Left home on 11/17 at 3:30am for Miami on cruise day for New York to fly out at 7am. Thought about going the night before, but my philosophy is to go to bed early the night before, get up early and go and arrive on cruise day, and save a bunch of pennies from lodging the night before. Arrived on-time and early. Waited around for 1/2 hour for the carnival transfer bus to fill up and off I went. Arrived at port to find this Imagination awaiting my arrival, along with Destiny and a RCCL ship in port. Plunged from the bus to the ground and off I went, off and running to go sailing to Key West and Cozumel. Sped thru security lines and thru the boarding lines off to the ship.Got on ship around 1:00pm and headed to the stateroom to find it was ready, altho they said when checking in, it wouldn't be ready until 1:30pm. Dropped off the carry on bag from flying and off I went to the lido deck. Had a good lunch, not a great selection as always on CCL of food but it was good. Deli was the best of all. Been on this cruise before, just a different ship so I know what was in store for me this cruise. From embarkation to de-embarkation, it was a very windy week, around 65-70 degrees. Winds stayed around 12-25mph all week on ship which kinda stunk. Ship is in very good condition, new flat screen tvs in the staterooms. Ship was renovated with a huge water slide and a resort-like pool. Serenity deck is a nice thought, was just not big enough with enough chairs obviously. Nice comfortable chairs tho. As well as the chairs on the lido deck, not sure if CCL replaced the chairs to the new style on all ships but it was great and comfy!Welcome aboard show was great, lame cruise director (tina or tonia, cant remember the name off hand) but a great show and a brief funny comedy at the end of the show. I just knew from the introduction by the cruise director, she just didn't have the smarts or wits to be funny and an amusing cruise director that I've seen in the past cruises. This girl really needs to go back home to her native land and not quit her dayjob!

Day 2: Key West - Arrived at 7am. Got out of bed at 7am and had breakfast. Had a non-carnival excursion set up for 930am so ate around 8:00am and off the ship at 9:00am. Ship docked at the military base and was taxi'd via trolley to the mallory square downtown. Off and running I went to the Water Ski tour that I've done in the past. Water was only 70-75 degrees. It was ok, had the help of the wet suit I rented. Once again, this tour was great, did it 2 years ago with these guys at Island Water Sports and again was great. Always nice to get out on the water and take the 26 mile almost 2 hour tour around the entire key west and enjoy the view and the ride. Arrived back at 11:15 am, got changed back into dry clothes and off to town I went. Walked around a little bit to see not much has changed and same ol vendors selling useless stuff. Ate lunch at Hogsbreath and not sure why I went against my gut instinct to stick with Sloppy Joe's. Sloppy Joe's is much better from past experience and remember Hog's Breath is good but I wasn't too thrilled this time around. Things seem to have changed a little, not as many tourists there. I guess the economy is changing things these days across the globe. I remember Key West as being very vibrant even in november when I cruised here in the past in november so it was awkward. Elegant night was day 2 but I passed on it. The table we were put with was not a fun table on day 1 and just knew it wouldn't be as fun as had in the past. We were placed with 2 couples, both were first time CCL cruisers. So opted to not go back the rest of the week. Passed over on captain's night too. Have done it in the past and its just pointless to me to dress up on a cruise for a 45 minute dinner. I rather stay in vacation clothes and leave all the dress up for home. Caught the R rated comedy (18 and over altho nobody from CCL IDS or checks) at midnight.. very funny!

Day 3 - Cozumel - Arrived at 12:40ish our time (11:40ish cozumel time). After a brief accident when pulling into port, the ship docked next to the Legend at Puerto Maya. Waited around until 1:20ish for the first wave of people to rush off the ship and found our way off ship. After some pictures on the dock area, headed to the taxi stand and got a taxi to Mr Sancho's Beach Club 15 miles away next to Playa Mia. $14 each way from Puerto Maya. Arrived and were greeted by mr sancho's staff, offered ATV adventure and a horseriding adventure but passed over it. The day was a very windy day, altho in the mid 70s to near 80. NO ADMISSION FEE TO THIS BEACH CLUB AS IT IS A PUBLIC BEACH. a definite plus! Now this beach club would be a great place on a hot sunny summer day. It was a full house when we arrived (Disney, CCL Legend, Celebrity, and a couple other ships were also in port). Got a table on the beach, as there is plenty. Got a drink and relaxed for a few minutes. Beach is nice but some seaweed is on the beach, looks as it hasnt been maintained really well in recent memory but it was great nonetheless. Menu looks enticing but wanted to save my appetite for Carlos n Charlies. Can pay an all inclusive price or pay as you go which I did because I wasn't going to eat up to the $50 price for the AI package. Massages were available but passed over on that also. Great facilities that are sufficient, showers, toilets, outside showers. There is an area of tables to eat under this huge hut with a big bar. Some little mom and pop shops on site to get your mr sancho souvenirs. Stayed at the beach until 6-6:30ish. Went into the shower area, stripped down to my birthday suit and showered up. Figured I should as I would be out for a few more hours and nobody else was inside showering (wouldn't be a pretty site with other naked guys showering). Then headed back via taxi to Carlos n Charlies. The taxi was very informative on the way to carlos n charlies and pointed out some things and gave me some insights on the island which was cool. Tipped him a few extra $$ on the way out. The guy going down to mr sancho was boring and lame, didn't talk or anything. Ate at carlos n charlies, had the very yummy chicken tacos on the soft shells (3) and fulfilling along w/ the salad. Yummy!!!!!!! Every time I come back to cozumel I only eat here for the best food in cozumel. After dinner, grabbed a taxi and headed back to the pier. Looked around the little mom and pop shops at the same ol souvenirs as I've seen over the years that are pretty much useless. But fun to look around. Still very windy and got a couple more pictures before heading back to ship for 930pm re-boarding. On ship, headed up to the lido deck, met a couple of ladies and other people and got my dance on! It was great.Started what I waited for since I booked this cruise, drink til I drop! didn't quite go that far as I didn't want a nasty hang over the next day on fun-day at sea. But got to the drinking and dancing. 11:00pm came, an hour after leaving cozumel and the sail away began. Most of the crowd was so laid back and relaxing but some got into it. Fun Ship Entertainment staff was really into it and fun. The assistant cruise director was awesome, led the way.Danced around for a good couple of hours and that was the night. Off to the food I went then to bed. Read more