What is the difference between....

[Fun~N~Sun]

Conquest Class ships and Spirit Class ships?

[GoinCruisin]

They are completely different ships... what are you wanting to know??? Have you checked out the deck plans on Carnival.com???

[glrounds]

Spirit Class ships are a little smaller than Conquest Class ships and have a layout similar to the old Fantasy Class ships (the ones that put Carnival on the map to stay).

Spirit Class ships were specifically designed to be small enough to pass through the Panama Canal and have IMHO the best layout of any Carnival ship. They are, indeed, my favorite. Others (Randy and Chris) will most likely disagree. :D

Spirit Class - 88,500 tons

Conquest Class - 110,000 tons

[Fun~N~Sun]

They are completely different ships... what are you wanting to know??? Have you checked out the deck plans on Carnival.com???

 

I have looked at the deck plans and the virtual tours but sometimes that isn't as good as word of mouth and opinions. Trying to decide between the Valor or Miracle. Both itineraries are similar. Western Caribbean. I want a cruise with a definite island flare and a place to dance and have a few drinks and fun days at sea.

[momofzeke]

I have looked at the deck plans and the virtual tours but sometimes that isn't as good as word of mouth and opinions. Trying to decide between the Valor or Miracle. Both itineraries are similar. Western Caribbean. I want a cruise with a definite island flare and a place to dance and have a few drinks and fun days at sea.

 

I have only been on Spirit class ships, so I can't compare to Conquest class. We did love the Miracle, though. Great ship, and great itinerary. You can click on the link below my sig to read my Miracle review. We spent lots of time in the casino, so didn't really check out the disco. There were a couple of fun deck parties at night with dancing, and those were a blast.

 

I'm sure either ship would be super fun for you. Enjoy! :)

[MrPete]

Conquest Class....Lido BAD :(

Spirit Class..........Lido GOOD :)

[Guest LetMeGo]

Spirit Class ships were specifically designed to be small enough to pass through the Panama Canal and have IMHO the best layout of any Carnival ship. They are, indeed, my favorite. Others (Randy and Chris) will most likely disagree. :D

 

Spirit Class - 88,500 tons

Conquest Class - 110,000 tons

Not to mention they were also designed to be the largest possible ships to be built on the shipyard of choice (see my avatar... :D )

 

The length and public areas are roughly equal, with the real difference in size and passenger capacity coming from Conquest ships having almost twice as many inside cabins.

[suzy1212]

Conquest Class....Lido BAD :(

Spirit Class..........Lido GOOD :)

What's bad about Conquest lido and good about Spirit lido? I've only been on the Conquest and am going on it again, but I'm already trying to decide what to try next. :)

[Fun~N~Sun]

Conquest Class....Lido BAD :(

Spirit Class..........Lido GOOD :)

 

Tell me why you feel this way. I had a not so good experience on the Lido deck of the Destiny and am looking forward to some fun on my next cruise.

[MrPete]

JMO, guys.

 

I don't like the steppes by the main pool. I don't like on the earlier versions having the big bandstand right "there". They did good moving it on the later versions up one deck.

 

I don't care for the lido Restaurant, and I don't care for the closed in feel in the rear pool area. The back of the ship should be OPEN. Having to go up to the next deck reminds me of a catwalk.

 

On the Spirit class, the openness is there in the rear, with an adult pool and hot tubs, the lido restaurant is marvelous with all its diverse stations, and there are not one, but TWO pools, all on one level; one with a bandstand, and one without.

 

And I like how they have the slide out of the way of everything.

[momofzeke]

JMO, guys.

 

I don't like the steppes by the main pool.

 

I don't care for the lido Restaurant, and I don't care for the closed in feel in the rear pool area. The back of the ship should be OPEN. Having to go up to the next deck reminds me of a catwalk.

 

On the Spirit class, the openness is there in the rear, the lido restaurant is marvelous with all its diverse stations, and there are not one, but TWO pools, all on one level; one with a bandstand, and one without.

 

And I like how they have the slide out of the way of everything.

 

Interesting, Pete!

 

I'm interested in hearing from other Conquest class cruisers. We've only sailed on Spirit class, and loved them. I am considering a Conquest class for our next cruise, though. I'd like to hear more about the comparisons.

 

Thanks, guys! :)

[Fun~N~Sun]

JMO, guys.

 

I don't like the steppes by the main pool. I don't like on the earlier versions having the big bandstand right "there". They did good moving it on the later versions up one deck.

 

I don't care for the lido Restaurant, and I don't care for the closed in feel in the rear pool area. The back of the ship should be OPEN. Having to go up to the next deck reminds me of a catwalk.

 

On the Spirit class, the openness is there in the rear, the lido restaurant is marvelous with all its diverse stations, and there are not one, but TWO pools, all on one level; one with a bandstand, and one without.

 

And I like how they have the slide out of the way of everything.

 

Thanks for the opinions. The Miracle was the first I looked at for the Western Caribbean and I am definitely leaning in that direction for the reasons you mentioned as well as the itinerary.

[kkorman]

The biggest difference I noticed was the number of people. The had it right on the Pride and there were 500 too many people on the Conquest. Hallways were often crowded (especially the one with all the bars and the dining room entrance by the sunflower; there was ingoing and outgoing traffic), and at times it was impossible to find a deck chair. It was ridiculous in fact. When I was on the Destiny a few years back I thought that it was a tad crowded, not too bad, but the Conquest is pretty much the same ship with more people. In fact, I would only sail on a Spirit class ship of Carnival. Do not like the layouts and now the age of the other classes.

[suzy1212]

I don't care for the closed in feel in the rear pool area. The back of the ship should be OPEN.

That makes sense. A lot of people seem to really like the Spirit Class ships. I think that would be my next choice if they will move one of them to Galveston or NO. I figure I can cruise more often if I don't have to spend money on airfare. :)

[perkyblue]

I haven't been on any Carnival ships yet (just 3 more days! :D ), but I've read that the Conquest class ships have a really great restaurant to get fish & chips and other yummy seafood stuff! I wish Legend had that too! :(

[suzy1212]

The biggest difference I noticed was the number of people. The had it right on the Pride and there were 500 too many people on the Conquest. Hallways were often crowded (especially the one with all the bars and the dining room entrance by the sunflower; there was ingoing and outgoing traffic), and at times it was impossible to find a deck chair.

I didn't feel crowded on our Conquest cruise and I sorta have a phobia about crowds. I guess different weeks have a different feel or maybe I just hang out in less popular places! ;)

[suzy1212]

I've read that the Conquest class ships have a really great restaurant to get fish & chips and other yummy seafood stuff! I wish Legend had that too! :(

The fish place had very good oysters. Do the Spirit Class ships not have the fish? (Not a big enough thing to influence my decision, but I'd miss it.)

[Caliber1]

The Spirit class also has the aft wrap suites which are out of this world. No fish-n-chips though. What I found amazing was that the ship never felt crowded. Walking down the outer promenade you hardly ever saw anyone. Haven't sailed Conquest class yet but love the Miracle, trying the Legend in Jan.:D

 

Jess

[MrPete]

No fish station, but they do offer it as a lunch menu item one of the days in the DR.