Carnival Sensation Review
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This was a last minute decision for my husband, myself and our college age son. It was our 7th Carnival cruise - 12th overall. We wanted to have a relaxing short vacation before things heated up this summer. We knew Sensation is an older ship and there were some engine noises and some very odd loud vibrations that we endured coming into the harbor areas but nothing too awful. We were on Main deck in OV 182 which is midship. It was a relatively quiet cabin with other cabins above and below us. The ship is very well kept and the crew very friendly and very hard working.
Embarkation looked like a long line but moved very quickly. We happened to arrive as the drawbridge was up so parking took quite awhile. The lot attendants told us if we had been even 30 minutes earlier it would have easy. Walked on the ship and went directly to our cabin to drop off carry ons. The cabin was at best cozy - for three people it was a bit of a dance getting ready to go out. My biggest complaint after the obvious just one outlet in the room, is that the upper berth came over the foot the pushed together beds - this did not work well for the person sleeping on the "inside". I know there are cabins that the upper comes off the wall over the head of the bed (so you could walk around it) but I really couldn't tell you how to get one of those. Muster drill was done without life jackets - this is a TREMENDOUS improvement over other times. Once the drill is over there is no longer this mass of people trying desperately to get back to their cabins. Just grab a drink and a place at the rail and watch Port Canaveral slip away!
Although we had asked for a small table in the MDR, we stayed with our assigned large table because my DS hit the jackpot of dining companions - 3 absolutely terrific single girls who he hung out with. Bravo Carnival! The food on this ship was without a doubt the best we have had on a CCL ship - or any other cruise for that matter. Smaller ship, smaller buffet but just very good selections within the daily themes and the desserts were extraordinary. My DH and DS loved the pizza. Unusual selections like goat cheese and mushrooms as well as classics like cheese with pepperoni. I tried the Mongolian grill for lunch one day and really enjoyed it. Beware of the seagulls if you are dining on Lido during a port day - they are brazen!
Cabin Review
Ocean View
It was a relatively quiet cabin with other cabins above and below us. A bit small for for three people it was a bit of a dance getting ready to go out. My biggest complaint after the obvious just one outlet in the room, is that the upper berth came over the foot the pushed together beds - this did not work well for the person sleeping on the "inside". I know there are cabins that the upper comes off the wall over the head of the bed (so you could walk around it) but I really couldn't tell you how to get one of those.