Carnival Sensation (formerly Sensation) is the third Fantasy-class cruise ship operated by Carnival Cruise Line. Built by Kværner Masa-Yards at its Helsinki New Shipyard in Helsinki, Finland, she was floated out on November 1, 1993, and christened Sensation by four Carnival Vice Presidents: Vicki L. Freed, Roberta Jacoby, Cherie Weinstein and Geri Donnelly.

During 2007, in common with all of her Fantasy-class sisters, she had the prefix Carnival added to her name.

Service history

Carnival Sensation was one of several cruise ships chartered by the US Government to provide accommodation for residents and relief workers following Hurricane Katrina. After being released from Federal Emergency Management Agency service, the Carnival Sensation undertook cruises from Port Canaveral.

In early 2016, Carnival Sensation moved to Miami, replacing the Carnival Victory, doing 4 and 5 night cruises. Carnival Victory took over the 3 and 4 night cruises to Nassau and Freeport, Bahamas, in the Bahamas.

In February 2018, the company announced that Carnival Sensation would take 17 sailings to Cuba in 2019.

In July 2020, the company announced that Carnival Sensation would move to Mobile, Alabama to replace Carnival Fantasy at the Alabama Cruise Terminal. Carnival Fantasy was retired and sold amid the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic. Carnival Sensation will take over itineraries already scheduled aboard Carnival Fantasy and Carnival Fascination.