~~My Valentine's on the Conquest Review with Pics~~

[SoonerOne]

Hi Gang! Been enjoying all your reviews and decided to try one of my own. So here goes.....I won't be as elaborate, just wanted to share our experience with you because it was the BEST cruise yet:D

 

We left OKC on Saturday morning February 13th and the drive down to Galveston looked like this:

 

 

 

 

Luckily the highways were clear but snow all the way past Corsicana:eek:

 

We arrived in Texas City, our choice to stay here due to Mardi Gras festivities going on in Galveston. We chose the Best Western Mainland Inn and Suites and we were glad we did!

Here's a picture of our suite that we got for $71/night:

 

And a couple of pictures of the lobby:

 

We would highly recommend this hotel and would use it again. There were several restuarants close by; Ryan's Steakhouse, a Chinese buffet place, Gringo's Mexican, Olive Garden and Jack in the Box. Super Wal-Mart was just across the highway and the Mall of the Mainland right behind the hotel. We ate at Ryan's, returned to the hotel and turned in for some rest before the BIG DAY!

[SoonerOne]

Ok, now we are up and on our way to Galveston....just a short 15 minute drive and what do I spy???? Our old friend the Carnival Conquest....

 

And there's the RCCL ship right behind her!!!

 

We parked at EZ cruise and had some really good help this time. The staff actually came to our car and help carry the luggage to the pick up zone for the shuttle. They also welcomed us with Mardi Gras beads, nice touch:) We waited on the shuttle just a few minutes and then we were off to the cruise terminal to start our vacation!

[SoonerOne]

I couldn't resist the whale tail:

 

And this woman sitting eating her lunch with her "whale's tail" hat on:D:

 

This seemed to set the "tone" for the whole cruise! Let's have fun!!! The DH went straight to Sur Mur and I went to look for PC Wok, which alas, was not there, so onward and upward, TO THE MONGOLIAN GRILL!!! The MG was great, I was among the first in line:D I didn't quite know what to do, but I rapidly got the hang of it and ate there almost every day. I didn't take pics because I was too busy watching the show!! It's great, pick your veggies, pick your noodles, pick your meat and sauce and watch while they create (wok) your meal. I highly recommend you try this! After lunch, off to check out our cabin on the Lido deck.

[douglinc@msn.com]

Enjoying your review, great pictures. We'll be heading out on the Conquest 3-7. Waiting for more.

 

Doug

[SoonerOne]

Thank you Doug.....all that talk about the Mongolian Grill made me hungry and I ran out to pick up Chinese food!:p

[SoonerOne]

After two glorious days soaking up the sun.....

 

 

And eating lots of good food (I love food pics):

Eggs Benedict from MDR

Stuffed Mushrooms

Pumpkin Soup

Chili's Rellenos

[sailingawaysoon]

Great review so far, can't wait to see more! Love the food pics too.

[ecpc1302]

Enjoying your review and pics. We sail on Conquest 7-4-10 and are booked on Lido deck. 2 inside and 1 balcony cabin, never stayed on Lido before, please tell us how you liked it. Thank you.

Elsie:cool:

[SoonerOne]

More food pics:

 

Shrimp and Loster, double yummy!

My fav....warm chocolate melting cake

I think this was mozarella sticks

French Onion Soup

Beef Stroganoff....I tried to get pictures of different food, something different that we've not seen before

Seafood Newburg, sorry the author starting eating before she took the picture, it was wonderful too!

[SoonerOne]

Enjoying your review and pics. We sail on Conquest 7-4-10 and are booked on Lido deck. 2 inside and 1 balcony cabin, never stayed on Lido before, please tell us how you liked it. Thank you.

Elsie:cool:

 

Elsie:

 

We LOVED the LIDO deck, we are SO spoiled now!!! We were in Cabin 9238 on the Port side. The DH just walked out to the buffet area every morning for juice and coffee and brought it back to our cabin. We didn't use room service one time this cruise, because the Lido deck is so handy! I highly recommend it:D You are going to love it!

 

Donna

[SoonerOne]

After all that eating:eek:, naw, just joking, that was several nights!:p We headed for a walk on the Lido deck at night:

It was beautiful and so quiet, sshhhhh.....

[SoonerOne]

We watched a little bit of a movie on the Lido deck, saw some Cruise Critic friends, hi Andrae' and family!!! Then we decided to call it a night

but first, what's this on the bed?

A friendly towel animal of course!

And then that wonderful turn down service and 2 chocolate mints on the the bed, perfection:D What a lovely way to end the day, thank you Carnival Conquest staff!

 

Next stop, Jamacia mon!

[douglinc@msn.com]

You're doing great, keep it up.

 

Doug

[tk22]

Fantastic review so far; can't wait for more. Good to hear about the Lido deck, we are booked on the Lido in May - Conquest Eastern route. We have sailed on the Conquest five times so far and we love this ship!! We have had inside, balcony and once we got an excellent price on a suite, but this trip a little short of funds, so we booked an inside on the Lido. We thought maybe being on the Lido would make up for no balcony this year. Luv the food pics; I scrapbook every cruise, and after seeing your pictures I will make sure to take some this year.

[SoonerOne]

Well, it's Wednesday morning and we are pulling into Jamacia:

 

And lo and behold there was already another ship there! We thought that was strange because prior to the cruise I looked up our port schedule to see if anyone else would be there and it showed only us.

 

Here's another picture of her later in the day leaving port:

 

The sky was beautiful that evening, I know, I know, I'm getting ahead of myself, but just couldn't resist:

Just check out that sky! Beautiful!

 

Good bye MSC cruise ship: (Did I mention that I love all cruise ships!)

[SoonerOne]

Fantastic review so far; can't wait for more. Good to hear about the Lido deck, we are booked on the Lido in May - Conquest Eastern route. We have sailed on the Conquest five times so far and we love this ship!! We have had inside, balcony and once we got an excellent price on a suite, but this trip a little short of funds, so we booked an inside on the Lido. We thought maybe being on the Lido would make up for no balcony this year. Luv the food pics; I scrapbook every cruise, and after seeing your pictures I will make sure to take some this year.

 

You guys are SO sweet!!! Thanks for the encouragement!! I have so much more to share but the boss just came in:eek: and I've got to do a little work......gesh, doesn't he know I'd rather be hanging out with ya'll?:p

 

Stay tuned, more to come!

 

Donna

[Gettin Married]

great review ! .. nice to see a lil sooner love on here :D

we leave 3-7-10 on conquest ...thanks for all the great pics !

[SoonerOne]

Ok, back to my review: In Jamacia we took a tour of Montego Bay, both the poor side and the upscale. Our bus driver Maury, was incredible and got us in and out of tight squeezes. We visited downtown, an old church and cemetary, a beautiful golf course, $1,000,000 homes up in the mountains and then down to Margaritaville.

 

This is Maury, hi ya Maury! Thanks for the great driving skills!

 

This is right across the street from Margaritaville, beautiful fountain:

 

Inside Margaritaville, it was packed!

 

View of our ship from outside:

 

More fun outside at Margaritaville:

 

 

More wall to wall people inside:

 

After this, Maury took us back to the cruise terminal where we did some more souvenir shopping. Be sure and dicker with them, they will come down on their prices. We got 6 beautiful shot glasses for $10 and some other great wooden carved pieces.

[SoonerOne]

Next up: Grand Cayman!

 

Here we are arriving in Grand Cayman, their was a Costa and RCCL ship already tendered there, hi big ships!

 

A tender boat has come to start picking us up:

 

They are everywhere, it looks like they are swarming us!

 

Ok, we are doing a city tour here too, aren't we the fun ones! We are off to see the city, a visit to Hell, the rum factory and to Botswain turtle farm, it's another glorious, bright sunny day in Paradise!

 

First stop, Hell, and here's what it looks like, not much to get excited about, but at least we've been there and I don't want to go again!

 

On to the Rum Factory:

The place is packed so we go out to look at the incredible ocean:

 

And here's me, hi Cruise Critic friends:

[douglinc@msn.com]

You're doing great. Did you still have to go to your muster stations for the muster drill?

 

Doug

[SoonerOne]

You're doing great. Did you still have to go to your muster stations for the muster drill?

 

Doug

 

Hey Doug, there you are again! Thanks! Yes, we had to go to the muster stations but no life jacket was required, thank goodness. Much cooler. Word to the wise, do not take your DOD with you, they made people with drinks get rid of them, right there on the spot, down the hatch, matie!:D

[SoonerOne]

Turtle Farm: It was a really clean nice place and I'm glad we got to visit there, very educational. Our tour guide was great and it was obvious that he loved his turtles!

 

Here he is demonstrating how to hold a turtle incorrectly:

 

Or holding them like a baby, oh....so cute.

 

A pic of the DH, sshhh don't tell him, he doesn't like to show his face....but he's my favorite subject!

 

 

The Dolphin Adventure right across the street:

 

A stop by the ocean on the way back to port. A local cracking coconuts to drink the milk:

[SoonerOne]

Ok, back to Grand Cayman central we go, here's the obligatory Margaritiville pic:

 

The lovely sting ray fountain

 

Our lovely lady awaits!

 

I never get tired of looking at the water!

 

Next stop, Cozumel!

[SoonerOne]

Ok, so after a great sunny day in Grand Cayman, we arrive in Cozumel to a cloudy, drizzly day......we are taking the Mayan ruins tour here. We see the Valor as we approach the pier:

 

Ok, now bear with me, I love these BIG BRUISER shots:

 

And another:

 

 

 

Two big ships like this, side by side, awesome!!!

Your CC tour guide, me.....

[SoonerOne]

Ok, time to go home soon....more tomorrow!