There's a boatload of things to amuse passengers aboard the Imagination. And, in addition to planned shows, activities and other entertainment, Carnival's officers and crew are determined that everyone will have fun aboard these ships. Service is a key factor on this vessel. Whether it's a request to your room steward or stewardess, a menu decision in the formal dining room, a towel at the pool deck or just about anything else, expect service with that proverbial smile.

Many first-timers get their initial taste of cruising on the Imagination and are, for the most part, younger than passengers on other lines. However the days of T-shirt-clad crowds are gone; today's cruisers are honeymooners, young families, and singles as well as veteran travelers who like the Carnival ambiance. Dancing is a popular pastime for all, and late night adults-only comics bring out huge crowds.

Standard cabins are 185 square feet and most cabins have twin beds that can be configured into a queen-size bed. Lighting is good with individual reading lights at each bed. Bathrobes are included in the amenities of all outside cabins. In-room safes, satellite television and standard amenities are offered ship-wide. Bring your own hair dryer. Only suites and demi-suites offer balconies/verandahs. Twenty cabins are equipped for physically challenged passengers. Six cabins on Verandah Deck offer partially obstructed views. Decor is simple and uncluttered, with a coral, gray, red and black color scheme and matching drapes and bedspreads. Drawer and closet space is more than adequate for two people for four- or five-day itineraries.

The two main dining rooms, Pride and Spirit, are not at all crowded and service is quite good from maitre d' to assistant waiters. Tables range from booths for four to tables of 10. Three meals a day are also available in Horizon Court on Lido Deck, through room service and a 24-hour pizzeria. The Horizon Court, with its various-sized tables, modern metallic chairs and ever-present neon overhead provides good service but passengers carry their own plates to the table and have to wiggle past the line to get drinks from another area. The same dinner menu that is offered in main dining rooms is available in Horizon Court with waiter service. A Nautica Spa menu provides calories and carbohydrate totals for some menu items and special diets are available with advance notice.

Room service comes on time, and is available 24 hours a day but offers a limited menu. New staggered serving times on Imagination, as well as other Carnival ships, mean early sitting is at either 5:45 or 6:30 PM and late sittings at 8 or 8:45 PM. Midnight buffets continue to be popular on Imagination where passengers, for the most part, party heartier and stay up later than on similar mass market cruise ships. Carnival's food service has been kicked up several notches and presentation and variety are superb.

With a mix of decor that includes countless gold-tone sphinxes and bars evoking fantasies of Shangri-La, the ship's "heart" is the Promenade on Deck 9. Leading from the fabulous Dynasty Lounge to the Pinnacle Club and Xanadu Lounge, more people gather here than elsewhere on the ship. They dance at the Dream Bar, try their luck at the El Dorado Casino and access the Internet at Vittorio's cafe. It's also the site of a boutique and the stairway to the Spirit Dining Room.

At the bottom of the six-story glass and brass atrium, on Empress Deck, sits a tall sculpture by Fort Lauderdale artist Len Janklow. Called "Space Illusion" it is a conversation piece and speaks to Carnival's outstanding use of passenger space.

Two self-service laundry rooms are located for passenger usage, $1 to wash, $1 to dry and 50 cents for detergent.

The Dynasty Lounge is the site of the Captain's Cocktail party, Broadway-type productions, port talks and more. Sight lines are unusually good, but a few poles offer some blocked viewing. A combination of banquette seating, love seats and theater-type seats are all comfortable and a warm color scheme of marble with corals and blues sets off the shimmery curtain that provides a festive feel before the music starts. Carnival's shows are state-of-the-art musical productions with lots of pizzazz, strong visual effects and a strong Latin music influence.

The Dream Bar is a piano bar that's one of the hottest spots on the vessel while Pinnacle bar attracts good before- and after-dinner business. The disco rocks 'til early morning hours. The large and airy Casino offers seven blackjack tables, one face up, one each of roulette and dice and two poker tables in addition to a variety of slots. Tournaments are scheduled almost every day. These are the fun ships and everyone parties full speed ahead. Few passengers seem to be in bed by midnight, yet there's always a crowd at breakfast.

Nautica Fitness Center is open daily from 6 a.m. to 8 p.m. and is probably one of the most active at sea. A variety of treadmills, steppers, circuit training and weight machines—more than 15 machines in all—and a large, mirrored aerobic room are busy all day long. The rooms are well designed and have plenty of space to move around in. The adjacent spa and beauty salon offer discounted treatments on port days and the "couples massage" is a popular service. Eleven laps around the Sports deck equal one mile.

The main pool—with the signature Carnival slide—is on Lido deck and another is on Verandah Deck. A second pool and a children's pool are also available. Lounge chairs are sufficient, towels are readily available and bar service is always accessible.

Shore excursions can be booked from individual cabins via Interactive TV, but a shore excursion desk is also open through the day and most people opt for organized tours. Information on taxi service and shopping recommendations are available at most destinations, but no suggestions are made for onshore dining.

Daytime activities include port lectures, bingo, Internet access (open 24 hours at a fee of 75¢ per minute), various pool contests, games, trivia and the El Dorado Casino, open at sea 8 AM–3 AM.

Camp Carnival is one of the most successful kids' programs afloat, featuring a mix of structured and individual activities. Programs feature four categories: Toddlers (2–5); Juniors (6–8); Intermediates (9–12) and Teens (13–15). Teens enjoy their own "disco" and seem to take part in the camp program without being forced into it. Counselors are trained and complimentary activities are available on sea days from 9 AM to 10 PM and on port days from port arrival to 10 PM. Baby-sitting is offered for children 12 and under from 10 PM to 3 AM in the Children's Playroom and is supervised by counselors. Pillows, blankets and cribs are provided. Cost is $5 per hour for the first child in the family and $3 per hour for each additional sibling. Each child, 12 and under, wears an identification bracelet and must be signed in and out by parents. A children's menu offers traditional items such as burgers and grilled cheese sandwiches and Camp kids usually enjoy a pizza party together. Formula and diapers are not available on the ship and parents of youngsters are urged to contact the line's Special Needs Department before sailing. Pregnant women in their third trimester cannot sail.

A broad crisscross of (mostly) middle America; according to Carnival, 30 percent of its passengers are under 35, 40% are between 35-55 and 30% are over 55.

Carnival recommends $3.50 per person, per day to your waiter; $2 pp/pd to your assistant waiter; and $3.50 pp/pd to your cabin steward. A 15 percent gratuity is added to bar bills.

Tuxedos are a rare find on formal nights with most men opting for dark suits. Casual nights seem "dressier" than on earlier Carnival cruises with nice, collared shirts for men and sweaters/silk tops with slacks for women. On a five-day cruise expect one "formal" night.

• Cruise line - Carnival
• Ship name - Imagination
• Type of cruise - Fun/Casual
• Total cabins - 1026
• Private balcony cabins - 54
• Decks - 10
• Passenger capacity - 2052
• Total crew - 920
• Officers nationality - Italian
• Ship size - Large
• Year entered service - 1995
• Tonnage - 70367
• Ship length - 855
• Registry - Bahamas

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