Absolutely terrible

Item: Carnival Sensation
Rating: 1
Author: elizabethgeorge

Carnival Sensation Cruise Review to Caribbean - Eastern

elizabethgeorge

Contributor Level: Purser

Cruises: 2-3 cruises

Review: 1

Helpful Votes: 17

Overall rating:

1 out of 5

Verified Review

5 Night Eastern Caribbean (Miami Roundtrip)

Sail date: October 15, 2016

Ship: Carnival Sensation

Cabin type: Oceanview

Cabin number: R36

Traveled as: Family (young children)

Reviewed: 8 years ago

Review summary

Me and my family of 5 have been on a carnival cruise before it was the carnival victory. While boarding the carnival sensation we had high expectations and we were all so excited. The moment we first walked on the boat we could tell immediately it was not at all like the carnival victory. The entrance was very funky and unappealing. Our room was so small my family and I couldn't even move around freely and were claustrophobic. My kids have bruises all over their legs from trying to climb up on the small bunk beds. I talked to a carnival representative and she told me the room would be perfect. On top of that a horrendous smell was coming from the toilet even with the lid and door closed that would travel around the room. The food on the cruise was absolutely unacceptable. It was prepared poorly and not cooked properly. My four year old daughter lost so much weight being on cruise because she didn't like any of the food. Their was a pizza station and we would have to wait 25-30 minutes to finally order and another 10 minutes to get our pizza. When we got our pizza it was soggy and disgusting. The weather while we were at the Bahamas and Grand Turk island was horrible it was raining all day and we couldn't even get off the boat to enjoy anything. We haven't been on a vacation in years so when we finally went looking to have a great time we got the exact opposite. I have nothing good to say about this cruise it was a waist of time and money. My husband and I lost 5 days of work and my daughters lost 5 days of school for nothing. My kids were crying every single day while on the cruise because of how miserable we all were. I do not recommend this cruise to anyone.

Ship experiences

Food and Dining

1 out of 5

Absolutely disgusting. Nothing was cooked properly and my kids were starving the five days we were on because of how nasty the food was.

Onboard Activities

3 out of 5

Entertainment

3 out of 5

Children's Programs

3 out of 5

Service and Staff

1 out of 5

Ship Quality

1 out of 5

Cabin / Stateroom

1 out of 5

Ports of call

Miami, Florida

3 out of 5

Nassau, Bahamas

1 out of 5

It was raining the whole time we couldn't get off the boat

Thumbs Up 3

Half Moon Cay, Bahamas (Private Island)

5 out of 5

Grand Turk Island

1 out of 5

It was raining the whole time we couldn't get off the boat

Thumbs Up 3

38 Comments

Cruisers4Lyfe 3 months ago

Thanks for sharing

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cruisingdee 7 years ago

FYI sensation is scheduled for drydock for upgrades in February 2017

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yankandbrit 7 years ago

👍😉

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mmcpherson 7 years ago

@yankandbrit thanks! We're pretty optimistic people and can find fun in most any situation:)

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yankandbrit 7 years ago

@mmcpherson we had same feeling when we booked Paradise but it was the only one that fit our anniversary and we were.familiar with Fantasy class ships so knew what to expect. We had a wonderful time! It didn't the have the 2.0 upgrades either and that was fine because we wanted that Mongolian wok! Have a great cruise!🛳

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mmcpherson 7 years ago

We are going on our first cruise in May on the Sensation. What a roller coaster reading everyone's comments. Went from oh no we made a huge mistake to it'll be great! HA!

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ssmf2013 7 years ago

The biggest issue I have with this one is taking kids out of school for a week due to vacation. Priorities? 🤔

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cruisingdee 7 years ago

Just an FYI for everyone sensation is going into dry dock Feb 9-22, 2017 for its 2.0 upgrade and refurbishment. Gonna be like a brand new ship. I'm going on it in may and I can't wait. I've been on the big 4000+ passenger ships as well as the small ones. I actually think service is better on the smaller ships. Just my opinion.

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italia13 8 years ago

Great ship just shallow minded people

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michellegrigsby 8 years ago

Thanks @TNTGreen I will be looking to see what they are doing to the ship!

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TNTGreen 8 years ago

@michellegrigsby Sensation is going into dry dock in February 2017 but they haven't released the possible upgrades it will undergo.

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michellegrigsby 8 years ago

We are cruising in May 2017 on the Sensation and I can't wait! Updated or not, we plan to have a ball!!

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michellegrigsby 8 years ago

I read in another post that the Sensation is due for some updates next year. I looked at the dates of the cruises in 2017 and the ship will be idled for about 2 weeks between February and March...

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TNTGreen 8 years ago

@honey2015 Sensation was built in 1993.

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yankandbrit 8 years ago

@honey15 the Paradise is the newest of the Fantasy Class ships...Sensation is older

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honey2015 8 years ago

Going on the Sensation May 2017...hope we like it.

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honey2015 8 years ago

How old is the Carnival Sensation? I just got off the Paradise and thats an old ship...

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JusMe 8 years ago

Thank you for your review and your opinion of the cruise. I have been on 3 of the sister ships in the Fantasy Class and enjoyed all 3 of them. Each ships is different better cooks, better cabin steward or better MDR staff. Find the ship that's good for you.

I would suggest some research on not only the time of year to cruise but also on the ship. some ships are just better then others. Carnival does have good size cabins even on the older ships, 5 in a cabin is more then I could handle. If you could afford it 2 adjoining cabins may work better for you.

I hope your next vacation goes better for you.

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jlspeas 8 years ago

Just got off the Sensation Oct 20. Had an absolutely wonderful cruise on an older ship. A vacation is what you make of it. No cleaning, cooking, work, or whatever for a week. That in itself makes me happy! Service, food, ports all excellent!

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yankandbrit 8 years ago

Triumph class mate!😉

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yankandbrit 8 years ago

True @josephjacono, at least until you know what you like and what your expectations are. We circle back to the Fantasy class often because we like them but different strokes I guess...🚢

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josephjacono 8 years ago

Should have started with the fantasy class and moved up to the destiny class not the other way around. But what do I know! Lol

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Lbkladybug 8 years ago

Good idea!!!

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josephjacono 8 years ago

Sensation and victory are completely different boats so can't expect the same results. Seems like by what I resd this person is hard to please and should probably just stay home next time....

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Katievp 8 years ago

Although I think this review is little embellished, I think they probably did have a less than good time and don't fault their opinion. What bothers me is their complaint about the kids missing school. Don't take vacation during the school year if you don't want your kids to ummm... miss school. That's not rocket science.

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djozzky43c62 8 years ago

Well... my wife and I had a great time, and for me is hard to believe that out of 2000 + passengers Everyone will feel the same...

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Lbkladybug 8 years ago

Everyone is going to have a different opinion about everything!! What I find awesome someone may hate!! You can't please everybody all the time. I have never had a bad cruising experience!! Just saying!! 🌴🌞🍹

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traveler2 8 years ago

Im just saying, let them have their opinion and leave it be!

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yankandbrit 8 years ago

It is a little naive to think those islands will just snap back from the devastation of those hurricanes. People.lost their lives, their homes.and their livelihoods. Too many people out there feel like the world owes them something and they have to cry about it if something g doesn't go their way. The OP is.lucky to have " wasted" five days of work and school for the privilege of doing something out of the ordinary. Yeah it rained, seas were rough...at least you were on a ship doing something and have your lives to live for another day! And all that food and a 4 year old loses weight? Come on, most kids.would eat their weight in swirls froyo and ice cream...a bit dramatic. Play in the rain, spend time together,be thankful . Get over yourselves.🚢

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traveler2 8 years ago

Why is it when someone posts how their cruise went, people feel they either have to tear them down for "not doing enough research" or that they "are just complaining"? If they had said the cruise had been great then everyone would have been happy until someone else went. Ive cruised numerous times during hurricane season. Yes, thats a chance you take. Ive cruised twice on the Sensation. Yes, that was a choice I made. People put this stuff out here to let you know whats going on so that you have a chance to make that choice for yourself as well. I dont think they need to be bashed for it. I was on that cruise. I love the Sensation. Shes the first ship I ever cruised on but this one was for the record books. Would you have wanted us to come back and say the water was as smooth as glass, Balmoral Island was beautiful, Atlantis was pristine, Excursions at Half Moon Cay were awesome and Grand Turk was fabulous? Well, for us that was on that cruise, we can't. Why, because the waves were coming over the 6th floor balcony railings. Balmoral Island has been destroyed and Carnival let us book excursions and didnt tell us, Carnival let us book excursions on HMC and couldn't get people there to run them, Atlantis was trashed yet they were still sending people there and we never got to go to Grand Turk. So, let people voice their opnions on here so you have that right to choose as well. What if the people that were on the Liberty last week didnt let you know what happened? Would you believe them?

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yankandbrit 8 years ago

Small bunk beds...funny, my 5'10 inch daughter and 6' stepson loved those bunks!🚢

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Lbkladybug 8 years ago

Way too many people in one stateroom!! As someone had mentioned adjoining staterooms would have offered more space and some time away from each other- as it sounds like that's what was also needed!! I have been on Seven Carnival cruises and have never had a bad time!!!

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katj 8 years ago

My guess is the kids were miserable due to the adults moaning and groaning the entire time. If you had managed to mask your disappointment for their sake then the kids would have salvaged some part of their vacation. Most parents are adept at throwing themselves in their swords for their kids.

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TNTGreen 8 years ago

You should of gotten connecting staterooms instead of cramming 5 people to a room especially if it was an inside cabin. You claim you previously cruised on Carnival so you should have known the size. Next time no matter what the cruise line do research. NCL has amazing ships but their rooms are tiny compared to Carnival and RC rooms are tiny too.

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TNTGreen 8 years ago

When you cruise during hurricane season you should of been prepared for possible bad weather(poor research in your part not the cruiseline). Second you went on one of the oldest ships that the cruise line has which also hasn't received 2.0 upgrades which again is poor research on your part. Third....

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wynwyn 8 years ago

That ship is old and outdated. Weather is not controlled by the cruise line. It does rain in the Caribbean especially during hurricane season.

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traveler2 8 years ago

I was on that cruise. I was bad. Ive done numerous Carnival cruises and Ive never encountered anything like this.

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rogerellenborland 8 years ago

How many cabins did have? If you had all 5 in one no wonder it was crouded. You were also on a much older and smaller ship than the victory.

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Other reviews of this sailing

Great time!

Not that much of a "Funship"