Like the company’s seven other Fantasy-class ships, the
Sensationwill be part of the “Evolutions of Fun” ship refurbishment program. Set to be completed by 2009, all Fantasy-class ships will undergo numerous upgrades, including: expansions to the children’s waterparks; new designs and features to pool areas; the creation of Serenity adults-only deck areas; fully remodeled staterooms and suites, complete with new baths and flat-screen televisions; and the addition of atrium lobby bars, coffee bars, miniature golf courses and multipurpose conference facilities. Once those renovations are completed, the ship will be renamed
“Carnival Sensation,”to keep in-line with other Carnival-brand ships.
Sensation, built in Finland in 1993, is Bahamian-registered with a gross tonnage of 70,367, a length of 855 ft, a 103-ft. beam and a cruising speed of 21 knots. She sails with Italian officers and an international crew of over 900, and can accommodate 2,052 passengers.
Sensationleaves Port Canaveral, Florida, every three or four days for the Bahamas. Ports of call include Nassau and Freeport.
In decor, Sensation, like Ecstasy, is somewhat less glitzy than the rest of her brassy fleetmates. Fiber optics, sound, and colors galore create what flamboyant Joe Farcus calls a "sensual environment." Ostensibly, this runs the gamut from elegant (the Oak Room) to kitschy (the decor in the Touch of Classlounge). The Polo Loungesuits those seeking a quiet refuge from the constant sensory overload everywhere else. Truth to tell, Sensationcan satisfy a variety of tastes. The seven-story atrium and the enclosed promenade overwhelm with wavy lines and dot perforations pouring out streams of multicolor neon, and fiber-optic trees seem to grow out of the double-sided sofas flanking the promenade. The two-deck show room presents Vegas-style entertainment, and the casino features Vegas-style games. Lounges abound. Activities can number 100 a day, ranging from bingo to belly-flop contests. With her huge spa, three pools (one with a water slide), umpteen whirlpools, fleetwide golf program, and one of the best children's programs afloat, Sensationkeeps her captives busy.
The two dining rooms offer all three meals with hustling waiters more likely to offer comic relief than punctilious service. The new flexible dining program provides for four sittings at dinner, and casual dining options have expanded as well, with a bistro to bolster the 24-hour pizzeria and lido restaurant. An Internet cafe should be up and running soon.
The standard cabin on this 1,026-stateroom ship ranges from 183 to 190 sq ft, among the largest in this price category. All cabins include phones, TVs, stereos and ample stowage. Suites add whirlpool tubs. Sensation also offers 54 private balcony staterooms.
Sensationis a top Carnival performer.
