Our Cruise on the Conquest July 5-12 2009

[llachance]

Headed down to Houston on the 4th of July...our daughter got married on the 3rd so the previous week was a whirlwind. Stayed the night with friends and headed to the port and got there around 11:30. Lots of unhappy people. The previous folks had been delayed getting off. (As a reminder don't book early flights and the Capers said to carry your own stuff off if you had a flight before 2:00 pm). Our friends our Platinum with Carnival and they kindly let us join them in the check in ....15 minutes later we were aboard. Buffet was empty so we had lunch and rooms were ready about 1:30.

 

Had cabin 9202. Handicapped room, although we aren't and even though it was an inside it had a window. The best part was the bathroom was huge. Big enough to dress in. Huge shower and only once did the water get on the bathroom floor. We loved it. There is no couch so you had to sit on the bed but it didn't bother us. Twice we accidently hit the emergency button and the phone rang instantly! I would feel perfectly safe if I needed help! Trishna our room steward was delightful and kept things spotless.

 

Monet Dining room table 419 was our 4-top. Marko was our waiter and after a lot of cruises I have to say he was the very best! His assistant was great as well! All the food was very good and our table mate wanted extra Anchoves for his salad and it was no problem...ice cream for the cake no problem. Both couples were celebrating anniversaries so they surprised us with a cake! We each bought a wine package and split the wine every night! Ate at the Point one night and was disappointed. This is our second time eating at the up charge restaurant and the second time we were disappointed. I won't do it a third time. They greeted us but it went down hill from there. Service was forced, my filet mignon was not cooked correctly (and for the price they should get it right) and when our tablemates asked for a chocolate chip cookie for desert because nothing on the menu appealed they were told it wasn't possible - taking our wine out of the restaurant we were physically accosted because we were leaving with their wine glasses and told not to remove them from the restaurant but weren't even offered a plastic glass in its place. If my service, in the main dining room is as good at New Years as it was this time I will be thrilled. However, Marko is supposed to be going to the Splendor on his next contract.

 

Jamaica - we went to the Sandals Resort for the day. All food and drinks are included. The loungers on the beach were shaded, the drinks were great and I would go again (and may well do so in December)

 

Grand Cayman - took the tender and just walked around town. Ate lunch at Senor Frogs! Bought some souviniers and headed back to the ship!

 

Cozumel. - we went on the Jeeps/Caravan tour. Got off the ship and took the ferry to the mainland. There wasn't much "jeeping" but we drove our own jeeps! Spent 90 minutes at the beach where they served a great lunch and then went to a cavern that had cold but the clearest water I have ever seen. We had a great time and I would recommend it as something different to do.

 

Spa - had my toes done but was very disconcerted when I tried to make the appointment (when I got aboard) and was told I couldn't unless I took the spa tour. I have been on many cruises and the treatments and prices are virtually the same and I didn't need the sales pitch one more time! I just said I wasn't going on the tour and made the appointment. The gym is in front of the ship ship. Went in on the first morning and it was overrun. I was surprised at the number of young children that were in there. Didn't go back. Got a lot of walking done because our cabin was at the front and the top of the ship and everything that went on was at the back and the bottom.

 

Bars etc. - Cigar bar was where the tea was held on sea days. Tea was great...the smell of smoke was yucky. However, since it was close to our dining room we had a drink each night before dinner there. Henri's Disco was a stop in the evening but I am an early to bed person and things really don't get going until Midnight! Had a good time but didn't see the crowds like my friends did. Melvin played in the piano bar and he was a good laugh! And, by the end of the week we hadn't been to all the bars! Broke even in the casino and since it was a very open area the smoke didn't seem to bad to me

 

Photographers everywhere wanting to take your picture. Bought some but if you didn't get them immediatley they ended up in a pile and you could search if you wanted. I never found a lot of the pictures I knew they had taken - prices are high but there were a lot of good results that we saw!

 

Adult area at the back of the ship (pools and spa) stayed an adult area. I enjoyed sitting back and reading. Also ate breakfast most days out there! Didn't enjoy the Family area at all. The music was always so loud it hurt my ears. Cruise Director Chris yelled as loud as the music was playing! Saw that there was a lot going on out there just was too loud for me.

 

Enjoyed the cruise and can't wait to go back in December! If you have specifice questions please ask.

[KGF]

Headed down to Houston on the 4th of July...our daughter got married on the 3rd so the previous week was a whirlwind. Stayed the night with friends and headed to the port and got there around 11:30. Lots of unhappy people. The previous folks had been delayed getting off. (As a reminder don't book early flights and the Capers said to carry your own stuff off if you had a flight before 2:00 pm). Our friends our Platinum with Carnival and they kindly let us join them in the check in ....15 minutes later we were aboard. Buffet was empty so we had lunch and rooms were ready about 1:30.

 

Had cabin 9202. Handicapped room, although we aren't and even though it was an inside it had a window. The best part was the bathroom was huge. Big enough to dress in. Huge shower and only once did the water get on the bathroom floor. We loved it. There is no couch so you had to sit on the bed but it didn't bother us. Twice we accidently hit the emergency button and the phone rang instantly! I would feel perfectly safe if I needed help! Trishna our room steward was delightful and kept things spotless.

 

Monet Dining room table 419 was our 4-top. Marko was our waiter and after a lot of cruises I have to say he was the very best! His assistant was great as well! All the food was very good and our table mate wanted extra Anchoves for his salad and it was no problem...ice cream for the cake no problem. Both couples were celebrating anniversaries so they surprised us with a cake! We each bought a wine package and split the wine every night! Ate at the Point one night and was disappointed. This is our second time eating at the up charge restaurant and the second time we were disappointed. I won't do it a third time. They greeted us but it went down hill from there. Service was forced, my filet mignon was not cooked correctly (and for the price they should get it right) and when our tablemates asked for a chocolate chip cookie for desert because nothing on the menu appealed they were told it wasn't possible - taking our wine out of the restaurant we were physically accosted because we were leaving with their wine glasses and told not to remove them from the restaurant but weren't even offered a plastic glass in its place. If my service, in the main dining room is as good at New Years as it was this time I will be thrilled. However, Marko is supposed to be going to the Splendor on his next contract.

 

Jamaica - we went to the Sandals Resort for the day. All food and drinks are included. The loungers on the beach were shaded, the drinks were great and I would go again (and may well do so in December)

 

Grand Cayman - took the tender and just walked around town. Ate lunch at Senor Frogs! Bought some souviniers and headed back to the ship!

 

Cozumel. - we went on the Jeeps/Caravan tour. Got off the ship and took the ferry to the mainland. There wasn't much "jeeping" but we drove our own jeeps! Spent 90 minutes at the beach where they served a great lunch and then went to a cavern that had cold but the clearest water I have ever seen. We had a great time and I would recommend it as something different to do.

 

Spa - had my toes done but was very disconcerted when I tried to make the appointment (when I got aboard) and was told I couldn't unless I took the spa tour. I have been on many cruises and the treatments and prices are virtually the same and I didn't need the sales pitch one more time! I just said I wasn't going on the tour and made the appointment. The gym is in front of the ship ship. Went in on the first morning and it was overrun. I was surprised at the number of young children that were in there. Didn't go back. Got a lot of walking done because our cabin was at the front and the top of the ship and everything that went on was at the back and the bottom.

 

Bars etc. - Cigar bar was where the tea was held on sea days. Tea was great...the smell of smoke was yucky. However, since it was close to our dining room we had a drink each night before dinner there. Henri's Disco was a stop in the evening but I am an early to bed person and things really don't get going until Midnight! Had a good time but didn't see the crowds like my friends did. Melvin played in the piano bar and he was a good laugh! And, by the end of the week we hadn't been to all the bars! Broke even in the casino and since it was a very open area the smoke didn't seem to bad to me

 

Photographers everywhere wanting to take your picture. Bought some but if you didn't get them immediatley they ended up in a pile and you could search if you wanted. I never found a lot of the pictures I knew they had taken - prices are high but there were a lot of good results that we saw!

 

Adult area at the back of the ship (pools and spa) stayed an adult area. I enjoyed sitting back and reading. Also ate breakfast most days out there! Didn't enjoy the Family area at all. The music was always so loud it hurt my ears. Cruise Director Chris yelled as loud as the music was playing! Saw that there was a lot going on out there just was too loud for me.

 

Enjoyed the cruise and can't wait to go back in December! If you have specifice questions please ask.

 

If you have the capers for this cruise would you mind posting or emailing them? I'll be on the conquest August 2nd and would love a preview! Thanks!

[llachance]

have some of them and will try to post them before the week is out. Unfortunately I had to go back to work today.

[LorrieB]

How was Chris Jefferson as the CD? We are on the Conquest in November and he will be the CD then too!!!! Have never heard anything about him.

[douglinc@msn.com]

Glad you had a good cruise, we will be on her 8-30.

 

Doug

[llachance]

but have had worse! He is very loud and insured that all the things that went on - on the Lido Deck around the pool were very loud. Seemed like the thought process was the louder the better which isn't true and BTW carried over into all the lounges :)

 

Wasn't until the Recruiser party on the last day at sea that I even saw all of his staff although I know that they were around cuz lots of people were having a great time.

 

Fortunately for me a CD will not make or break the cruise.

[KGF]

have some of them and will try to post them before the week is out. Unfortunately I had to go back to work today.

 

No problem at all! I'm cruising with newbs so I was trying to explain it to them but I think pictures will help! Take your time, its much appreciated!