This was our first cruise (my husband and me) and we didn’t love it. Perhaps cruising isn’t our style of vacation, which I fully acknowledge. It just seemed to leave something to be desired, though. Several other people on the ship said the same thing. Most people recommended a newer ship or a different cruise line. Probably won’t sail with Carnival again but that’s just us. Plenty of other people seemed properly entertained!
Embarkation
3 out of 5
Embarkation was okay. Didn’t take too long to get on the ship.
Ship experiences
Food and Dining
4 out of 5
The main dining room was fantastic. Great food, excellent staff with a consistently stellar attitude. Guy’s burgers was delicious and fast, regardless of the length of the line. Buffet was kind of like public school lunch. It looked better than it tasted, for sure. Always smelled a bit like a lunch room, too: a mixture of food and bleach.
Onboard Activities
2 out of 5
DJ Devine did a wonderful job and the cover bands were great, especially Travis. I was disappointed that there really wasn’t “something for everyone”, though. Seemed the main source of entertainment was eating, drinking and sitting in the hot sun. The pool wasn’t really an option as it was so small that it was always crowded. There was an occasional art auction and Bingo. These forms of entertainment are good until you’re ready to do something else.
Entertainment
3 out of 5
As stated above, DJs and 👨🎤 did a great job. Stage performances seemed good. Only caught a little as we’re not big on the theater. The early “PG” comedy show was OK. The guy did alright but did throw in a joke mentioning “porno” which is definitely NOT PG.
Children's Programs
Didn’t travel with kids.
Service and Staff
5 out of 5
Our room steward was Bernard and he was excellent! Seeing him always happy and with a great attitude made our day. He put all that he had into his work and seemed full of joy to do it. We also really enjoyed Ermie. We made a point to get our drinks from the atrium bar because he was always happy to see us and was so personable. He maintained customer service while still making conversation. Plus, we just liked him as a person😊 We were amazed at almost all of the staff. Probably only encountered one or two who seemed irritated. Always happy to be serving, it seemed, for the most part.
Ship Quality
5 out of 5
The ship seemed pretty clean and there were always people picking up. The only design flaw, I’d say, would be the small pool. However, this is one of Carnival’s oldest ships and there’s nothing that can probably be done about that. The Serenity deck is a great option with the breeze. If it had a pool and not just hot tubs, I’d give it two thumbs up.
Cabin / Stateroom
4 out of 5
The cabin was small, obviously, but comfortable. Bernard kept it clean. It’s definitely showing it’s age but that’s to be expected.
Ship tip
This ship is good if your main goal is to drink and eat pretty good food. Not a ton to do aside from just hanging out. I’d recommend going with a group on this ship. Also lose 5-10 pounds first because you’ll probably gain that much!
Jamaica is beautiful as far as the beach is concerned but sadly is very much part of the third world. People everywhere are trying desperately to get business.
We did the Blue Hole and adrenaline tubing ride and it was a lot of fun. The staff were fantastic and worked very hard to give us a good experience.
We loved Grand Cayman. Didn’t do an excursion but spent the day shopping and enjoyed some lunch and a beer at a small restaurant overlooking the ocean. Would love to go back for a week.
I've only cruised with carnival, and the sensation has been my least favorite of all their ships. I really like the Sunshine, and plan on trying out the Vista soon.
Celebrated our 50th birthdays on Sensation, maybe try Magic, Breeze, Vista or the new Horizon coming out before too long. Cruising preference is different for everyone. We like Carnival and no it not a party boat for longer cruises, 3 & 4 day tend to be a little more "spirited", lol. Halloween & Christmas cruises are fun, even the first week of Dec is celebrating with fake snow falling, decor and caroling. We cruise once a year with 40 + cruise friends we have met over the years onboard or pre-met on social media pages for a particular cruise. We pre-plan excursions together, dining, slot pull, have door contest and make bags to put daily gifts in to those who participate, putt-putt teams etc... I would'nt trade it for anything..or sometimes hubs & I jump on a short cruise just to relax & let our hair down.
Sensation was our first as well. The fantasy class ships don't have as much to do as the larger ships and temd to do shorter cruuses. Try a different class ship or a different line. I believe there is something out there for almost everyone.
Wow the Sensation was our first and it started an addiction. Sorry you didn't enjoy yourself. Glad to see you didn't bash them like some people do. Like others have said, try a different ship or line. There's so much more the newer ships offer. The shows are also better. The way I see it, where can I go see all these islands and have fun while traveling to them. The food can sometimes be a catch twenty two but everything else is great. If all else fails, grab a drink and head up to the lido for some sun. Hope you change your mind.
Don't give up on cruising...like others have said try other cruise lines...we like Carnival but we are a married couple that just likes to have fun on vacation!!!
Favourite cruise line is Celebrity. I have heard that Carnival is the ‘party’ cruise line. Princess is great. Royal Caribbean was just okay. Different strokes ....
Carnival is ok if you are young and or plan to stay partying or have young kids. Other cruise lines are a bit more expensive but well worth it. Try them before quitting altogether.
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