Review Conquest 11/9/08 - 11/16/08

[tximprov]

Ok, I am ready to start my review of my voyage aboard the MS Conquest. I am also puting on my flame retardent suit because there were a few negatives. First off, let me say the trip was fantastic. My complaints are minor and did not get in the way of our haveing a good time. But since I will not be praising everything, I know I will get those responses that no one is perfect and blah, blah, blah...but this is a review and I am going to mention them.

 

We drove down from Fort Worth Texas, the night before and stayed at the Hilton resort on the seawall. The price was not bad, and we really had few options. We had our reservations at the Hampton Inn but that was canceled for code violations and they needed to make more repairs. The Hilton still has some work they are doing but in all the place looked really good. They provided free parking and shuttle to and from the cruise terminal which was a plus. We were late getting into Galveston so we were on one if not the last shuttle. Scheduled for 1:30 pm. So after we got up and checked out of our room, we took our luggage to the terminal and dropped them off with a porter. We then drove by a friends house on the island to survey the damage. BTW we were supposed to stay at the house before and after the cruise. But we know how that turned out. They did just get some good news on the house. The City is giving permits to his street to rebuild. The street behind him and back has to come down.

After a light lunch we finally got on the shuttle and made it back to the terminal. The process was constantly moving. Security and checking in took a little more than an hour. But as I said we were constantly moving. We hit a glitch at check in and had to re-enter my credit card info for my sign and sail. The old card expired and a new expiration date had to be entered, no problem. Then they couldnt make our sign and sail cards. Something was wrong with the machine. They gave us visitor badges and we had to go to the purser to get our room keys....about 10 minutes once on board. Since it was after 1:30 we got to go strait to our room. We were in 6481 starboard aft "L" shaped balcony. The room was ready and we began to unpack.

Ok, Here is a negative. The room was nice. the balcony was nice and extended. But extended in length and really served no purpose. the extra space was wasted space. There was no sofa in the room, which I knew and didnt really miss. I loved the position of the Bed in the room as it faced the windows as apposed to being sideways with the windows. It was awsome to lay down and look out the windows and see the clouds and ocean off in the distance. There were two large picture windows. The lights on the balcony worked one night while we were there. We never reported it because it didnt really matter to us. we had light from the room if we needed it. The light worked on our last day, but not that night. So after talking about it after leaving the ship we think there may have been a short in the lighting.

Using tips i got from these boards I took bungee cords for the door. Didnt need them. The door could lock in the open position. I also took post it notes and left one on the mini-bar requesting it be unlocked and everything removed. and one on the bed requesting extra pillows. The mini-bar was open and its contents stached in on of the night stands, and extra pillows were on the bed. THe first night after dinner we returned to a towel something. we had a good laugh and after the next six nights of being able to recognize the animals we came to the conclusion our steward started and got distracted before finishing and simply forgot to finish. SO we posted a comment in the comment card to have him fired. NOT REALLY. Our steward Marco was awsome. Anything we needed we got, which was not alot, because we are not picky people or hard to please.

 

Our dining room staff was good. I preface this by saying we sailed on the Pride out of long beach last year and the staff all the way around was incredible. THey set a very hight bar of service that I felt the Conquest did not live up to. They were good and got what we needed and took care of us, but the level was not that over the top like we had experienced before. They still earned their tips plus extra from us. The food the first night was not good. But the rest of the cruise made up for it. We may have just those few bad plates. We had the steak, new york strip I think.

The rest of the cruise the food was great and plentifull. Speaking of food. I must digress. After we boarded and unpacked we went on the hunt for Sur Mer. It took a bit of walking because I was turned around. but once we found it we realized it was a short elevator ride from our room and up one flight of stairs. We found it with the help of a crew member and was saddened to see it closed. I thought we had missed it till someone told me it was not open the first day. But we made it back day after day and the fish and chips were all these boards have professed them to be.

On our two fun days at sea, we made them two relaxing days at sea. Our last cruise we were up and running and love it. this one we took our time, missed a few activitites, but enjoyed the rest and relaxation of the ocean. It was a chance to catch up before we hit the ports. On the first formal night we went to the capts reception and met, of course the capt. but also Ralph. Ralph was dressed in a bright purple outfit and Kilt. I passes on a hello from Host Mach. Ralph was thrilled and said they made him feel really special. And Ralph was truley special. His jokes and announcements, his and Kyles Morning show on the tv, the weather reports, his infectous smile was amazing. He sang the love boat theme after the muster drill was complete. Which by the way was complete before we sailed. We made it back to the room to wave hand towels for the harbor house cam to catch as some family members watched on the home computor.

Now I know alot of people on here hate the art auctions. But we love them They are just fun. We bought a few pieces and drank alot of cheap champagne. Now DO NOT GO TO THE ART AUCTION AND BUY INTO THE INVESTMENT VALUE INCREASE SALES PITCH. But something if you like it and want it to hang on your wall. We met a couple who did but one peice for investment and it was a good investment. An original hand painted oil on canvass Peter Max. Not a mixed media but oil on canvass. The seriographs are not for investments. I will say to those who say I wasted my money, that I lost 0 dollors in the casino, and my bar tab was minimal. I know I was some onboard whos bar tab was going to be way much more than I spent on "art" work. So flame about park west if you wish. But if you have never been to an art auction at sea do some research and know it is what it is.

Our First port was Jamaica. We did not book an excursion this day, and decided to do sunset beach. The price is $60 per day per person. I was a bit disappointed. The facilities do not look as they do on their website. It was a good value if you want to hang out in a pool. If it were my all inclusive vacation destination, I would be pissed. The cab driver was taking just the two of us, (my partner and I). He saw two "single" guys and offered to take us to a message parlor where we could get happy endings and offered to take us to get party favors also. Both of which we declined. We made it back to the ship after about 4hrs there and we were ready to leave. Now Our table mates did the Dunns river falls and Hell tour and the pics they had were beautifull.

In Grand Cayman we had a scuba trip scheduled through the ship. The excursion was with Don Foster's and the crew was great. The diving was awsome. We were just certified last August and being able to see under water as compared to Texas diving was amazing. Like swimming in a giant fish bowl. We saw Lobster, stingrays, barracuda, and all sorts of other fish I dont know what they were. We had lunch after the two tank dive at the hard rock cafe and got my shot glass then dropped by Margaritaville, but our gear was heavy and we were tired. so back to the ship. Friday at Cozemel we also went Diving. The new pier was awsome and we were parked next to the Valor. That was awsome seeing these two gigantic ships parked next to each other. We were last in Cozemel a few months after Hurricane Rita. We had to tender due to the peir being detroyed. They have done a great job rebuilding. The Diving in Cozemel was even better than Caymen. It was drift diving, which was like being in a lazy river 40-80 feet under water. This dive we had a videographer diving with us. we cant wait to get the DVD. Should arrive in a week or so. The fish were amizing, the corral was awsome and some huge fish. The only thing I dont like about the drift diving was if you passed something up, it was hard to go back to it, ot to stay and look at something for an extended period of time. We are going back to cozemel in March and hope to be able to dive again there. We are taking my mother for a cruise and may have to miss the dive. I dont want her to have nothing to do. This trip is going to be for her. But if you have ever thought of getting certified to scuba, DO IT.

Friday night was our table mates aniverssary. We made reservations at the point to have dinner with them. The Food and presentation was amazing just as described on these boards. We had two maritnis each. One apple and one peach. BEST MARTINIS i have ever had. The surf and turf was fantastic and the desert was awsome.

Saturday was our last day at sea and a rough one. I was told we had seas of up to 11 feet. but the ship was a rockin. It was a good day but that day you hate, when you have to pack up your bags and think about getting off the ship the next morning.

I must say, i think the conquest is ready for dry dock. She is six years old and the bed was not as confortable as the on on the pride. The carpet was worn in alot of places but after six years all this is to be expected. I do think the crew tried to hard to focus on our knowing our names and calling us by our names. They did this and learned them well. But I think it took some of the focus away from them doing there jobs. As I had mentioned earlier, The staff on the Pride set a very high bar that the conquest staff did not reach. But I am not saying they conquest staff were not good. I gave good comments and extra tips to those who served us. The ship was hard to navigate the first two days, getting to the dinning room (monet) was not easy till we figured it out. You cant take the promanade the whole length of the ship, which I believe I read on here, but shelved in the bakc of my brain till it was to late. I loved the tiers of chairs on the lido deck and it will be great for viewing the seaside theater after drydock. ANd Sur Mer is something they should add to every ship. I should have put that in my comments. I know I have rambled and this review is not as flowing as others. But I wanted to sit down and get it all down at once. I did get to meet Susanne and her husband from our roll-call, and I left an entry in the CC log book. It was a great time and we hated getting off the ship. I did everything I could to not drive by the terminal one last time before we finally left the island. We will be back on her in Oct 09, this time a few rooms down in the aft balcony rooms. ANd this time we will know our way around the ship on day one.

[johnlcruise]

Nice review. I too love Cozumel for Diving. I Try to spend a long weekend there every year just to dive.

Thanks for taking the time to post.

[bjkTX]

Thanks for a great review - we'll look forward to sailing on the Conquest with you in 11 months and seeing how you think she's changed after dry dock!

[nanuak]

Nice review.

 

We had Marco as our steward, on our cruise the week prior. As we were leaving, I looked into your cabin, and thought about leaving money in your safe, as requested on our Roll Call :D.

[tximprov]

Nice review.

 

We had Marco as our steward, on our cruise the week prior. As we were leaving, I looked into your cabin, and thought about leaving money in your safe, as requested on our Roll Call :D.

 

Thank you....I looked in the safe first thing. I knew if was a tough request to have filled.

[DpTxQt31]

Thanks for the great review.

 

DH, myself and my mom are going to be one this ship in September for our 2 year wedding anniversary and well mom loved her first cruise this last Sept. that she requested we book her on the one with us. :)

[simplycruizen]

Thank you for the review.

Question. Which dining room is the main one that we are to dine in for formal, etc. I noticed a couple of big dining rooms, so I am curious.

Q. 2. When docked, which side of the ship was facing the islands?

[houstoncruisers2001]

Thanks for the review for I'll be on the Conquest in March AFTER she's been in drydock.

 

I have been to Sunset Beach and I thought the place was great for buying a day pass and spending a few hours drinking & relaxing. Is it a five-star place? Not even close, but we enjoyed it never the less. I agree that for an all-inclusive land vacation one might want to check out other places in the Montego Bay area.

[tximprov]

Thank you for the review.

Question. Which dining room is the main one that we are to dine in for formal, etc. I noticed a couple of big dining rooms, so I am curious.

Q. 2. When docked, which side of the ship was facing the islands?

 

There are two main dinning rooms, the Moner and the Renior. Renoir is midship and Monet is aft. They will assign your dining room. Both have the "cruise elegant" the buffet on the lido deck is always whatever your wearing....

 

I hear it changes as to what side is facing land when docked.

In Jamaica for this cruise, Port side (left) was facing the dock. In Caymen, we tendered...no dock. In Cozemel port side was against the dock. However the Valot was parked next to us with there starboard side against the dock, so maybe it is first come first serve. In Galveston it is starboard at dockside, and has always been every time I have driven by or seen it on the harbor cam.

[tximprov]

Thanks for the review for I'll be on the Conquest in March AFTER she's been in drydock.

 

I have been to Sunset Beach and I thought the place was great for buying a day pass and spending a few hours drinking & relaxing. Is it a five-star place? Not even close, but we enjoyed it never the less. I agree that for an all-inclusive land vacation one might want to check out other places in the Montego Bay area.

 

I agree, that for a few drinks and relaxing, there is nothing wrong with it. It had a nice little water park area with a small lazy river and a water slide. It has kayaks but they wont let you go very far out. They have snorkel equip but I wouldnt use it. Should have brought my own. THe price has gone up since you were there. It is now $60 a day. At the bar the had there drink special and it was a tastey drink. It had a couple pools that were nice pools. All the loung chairs on the beach were taken when we got there. but there were always plenty by the pools. If your looking to relax then yes, it is not bad at all. If your looking to do more than lounge by the pool or the beach, Id look elsewhere.

[NMCruiser55]

Enjoyed your review. We liked Ralph also, even his corny jokes. My DH asked him how many kilts he owned (5).