Conquest review July 23 - 30

[bluestorm19]

Carnival Conquest, July 23 – 30

 

This was our second cruise. First cruise was July 2005 on Carnival Elation.

 

Embarkation: Arrived at the cruise terminal around 11:45 to find a very long line. We were handed memos stating that passengers would be allowed to board at 1:30 (the line did not start moving until then!) & that cabins would be ready at 2:00. We were onboard by 2:45, headed to our cabins & off to Sur Mer for fish and chips. Did the muster drill and then headed to the casino for a couple of Funship specials.

 

Cabin: Lido 9202 - We originally booked an inside cabin on the Empress deck, but when the time came for final payment, our PVP notified us that the price of our room had decreased and she offered to move us up to an obstructed OV cabin on the Lido deck. This ended up being a handicapped cabin, but our PVP assured us that if someone needed to be accommodated with a handicapped room, that we would be bumped to a different cabin. This was fine by us, as we did not feel right at first taking a HC cabin. The cabin was larger than an inside and had a roomy bathroom equipped for people who use wheelchairs. The OV faced the front of the ship, which was really cool! There was a public deck outside our window, which at times was annoying to hear people stomping around on. The view was not very obstructed; we could see the ocean and land when we pulled into port. The only drawback to this location was that it was right next to the Steward Station… every morning around 5 AM, the Lido deck stewards would come and stock up their carts with glasses and such. Lots of loud voices, banging, and glasses clanging. At least we didn’t hear many people running and screaming up and down the halls as much as in our previous cruise.

 

First day at sea: Explored the ship, which at first was a bit difficult to navigate. I remembered the year before on Elation, there are only a few decks that go all the way through forward to aft. This can be tricky until you become familiar with the layout. We used decks 5 and 9 more than any. Went to check out the pools and found the adult pool – aft. During the day, it truly IS an adult-only pool. I was impressed to find security out there all day, directing children away from the pool and hot tubs. Once evening came, however, it was a free-for-all. This was our first formal night and also the Captain’s cocktail party. We had late dinner seating, which I completely prefer. I don’t like to have to rush to get ready for dinner. We are never ready to get out of the pool and sun, so the 8:00 dinner worked out well for us. The Captain’s cocktail party was a lot of fun; great hors d'oeuvres and cocktails. The band, “Blood Power” – a cover band, played and they sounded really good. Glad we made it to the party.

 

Second day at sea: Swam some more in the aft pool and walked around to take pictures of the ship. Tried out the cheeseburger and fries at the Lido grill – very tasty! We were invited to attend the past guest party at 5 PM, but were having too much fun in the sun and didn’t feel like getting dressed. We just wanted to relax with no kind of itinerary.

 

PORTS OF CALL

 

Montego Bay, Jamaica: Jamaica is beautiful! We booked independently through A-Z Jamaica Planners to go to Negril for the day. Clive was our driver and he took us to Negril beach – we used a hotel’s facilities for several hours, I think it was called Tree House Resort… it was very close to Margaritaville Negril, so after a few hours of swimming, we headed there for cheeseburgers and margaritas. Negril beach is stunningly beautiful... white, soft sand and beautiful water. There were a few locals trying to sale us things, including pot, hash, mushrooms, cocaine… you get the picture. It wasn’t too bad, though. At no time did I feel unsafe. We spent some time at Margaritaville and were planning to go to the west end of Negril to watch some cliff diving when it began to rain. It rained for quite a while and dampened our plans to see the cliffs. We headed back to Montego Bay and only had time to stop at one shop in the hip strip. Clive took us to a place to get Blue Mountain Coffee and souvenirs and while we were there, we were solicited several more times to buy various substances. Some people were very aggressive, but I wouldn’t let this stop you from visiting the island of Jamaica. Jamaica is a gorgeous, lush island with much to offer, even though it is very poor and some of the locals are extremely desperate. I would definitely recommend going to Negril (or any other excursion) with A-Z Jamaica Planners. They are a reliable company and it makes more sense to give your money to a local company, rather than making the Carnival Corporation even wealthier.

 

Grand Cayman Island: Not quite as breathtaking as Jamaica, but very clean and regulated. The water was clear and the sand was very soft and pristine. We booked the stingray and coral gardens snorkeling excursion through Captain Marvin’s. I would highly recommend using this local company. They were all very kind, laid back folks and treated us very well. It was a small group of us on the excursion, which made the experience all the better. Coral gardens had some amazing sea life. So much to see! We saw a starfish, barracuda, and other creatures I don’t recall the names of. From there, we went on to stingray city and were surprised to see how comfortable the stingrays were with us. They are awesome animals! Glad to have experienced them. We wanted to check out Rum Point beach, but again, just didn’t have enough time.

 

Cozumel: Wow… this was our first time in Cozumel and we loved it! The most laid back place of all. We could have stayed there forever! Did some shopping and ate at Pancho’s Backyard. Their guacamole was heaven! Had some margaritas and proceeded to do more shopping when we noticed we were running short on time. We caught a taxi and went to Mr. Sancho’s beach. My sister and her husband went here several years ago and absolutely loved it. It’s not as crowded as Paradise Beach, and is beautiful and friendly. Plenty of stuff to do here. There is a bar/grill, shopping, jet skis, parasailing, horseback riding, and on and on… We only had time to spend about an hour and a half here and unfortunately had to rush back to the ship. The water was crystal clear, very calm… we could see striped fish swimming around us. Next time, we will bring our own snorkel equipment and will definitely return to Mr. Sancho’s. LOVED Cozumel! One tip I can offer… if you are looking for beaded or sea shell necklaces, there is a stand on the pier as you’re waiting in line for the tender back who sell these types of necklaces/jewelry/souvenirs for a dollar each! We saw some of the same things along the main drag that were marked way up!

 

Last day at sea: The last day at sea is always the best. We took advantage of every moment… laid in the sun, swam, drank margaritas, watched the sea… even tried out the slide a couple of times – I highly recommend the slide, even if you’re older, don’t worry… there were plenty of adults riding it (multiple times). I really enjoy sea days… it’s so relaxing and really helps you put life into perspective.

 

Debarkation: My dad had to catch an early flight out of Houston, so we did self assist debarkation and were off the ship just before 8 AM. It was very smooth, no problems.

 

Food: Food overall was fair to good. Some entrees were excellent, others bland and heavily processed. We skipped out of the dining room Thursday and Friday nights… we were just too tired from rushing around in the ports. The deli was pretty good; had a decent Reuben on rye. My boyfriend loved Sur Mer (upstairs from Cezanne buffet). He had some awesome ceviche and calamari. The pizza was also great – I ate several different kinds and liked them all. For breakfast, I had omelets most mornings, which I loved. Tried out the buffet a few times, but the scrambled eggs were very wet and had a strange texture. I heard the French toast was very good.

 

Entertainment: Can’t comment too much on this. We only attended the Legends show on the last night of the cruise… it was hilarious! They had passengers imitate singers like Elvis, Madonna, etc... we laughed a lot. I really enjoyed the pool band the “Island Men” … loved the Bob Marley songs they played!

 

The ship: The Conquest is a beautiful ship! I loved the Impressionist art theme… the atrium has murals of works of art from Rousseau, Degas, Monet, Toulouse-Lautrec, Gauguin, and many others. The ship is very clean and well-maintained.

 

Overall comments: This ship is HUGE. I couldn’t help comparing the Conquest to Elation, which is smaller with fewer passengers. I really felt that the massive number of passengers on the Conquest kept them from being able to offer a more personal touch. On Elation, it felt more intimate and neighborly. The dining staff was able to devote more attention to you and were not quite as overworked as the crew on Conquest (or so it seemed). Our wait staff on the Conquest was awesome, but they had so many tables to tend to that I felt badly for them. It just wasn’t the same in that regard. Considering the number of people the crew is caring for, they do a spectacular job. We had such an awesome time on this cruise and I would recommend it to anyone. I wish I were back on the ship already! :rolleyes:

[suzy1212]

Thank you for the review! Glad you had a great vacation.

[big_schots]

Excellent review. I have a question that maybe you can answer. I am going on the Conquest (in October) and booked an excursion with A-Z Jamaica Planners while in Montego Bay. A-Z includes entrance fees in their price to do a tour. Did your driver pay the fees (to the attraction operator) ? I only ask, since I don't wish to be double charged. Also, was it easy to find/meet up with the driver after leaving the ship. Glad to hear that you had a good time.

 

Thanks,

 

Eric

[mikefast]

We are considering going on the Conquest in January of '07, but I have a couple of questions about your review, The first, why did it take so long to get on the ship? Did it come in late, or was there some other reason. We have been on the Rhapsody three times, and have always been on the ship in less than a half an hour, the last time it was no more than 15 minutes. Very fast boarding. Another thing you said the Elation was hard to get from one end of the ship to the other, some of the decks didn't go through all the way. Was the Conquest similar to this? And was there ample seating on the pool deck. I'm not too concerned about getting right next to the pool, not even about getting a lounge, but was there enough seating so you could sit in the sun and have a drink and read a book? Thanks for your information. We have been on 7 cruises so far, and never had a bad one, just that some were better than others. I suppose you, like so many others are hooked by now. :)

[Snoozeman]

Great review. Sounds like you had fun.:)

[hilltopfamily]

Great review! Thanks for taking the time to post it. We're set for the Conquest over Halloween and we've also sailed on the Elation, so I appreciated your thoughts on how the two compare.

[slick52]

We are considering going on the Conquest in January of '07, but I have a couple of questions about your review, The first, why did it take so long to get on the ship? Did it come in late, or was there some other reason. We have been on the Rhapsody three times, and have always been on the ship in less than a half an hour, the last time it was no more than 15 minutes. Very fast boarding. Another thing you said the Elation was hard to get from one end of the ship to the other, some of the decks didn't go through all the way. Was the Conquest similar to this? And was there ample seating on the pool deck. I'm not too concerned about getting right next to the pool, not even about getting a lounge, but was there enough seating so you could sit in the sun and have a drink and read a book? Thanks for your information. We have been on 7 cruises so far, and never had a bad one, just that some were better than others. I suppose you, like so many others are hooked by now. :)

 

Mike,

 

We got off the Conquest the 23rd. We went through a similar deal getting on 7/16. One must remember you're talking about boarding/unboarding almost 3,000 passengers and 1,200+ crew, not only in Galveston but 3 ports too. You shouldn't have any problem finding deck chairs and sun. You'll need to stake out your chairs early around the pool and whenever else where. Deck 5 and 9 do go from one end of the ship to the other, we found we used deck 5 mostly for travel back and forth. We also found the Elation, Celebration and Rhapsody to be a little easier to deal with on a day to day basis, but again they only hold about half the passengers. We had a fun and very enjoyable vacation and I'm sure you will too.

[billsrobb]

bluestorm19 Great review. did you ever find out what took so long to board. Other reviewers did not take such a long time to board. Any reason why you did not go to Sunset Beach? At sur Mur did they have shrimp or clams or oysters? Just curious.

 

Thanks.

 

Robb

[bluestorm19]

Excellent review. I have a question that maybe you can answer. I am going on the Conquest (in October) and booked an excursion with A-Z Jamaica Planners while in Montego Bay. A-Z includes entrance fees in their price to do a tour. Did your driver pay the fees (to the attraction operator) ? I only ask, since I don't wish to be double charged. Also, was it easy to find/meet up with the driver after leaving the ship. Glad to hear that you had a good time.

 

Thanks,

 

Eric

 

Hi, Eric.

We each paid only $38 to our driver for the trip to Negril, which was what they quoted when we booked. We didn't pay any other fees. We thought it was a great deal. When we got off the ship and into the terminal, the representative we had been emailing was waiting for us with a sign that said "A-Z Jamaica Planners" - she was easy to find & led us outside to our driver. They were very professional and we're glad we booked with them. We didn't pay to use the resort's facilities... just walked right in.

[bluestorm19]

We are considering going on the Conquest in January of '07, but I have a couple of questions about your review, The first, why did it take so long to get on the ship? Did it come in late, or was there some other reason. We have been on the Rhapsody three times, and have always been on the ship in less than a half an hour, the last time it was no more than 15 minutes. Very fast boarding. Another thing you said the Elation was hard to get from one end of the ship to the other, some of the decks didn't go through all the way. Was the Conquest similar to this? And was there ample seating on the pool deck. I'm not too concerned about getting right next to the pool, not even about getting a lounge, but was there enough seating so you could sit in the sun and have a drink and read a book? Thanks for your information. We have been on 7 cruises so far, and never had a bad one, just that some were better than others. I suppose you, like so many others are hooked by now. :)

 

I'm not quite sure why we weren't allowed to board any earlier. Many people were still getting off the ship when we arrived.

 

Both Conquest and Elation were similar in layout in that not all decks go all the way through. We used deck 5 Promenade mostly to get to the dining room and other places. Lido deck goes all the way through also, but you have to pass through the pool area and the Cezanne buffet restaurant.

 

There were usually plenty of deck chairs available around the main pool, but the adult pool at the back was more difficult to find an available chair. I also noticed that deck 3 had a lot of available lounge chairs and it was not crowded. This was the only deck that had an outdoor public deck that went all the way across the ship like the Elation had. All other decks had balcony rooms going across. Hope this helps!:)

[bluestorm19]

bluestorm19 Great review. did you ever find out what took so long to board. Other reviewers did not take such a long time to board. Any reason why you did not go to Sunset Beach? At sur Mur did they have shrimp or clams or oysters? Just curious.

 

Thanks.

 

Robb

 

Hi, Robb.

I'll ask my boyfriend tonight about shrimp/clams/oysters at Sur Mer - he ate there pretty much every day and will know more about it than me. I will get back to you on that.

 

We wanted to go to Negril because I had been reading about Negril Beach for several years now and also really wanted to go to the west end where the cliffs are (I wanted to try cliff diving, but we didn't make it there). I may go to Sunset Beach if we ever go back to Jamaica. But, it was really cool to drive through the country side and see the little towns like Hopewell on the way to Negril.

[bobnlisam]

We were also on the Conquest that sailed 7/23/06. Not sure if its true, but we were told that it took so long to board because immigration was on board doing a periodic check on the crew members and staff.

[tkportersat]

I agree with others that it must be due to the number of passengers checking in, not to mention if Galveston was prepared for these larger ships.

 

As far as getting a chair around the pool that is a challenge because people mark them early....sometimes saw empty marked chairs for as long as an hour and 45 minutes. Not too hard for me because I was alone, but if you want more than one get out early!!

 

Beautiful ship, you should have a great time!!

[connieleebones]

We were also on this cruise, and we also sailed on the Elation last year. Couldn't believe how huge the Conquest is. Your review was great. A few observations/tips:

*If you pre-pay for parking at the pier, it would be a good idea to confirm that your payment was accepted. I had a printed receipt that said we were all paid, but when my DH got there, there had been some problem and he ended up having to get in another line to pay again. We were early enough that it wasn't a huge deal, just a little wrinkle.

*The shopping talk they give on Tuesday really isn't all that useful if you aren't looking to buy jewelry or other high dollar items. Just get the maps and watch it on TV later if you want. Otherwise, you'll waste about 2 hours of your day at sea.

*Good body wash & shampoo in the shower, but bring your own conditioner if you need it. It's not provided.

*I can't believe I'm going to share this, but it may save someone some hassle. FYI, during debarkation while they were calling out luggage tag colors, my husband and I stayed on the boat about 30 extra minutes because we were waiting for them to call pink, and they said fushia. They also say the deck with the color, but we were in noisy area and missed it. When we got down to the lobby, there was another group that had done the same thing, so I didn't feel so bad. How embarrassing!

*If you are planning to have laundry service while onboard, wait until Thursday. They have a special for $15 for a bag of laundry. I didn't know that and sent ours on Wednesday, wouldn't you know it?

*Take full advantage of the ship photographers while on the ship, especially if you are cruising with your kids. They have really cool backgrounds and the photos are of professional quality. $21 dollars sounds like a lot for an 8x10 photo, but there is no sitting fee and you can get some really nice pictures of your family throughout the week. My husband and I never looked so good!

*If you're interested in the shows, get there early for a good seat. There is usually bingo in the lounge right before the show, so good seats go fast.

*Wait until Saturday to buy stuff out of the ship's gift shop. Even though it's a little crowded, there is a sale on Saturday. Again, didn't know that and wish I had later.

*Don't miss the debarkation talk on Saturday. Getting 3000+ people off of the ship and through customs goes a lot smoother if everyone is prepared and knows what they are supposed to do. We heard about people who were filling out there customs form in the line at the terminal.

And I don't mean while they were waiting in line, I mean after they had been called up! A little aggravating to say the least. The same can be said for the tendering process in Grand Cayman and Cozumel. Know where you are supposed to be, we are grown ups.

 

 

The Conquest is a beautiful ship and the crew is outstanding. They really want to pamper you if you let them. I can't wait to sail her again!

[billsrobb]

You said to wait till Saturday to go to the gift shop as they have sales. Does this include liquor too?

 

Robb

[momof4boys]

It makes me wonder if the Conquest arrived in Galveston on time or if someone did not pay their S & S account. (Problems with customs and trouble with accounts are the main reasons people canot be called to disembark)

 

We were on the 7-2 cruise and we arrived at the port at 10:45 am. We had VIP boarding (suites) and we were eating lunch in Cezanne at noon. However when we disembarked on the 9th, our color was not called until 11:25 and we were not the last color to be called!!

 

We also had a great trip! Have fun!

[connieleebones]

I don't remember if liquor was on sale. T-shirts were 2 for $20 (good deal). Cigarettes were 2 cartons for $36.95. Gold chains were $1 per inch. And there was a one hour watch sale from 5p-6p - "Selected watch sets 2 for $49. May not be for everyone. The caper says "Huge Last Day Sale". But when I think about it, these are the same people that send me at least one e-mail a week about their "Biggest One Day Sale Ever!" :)

[bluestorm19]

bluestorm19 Great review. did you ever find out what took so long to board. Other reviewers did not take such a long time to board. Any reason why you did not go to Sunset Beach? At sur Mur did they have shrimp or clams or oysters? Just curious.

 

Thanks.

 

Robb

 

Just following up... Sur Mer does also serve oysters and shrimp, but we're not sure about clams.

[okiemom]

Thanks for the great review! Can't wait until our turn!:p

[tommygirl31700]

I am going on the Conquest August 13th and I was just curious about Mr. Sanchos Beach, how much was the cab ride? Was it that crowded? I was going to do Paradise Beach or San Francisco Beach but I have heard that Paradise is usually crowded and I am not into huge crowds on the beach. Thanks for the review.

[piddypat]

Hey all. Have a question. Is a 9A catagory considered a suite for VIP boarding? Carnival website doesnt have it has either suite or stateroom.

[bluestorm19]

I am going on the Conquest August 13th and I was just curious about Mr. Sanchos Beach, how much was the cab ride? Was it that crowded? I was going to do Paradise Beach or San Francisco Beach but I have heard that Paradise is usually crowded and I am not into huge crowds on the beach. Thanks for the review.

 

Our taxi ride was $5 per person one way (there were 6 of us). The taxi driver was very kind and waited for us in the parking lot at Mr. Sancho's. There was no fee to get into Mr. Sancho's and it was not crowded at all. If I remember correctly, it is just a little ways past Paradise Beach... they were very close to each other. Even the taxi driver recommended this beach. Only thing is that it's not an all inclusive deal (I don't know if Paradise Beach is or not). They had several little shops with crafts and souvenirs and lots of water sports. We didn't eat there, but I saw other people eating and it looked wonderful. We did have some pretty good margaritas (huge ones). I took some pictures and will try to find a way to post them or something after I resize them. We loved Mr. Sancho's and can't wait to return. :)

[pacerzfan]

Thank you for the reviews and tips bluestorm and connieleebones!

[Kool_Cruzn_Gramme]

We (hubby & I along with daughter,son-in-law ) are going on Jan. 14, 2007. We are all so excited, this will be a first cruise for all 4 of us. Thank you bluestorm and connieleebones for the great reviews.:)

[BrendaB1]

Hey all. Have a question. Is a 9A catagory considered a suite for VIP boarding? Carnival website doesnt have it has either suite or stateroom.

 

No, it's not. Category 11 & 12 are VIP.

 

I can't wait to get back to Paradise Beach. I've been to several others in Coz......and it's still my favorite beach. Rumor has it...that several cab drivers are talking passengers into Mr Sancho's...even if they request another beach. Nothing wrong with the other beaches......they are receiving a payoff to get you there and away from the other properties. Also a good idea to do your homework ahead of time & go to the beach property that best suites you.