First cruise, newbie questions for the Conquest

My wife and I will be taking our first cruise; we both turn 30, and I just finished my Masters.

I have a few newbie questions. We are sailing the Conquest July 15-20(Nassau, HMC, Grand Turk). We purchased FTTF and Cheers package after much research on the cruise critic forums. My first question: Besides the specialty dinners (Steakhouse and Chef’s Table) and certain drinks (souvenir glasses and buckets), is everything else on the ship included from a food/drink standpoint? Will bartenders tell us if a certain drink or glass isn’t included in our program?

Room: We are in an ocean view room, deck 2, front right of the ship. Any issues with motion or elevators?

Nassau:

Lots of talk that it isn’t the greatest port, but I think we will enjoy it. We booked the Tyrone Wilson's V.I.P Taxi & Tour Services from the suggestion of others.

HMC:

Seems like this is the best beach day from what I’ve seen. We are bringing our own snorkel gear. Any recommendations on places to walk to?

Grand Turk:

We don’t have plans on this either. My wife really wants to do horseback riding. Can anyone comment if the place to go is HMC, Grand Turk, or skip it all together and do something else?

Thank you in advance, and any other recommendations are welcome! Must see shows, decks to go to, places to hang out?

My wife and I will be taking our first cruise; we both turn 30, and I just finished my Masters.

 

I have a few newbie questions. We are sailing the Conquest July 15-20(Nassau, HMC, Grand Turk). We purchased FTTF and Cheers package after much research on the cruise critic forums. My first question: Besides the specialty dinners (Steakhouse and Chef’s Table) and certain drinks (souvenir glasses and buckets), is everything else on the ship included from a food/drink standpoint? Will bartenders tell us if a certain drink or glass isn’t included in our program?

 

 

Room: We are in an ocean view room, deck 2, front right of the ship. Any issues with motion or elevators? May be motion if seas are high. You'll hear the ship's thrusters when you are docking in the morning.

 

 

Nassau:

Lots of talk that it isn’t the greatest port, but I think we will enjoy it. We booked the Tyrone Wilson's V.I.P Taxi & Tour Services from the suggestion of others.

 

 

HMC:

Seems like this is the best beach day from what I’ve seen. We are bringing our own snorkel gear. Any recommendations on places to walk to? No snorkeling here from the beach (nor in GT), but great beach to enjoy. Walk a ways down so you can get away from the crowds. You can ride horses here.

 

 

Grand Turk:

We don’t have plans on this either. My wife really wants to do horseback riding. Can anyone comment if the place to go is HMC, Grand Turk, or skip it all together and do something else? Again, walk down the beach to get away from the crowds right at the pier. If you walk all the way down, maybe 7-10 minutes, you come to Jack's Shack. The beach is way sandier here, plus you can get some jerk chicken. Not Jamaican jerk, but hey, you're not in Jamaica either. The locals rent horses here, but basically all you do is sit on the animal as the owner walks you and the horse down the beach.

 

Thank you in advance, and any other recommendations are welcome! Must see shows, decks to go to, places to hang out?

Most of all, enjoy your cruise!

You will find more info about each port of call in their respective subforum but here is my input..

Nassau: Agree, it's not the best port. It's not the worst port, you could be going to Freeport. Nassau is what you make of it. You can form your own opinion. Personally we won't go back there.

Grand Turk: Amazing little island. A lot of people aren't fond of it, because they stay at the cruise port in a pool that at least 10 people pee in each day. You're going to a foreign country, get away from the cruise terminal and explore the place you paid to go. If you want a Margaritaville, go to any beach city in the USA and you can go there for your overpriced burgers or whatever. Instead, rent a golf cart. ($90 for the day through Karib, Nathan's, Wet Money, MaxKart) and explore the island. See the salt salinas, check out Her Majesty's Prison, ride to the light house, see the abandoned boats, check out the wild animals on the island, stop by Governor's Beach (where the old ship washed up), come back by Jack's Shack and enjoy some lunch then spend the remainder of your day on the beach playing with Topher and enjoying the beach. Then ride back to the cruise port to drop off your golf cart. Regardless of the time you have on the island, you'll have plenty of time to do all I've mentioned since the island is very small. Also when you go, PLEASE take some books. If you rent a golf cart, when you leave the cruise terminal once you get near Cockburn Town, turn right past the first salina and the new library is on the left in the government complex. Very easy to find. If you don't go explore the island and stay chained to the terminal, then you can drop the books off at booth #8 at the cruise center. Their library burned down earlier this year and was a total loss. They have very few books.

Half Moon Cay: Pronounced Half Moon Key in case you didn't already know. This is a private island so you will have a blast. Truly paradise here. If you can, book a cabana. The higher the number, the better. You can't book the number until you embark but grab one if you can under your excursions. We like #12. If you get one, you're provided with snorkel gear, floats, chips,. salsa, guac, fruit, soda, water not to mention your cabana has a fridge, shower, loungers and somewhere to keep your stuff. Plus that portion of the beach is secluded for those who have cabanas. Very much worth it.

Enjoy your cruise.

For cheers, alcoholic drinks up to $50 are covered. So other than the restrictions you mentioned above, if you are getting single drinks, you should be good. And it covers unlimited soft drinks, coffee, milk shakes, etc.

Also, as for ports, HMC and Grand Turk are great beach days. I like Jack's shack on Grand Turk. Just turn left and walk a few minutes until you hit it. But don't let that stop you from doing an excursion like horseback riding if that's what you enjoy. But HMC and GT are great ports to lounge and not spend a boat load of money. And still have a great time.

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Don't expect to see anything exciting snorkeling at the beach in HMC. Instead rent a float and use lots and lots of sunscreen.

Expect to sweat a lot in Nassau. Bring water

If you wanna snorkel see what excursion is available in GT

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Grand Turk is a very quiet island. Down the beach (left) past the cruise port official area you can find a tram to take you around the island. We enjoyed getting out and about. This is also a great snorkeling port but I would book privately on a small boat that can better avoid the giant snorkel boats. There is a 4000' drop easily within sight of shore and it is amazing.

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Thanks for all the feedback so far!

We are not avid snorkelers, we just bought $20 sets atCostco instead of doing an excursion. Iheard the Governor’s Beach at the south tip of Grand Turk is supposed to bepretty good.

Yes...if you ask about a drink, they will tell you if it's included in your package.

I think the thing about Nassau is that most people have been there one time too many. So many ships go there. If you e never been so a city tour and see al the sites. Or spend mega $ and spend the day at Atlantis.

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My wife and I will be taking our first cruise; we both turn 30, and I just finished my Masters.

 

I have a few newbie questions. We are sailing the Conquest July 15-20(Nassau, HMC, Grand Turk). We purchased FTTF and Cheers package after much research on the cruise critic forums. My first question: Besides the specialty dinners (Steakhouse and Chef’s Table) and certain drinks (souvenir glasses and buckets), is everything else on the ship included from a food/drink standpoint? Will bartenders tell us if a certain drink or glass isn’t included in our program?

 

 

Room: We are in an ocean view room, deck 2, front right of the ship. Any issues with motion or elevators?

 

 

Nassau:

Lots of talk that it isn’t the greatest port, but I think we will enjoy it. We booked the Tyrone Wilson's V.I.P Taxi & Tour Services from the suggestion of others.

 

 

HMC:

Seems like this is the best beach day from what I’ve seen. We are bringing our own snorkel gear. Any recommendations on places to walk to?

 

 

Grand Turk:

We don’t have plans on this either. My wife really wants to do horseback riding. Can anyone comment if the place to go is HMC, Grand Turk, or skip it all together and do something else?

 

 

Thank you in advance, and any other recommendations are welcome! Must see shows, decks to go to, places to hang out?

We did a Segway tour in Grand Turk, it was a lot of fun, they even took us to the beach where the Segway was able to go onto the sand

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Thanks for all the feedback so far!

 

 

We are not avid snorkelers, we just bought $20 sets atCostco instead of doing an excursion. Iheard the Governor’s Beach at the south tip of Grand Turk is supposed to bepretty good.

Both Half Moon and Grand Turk do have some fish to see. Nice beach just walk in the water and snorkel. Just walk to an area that is not too crowded. Not like the fish you see on the excursions but it's included and easy peasy....

Snorkeling should definitely be done at Grand Turk, amazing coral reef there! Then you could do horseback at HMC.

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Being in a forward cabin you do have a higher chance of feeling the ship moving/rocking. It all depends on the seas (if they're rough or not). For future cruises, (if you get sea sick) I would suggest a mid-ship cabin and I would definitly not suggest an aft. An aft cabin typicaly feels the most movement and you have the ships thrusters that you feel and hear.

 

Half Moon Cay: If you can, book a cabana. The higher the number, the better. We like #12.

 

That's our favorite one as well! Three times so far, hopefully four come November!

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Thanks for all the feedback so far!

 

 

We are not avid snorkelers, we just bought $20 sets atCostco instead of doing an excursion. Iheard the Governor’s Beach at the south tip of Grand Turk is supposed to bepretty good.

Governor's beach is north of the cruise terminal and has ok snorkeling. South of the terminal is the tip of the island and has excellent snorkeling. Hung out with a huge Ray there last time we went. It was amazing.

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Governor's beach is north of the cruise terminal and has ok snorkeling. South of the terminal is the tip of the island and has excellent snorkeling. Hung out with a huge Ray there last time we went. It was amazing.

 

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Checked the map - its actually Boaby Rock Point