Conquest class compared to The new mega ships, will we be overwhelmed.

[Thad409]

Weve have only cruised on the Fantasy and Conquest class, and I'm looking to book the Jubilee in June of 2024. My question is will it be overwhelming? 

[ray98]

It will be a different experience, not overwhelming in a bad way though. 

 

My advice is watch some Youtube reviews of the sister ships and figure out what is important to you.  Focus on those things when you get on board.  I assure you, at the end of the cruise there will be a few things you planned to do or things you wanted to do again and didn't.  Our first cruise on the Mardi Gras I came away feeling it was an entirely new experience and was anything but 'another Carnival cruise' which was a good thing.

[hard_eight]

I've also only cruised those, had the same fear! Loved the 8 days on the Celebration. So much to do, such a huge vessel but, they've done a great job of breaking up the venues. There are a couple choke points (Alchemy etc..) and some times elevators are tough, but overall no issues with the crowds 

 

Going on Mardi Gras in August, then Conquest in Nov. I'm worried I'm gonna be disappointed going back to the Conquest!

Edited April 11, 2023 by hard_eight
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[carrieluvsgreg]

We've done everything up to Vista class.  I view each class as it's own experience.  So far, our favorite class is the Dream class with the flagship being our favorite within the class.  (Even if she's an old lady- we still love her!)  We love the Cloud 9 ships but have enjoyed many sailings on the smaller ships that do not have those facilities.  We just know going in that it will be a different experience.  I am hesitant to book the new class because I have looked at the ship layout and it seems weird to me that the spa is low in the ship and some spa rooms are still up top... That doesn't seem convenient to me at all.  I know they now offer cove balconies in the spa which I can see would be a draw.  Anyway- I do agree with another poster's recommendation to watch some YouTube videos and begin getting familiar with the "bells and whistles".  Some with appeal to you and others will not. 

[evandbob]

It might be underwhelming if you sail the Mardi Gras and Celebration and then go back to the Conquest class.

 

I prefer the new ships and have basically stopped sailing anything older than the Magic class, YMMV.

[Thad409]

10 hours ago, ray98 said:

It will be a different experience, not overwhelming in a bad way though. 

 

My advice is watch some Youtube reviews of the sister ships and figure out what is important to you.  Focus on those things when you get on board.  I assure you, at the end of the cruise there will be a few things you planned to do or things you wanted to do again and didn't.  Our first cruise on the Mardi Gras I came away feeling it was an entirely new experience and was anything but 'another Carnival cruise' which was a good thing.

Sound advice

[Joebucks]

The Mardi Gras is 60% bigger. Honestly, isn't that much more to be overwhelmed. However, inversely, to remove that 60% gets tougher for me.

[May1cruiser]

The only overwhelming change for us is the amount of food choices. Too much food for 7 days. The other nig change for us- the lobby bar is MIA. We always love a welcome aboard beverage, and you enter near the center stage. 

 

Make no mistake the mega ships are fine, just different experience. 

 

[Lee Cruiser]

We loved Mardi Gras and have Celebration and Jubilee booked in the future.  Mardi Gras is so much better than the Conquest ships in way of dining and entertainment.  The center stage shows on Mardi Gras were the best we've seen in over 20 cruises.

[my kids mama]

I think I have sailed every class carnival offers.  I absolutely loved our recent Celebration cruise!  The ship was beautiful and I really enjoyed the added restaurant choices that were included. My next 2 cruises that I currently have booked are on the Luminosa.  First Alaska, then Australia.  Both cruises are bucket list trips and I am sure I will love them both. I might miss some of the options on the Celebration though. 

[pe4all]

We have been staying away from the mega-ships due to the amount of people on them.  The largest we cruised was Horizon when it was (covid) 60% capacity, and I swore I would never go on such a large ship again.  We had a Havana aft corner cabin so were allowed in the Havana area, which was wonderful.  However, when we went into the general areas (Lido) it was jammed.  So for us we will stick to Dream class and lower - but to each their own!

[jsglow]

Yeah, at one end of the scale is the 250,000 ton, 7500 pax Icon of the Seas. At the other end, is the 13,000 ton, 300 pax Star Pride. I know which one I'll never set foot on. Everything else is in between.  Find your sweet spot and enjoy.

[hard_eight]

3 hours ago, pe4all said:

We have been staying away from the mega-ships due to the amount of people on them.  The largest we cruised was Horizon when it was (covid) 60% capacity, and I swore I would never go on such a large ship again.  We had a Havana aft corner cabin so were allowed in the Havana area, which was wonderful.  However, when we went into the general areas (Lido) it was jammed.  So for us we will stick to Dream class and lower - but to each their own!

I've been on the Magic a few times, it felt more crowded than the Celebration. Granted we cruised Celebration in Jan vs Spring Break or Summer but, it was sold out and didn't feel as crowded. 

[pe4all]

3 hours ago, hard_eight said:

I've been on the Magic a few times, it felt more crowded than the Celebration. Granted we cruised Celebration in Jan vs Spring Break or Summer but, it was sold out and didn't feel as crowded. 

I love the Magic - going on her again in January.  Maybe someday I will try one of the mega-ships.  Kind of hard to pass up some of the casino deals on them I get now and then.  

[hard_eight]

37 minutes ago, pe4all said:

I love the Magic - going on her again in January.  Maybe someday I will try one of the mega-ships.  Kind of hard to pass up some of the casino deals on them I get now and then.  

Do it, you won't be disappointed!