Just back from our wonderful 4 day cruise on the Carnival Sensation. We left rainy Kentucky on Saturday, 10/11; stayed in Savannah for the night. Arrived at a sunny Port Canaveral on Sunday, 10/12. We used FTTF for the first time. We loved getting on board quicker and we definitely got our luggage a lot sooner than previous cruises. After quickly dropping off our carry-on luggage in our rooms that were ready, we headed up to the Lido deck for drinks and lunch. We met Roel, one of the bar wait staff, as soon as we sat down. He remembered us the entire cruise and spoke to us each time he saw us, whether it was on Lido, in the dining room, or in the Fantasia lounge or Plaza lounge.
We had the any time dining in the Fantasy dining room. We really enjoyed being able to go to dinner at whatever time we chose. If we were busy, we ate later; if we were hungry we ate early. We only had the same wait staff twice and the second time we requested that section. We thought the food was excellent. My favorite was the prime rib and the chocolate melting cake. My husband, daughter and sister really liked the shrimp and lobster tail.
I used Shore Excursioneer for our shore excursions in Freeport and Nassau. In Freeport, we did a day pass to the Grand Lucayan beach resort. What a beautiful place. The beach was clean. There were plenty of chairs available. Yes, there were tour operators, ladies wanting to braid hair, and others selling things. But, once you told them you weren't interested, they did not continue to bother you. My husband and daughter went on a banana boat ride and had a blast. My sister went parasailing and loved every minute of it. I just enjoyed the sun and sound of the waves. I was a little disappointed that we didn't get to go on our snorkeling trip. The water was too rough so snorkeling was cancelled. I did get a quick refund of my deposit from the Shore Excursioneer. In Nassau, we went to the British Colonial Hilton resort for the day. It is also a beautiful resort. The beach area was small but there were plenty of chairs. How wonderful to be able to relax in the sun under a coconut tree. The food and drinks were a little expensive but they were delicious. We had $40 each in food and drink credits. Me and my sister shopped a little when we got back to the port. My husband and daughter stopped at Senior Frogs for a few more drinks.
Our cabin had plenty of drawers and closet space. Our room steward, Nelson, was excellent. He called us by name every he saw us. He made sure we had anything we needed. Bathrooms were in great condition. Water pressure is excellent. Beds and pillows are very comfortable. There was an extra blanket that came in handy because I like to keep our room pretty cold. Take an extension cord; there is only one outlet in the room and one in the bathroom. We didn't notice any exterior noise at night.