oootigersooo
April 25th, 2004, 08:46 AM
We had a great time on the Sensation. We left Providence on 4/16 and stayed the night at the Marriott Tampa Airport. THe hotel was great and the rooms were very big. We payed $99 a night. The next day we had arranged for the Bay shuttle to take us to the pier. It was $83 for all 10 of us! It was very convient and we were at the pier at 11:30. CHeck in was very smooth and we were on the ship within an hour!
We had been on Sensation 6 years prior and the ship still looks the same. All Glitz!!! We spent the afternoon lying out in the sun enjoying the day. THe only disapointment we had was that we have sailed CArnival 4 other times and we took a guarentte and we were not bumped up to a higher cabin. We ended up in the middle of the Riveria deck. The room was what we expected and our room steward was very good.
Food: Food was excellent except the lobster. Being from Mass. we expect sweet tender lobster and the lobster had no taste and was tough. The rest of the food was delicious. Try the chicken satay the first night it is to kill for!!!
Shows: The shows were ok, but the comedians were excellent! We mostly skipped the shows after dinner and waited for the late show at night.
Wait Staff: We had table 199 in the Fantasy dining room. OUr waiter was Eddie and our bus boy was MOOrah. They were the greatest. We traveled with seven 18yr olds(their sr. trip) and Eddie and Moorah could not do enough for them. We looked forward to each dinner with them. Even George the head waiter made a huge fuss over the girls, dancing with them and one night even brought them to differnt tables to introduce them to boys their age! The girls loved Eddie and had a great time at dinner with him each night. They even had tears in their eyes when they said bye to him on Thursday AM.
Ports: We got up early on Monday to tender into GRAnd Cayman. Getting onto the tender was no problem especially being on the Riveria deck!! We took a van to the beach at the Marriott, it was $4 a person. We rented chairs for $10 plus they give you a coupon for a free soft drink. The beach was ok, but the water was cold compared to beaches we had visted in the caribbean. It was a very cloudy day and after the third rain shower we gave up and went back to the ship. Finally the sun came out and we had a great time on the ship. Alot of other people also came back and it got very hot out. I was not too impressed with Grand Cayman and even our cab driver told us not to shop there that it was too expensive. The only buy I did see was I bought Parrott BAy on the ship for $9.95 and it was $7.50 in the shop right outside the pier.
Cozumel: The best day!!! Go to Paradise Beach, it is so much fun. We took a van and a cab(they would not put 10 in a van) for $4 ea. to Paradise. It is about a 15 minute ride. The entrance to Paradise beach is beautiful. We had such a great time there. EVerything is free. Chairs , umbrellas, beach mats, Kayaks, a water trampoline and an iceburg to climb. We spent the day in the water. IT was nice and warm. The only thing was little jelly fish came in for about 2 hours and then just disapeared. They did not sting or bother us at all. Just a little wierd to see at first. The food at Paradise is excellent. We had burgers and fries for $10. The portions are huge and delicious. THe drinks were $6.50 for frozen Margaritas and PIna Coladas. The drinks were strong!! Service is wonderful adn the bathrooms and changing rooms were very clean. Also the shops there had the best prices. We bought silver braclets, toe rings and sun dresses for much cheaper than in town. Bargain also , they come way way down. After we left the beach we took a van and cab to Carlos and Charlies. It was $3 a person. We had a blast!! We ate nachos and drinks by the yard. The girls had a blast there dancing! After spending two hours there we took another van/cab back to the ship. This was $2 a person. We shopped at the stores at the pier. NO great bargains here. I found the same sundress I paid $20 for at Paradise beach for $52 at the pier. The man finally went down to $35. THe girls got Siver jewerly also but no great prices. The best prices we did find was outside the terminal for perfume and cologne. A few dollars cheaper than the ship. We had a great day in cozumel and went back to dinner tired and a little hung over!!
Disembarkation: EAsiest ever!!! Went to breakfast in the dining room at 8 and then Spent about 1 hour on the Lido deck until they called us. THen we went right down to customs where they just took our slips. They never checked our birth certificates and finding our luggage was easy.
Overall: THe ship is a smaller ship which we like. We have done the bigger ships and prefer the smaller ones. We have also never done a 5 day before always 7 and five days went way too fast! But we had 5 great, great days. The Sensation is a great ship and everyone was so friendly. We had no problems at all and now we are looking for our next cruise!! We also took the bump on the way home and we all have a free roundtrip ticket for our next cruise!! Any questions let me know. Kristin
We had been on Sensation 6 years prior and the ship still looks the same. All Glitz!!! We spent the afternoon lying out in the sun enjoying the day. THe only disapointment we had was that we have sailed CArnival 4 other times and we took a guarentte and we were not bumped up to a higher cabin. We ended up in the middle of the Riveria deck. The room was what we expected and our room steward was very good.
Food: Food was excellent except the lobster. Being from Mass. we expect sweet tender lobster and the lobster had no taste and was tough. The rest of the food was delicious. Try the chicken satay the first night it is to kill for!!!
Shows: The shows were ok, but the comedians were excellent! We mostly skipped the shows after dinner and waited for the late show at night.
Wait Staff: We had table 199 in the Fantasy dining room. OUr waiter was Eddie and our bus boy was MOOrah. They were the greatest. We traveled with seven 18yr olds(their sr. trip) and Eddie and Moorah could not do enough for them. We looked forward to each dinner with them. Even George the head waiter made a huge fuss over the girls, dancing with them and one night even brought them to differnt tables to introduce them to boys their age! The girls loved Eddie and had a great time at dinner with him each night. They even had tears in their eyes when they said bye to him on Thursday AM.
Ports: We got up early on Monday to tender into GRAnd Cayman. Getting onto the tender was no problem especially being on the Riveria deck!! We took a van to the beach at the Marriott, it was $4 a person. We rented chairs for $10 plus they give you a coupon for a free soft drink. The beach was ok, but the water was cold compared to beaches we had visted in the caribbean. It was a very cloudy day and after the third rain shower we gave up and went back to the ship. Finally the sun came out and we had a great time on the ship. Alot of other people also came back and it got very hot out. I was not too impressed with Grand Cayman and even our cab driver told us not to shop there that it was too expensive. The only buy I did see was I bought Parrott BAy on the ship for $9.95 and it was $7.50 in the shop right outside the pier.
Cozumel: The best day!!! Go to Paradise Beach, it is so much fun. We took a van and a cab(they would not put 10 in a van) for $4 ea. to Paradise. It is about a 15 minute ride. The entrance to Paradise beach is beautiful. We had such a great time there. EVerything is free. Chairs , umbrellas, beach mats, Kayaks, a water trampoline and an iceburg to climb. We spent the day in the water. IT was nice and warm. The only thing was little jelly fish came in for about 2 hours and then just disapeared. They did not sting or bother us at all. Just a little wierd to see at first. The food at Paradise is excellent. We had burgers and fries for $10. The portions are huge and delicious. THe drinks were $6.50 for frozen Margaritas and PIna Coladas. The drinks were strong!! Service is wonderful adn the bathrooms and changing rooms were very clean. Also the shops there had the best prices. We bought silver braclets, toe rings and sun dresses for much cheaper than in town. Bargain also , they come way way down. After we left the beach we took a van and cab to Carlos and Charlies. It was $3 a person. We had a blast!! We ate nachos and drinks by the yard. The girls had a blast there dancing! After spending two hours there we took another van/cab back to the ship. This was $2 a person. We shopped at the stores at the pier. NO great bargains here. I found the same sundress I paid $20 for at Paradise beach for $52 at the pier. The man finally went down to $35. THe girls got Siver jewerly also but no great prices. The best prices we did find was outside the terminal for perfume and cologne. A few dollars cheaper than the ship. We had a great day in cozumel and went back to dinner tired and a little hung over!!
Disembarkation: EAsiest ever!!! Went to breakfast in the dining room at 8 and then Spent about 1 hour on the Lido deck until they called us. THen we went right down to customs where they just took our slips. They never checked our birth certificates and finding our luggage was easy.
Overall: THe ship is a smaller ship which we like. We have done the bigger ships and prefer the smaller ones. We have also never done a 5 day before always 7 and five days went way too fast! But we had 5 great, great days. The Sensation is a great ship and everyone was so friendly. We had no problems at all and now we are looking for our next cruise!! We also took the bump on the way home and we all have a free roundtrip ticket for our next cruise!! Any questions let me know. Kristin