Monday, July 13, 2009

It's always Carnival time as the good ship Inspiration sets sail from the Port of Tampa


The Carnival Inspiration, all 860 feet in length, moves slowly down the channel toward the Skyway Bridge and the open Gulf of Mexico. Launched in 1996, Inspiration is a member of Carnival’s Fantasy class. It carries a crew of 920 and 2,052 passengers. This ship is similar to the Legend which I featured just before it sailed on June 21st. The Inspiration has ten decks and sails on 4-5 night cruises from Tampa to the Western Caribbean. It has several pools, restaurants, bars, and lounges, plus lots of entertainment including comedy acts, art auctions, talent shows, Vegas-style revues, piano-bar sing-alongs, and pool games. It amazes me how many shops are on board cruise ships and the Inspiration is no different and features the Galleria Shopping Mall. Of course it has spas, exercise and health center and special kids programs (I guess some kids do enjoy cruising.) First rate casinos include black-jack, slot machines, poker, roulette, and craps tables. (I know this is exactly why many folks enjoy these ships but while losing their money they very well might miss the scenery passing by. Oh, well, it's their money.) I don’t care how many times I watch the ships leave port, it quite a sight. Plus our sky was a beautiful send-off to all the passengers crowded on the decks. Bon voyage.

5 comments:

Lowell said...

That two really good black and whites in one day, Frank! This is a beautiful ship and I'm always impressed with them...and I've been on smaller versions for an evening, but I personally don't see that attraction of floating around the ocean, most of the time in dimly-lit casinos or bars or restaurants...

Furthermore, too many people have fallen off the damn things lately!

Frank said...

You are so, so right. I couldn't believe the smoke-filled casinos and bars overflowing with tipsy travelers. It's too slow and crowded for my taste...get me there now! Faster. Faster. Where is that Concorde? (Thanks for noticing my b/w.)

Don and Krise said...

Jacob is right. The B&W looks good on this one, especially the sky. Frank, is this where you'll be hosting the CDPB get together? What can we bring? Maybe the coctail weenies?

Lois said...

The clouds seems to be mirroring the ship in this fabulous picture Frank! I'm not a big cruising fan either.

Frank said...

Hosting a CDP get-together? Is that what happens when you step out of the room for a moment (or don't read your comment immediately after arriving on your blog?)

Sure, why not. I'll charter the ship for my closest 2,000 CDP friends. (Jacob, did you bring the checkbook?)