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Carnival Cruise Line

MS Sensation

Your Rating:
Reviewed by:Deborah D'Ambrosi
# previous cruises: 10+
Date of Trip: September 30, 2002
Itinerary: Bahamas

It was not a pleasant cruise for us.

All the rooms are nice. All the public areas are easy to get around. The Fantasia Showroom, very nice. We liked the Seaview Bar and Grill area, you can see a lot outside. Nice views. The Promenade area (Sensation Blvd.) is fully enclosed. Pool is nice size, 2 jacuzzis, one huge water slide. The Club Vegas Casino is also large, really beautiful. The Nautica Spa area, very spacious.

Food is average. Buffet could be much improved. Service on this cruise really needs work. Six months ago, we requested a table for just us. Early sitting in the Fantasy Dining Room. It would be easier for my husband to get to. We get to the port and on our Sail & Sign card they had us in the Ecstasy Dining Room, late sitting. We tried to get that changed to the Fantasy Dining Room and could not. So, we ended up in the Ecstasy Dining Room, early sitting. We thought everything was fine, until the next morning and we were given a different table. Which meant it would be a further walk for my husband. I found that out, by seeing the Maitre'd in the Fantasy Dining Room. So, I go to see the Maitre'd in the Ecstasy Dining Room and he was not there. I give the request slips to a table steward and he said the Maitre'd would handle it. When we get back to our room, we see we still have the same table as last night.

We thought everything would be okay. Until dinner that night, the same Maitre'd who gave us the table in the Card Room for the early sitting in the Ecstasy Dining Room. Wanted to know why we were not at the new table assignment. I told him it was too far. I asked him why he wanted us to move. He said 2 other couples wanted this table. I told him, we were not moving!!! We got this table fairly the afternoon before. I also asked him, if there was a couple at the new table we were to go to. He said yes and I told him, that we DID NOT want to sit with other people and we were not moving.

We stayed the rest of the cruise at the table given to us. Both the Maitre'd and the Head Waiter REFUSED TO ACKNOWLEDGE US. To make matters worse. The Maitre'd refused to answer my husband's question, "Why do you have to move us?" The Maitre'd said he would come back and tell us. He NEVER did. At the end of the trip, when they hand out the lithographs of the ship. The Head Waiter, (worked for Carnival for 17 yrs.) refused to give us our lithographs personally. He told our table steward we were too busy eating. It was a TOTAL LIE. As I watched him give the lithos to ALL passengers. EATING OR NOT. From the 2nd night through the last night of the 5 day cruise. Both the Maitre'd and the Head Waiter SNUBBED US. We find that UNEXCUSABLE!!!!

Plenty of space in our inside stateroom. Closet and drawer space is adequate. Room is very quiet. Plenty of room for 2 in the shower.

We did not go to any of the shows. The Table Steward, his assistant. Purser's Desk staff and Room Steward all very nice and accommodating. The Maitre'd and the Head Waiter NEED RETRAINING. In all of the 20 yrs. and 52 cruises we've gone on. Nothing has ever happened as what I've stated above. Carnival has lost it's shine as far as we're concerned.

Due to Hurricane Lili, we went to Freeport and Nassau, Bahamas. While on the ship. I bought my usual memorabilia. Only no shot glasses of the ship. I did not like that. There is a large pool midship and a huge water slide. 2 Jacuzzis. At the stern is a nice children's pool. There is child care available all day and night. There is a slight fee for the younger ones. Health club is spacious.

Mostly mixed on this trip. I do notice there are more older passengers in wheelchairs on this trip. We prefer to eat alone, as most passengers love to grill you. And after the trip is over, you never hear from them.