Another Carnival cruise ship gets an 'extreme makeover'

[mercedes]

Add the Carnival Sensation to the list of aging Carnival ships that have gotten an "extreme makeover."

Carnival says the popular vessel, which sails to the Bahamas out of Port Canaveral, has emerged from an extended dry dock that brought a new deck top water park, a new adults-only pool area and a redesigned main pool area.

The overhaul of the 15-year-old ship also brought the addition of balconies to 98 cabins that formerly just had windows -- a major structural change.

The 2,052-passenger Sensation is a workhorse of the Carnival fleet that sails short three- and four-day to Nassau and Freeport. It's a favorite of Southerners who can drive to Port Canaveral to pick it up.

The ship is the fourth of Carnival's eight Fantasy Class vessels to get such a makeover as the line spends $250 million to revamp its oldest ships. The Carnival Inspiration and Carnival Imagination underwent a similar overhaul in 2007, and the Carnival Fantasy was upgraded last fall.

As on the other ships getting face lifts, the Sensation's new water park area, dubbed WaterWorks, features a four-deck-high, 300-foot-long spiral water slide – the longest at sea. It also has an 82-foot-long, dual-lane racing slide.

Carnival says the 35-day dry dock also brought extensive upgrades to the ship's 1,026 cabins, including new carpeting, wall coverings and light fixtures, as well as renovated bathrooms. The line also added a new Circle C facility for 12- to 14-year olds to the ship.

[DebbieandJerry]

We were on the Sensation at least three times. Funny thing is, we had the same waiter from our first Sensation (which was Caribbean) to our third Sensation (which was Mexican Riviera and many years later). How's that for a coincidence? And, it speaks a lot for their staff longevity.

I can't imagine what it looks like now. Guess we'll have to give Carnival another consideraton; depending on where this ship sails.

[55ChevyLady]

the Ecstasy is due for the overhaul in the spring of next year, I think. waiting on the "debut" before I book again.

[hazelson]

I think I need to go into dry dock!!!

[55ChevyLady]

the Ecstasy is due for the overhaul in the spring of next year, I think. waiting on the "debut" before I book again.

it's not Spring, it is in the Fall - Sept - Oct.

[vocab3802]

That's wonderful to hear because I'm booking Sensation on May 3rd. I've sailed her once before in May 2007. Looking forward to using the new Serenity Deck!

[DebbieandJerry]

This month's Cruise Travel magazine featured all the updates/upgrades to Carnival. Looks very tempting!

[Dan40]

The 98 new balconies were welded onto the outside of the ship. They extend out away from the hull. That way the balconies have not taken up any of the room space. The balcony door is now where the OceanView window used to be. Also the category 12 Suites have had a balcony extension welded on the outside of the hull too. So the smooth 'slab' side of the ship is no more. But now there are balconies were there were none before and larger ones, all without losing room space.

Dan

[GottaCruz]

Our very first cruise in 1995 was aboard the Sensation and we fell in love with cruising. We sailed her a few more times after so I would love to sail her again with those upgrades.l We enjoy this size ship too. The bigger ones have me totally lost.