need to decide.  You have 4 decks to walk up to to get to the dining room from the Riviera deck and 5 to the clubs shops etc.  If you're both in good shape, you'll get lots of exercise, if not, you'll need to use the elevators.  If you're midship, you'll be close to an elevator.  Since it's your first cruise, I hope you chose an outside cabin and not an inside.  Inside cabins can be claustrophobic and very dark and as first time cruisers, you won't be used to stepping up to get into the bathroom.  As far as midship, that's great as it is the most stable part of the ship.  You don't say where you're flying from or what time your plane leaves and arrives.  If you're booking your airlines through Carnival, the ship won't leave without you if you're late.  If not booked through carnival, they may not wait for you if you're delayed.  If not booked through carnival, I'd come in the day before.  The food is very good on carnival, remember, if youorder something and don't like it, just send it back and order something else.  For other sites, log onto Cruise Critic, you'll find loads of information there, message boards etc.  You will have a great time...geeze, just being away from 5 kids for a few days!  There is as much to do on the ship as you wish, you can be busy, or sit in the library and read; take a book and read on deck, lounge by the pool or hangout at the bar for a nice cool drink.  You can order room service if you don't feel like going to the restaurant.  There is always food available whenever you want it. When you go to Grand Cayman, do take the swim with the stingray trip, it's incredible.  If heat bothers you or Mom, choose the early morning trip, the sun is not so hot.  Grand Cayman is a beautiful area, and great for looking in the stores...too expensive, but great stuff to look at.  Cancun has lots of water stuff, great beaches.  I'm not sure what tours they offer there.  You'll hear about all the shore excursions on the ship, just pick the one that you and your Mom think you'll like.  There are no bad trips.  You'll be back next year....on a week cruise I'm sure.  Once you go, you'll be hooked !  Ask away if you have more questions.

Happy Cruising
Linda