Conquest Review 12/11/05

This was my first cruise. I went with my husband, my mother, and a group of friends. 22 of us in all.

Embarkation:

My husband, my mother, and I spent the night with my son who lives northwest of Houston in Magnolia. He drove us to the ship and kept our car for the week. I didn't notice what time we got there, or how long it took. The lines weren't very long and they moved quickly, so I never looked at the time.

Our Room:

We had room 2434 on the Main deck. It was a great spot. Just below our dining room. (The Monet.) Far enough back and low enough that it was very steady during the last day at sea when we were really rocking and rolling. I had to go up to the Lido deck to convince myself that it was still rough.

Yes, our lamp shades were stained like many of them seem to be, but I just couldn't get too worked up about it. ;) Our room stewardess was Sabina. She was terrific. A little shy, but friendly and did a great job. Comfortable bed, plenty of storage space. Shower sucked, but that's mostly because I HATE showers. I always take baths. The shower head had a mind of its own and kept twisting this way and they and when I'd try to make it stay in one spot, the rod it was on would come apart. Probably just something I was doing wrong. :D

Entertainment:

The only show I went to was the magician. Deja or something like that. She was fine. Didn't see any of the comedians or other shows. Went to the Mardi Gras party. That was fun. Todd, Malcolm, and the English girl (don't remember her name) did a great job all week. Todd was sick the last portion of the trip and that slowed him down considerably.

I saw a little of the Newlywed Game on the TV. It looked cute. I saw a little of the Hairy Chest contest on the TV when I couldn't grab the remote and change it fast enough. Looked extremely dumb and yucky to me.

Casino:

The only thing I did in the casino was play a little Hold 'em. Forget it if you're a no limit Hold 'em player. $2 - $5 limit isn't nearly as fun.

Food:

Overall, the food was great with just a few misses. Our group of 22 were supposed to be in the Monet, late seating. For some reason my husband and I were assigned to the Renoir late seating. We got that changed easy enough. There was one seat left at each table or group had, so we were reassigned to those.

Breakfast:

Ate in the Monet twice, the buffet twice, and either nothing or croissants from room service the other days. The scrambled eggs were much better in the dining room, but the omelet was very good from the buffet.

Monet Dining Room:

Great waiters. Wayan and Trisna, both from Indonesia I think. Most of the food was pretty great. The pumpkin soup was good, but I was expecting better after the rave reviews I had read here. Prime rib and fillet mignon were both excellent, but the Chateaubriand was terrible. I've only had it once before and it was worlds better. Lobster was wonderful. Desserts were very good. I really enjoyed the dancing waiters. Many of them seemed to enjoy it. Never tried the dining room for lunch.

Cezanne Buffet:

I ate very little from the buffet. It never had much on it that grabbed me. The roast beef was the exception. It was great.

Paul's Deli:

If I hated every single other thing about this cruise, I would still book the Conquest again in a heartbeat just for the Reuben sandwiches. I walked up one day, the cook said, "A Reuben?" I said "I'm so hungry I might eat two!" He handed me two. I protested a little bit, but gobbled them both down in minutes.

Also tried the roast beef sandwich. It was very good also. The coleslaw was terrible. Had a ginger flavor I think. Not at all what I expected.

The Grille:

I didn't eat from here, but my husband had a cheeseburger with grilled onions and mushrooms that he said was very good.

Pizzeria:

I expected better from reading this board. It was fine, but nothing special.

P.C. Wok:

Didn't eat here, but heard good things about it.

Sur Mer:

Had the oysters a couple of times. They were very good.

Room Service:

Had the shrimp salad, chicken wrap, and coffee and croissants. Usually arrived pretty quick. One morning they said it would take about 45 minutes. It got there a little quicker than that, but not much. After the Mardi Gras party we came back to our room and ordered room service about 1 am. It finally got there at 2 am. If they had told me it would take even close to that long I would have cancelled the order and gone to sleep.

How We and Others Dressed in the Dining Room:

I wouldn't have even noticed what anyone else had on if it wasn't for this board. In the weeks before I left I wavered between planning on not wearing jeans because they probably aren't "resort casual" anywhere but Texas, (I'm a real estate agent who often wears jeans and boots to closings) and vowing to wear jeans just to irritate the snobs around here who claim it would ruin there entire cruise (if not there whole life) if they had to eat in the same room with my jeans. In the end I wore jeans once or twice because that's what I wanted to wear. On the second formal night I saw a gut with very nice jeans, a jacket, and cowboy hat. He looked as formal as anyone else I saw, but that's just Texas I guess.

Ports:

Montego Bay Jamaica:

We did the Carnival excursion Coral Sub Ocean View. It was one of those boats with the underwater seating area with windows to see the fish. They also let you snorkel. The cost was $39. The water wasn't very clear and we didn't see many fish. Looking out those windows is the only thing that has ever made me seasick. I felt awful and had to go up top. Many others felt bad too. I didn't snorkel. After that we took a taxi to Margaritaville. That was a fun place. If I ever go back to Montego Bay I'll do one of the tours that goes to the interior of the island.

Grand Cayman:

I was in a bit of a panic because I hadn't written to Soto for my reservations for the stingray sandbar and snorkel tour until late the week before we went. I hadn't received a confirmation from them before we left, but checked email on the ship and all was well. We got on the first tender after the people with Carnival excursions. We had a little time to shop before we met the van to go to the boat. Soto was absolutely wonderful. I snorkeled for the first time. I can't swim and I didn't bother to get my husband to show me how to put the mask on and breathe and all those little details before I jumped in. I was fine as long as I was laying face down with the mask right, remembering to breathe through my mouth etc... I had trouble when I tried to adjust the mask with my face underwater. Bad idea. I spent a lot of time just trying not to drowned myself but it was pretty fun. My husband loved it. He's a good swimmer and snorkeler and had a great time.

The stingrays were adorable. I was afraid this tour would be a let down because my expectations were sky high, but it met and exceeded them. I want to go back ASAP! (I'll practice snorkeling first.)

When we got back to Georgetown we shopped for souvenirs. You can't miss the Tortuga Rum cake Factory. The rum and sugar smell was heaven. They had samples out for all the flavors. The also sold chicken, beef, or vegetable turnovers. The chicken ones were fantastic. Very spicy, wonderful flakey crust. I think they were $1.55 each.

We left Grand Cayman but had to turn around and pick a guy who got left behind. They announced that the captain had decided to return because we had barely left and it would hurt our scheduled arrival time in Cozumel the next day.

Cozumel:

I didn't actually get to see Cozumel. We chose the Tulem excursion and were the first tender to leave and we went straight to Playa del Carmen. From what I hear it was the smartest thing we lucked into all week. My friends didn't get a tender to Cozumel until about noon and it rained all day. No rain where we went and the ruins were very interesting and in a gorgeous setting. Miguel Lopez was a great tour guide. Very enjoyable day.

Last Sea Day:

We had rough weather which I thought was great fun. It was pretty funny to stand by the elevators. The door would open, the ship would list and people would stagger out, the doors would close, and they say "Damn I wasn't trying to get off on this floor!" It was the funniest thing I've ever seen. My Mama has gotten motion sick very easily all her life. She took ginger pills and wore those acupressure wrist bands. One or both of them worked great. The only times she felt sick were on the underwater tour in Jamaica that made me feel sick and the last day she felt a little bad by dinner time, but still was able to come to the dining room.

Questions?

Where is the sur mur restaurant? Is it for an extra fee? Hardly see oysters offered on a cruise, but would like to check this place out on our cruise on the conquest. Thanks!

Hi Suzy1212...I'm glad you had an exciting trip overall. My husband and I gave my son and his wife a cruise for Christmas and it was on the same one as you. I have already been on it. They said they had a really good time except for the Saturday when it was rough. She got sick. They also said the ship had a terrible odor. I'm not sure if it was the whole ship, but they said it was. They said it was an aweful smell. Did you happen to smell this as well? Anyway I just wanted to reply to your post. Have a Merry Christmas ! Janice:)

 

 

 

 

 

 

On the second formal night I saw a gut with very nice jeans, a jacket, and cowboy hat.

 

 

 

 

Pretty much what you see ever time anyone wears jeans.

Where is the sur mur restaurant? Is it for an extra fee? Hardly see oysters offered on a cruise, but would like to check this place out on our cruise on the conquest. Thanks!

Sur Mer is upstairs above the buffet. It is open at lunch time and doesn't cost extra. The oysters are made into a pattie and fried. It was pretty good.

They also said the ship had a terrible odor. I'm not sure if it was the whole ship, but they said it was. They said it was an aweful smell. Did you happen to smell this as well?

Yes. I smelled it on the Riviera and Main decks and on the outside deck above and forward of the Sky Pool. It smelled like sewer, but wasn't very strong. I didn't smell it inside the rooms.

Hey I smelled that too! Not all over the ship, just here and there I would smell this sewer smell. Never could figure out just were it was coming from and never smelled it up on 7 but just wanted to let you know, they're not nuts...ha ha ha. It was coming from somewhere!!!

We tried the oyster patty a couple of weeks ago.It was the worst thing I had all week on the Conquest.And I love seafood.The fried shimp at the buffet was great!

suzy....you and I must have been standing next to each other ordering Reubens!! They were to die for!!!!

We enjoyed the last rough sea too, kind of fun!!

Yes. I smelled it on the Riviera and Main decks and on the outside deck above and forward of the Sky Pool. It smelled like sewer, but wasn't very strong. I didn't smell it inside the rooms.

I only smelled the guy in the room across from us.................he kept coming out of his room to pass gas!!! Our hall smelled like that all the time. He came out once and my daughter said "good one" LOL

Thanks for the review! Conquest was our first ship together in February and we had a blast.

We tried many things at Sur Mer and they were all pretty good - the fried blue point oysters were delish when we were there and sad I only tried them once:(

I only smelled the guy in the room across from us.................he kept coming out of his room to pass gas!!! Our hall smelled like that all the time. He came out once and my daughter said "good one" LOL

:eek: :eek: :eek: Gross!!!

Here are the pictures. http://cards.webshots.com/invite/pickup/109607863Mdqf/album/527066370kvsLIf

Thanks for the pics! We watched y'all sail away from our hotel window the evening before my Elation cruise!

We tried the oyster patty a couple of weeks ago.It was the worst thing I had all week on the Conquest.And I love seafood.The fried shimp at the buffet was great!

And the menu says it's a Blue Mountain Oyster. I only know of one kind of mountain oyster.

And the menu says it's a Blue Mountain Oyster. I only know of one kind of mountain oyster.

Don't know what menu you were reading, but the one I saw said Blue Point Oysters, not Blue Mountain.

I didn't actually go up there, someone brought them out to the sky bar, and everyone who saw them, smelled them, and the few that were actually brave enough to taste them desided they had to be mountain oysters, and had never seen the sea.

I didn't actually go up there, someone brought them out to the sky bar, and everyone who saw them, smelled them, and the few that were actually brave enough to taste them desided they had to be mountain oysters, and had never seen the sea.