It’s safe to say that without the recent refurbishments, Carnival’s Imagination is a truly outdated ship. It first set sail in early 1995 when cruising was considered an upscale activity. Now, more than ten years later, the cruise line has updated the ship’s décor, and added new amenities to ensure that it stays competitive with the ‘fun family ship’ trend. The renovation sings to the tune of 40 million dollars, a significant investment for a relatively old ship, but fortunately the risks paid off, more or less. But you still have an inkling that it’s a ship past its prime, apart from the pool slide and the sleek fitness area.

There was originally a huge sculpture which served as the centerpiece to the ship’s atrium, but is now replaced by a bar. Much of the actions still happens at the Promenade though, on the ninth deck, and even if the retouch doesn’t contribute much to your expectations for a visual stimulant which is indicative of Carnival, it still remains to be the throbbing heart of the ship, even during port calls. The Promenade is lined with several lounges, a disco and casino, and a few bars which serve varied fare such as coffee and sushi. First-time Carnival cruisers may find the interior accents odd, even grotesque, but in time the theme becomes clear; Imagination is a fun ship, despite the winged ‘beings’ which are perched on practically every part of the ship.

A recent and prominent amenity is Carnival Waterworks, a veritable water park on the top deck, complete with pressured jets, and slides which swirl for up to 300 feet to the pool. Sprinklers are positioned at strategic places to simulate a tropical drizzle. Another new addition is the adult-only Serenity Area, a quiet cove which overlooks the sea, and with plenty of the most comfortable lounge seats in the industry. The bathrooms are redone as well, and repeat cruisers will now notice that Imagination now has fifty interconnected staterooms.

The dining experience from the original ship pretty much stays the same, which is a good thing; Imagination still has two main dining rooms which offer four seating schedules. Buffet-style meals are available at the Lido deck all day long, and the new vegetarian choices (Spa Carnival Fare) offer fare to sate health freaks. Specialty meals and beverages are offered at the El Dorado (sushi), Vittorio’s Café (designer coffees and pastries), and the Horizon Bar and Grill (continental fare and pizza). Complimentary room service, a necessary evil, is available throughout the day.

Apart from the Promenade, there is also significant activity at the two-level Dynasty Lounge, with an expensive sound system serving as a backdrop to a rather limited view of the ocean. The Galleria shops also offer baubles and sundries, on the eighth deck. In the long view, Imagination is still a good ship for a memorable getaway, even if the retouch slightly fails to bring the ship’s visual appeal to modern tastes. The noticeable lack of balconies is also indicative of a ship which essentially belongs to another era of cruising. Still, neophytes and veterans to cruising still welcome the almost familiar ambiance of the ship.