Live Music, Mardi Gras and more on the Sensation

If you are needing a break from Triumph posts...here is my Sensation review!

Sensation Feb 10-14

Valentines cruise with DH...teenagers left at home in Denver:)

Embarkation

I was in Orlando for a week prior at the Double Tree Universal for a conference...hubby flew in Friday. Saturday we hung out at Universal City Walk and then headed to port on Sunday. We ended up taking a cab back to the airport and then the Carnival transfer (we did not book ahead). I'm thinking renting a car would have been a better option next time...transfer and cab ended up costing $190 rt!

Got on the ship really quickly by about 1pm.

Headed to the lido for lunch. We really liked how the buffet has these 2 outside areas that jut out on the aft of the ship! Hardly ever crowded here!

Our room was ready by 2pm with luggage delivered. Headed to muster drill at 430pm...this time the muster included the field trip to the lifeboats (though without life jackets) On the Magic last March....no trip to the lifeboats.

Our room was u185....OV. We are used to a balcony, but the window was nice and the room had ample storage. We did really miss the balcony though!

About 5pm we bargain sail away! We headed up to the deck with the ship tail to watch the festivities at the pool. A Calypso band was playing great live music!

Ok...I actually intend this to be a picture review and I'm being told my privacy settings need to be changed...so I'll return shortly with pics!

Thank GOD for something other then hearing all the talk about Triumph

Alright here are some pics!

This is the eating area out the aft of the ship

Our room

Sunset from the aft on first night!

So, a couple of hours into the cruise it was clear it was going to be a rough first night. The ship was rockin pretty good. Apparently seas out of Port Canaveral can be like this. I didn't make it through all of dinner the first night. We had late seating. My DH brought me pizza around 10pm....the pizza is great and I recommend the goat cheese!

Monday....the Bahamas!

Here are some more ship pictures

Day 1

Freeport City

We had about zero expectation for this cruise to the Bahamas. The Bahamas wasn't our favorite port the last cruise that we stopped here. Weary of the weather and wanting the freedom of changing out minds...we planned nothing!!

So, after breakfast in the MDR...I used my coupon for a free mimosa (the coupon replaced the farewell party I guess) we got off the ship. Most people appeared to be going to Port Lucaya (sp?) and we did not want to do that! So, we hopped a cab for Junkanoo Beach with others. Round trip cost was $14 pp. Great decision!!

The beach was pretty, clean and not crowded! Chairs are $5....but we rented a table for $20 instead. Beers were 3.50. Then...the best part! We walked down the beach a little ways to Tony's. Here...Tony made us conch burgers and roasted conch fresh! He was great...the burger was awesome and every meal also got you a free conch shell. The little hut was not crowded and the staff was very nice and chatty! There was a local carving wood and he carved our son a wooden turtle while we ate and hung out. Great day!! Really...pretty much my favorite beach day I've had in the Caribbean.

Here are the pics....

Some more....

Monday was elegant night. We all agreed (at our table) that this seemed early and it should have been Wed...the sea day. My hubby and I opted out...as did others. We went to the buffet...this was a first for us for dinner! They did have a carving station with roast beef that was pretty good.

Tuesday...Nassau!

We have been to Nassau before...we snorkeled. Again, we had no plans. We ended up walking around, having an anklet made for our DD by a local at a public beach....then took the water taxi...$4 pp each way over to Paradise Island. Once there; we purchased the $40 pp tickets to walk the aquariums and the grounds of Atlantis. The tour was guided...we wondered away from the guide periodically. Weather was super warm and we did a TON of walking. The grounds are gorgeous. Wish we would have just sprung for the beach day also.

Great pictures and review. Waiting for Nassau. Thanks for sharing.

http://luv2cruise.blogspot.com

So, we also went to Señor Frogs at Nassau...twice. Once in the morning...11am and also later that night. We were in Nassau till 1am. Service was great and we had the best guacamole ever!

Last pic was view from Señor Frogs

Ok, I'll be back later with a review of our sunset catamaran excursion review!

The best part about staying late in Nassau was the sunset cruise. We booked it through Carnival (which we never do) the night before. There were only about 20 of us on a catamaran that held 100. We got champagne or mixed drinks....even pink champagne! Also got trays of fruit, crackers and cheese. Everything was in abundance. The crew was nice. It was a beautiful night!

After our sunset cruise we headed back to Señor Frogs. We were surprised with 2 ships in port for overnights that it wasn't more crowded. We stayed for a bit and headed to the ship. The streets were empty and that was a little scary!

Apparently everyone was on the ship for a full fledged Mardi Gras party! Complete with parade, music and Mexican buffet on the Lido deck. When I asked about Mardi Gras on CC before this cruise it didn't really sound like other ships did anything. Well...the Sensation did for sure!

We noticed some going out later in the evening to port...but I wonder if this 1am thing is really worth it. We liked our sunset cruise...seems like we could have left port at 10pm and then Carnival could open back up the casino!

Next day was Sea day and time to do everything on the ship we hadn't done yet...or as it turns out....fry in the sun some more :)

Loving your pictures! Sounds like you had fun! I can't wait to read about the rest of your trip. I will be on Sensation for the first time next month. Thank you for posting :)

Wednesday was a fun day at sea! We slept and then headed out to the pull....where there was more live music! We got chairs no problem around 11am and baked in the sun till around 3. We enjoyed music, ate at the grill, watched ice carving and hairy man. The pool was very cold! But...it was pretty warm. We also brought our own bottle of champagne to the poolside...got juice and enjoyed mimosas!

Thoughts on the ship....

The interior is dated...very purple and a bit dark. It's easy to navigate, however. We loved many of the outdoor spaces...especially the pool. We didn't use the water works area. The Serenity deck was nice to have but missed having the big chairs and bar like on the Magic! We spent time in the casino, the piano bar and the Taste Bar area. Oh and loved the live guitar player in the atrium area too. Again...the live music! I'm not sure what folks on this board are complaining about when saying Carnival doesn't have live music...maybe it's cut back...but we were satisfied for a 4 night cruise.

More pics....

The Sensation looks much like it did way back when I was on it. I cruised the first cruise after the ship was used as a hotel for people in NO after Katrina. They were fixing the ship up as we cruised and the pools weren't available nor were the public bathrooms.

The kids had fun and that was the main thing! They really wanted to swim though.

Yikes...no pool! That would have been a bummer for kids. I did not know that about Katrina. So, the Sensation was out of NOLO for awhile?

Well that's our cruise....disembarkation was easy and quick. We were zone 24 and off in the last group. This was quite alright with us. We had a leisurely breakfast in the MDR and then hung out on the lido. Took Carnival transfer back to the airport.

Great cruise....LOVED the Bahamas in February! The ship was good enough...we really do like the bigger ships when we have family with us. Great crew as well. I'll answer questions now or months from now when folks do a search on the few Sensation reviews. I'm sure I forgot something.

My next booked cruise is NCL Europe summer 2014! Unless Carnival comes up with something great in Europe.

Steph

Yikes...no pool! That would have been a bummer for kids. I did not know that about Katrina. So, the Sensation was out of NOLO for awhile?

Yes, much of the ship was being fixed up after the use for Katrina cleanup. We had to wait about 5 hours to board since the ship wouldn't pass inspection in Florida. Apparently the fire hoses were taken off the ship and they had to get more of them.

Here are a few pictures of the ship as it was.

Thanks for the positive review! We are going on this ship in July to the Bahamas. We have cruised before on the bigger ships and realize that it may not have all of the glam decorations but will still be a nice ship. We aren't the type to do the sit down dinners - we like a variety at the buffets. So many posts say that the food is not good and the ship is so crowded. Did you notice if the ship was at or near capacity? We are looking for something fun to do in Nassau - not hugely expensive but fun still. Maybe snorkeling, jet ski, island tour. Not into taking the big tours that the ships usually give. Any ideas?

Thanks for the positive review! We are going on this ship in July to the Bahamas. We have cruised before on the bigger ships and realize that it may not have all of the glam decorations but will still be a nice ship. We aren't the type to do the sit down dinners - we like a variety at the buffets. So many posts say that the food is not good and the ship is so crowded. Did you notice if the ship was at or near capacity? We are looking for something fun to do in Nassau - not hugely expensive but fun still. Maybe snorkeling, jet ski, island tour. Not into taking the big tours that the ships usually give. Any ideas?

We have snorkeled in Nassau... That was really fun. Anything on a catamaran is great...possibly try and book local. I think the Bahamas board has ideas too. I think that I would like to do the day pass to the British Colonial Hotel if we go again...or any other day pass that includes water sports and then you can bring your own snorkel stuff.

The ship was pretty full and I did notice that lines could be an issue. The buffets are set up sort of odd. But...just don't go at peak times. I thought the food was good...just not as many options as the Magic. Breakfast in the MDR wasn't anything special. The deli and pizza are really good...dinner in the MDR was good.

Have a great cruise!

Thanks so much for your review! I think it will definitely help me and my friend decide on some things to do for this cruise, we are planning on the March 17th sailing date. We are more "hang out at the beach" type gals so knowing which beaches to visit is awesome. I think I would like to try that Tony's place for sure!

WE headed out on the Sensation for the 3 day right after you! We had rough waters on Thursday and Saturday - cold, windy and rainy!! We didn't got to the lifeboats and didn't put on life jackets - I thought that was odd. We were in Nassau starting at noon, but didn't get to leave the ship until around 1:00 because of customs and the then the cattle call to get off the ship. We stayed until 6 am on Saturday, but most of Nassau closed down at 5:00 (we had a 16 year old with us so no bars) so it really wasn't much of a trip into Nassau; wish we would have had more daylight time. There is a Junakaroo beach in Nassau too - just around the corner from Senor Frogs and and the Hilton - nice beach there too.

This is an older ship, but we loved it - easy to get around and lots of entertainment and music!

Thanks for you review, I really enjoyed the pictures. We will be on the Feb 28th sailing. Glad to hear there is live music on the Lido!

WE headed out on the Sensation for the 3 day right after you! We had rough waters on Thursday and Saturday - cold, windy and rainy!! We didn't got to the lifeboats and didn't put on life jackets - I thought that was odd. We were in Nassau starting at noon, but didn't get to leave the ship until around 1:00 because of customs and the then the cattle call to get off the ship. We stayed until 6 am on Saturday, but most of Nassau closed down at 5:00 (we had a 16 year old with us so no bars) so it really wasn't much of a trip into Nassau; wish we would have had more daylight time. There is a Junakaroo beach in Nassau too - just around the corner from Senor Frogs and and the Hilton - nice beach there too.

 

This is an older ship, but we loved it - easy to get around and lots of entertainment and music!

So I wonder if they have to do the lifeboat thing just every week...or randomly?! Weird...especially considering the Triumph and all. We didn't go to the lifeboat on the Magic either. Sorry you got the storm...looks like we were lucky.

This is such a great review! Thank you! My best friend and I are leaving on this same cruise in a couple of weeks.

Thanks for taking the time to write the review. We have booked the Sensation for this November. Do have a quesstion for you, our schedule for Nassau shows port time of 8am to 5pm. Was yours the same published time? You stated you were there until 1am. The sunset cruise sounds nice if we are there that late. Thanks