Carnival Conquest Questions

Hi everyone,

I am taking my first cruise on Carnival in May, aboard the Conquest. We are stopping in Cozumel, Grand Cayman, Belize and Mahogany Bay. Just a few questions:

1. Are there any excursions at any of the ports that I just have to experience?

2. What are the best places for food on the boat?

3. Any other things on the boat that I just have to experience?

4. Any other thoughts?

Thanks!

Corey

Mahogany Bay has a free beach within easy walking distance of the port, if you are interested in free beaches.

Belize has interesting ruins. Excursions to see them take up most of the time in port, since they are not near the port. There are no easily accessible public beaches though there are some excursions to private beaches.

Cozumel has lots to do, including shopping opportunities.

Caymen is stunningly beautiful.

Check the excursions offered by Carnival to get a feel for what sorts of activities are available at each port. Then research at the library or on the web.

The artwork throughout the Conquest is lovely, with a heavy emphasis on French impressionism.

Not knowing anything about your interests, it's difficult to make specific suggestions.

Go with an open mind, don't try to do everything; a cruise offers opportunities to mix fun with pure relaxation.

Happy sailing.

Do something in the jungle in Belize. To me that is a must. All the other ports you can get away with beaching it or shopping if you are not a planner. However, if you only do one excursion make it something to your liking that involves the nature of Belize.

Sent from my iPhone using Forums

Mahogany Bay: Zipline ending with beach stay. Can rent snorkel gear cheap at the beach if you want. Guides also who work for tips only.

Belize: snorkel, snorkel, snorkel

My absolutely positively must do is to avoid the man made beach at the port in Mahogany Bay. Go beach/snorkeling at one of the other locations like Little French Key, Tabayana Beach or Maya Key instead. If you decide to snorkel at Tabayana, bring your own mask and snorkel. I've watched how the vendor there cleans the rental equipment with a quick slosh in the sea water (I've stayed at Infinity Bay which abuts Tabayana).

In Belize there are Mayan ruins like Xanantunich and Lamanai, avoid Altun Ha. Belize also has lots of adventure stuff like zip lining, snorkeling on the reef, cave tubing, etc.

Cozumel has San Miguel, with shopping, food, and there are beach clubs like Mr Sancho's, Nachi Cocum and Paradise.

Cayman has Sting Ray City and 7 mile beach as well as shopping, it's the least Caribbean port IMO, looks like Florida to me.

Here's a hint for getting from the aft dining rooms to either the casino or theater quickly, avoiding the photo crowds on deck 5 avenue - use the deck 4 pass through. Enter the 4th deck lounge directly opposite the MDR and just past the elevators. Walk towards the bar, then enter the hallway on the right. The 1st staircase goes up near the Taste Bar, but the 2nd staircase gets you to the elevators just outside the casino bar. If you aren't in a hurry, and enjoy the picture taking, disregard.

Hi everyone,

 

I am taking my first cruise on Carnival in May, aboard the Conquest. We are stopping in Cozumel, Grand Cayman, Belize and Mahogany Bay. Just a few questions:

 

1. Are there any excursions at any of the ports that I just have to experience?

We didn't do any excursions at Cozumel on our cruise a few weeks ago. I did the snuba excursion (not scuba) at Grand Cayman and liked it a lot. Reasonably priced and we got to swim over a wreck and a reef. 3-minute walk from the tender pier, too, and we got to bypass the tender line to get on one of the first tenders over.

2. What are the best places for food on the boat?

Go to Ol' Fashioned Barbecue on embark day for lunch. Your fellow cruisers won't discover it until Day 3. (Deck 10 midships)

Go to Blue Iguana Cantina for breakfast if the buffet is crowded; their breakfast burritos are made fresh to your specs and people often don't go there.

The Sea Day Brunch is also great on sea-days.

Don't let a long line at Guy's Burger Joint scare you away; it usually moves pretty quickly. Check to see if they have two lines running since one may be shorter than the other.

3. Any other things on the boat that I just have to experience?

There are "secret decks" at the front of the ship that give you a great view out past the bow. Accessible through doorways near the front from the passenger hallways, these are on Decks 6, 7 and 10. They are almost never crowded (and are often empty during open-water sailing) and a great place to get away from crowds. They CAN be windy, especially when under way.

You might also consider doing the "Behind the Fun" tour, which is a great look at parts of the ship that you normally can't see. Lasts 3-3.5 hours, costs $95, and you'll see everything from the bridge to Engineering Control to the theater stage to the galley. It's booked at Shore Excursions, and tour slots go quickly as it's a limited tour.

4. Any other thoughts?

Thanks!

Corey

We liked the Conquest so much two years ago that we went again last fall. One of the few drawbacks we saw was that she did not have a Serenity adult retreat...but they are adding that in drydock, soon. Your cruise might be after that.

Isla Roatan / Mahogany Bay was our favorite port. We did the 'extreme' zip line. Was my first zip ever, it was fun exciting and beautiful, would recommend. Leaves from the port and ends at the beach right there at the port. After, we went back to the ship for (free) lunch, then back into port to snorkel right off the beach. Go to the end of the beach past all the chairs setup. There's a long pier out into the water. At the end, snorkel off the left side of the pier off of the swim platform. You don't have to go very far past the end of the pier, maybe 50-100 ft at most to the coral. I was surrounded by tons of colorful tropical fish. I wish I had brought an underwater camera !! We just walked over to the beach, we did not take the chairlift.

We were only there from 8-3. If I remember correctly, our zipline was 10am. We certainly didn't have to rush to get off the ship. It was nice doing everything right there. Even with the zip, lunch on the ship, changing clothes, snorkeling, and coming back to the ship, I still had plenty of time and was back at the ship early, I could have spent more time down there.

We brought our own snorkel equipment we bought from Costco, they have it every year, usually sometime after Christmas in the spring. It's US Divers brand snorkel sets that have everything for $40. Kids sets were less, but I don't remember the kids set price. They even had them on clearance at the end of the spring/summer season at our Costco this year (clearance prices at Costco end .97). They come with panoramic mask with easy equalization soft purge, dry-top submersible snorkel with silicone mouthpiece, Pivot-Flex fins, and carrying bag. It seems to be very high quality for amateur gear with lots of premium features. We also bought inflatable snorkel vests from a dive shop, but didn't need or use them, the water was very calm.

http://www.costcoweekender.com/2015/03/us-divers-adult-snorkeling-set-costco-907491.html

http://www.costcoweekender.com/2015/04/us-divers-youth-snorkel-set-costco-907495.html

Belize is supposed to be pretty dangerous and they don't suggest you leave port unless in an excursion. We stayed in port and looked around at the shops and bars. Was our least favorite port.

On the ship, they have Tea Time usually about 3pm every sea day in the main dining room with cucumber sandwiches, smoked salmon, scones, macaroons, and lots of other pastries & desserts. From 5:30-8:30 on certain evenings, there will be a Taste Bar with little tastes of things you can get at the specialty restaurants. Both of these will be listed in the FunTimes, but kinda hidden away in the Food & Beverage section.

Huevos Rancheros is great in the morning at Blue Iguana, or breakfast burrito. On sea days, there is brunch all morning until like 1pm in the main dining room. Filet mignon steak & eggs is yum, as well as the eggs benedict.

I always like to go to the spa and use the free sauna & steam rooms for a little break of relaxation during the cruise. Also, there are much larger showers there, so it's nicer than showering in your cabin.