This trip was awesome.  We were able to get to the port from Miami International in 20 mins ($24 one way) via taxi.  Despite the additional form that we had to fill out relating to Swine Flu, embarkation was fast.  We were on board and having lunch at Horizons by 1:30.  Our room was ready by 2:30, so it all timed out perfectly.  This time, we had an inside room but I thought it was well maintained by the staff and was not so small that I ever felt claustrophobic.  After we dropped our carry on luggage in the room and brought in our just delivered luggage, we took some pictures on deck of the Miami skyline and helped ourselves to a Pina Colada on the Lido Deck. The only part of the embarkation that was a drag was the borderline rude forced Titanic-ish "if the boat goes down, this is what you must do" schpiel they force you to sit through.  Honestly, they could have skipped that and spent that time explaining how to get around that ship and it would have been a better use of my time.  I still found myself getting turned around, even on the last morning.  In general, the Imagination was well maintained and a good time.  We had late seating for dinner and great tablemates, so I cannot complain about that.  Dinner the first night was great and we had excellent servers in Romelito and Ferdinand, the most comical and professional servers in the group.  My only complaint with Carnival was that due to Swine Flu, our port call in Cozumel was cancelled.  I understand that and appreciate the position they were put in.  Further, I appreciate their concern for spreading it.  What I disliked was how horrible it was calling in to their call center to get information as to what would happen.  We did not know one week before we were leaving if the cruise was going to happen, what port(s) we would be visiting and times to be there.  It would take anywhere from 5-35 mins to call for answers sometimes and it seemed that they only wanted to make announcements after 6pm on any given night.  This not knowing status continued on for 3 or 4 days.  Day 1 was finally getting out of them that they were canceling Cozumel.  Day 2 was getting them to tell me what we would be doing instead (Nassau).  Day 3 was telling me what hours we would be in port in Nassau.  Day 4 was being told that we could not book any excursions with Carnival because we were to leave in under 4 days.  We were told that when we arrived that day on the boat, we could book with the shore excursions desk.  So, we were told that we could duke it out with all the other disgruntled customers.  No thanks. I am just not that passive in my planning.   So, I contacted dolphin encounters and booked with them directly, saving money in the process.  The cruise line offered the same encounter for $162 and  I paid $98.  I had to pay that $8 round trip cab fair but still came in way under the $162 price tag Carnival was selling it for. 

Day 2: Key West

We reached port at 7:30am, so getting off the boat for Key West was extremely simple and fast.  No wait at all, not even at 8:30.  There was a trolley train waiting outside to take us to Duval Street (as the cruise ports on a Naval base).  The ride was about 10 mins long and the driver gave us landmark information to find our way back to the pick up place, which was nice.  Key West is really quite nice.  Two things that we found especially nice in Key West were the Coach Factory Store and Salsa Loca for lunch.  The Coach store had great GREAT deals.  If you want a Coach that will hold up (unlike the knockoffs you will find at the flea markets elsewhere ) at a good, good price, you need to find this store.  It is right on Duval street around the 5th street area. We walked down to the Southernmost point, as well.  It is quite windy down there but a nice photo opp, nonetheless.  Then, we made our way back up Duval after shopping and sightseeing to have lunch on Cinco De Mayo at Salsa Loca (9th and Duval).  It was incredible food and drinks at a great price.  It is not much to look at from the outside but inside and in back, it is a very nice place.  I will definitely visit again when I make my way to Key West again.  This was formal night on the cruise and it was good to see people dressed up, even though Carnival does not get too strict about dress codes (one fellow showed up in jeans and a t-shirt to dinner).  Dinner was phenomenal that night.  The servers also performed this night with the standard napkin twirling show but also sang a song, which helped make them seem more personable and less standard out of the box napkin twirl.  Read more