Fascination or Sensation

[PeskyKid]

Please help us decide. Looking to go on a 4 night in October for our anniversary. We booked the Fascination (Jacksonville) but we are seriously considering the Sensation (Port Canaveral) because it is in Nassau and Freeport longer. It is also cheaper even with the 50.00 pp penalty to change. Sensation gets a half a star better rating than the Fascination. Speaking of the penalty...has anyone had this penalty waived? Thanks!

[sammee]

I went throught this same dillemma this week, except ours is a family of four. We already booked on Royal, but things were looking blink with the hubby's hours cut. I spotted the prices in Jacksonville departures. I was going to hit the button last weekend, but the hubby was still scared to do it. I than looked at the Port Canaveral prices on Sensation. You are so right on the prices, but it is a day shorter overall.

 

Anyhow, we ended up on the Fascination. Seems to be you want some longer island time, there is your answer right there. I wanted both. The 2 sea days sealed the deal for me.

[PeskyKid]

Enjoy!!! Sensation is still a day at sea on the way back which is nice. We just wanted to try our luck at the Atlantis casino after the beach and the Sensation's itinerary will help us in that area!

[spencercoop]

I say go on the Sensation becuase she has already has the Evolutions of fun and more balconies. The Fascination does not have any of this yet.

[SandyW]

I'm looking at the layout of the ship. I had always thought the Sensation was a sister ship to the Facination, but noticed in the 2009-2010 Catalog it is by itself. The only one in the Sensation Class I guess, yet it's the same size and holds the same number of passengers as the Fantasy Class. The only notable difference I can see is that the Sensation has Carnival Waterworks, and somehow their Deck 12 is larger with an Aft Sports section allowing for a slide entrance and making the slide higher than on the Fantasy Class ships. There are also a few balcony staterooms on decks 5, 6 and 7 that are not on the Fantasy Class ships. There is also a resort style pool. With the addition of the waterworks I'm going to guess there may be more kids on the Sensation than on the Facination. That might be something you want to consider even in off school times. Other than that I'd say your choice should be based on the itinerary and which suits you best.

[MomofBoyz]

Can't speak to the Fascination but I can tell you that we are booked for our third trip on Sensation and it is a great ship. Yes, it's purple but honestly, for the money, the best deal out there. You get one sea day and the service on Sensation was the best we've gotten (Triumph, Victory, Fantasy and 3 RCCL). I don't know, something about Sensation was just relaxed and more fun YET the food and service were great.

 

One and only thing I'll say is that on the last trip, karoake was FULL of drunk young folk...every night....like purposefully dropping glasses and beers on the stage and calling for cleanup...it was pretty bad. That being said, the staff cleaned up and moved on so we enjoyed the singers in between. I really think that was just a fluke since the first cruise was better, although the standard number of singers "feeling good"!

 

We usually pack into two cabins (7 of us) but this time we were able to get three balconies for the same price as two oceanviews...booked early, one deck lower and hooray.

 

Sensation is a great ship and a real bargain.

 

Either way, have a great time.

[bobsfamily]

Enjoy!!! Sensation is still a day at sea on the way back which is nice. We just wanted to try our luck at the Atlantis casino after the beach and the Sensation's itinerary will help us in that area!

Like both ships, would go on either, have been on the Sensation March last year, Fascination in Jan. As for Atlantis for gambling... I would go to The Crystal Palace at the Wyndham resort on Cable beach... not as big/glitzy but a much better time with lower minimums, nicer people working/etc.

[spencercoop]

I'm looking at the layout of the ship. I had always thought the Sensation was a sister ship to the Facination, but noticed in the 2009-2010 Catalog it is by itself. The only one in the Sensation Class I guess, yet it's the same size and holds the same number of passengers as the Fantasy Class. The only notable difference I can see is that the Sensation has Carnival Waterworks, and somehow their Deck 12 is larger with an Aft Sports section allowing for a slide entrance and making the slide higher than on the Fantasy Class ships. There are also a few balcony staterooms on decks 5, 6 and 7 that are not on the Fantasy Class ships. There is also a resort style pool. With the addition of the waterworks I'm going to guess there may be more kids on the Sensation than on the Facination. That might be something you want to consider even in off school times. Other than that I'd say your choice should be based on the itinerary and which suits you best.

 

They are in the same class. These are all renevations that are going to happen. The Fascination will be getting them at a later date.

 

The Fantasy, Imagination, and Inspiration have had all the renavations except the new balconies. All the Fantasy class ships will be getting the new things.

[PeskyKid]

Thanks for all the great info. I am probably going to pay the penalty and go with the Sensation. THANKS!