First Time Cruiser - Carnival Sensation review

[newcruiser1956]

Some more misc. things around the ship

 

Here is the link to make it upright. when I held the camera in portrait instead of

landscape it seems to turn it on here. IIt is straight on the website https://www.blindcatrescue.com/cruise/misc1.jpg

 

 

If you forgot things, here are a few of the things you can buy on board notice the "adult" items

 

 

Another interesting character

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

This little glass building is on 10 near the pool. It is the fast way to get to the stairs. It brings you out right down from the casino and where they play trivia.

 

 

This is your thermostat. It is on your ceiling. Stand on your bed and close it if your room is too cold. Mine was freezing when I first arrived. I didn't know about this until the next day. There was an extra quilt in the closet.

 

[kdawg954]

One of the biggest downsides to smaller ships is that they are definitiely prone to more rocking, especially higher up. If you are prone to seasickness have your bonine ready.

[newcruiser1956]

More. Absolutely go to muster, but I will tell you there is a couple standing on their balcony during mustard on the Norweign sky. They are above the lifeboats, 5 from the right to the left. There was another person or 2 outside on their balconies too. The rest are at their muster stations like we were. This is as we were sailing out in Miami, standing at our muster stations.

 

 

The pool on the TV cam at night

 

 

 

This will give you an idea of the food times

To see it upright go to https://www.blindcatrescue.com/cruise/misc15.jpg

 

TIP The LIve show with Orlando on the schedules will broadcast on your room TV, you do not have to go to auditorium unless you want to.

 

Getting off the ship was quite the experience. We docked at 7, We started off the ship by 8 am. I was at the airport by 9:30 I wish I had not listened to everyone that said you can not make a noon flight, I listened to them and missed a much earlier plane that would have had me home almost 5 hours earlier. Instead, I was stuck in Atlanta for 6 hours. Doing so, of course, you are putting yourself at risk that you may dock late etc. and miss an earlier plane, this was just my experience.

 

Carry your luggage off, be ready to go the minute they release you. Once you are off the ship you are in many lines to clear customs. That part took what felt like forever. There were several other ships in dock and I am guessing they were short-handed at our terminal and thus it was taking forever. 4 people to clear 2000 people was ugly. Once you clear there you are OUT the door for transportation. They had many buses waiting and I do not think I waited more than 15 minutes on the bus before we were on the way to the airport.

Carnival had it organized pretty good, it was the port authority that did not have their act together.

 

Plane leaving Miami, look how many ships are there!

 

 

So, that is my review of my trip on the Carnival Sensation.

 

Will I go again on Carnival? No, I do not see that happening. We were really not well matched. I was very disappointed with my first cruise. Not Carnivals fault, we had a very bad first date. It happens. They were not what I was expecting. Again not Carnivals fault.

They had their good points also.

 

I am booked on Viking Ocean in December for 14 days in Europe. A port every day and a much older group of people. No loud music, no kids, no trivia. I suspect we will be much better matched. I sure hope so!

 

I hope you enjoyed reading, Kmom posted a great review of her trip on this ship 2 weeks before mine. she posted lots of different pictures so I skipped over posting them. you can see her review here ==> https://boards.cruisecritic.com/showthread.php?t=2564558

[beans79]

Thanks for the review!! Can you tell me if any of the bars with TV’s? I ask because the NFL draft is on during my cruise and my husband wants to maybe watch some of it. Our last boat had a sports lounge this one does not.

 

 

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[riclop]

Thanks for the review.

[Clarea]

Terrific photos, enjoying the review.:)

[newcruiser1956]

Thanks for the review!! Can you tell me if any of the bars with TV’s? I ask because the NFL draft is on during my cruise and my husband wants to maybe watch some of it. Our last boat had a sports lounge this one does not.

 

There is a big TV at the back of the buffet. The bars are not "BARS" they are counters set up to sell you alcohol and I will be honest, I didn't pay attention. I do think there was one at the bar in the casino also.

[aceofbase]

Was on this ship the beginning of December. There was also a tv in front of the coffee bar. It wasn't there all the time, but was out for football games.

[beans79]

Thank you! He said he is on vacation so it’s not the end of the world if he can’t see any of it. Just curious.

 

 

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[TomandIza]

Great review! We're leaving in 15 days on the Sensation, and can't wait! Different itinerary, but the information you provided was very helpful. Thanks!

[shipper50]

Thanks for the open review. My kind of woman as I like Golden Corral too.:p

[KmomChicago]

This is a great review! Even though this cruise was a poor match, it is clear you made the most of it and of your Jamaica shore excursion. You said the guide seemed offended by your tip. . . was it too much, too little, or did he just not expect a tip? Any idea?

 

What I LOVE about your perspective is your non-nasty, live-and-learn kind of approach. You were disappointed but didn't flame Carnival or people who are well-matched to Carnival. I sincerely hope you will post another review about your experience on Viking and that this will be the right fit for you! As you noted it will be completely different. My humble immediate family of three would love to give something like that a try, but such a wondrous voyage is out of the question at this point in our lives due to limited time and funds. Maybe after our kiddo grows up and finishes college.

 

Don't be too hard on yourself for the lack of intensely thorough research. At some point you just gotta take the plunge, board a ship, and check out this cruisin' thang for yourself - that starter cruise is really the last step in the research process. In spite of my OCD thorough planning, my parents surprised me to some extent with what they learned about their preferences and while they loved Carnival, they will do several things differently on their next voyage.

 

Thank you so much for posting!

[newcruiser1956]

This is a great review! Even though this cruise was a poor match, it is clear you made the most of it and of your Jamaica shore excursion. You said the guide seemed offended by your tip. . . was it too much, too little, or did he just not expect a tip? Any idea?

 

What I LOVE about your perspective is your non-nasty, live-and-learn kind of approach. You were disappointed but didn't flame Carnival or people who are well-matched to Carnival. I sincerely hope you will post another review about your experience on Viking and that this will be the right fit for you! As you noted it will be completely different. My humble immediate family of three would love to give something like that a try, but such a wondrous voyage is out of the question at this point in our lives due to limited time and funds. Maybe after our kiddo grows up and finishes college.

 

Don't be too hard on yourself for the lack of intensely thorough research. At some point you just gotta take the plunge, board a ship, and check out this cruisin' thang for yourself - that starter cruise is really the last step in the research process. In spite of my OCD thorough planning, my parents surprised me to some extent with what they learned about their preferences and while they loved Carnival, they will do several things differently on their next voyage.

 

Thank you so much for posting!

 

 

Thanks for your kind words, so many people are so quick to flame on here.

 

Regarding the tip. I talked to others in the bus and asked how much they tipped and they said they had all given about the same amount. I felt like his reaction was it was too little, others said the same thing.

 

I decided to take a fast 5 days cruise on NCL to Cuba. I think this time I will have more realistic idea of what to expect. I suspect that with Carnival I had different expectations and was obviously not correct. This time I expect it to be similar to Carnival and any thing above it will be a bonus. I am more excited about going to Cuba :)

 

The trip with Viking is a once in a life time trip for me too, I could go on 2 or 3 cruises for what it is costing me, I saved for several years for it. I wanted to do something really special with my daughter as a college graduation present for her. I really want to take a river cruise to Asia.. Saving my pennies and hoping for 2020 :)

 

Thanks for writing