Au48 Posted February 15, 2009 #101 Share Posted February 15, 2009 As usual, Tom, you have come to the rescue of us CC members and gave us the """fix""" we needed.... Sadly though, Carnival has turned an older vessel in to a "wannabe newer vessel" but FAILED in my eyes with the final outcome ! This new addition(s) are just plain "butt ugly".... looks like an aftermarket item placed on a vehicle.....or taking an old chevrolet caprice, adding huge rims on the tires, painted it some god awful color, and then re upholstered the seats in velvet ! What in the heck were they thinking when they did this ? I was looking forward to this and had hoped it would have a similar look to what =x= did with the Century http://www.southerncruising.com/images/contentmanaged/CEL_CN_ExteriorSide_11.jpg I gotta say that this end result certainly has left me less than impressed and just gives reinforcement to CCL's method of cutting costs and the end result looking exactly like how cheaply this project probably ended up costing. Kinda like the "Serenity Area" they are boasting about.... again, it looks like an inexpensive way to draw the crowds, but only to find out it is NOT what they make it out to be, or the minature golf added on the older ships... what a joke regarding the overall look of what was done when compared to Royal Caribbeans well landscaped minature golf.... Sorry Carnival, but again you are headed towards the setting up to be known as the "WalMart" of cruiselines by trying to cut costs to try to bring an older ship to a new appearance and it being evident in the end result. You can put lipstick on a pig, but it will still be a pig in the end unless you do the project correctly and not just cost efficient ! Okay. Sure, it doesn't look "pretty." But, how do YOU propose for Carnival do have done this project "correctly?" This was nothing like the =X= Century's balcony addition. Sure, it would have looked better if they could have run the balconies the length of the deck, but they were limited by the lifeboats up above. And this is why you have the midship balconies there by themselves, looking... unattractive. How is this balcony addition "cutting costs?" Aesthetically unpleasing? Sure. Cost-cutting? Notsomuch. While I agree with you that the putt-putt and even the Serenity are mere afterthoughts on the Fantasy class, it is unfair to compare them with RCCL's product, where these features were designed into the new-built ships. They are all obvious improvements to an aging class of cruise ships. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jessemon Posted February 15, 2009 #102 Share Posted February 15, 2009 Looks like he!!.....But thanks for the pix..... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dman1 Posted February 15, 2009 #103 Share Posted February 15, 2009 She looks like she is back in port. Hopefully, we will get some feedback and pictures today!! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MICKMAC100 Posted February 15, 2009 #104 Share Posted February 15, 2009 Nice photos, but I dont think I like the design of the balconies Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
conquistador74 Posted February 15, 2009 #105 Share Posted February 15, 2009 Just wondering, but I wonder if there is any change as to the efficiency of the ship due to the midship balconies? It certainly isn't helpful having what seems like elephant ears sticking out of a pretty streamlined superstructure? Also, how about the poor slobs who are in the standard Cat 12's right next to the extended's? They really can only look in one direction and down?! Personally, I hate it....I don't think that it is cost cutting, but I think that at least with the midships balconies it was a cheap way to add revenue without thinking about asthetics in any way.:cool: Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CarolinaGurl86 Posted February 15, 2009 #106 Share Posted February 15, 2009 Hey there CarolinaGurl..............looks like we're nieghbors!!!! :) I haven't heard anything from my aunt. I told her not to use her cell unless it was an emergency. Although, I'll be calling her 1st thing in the morning & let evryone know how she felt the cruise was...............keeping in mind, this is her 1st cruise & when I talked to her Thurs. night @ 7pm, she was just tickled to death. So unless any bad happened, I'm sure she'll say it was fantastic! I would say that we are! We actually live in Grovetown too! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
nealstuber Posted February 15, 2009 #107 Share Posted February 15, 2009 Well not sure how else they could add balconies to these ships without moving the lifeboats around...but it's definitely worth the ugliness to have the balcony option :) Different question...why did they scrub out the name on the bow? Just touching it up?:confused: Looks like they were makin room to say "Carnival Sensation" instead of "Carnival Sensation" If they couldn't get that done in time - bet there's a lot more loose ends. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mr jailerman Posted February 15, 2009 #108 Share Posted February 15, 2009 Any updated info from this 1st cruise yet ? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare eroller Posted February 15, 2009 #109 Share Posted February 15, 2009 Leave it to Carnival to perform a hatchet job on an existing ship. They are certainly the pros at squeezing revenue out of their existing designs. What suffers is any sense of continuity or cohesive design. Of course the Fantasy Class were pretty butt ugly to begin with, nothing more than overturned milk cartons so perhaps it doesn't matter? This particular balcony job really looks like it was done "on the cheap". Absolutely no effort was put into aesthetics and the balconies themselves just look cheap to me. I would be interested to see a close up (inside and out) of the aft balcony cabins. The stern of the ship is quite angular, and I'm curious to see how much of that angle takes up balcony space and also how they dealt with the door to the balcony. Ernie Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
firefly333 Posted February 15, 2009 #110 Share Posted February 15, 2009 I would be interested to see a close up (inside and out) of the aft balcony cabins. The stern of the ship is quite angular, and I'm curious to see how much of that angle takes up balcony space and also how they dealt with the door to the balcony. The aft balconies to me look like they added extended balconies. I looked and prices for balconies are in the $300s, so bring them on. If people can book a balcony for not much over $300 a cruise, you bet they are going to do it. Bring them on. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BamaCruiser20 Posted February 15, 2009 #111 Share Posted February 15, 2009 I think she would have looked just fine if they had only done the aft balconies. Those don't look so much like an "afterthought" to me. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
richardleyser Posted February 15, 2009 #112 Share Posted February 15, 2009 Just got home from the Sensation, not exactly organized but always nice to get away. To keep it brief. Chaos on embarking, didn't get on until 2.pm,Port Canaveral is not set up for delays. ship smelt of glue and paint (beats sewage I suppose) Couldn't get to cabin until 3.pm new balcony was nice, approx 4'x10' TV didn't work and cabin not stocked NO TOILET PAPER Sailed 4 hours late but arrived on time in Nassau Public areas look great, lots of work to do but after the second day they seemed to catch up and all was as good as usual, I would think that after the next cruise it will be great As soon I can can work it out I will post some pictures Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lgarth Posted February 15, 2009 #113 Share Posted February 15, 2009 Thanks for the brief review. Looking forward to your pictures. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
nealstuber Posted February 15, 2009 #114 Share Posted February 15, 2009 I think she would have looked just fine if they had only done the aft balconies. Those don't look so much like an "afterthought" to me. If they had blown out the Atlantic deck so there was no gap between the Promenade deck and the Empress deck - I think the center of the ship would have looked much better and less of an after-thought Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Natanni Posted February 15, 2009 #115 Share Posted February 15, 2009 Just got home from the Sensation, not exactly organized but always nice to get away. To keep it brief. Chaos on embarking, didn't get on until 2.pm,Port Canaveral is not set up for delays. ship smelt of glue and paint (beats sewage I suppose) Couldn't get to cabin until 3.pm new balcony was nice, approx 4'x10' TV didn't work and cabin not stocked NO TOILET PAPER Sailed 4 hours late but arrived on time in Nassau Public areas look great, lots of work to do but after the second day they seemed to catch up and all was as good as usual, I would think that after the next cruise it will be great As soon I can can work it out I will post some pictures If you don't mind me asking, where was your balcony? How did it compare to other Carnival balconies you have. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare eroller Posted February 15, 2009 #116 Share Posted February 15, 2009 I was also thinking of the safety aspect. Usually if balconies are this close to the water line (and I'm not certain if any ships have them just three decks above), they are a "hull hole" balcony which I assume is much more secure and has a much greater structural integrity. CARNIVAL DREAM will have balconies a few decks above the water line, but they will be hull holes and even have large steel doors to close over the glass portions of the cabin in rough seas. I have my doubts the SENSATION clip-on balconies have such safety features. I have seen what mother nature can do to a ship. It would not surprise me if some of those lower aft balconies are ripped off or severely mangled in truly rough seas. Now wouldn't that make for a great Carnival publicity shot? I really feel Carnival is pushing the envelope with this one. Ernie Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cowgrlkirby Posted February 15, 2009 #117 Share Posted February 15, 2009 Just got home from the Sensation, not exactly organized but always nice to get away. To keep it brief. Chaos on embarking, didn't get on until 2.pm,Port Canaveral is not set up for delays. ship smelt of glue and paint (beats sewage I suppose) Couldn't get to cabin until 3.pm new balcony was nice, approx 4'x10' TV didn't work and cabin not stocked NO TOILET PAPER Sailed 4 hours late but arrived on time in Nassau Public areas look great, lots of work to do but after the second day they seemed to catch up and all was as good as usual, I would think that after the next cruise it will be great As soon I can can work it out I will post some pictures Hi I was wondering if you could tell me if the sign and sail card was your room key? I can't wait to see some pics of the ship! How do the bathrooms look? Did they get a good refurb themselves? THANKS!! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CarolinaGurl86 Posted February 15, 2009 #118 Share Posted February 15, 2009 Thanks for the update! Glad to hear you made it Nassau on time and that things seemed to improve the 2nd day. Can't wait to see pics! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MICKMAC100 Posted February 15, 2009 #119 Share Posted February 15, 2009 Thanks for the update, I am looking forward to the photos Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mr jailerman Posted February 15, 2009 #120 Share Posted February 15, 2009 Just got home from the Sensation, not exactly organized but always nice to get away. To keep it brief. Chaos on embarking, didn't get on until 2.pm,Port Canaveral is not set up for delays. ship smelt of glue and paint (beats sewage I suppose) Couldn't get to cabin until 3.pm new balcony was nice, approx 4'x10' TV didn't work and cabin not stocked NO TOILET PAPER Sailed 4 hours late but arrived on time in Nassau Public areas look great, lots of work to do but after the second day they seemed to catch up and all was as good as usual, I would think that after the next cruise it will be great As soon I can can work it out I will post some pictures Thanks Richard, we are waiting for those photo's and more detailed review.. Thanks once more.:) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mr jailerman Posted February 15, 2009 #121 Share Posted February 15, 2009 I was also thinking of the safety aspect. Usually if balconies are this close to the water line (and I'm not certain if any ships have them just three decks above), they are a "hull hole" balcony which I assume is much more secure and has a much greater structural integrity. CARNIVAL DREAM will have balconies a few decks above the water line, but they will be hull holes and even have large steel doors to close over the glass portions of the cabin in rough seas. I have my doubts the SENSATION clip-on balconies have such safety features. I have seen what mother nature can do to a ship. It would not surprise me if some of those lower aft balconies are ripped off or severely mangled in truly rough seas. Now wouldn't that make for a great Carnival publicity shot? I really feel Carnival is pushing the envelope with this one. Ernie Ernie :D, The suspense is killing me as I have already paid for my August balcony cabin ! How about some pics ? :o Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
vtoria98 Posted February 17, 2009 #122 Share Posted February 17, 2009 Just got home from the Sensation, not exactly organized but always nice to get away. To keep it brief. Chaos on embarking, didn't get on until 2.pm,Port Canaveral is not set up for delays. ship smelt of glue and paint (beats sewage I suppose) Couldn't get to cabin until 3.pm new balcony was nice, approx 4'x10' TV didn't work and cabin not stocked NO TOILET PAPER Sailed 4 hours late but arrived on time in Nassau Public areas look great, lots of work to do but after the second day they seemed to catch up and all was as good as usual, I would think that after the next cruise it will be great As soon I can can work it out I will post some pictures I am wondering if they re-modeled that crazy Touch of Class piano bar. Also how the balconies are too since I will be on in a month, Woo Hoo! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
firefly333 Posted February 17, 2009 #123 Share Posted February 17, 2009 If they had blown out the Atlantic deck so there was no gap between the Promenade deck and the Empress deck - I think the center of the ship would have looked much better and less of an after-thought I dont think that would be possible in a month long dry dock Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
nealstuber Posted February 18, 2009 #124 Share Posted February 18, 2009 I dont think that would be possible in a month long dry dock Just in the midship region. The interior could have been done after drydock... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
nealstuber Posted February 18, 2009 #125 Share Posted February 18, 2009 Just in the midship region. The interior could have been done after drydock... I'm not real good at the link thing... only know how to upload images.. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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