August 11 - 16, 2008
We had a family group of 15 and had booked the cruise well in advance. In fact our original cruise was to leave from Jacksonville, FL. But 6 months after we booked it, Carnival pulled the ship as it was too old to be repaired. Since we were on a tight budget-we had three high school graduates going to college in the fall, we chose the Inspiration out of Tampa and argued for the prices that were in effect when we originally booked. And Carnival cooperated. It still meant more expense as with Jacksonville we could drive easily, but Tampa meant two nights on the road, and when gas prices skyrocketed we all ended up flying instead.
PRE-CRUISE: We managed to come in on 5 different flights, from 4 different airports. Two groups stayed locally at the Comfort Inn Airport. The accommodations were merely adequate; my sister's air conditioner quit in the middle of the night and my husband's tv "blew"—popping sound and smoke. Otherwise they said it was comfortable. The reservation desk recommended their Port of Tampa package, which was only $10 more per room. I had arranged for us all to meet at the port around 12:00; however, my family was unable to get a shuttle from the hotel until almost 1:00, and they were spitting mad. Since I had the Fun Passes for their rooms, I had to sit and wait for them, while the rest got to board.(I should have given everyone their own copy of the Fun Pass). Since check-out is 11:00 I would recommend a cab. They would have called a cab if they had known the shuttle was going to be that late—they had to sit in the lobby to wait—were not even offered extended check-out.
M299: more narrow than the other inside cabins that say they are for 4 people. But close to elevator.
M148: Different floor plan, more open than other inside cabins but white pole in the middle. Closet is across room from the door instead of when you enter Can't put twins together, pole made roll away difficult-couldn't center it to have space to walk around. Otherwise good for 2.