The Carnival Sensation was only two weeks out of dry dock when we boarded at the Port of Miami. While one of the smaller and older ships in the Carnival fleet, it was not short on service and the fun for which Carnival is known.
We flew into Miami the evening before and stayed at a hotel close to the airport. Next morning we took a shuttle over to the port and after turning over our checked luggage to porters quickly went through the boarding process and were ready to start the journey.
The new carpet and clean look was evident everywhere. When you think about the environment that ships endure, salt water, thousands of people 24/7 – 365. It is a mammoth undertaking to keep everything up to standards. So every few years, refurbishing is needed, which requires the ship to be taken out of duty for weeks at a time. We were on the third sailing since Sensation’s dry dock.
Upon boarding you find plenty of staff around to direct you to the Lido deck where a wide assortment of food and drink were available. We found a table and got our first of many Guys’s Burger. It still remains my favorite quick meal on Carnival ships.
Our cabin was ready at 1:30 and we made our way to settle in. As with other areas of the ship, carpet was new and Carol quickly noted that the bathroom was new with everything having a clean and sparkling look. Later in the week while talking with the hotel director, I found that the two week dry dock was not enough time to get 100% of the bathrooms upgraded. But they are working on those when they can keep them passenger free on upcoming cruises.
On this cruise we didn’t go with our favorite balcony room but instead had the Ocean View cabin with a large window. We put this cruise together last minute as a pre-cruise cruise for one we were taking the next week that was planned months ago. Also, this class of ship has fewer balcony rooms than the newer ships and we felt this would serve us well.
It was time to get oriented to the ship, so a little walking around to get familiar with the layout. It was soon getting close to the mandatory Muster Drill so we made our way to our station. This was one of the fastest ones we’ve experienced. It helps when everyone pays attention and gets there on time since all guest must checkin.
By this time, luggage had arrived. We unpacked and went out to enjoy the departure. An added thrill was seeing the Carnival blimp pass by. Before you realize, it’s time for dinner. As usual, the waitstaff was super nice and attentive. The menu changes every evening and you have the opportunity to maybe try something new. Don’t worry if it doesn’t appeal to your taste. The staff will gladly bring you something else.
This cruise took us to Grand Turk and Amber Cove. Both places we had visited on the Breeze last fall. With that in mind we looked for a different adventure than what we did on our previous visit. We decided to check out the rental golf carts that are available. There are several options when it comes to rental. Some people book online ahead of time or through the cruise line. We decided to check out the local companies on our own and quickly found a representative from a company I had seen online. At $80 for the day, this was $20-$40 dollars less than what some of the other offerings I had researched. After asking a few questions I felt comfortable doing business. He said he would go get a cart and bring it to us.
After a few pointers we were on our way. Grand Turk is left lane (British) driving. Having rented cars in St. John USVI before, which is this way, I felt comfortable that I would stay on the right side of the road, which is actually the left side! We first went to the far end of the island where a light house sits. Nothing remarkable but a nice relaxed drive with views of the ocean and the many salanas. Grand Turk was one of the original salt producing islands. It has many natural depressions when filled with salt water from the sea allowed for the production of salt. This started in the 1660’s and went on for about 300 years. Of course today, tourism is the main source of income. In fact we passed by some neighborhoods that had signs reading, “donated by Carnival Cruise Lines”.
Next we drove to Pillory Beach, a beautiful white sand beach with clear water as with most areas of the Caribbean. It was a quiet area with a small resort but not many people like the crowds at the port area. A good place to relax and enjoy a beautiful day.
On the way back to the port we stopped at Jack’s Shack. This is a popular eating/bar hang out for many who have previously cruised to Grand Turk. It’s a healthy walk from the cruise dock but can be managed if you don’t have any mobility problems. Since we had the cart, we planned on this being our last stop before returning to port. They have plenty of Caribbean foods from which to choose. We had the jerk chicken which was great. They have a spicy sauce they put to the side which added to the flavor. It is very hot and may not be for everyone. Their conch fritters are also popular.
Another famous feature of Jack’s Shack for a long time has been a dog named Topher. He would walk around loving the attention, and occasional snack that would be given. About a year ago he was joined by another dog, Calypso. Topher passed away late last year but we did get blessed by a visit from Calypso.
Our next stop was Amber Cove, another port we had visited last fall. We stayed in the port area to enjoy all that was offered. They have a beautiful and modern pool area, zip line and of course shopping area. There is a bar/restaurant that is perched high up with a great view of the port. I felt obligated to have a refreshing drink.
So what other changes to the ship were made during dry dock? The Casino was redesigned with the tables for cards, roulette and craps being moved to the center of the casino. Previously they were positioned adjacent to the hallway.
The arcade area has been moved to an expanded area and has a new modern feel. For those wanting a special photographic experience, such as a wedding or a special family portrait, the DREAM area has been expanded to allow for more.
We can highly recommend Sensation for those who prefer a smaller ship with fewer passengers.
UPDATE: The pandemic has put the cruise industry in cold storage. We continue to monitor the situation and plan to cruise once they have clearance from the CDC.