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Not for everyone !

rob6465

By rob6465,
in Carnival Cruise Lines

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rob6465

rob6465

Posted
Posted

In taking my 2nd cruise 2 weeks ago aboard the Conquest, 1st one was 9/07 on same ship, I will say cruising or Carnival for that matter is not for everyone. I'm a 43 yr old father of 2(24&21) males, who was a very serious male who did not enjoy himself at all before my lovely mother passed away in 2006. After her difficult passing, she left me a letter that said for me to ENJOY life and stop being too serious or criticizing every little thing.

She always told me when my wife and I visited her in the NY hospital on our vacation to take a cruise and find myself. What ? When she passed away my DW and I decided to take her advice and take a cruise. Both of us did not want to take a cruise because we felt it would not be "us". We decided to take our 1st cruise on the conquest on the 1st year of her passing.

Result?? IT WAS AMAZING ! I felt like a 12 yr old in a school yard full of girls my age. My wife has NEVERRRRRRRRRRRRRR danced and she was dancing on mardi gras night and would not go to sleep till 2am. We danced, gambled, swam with stingrays, rode in speed boats, ate till we could not eat no more and so much more. On 9/22/07 I went to the top deck at 6am and looked at the sky and told my mom...THANKS. I know she was looking down and smiling.

We decided to take a cruise in September in honor of my mom. This past September we took our 24 yr old son and his GF and he is like the old me, serious, does not dance, bookworm and has never partied. They also partied, ate too much and cannot stop talking about the cruise. My DW and I are already booked with the crazies for 9/09 cruise and are thinking of cruising in April because we can't wait till 9/09.

Cruising is what YOU make of it. You can sit on your balcony for 7 days and read a book and have the BEST TIME of your life or you can let things bother you and not appeciate your vacation. When i read the review below, I wondered which Conquest they went on and why there are only 1 in 5 who just don't get it and the other 4 do. Marriage is a rollercoaster and they'll be times you want to parachute out but when you think about all the good in the marriage, you realize it's what you make it that counts, same as a cruise or vacation. It's what you make it.

Honeymoon Disappointmentpixel.gifOverall, our cruise on the Carnival Conquest was disappointing, at best. My husband and I were on the first cruise after Hurricane Ike - sailing away for our honeymoon. I had cruised before (7 years ago on the Disney Magic) although this was the first cruise for my husband. I was not expecting Carnival to live up to the glory of Disney, however almost every aspect of this cruise fell way below both our expectations. The embarkation process went smoothly, which was surprising since this was the first time going out of the Bayport terminal. We received our luggage relatively early, too. Things were looking up, until we began exploring the ship. I was shocked to learn the Conquest is less than 7 years old. It appears much older and is in major need of refurbishing. The carpets are worn, the décor is tacky and dated, the whole ship stinks of cigarette smoke, exterior decks are rusty and in need of some TLC, and everything is dirty. You could hardly find a pool lounge chair without bird droppings or cigarette ash covering it. Forget about sitting down outside without first inspecting the surface you will be touching! This included our stateroom balcony…dirty, dirty, dirty!

The layout of this ship is completely inconvenient. If you are in the Monet dining room for dinner, you are forced to traverse the entire length of deck 5 (which takes you past the sub-par shopping stores and the casino). This ship has at least 9 rooms dedicated to a different themed bar/lounge. Many seemed empty at all times and were wasted space that could have been dedicated to actual entertainment options. Entertainment on the ship was lame and the few "good" shows were overcrowded. You had to arrive at least 30 minutes prior to get a seat or you were left standing. The Welcome Aboard show was terrible - I don't know how Carnival can compare their shows to a Las Vegas style revue (this is what it says on their website). Maybe the crew rehearsal schedule had been disrupted by the hurricane, but their effort seemed more like a high school pep rally skit.

 

 

The food options were fairly miserable also. Stay away from the buffet on the Lido deck! My husband and I nicknamed this the "Golden Corral". It was truly awful. You can get a decent sandwich if you are willing to wait out the lines at Paul's Deli however we preferred to either skip lunch or take the extra time to be seated in the dining room. Meals in the dining room were not bad - usually the food options were decent and the meals were good (except for a few tough steaks). We tried one night at The Point Supper Club and found it was a nice change of pace although dinner lasted almost 3 hours and cost an additional $30 per person. Also, we thought the restaurant might have some amazing views but found the window curtains were kept drawn due to the fact that the restaurant overlooks one of the pool decks. Food at the Point was much better than in the dining room; however we agreed the experience on whole was not worth all the extra time and money. Our nightly waiter in the Monet dining room was pretty good although he never called us by name and we are certain he only knew a few words in English. We never ever saw the dining room maître d' until the last night when he was waiting out front for his tip envelopes. The wait staff made a laughable attempt at entertainment each night at dinner by dancing to cheesy music for a couple of minutes. Really, it was embarrassing seeing grown men gyrate to Ricky Martin songs.

We treated ourselves to two couples massage treatments and took a massage class in the spa onboard. The first massage experience was good but during the second we were disappointed the therapists spent so much time pushing their overpriced spa products. It was really hit or miss. Two of the massage therapists were excellent and professional and the other two we encountered seemed untrained and substandard. Take some time to enjoy one or two spa treatments, but do not waste a ton of money there.

We found only a few staff members aboard the ship to be helpful or even friendly. We enjoyed our stateroom steward and two of the massage therapists in the spa. Other staff members were either indifferent or self absorbed. On days in port, many crew members were given a few hours off in the afternoons. They roamed around the passenger guest areas like teenagers taking over a mall. I'm sorry, but I don't appreciate spending 15 minutes in line for a sandwich only to find out the three people in line in front of me are crew members who are enjoying the guest food instead of the crew mess hall. Additionally, none of the crew members who were aware my husband and I were on our honeymoon made any attempt to acknowledge this fact. Nothing extra was ever offered to us, and while I did not expect special treatment (I'm sure hundreds of guests claim to be honeymooning) we were rarely even offered simple congratulations. We also had to make two annoying trips to the purser's desk to clear up a problem with our "sail and sign account" that was attributed to sailing out of Bayport instead of Galveston and the staff was unapologetic.

 

 

One night a woman was "lost" and paged MANY times over the loudspeakers of the entire ship. I do not know what time the pages started, but it was the middle of the night and the unanswered pages went on until 5:30am until it was announced the crew would be making a room-by-room search for the missing guest. Less than an hour later it was announced the missing passenger was found. We later learned from our stateroom steward that she was inebriated and had gone to the stateroom of another male passenger. Certainly this could not have been the first time something like this has happened on a cruise and I doubt it was entirely necessary to keep almost 3,000 people awake all night long because of one drunken passenger. Shore excursions - we took advantage of the excursion opportunities at every stop. On Jamaica we did the jungle zip-line adventure and I highly recommend this, but bring good bug spray!! Grand Cayman was our favorite stop by far. We did the kayak safari and snorkel and it was fabulous. We would love to return to Cayman some day. At the stop in Cozumel, we did the Tulum Mayan ruin tour, and it was interesting but far too touristy. You'll need the bug spray again if you choose this tour. It took ALL DAY and was not really worth the time or price we paid.

The debarkation process was absolutely horrible. It took hours to get off the ship (even though we carried our own luggage off) and the customs officers were very rude. It was probably a struggle for them to return to an unfamiliar port; however I have never before found it so frustrating to return to my own country!

I knew prior to our trip that Carnival was the budget version of cruise lines, however I expected more. We chose this vacation based on the itinerary offered, and I wish I had conducted more research. I will never again choose a Carnival vacation. If you love to smoke heavily, drink heavily, and enjoy gambling and bingo, perhaps you will enjoy your vacation on the Conquest. If you are looking for something more romantic or more family oriented, I would advise spending some extra bucks with a different cruise line.

redcarat.gif Publication Date: 10/04/08 Review by Bryant123

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BigDfromTN

BigDfromTN

Posted
Posted
In taking my 2nd cruise 2 weeks ago aboard the Conquest, 1st one was 9/07 on same ship, I will say cruising or Carnival for that matter is not for everyone. I'm a 43 yr old father of 2(24&21) males, who was a very serious male who did not enjoy himself at all before my lovely mother passed away in 2006. After her difficult passing, she left me a letter that said for me to ENJOY life and stop being too serious or criticizing every little thing.

 

She always told me when my wife and I visited her in the NY hospital on our vacation to take a cruise and find myself. What ? When she passed away my DW and I decided to take her advice and take a cruise. Both of us did not want to take a cruise because we felt it would not be "us". We decided to take our 1st cruise on the conquest on the 1st year of her passing.

 

Result?? IT WAS AMAZING ! I felt like a 12 yr old in a school yard full of girls my age. My wife has NEVERRRRRRRRRRRRRR danced and she was dancing on mardi gras night and would not go to sleep till 2am. We danced, gambled, swam with stingrays, rode in speed boats, ate till we could not eat no more and so much more. On 9/22/07 I went to the top deck at 6am and looked at the sky and told my mom...THANKS. I know she was looking down and smiling.

 

We decided to take a cruise in September in honor of my mom. This past September we took our 24 yr old son and his GF and he is like the old me, serious, does not dance, bookworm and has never partied. They also partied, ate too much and cannot stop talking about the cruise. My DW and I are already booked with the crazies for 9/09 cruise and are thinking of cruising in April because we can't wait till 9/09.

 

Cruising is what YOU make of it. You can sit on your balcony for 7 days and read a book and have the BEST TIME of your life or you can let things bother you and not appeciate your vacation. When i read the review below, I wondered which Conquest they went on and why there are only 1 in 5 who just don't get it and the other 4 do. Marriage is a rollercoaster and they'll be times you want to parachute out but when you think about all the good in the marriage, you realize it's what you make it that counts, same as a cruise or vacation. It's what you make it.

 

 

I agree with you! A cruise can be what you want it to be. I feel like the only thing you really have to take to have a great time is a GOOD ATTITUDE!!

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pearlandmom

pearlandmom

Posted
Posted

Rob, I'm so glad you found a way to honor your Mom and have some fun too! Keep on cruisin'!

 

I honeymooned on the Conquest too and couldn't have had a more different experience than the cruiser you quoted. My whole family went with us (18 altogether) and it was the best week of my life (and we're experienced cruisers!) In fact, we had so much fun we're cruising on the Conquest for our first anniversary in the same cabin! We can't wait.

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Havinsnest

Havinsnest

Posted
Posted

I'm so glad you had a great experience, maybe your late mom knew you better than you knew you. :)

 

I agree, cruising is what you make of it (Life is that way, too.). We loved our first cruise and are counting the days until the second one and the third is already booked and a fourth is being planned.

 

I heard people talking about things they'd done on our cruise and thought "gosh, how did we miss that?" and then would realize we missed it because we were sitting on our balcony watching the world go by or snuggling in the afternoon (!) or just walking around the ship smiling at others who were doing the same and then I'd think "we didn't miss a thing."

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MTcruiser

MTcruiser

Posted
Posted

First of all, I dont think a person should compare a carnival ship to a Disney Ship. We all know Disney goes all out on everything.

 

I have been on a Disney Cruise, it was fabulous. I have been on Royal Carribbean also,but i will put all my money on Carnival. I have only been on 2 so far, but i absolutely think almost everything bout them is fabulous. I have never had a bad day on a cruise ship, like a bad day at home. I have to agree, its what you make of it. You either hate cruising or you love it, there isnt a happy medium. Happy Cruising to All!!

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Cotton

Cotton

Posted
Posted

Rob, I enjoyed reading your heartfelt story. Bless you and your late mom. You've now become the person she knew you could be. So many folks could become their best person if they would only let themselves.

 

Take the unhappy honeymooners - probably nothing will make them happy, as some will always be complainers.

 

Happy future to you and yours!:)

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DqALEX

DqALEX

Posted
Posted

Its funny I was thinking about my son the other day. He is 13 and next year he will be a platinum cruiser on Carnival. I ask my wife I wounder if he will cruise with his grandchildren and remember all the times when he cruised with us, and his grandparents. Cruising with your family builds memories

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KAWS

KAWS

Posted
Posted

What a wise mom you had! God love her!! :)

 

I'm so glad you took her advice and did, indeed, go out and find yourself and then took your son to do the same. I'm sure he and his gf will be thanking you too for that life changing experience.

 

Now that you've come on over to the "other side" keep cruising and keep dancing and keep laughing. Those will keep you going!

 

Hat's off to your mom and to you!

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momofzeke

momofzeke

Posted
Posted

Rob ~ your mom sounded like she was an amazing woman. Hats off to you for taking her advice and becoming the man she knew you could be. I agree with her philosophy to LIVE FOR TODAY, enjoy life and try to see more of the good things in life than the bad.

 

So glad you had a fun cruise in honor of your mom.....I'm sure she would have been very happy for that tribute to her. God bless your family.

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halos

halos

Posted
Posted
In taking my 2nd cruise 2 weeks ago aboard the Conquest, 1st one was 9/07 on same ship, I will say cruising or Carnival for that matter is not for everyone. I'm a 43 yr old father of 2(24&21) males, who was a very serious male who did not enjoy himself at all before my lovely mother passed away in 2006. After her difficult passing, she left me a letter that said for me to ENJOY life and stop being too serious or criticizing every little thing.

She always told me when my wife and I visited her in the NY hospital on our vacation to take a cruise and find myself. What ? When she passed away my DW and I decided to take her advice and take a cruise. Both of us did not want to take a cruise because we felt it would not be "us". We decided to take our 1st cruise on the conquest on the 1st year of her passing.

Result?? IT WAS AMAZING ! I felt like a 12 yr old in a school yard full of girls my age. My wife has NEVERRRRRRRRRRRRRR danced and she was dancing on mardi gras night and would not go to sleep till 2am. We danced, gambled, swam with stingrays, rode in speed boats, ate till we could not eat no more and so much more. On 9/22/07 I went to the top deck at 6am and looked at the sky and told my mom...THANKS. I know she was looking down and smiling.

We decided to take a cruise in September in honor of my mom. This past September we took our 24 yr old son and his GF and he is like the old me, serious, does not dance, bookworm and has never partied. They also partied, ate too much and cannot stop talking about the cruise. My DW and I are already booked with the crazies for 9/09 cruise and are thinking of cruising in April because we can't wait till 9/09.

Cruising is what YOU make of it. You can sit on your balcony for 7 days and read a book and have the BEST TIME of your life or you can let things bother you and not appeciate your vacation. When i read the review below, I wondered which Conquest they went on and why there are only 1 in 5 who just don't get it and the other 4 do. Marriage is a rollercoaster and they'll be times you want to parachute out but when you think about all the good in the marriage, you realize it's what you make it that counts, same as a cruise or vacation. It's what you make it.

 

wow.

you brought tears to my eyes. :)

What you describe is just thebasic motto for a good life. It doesn't only have to apply to cruising...and I think you got that.

Congratulations ;)

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misguidedangel

misguidedangel

Posted
Posted

I am happy it has mae your life better. I was given a nice sum of money from my mom when she sold her house (and now lives with me). I was told to "Invest some of it." I choose not to invest a penny, well at least in retirement savingfs, mutuals, or stocks...I invested in new furniture, appliances, techie toys, and laser eye surgery. I also set aside enough money to cruise twice a year until 2011!!!!!!! Sorry Mom, not taking your advice, living life and enjoying it is more important!!!!!! Keep cruising, and treat yourself to a suite, you will NOT regret it!!!

 

As for the comment on the honeymooners--I think they are all wrong. I was on the Conquest in February and cay say the total opposite of what she had to say. The ship is amazing, yes, it does need drydock, but all ships after two or three years of wear and tear need dry dock!!!! The only faults I found in the ship was some floor tiles needed replacing. I would NEVER cruise on Disney, why go on a cruise line geared for kids...sorry folks, I am not fond of children and I LIKE to gamble and their ships don't have casinos....As for Disney characters, well lets just say I'd likely be off at the first port in handcuffs because I assaulted some insanely stupid Disney mascot.....I really don't like Disney, I'd go to Orlando for Sea World, but NOT Disney...same for California--everything else BUT Disney!!!!!

 

Carnival rocks!!! I have done four cruises in under 2 years, and by January next year I will be on my 5th in 2 years (6th overall)!!!!!....Carnival is doing something right...

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madaamt

madaamt

Posted
Posted

WOW great post. Dh and I work really hard all year long as most of you do and when we get on a cruise it's like a whole different world. We party, eat, dance, and most importantly we become one all over again. It's like we honeymoon once a year. If you go on a cruise and look for things to be wrong then that's what you'll find. If you go on a cruise to go to beautiful destinations, dance, eat and enjoy your spouses company then that's exactly what you'll get. I fully enjoy cruising every year and would'nt even consider vacationing any other way.

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DebraSt

DebraSt

Posted
Posted

Rob, I'm so happy for you, and your family. Good job for listening to your Mom....

As for the honeymooner, honestly who really dwells on the decor. You're not moving in. I'm puzzled when I read post from the select few that make references to the decor, oh well to each his own.

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LambKnuckles

LambKnuckles

Posted
Posted

Rob / Gov... You are a WISE MAN!!! You know how to make life pleasant and fun!!! And you shared it with your son and his GF!!! You are a GOOD PERSON!!!

I cruised with you and we ran into each other frequently!! You constantly had a smile and good things to say!!!

I LOVE your attitude and You and Maria DESERVED this cruise!!!

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chiarigirl

chiarigirl

Posted
Posted

I honestly dont pay attention to the condition of the carpet or the color of the walls. I'm going on a cruise for a vacation. Even if i am inconvenienced by something on a cruise it is still better than being at work. I am thankful that i have family and friends that i can cruise with and enjoy that time with. I agree with everyone else it is all in the attitude. I have overcome a life threatening illness and in that i learned that when things happen out of your control you have two choices, to let it ruin your day or go into it with a positive attitude and make the best out of it.

 

I"m glad you took your mothers advice and went on a cruise. I think it is important to let loose, even if it's just for a week once a year. I do agree that those who are unsatisfied with the cruising style should find another type of vacation that would suit their needs better. I thought it sounded like an awesome honeymoon. As far as the conditions of the ship, it is important to remember you have at least 3000 people a day on the ship. I know it's a chore just to clean up after 5 people in my house, so i cant imagine having to maintain a ship that large. I think the staff on these ships do a great job, and at times especially throughout Ike can feel underappreciated at times.

 

I work in retail and after hearing complaint after complaint it can get frustrating at times.

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