Carnival Inspiration Review
Rating by category
Additional details
Since I live near the Port of Long Beach, the terminal is only about a 15-20 minute drive. Plus, the price was right for a four night cruise. I had never cruised with Carnival before and wanted to give it a shot. Having cruised with Disney, I didn't come in with the highest of expectations.
The ship is older (one of the oldest in Carnival's fleet) and it shows. The main entertainment venue is a lounge--style theater instead of the more-modern broadway style. There are no speciality restaurants (this is made up for with upcharge options at dinner and chef's table). The ship is showing its age, but Carnival has appeared to have kept it in ship shape during dry docks. Hopefully the next one will bring some new life.
I was in an upper/lower birth cabin. Having this does give you a little more room, since the bunk leaves more space. However, I'd have preferred this configuration with a balcony or even an ocean view. Unfortunately, Inspiration's balonies are only in suites. That said, no complaint on the room. It served its purpose well and was clean.
Cabin Review
Interior Upper/Lower
Clean, well-appointed and nicely laid out. The lower bed is tucked against the wall and corner, the bunk above it but lying in the opposite direction. This leaves room below the bed for storage. There is a nice small desk. The shower is great and big enough, with the shampoo and shower gel dispensers attached to the wall. There is an A/C unit that allows the cabin to be kept plenty cool, as it can get extremely stuffy. Keep in mind it also will get pitch black in the cabin at night, so, keeping the bathroom light on can help. The TV remote was a bit of a pain and probably needed a battery change.
Port Reviews
Los Angeles
It's actually Long Beach and not Los Angeles. The cruise terminal here is fantastic and Carnival has done a great job in converting the former home of the Spruce Goose into a fantastic place to board. Well setup to check in, go through securitiy and board. I recommend Faster to the Fun, so your cabin is ready by 11:30 am. The port area is nice, as there are dining and entertainment venues nearby, along with the Queen Mary.