Carnival Sensation

Carnival Sensation Facilities / On Board Activities

Dining / Dinner	Entertainment / Recreation	Gratuity Policies
Dining Rooms - 2 Grill Ice Cream Bar Pizzeria (Open 24 Hours) No. of Dinner Sittings: 2 Usual Dinner Hours: Flexible Special Diet: Available upon request Dress Code: Daytime: Casual / Evening: Resort wear to formal	Art Gallery Bars/Lounges/ Night Clubs - 13 Casino Library Pay-Per-View Movies Photo Shop and Photo Gallery Pools - Outdoor - 3 Video Arcade	Dining Team $5.50 per guest/ per day Bistro Service $1.00 per guest/ per day Cabin Steward $3.50 per guest/ per day
Services	Shopping	Health and Beauty
Beauty Salon Shore Excursion Desk	Shopping Mall	Health Spa (with whirlpools)
Athletic/Exercise Facilities	Business	Children
Aerobic and Exercise Room Health Club Jogging Track	Internet Connection	Baby Sitting Services Child Counselors Children's Playroom - 2 Kids Pool Area Teen Center

Carnival Sensation Onboard Experience

Identical in all but décor, Paradise is the eighth and last of the Fantasy-class sister ships (Fantasy, Fascination, Ecstasy, Inspiration, Imagination, Sensation & Elation). These ships always seem to have something of interest going on, and thus are ideal for the up-and-at-'em style cruiser. Carrying 2,052 passengers, the ships are big enough to provide a week's diverse entertainment, ample deck space for those whose idea of being entertained is basking in a warm sunshine glow, and separate facilities for passengers of all ages.

Having been launched in 1998, Paradise is not so full of neon, chrome and mirrors as her younger sister ships. But it's there if you know where to look. Like at the Leonardo's Dance Club with her brass barstools and neon-rimmed mirrors and ceiling panels.

In any case, this is still considered an older ship in today's fast-paced market, and as such one can expect to find bargain sailings on her, which is great because in many ways she feels like a brand new ship.

It should be noted that Paradise was built and launched as the first completely "smoke-free" ship, with a strict policy that demanded that anyone even carrying cigarettes (lit or unlit) in public would be put off in the next port. Carnival did actually disembark three teenagers mid-cruise, much to the surprise of their guardians. In the long run, however, the rule became not unenforceable, but unprofitable. It proved too hard to sell the ship to groups and families where there were no smokers. The "non-smoking" rule was revoked when the ship was repositioned to California.

Paradise now sails regular seven-day journeys to the Mexican Riviera, departing from the port of Long Beach. For west-coasters only familiar with the San Pedro port facilities, Long Beach port is highly recommended. You can fly in too the Long Beach airport, and spend a night before your cruise on the original Queen Mary 1, now one of the best maritime museums in the world.

Ideal as it is for the sort of person who likes to have loads of activities planned, Paradise also offers lots of out-of-the-way places to read or just contemplate the sea. During summer cruises, however, when there are hundreds of kiddies aboard, quiet contemplation might become a luxury reserved for another ship.

Carnival Sensation Things to Do

Entertainment:
The prime entertainment venue is the 1,300 seat Normandie Theater, but karaoke draws big crowds to the Rex Dance Club, while the Queen Mary Lounge offers a variety of dance-music combos from pop standards to even folk and country musicians. A variety of dance music is spinning nightly in the Leonardo Disco. Regardless of what sort of music you like most, you're pretty much assured of hearing it.

By day, there are bingo and Trivial Pursuit contests, not to mention such highbrow events poolside as the men's hairy chest contest.
 
Fitness:
With no fewer than 12,000 sq. ft. devoted to fitness and spa facilities, these ships are a dream come true for those who like to keep in shape during their cruise, and don't mind doing so in either uninspiring (the spa) or aggressively pink (the gym) surroundings. The gyms have a private trainer and 35 state-of-the-art exercise machines. There's a day-long schedule of aerobics, and stretching yoga, and Pilates classes (usually around $10 each), as well as body composition analysis and personal training sessions, $75 for 60 minutes. There's a fully jogging track and a volleyball court. Women who want to sunbathe topless will find secluded areas in which to do so.

Those who prefer to skip shore excursions and snorkel on their own can rent equipment for $26 for three days. The inescapable Steiner's of London operates the ship's spa, which offers lots of different kinds of massage – and pushes its beauty products rather more zealously than most passengers would prefer.
 
For Kids:
Carnival's celebrated Camp Carnival program offers a full schedule of supervised activities, from finger painting and singalongs for younger children to photography workshops, late-night movies, and pool parties for their older siblings. The ships' 2,400-square foot "Children's World" play areas are stocked with a computer lab, a climbing maze, an activity wall, and an assortment of toys, games and puzzles.

Carnival Sensation Dining / Dinner

Cuisine:
From the best pizza afloat (available 24 hours per day) to haute cuisine in the main dining room, Carnival really delivers on the food front.
 
Restaurants:
Total Choice Dining provides for four dinner seatings in the main dining rooms, alternative Bistro dining every evening, and an increased number of service staff. Passengers are assigned a table for dinner in one of the two main dining rooms -- The Elation Dining Room on Atlantic Deck, mid-ship, or the Destiny Dining Room on Atlantic Deck, aft -- at one of four seatings; 5:45 p.m. or 6:15 p.m. and 8 p.m. or 8:30 p.m. There are very few tables for two in either of the two main dining rooms; expect to dine with four, six, or eight fellow voyagers. Both dining rooms are named after future Carnival ships that at the time were only a part of the founder's "imagination."

You typically have a choice of six starters, a couple of salads, and six or seven main courses (pan-fried fillet of red snapper, sweet and sour shrimp, rack of New Zealand lamb and Beef Wellington). The menu also includes Spa Carnival selections for those trying to reduce their intake of calories, sodium, cholesterol, fat, or meat.

Additionally, the poolside Lido eateries are converted into Seaview Bistros between 6:00 p.m. and 9:00 p.m. each evening, offering buffet dinner with no reservations or advance notice required. The informal Paris (T-shirts and shorts are OK) Restaurant on the Lido Deck offers both inside and poolside seating. All meals here are served buffet style, with open seating for all three meals.

Other alternative eating options include a 24-hour pizzeria, a complimentary sushi bar and 24 hour room service. Themed midnight buffets ensure that no passenger will be rendered sleepless by the rumblings of his empty belly.
 
Service:
Don't expect formality. Indeed, expect wacky dances after dessert – and then to come back to your cabin to find that your cabin steward, cutup that he or she is, has left a towel folded to resemble a dog on your bed. The hi-jinx never stop!

Tipping:
Carnival automatically adds $10.00 per person per day in gratuities to your Sail & Sign card unless you're under two years old, and if you're reading this, you're probably not. This includes $3.60 for the stateroom steward; $5.50 for the Dining Room team, and $.90 for service in the alternative dining rooms. Visit the purser's desk during the cruise to raise or lower this amount.

You may also prepay gratuities for all service personnel at a rate of $10.00 per person per day. On Cruises-to-Nowhere, gratuities of $10 per person per day must be prepaid.

A 15 percent gratuity is automatically added to all beverage tabs. Tip the maitre d', room service, spa, casino and other staff as you deem fitting.
 
Attire:
On the two "formal" nights per week, most men wear a dark suit instead of tux. By day, nearly everyone wears shorts, T-shirt, sneakers/sandals, bathing suit, and a hat.

Carnival Sensation Ambience

Decor:
Every Carnival ship, designed by fanciful designer Joe Farcus, has a unifying theme for the decor. The unifying idea behind Paradise's interior decor is ships of the world - from the famous and infamous to the mythical and mysterious. You'll find the the Rex Dance Club with its rotating mirror balls and ceiling mounted lava lamps, , the Rotterdam Bar, the Normandie Theater and the Cafe Ile de France.
 
Public Areas:
The ship consist of 10 decks with most of the public rooms concentrated on Atlantic, Promenade and Lido decks (decks 5,6 and 7). The cabins are mostly concentrated on decks one through four; Riviera, Main, Upper (which is actually a lower deck 3) and Empress decks.

The ships centerpiece is their seven-deck high Grand Atrium, bathed bronze and woods for a nautical touch, with jade green eggs sitting atop redwood pillars. You can stroll on the "Carnival Boulevard", or plop down into a soft banquette to ogle passers-by. The two-level, 1300-seat Normandie Theater at the front of the promenade presents live production shows, comedians, magicians, and passenger talent shows, with exemplary sight lines and good seating throughout.

The ship's most fanciful decor is in such entertainment venues as the popular America Piano bar featuring an enormous circular piano which doubles as a bar for those who like to sing along. You'll also find a vibrant disco and cabaret lounge along the boulevard.

Other public areas include the Galleria shopping mall, the Virtual World arcade, and the ship's photo gallery. Cafe Ile de France Internet offers access for 75 cents per minute; for those who plan to spend more time on the computer, there are 100 minute packages available for $50 (50 cents per minute) and 250 minute packages for $100 (40 cents per minute).
 
Cabins:
Because they were built just before the shift toward lots of verandahs, just the 26 demi-suites (250 square feet) and 28 full suites (400 square feet) have them.

Carnival's cabins are fairly spartan in decor and skimpy on amenities (a color TV with CNN, telephone, radio, no hair dryer, and a basket of "free-sample" toiletries), but among the largest in the cruise industry: inside measure 185 sq. ft, outside 190 sq. feet. Even in the minimum category inside or outside stateroom you'll still enjoy ample space. Cabins for four and five are understandably popular with families, and go fast.

Oceanview staterooms and suites offer a mini bar, bathrobes, and fairly large bathrooms with a hand-held shower and medicine cabinet. There are also 26 mini-suites (226 sq. feet plus 36 square foot private veranda) and 28 suites measuring 350 sq. feet with 71 sq. foot balconies.