How old are your kids?  We are taking this cruise in December with our 5 and 2 year olds.....

Not sure how that will go....

 We... LOVE the Sensation - can you tell from our signature!

Heading back in a couple of weeks!!!

Tom

Let me start by saying I usually love Carnival cruises. Part of the reason I was so excited about getting on the Sensation is because I had the most amazing time on it's sister ship, the Imagination. Unfortunately some of what you included in your email happened to me. The bathroom in our cabin smelled funny and although they tried to fix it, it smelled the whole cruise! We also noticed this same smell in the other bathrooms on the ship. Our steward was nice, but we never saw him(on the Imagination our steward sought us out on a daily basis). What's interesting about this is on the Imagination we were on the lowest deck, Riviera, while on the Sensation we were on the Empress.While most of the staff was friendly, the hostess in the dining room was very difficult. We had a party of 15, booked in advance as a party of 15 (our reservations were linked) Yet they never sat us near each other but in separate parts of the dining room! The decor is not an issue, it is kind of like a casino, but this ship was definitely more run down than the others I have been on.  The food in the dining room was wonderful, but the buffet in the Lido left something to be desired-completely different from the Imagination, which had great food everywhere on the ship. The glass elevators were broken during the entire cruise! In addition the people in the cabin next door were very rowdy. While this is not the ship's fault, when we reported them (after the third straight night of loud music at 3:30 am) We asked not to be identified. The first thing security told this rowdy drunken group when they went to their cabin was that we were the ones who complained! They gave them our cabin number! I would certainly cruise again (on a different ship) but my first time Carnvival cruisers who were with me unfortunately got a very bad impression of the cruise line.

monalisa:

...The bathroom in our cabin smelled funny and although they tried to fix it, it smelled the whole cruise! We also noticed this same smell in the other bathrooms on the ship...

 We have encountered that periodically on many ships - and many decks.

monalisa:

...The glass elevators were broken during the entire cruise! ...

That's been going on for most of this year... 

monalisa:

...In addition the people in the cabin next door were very rowdy. While this is not the ship's fault, when we reported them (after the third straight night of loud music at 3:30 am) We asked not to be identified. The first thing security told this rowdy drunken group when they went to their cabin was that we were the ones who complained! They gave them our cabin number! ...

Been there... done that! 

On the Sensation a couple of years ago we had a drunk guy on two late nights (4 am or so) BANGING on the door of the suite next to ours - lots of profanity "open the ()#$ door " etc... she never opened the door, but it woke everyone up no doubt! Security showed up long after he gave up.

Tom

hi, glad you had a great time on the ship. we cruise on 25 oct.  i was thinking that the best thing to do in any port would be the beautifull beach! thats got to be worth going to and i would never stay on any ship whilst in port, whats the point , you'll be on the ship again later anyway and only have a day in port so i would make the most of it. im looking foward to nassau more than freeport and I am glad we are there all night. i found a nightclub called fluid lounge its $15 entry and free drinks all night!!! all premium liquor, wine, beer, soda, free! far cheaper than the ship and they play hiphop, reggae and r n b,  And we can do a bit of shopping in the day, hit the beach, smoke some of them blunts they sell, lol.  im gonna enjoy every minuit, even if those taxi drivers are crazy, its all part of the expirience and afterwards gives you something to laugh about!

Niki, do NOT go to Fluid! LOL Wait, let me start over. OK, so everyone's been talking about Senor Frogs. I've seen the reviews all over the Internet and I've heard what others have had to say. Everyone RAVES about this place. So since we knew that we were going to be in Nassau all night, we decided to check it out.  Well, we got off the ship about 9:30 ready to check out Senor Frog. We were greeted by 2 locals who were "promoters" for Fluid.  They were explaining how Fluid was the place to be, explaining that they played Hip Hop, Reggae, and R&B, also letting us know that it'd be a $15 cover charge, and all drinks were then free. Well, from the jump, these 2 guys seemed shady as HELL!! One of the guys wanted to lead us down a deserted alley.  We decided against it, and let the other take us there.  When we got there, there was NO music playing inside at ALL! There was a gang of guys hanging outside just acting real suspicious.  I went on this cruise with 6 others, and we ALL had a funny feeling about this place. And that's sad because my friend had to remind me that Fluid was one of the places we were supposed to try out in Nassau, as I had heard it was a good place to be.  IDK what was up that night, but we had to pass on that. The locals and the people outside the club were all acting extremely funny. So we decided against it. We went to Senor Frogs but they were no longer letting patrons in for free and we all weren't willing to pay the cover there. So there was a little bar in between Fluid and Senor Frog that we spent some time at and had fun. Drinks were cheap, and we even had some locals treat some of us to some shots.  The bartender was obviously pleased at the amount we were spending, because some of my drinks became free of charge. LOL  If you're looking to smoke, I can tell you now that you will definitely be offered some. We caught a taxi in Freeport to the marketplace. We weren't fully off the van yet before some local offered us some weed. Apparently, that's how it is in the Bahamas! You say it's part of the experience, but wait until you see how those drivers can be. It was RIDICULOUS! But it's intersting that there percentage of accidents is VERY low... LOL

We have been on two cruises so far  this year. They were both o nthe Fascination out of Jacksonville. As far as the employees go most of them are great. Yes you might find a rude one out of the bunch. I am usually very laid back and it takes alot to push my buttons. I simply told the girl not to come back to my table and found a different one to wait on us at the lido bar deck. They are usually only there 6 months so you probably want see them the nexy cruise. Other than that most our very friendly and helpful.  In Freeport like they say there is not much, but it is worth getting off the boat. I usually use this port to get my hair braided(never pay what they say,but make sure you have price negotiated before they start), I do not smoke but in freeport they are more than willin to get your smoke, a lady by the subway braidin hair got guys with us some apparently it was pretty darn good they were stupid laughin. But on the beach right there you can play in the water. i rode on the banana boat it was great, could of not laughed harder just don't sit in very front to much water in eyes to see. Freda was are taxi driver. We told her we were bringin her to the states and gonna make her a nascar driver.  As far as Nassua, you can not see everything in one visit. We have been to Senor Frogs both times i love it cant wait till December 3rd when we go back. If nothing else walk in there to take pictures of the decor. The gift shop is wonderful take a credit card or money, i think this is were we bought the most both times. I have noticed also if you are buying t shirts as gifts for people back home always buy a size larger on the ones that are 3 for 10 they shrink the more expensive ones have not. This is our first time on the Sensation Dec. 3, 2009. Any suggestion on what to do while on the boat? Also has anyone taken the Ardastra Garden tour in Nassua? We are thinkin about this excursion.

Well, hlphillips, it depends on what your idea of fun is. On the ship, we enjoyed the comedy shows, the Not So Newlywed Game/show, the casino, and the Kaleidoscope Dance Club.  We were supposed to visit Ardastra Gardens, but decided against it. One thing I'd recommend doing, though, is taking a taxi there instead. The excursion is about $45. Well, the taxis are cheap, and the zoo itself is about $10 AND you can stay as long as you'd like (whereas on the excursion, you only stay for about an hour, hour and a half). 

I've been back from the Sensation about 5 days  and it has been a sad 5 days.  I LOVED the ship.  I'm sure there are people everywhere who complain about something but I loved my first cruise and I loved the Sensation.   We cruised the October 4th 4 day cruise.

 Oscar in the Ecstasy Dining room was great.  My 7 year old granddaughter fell head over heels in love with him.  Others wanted to put him in their suitcase and bring him home.......Oscar we love ya and miss ya.   Our room steward was magic.  We never saw him but there was always something special and our room was clean even when we couldn't figure out how to clean it.....There was 3 adult women and we all over packed.

I loved the water park, the fantasy lounge shows, the food was great everywhere that I ate.  No one was rude (except when they made us leave).....lol.   We were all sad to leave.

As for Freeport and Nassau, I actually liked Freeport best.  The beach we went to was so clean at Freeport.  There was the banana boat and parasailing.  The shops were all neat and clean.   Smily was our Taxi driver in Freeport.  He took us  all around Freeport and then to the beach, he waited and when we were ready took us back to the ship.   They drive on the wrong side of the road and no one seems to care about stop signs.....all the vans have dents and pings in them and it doesn't take long to figure out why.....lol

 Nassau wasn't as clean (in my opinion)  The straw markets reeked of some odor,   I'm not sure what it was.  They have some beautiful wood carvings and the guys are carving as you sit and watch.   They are in the last row of the strawmarkets so you'll miss them if you don't look for them.   The beach we went to on Nassau was awful.    The water was crystal clear you could see garbage on the bottom.  It didn't feel like sand it felt slimy on the bottom.   It was rocky and had some plants growing that felt funny when you got into them.  Of the entire cruise Nassau was my biggest disappointment.     We did rent a Taxi for 20 a person.  Rodney took us on a tour of the island,   Atlantis and all.   If I ever went back to Nassau I think I'd fly in and go to Atlantis only.

oh yah, the bedding......I want those pillows....The beds are so comfortable once I laid down I don't think I moved till morning.....

last time we did the four day, my wife asked our room steward for a hair dryier to use. (formal night), she was able to use it for the rest of the cruise. As for freeport: If you like to sail and snorkle, use carnivals excursion. the buses actually take you to the other side of the island. when we go to nassau, i schedule a snorkle / dive with stuart cove. his fleet of buses and boats pick you up timley and go to great sites. MY MISTAKE WAS DOING A MORNING AND AFTERNOON SNORKLE. I was too tired to enjoy dinner and evening shows.

Hello,  I enjoyed your post.  I will be leaving on this Sunday for the same cruise.  Do you know the name of the beach thatyou went to in Freeport?  What was the taxi fee to take you there and was there a fee at the beach?  Also, what was the name of the beach at Nassau where we will not go to it. Please give me some pointers as I am traveling with my 2 children and want to make sure they enjoy the beaches. 

ill just add another glowing review of the sensation.. i loved her. if lived in florida, i'd probably go on her every other month she was that great. the crew were great, the food was great, our room (U108, cat. 12) was OUTSTANDING .  so yea, the people who didnt have a good time were probably the nitpickers who would have had a terrible time on the QE2.

dish-  my daughter turned 5 the first night on senstation this summer and the crew who work with teh kids are really spectacular. immediately they realized my daughter was really shy, and they just swooped right in and made her feel right at home, and she had a GREAT time.  they even did a little ditty for her for her birthday, which she LOVED.

monalisa:

I am glad you had a great time. However as a longtime fan of carnival I did not AND I am not picky!! It simply did not meet the standard of other carnival ships the bathroom smelled horrible and the hostess was rude. The ship was rundown and our next door neighbors out of control. I only cruise carnival and this was NOT typical but very disappointing

Isolated events can and do happen - which can be both for the better or worse. Our B2B sailing we just got off of on Thursday was GREAT!  --- I would not change A THING, other than the luck (which they could not help me with) in the casino!! 

 Tom