New dining, bars and retail coming to Carnival Inspiration

The features will be incorporated during a three-week drydock at Portland, Oregon, Jan. 18 to Feb. 5. Following the renovation, the 1996-built ship will resume its year-round schedule of three- and four-day Baja cruises from Long Beach, California.

Among the additions are two free-of-charge poolside venues: Guy’s Burger Joint, developed in partnership with Food Network personality Guy Fieri, and BlueIguana Cantina, a Mexican eatery serving freshly made burritos and tacos.

Other poolside additions include RedFrog Rum Bar and BlueIguana Tequila Bar. Inside, the ship will gain Alchemy Bar, a 'cocktail pharmacy'-themed lounge with mixologists who 'prescribe' concoctions of different elixirs and ingredients.

Also new for Carnival Inspiration is Cherry On Top, offering bins of bulk candy, gifts, novelties and custom apparel.

On its year-round short cruise program from Long Beach, Carnival Inspiration departs Fridays on three-day sailings to Ensenada and Mondays on four-day cruises to Ensenada and Catalina Island.