Celebrity cruise on Carnival Sensation

My family’s first cruise ( with teenagers of 16 & 18 yrs) was going to be an experience on way or another! It was a 5 night cruise out of Miami - we chose this cruise as it fitted with our holiday dates and included Havana. Unfortunately Mr Trump then with 1 month of departure date - declared that Cuba was off limits to Americans and American cruise ships - we were very disappointed.

However the cruise really was fun as they promised - the cruise director being a very talented, funny humble man who made the cheesey announcement - that we first cringed at but in the end would open the cabin door so we could hear him: “Hi di ho sensation family - Deon your cruise director here popping in to let you know what is going on on the ship today. Hi ho and I gotta go, thank you and love you carnival sensation families bye".

This is a small ship with only 2,500 passengers - more like a older fashioned liner really - but I less like the fact that you would see people again around, it could get into the smaller ports - Havana Grrr).

We found the Americans seemed to know what to do in a cruise, arrival in family group with matching t-shirts - they seem to meet up with family and friends from all over the country. They are very dressy for the first night (prom dresses and black tie - really) for the formal photo opportunities. They're very good at having fun and joining in.

The cruise directors informal cabaret sessions were brilliant , the adult comedy excellence, martini bars stylish. The food was good, not excellent but you can find plenty of salads along with the high quantity of American food. Unlimited ice cream - self service from the soft scoop machine was a hit.

Half Moon Cay, Bahamas was our favourite port of call, the most fabulous beach with crystal clear turquoise waters with soft white sandy beach. Dappled shade from trees with hammock was idyllic (once we walk the extra few hundred metres away from the rest of the passengers).

Grand Turk - the Havana replacement was horrible. There were two cruise ships in at once in a poor beach and little else to see or do on an unattractive island. The only interest part was a very small displace about the Apollo landings there in the 60’s.

We bought the drinks package - but had to work hard to make it worthwhile - if you like cocktails then it's worth it but 6 cocktails day (to break even on days with shore visits) is a challenge!

The pool and water slides, mini golf and deck games are all good fun. Wi-Fi is an extra but not as expensive as I imagined - $60 per device for the cruise although we found it nice to keep the teenagers off this and play games again.

My teenagers liked the cruise and enjoyed the Americans, and would consider doing one again but carefully choose the destination ports of call and research what to do there, and choose the right cruise line for you and your families fun, food, social group.

We will look at cruising again especially integrated with touring holiday.