Page-a-Day Review of the Carnival Conquest (June 20-27, 2010)

[cjt3]

What did your teenage kids do if they didn't meet and hang out with kids their age?

 

Elegant Night...I don't get too many opportunities to wear formal dresses etc...except on cruises, so I may just really dress up big time! Has it gotten alot less formal? Mostly the "little black dress"?? I don't want to "over do it"!!

 

Our kids enjoyed hanging out on the Lido deck (tanning, ping-pong, basketball, miniature golf, shuffleboard) and on the Promenade (arcade, people watching, getting drinks from the bar). Now that we are home my son said that he was bored but that he never felt bored on the ship.

 

I would say that "Elegant Night" is really just a step above casual on average. If you want to blend in, then the "little black dress" is probably about right. Speaking from a guy's point of view, I skipped the tie this year and wore slacks and a sports coat. By all means, though, feel free to go all out if that's what you want to do. You may be in the minority, but you won't be the only ones!

[mssevie]

The review of your cruise comes at a perfect time! We leave on the Conquest on July 11th, so I can "up" my excitement..if that's possible..lol...by reading your daily reviews. I've never been on the Conquest, so I have to learn the ship, but my son and his wife have been on it twice, so they'll know all about it. We will also have teenagers and a 21 month old with us, so any tips etc is appreciated! Looking forward to your next review...thanks!

 

 

We will be on the Conquest July 11 as well sailing with DD 18, DD 21, DS 15 and his 15 y/o friend. We have a roll call on the roll call boards you should join in. Other couples with kids/teens going as well.

 

I am loving this review and it is really making me get more excited about our cruise in 12 days! Thank you!:D

[dac61]

33 days until we sail on the Conquest! I am looking forward to the rest of your review!! We are sailing with my DD and SIL!

A month seems like a long time yet!!!!

[dfmeeks]

cjt3,

 

There's what looks to be a boat in the distance. Would that be correct? What type of boat?

 

Beautiful pics & great review! I can't wait to read tomorrow's installment!

[dfmeeks]

WOW...beautiful picture! That's what cruising is all about...the serenity, peacefulness early in the morning..beautiful sunrises and sunsets! We've just celebrated our 35th anniversary, so this is a special trip for us.

 

About the teen club...I'm sure all the teenagers have some apprehension going to meet other kids...in fact, my grandson told me he thinks it's all baby stuff! Wish he'd give it a try though. Those of you who have teenagers who have enjoyed meeting other teens...what do your kids say about it? Are they glad they met other kids their age on the ship? What did your teenage kids do if they didn't meet and hang out with kids their age?

 

Elegant Night...I don't get too many opportunities to wear formal dresses etc...except on cruises, so I may just really dress up big time! Has it gotten alot less formal? Mostly the "little black dress"?? I don't want to "over do it"!!

 

Really enjoying your review...those of us sailing away on the 11th...well..makes me want to just go on to Galveston and stand on the port!!

 

My daughter cruised the 1st time 2 years ago, at 13 years old, on the Liberty. Until that point, she had only vacationed in Mexico at AI's & loved it. She was very apprehensive about a cruise. As I noticed others with kids her age posting on our roll call, I made contact & then we had our kids get in contact through facebook. Once she got on the ship, we went to the teen club orientation the first night. I barely saw her after that! She met a group of kids her age & they hung out together the entire time! They're still in contact. The year following that cruise I graduated with my MBA & my gift to me was a family vacation to Mexico. She was very disappointed. This year, she's looking forward to our cruise!

 

Her advice to others is to attend the meeting the first night just to see who's there. She attended 1 or 2 of the teen organized activities the next day but that was just to get to know everyone better. After that, they didn't use the team club but just hung out on their own.

 

I hope this helps!

Dorothy

[cjt3]

Tuesday, June 22nd - Fun Day at Sea

 

Drink of the Day: Caribbean Breeze

Tonight's Show: Motown Review

 

 

We plan on a few more activities for our second fun day at sea. We start with Laser Tag in the Toulouse Lautrec theater. It is an interesting operation to see the crew put up an inflatable arena on the stage. Groups of four go in for a five-minute battle. Inside, there are a few walls to hide behind, but for the most part it is an offensive game. We go in as a family, and I’m proud to say that I win handily (strategy note – use the machine gun setting as much as possible. The Laser Tag arena only gets set up periodically throughout the cruise and lines seem to be pretty long. It was fun to do once on a sea day, but at twenty dollars for the family for a five-minute game once was enough for us.

 

After Laser Tag is the Digital Scavenger Hunt. Last year, my son and I won a ship on a stick in this event. He wants to defend our title this year, so he and his sister join forces this time. They have a good time racing around the ship taking pictures of the items on the list, but unfortunately the title gets passed on to another family this time.

 

My wife and I head to a wine tasting at the steakhouse, where we try two white wines and two red wines guided by the ship's sommelier. She discusses the history and characteristics of each wine, and also has us try the wines with selected foods (for example, a Riesling with a slice of green apple). It is difficult to understand the sommelier at times, but it is still an enjoyable experience and we come away with a good wine recommendation for dinner.

 

In the afternoon, my wife and I head over to the casino where I make the mistake of telling her how easy it is to use your Sail and Sign card to play the slot machines. Thankfully she sticks to the penny slots, so we don’t wind up losing to much to the casino. I do think it’s interesting though, that the minimum bet on the “penny slot” that we play is actually 18 cents, with a maximum bet of 90 cents. I actually do pretty well on the penny slots, winning a “jackpot” of 25 dollars. Feeling that the slot machine gods are on my side, I move over to the dollar slots and give the 25 dollars back in a matter of minutes.

 

Next up is afternoon tea, which has been moved to the Monet Dining Room. When we went last time it was served in Alfred’s Cigar Bar. I liked the atmosphere of Alfred’s better, but it is nice to have tea without the cigar smell in the room. We have our tea with salmon sandwiches, scones, and cake – all the while thinking that we really aren’t that hungry and dinner isn’t that far away.

 

Dinner tonight starts with French Onion Soup, followed by Jerked Pork Loin. A warm Fig, Date and Cinnamon Cake for dessert rounds out a day where I feel like I’ve done nothing but eat. As we are leaving, the maître d’ reminds us not to miss the Mexican buffet on the Lido deck at 11:00pm!

 

To burn off some of our calorie intake from the day, we head up to the party on the Lido deck. Carnival has a recent commercial where a father is dancing on deck to the horror of his teenage daughter. My daughter isn’t quite horrified by my dancing, but she does ask that I leave it on the cruise ship. I guess it’s her version of “what happens in Vegas . . . .”

 

We can’t even begin to look at the Mexican buffet yet, so we head down to see the Legends auditions in the karaoke bar. While I am willing to dance on the Lido deck, I draw the line at singing on stage as I know that I have no singing talent. I am always amazed at the number of people who don’t have a problem showing everyone their lack of talent, but at least they make up for it with enthusiasm.

 

Around midnight, we decide to swing by the Mexican buffet even though we can’t imagine eating anything. We get some churros, then head back to our room and pass out in a food coma.

 

Today's Picture of the Day:

 

[cjt3]

There's what looks to be a boat in the distance. Would that be correct? What type of boat?

 

I think it's just a normal container cargo ship. Leaving out of Galveston you see a bunch of these through the first sea day.

[cruisebarbie]

Loving your review. Looks like you spent your second sea day doing all the things we did on our second sea day the week before! Can't wait for more!

[Meyer2]

Really enjoying the continued review! The picture of the day for today is beautiful!

[cjt3]

Wednesday, June 23rd - Montego Bay, Jamaica

 

Drink of the Day: Yellow Bird

Tonight's Show: Magic & Illusion

 

 

 

After two fun days at sea, we arrive this morning in Jamaica. We have decided to skip the excursions, though, and spend a fun day at port on the Conquest. This has nothing to do with the recent problems in Kingston. Well before all that started, we had planned to take one port day and stay on the ship (again based on a CC recommendation I had read). After looking at all the excursion options, we decided that we liked the Grand Cayman and Cozumel excursions better. Last year we climbed Dunn's River Falls and had a great time, but this year we're:

♫ Sitting on the dock of Mo Bay

Watching the tide roll away

We're just sitting on the dock of Mo Bay

Wasting time ♫

We spend most of the morning on the Lido deck, first watching the ship roll in and then watching all the people roll off. After everyone is gone we enjoy all of the activities that are often crowded. We play a couple rounds of miniature golf and many games of ping pong. In addition to having these to ourselves, there is an added bonus on port days of having far less wind. We also spend a fair amount of time going down the waterslide – waiting at most behind one or two others before going down again.

 

Later on, we take a stroll off the ship and over to the terminal to test our land legs and buy a couple souvenirs. That doesn't take very long, though, and soon we're ready to get back on the ship. Just as we head out of the terminal, the sunny skies change to a downpour. It doesn’t look like it will let up any time soon, so we run the short distance to the ship and get soaked in the process. After we dry off, we grab a drink at the bar and then head back for more ping pong.

 

As sail away approaches we head to the railing on deck three to take some pictures. I am hoping to catch some stragglers sprinting to catch the ship, but everyone manages to make it back in plenty of time. We take a few pictures on the way out, and then head up to get ready for happy hour at the sushi bar and for dinner. We had already decided earlier in the day that we’re skipping the Magic & Illusion show. Even though it isn’t a song and dance show, we remember seeing this same performer last time and don’t need to see her again.

 

For dinner tonight, I can’t decide between the Smoked Duck and Cararmelized Orange appetizer and the Tom Ka Gai soup -- so I have both (the duck was better). For the main course, I have no problem deciding on the Rack of Lamb which is outstanding. I only notice one dessert on the menu, because after I see Bitter and Blanc I stop reading. It is just as good as I remember from the last time.

 

Since we have an early excursion in Grand Cayman tomorrow, we decide to call it a night shortly after dinner and head back to our cabin.

 

Today's Picture of the Day:

 

[mssevie]

Yay! So happy to get the next installment of the review. Our day 3 will be in Nassau, but everything else with the ship activities/food/entertainment will be the same. Love the pictures and can't wait to be there!

 

Curious question... Did it seem impossible to find any deck chairs to lounge in around the pool on your sea days?

[crewsweeper]

HEY!!!you ate my dinner! :D Love the duck, lamb and bitternblanc! Tom Gai soup, not so much.

 

 

Great review looking forward to the rest of the pages:)

[happy5]

love your reviews!!! thanks

You said you did the Dunn River Fall's last year. Was that with the excursion through Carnival? Did you do the bobsled also? How was that tour? How long did it take by bus, and how was the bus trip? We are on the Dec 26 cruise and are wondering what to do in Jamaica...been there once and were not too impressed.

thanks so much for your review....cant wait to read more!

[cjt3]

Curious question... Did it seem impossible to find any deck chairs to lounge in around the pool on your sea days?

 

Short answer - vacant chairs around the pool area were sometimes difficult, but not impossible, to find.

 

Long answer - coming up on Saturday's review

[cjt3]

HEY!!!you ate my dinner! :D Love the duck, lamb and bitternblanc! Tom Gai soup, not so much.

 

Great minds think alike!;)

 

I love Tom Ka Gai, but Carnival's was just ok.

[BayStateguppy]

What a fun review!!! :D

 

Love the format and the pics!

 

Looking forward to reading the next installment.

[cjt3]

love your reviews!!! thanks

You said you did the Dunn River Fall's last year. Was that with the excursion through Carnival? Did you do the bobsled also? How was that tour? How long did it take by bus, and how was the bus trip? We are on the Dec 26 cruise and are wondering what to do in Jamaica...been there once and were not too impressed.

 

We did the Ocho Rios & Dunns River excursion through Carnival. The drive there was around 2 hours including a brief stop halfway at a rest stop that had restrooms and food/drinks. Climbed the waterfall which was a lot of fun, then headed back - stopping at the same rest stop on the way back. The rest stop had bottled water, sodas, chips, etc., but if you're more adventurous the meat pies were great. My wife and kids thought I was crazy for eating it, but I have a pretty strong stomach. We could have done without the stop for shopping at the City Center, but we were probably only there for a half hour or so.

 

The only thing we didn't like about Dunns River Falls is that as you leave you have to make your way through an "arts and crafts village" where the shop owners can get a little aggressive. My daughter was freaked out by the guy who wanted to sell me weed. Aside from that, though, it was a good trip.

[bratgrr1]

love your reviews!!! thanks

You said you did the Dunn River Fall's last year. Was that with the excursion through Carnival? Did you do the bobsled also? How was that tour? How long did it take by bus, and how was the bus trip? We are on the Dec 26 cruise and are wondering what to do in Jamaica...been there once and were not too impressed.

thanks so much for your review....cant wait to read more!

We did the DRF excursion and Bobsled on our last Conquest cruise. We LOVED it. The bus trip was not that boring as they pointed out a lot of interesting things along the way. I can't remember how long it took but I do remember it wasn't that bad. The bobsled was SO much fun! And so was DRF.

 

We have also done this excursion (not through the ship) and it was by far the best excursion we have had out of all of our cruises (DH has been on more than me) and all our excursions. http://www.hevansscent.com/ the prices are in Jamaican dollars, but $100 US dollars is equivalent to 8485 JMD if that helps.

[Tree Hugger]

I think it's just a normal container cargo ship. Leaving out of Galveston you see a bunch of these through the first sea day.

 

Not sure if we are looking at the same thing, but I can see the Hotel Galvez in the background, it's a big, wide building with a red tile roof.

[Meyer2]

Very much enjoyed today's installment review. Look forward to tomorrow's.

[cjt3]

Thursday, June 24th - George Town, Cayman Islands

 

Drink of the Day: Blue Margarita

Tonight's Show: Point & Click

 

 

Since we knew we would be arriving in Grand Cayman after three days on the ship, we had booked the kayak and snorkeling excursion to get a little exercise. We meet our excursion guide, Jay, onshore and are soon headed to where our kayaks await. We divide up into pairs and after some very brief instructions we begin paddling along the coast. Jay stops a couple times to talk about mangrove trees, jellyfish, sea turtles, and the impact of Hurricane Ivan. After a few stops, we head away from shore to an anchored platform. Here we tie up the kayaks and don our snorkeling equipment. There is a small coral reef nearby with quite a few fish, and we also see conch and sea urchins in the area. After we are done with our snorkeling, we head back to the kayaks for the trip back to land. Overall, the snorkeling is not as good as what we could have had on a dedicated snorkeling excursion, but in combination with the kayaking it is a great trip.

 

After the drive back to town we stop to pick up some t-shirts at Del Sol and the Hard Rock Cafe before heading back to the ship. Just as we arrive at the terminal, the sunny skies turn to a downpour – just like what had happened in Montego Bay. We wait out the rain for a while, but since it doesn’t look like it is going to stop any time soon we eventually decide to just brave the rain and head back. This turns out to be a mistake, as the wind and rain both pick up right as we get on the tender back to the ship. By the time we arrive on the Conquest, we are cold and soaked completely through. As we walk through the security check, I hear the three nicest words of the week from a crew member – “Warm towel, sir?”

 

Following the same pattern that we did in Jamaica, we dry off, grab a drink at the bar, and head to deck three for sail away pictures. By this time, the rain has stopped and the sun is shining again. However this quickly changes again and it begins to rain even harder than before. The picture below (not the Picture of the Day), gives you an idea of how hard it is raining. You should be able to see the island in the distance behind the tender, but it is raining so hard that you cannot even see that far. Compare this picture to the Picture of the Day below, which was taken only 13 minutes before. The weather does change quickly and often in the Caribbean.

 

 

Dinner tonight is our second Elegant Night and is the one that my son has been waiting for the whole trip. He has really been wanting to try escargot, although I think the primary reason he wants to try them is to see the disgusted look on his sister's face. To his credit, he thinks they are pretty good and eats all of them. I order the Delice of the Ocean, thinking that my son won’t like the escargot and I will get to eat his. This doesn’t happen, but I am still happy with my choice. I have the Grilled Tiger Shrimp for a main course, and since I haven’t had Warm Chocolate Melting Cake yet this week I order that for dessert. It is good, but my wife and daughter both have the Baked Alaska and after looking at their dessert I wish I had gotten it also.

 

After dinner, the kids go off to do their own thing and my wife and I head down to the adult comedy show. Since we have the late dinner seating, we don’t make it down to the Degas Lounge until 9:45 for the 10:00 show. By the time we get there, we cannot find any open seats in the main part of the lounge so we grab a couple stools at the bar in the back. The sound system isn’t very good back there, and coupled with the noise from the bartenders we couldn’t hear the show very well. After a few minutes, we decide that we’ll just catch his show in the main theater the next day and head to the piano bar instead. The piano bar is not crowded at all today, so we get a seat at the piano and listen to Claude for an hour or so before heading back to the cabin.

 

Today's Picture of the Day:

 

[happylady]

Not sure if we are looking at the same thing, but I can see the Hotel Galvez in the background, it's a big, wide building with a red tile roof.

 

I think dfmeeks was referring to the picture in post #11

 

cjt3 - love your review so far. Your pictures have such great color. What type of camera did you use?

[cjt3]

cjt3 - love your review so far. Your pictures have such great color. What type of camera did you use?

 

Thank you.

 

Most pictures are taken with a Nikon D80. I just got a Tamron 18-270mm lens a couple months ago, and it was nice to have such a large zoom range with just one lens. I also have a Samsung SL720 for when I just want to carry a camera in my pocket.

[cruisegirl36]

The Kayak Snorkel trip you took in Cayman is that the one through the ship??? We thought about doing that there. Is it very strenous or pretty easy of a ride? It is only one person per kayak correct?

[cjt3]

The Kayak Snorkel trip you took in Cayman is that the one through the ship??? We thought about doing that there. Is it very strenous or pretty easy of a ride? It is only one person per kayak correct?

 

Yes, we booked this excursion through Carnival. The kayaks are two-person kayaks, and I didn't think it was difficult at all. I would estimate that the farthest you have to go in one stretch is about 400 yards, and then he stops to talk for a while so stragglers can catch up. No one seemed to have any problems, though.