Jump to content

Conquest "Swamp Pop" Cruise


mactrio

Recommended Posts

.

My in-laws and my husbands aunt & her friend booked a swamp pop cruise thru a local radio station & a local travel agency they sailed on the Conquest from New Orleans to Key West, Freeport & Nassau. They did not enjoy the trip at all.

This is a combination of my posts from our roll call from the past few days.

Just made final payment. I called to see if there were any price reductions; and our Carnival personal TA said that we had booked at a great rate and that with the new format they use were were in an 8A balcony for $585 per person. So I ask about it since we booked at $729 for us and $299 for our son. She explained that they now average the fare by adding across the board and dividing between the number of passengers per room. (This might be old news; but it's new info to me) she said we are booked at a fantastic rate. This is our 1st Carnival cruise and we have family members on the Conquest now and they are not liking it. They aren't enjoying the food (that's subjective I know) they said the entertainment isn't that great and that it's boring. I can't figure out how ANY cruise is boring. We'll talk to them in length when they come home Sunday.

Spoke to my FIL tonight (they are on the Conquest now)

and he said that customer service was lacking on this cruise.

No coffee when they went to get it or no cups if they did have coffee.

My MIL said the best meal she had all week was a hamburger. Uh oh!

I plan on getting all the facts tomorrow (today) when they get home.

She loves cruising so IDK what made this one bad; but she's not happy

about our upcoming Carnival Conquest cruise in Feb

Spoke to the in-laws today after they got home and she said my FIL wasn't happy with anything so it brought her down as well. :( She did say the only hot meal she had was minestrone soup. :eek: They had a jr suite on deck 7 which she said was nice; but not that much bigger than a regular room. Their room steward was great and they tipped him $50 for the week.

They got 3 bottles of wine, choc covered strawberries & 2 ball caps from the casino so she said they enjoyed that.

This was a Swamp Pop group cruise sponsored by a travel agency and there were cajun bands that played throughout the week. The pool area was supposed to be limited to the cruisers who 'paid for' the swamp pop cruise but the travel agency representative and Carnival did not work together to reserve the area so the pool area was full and the swamp pop cruisers had to stand in the back so other cruisers basically got a 'free' show that day.

Several of the swamp pop cruisers were upset with the overall experience and said they enjoyed the last swamp pop cruise better. One man told my in-laws that he was going to the travel agency on Monday to file complaints.

By day 2 my husbands aunt was ready to go home, she said the cruise was boring. And she loves cruising!

On a positive note, they said it's a beautiful ship, it was clean and they enjoyed the casino.

 

All of that being said....my FIL is a workaholic and does not know how to relax. He didn't like being out of touch with work (he & my husband own a business together) and not knowing what went on for a week. He had 2 days of no cell reception so he couldn't relax at all.

 

In my opinion no matter how bad a cruise is; it's still a cruise and it's all what you make it. I'm looking forward to our first Carnival cruise in Feb.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

"The pool area was supposed to be limited to the cruisers who 'paid for' the swamp pop cruise but the travel agency representative and Carnival did not work together to reserve the area so the pool area was full and the swamp pop cruisers had to stand in the back so other cruisers basically got a 'free' show that day."

 

Sorry they didn't enjoy their cruise, but I don't think any group should be able to reserve the pool area.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

"The pool area was supposed to be limited to the cruisers who 'paid for' the swamp pop cruise but the travel agency representative and Carnival did not work together to reserve the area so the pool area was full and the swamp pop cruisers had to stand in the back so other cruisers basically got a 'free' show that day."

 

Sorry they didn't enjoy their cruise, but I don't think any group should be able to reserve the pool area.

 

 

I have to agree and suspect that the booking agency did some miscommunicating in that regard. I cannot imagine that CCl would agree to closing any part of the main pool area.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

It sounds like your in laws have cruised before. I can't imagine the ship not having coffee available. It may not be the best coffee on the lido deck, but it is always available. It is possible to find one coffee machine that is out, but that would never stop me from trying another machine. Of if the area is out of cups, I would just ask one of the many servers to replenish them. Or to direct me to a machine that was not empty of coffee. Do your in laws tend to not speak up if they encounter a problem? Whenever I've asked a server for something, I've encountered someone polite and more than willing to help 98% of the time.

 

Also not understanding how a cruise could be boring. There are so many activities, even if none of them appealed to me I could entertain myself pretty well. People watch or read a book or just enjoy watching the ocean.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

I'd be angry if I was on that cruise and told I could not sit by the pool because it was booked by a group. This is a public area. What about the other pax that were on that cruise that were not into swamp pop culture and had to listen this music.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Just made final payment. I called to see if there were any price reductions; and our Carnival personal TA said that we had booked at a great rate and that with the new format they use were were in an 8A balcony for $585 per person. So I ask about it since we booked at $729 for us and $299 for our son. She explained that they now average the fare by adding across the board and dividing between the number of passengers per room.

 

My math might be wrong but have you added this up?

 

$585 X 3 pax = $1755

$729 X 2 + 299. = $1757

 

How did your PVP figure you booked at a better deal when you booked $2.00 more than current?

 

Just curious unless I missed something.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

.. :eek: They had a jr suite on deck 7 which she said was nice; but not that much bigger than a regular room. Their room steward was great and they tipped him $50 for the week. .

 

 

a junior suite is a lot bigger then a regular cabin on Carnival.

a regular room has 185 sg feet with the suite having 245 sq. ft.

(unless they booked the aft wrap around balcony which is not a suite--only a premium balcony.

 

was the tip for the cabin steward extra or did they take the tip off?

Link to comment
Share on other sites

My math might be wrong but have you added this up?

 

$585 X 3 pax = $1755

$729 X 2 + 299. = $1757

 

How did your PVP figure you booked at a better deal when you booked $2.00 more than current?

 

Just curious unless I missed something.

I was under the impression OP was inquiring/angling for a price drop from the original fare of $729 for 2 pax; PVP replied that OP had a "great rate" at the time of original booking. OP was not aware of the averaging of the fares for all 3 PAX. There wasn't really any price drop, yet.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

My math might be wrong but have you added this up?

 

$585 X 3 pax = $1755

$729 X 2 + 299. = $1757

 

How did your PVP figure you booked at a better deal when you booked $2.00 more than current?

 

Just curious unless I missed something.

 

 

it equals $1,757 & divided by 3 it's $585.67 and she said they just round it out. So $585.67 X 3 = $1757.01 the price is the same. She (carnival ta) told me that because we booked early we got a great early saver rate.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

It sounds like your in laws have cruised before. I can't imagine the ship not having coffee available. It may not be the best coffee on the lido deck, but it is always available. It is possible to find one coffee machine that is out, but that would never stop me from trying another machine. Of if the area is out of cups, I would just ask one of the many servers to replenish them. Or to direct me to a machine that was not empty of coffee. Do your in laws tend to not speak up if they encounter a problem? Whenever I've asked a server for something, I've encountered someone polite and more than willing to help 98% of the time.

 

Also not understanding how a cruise could be boring. There are so many activities, even if none of them appealed to me I could entertain myself pretty well. People watch or read a book or just enjoy watching the ocean.

 

Yes, they have cruised before that's why they were so disappointed in this cruise.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

a junior suite is a lot bigger then a regular cabin on Carnival.

a regular room has 185 sg feet with the suite having 245 sq. ft.

(unless they booked the aft wrap around balcony which is not a suite--only a premium balcony.

 

was the tip for the cabin steward extra or did they take the tip off?

 

They had a jr suite not an aft wrap. The tip was extra; they did not even consider removing the tips.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Didn't notice any date of your upcoming cruise. You still may get a price drop before sailing as I've seen prices reduced lately on the Conquest. I was considering sailing out of NOLA but booked Valor and have to wait a year. Hope your cruise is great.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

There are 2 upcoming "swamp pop" cruises out of New Orleans. On April 22 on the Conquest there is http:// http://aaronforet.net/Cruise_2012.html and on March 31 on the Voyager there is http://www.forettradition.net/Pics/cruise.pdf

 

Both of these cruises offer special band concerts just for those who booked with their TA and free T-Shirts but none offer special pool privileges.

 

If someone is a workaholic and does not want to pay the price for ship cell phone reception, maybe they should not go on a cruise.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

I am not sure why you are posting this when it isn't your experiences... I don't think any of the "disappointments" are valid and laughed at the statement that she had one good meal for the entire week. I enjoy the grill and although not everything I have tried in the MDR has been my taste there is always the choice to order something else... I find this very hard to believe.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

We were on this cruise. Not part of the Swamp Pop group. The ship was clean and decorated for Christmas. We never had a problem finding coffee. Not very good coffee, but it was coffee. We ate in the MDR, steakhouse, Lido buffet, grilled sandwiches, room service and sushi and all of the food was good. Some meals better than others, but still good. I did hear some complaints from the Swamp Pop group. It did sound like their TA over sold what they would be getting.

 

The steak house was great. In fact we ate there twice.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

There are 2 upcoming "swamp pop" cruises out of New Orleans. On April 22 on the Conquest there is http://aaronforet.net/Cruise_2012.html and on March 31 on the Voyager there is http://www.forettradition.net/Pics/cruise.pdf

 

Both of these cruises offer special band concerts just for those who booked with their TA and free T-Shirts but none offer special pool privileges.

 

If someone is a workaholic and does not want to pay the price for ship cell phone reception, maybe they should not go on a cruise.

 

 

They paid to use the cell phone; but for 2 days he had no reception at all.

 

I'm simply relaying messages that they did not have an enjoyable cruise. They said that this time the service wasn't that great, the food was luke warm to cold, whether it was buffet or the MDR. She said the coffee urns were empty more than once and that there were no cups available.

Yes they asked formore coffee, yes they asked for cups; my FIL stood in line for over 25 minutes waiting for someone to bring waffle batter to the waffle station so that waffles could be made.

 

They did tell me that their waiter was great, he was fast, he knew their names etc...it's not his fault that the food was cold; that comes from the kitchen not keeping it warm enough.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

I am not sure why you are posting this when it isn't your experiences... I don't think any of the "disappointments" are valid and laughed at the statement that she had one good meal for the entire week. I enjoy the grill and although not everything I have tried in the MDR has been my taste there is always the choice to order something else... I find this very hard to believe.

 

 

 

Why is it hard to belive? My mother in law & father in law don't belong to CC nor do they post on message boards so I'm doing it for them.

I guess it they had a "great" review you would find it more believable?

Jeez....

 

So none of their complaints are valid? I assume no coffee in the urns on more than 1 occassion is fine? No coffee cups? Cold food? Room service not answering phone for over 45 minutes and then aking almost an hour to deliver a grilled cheese sandwich!

 

I'm sailing on the Conquest on Feb 19th and will give my own personal review then.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Didn't notice any date of your upcoming cruise. You still may get a price drop before sailing as I've seen prices reduced lately on the Conquest. I was considering sailing out of NOLA but booked Valor and have to wait a year. Hope your cruise is great.

 

 

We sail out of NO on the Conquest on Feb 19th - I hope your Valor cruise is great as well. Thanks

Link to comment
Share on other sites

We were on this cruise. Not part of the Swamp Pop group. The ship was clean and decorated for Christmas. We never had a problem finding coffee. Not very good coffee, but it was coffee. We ate in the MDR, steakhouse, Lido buffet, grilled sandwiches, room service and sushi and all of the food was good. Some meals better than others, but still good. I did hear some complaints from the Swamp Pop group. It did sound like their TA over sold what they would be getting.

 

The steak house was great. In fact we ate there twice.

 

 

We plan on eating at the steakhouse as well. I don't know if they had early dining, late dining or anytime (I forgot to ask her) but there were a lot of uhappy cruisrs due to the TA not following through on what they were supposed to get.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

I've never heard of paying to use a cell phone.

 

I thought cell phone usage is call by call billable on your cell phone bill once home.

 

At least that is how mine was billed.

 

Now internet usage is different.

 

 

They didn't use the internet; he used his cell phone to check in and it was going to be $3.99 for the 1st min and then $2 a minute after that. I'm not sure if that ws using the ships cell reception or if that was thru his cell carrier. I know he added international to his phone for the trip.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

I'm simply relaying messages that they did not have an enjoyable cruise. They said that this time the service wasn't that great, the food was luke warm to cold, whether it was buffet or the MDR. She said the coffee urns were empty more than once and that there were no cups available.

Yes they asked formore coffee, yes they asked for cups;

 

 

I'd be mad too if I couldn't easily find coffee or cups on the lido. Didn't mean to make it sound like I was doubting what they said, it's just something I've never run into so far after several carnival cruises.

 

The coffee stations at the end of the lido buffet lines have I think just 1 urn of regular coffee, unleaded & then a hot water. There are the other more free standing stations, those ones have several coffee urns ( sort of back to back) grouped in a small area. Sometimes I've had to try the one opposite, but if I had to go on a treasure hunt for a cup of coffee or a cup you'd hear me yelling louder than anyone.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

I think that is why they were all upset over this cruise. It was very disappointing for them. They had great memories of past cruises and then my FIL didn't like anything so it brought down the morale of everyone else.

IDK why the service was slacking but it was.

I just hope it will be over the top wonderful when we sail in Feb.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Archived

This topic is now archived and is closed to further replies.

  • Forum Jump
    • Categories
      • Welcome to Cruise Critic
      • New Cruisers
      • Cruise Lines “A – O”
      • Cruise Lines “P – Z”
      • River Cruising
      • ROLL CALLS
      • Digital Photography & Cruise Technology
      • Special Interest Cruising
      • Cruise Discussion Topics
      • UK Cruising
      • Australia & New Zealand Cruisers
      • Canadian Cruisers
      • North American Homeports
      • Ports of Call
      • Cruise Conversations
×
×
  • Create New...