The Lollipop Road

You can read more about this topic, as well as many other family cruising topics, in our new book–Cruising With Kids: A Guide To The Perfect Family Cruise Vacation. Visit our dedicated Cruising With Kids website for more details.

In our reviews, we will attempt to cover all aspects of the cruise in a fair, but candid manner, pointing out the good, the bad and the ugly.  Each category will earn a Rating from A+ through F; our overall score will reflect a weighting of each category score.  Each review and rating is done from a families point of view, so if you are single or a couple traveling without kids, your priorities may differ.  At the conclusion of our Cruise Views Marathon, we will crown the most family friendly cruise line (only Carnival, Disney and NCL are being evaluated) in several categories and then overall.  At some later date, we will be posting reviews from Royal Caribbean and Celebrity that were not part of this event.  Now, on to the review.

Ever since our first child was born four years ago we’ve been on a quest to find the most family friendly cruise line.  Having sailed on 30 cruises (as of next week), we had a few ideas of where to start, but it would be an interesting journey.  This was our 4 year-old’s fourth cruise and our 19 month old’s second cruise.  Only I had sailed on Carnival before and that was over 20 years ago, so we didn’t really know what to expect.

At one time, Carnival Cruise Line was branded as the Fun Ships.  Known for its young crowd and party atmosphere, it earned a reputation that lived up to its branding.  Well, all of that has changed.  Carnival, like much of the industry has begun to target families, which can be seen in its new slogan – Fun For All. All For Fun.

Reservation/Documents

Rating:  A

We reserved our 4-night Bahamas cruise through our normal online travel agency where we were able to get a 10% discount off of the base cruise fare.  We opted for an Outside Guarantee, which netted us an upgrade to category 6B (cabin M57  - convenient to the elevators).  We took advantage of one price guarantee, which reduced our total cost by $30.  Our total cruise fare after discounts for a family of four was just over $1,000.

The online check-in process went smoothly and we were able to print all necessary documents (ie Fun Pass and luggage tags) prior to sailing.  If you print luggage tags on a standard printer, they will need to be taped of stapled to your bag, but wait until you get to the pier as the porters have staplers and will complete that task for you. 

Pier Check-in/Embarkation

Rating:  B

We arrived a day early and rented a car from Budget, which has an office just a few miles from the port.  We were dropped off at the terminal around 11:30AM where the porters checked our three bags and pointed us in the direction of the terminal building a couple of hundred feet away.  Although there are signs stating that the porters are salaried and tips are not required, if you want to see your luggage on the ship, I would tip them a dollar a bag. Besides, they did help us to staple our luggage tags onto the bags.

There was a line stretching outside of the terminal building to get through security.  If you are a VIP or past passenger, you can use a special dedicated line, which is quite a bit faster.  Shore side cruise line staff will check your ID prior to the actual security check.  We were surprised to learn that the kind PR rep that we had been dealing with had placed our names on the VIP list, which would entitle us to a speedy private check-in upstairs…this was a great start.

Going through security was much like going through airport security – you know the drill.  When we arrived into the terminal building, it was not busy as boarding had commenced.  As part of VIP check-in we were ushered into a small room where we received personal attention.  Once we were done, we would be escorted to the ship.  This is where the service that we would see from Carnival started to go downhill.

It was getting a bit crowded at the VIP desk, so we were asked to wait on the side for our escort.  Unfortunately, a very rude and miserable employee began harassing us because she thought we should be somewhere else.  She proceeded to get into an argument with another employee (who had previously helped us); finally, they sorted it out and we were on our way.  There was no line, so VIP boarding was useless at that point.  Boarding was fast and we were able to sneak down to our cabin to drop our bags without being scolded.

Accommodations

Cabin Rating:  B-     Cabin Service Rating:  A+

On this sailing we opted for an outside cabin so that we could enjoy the natural light and sea views.  Carnival’s standard cabins measure about 180 square feet, which allows for a queen-sized bed (or two twins), a desk, closet space, a chair, end table and a rather large bathroom (by cruise ship standards).  We had two pull down berths to accommodate four people.  Although the size of the room was acceptable for a family of four when the berths were up, once they were lowered, the room became claustrophobic.

The bathroom was roomy and had plenty of space for two people, which is unusual on a cruise ship.  The cabin was also equipped with a small flat panel television, wall mounted telephone, ample toiletries (including toothpaste and razors) and a safe.  Noticeably missing was a hair dryer.  There was adequate storage space for a 4-night cruise.

I had the opportunity to tour other cabins throughout the ship.  Unfortunately, the Verandah cabins are not much larger (other than having a verandah – try U230 or U243).  The largest suite, the Grand Suite is approximately 300 square feet and provides a large sitting area with a balcony (8 have extended balconies), which would provide ample space for a family.  Overall, Carnival’s cabin sizes are generous, however, configuration is a bit challenging in quad cabins and there aren’t an abundance of larger cabins onboard, which does make it a bit more difficult for families.

Cabin service was excellent during our cruise.  Our cabin steward kept the room clean, never bothered us to leave the cabin and left a cool towel animal every night.  He also helped us with a couple of special requests without hesitation.  One of the best experiences we’ve had.

Food/Dining Service

Food Rating:  C-     Dining Service Rating:  B-

The lunch buffet on the first day of the cruise was probably the best meal that we had the entire cruise; there was a good variety and the quality was very good.  However, it went downhill from there.  The selection at the buffet for breakfast, lunch and especially dinner was limited to about a dozen items.  The upside was that they always had a very good salad bar and deli and pizza (24 hours) were available during meal times.  There was also a grill outside where the traditional fare was available in addition to some Mongolian specialties.

Topping off the buffet was ice cream and frozen yogurt that was also available 24 hours a day.  Unfortunately, the other dessert selections were cheap and predictable, with few exceptions.  Having said that, we always found something that the kids would eat, as there was a selection of 7-8 pizza choices, calzones and several hot sandwiches available most of the time.

The dining room menu was hit or miss.  There is a separate kids menu with the usual fare, but our kids ate from the regular menu every evening.  On one evening I enjoyed some amazing melt in your mouth spare ribs, but the corn and french fries that they were served with were soggy and in the case of the corn, inedible.  On another night, I left dinner after eating only half of my prime rib, because it was stringy and tasteless.  Don’t get me wrong, there were several items that we enjoyed (the kids loved their pasta and the lasagna was one of the best that I’ve ever had), but overall, the quality of the food was not what we had experienced on other cruise lines.

We participated in Your Time Dining, which was a great enhancement to Carnival’s offerings.  We got to dine between 5:45PM and 9:30PM every evening in the same dining room with the same servers, but we could arrive at any time.  With a busy itinerary and young kids, this made a great deal of sense as getting the entire family ready for dinner at a specific time is challenging.  I highly recommend this option if you have young kids.

Room service, which offers a basic continental breakfast, sandwiches and desserts during the day, is also available.  Overall, we always found something to eat that we enjoyed, however, it was a challenge on occasion.

We were also a bit disappointed in the service.  Regardless of how much we struggled at the buffet, there was never any server that offered to help us.  In the dining room, although the staff was mostly friendly, we received incorrect food on occasion and had a server argue that what he had brought was whipped cream when it was clearly cream cheese…the Maitre’d finally straightened that one out.

Having been on 10 cruise lines and over 20 different ships, we tend to be opinionated when it comes to food.  However, if you asked the kids, they wouldn’t know the difference, so you have to decide how important food quality is to you.  Note – there is no specialty restaurant on the Sensation; however, there is a Sushi bar and Joe’s Cafe (where you can get a milkshake and pastries).

Activities/Entertainment

Rating:  B-

There is only one sea day, so activities during the day are limited while in port.  Although Carnival has begun to cater more to families in many ways, activities and entertainment (outside of the kids programs) is not really one of those ways; most of the daily activities remain geared toward adults.  Although not billed as “family” activities, there are a limited number of activities that may appeal to families, especially families with teenagers.  Towel folding, karaoke, sports trivia, cartoon trivia and pool games, along with the bean bag toss, mini-golf tournament and ping pong tournament are just a few that might hold your their interest.

We tried to pick out a few family friendly entertainment venues, but unfortunately, most of Carnival’s evening entertainment is geared toward adults.  There was a magician and juggler one evening, but it was scheduled at 10:15PM, past the bedtime of any child who might be interested.  The remaining evening shows were typical cruise line song and dance productions – sure to put you’re kids to sleep.

Remember, our ratings are based upon a family’s perspective.  Ship amenities and non-scheduled activities are covered below.

Onboard Amenities/Features

Rating:  A

Refurbished in 2009, the Sensation sports many new features that are also being rolled out throughout the Fantasy Class fleet of ships.  The best and most amazing of these is Carnival Waterworks™.  Situated up on Verandah Deck (11), this play area is really geared toward the entire family.  With two parallel deck-high slides and a winding (partially enclosed) water slide stretching two-deck high, this was the most popular feature for our kids (and us, truth be told).  Kids must be 42″ to ride the slides and they do enforce that requirement.  Our 4 year-old was 1/2 inch short and they wouldn’t let him go…he was sad, but the squirting, dumping and showering water features soon made him forget.  He loved it so much that when we were on the Disney Wonder (docked next to the Sensation), he emphatically told us that he wanted to go back to the squirters – over there.  We just laughed.

There is also an easy to navigate 9-hole mini-golf course up on Sun Deck (14), a Resort-style pool area (complete with fake palm trees and hot tubs) where our son went in “alone” for the first time, a Virtual Reality room (read video games) and plenty of deck sports like ping pong and shuffleboard.  Our one disappointment was that the library had very limited hours (only about 3-4 during the entire cruise), so we were unable to get any games or kids books.

For mom and dad, there are several shops with the usual trinkets, an internet cafe (Bow2Stern wireless also available), art gallery (only one auction on this cruise), a spa, gym (mainly treadmills and weights with a few elipticals) and best of all, Serenity, Carnival’s exclusive adults-only retreat nestled on the Promenade Deck Aft.  There are plenty of lounge chairs, but only one hot tub.  It does adjoin the Plaza Lounge and is overlooked by the outdoor eating area at the rear of the Seaview Bistro, so privacy can be elusive during mealtimes.

Overall, Carnival has done a great job of putting together a ship full of popular amenities for families.  There is no doubt that your kids can entertain themselves for days without ever getting bored.

Camp Carnival/Circle C

Rating:  B-

Carnival has completed a major overhaul of its kids programs in recent years as part of its focus on appealing to families.  Camp Carnival caters to kids aged 2-11, while Circle C focuses on those tweens, 12-14.  There are also group teen activities, including an exclusive hangout, shore excursions and late night parties.  For a more in-depth review, read our recent article on Camp Carnival.

Camp Carnival activities are extensive and varied, beginning as early as 7:45AM and lasting until 3AM the next morning (after 10PM there is a fee of $6/hr).  Circle C offers evening activities on port days and activities beginning in the afternoon on sea days.  Although very limited, there are also designated times when you can bring children under 2 into the club for free play.  They are also eligible for late night babysitting…and good news, Carnival counselors do change diapers!

The size of Camp Carnival is a bit small, but there are lots of basic toys and fun activities to keep your kids busy.  There aren’t any special features and there is no splash pool or outdoor play area dedicated to the kids club (other than Waterworks), which is why we feel that the offerings are basic, although the amount of activities is significant.

Although security and safety was good, we were not impressed with the youth staff overall.  In one particular encounter, I was with my 4 year-old and one of the youth counselors was short, rude and couldn’t wait to close the door in my face.  Having a shy child, we were disappointed in their lack of ability to deal with children who were unsure of being left alone at the club.  We spoke to many parents onboard and this was a common sentiment.

A few of our readers have commented that their children loved Camp Carnival and that indeed makes lots of sense because there is literally a ton of cool stuff to do, but on this particular ship with these particular counselors, our child and many others would have nothing to do with Camp Carnival.  Conversely, our son has participated in the programs on both Disney and Celebrity, so we cannot determine if it was the club itself, the counselors or some other reason.

Ports Of Call

Rating:  B+

This 4-night sailing called at Freeport and Nassau.  If you haven’t cruised before, these really are two great ports for kids.  We ventured out on our own in both ports, so we cannot comment on the cruise line offerings, however, for both of these ports, doing it on your own is almost always less expensive.  You can read our articles on Freeport Excursions and Lucayan National Park.  Stay tuned for articles on Nassau Excursions and Blue Lagoon Island coming up next week.

Getting on and off the ship was easy, there were no lines and the security staff was fast, efficient and pleasant.

Crew/Cleanliness

Crew Rating:  B     Cleanliness Rating:  A-

In general, most of the other crew that we encountered were friendly, however, we did share an elevator with a particularly grouchy crewmember and the crew staffing the guest relations desk could have used a lesson in congeniality (although the Guest Services Manager, Marcus was awesome).  We also encountered one of the activity staff who lied and when later confronted with it, she was quite embarrassed.  With few exceptions, we found much of the crew to be cordial, but very few went out of their way to provide truly excellent service.

We found the ship to be very clean and sanitary.  There were no dirty dishes, food or other trash collecting in public areas (although they were slow to remove trays in the Seaview Bistro) and the ship overall was well maintained, with the exception of the windows and surrounding paint, which are in dire need of rehabilitation.

Disembarkation

Rating:  B+

The disembarkation process was the traditional chaos, starting with the fact that we never received a sheet telling us the actual process.  I had a meeting with Marcus at 8:30AM, so we left the luggage in our stateroom and our cabin steward was just fine with that.  They want everyone off the ship by 9AM, so it was a rush, but there were no lines and our bags were easy to find, as was a kindly porter who helped us to a taxi for the 3-minute trip to the Disney Wonder.

Conclusion

Overall Rating:  B-

Positive – Great onboard features and amenities (Waterworks, mini-golf, Serenity), fun ports of call, excellent cabin service, lots of kids program activities and a very affordable price.

Negative - Mediocre food and dining service, lack of family entertainment and activities, lack of kids program amenities and oddly configured cabins. 

You can read more about this topic, as well as many other family cruising topics, in our new book–Cruising With Kids: A Guide To The Perfect Family Cruise Vacation. Visit our dedicated Cruising With Kids website for more details.

Carnival Cruise Line has provided giveaway items to our readers in conjunction with this event.  That participation had no impact on our review.

Disclosure

No related posts.

Share |

5 Responses to “Cruise Review – Carnival Cruise Line Sensation”