ncbeachteacher

Carnival Conquest is a great ship, happy crew, great ports.... but there is not a Serenity area on this ship. There is an adult only pool aft but is nothing like Serenity or the Sunshine. There are also two hot tubs in this area (also adult only). Other than that, it does have all the other upgrades.

I would be happy with anything EXCEPT the Croc Visor! Just sayin'

I don't think this is Carnival Glory specific but just fleet wide, heck cruise ship wide..... You can get exceptional spa services on the beach for stupidly ridiculous prices, including a generous tip! The spa on the ships are highly over priced, even on port days. Then they give you a 50 minute hour and spend the remaining 10 minutes on selling you a highly over rated and overpriced product. Be advised, these employees are NOT Carnival employees but of the spa.... can't recall their name.

Most ports, especially in the western Caribbean, you can get awesome massages on the beach or at the private resort and even with tip you will pay far less than you do in US. Their technique is a bit different, but it is still a good massage.

If you go to Cozumel and book with Nachi Cocum for the day, Ingrid or Dorita are awesome and it is $75 for a very generous hour. Costa Maya is even far cheaper.

I just returned last week (early September) from Bonaire where I enjoyed my afternoon on the Samur.

Bonaire is stunning and I loved it. The excursion was fine, snorkeling was good.

The Samur is very interesting in its history and the captain/owner is more than willing to share it.

Getting on and off the ship was NOT as difficult as it might seem, and I have bad knees, etc. The crew was very helpful telling you where to put which foot, grab this, it really was not problematic.

I would have rather had known I might need water shoes. Walking to the put-in spot for snorkeling was far more challenging than getting on and off the ship. Large junks of coral, etc. washed up made walking difficult, especially in places where the beach was gone. Next time I go back, I will definitely bring my water shoes, which would also mean I would forgo flippers.

They served fruit juice before the snorkel and rum punch after the snorkel.

I would do this excursion again but I will probably try to book with woodwinds first.

I have done the chef's table many times. And yes, the menu has changed over the years, but given there are 7 course, you still have a fish, beef, chicken/duck, soup, salad type courses.

I enjoy the dinner each cruise. It is delicious artistry.

The only downer (for me) was our Carnival Dream cruise. They have the meal in the galley. It was very noisy (even with a microphone) and could not hear the Chef. forget any conversation with the other diners. Additionally, I was quite worried about the servers going by with heavy trays over our heads. Lastly, we were rushed through the courses and were done in under 2 hours. Now, I just inquire when making the reservation if the meal is held in a private dining room or in the galley.

I have several pieces of EFFY jewelry and have had to make a claim once. Follow the directions in your packet. Trust me, gemstones are covered. Call and get someone who knows what they are talking about!

I don't recall ever seeing a pool table on a Carnival ship. Tables close to the pool, but billiards, no.

First of all, we loved our trip to Alaska but we did not go with Carnival, but Princess. We spent three weeks in Alaska with a land/sea tour that was awesome. But in all honesty, the cruise was not our favorite part.

Carnival Legend is our favorite ship, so you are blessed to have her in Alaska.

The cruise part of our trip held the worst weather of the entire trip. It rained sideways for days and it was very cold (we went in July). Weather can be tricky so pack accordingly.

That said, we had great days in ports despite not so perfect weather. We took a flightseeing tour over the Misty Fjords during a rare break in the nasty weather. We whale watched in the rain, kayaked in the rain, enjoyed wildlife in the rain....It was difficult to enjoy the cruising part as well due to the constant fog that accompanied the rain.

We found the life on board was more subdued, with folks spending more time in ports, at wildlife seminars..... I recall the casino was dead at 10:00 pm.

All that sounds rather negative, but we had an awesome trip! Alaska is just awesome and I would do it again in a heartbeat. Just make sure you have a great rain jacket, a variety of clothes (layers) and do as much as you possibly can. Most of the excursions are pricey, so research private companies! Harv and Marv's whale watching tour was awesome. (Juneau)

Have a great cruise

We have been embarkation for over an hour and no Platinum access. I think it really depends upon the charter/promoter company wants and needs to do.

You will get your platinum perks and your days count to the VIFP Club.

Dining was where we noticed the biggest differences. We did have an assigned time (late or early) but you could sit whereever you wanted. Many folks meet up and want to sit with new friends, etc. We like having the same wait staff each night so we picked out a table for four and beelined for it when the doors opened each night. We ended up having a couple of gals join us the first night and they ate with us just about every night.

Entertainment: We did a couple of music cruises. The promoter brought all of their own entertainment acts and staff on board. The Host acted as a cruise director of sorts. But every venue and opportunity was filled with their entertainers. We loved it, but don't expect a variety. There was NOT bingo games, pool games, and other regular activities. But the promoter really did have lots of things to do... so it was a great time.

I would not hesitate to book another chartered cruise but I did find they were expensive. Have a great time!

One of our biggest disappointments with our Alaskan cruise was our splurge of booking a suite on the Coral Princess. We had no roof or overhang. It rained 7 out of the 7 days we were on the ship. Sideways. It was miserable. And although the cabin itself was nice, we spent large amounts of time inside pressed up to the sliding glass door looking out. We noticed a lot of other folks sitting high and dry on their balconies.

We have cruised many time on Carnival Legend. Having an extended balcony would be the best way to go (unless you can get an aft wrap). If I recall, yes the roof overhang is wider above Deck 8 than Deck 7 and would provide great protection. That said, the possible trade off might be hearing deck chairs and other Lido noises when you are trying to rest. Although it would not bother me, it might be a concern if you are light sleeper.

Personally, I would try to get an extended balcony on Deck 8 toward the aft. (Not an aft balcony! They don't have a cover!) That way, you are only one floor from Lido/Serenity deck. But, Deck 7 is great location. Enjoy your cruise!

Half Moon Cay is a private island in the Bahamas. You might be able to get a stamp there, but I doubt it.

Believe me, if bed bugs were a problem on any cruise line, it would make national news. Personally, I think folks mention bed bugs to get folks upset. :rolleyes:

I have never found any Carnival ship to be noisy, much less in the cabins. Occasionally you will hear your balcony neighbors allow the door to slam while you are on the balcony. That gets a bit old, but inside, not a problem.

Carnival has a reputation of being a party boat. I have never experienced the "party boat" reputation. It is a fun ship because they have a lot of fun activities available and try to make sure everyone is having a good time. Never have observed a drunken passenger fest.

I tend to shy away from all the kids and such, which is why I enjoy the Serenity deck the most. No one under 21 are allowed.

Food is good. Steakhouse is primo!

Have sailed MSC and Princess as well.... hated MSC and Princess was okay. We keep sailing on Carnival because it gives us a great cruise experience. Give it a shot.

We are Carnival cruisers for sure, but we went to Alaska on Princess. Here are a few of my observations.

Yes, Princess has the best Alaska reputation. We did a land/sea package and the Princess lodges and land tour experience was awesome. And, although we did enjoy our cruise, it was NOT the highlight of the trip. If I was just going to go on a cruise to Alaska, I would go on Carnival.

We did find that an Alaskan cruise brings a different crowd of folks. Yes, there were fewer children but they were not absent either. We noticed the casino tended to close up by 10. Folks went to bed earlier. Shows were good, but early. Food was good. Never felt one was better than Carnival.

We splurged and got a suite. Big mistake. Although the cabin and bath were very nice, the balcony was not covered. It RAINED sideways most of our cruise! We spent a lot of our time pressed up to the sliding glass door to our balcony looking out. Lesson learned. If you go with Princess, make sure you get a regular balcony cabin that has a cover.

Carnival Legend is our favorite ship. Its a great mid-size ship and is easy to get around. I would love to cruise Alaska on her!

Have a great trip! Alaska is really a great place!

We have sailed for many years over Christmas and/or New Years. We have found that large family groups (think extended, multi-generational) are the norm, along with couples without kids, lots of single parents with adult children. It is not the "party" atmosphere that you might assume. There are lots of children as well.

I have never seen crew disgruntled because they are having to work! They have lots of crew parties and get togethers going on as well. Plus, passengers are generally happy and generous.

When you board, champagne is handed out. It is nice touch. That said, the decorations are low key. You will know it is Christmas and or New Years but it is not a huge in-your-face affair. The New Years party on the ship is lots of fun!

The only downside is those are the most two expensive weeks to cruise all year long! We book early!

Definitely book a balcony cabin, but not an aft balcony. They have no "roof" which means you are exposed to elements. When it rains, which it does a lot, you will not enjoy your balcony. An aft wrap does have a covered area. Any other balcony will have a "roof" covering you.

I agree that "cold" is relative. Alaska is a different situation. When we got to Alaska, it was 90 degrees. One of the hottest days of the summer and a record breaker. A few days later, it was in the 50's, raining, and windy. It stayed like that for several days. I found it quite chilly for July.

Bring lots of layers and plan on having fluctuating temps. A rain coat is a must. Bring all of that and then you might be blessed with warm weather and no rain or fog! I would not hesitate to wrap up in a blanket on the balcony.

I have sailed lots of balconies. If I had the opportunity to sail on a ship with cove balconies, I would chose a cove any day. As others have said, they are slightly larger, closer to water line, etc. What I really like is they "seem" much more private. And the shade is great! Usually, as you indicated, they are slightly cheaper. Also, it is quiet. Except for the water noise.

Location of the cove does matter, IMHO. Try to choose one mid-ship to aft. Spray from the ship's wake can be problematic for forward cabins. Anything midship elevators and back seem to not have this issue.

AFT balconies I do not care for at all because there is no shade unless you get an aft wrap. I love the sun, but it gets really hot out there and usually, you get ZERO breeze back there. Vibrations do not bother me.

I have a cheap Walmart watch (water resistant) that I have attached to my beach bag. This bag goes with me every time I leave the ship as it carries my towel, sunscreen, etc. It literally stays on a loop inside the bag. I make sure it is working and is on the correct time before we sail. That way, we are always on ship time. I don't rely on my cell phone. I think I paid $5 to $7 for the watch!

I have been here twice before and going again in August. Although I don't have pricelists, I can reaffirm this is a great place to spend a day. The beach is beautiful, the water peaceful. There are a variety of paths to walk/stroll if that is your thing. A chapel and other areas to explore. There is a high rated island tour if you are interested. The "I want to stay here forever Bar" is a favorite. Just walking the beach is a treat. You can stay with the crowds or ease away down the beach.

I suggest packing a pair of earbuds or headphones if you are going to play your music on the balcony, and use them.

We have sailed many times, all with balcony neighbors. Some talk loudly, (heard a few arguments), others slam doors, others have snored, and a few have play music on the balcony (either by propping open the door and blaring it outward or having a smaller device, like you describe.) Some leave their light on all night. I have had noisy neighbors beside me, above me, or below me. It doesn't happen on every cruise, but its always a disappointment that folks are not considerate to their neighbors.

I don't mind the neighbors, but I do mind the disturbance of the peace and quiet. I go on the balcony to enjoy the sounds of the ship slicing through the waves, the crashing of the water on the ship, etc. I go out there to get away from the crowds and the day to day noise of life.

I would respectfully request that if you have to listen to music, use the earbuds. I have used my ipod on the balcony occassionally but always with ear buds. I would never assume that my neighbor would appreciate my music.

Thank you!

Newbies and seasoned cruisers also need to remember that safety comes first. Therefore, if you decide you have to take a cruise for a certain port, be aware that wind conditions, wave conditions, and other natural occurring stuff may prevent the ship from docking. You may miss that port. Although you may be disappointed, you will get to enjoy another wonderful day at sea. It is not an opportunity to throw a fit and demand money. If a port is that important, book a flight and go there by plane.

Thanks for a great review! We sailed on Carnival Pride at Christmas before she returned to Baltimore. Sure did hate to see her leave Tampa! Great Ship and crew! And yes, Ken is the best! Love all the pictures, too. :D

Enjoyed your review as we have enjoyed all of these ports and similar excursions on a different ship. I appreciate the time it takes to write the review. Well done. Thanks for the trip down memory lane! :D

In my opinion, the hair dryers on the ships are all adequate. They get the job done. They are not rock stars, don't have diffusers, and are not high powered, super hot, super cool pieces of equipment. They will dry your hair in under two hours. If you require special equipment or think you might need more than a basic hairdryer, take your own so you have it and check the hairdryer on the ship for future reference. Problem solved.

A couple of added points.... it is not necessarily "show tunes" but pop tunes over the decades. Believe me, you will know these songs, unless you have lived under a rock the last 50 years.

They will take special requests, especially if you tip them. Most have some sort of system for making requests and they do try very hard to honor them.

As the night progresses, the songs get a bit racier or raunchy. More adult oriented. Not all of them, but some.

You are NOT required to sing along but it is hard not to do so!

We thoroughly enjoy the piano bar every evening.... usually after the show or some casino action. Highly recommend it. Honestly, we have never experienced a bad piano bar.... but there have been some we have enjoyed more than others.