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Sue Smith

Age: 32
Occupation: receptionist
Number of Cruises: my first cruise!
Cruise Line: Carnival
Ship: Sensation
Sailing Date: August 30th, 2004
Itinerary: Western Caribbean


Just a bit’o background on our group. Girls Only vacation for myself (32), my mother (55), my aunt (53) and a friend (57). We all live in Bradenton/Sarasota area except for my aunt who flew in from Rhode Island for the trip.

We are NOT the “let’s swim with the stingrays” type. Our vacation was based on relaxing and not rushing around. I am first time cruiser, so I didn’t really know what to expect.

We left on Monday, August 30th to head to Cayman and Cozumel. Our expected return was Saturday, September 4th. Due to Hurricane Frances, we didn’t get back in until the afternoon of Tuesday, September 7th! WOW! Good think I over packed for those unexpected 4 days!!

PORT OF TAMPA:
We got to the Port Of Tampa (I live in Bradenton/Sarasota and had a family member drive us all to the port) and it was easy as pie getting in. We arrived around noon. You tip $1 per bag when the porter attacks…lol. Say goodbye to your luggage until you get to your room!

CHECKING IN:
The porter told us where to go and then we just got shuffled through the whole area. Folks were everywhere directing you. We didn’t get passports for the trip… just photo ID and certified birth certificates (you gotta have that raised seal on the birth certificate!). Although we brought marriage licenses as well, nobody asked to see them (according to Orbitz, sometimes they ask and sometimes they don’t).

Because we had a suite, we were automatically in the Skippers Club. This meant NO waiting in the long lines (gag!). Loved that since kids bug me and they were all over the place! Lol… When you checked in, this was the time that you gave your credit card to put down on the room for incidentals, show all your paperwork and tickets, get your room keys and your sail and sign card issued. You are able to have two or more people use one persons credit card for incidentals. Or… everyone can put there own down. Quite easy! It was just our group one family getting checked in, so it was great. And it was done!

Didn’t have to wait very long before they were calling “Upper Deck” to get on the ship! They take a photo of you to scan into your Sail And Sign card before you board. Apparently the photo is only seen by ship folk when they scan it. Right before you get onto the ship, they do take a picture of your group in some sort of Carnival cut-out situation. The following day, you will see it posted along with everyone else’s in the Walk Of Shame (will tell you about that in the photo section)! Lol…

GETTING ON BOARD:
Got on the ship and my eyes went buggy with the decor! It’s not called the “Carnival Fun Ship” for nothing! lol… Yet it’s amazing how you get right into that Carnival Spirit! We went to our room right away to see what it looked like but they were still cleaning the rooms. Didn’t want to spoil the first impression so we decided to walk around and get the lay of the land.

FIRST STOP:
First thing: Scout out all smoking areas. We all smoke except my friend. Didn’t have a map yet (that’s in the room when you get in there). The map does NOT list the smoking areas of the ship. But, all smoking areas will be listed for you in your “Carnival Capers” newsletter that you get each night.

We went to the top to check out the pool. There was a nice shaded smoking area with tables and chairs by the bar. Drinks please! A guy walked around serving drinks in Carnival plastic glasses that you got to keep. You gotta get one even though the price kills you! Lol… Watched Port of Tampa go by as we listened to live band. Very nice way to start the trip!

THE ROOM:
Then we went to our room. Our suite was on the Upper Deck (cabin U84). I don’t have one complaint about the room, so I will just post things about points of interest.

Balcony: totally private and large. It has a large door and large window that gives you a great view of the ocean. Had 3 chairs, 1 end table and 1 recliner. The 4 of us were totally comfortable sitting out there together. I even slept out there one night on the recliner because it was so comfy (this is considered my “wild moment” on the trip! Lol… That’s how boring I am! Lol…). The air conditioner blows you out of the joint. We had 3 vents in the room with adjusters, but the girls all liked it cold in there. Lol….

Closet: They had a walk in closet that accommodated four “pack your suitcase til’ it pops” kind of gals…lol. Safe is located in the room for your jewelry, money, etc. We didn’t use the safe. Lots of drawer space that we didn’t even use.

Beds: One pull-out couch which my aunt and mother shared and then two twins (which can be smooshed together to form a king if you had wanted to) which my friend and I used. Only have rave reviews regarding comfort level of beds!

Steward/Stewardess: Your stewardess (we had Lorraine who was the greatest!) will introduce herself and answer any questions/get you additional items. The rooms are ORIGINALLY set up for 2 people regardless if you booked it for 4 people in the room. Your friendly steward will add the additional amenities to the room AFTER you get there. You get bathrobes, soaps, shampoo, mini-toothpaste, floss, etc. Just the basics. Aunt brought her “hurricane force” hairdryer even though they will send one to you if you ask. Outlet in the bathroom was funky… so we had to use it at the vanity area where it would fit. No biggie though.

Mini Bar: Stocked with sodas and water only. No alcohol or edibles. I was bummed about that since I am at old pro at “Mini Bar Raiding” in the wee hours of the night. Fresh ice provided 2ce daily. Not sure why, but my mother got the bill for everything that was taken out of the mini bar. I think since she was the main person that booked the room, they just bill the main person since there isn’t a way of knowing who took what.

DINNER:
We had the 6:15pm seating in the Fantasy Dining Room. Was great. No complaints. Was worried about what to wear because even though there is ONE official formal night (Tuesday), I had heard that some folks go glam every evening…lol. We didn’t glam it up each night, but we all had nice outfits (suits/dresses/heels).

Servers were Subhan (from Bali) and Julija (from Estonia). They were the best! We had a table for 6 all to ourselves! Hooray!! We were hoping we would get our own table! The food was great. I am a “meat and potatoes” kinda gal so I am thrilled they didn’t get overly zealous with the funny stuff…lol. Desserts were great too. Menu is different EACH night. They fortunately keep it a varied menu though.


THE BILL:
I have my bill in front of me: Examples of prices on drinks Pina Coladas $4.95,, bottle of Miller Lite $4.25, cappuccino $3.25, reg coffee $1, bloody mary $4.25, diet coke $2.50. (Note: I got my coffee at the coffee bar where it isn’t free since I am a major coffee nut. Seems like the coffee bar in the main atrium where the glass elevators are goes unnoticed by many other folks since everyone always asked me where I got my coffee!)

(**Remember, you still have to add 15% gratuity to EACH drink).

I can’t complain. I didn’t say “no” to anything and spent $233 on beverages for 9 days.
Got a bill towards the middle of the trip slid under the door…and then a bill the night before we got off the ship. Note that the last bill under the door that you get will NOT have charges on it that you incur for the remainder of your trip.

Internet: They have 8 computers at “Joe’s Café”. Vital to have when you have Hurricane Frances hitting home! Spent $126.00!!! Package plans as follows: 30 minutes for $24….30 minutes for $16.50….or .50 a minute. .50 per page if you want to print stuff out. Totally easy for you sign up: you sit right down in front of a computer and the instructions are right next to it. You will use your Sign And Sail card number to pay for it. You get instant access!

Photos: $155.88 (I couldn’t help myself… they all came out so great!) No clue how much they are!). You aren’t charged ANYTHING for letting them take your picture…so go for it! They usually develop the photos by the following day and then post them all on the “Walk Of Shame” (as my mother called it). It’s this long hallway with all of the photos posted from the previous day. You have to search for yours amongst tons of others, and then you have the option to purchase it or destroy it. You can get copies made too! They also have film processing on board.

Gratuity: $10 per day
Gift shop: $78.00
Ok… in the duty free gift shop they sold 5 cartons of Marlboros for $75 (it was a package deal of “buy 4 get the 5th free”). Now, you are only allowed ONE CARTON per person off the boat! Otherwise, you gotta do the “duty”…lol. Fortunately, my aunt gave one carton to each of us to carry out and smoked the 5th on the ship…lol. Same with booze: 1 liter per person off the ship, or “do the duty”. We didn’t want a hassle of having to go through the “over your limit”

jazz, so we were sure to be within the limits.

CASINO:
Get your Casino card ASAP if you like to play. I wish I had because my aunt ended up getting a polo shirt, a t-shirt and a $230 credit towards her next cruise! Wow! Our game was video poker. The machines near the break-room door were the best (trust me… we tried them all).

BREAKFAST:
Dining Room:
We only did this once since we aren’t big breakfast people (we ordered light stuff from room service). It was fine… just not my style. Didn’t like how they herd you one by one, single file, fill every seat which forces you paste a “Won’t You Be My Neighbor” kinda smile on your face…lol. Now you have to chit-chat with the folks next to you. Some of these folks bring “bibs” from home to wear while eating….okay?!?! lol… Open seating meant they cram you all together. I’m not a morning person anyhoo. This is where you get the choice stuff like eggs benedict, etc. though. So glad we checked it out once at least.

Seaview Bar & Grill;
Great. More my style when I wanted a hot breakfast. Just an easy going buffet with eggs, ham, bacon, sausage, and then the continental stuff too.

Room Service:
24 hours. Again, GREAT! Had “Continental Style” breakfast menu (sorry, no hot stuff). The lunch/dinner consisted of sandwiches and salads. Desserts were cookies, brownies, cakes and ice cream. It’s kosher to tip the room service person. They also give you the tag to hang on your door handle with your breakfast order for the morning. I LOVED how they called your room right before they delivered it too! REMINDER: when filling out that breakfast menu, be SPECIFIC as to how much cream for coffee, condiments, etc. that you want. Just write it in the margin.

Money:
The ONLY time we needed cash on the ship was for the Casino or tipping the room service guy. They have an ATM on board for cash withdrawals… and for a fee you can get a cash withdrawl at the casino from your credit card.

Neato Fact:
They post the coordinates of the ship daily so you know where you are at 7am. Was cool emailing the coordinates to family when we were stuck out

in the gulf waiting for Frances to pass. They were near the restrooms by elevators near the Polo Lounge (our favorite smoking spot!).

So this was my FIRST cruising experience and I gave it a 10 out of 10! I will most certainly go again. I really hope this has some info that you can use! We did lots of fun things on the ship as well…but I will let you find that stuff out for yourself (your nightly Carnival Capers newsletter is a must read!).