Conquest 5/31 Sailing with pictures

[robtx100]

This was our 2nd cruise on the Conquest this year, the first was on March 1st. What a difference a couple of months make. I really didn't want to compare the two cruises, but since we had the same cabins as before and the same itenerary, I thought it might be helpful for others who are planning to cruise at certain times of the year. We packed up and left Lewisville, TX on May 30th. Luggage for 4 was a tight squeeze, but we still had room in the back of the Jeep. http://travel.webshots.com/photo/2830059300100084744DLZSQI

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We dropped the pups at the dog spa for 8 days of relaxation for them.

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Our drive down to Galveston took about 5 hours. Thankfully, we had no issues on the way down. We had reserved 2 rooms at the Hotel Galvez, the same hotel we had on February 28th, the night before our last Conquest cruise. Here is where the differences started. They gave us room 405 this time. When we arrived at the room, the key card did not work in the door, but it didn't matter. There was a gap where the latch was so all that was needed to open the door was to slip the card between the door and the door from and it opened. I informed the front desk as well as the concierge and was assured it would be fixed. It wasn't by the time we left on Sunday morning. I was a uneasy about having to return to my room at a "4 star" hotel and needing to check the shower and closet to see if anyone was hiding in the room. I was unhappy about how the entire thing was handled. We paid $310 per room for one night at this hotel and because of this we won't be returning there. The pool was nice, though.

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We took the 11am shuttle from the hotel to the ship terminal. We left the Jeep there for the week. I must also mention that the valet service was exceptional. These young guys are very good at their job, better than perhaps all other employees at this hotel this trip. The previous trip we had room 555 and it our stay there was good.

We arrived at the ship and there were no lines. Perhaps our best check in proceedure ever. After receiving our sign and sail cards, we were put in seating section 5 and waited about 20 minutes before being allowed to board. The line for the embarkation photo was long and tedious. Also, I could not find it at the photo gallery. We went up the gangway and had about a ten minute wait there before being able to step foot on deck 3 of the ship.

I started going to the gym after our last cruise and wanted to visit the gym every day on this cruise. I'm happy to report that I was up early most mornings and went straight for the jogging track and then to the gym.

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One thing I noticed right away were the amount of kids on this cruise. WOW, we had 60 kids in March and this one had 10,000 I think.

When we were walking down our hallway to rooms 6485 and 6487, I noticed a large group that were putting 4 kids in each inside room, with adults in the cabins across the hall. Yeah, unsupervised kids for the week. There were kids running around, stomping all over the place at all times. We were even blessed one morning to wake up to wake up to chocolate chip cookies stomped into the carpet in front of the door. I'm of the mindset that it is not my place to correct other peoples kids, so I never said anything to them. However, I did overhear some of these parents removing their tips at the pursers desk, so I'm sure it would have done no good to talk to them about how unruly their kids were.

We met some great bartenders on the last cruise and found them quickly and enjoyed our time with them on this cruise.

In Jamaica, we were next to the ship that does Semester at Sea. They were repositioning to Canada and had regular passengers onboard. We went to Doctor's Cave beach for the 3rd time. I must say this was our least pleasant time there because after about an hour, people started setting up camp in front of us and the beach. Hello, we were only about 10 feet from the water and people wanted to sit right in front of us blocking our view. I have never had this happen before so we told them they had to move. Besides, there would have been no access for 30 yeards or so if they set up there. The beach was much more crowded than the previous 2 times there.

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After we had enough of the beach, we walked down to Margaritaville.

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We were on the aft balconies when the Semester at Sea ship left at 5:15 and it left out what looked like 1,000 gallons of oil and diesel when it took off. I left the balcony door open without thinking about the smell. People came out on their balconies and were asking about the smell and I pointed out the oil slick left behind by the other ship. I then went into our room and couldn't believe how much it smelled like diesel. I had to open the cabin door and the balcony door to air out the cabin.

The oil slick slowly made it's way to our ship and I was hoping that we wouldn't be blamed for it. As we sailed out of Montego Bay, I couldn't believe the amount of trash in the bay. It seemed like miles before we were out of styrofoam and plastic floating on the water.

[robtx100]

Thursday we were in Grand Cayman. I had originally planned to go to the beach again, but was informed that the rest of the group only wanted to shop. So we waited until about 9am and tendered ashore. There were no waits at this time, however, they held the tender there until it was full. About 20 minutes. We had a good day here in Grand Cayman.

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Friday we were treated to a full moon. Maybe it was just me, but I thought it was beautiful being at sea with a full moon.

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The extra sea day was nice. We just relaxed and enjoyed it on the deck. We did self debarkation and were off the ship and through customs at 830. The lady from Hilton called our Wyndham shuttle for us right at 835. We waited by the red flag as instructed. Still no van at 9am. I called 411 and was connected to the Galvez at 9am. I was told the van was on his way. I called again at 915 and was told he was on his way. I asked if perhaps he stopped for breakfast or lunch on his way. He soon arrived at about 945. 1:10 was way too long to wait in the heat. We tipped him $10 anyway, but he didn't even call ahead to have our cars waiting for us like the guy on the previous cruise. Again, because of all of our issues, we don't think we will stay at the Galvez again nor recommend it.

 

Food: The food was the same as before. Good, but not great. We ate at The Point Thursday and food and service was great (reminded me of Carnival dining rooms 7 years ago).

 

Sales Pitches: It seemed there were sales pitches everywhere. I did the hot stone massage for $195 + $20 tip and was still offered products. Every even was prempted by a bingo game or some type of sales promo.

 

Cruise Director and Activities: I would rate this cruise a 0 compared to our March cruise in this category. On our last cruise, everything seemed to work like clockwork. On this one, all activities started at least 10 minutes late or more. They would advertise a movie in the capers and it would be a different movie. Our previous cruise director, Todd, was always out and about saying hi to people and this guy, Chris Jefferson, seemed bothered by the whole idea of being around people. He and I were even the only two at one side of the gym and I said hi to him and he didn't even respond. Probably the worst excuse for a cruise director of any cruise line in my opinion. I was at the wine bar one evening and he was there with most of the dance cast and he was even a little mouthy about how tedious it was dealing with all the people. Get a new job, dude.

 

Fellow passengers: Todd and I agreed that we will never, ever cruise again when school is out. It was a very different vibe than our previous cruises in Jan, Feb, and March. With the 10K plus kids on board and rude passengers that think it's OK just to cut in line, walk around the buffet with no shoes and shirts (adults), and one young guy I was behind at the buffet though it was OK to pick his nose before touching all the tongs, we will only sail in the winter again.

 

This was my 13th cruise, and my 9th with Carnival. We will sail again and with Carnival. I have to get to Platinum. But this was the first cruise that I've finished and actually thought maybe cruising wasn't for me.

[robtx100]

I forgot to mention a couple things. There is no Mongolian Grill on the Conquest. I asked and was told there wasn't one. I inquired again from other employees and was told there was one, but the had to discontinue because of ventilation issues.

 

Dylan in the gym offers a great seminar on Detoxing your body. It is well worth attending.

[starstruck05]

My mom and me were on the same cruise as you and had a very different experiance. We had a fantastic time. The kids did not bother us much, only very few times did we find children who needed to be with thier parents, like once during the second to last show kids sat next to and behind us and kept moving around and popping gum. besides that we had a wonderful cruise. As for the monogolion grill I believe I did see it only once as we tended to stay on the port side of the ship when on the lido deck and it was on the starboard side.

[robtx100]

I'm glad your experience was better than mine. We had kids running the hall ways yelling and screaming until 2am. At one point, security came to one of the parent's cabins. I didn't call them, and not sure if that is the reason they were there. We were sitting in the wine bar and could hear them running and stomping above.

I asked one of the crew in Cezanne about the Mongolian grill when I saw hot dogs and burgers in the place where it is located on the deck plan. He didn't know so he asked someone else, that person knew nothing about Mongolian, either. He asked a 3rd person and that person said it was too smokey so they closed it until they could get ventilation there. They did have the Mongolian menu up one day turned sideways when it was closed.

Our experience wasn't totally bad and we will sail Carnival again, just not when school is out. Prices are better in the winter, too. We enjoyed Lady Hellevi's show again and the other shows were good.

[RaMar]

Thanks for posting a review. Loved the pictures!

[robtx100]

I've had a day to rethink what I wrote previously. Perhaps Chris was having an "off" cruise too, as we were. I do not know what the conversation I overheard at the wine bar was about, so I can't really say if he meant tedeous us, or tedeous them. Who knows what it was about? We did have a good time over all. Perhaps going back so soon was a mistake. We usually wait almost a year before the next cruise and this one was only a few months apart. I think maybe we appreciate it more with more time between cruises.

[cruisedarling]

Rob,

Thank you for the review. I read any review I can, but LOVE the ones with pictures. We sail this SUNDAY!!! We are so excited. Can you remember any of the movies that are on the Lido in the evenings? Again, thank you for taking the time to review.

Pam

[robtx100]

Hi Pam, they played the Star Wars cartoon movie, and WALL-E. They were suppose to play "Ghost Town", but played WALL-E instead. Another movie was listed the night they played the Star Wars movie. Have a great time on your cruise!

[kristyintx]

Just wanted to say "howdy neighbor"! We're from Flower Mound.

[robtx100]

Just wanted to say "howdy neighbor"! We're from Flower Mound.

 

Hi, we're almost in Flower Mound, just off Garden Ridge and 3040.

[Cruise_Q]

Well hello to my neighbors to the north...LOL

Great review...we leave in July (yeah when school is out :rolleyes:)

but still can't wait...good pic!!

[kristyintx]

Hi, we're almost in Flower Mound, just off Garden Ridge and 3040.

 

OMG we are literally almost neighbors...we live in the neighborhood (stone creek) northwest of the Morriss Rd / Forest Vista intersection.

 

:)

[AZchieffan]

We were on this cruise as well and we had a great time. The only problem I had with the kids was twice they had punched all the numbers on the elevator and I was on Deck 1. But everyone we met was very nice and pleasent.