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Disappointed. by
Chris from Texas Sailing date: Aug 2007Pros: Fantastic main dining room wait staff. Paying for Sodas everywhere you go? Don't nickel and dime me - raise the cruise price! Infamous midnight buffet only has hamburgers and yogurt? Dining/FoodPoor choices in dining when not scheduled dinner.
Stateroom QualityVery small for largest suite.
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Children's ProgramsNot as many kids enrolled in the 9-12 age group as expected.
13 out of 18 people found this review helpful.
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   I would not recommend nor ever sail on a by
Joseph D from Melbourne, FL Sailing date: Sep 2010Pros: few Cons: various I had attempted to complain to guest services unpleasant odors and the safe conditions at the water slide and then again, in defense of my wife, and the final night to the maitrede, although I recognized that I was at fault for not having proper attire; I wanted to make the point that the vessel had not even come close to living up to expectations, I was disgruntled that other rules were by in large ignored and poor supervision made certain situations unsafe. Yet Carnival management pushed back in calling my state room to explain they had a company policy and without regret adhered to guidelines.
Apparently its less distracting to allow a woman to sit at her table upset and crying rather that allow a gentleman to be seated on formal night in shorts. Ship QualityWe embarked on the Sensation out of Port Canaveral, before even leaving port we were disappointed; the vessel's age was likely reason to blame for moldy and stale smells of cigarette smoke that embodied the ship; coupled with intermittent occasional pungent smells of raw sewage that greeted us while traversing the cabin area hallways made our experience most unpleasant. Dining/FoodWithout an attendant to direct passengers, meal times were also a source of frustration. Carnival creates confusion by setting up tray and plate stations at each end and in the middle of all buffet lines guests enter from all directions and are left to fend for themselves. I witnessed several incidents of hard feelings and harsh words because of conceived line jumping. Stateroom Qualitysmall and cramped for 3 adults, but we knew that up front Ship Staff QualityOn formal night I was refused dinner seating with my family, who already had been seated because I had not thought to bring long pants on a Caribbean vacation, I was dismissed by the maitrede, my wife sat at the table and cried. At that dinner my wife ordered rare prime rib, her brother the steak; the prime rib came well done and was sent back, the steak was served but was too tough for Doug to eat, when her dinner arrived she swapped meals with him, upset and unsatisfied they left before dessert. Entertainment & Activitiesno issues Children's ProgramsWithout proper supervision at the water slide, the area became dangerous and unusable for my handicapped brother-in-law, where after only 3 rides on the smaller slide, the larger was not open due to high winds, rowdy-ed up children crossing over the slides rather that going around and running then pushing on the stairwells were contently knocking him down. 7 out of 9 people found this review helpful.
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This truly is a FUN ship! by
A Traveler from Detroit, MI Sailing date: Feb 2011Pros: Friendly staff, lots of activities, the trip itinerary was perfect! The ship was clean, there were lots of activities for people to participate in, the staff was friendly and the service was excellent. The shows were great and there were several lounges to choose from. Ship QualityThe staterooms were roomy and the shower was just as good as home. Dining/Food
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Freeport, Grand Bahama IslandI wish we had opted for the swim with dolphins rather than the horse-ride we purchased. The ride was long and we could only walk single file injun style - even when we got to the ocean.
Nassau, BahamasMust see Atlantis and Paradise Island. It was absolutely beautiful and the beach was wonderful.
5 out of 5 people found this review helpful.
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Great Price, Great Value, Great Cruise by
A Traveler from New Jersey Sailing date: Jan 2011Pros: the food Cons: the expense of the transfers from orlando airport to the cruise ship My finance and I just got home yesterday from our cruise to the Bahamas departing from Port Canveral, FL. We cruised on the Carnival Sensation from 1/30 - 2/3/11. I booked this cruise for a great price and I believe we received great value.The food on this cruise was very good compared to other cruises I have been on. I enjoyed lobster with shrimp, mahi mahi, salmon, flat iron steak, thai barbque, etc. you name it I ate it! The cruise had a complimentry sushi bar which was offered on two occasions during the trip and you bet I took advantage, and it was excellent, very fresh! The overall condition of the boat is just okay, you tell its on of the older ships, it has chipping paint, and has been painted in outdated colors. The service is good, our room attendant cleaned our room twice a day and provided turndown every night for us which was great. He also made an animal figure out of towel daily which my finance got a kick out of. All food servers provided great service, they were very efficient. However, the pool attendants were a little annoying asking us if we wanted a drink every two seconds. The drinks are overpriced and extra small. The ports we stopped in were Freeport and Nassau, Bahamas. At our first stop, which was Freeport we were surprised to learn there was no beach right when you get off the boat, which was kind of a bummer because we didn't want to spend any money the first day because we planning an expensive excursion the next day. Oh well! To get to the beach, you have to get a cab ($5.00 per person each way) and go to Port Lucaya which has shopping and a beach, its about 15 minutes away from the ship. The second stop was Nassau, there is a straw market which offers a lot of bargain shopping. There was also Senior Frogs, and beaches in close walking distance. My finance and I decided to purchase day passes and go to Atlantis. Atlantis was extremely expensive, but totally worth it!! All said in done with the day passes, lunch, drinks, cab rides, it was around $400.00. The day pass included access to the water park, beaches, and aquariums. Atlantis was amazing, it has the best water park i have ever expeirenced. The beaches were so beautiful and clean and the aquarium was awesome as well! All in all this cruise was great and my finance and I had a awesome time! I highly recommend~ Ship Quality
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5 out of 5 people found this review helpful.
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Great Family Trip by
Philip Y. from Columbia, SC Sailing date: Jun 2010Pros: Availability of different foods - important with kids. Friendliness of locals in helping us decide what to do. Cons: Feeling rushed when we arrived at port, knowing that excursions were leaving very early. When we arrived on the ship we were met with a smell of raw sewage, disgusting. It is my understanding that that smell was due to a problem earlier in the morning when they were turning the ship over for the afternoon cruise. It lasted for about 6 hours, and was gone when we woke up the next morning. The ship is very easy to get around, and my kids loved it so much so that I believe we will be cruising much more in the future. I especially liked the different activities on board that kept the kids entertained. Ship QualityVery easy to get around, nothing is too far away. Dining/FoodDinner was especially great - all of the food up on Lido deck was great as well, that's where we ate for both breakfast and lunch the entire time. Stateroom QualityNothing much to say here, just a typical regular stateroom. A little cramped for 4 people though. Kids got on each others nerves. Ship Staff QualityOur room Steward was the best - Picard - he made our room great considering the size. He was very friendly with the kids, so much so that they gave him a hug goodbye, and still talk about him at home. Entertainment & ActivitiesOn board ship activities were great - what we didn't like was the lack of exciting things to do in port with the kids. We ended up finding locals the could direct us to fun things to do. That in turn saved us a lot of money because it cut out the cruise line as the middle man.
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Freeport, Grand Bahama IslandOverall Freeport is very industrial - we found a cab driver to take us out to Paradise Cove on our own for $16/each vs. $59/each through the cruise line. We were also able to stay as long as we liked instead of the 2 hours allotted by the tour from the cruise as well. Or cab driver just asked when we wanted her back, and she showed up right on time. Paradise cove for snorkeling is one of the best places I have ever been. Must do!
Don't Miss: Skorkeling at Paradise Cove, if you get a cab and do it yourself. Nassau, BahamasWe tried Atlantis for the day, but I was not going to spend $400 for the family to go to a waterpark. Way too expensive for my taste. Straw Market was great, and easy to negotiate prices way down. If you want AUTHENTIC local food, catch a cab to "Fish Fry" and go to Goldie's. We did, and it was well worth the trip. Only about a 15 min. ride, and cost the 4 of us $15.
Don't Miss: Goldie's at Fish Fry for the local food 5 out of 5 people found this review helpful.
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Great Cruise by
Nancy R from Bennettsville, SC Sailing date: Sep 2009Pros: The Food Cons: No clocks in rooms The ship was excellent. The service was excellent along with the food. And the beds were the most comfortable that I have slept in ...even in motels! Ship QualityThe ship was wonderful, no faults found! Dining/FoodFood was excellent! Stateroom QualityThe size of the stateroom was much larger than what I expected! Overall comfort was great! Ship Staff QualityThe staff all went above and beyond! They all called us by first name from day one! Entertainment & ActivitiesGreat Entertainment and entertainers! 5 out of 5 people found this review helpful.
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Great iteniary and shore excursions! by
John from Arkansas Sailing date: Jul 2007Pros: The best feature about this ship is probably the lunch buffet. I can't say much for the old, worn-out, outdated ship... but the overall cruise experience was great. I swam with dolphins, went snorkeling, went to a comedy show, and won first place in a trivia contest. The scenery was beautiful and I had a blast. Dining/FoodThe food was somewhat disappointing. The steak I had for dinner was tough and the rest of it looked mass produced. The lunch buffet was much better in my opinion.
Stateroom QualityThe ship was rather old, so it was to be expected that the rooms looked outdated and somewhat worn. I knew the room would be small but the layout was akward and I couldn't get into bed without climbing over the footboard.
Ship Staff QualityThe staff was very helpful and friendly.
Entertainment & ActivitiesActivities: There was plenty to do while onboard the ship. Although I mostly spent time laying in the sun, I did get a chance to play a trivia game and I won a bottle of champagne!
Entertainment: I only had the opportunity to see one comedy act while I was on the ship, and it was very entertaining.
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Freeport, Grand Bahama IslandSwim with the dolphins!
The only activity I experienced in Freeport was the Dolphin Swim excursion. It?s a lot of trouble to get there (bus ride and a boat ride), but at least you get to see some of the island on the way. You get to do some tricks with the dolphins and swim around with them and touch or play with them. But with six people and two dolphins I would've like to have had a more personal experience with them. But it?s not a bad experience for the price.
Nassau, BahamasA day in Nassau.
I opted for the catamaran snorkeling excursion. On the boat ride to the reef you get a short sightseeing tour and they point out famous houses and historical points of interest. One piece of advice: bring your own snorkel! Although they do clean and sanitize the mouthpieces, they are reused for each tour. One thing I disliked about Nassau, which is to be expected, was the constant hassling and hustling from the local businesses. You can't walk three steps down the street without someone trying to sell you a handsome cab ride, hair braiding, trinkets, souvenirs... one guy even tried to sell me pot. The "Straw Market" was even worse. Hustling and hassling was rampant, but if you have a steel resolve you won?t have any problems. Overall it was a pleasant experience. I would go back there again.
Don't Miss: The straw market! Huge selection and so many souvenirs you are guaranteed to find something for everyone! 8 out of 12 people found this review helpful.
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Fun Getaway Cruise by
Joyce B. from United States Sailing date: Mar 2009Pros: good food Cons: baggage drop-off at the port The ship was very clean, recently renovated, and the crew was very friendly. Ship Quality
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5 out of 6 people found this review helpful.
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Not one of my favorite cruises by
Sharon P. from Seattle, WA Sailing date: Oct 2012Pros: The staff was so commidating Cons: The food was not to my liking and usually came to the table not hot. Not enough show to go to. Too many late night shows. For our age group it was too noisey and too many drunk people. As far as the Carnival Fun Ship is not for older people. The food could be greatly improved. Ship QualityVery confusing getting around. The bathroom on the Lido deck was always dirty and not cleaned up. Needs some updating. Dining/FoodQuality of food not up to standards. I did like the convenience of the open dining tho.
Stateroom QualityOur porter was very efficient and was there for us at all times
Ship Staff QualityThe staff was very friendly. Entertainment & ActivitiesNot enough entertainment at earlier hours. No need for the vulgar comedy shows. 4 out of 4 people found this review helpful.
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Completely Average by
Tawnya J. from Winston-Salem, NC Sailing date: Sep 2011Pros: Clean room and ship Cons: Outdated ship, lackluster staff and dining options This was my husband and my third cruise--our 2nd with Carnival. We were looking for a short, inexpensive getaway for just the two of us (sans children) for our anniversary.
Below you will find my comments on specific aspects of the cruise, but overall I would advise you to save your money and vacation time and go for a longer cruise on a newer ship. I definitely expected much better from Carnival than this completely average experience. Updating of the ship decor, entertainment, menu, excursion offerings, and staff training is definitely in order. I don't regret it, but wouldn't recommend this particular ship or itinerary to anyone. Ship QualityThe Carnival Sensation is one of the older ships in the fleet...and it shows. A very clean ship, but worn around the edges and still sporting its early 1990s fashion (think electric purple, navy blue, and pink). Metal surfaces are heavily scratched and worn, the casual dining booths are made of sparkly purple plastic, and the wooden deck areas are in need of refinishing. The staff keep it meticulously clean, though (I actually saw a crew member cleaning baseboards with a tooth brush)! Dining/FoodDining was...disappointing. Food was average, but plentiful, though a few gems were to be found (try the West Indian Pumpkin Soup). Times of day food was available was much more restricted compared to any other cruise I have ever been on before, although I did not make use of any room service this time around. A nice option was choose-your-own stir-fry at the Lido Grill, but the same choices were there for every day of the cruise...no variety. Breakfast was carb-heavy, protein-light...pretty average offerings for mid-range cruise ships everywhere. The dining room had fairly decent fare, but was very light on creativity, and was quite the disappointment after having experienced fantastic food on previous Carnival ships. A plus was the apparent "Anniversary Package" we were treated to as a complimentary service: we had our own dining table (for two), and suffered the embarrassment of having staff sing us the "Anniversary Song" for the entertainment of our fellow passengers. :) Stateroom QualityOur stateroom was an outside room with a view, no balcony, midship on the Main deck--a great location. Our room was rather spacious for the size of the Sensation, very clean, with lots of storage space and an in-room safe. Our room was set up as a King before we arrived), bedding was crisp, clean, and absolutely spotless. The bed was comfortable, and I did not suffer allergy attacks from dirt-clogged carpeting as I have on previous cruises. Our "porthole" was a wide window-sized affair with good light-blocking curtains and had no obstructions. The television was rather small, and the viewing options were limited, but there were several recently-released movies that I hadn't had a chance to see yet--bonus. Ship Staff QualityCruise staff was a mixed bag; our drinks steward was a wonderfully friendly and attentive fellow who earned himself extra gratuities for stellar service...we wished he had been our waiter, who was stilted, stiff and stand-offish. (Smiles were forced and brief, if present at all.) Our room stewards were similarly wonderful. The general feeling from the service staff seemed to be that of unhappiness though, and it showed in unsmiling faces. Perhaps our last Carnival cruise's staff was the exception to the rule: they were eager to help, always had a smile, greeted you by name (if they knew it), told you to have a nice day, etc. On several occasions, we were ignored by Sensation's sales staff for several minutes who preferred to chat with each other. Do not misunderstand: no one was blatantly rude, but the feeling that you were bothering them was pervasive and uncomfortable. Entertainment & ActivitiesIf you like to gamble or hang out by the pool when you cruise, then you're in luck, because there's not a whole lot else to do on this ship. Kids do have put-put and a water slide to keep them occupied, and given the short length of the journey, it would probably do so...more or less. There are children's club rooms available, but as I never saw them in use and this was a vacation taken without our own children, I cannot comment on the amenities there. Shows were abysmal in quality, and excursions were very limited and seemed to revolve around either shopping or drinking (I know, standard cruise excursion fare, but still...). You could go to the Atlantis resort ($80 per person for 4 hours there!!!), or ride around the city in a Jeep. Luckily we opted out of joining a herd of other cruise passengers on an overpriced excursion, as it poured rain almost all day. We had just as much fun poking around Nassau on our own--for free.
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Nassau, BahamasIf you are expecting Nassau to be a bright and beautiful city, full of clean streets packed with friendly natives, toss those notions aside right now. The natives *are* friendly, but Nassau is a very old town filled with tightly-packed streets, a bit worn-around-the-edges buildings, and enough chintzy tourist shops to make any shopaholic happy. Personally I like diving into local color and discovery little out of the way areas, and Nassau looks like as good a place as any port in the Caribbean to do so. Unfortunately, our exploring got cut short due to a torrential downpour, but there was enough to see and do in Nassau to entertain a wide variety of tastes, from historic forts and pirate ships, to water sports and marine life encounters. Having done dolphin dives and stingray snorkeling at other ports, I can say these are always worth experiencing (especially with children), though the cost can be prohibitive.
4 out of 4 people found this review helpful.
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