Conquest: Seems like a good deal to me

[loubetti]

Thinking of making my 45th cruise my first Carnival cruise for my girl friend's birthday in December (12/6). They have a 6-night Key West, Cayman, Cozumel out of FLL (we live 40 minutes from the port) and I just got a GTY outside "senior" rate which totals out with taxes and fees at about $824 + gratuities + FTTF if I can get that. So figure a little over $1000 or $170 a night for two. Heck, a good hotel costs more than that, and you still have to pay for food.

 

Looks like Conquest has the 2.0 upgrades, though, frankly, I don't cruise for Guy's Burgers and such. Though I might just try my first water slide.

 

Hey, for a Celebrity / Cunard guy this could prove interesting!

 

What y'all think? Nice ship, good price? Certainly seems that way to me. I always wanted to see Joe Farcus at his best (worst?):D

[Sixtytwo]

Lou, Conquest is a great ship! She is not the youngest in the fleet but still a good one! We are a few weeks from our 3rd cruise on her! Go ahead, bite the bullet. :D

 

If you book it, be sure and notice if the rate you are quoted has "price protection" with it. If you find any price drops, get in touch with CCL and get some OBC!

[loubetti]

Lou, Conquest is a great ship! She is not the youngest in the fleet but still a good one! We are a few weeks from our 3rd cruise on her! Go ahead, bite the bullet. :D

 

If you book it, be sure and notice if the rate you are quoted has "price protection" with it. If you find any price drops, get in touch with CCL and get some OBC!

 

Thanks, David!

 

I don't care about ship's age, and I have a PVP that I would book through, and hopefully she will take good care of me in the regard you mention.

 

Now, I just have to convince my GF to do this!:eek:

[SusieCruises]

[b[/b]

Thinking of making my 45th cruise my first Carnival cruise for my girl friend's birthday in December (12/6). They have a 6-night Key West, Cayman, Cozumel out of FLL (we live 40 minutes from the port) and I just got a GTY outside "senior" rate which totals out with taxes and fees at about $824 + gratuities + FTTF if I can get that. So figure a little over $1000 or $170 a night for two. Heck, a good hotel costs more than that, and you still have to pay for food.

 

Looks like Conquest has the 2.0 upgrades, though, frankly, I don't cruise for Guy's Burgers and such. Though I might just try my first water slide.

 

Hey, for a Celebrity / Cunard guy this could prove interesting!

 

What y'all think? Nice ship, good price? Certainly seems that way to me. I always wanted to see Joe Farcus at his best (worst?):D

 

 

We are booked on that cruise......really looking forward to it! We really like that 'class' of ship. Have been on Liberty several times and Freedom a couple times. We also got a great price......ocean view, casino rate, a little under $800, including taxes, for both of us for 6 nights..... we just have to figure in the gratuities and the insurance. Even found airfare at a decent price. Not too bad. We also don't care about the Guys Burger or water slides or things like that. Give us a nice place to relax and read and people-watch, a few good meals and a good piano bar with a good mix of people and we are all set.:) Enjoy your cruise!

[Nic6318]

Thinking of making my 45th cruise my first Carnival cruise for my girl friend's birthday in December (12/6). They have a 6-night Key West, Cayman, Cozumel out of FLL (we live 40 minutes from the port) and I just got a GTY outside "senior" rate which totals out with taxes and fees at about $824 + gratuities + FTTF if I can get that. So figure a little over $1000 or $170 a night for two. Heck, a good hotel costs more than that, and you still have to pay for food.

 

Looks like Conquest has the 2.0 upgrades, though, frankly, I don't cruise for Guy's Burgers and such. Though I might just try my first water slide.

 

Hey, for a Celebrity / Cunard guy this could prove interesting!

 

What y'all think? Nice ship, good price? Certainly seems that way to me. I always wanted to see Joe Farcus at his best (worst?):D

 

 

 

Hi Lou

 

I am sure you will have a great time.

It's a nice enough ship...I was on it last year and will be going again in Sept.

You have already seen that for your first Carnival cruise you get fairly good value for the $. Don't forget if you are a CCL shareholder you can get an OBC.

 

I had read some of your posts encouraging people to try Cunard ships and you almost had me convinced:), they sure look nice.

 

Of course the Carnival ships are considerably less formal. You can leave the tux at home if you wish, but people do still get dressed up on "elegant" night.

[loubetti]

Hi Lou

 

I am sure you will have a great time.

It's a nice enough ship...I was on it last year and will be going again in Sept.

You have already seen that for your first Carnival cruise you get fairly good value for the $. Don't forget if you are a CCL shareholder you can get an OBC.

 

I had read some of your posts encouraging people to try Cunard ships and you almost had me convinced:), they sure look nice.

 

Of course the Carnival ships are considerably less formal. You can leave the tux at home if you wish, but people do still get dressed up on "elegant" night.

 

What the heck, I'm driving, so I'll bring the tux with white dinner jacket! :D

 

Indeed, Cunard IS formal, and they enforce it too. I don't mind informal or casual, and actually look forward to it. Time for a change!

 

My PVP just called me back, and there is no price protection. Why are things so complicated these days? However, I can't see the rate getting much lower than what I got, and if it does, big deal. You have to just book at a price you are comfortable with, and don't look at rates every day. :cool:

 

Okay, back to convincing GF to do this! That is the hard part of all this!!

[Honolulu Blue]

Thinking of making my 45th cruise my first Carnival cruise for my girl friend's birthday in December (12/6). They have a 6-night Key West, Cayman, Cozumel out of FLL (we live 40 minutes from the port) and I just got a GTY outside "senior" rate which totals out with taxes and fees at about $824 + gratuities + FTTF if I can get that. So figure a little over $1000 or $170 a night for two. Heck, a good hotel costs more than that, and you still have to pay for food.

 

Looks like Conquest has the 2.0 upgrades, though, frankly, I don't cruise for Guy's Burgers and such. Though I might just try my first water slide.

 

Hey, for a Celebrity / Cunard guy this could prove interesting!

 

What y'all think? Nice ship, good price? Certainly seems that way to me. I always wanted to see Joe Farcus at his best (worst?):D

 

I'm also on this cruise. Be sure to join the roll call.

 

I've been on the Conquest once before. It is a nice ship.

[happywife0921]

I'm probably partial to the Conquest because not only was it my first cruise and honeymoon, but it's really a great ship. I can't wait to sail again in September. Plus, I live for Guy's Burgers lol.

[loubetti]

I've been happy on ships from the old, tiny, late Regal Empress to QM2, I can't envision any issue with Conquest. Famous last words!

 

That aside, and in speaking with my PVP (it's a he not a she as I previously stated). He said, and most of you might know this, that they are on salary, no commission ("I wish!" he said), but bookings you do with them do count towards their "review", and future raises.

 

All right, two things may or may not happen with this thread.

 

It will be about Lou booking or not booking his first CCL cruise (remember I have GF to convince), and if I book and go, it will morph into a detailed review with photos.

 

Hmmm... the captain should be Italian, as I am, have to brush up on my Italian... want a seat at his table one evening! Heck, it worked all the time with my ex-wife speaking Greek on Celebrity! :D

[RuthlessBoss]

What the heck, I'm driving, so I'll bring the tux with white dinner jacket! :D

 

Indeed, Cunard IS formal, and they enforce it too. I don't mind informal or casual, and actually look forward to it. Time for a change!

 

My PVP just called me back, and there is no price protection. Why are things so complicated these days? However, I can't see the rate getting much lower than what I got, and if it does, big deal. You have to just book at a price you are comfortable with, and don't look at rates every day. :cool:

 

Okay, back to convincing GF to do this! That is the hard part of all this!!

 

What are you referring to with the words price protection? If your price goes down before final payment, call your PVP. The other is Early Saver which will allow lowering til almost sail time.

[Towel Critter]

I really like the Conquest class ships, not too big, not too small. I hope you enjoy your first cruise with Carnival, and J.F.'s handy work. Personally, I'm going to miss old Joe, now that Carnival is moving toward a more generic look. His ship's have

character/personality. Personally, I'm going to miss that.

[Sixtytwo]

Lou, if the GF will hop into that 210 with you, getting the "approval" to book the Conquest should be a piece of cake! ;)

[kelkel2]

I hope the GF will let you book! I've never been on the Conquest, but have sailed the Liberty, it's sister ship. We really enjoyed that class of ship. It's just the right size. Not too large, not too small. With the 2.0 upgrades you get a great taste of what Carnival offers.

Plus, it's a great deal! Come back and let us know how the convincing goes!

[belkin]

Thinking of making my 45th cruise my first Carnival cruise for my girl friend's birthday in December (12/6). They have a 6-night Key West, Cayman, Cozumel out of FLL (we live 40 minutes from the port) and I just got a GTY outside "senior" rate which totals out with taxes and fees at about $824 + gratuities + FTTF if I can get that. So figure a little over $1000 or $170 a night for two. Heck, a good hotel costs more than that, and you still have to pay for food.

 

Looks like Conquest has the 2.0 upgrades, though, frankly, I don't cruise for Guy's Burgers and such. Though I might just try my first water slide.

 

Hey, for a Celebrity / Cunard guy this could prove interesting!

 

What y'all think? Nice ship, good price? Certainly seems that way to me. I always wanted to see Joe Farcus at his best (worst?):D

 

We are booked on this cruise and it will be our first time on the Conquest. We have been on her sister ship the Freedom a few times and really enjoyed it.

 

I booked it because I thought the price and itinerary looked good. I think you have a great rate. Hope your girlfriend gives the green light and you guys have a great time.

[MississippiMom]

Someone has to be the "devil's advocate."

 

Although we had no complaints about the staff, we did not care for the Conquest layout. As a matter of fact, DH hated the crowded feeling so much, that we have not cruised since then, and will never cruise with that kind of passenger/area ratio again.

 

For us, having balcony cabins was a bit of a splurge, but definitely worth the added cost. It gave us all a quiet spot to sit, when needed. Even our children enjoyed sitting out on the balcony (before dinner & evening activities) and watching the world go by.

 

We have never cruised on Celebrity or on Cunard, so I cannot compare Carnival to those. Hopefully, you will have a fabulous time trying a different cruise line.

[Topo Gigio]

It's a good deal, but honestly I think it's one of the cheapest week of the year, so you might get a better deal on the other cruise lines as well. I went on the Regal Princess last year after Thanks Giving, and I ended up paying $376 p/p for an inside. Even Thanks G. week on the Eurodam I paid something like $317 for an obstructed OV.

[loubetti]

I looked at RCI and Celebrity, and they were all higher, at times much higher. Granted, I am "Elite" on Celebrity and as such "Diamond" on RCI. I am nothing on Carnival, despite spending a small fortune on Cunard where I am Platinum.

 

Ya' know, I'd just like to see what it is all about. See Joe Farcus live, see just how the food and service is, and go from there.

 

I mean, we live in S. Florida, and just have to pay to park at port. We have FLL and MIA ports available to us. Heck, I live in cruise heaven, about time I give something different a try! I do not want to drive far, thus Canaveral and Tampa are off the list.

 

I didn't miss the comment on my GF and flying on the Cessna 210 either!:D

 

Thanks all for your kind and helpful remarks. I'll keep y'all advised. I told my PVP, "maybe a 50% chance of this working out."

[LMaxwell]

Just book it. Forgiveness is always easier than permission. You'll have a great time.

[Towel Critter]

Good for you for having an open mind. You may, as I did, go back to your comfort zone after trying a different cruise line, but a change is good for us every now and then. Worst case scenario, you dislike Carnival, but even then that would only serve to make you appreciate your "go to" cruise lines even more. I remember how much I appreciated getting back to Carnival and it's friendly, smiling staff after trying MSC. And that's what I think you will enjoy most about Carnival, it's staff. In my limited sampling of cruise lines other than Carnival, it has been my experience that none I've tried has been as welcoming and friendly as Carnival's.

[lcseale53]

Lou - you moved from Piper to Cessna, so a move to Carnival should not be too difficult:D. Understand that I'm not saying those are parallel moves by any stretch; just different experiences. We'll be on the Conquest for the first time during the week of Thanksgiving.

 

Leon

Cessna 206 & 120

[Topo Gigio]

Usually the deals start popping up after final payment day. I seldom book more than 1 month in advance. I just pick the dates I want to travel and sit back and wait for the deals.

[swscruiser]

Just off the Conquest last month. 2nd time on her and have done several cruises on sister ships. We like the size and layout of this class, but we were very disappointed in this particular cruise. Red Frog Rum Bar on Lido is one of our favorites, but spent very little time there do to very poor bartenders. Service at anytime dining was also the worst we've had for ATD since it has been offered. We also found the ship to be worn and not as clean as others we've sailed on. In fact we were offered a pack and play rate $50pp inside and the Conquest was an option, and if the Conquest was the only option we would not have booked this rate.