Carnival Conquest January 19-26th Exotic Eastern Caribbean Review, pictures and all!

[lisajm]

Hello all. Just back from the Conquest. I have enjoyed reading reviews so I committed to writing my own. This was my 3rd Cruise and my very first review.

 

A little background, Carolyn, Karen, and I all celebrated or will celebrate monumental birthdays this year, so what better way to celebrate than with a cruise?

 

I have previously sailed the Western Caribbean, so I was very excited to book an Eastern Caribbean itinerary.

 

Of course, after I booked I started reading reviews of the Conquest and many of them were not favorable. So I was a little worried, but decided to keep an open mind. After all 7 nights in a tropical climate beats an Indiana winter hands down!

[shaner2148]

Can't wait to read your review. I am on the Conquest on March 30th and some of the reviews I have read have me a little worried.

[lisajm]

This is us. Carolyn, Karen, and me (Lisa) enjoying a pre-trip glass of wine at my home in Newburgh, Indiana.

[msolberg]

Looking forward to your review!

 

Diane

[lisajm]

We flew out of Evansville Regional Airport @ 5:00 pm on the Saturday before the cruise. Apparently this seemed like a good idea when we booked it because of the 269 pp roundtrip fare. In retrospect this was not ideal.

We found a vending machine that pays better than the slots in Vegas. You put on a dollar and get back five!

A brief layover in Dallas with gratuitous cowboy picture. Sorry we didn't see any real cowboys, ladies.

 

And tada! We arrive in Miami at midnight (ugh!)

Edited January 28, 2014 by lisajm

[lisajm]

We booked rooms at the Day's Inn Miami Airport North for the night before the cruise and also for disembarkation day. What can I say about this place?

 

On the plus side it was around a hundred bucks a night through Kayak and was close to the airport, which was important since we arrived so late. They provided free shuttles to and from MIA, as well as a free shuttle to the Port of Miami.

(note: late at night you have to call for the shuttle!)

 

We arrived at the motel somewhere after 1:00 am, exhausted. Let's just say it looked a little sketchy when we arrived, but we were all exhausted.

 

A quick bedbug check and then off to bed.

 

Surprisingly, the beds were very comfortable. And while the property was a bit worn and dated, the staff was very nice and the rooms were clean.

 

All in all I would say it served our purpose of a few ours sleep, but I would not book this hotel again.

 

We looked out the window the next morning and this "lively" group was waiting for their shuttle. Hmm was the Conquest the place to be for the "young at heart"?

[lisajm]

 

Now this is not the best quality picture of my dear friend Carolyn, but the smile on her face says it all! This was her very first cruise and I am so happy that I got to share it with her.

 

Carnival Terminal @ The Port of Miami

 

Looking through the window of our ship, The Carnival Conquest

 

9 days prior to the cruise I was able to snag a FTTF! We breezed through check-in and security, and then we waited. The terminal began filling with cruisers.

 

After the Platinum's, Diamond's, and Suites were allowed to board, we were given the go ahead. Up, Up and smile for the embarkation photo.

[athenasbyshanna]

Hopefully doing this cruise in December. Following!

[lisajm]

Our home for the week was room 2328. This was an ocean view cabin on the port side.

 

Karen has bouts of motion sickness, so our PVP hooked us up on deck 2 midship. She prepared for the cruise with scopolamine patches, bonnie, and a determination to have a good time!

 

We quickly went to check out the cabin.

This is Carolyn and Karen checking out the view!

 

SWAG was kind of pitiful :(

 

 

The picture window was awesome!

 

I realize as i'm uploading pictures and posting this review and didn't take any of the room layout! Sorry.

 

We had 2 twin beds and a sofa. I chose the sofa to sleep on. Mohammed was our cabin steward and he put a memory foam mattress pad on it. It was quite comfortable.

 

I slept like a baby, that is until "She who will not be named" started snoring!:eek:

[Gingee]

I love the reactions you see on first time cruisers when they walk onto the ship.

[SteelerCruiser]

subscription added!!!

 

looking forward to your review! We are doing Conquest Eastern route in May.

 

On a side note we have cruised in the past and are cruising with my MIL and have learned to be sure to take earplugs and breathe right strips. They really come in handy.

[lisajm]

After getting situated in our cabin we decided to seek out sustenance as we had skipped breakfast.

 

We hauled ourselves to the Fish and Chips located on deck 10. Just head for the Lido buffet and go up the stairs!

 

Nobody else there yet, so we made our choices.

Carolyn and I started with this delightful Ahi Tuna and watermelon concoction and ceviche. The Ahi Tuna/watermelon was very good! I'm not a huge fan of watermelon but the flavors matched up well. The ceviche, was good as well.

 

Karen tried the bouillabaisse, and she said it was quite tasty.

 

But......it wasn't quite enough. So we all decided to go for the fish and chips.

 

Karen and Carolyn loved this offering, I thought it was decent, but not my favorite.

[wrigley80]

Very nice start to your review..... I hear ya about this awful Midwestern winter. It sucks. We are neighbors. We are from northern Illinois

 

 

Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk

[DDFla]

Thanks! Just what I was looking for!

[lisajm]

Okay Now we were full, so decided to explore the ship!

 

Overlooking the lobby from the promenade.

 

Promenade

 

Tahiti Casino

 

Degas Lounge

 

Henri's Nightclub

 

Club O2

[lisajm]

Piano Bar

 

Okay enough of the inside stuff we were ready to go out and enjoy the balmy? 65 degrees!

 

Whale Tale!

 

Red Frog Rum Bar

 

And of course the Blue Iguana Tequila Bar

 

And what have we here? Emtpy loungers. Quickly we decided to plant ourselves and order a DOD!

[lisajm]

Admiring our pedicures while waiting for our DOD's

 

And they arrive. Very tasty!

 

 

We located one of these in case somebody had too many DOD's and needed some assistance!

[lisajm]

Carolyn and Karen checking in before going off the grid for a few days!

 

Bye bye Port of Miami!

 

Sidenote for you FUNtimophiles, I HAVE all the Funtimes, but tonight my scanner is being uncooperative.:confused: As soon as I can encourage it to work will post those, too.

 

Carolyn, Karen, and I are all labor and delivery nurses and we have worked together for years. This is our first trip together, so it was fun to kick back and get to know each other better.

 

I ordered another DOD to get the juices going, the other two looked at me and said, "Lisa!" I explained that I am a grown-ass woman, who is on vacation.:D. I was not about to let these two chastise me, hehe. They got the point.

[lisajm]

We headed back to the cabin after the sail away party to get ready for dinner. We opted for the anytime dining. This was served in the Renoir Dining Room. Those folks who had assigned dining times were served in the Monet Dining Room.

 

I forgot to mention that the theme of the Conquest was Impressionism. The ship had artwork on practically every surface.

 

Menu. Sorry about side ways view. I tried to flip it with my editor but it must really like being on it's side, because it wouldn't work.

 

For starters I had the cured salmon (I'm glad it was not longer sick!) and candied tomato

 

Braised Beef Brisket and Gravy

 

The Brisket was good, but between you and me it tasted like pot roast!

[lisajm]

Okay so this is the cured salmon!

 

Sorry the other picture was Salmon filet, which is available every night.

 

Sweet and Sour Shrimp

 

Another side note.. There were table cloths on the Conquest!

[BayAreaCruisers4]

Subscribed! This is the itinerary we will be on mid February. Thanks for posting this!

[lisajm]

And then it was time for desert!

 

Carolyn had the Creme Brûlée. She said it was to die for.

 

Karen had the Black Forrest Cake, also very good, I'm told.

 

And while I'm sure those other desserts were tasty, I had to have that wonderful WCMC! yum yum yum

 

On this first night we were seated at Ausrine's section. Gede was the Team Waiter and Jorge was the Asst. Team Waiter. I just want to say that these people gave us excellent service!

We were able to sit at her section for 3 of the 7 nights, and each time they were courteous, and efficient.

2 of the nights we were seated in other sections, and the service was not nearly as good. Having said that, the service wasn't bad, just not as good as when we were in Ausrine's section.

 

My thoughts on anytime dining: If you are a smaller group(6 or less) and very flexible this plan will work for you.

 

If you have >6, and expect to be seated right away, then you will be disappointed.

 

I saw a lady berate the poor hostess, because her party of 8 was given a beeper and was told the wait time was going to be 1/2 hour. This was on Elegant Night at 7:00pm. The lady stomped off in her designer shoes saying, "I will NEVER sail on a Carnival ship again!"

 

I silently clapped. If she's isn't sailing Carnival, then I probably will never see her again.:eek:

[lisajm]

We stopped by the theater to watch the Diva's show after dinner. There were some technical difficulties with some of the equipment and the show was put on hold. We really didn't feel like staying.

 

We strolled the shops. Carolyn won a gift bag worth $100.00!

 

After that, we decided to go back to the cabin, and get ready for bed. It had been a very short night, and a very long day.

 

Now I believe, I mentioned that we are all labor and delivery nurses, right?

Bet you can't guess what our first towel animal was?

Yep, that's the one.

[lisajm]

I love the reactions you see on first time cruisers when they walk onto the ship.

 

It was awesome sharing the experience with her!

[lisajm]

subscription added!!!

 

looking forward to your review! We are doing Conquest Eastern route in May.

 

On a side note we have cruised in the past and are cruising with my MIL and have learned to be sure to take earplugs and breathe right strips. They really come in handy.

 

Good plan!