Carnival Conquest May 14th through 22nd

[PamalaX]

A little slow getting started I am here to share my trip and happy to answer any questions you may have along the way. Funny part of the slow to trip report comes because one week off the ship led us to a pressing need to plan another cruise ASAP.

Hard time looking back until I knew I could look forward?

Only took a day and a week to book the Carnival Glory for May 2017.

 

Speaking of May let me say this was a great time of year for a cruise. Having picked this timing to celebrate oldest child's graduation from college we quickly found it was a great time of year to cruise. Spring Break over and school still in for the younger set meant few kids, wee ones or the *party time* college ones, on this cruise. Don't get me wrong because I don't mind either when I book a time I know is big for a given age group. I expect and enjoy the wee ones in Summer and don't mind a good booze cruise with the Breakers if that is what I am expecting. Just comes down to being nice to know there are times of the year when the ship is light on both if that is what you looking for.

 

On to the trip. We came down a day early of course. No matter what I cannot bring myself to do same day flight. Always a day early for us to be safe. This being our first time out of Port Everglades ( normally do Miami ) I must say I was pleased with flight choices down from Michigan as well as hotel options for the night before. Highly recommend checking out JetBlue if they fly from where you are. Most leg room I have ever seen, plentiful free snacks AND the fares were crazy cheap. Thought so highly of the experience our next cruise out of Miami we may actually take JetBlue down to Fort Lauderdale and drive over to Miami.

 

Speaking of driving we had a great experience with port transfers through the rental car we got on our extra day early down. Much checking for a good rate added up to a rental car through Alamo for that day at only $23. With taxes and all it was $35 but that turned into a heck of a bargain when we found Alamo gave all five of us transport to and from the port in the deal. Fast, clean, easy and FREE to and from port... plus we had a car to go explore The Everglades first day in town. Great deal on JetBlue as air as well doing a rental with free port transport through Alamo.

 

On to lodging. This time we were plus one on the trip. Normally it is husband and I with the two adult kids. This time we had the daughters boyfriend along for his first cruise. This meant we needed more room in the sleep set up before sailing. Another plus to Port Everglades for me was hotel choices. Seems there were far more than Miami and most seemed priced much, much better. We ended up at SpringHill Suites in Dania. Two beds and a fold out couch was enough room, very nice and it was actually priced very well. No complaints at all I would gladly use this hotel again. Great choice really if you need a bit more space than the old two bed set up.

 

In town, room, car and transport set up for embarkation day we chose a day trip to Holiday Park * Home of the Gator Boys* in the Everglades for day one. From the pictures soon you will see we had a good time and I would say this was a pretty good value if you are looking for a day trip the day before or after the cruise. Thirty minutes or so away and only 24.99 a head gets you nice long tour of the Everglades complete a free group picture ( like the sail away photos ) as a keepsake. Not bad and pretty darn fun.

 

Pictures next and more on the trip coming very soon.

Edited June 2, 2016 by PamalaX

[LMBB]

So glad to hear May is a good time to cruise. I'm booked on Conquest next May after previously cruising mainly in September or February! I was a bit nervous to try a new month.

 

 

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[PamalaX]

Pictures.

Okay one to start because I cannot remember how and don't want a bunch of fails.

 

Smiling faces on our souvenier picture at the Gator Park.

 

Sure that works.

[PamalaX]

That worked.

 

How about some gators smiling back at us? :)

Like I said it was a fun little side trip that you might enjoy if you are looking for something fun to do that doesn't break the bank the day before or after your cruise.

 

Baby gator

 

 

Big Poppa Gator

 

Brave young man messing with a gator.

[PamalaX]

I thought it was just about perfect LMBB. Less little kids, less college age ( figure they just got out and are too broke to cruise so soon after Spring Break trips ) and the weather was just about perfect.

 

We've done Summer and Mid December in the past but after this one we actually didn't hesitate to schedule for the same time of the year again. Sailed on May 14th 2016 and are set to sail on May 13th 2017. Exactly the same timing is a pretty big endorsement. ;)

 

Have fun looking forward to your trip and please do not hesitate to ask if you have any Conquest questions. Last two in the row on Conquest we know that ship pretty well.

[LMBB]

Thanks! My last cruise was on Conquest too... There's something I love about the ship and I look forward to sailing her again. Maybe many times! My date is May 20, so pretty close to your timing. The anticipation might do me in though... Too far away!

 

 

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[kimma11]

LMBB - I am also booked on the May 20th cruise. We bought FTTF, and the Fort Lauderdale excursion. This is our first cruise so we are really excited!!!!!

[tlw440]

Looking forward to the rest of your review, we were on the same cruise.

[Joanne G.]

My sister and I were on this same cruise, and we also find May to be a great time for a cruise. :D

 

To PamalaX, what was your embarkation experience? We arrived at the terminal about 12:20, and then we stood in a slow moving line for about two hours before reached the check-in desk. All of that time was standing, mostly outside, though thankfully in the shade. We have embarked in Port Everglades several times recently, as well as Miami, Port Canaveral and New York, and we have never had such a long wait - while standing. (Carnival did pass out free bottles of water to those waiting outside.) We are sailing from Port Everglades again next May, and we are wondering what time to arrive in order to avoid that experience.

 

After checking in, we were able to board immediately. Finally! From then on, we enjoyed this ship and the 8-day itinerary.

[Clarea]

Nice photos, following.

[LMBB]

I had the same experience in Port Everglades this year in February, which is why I purchased FTTF for next year.

 

 

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[PamalaX]

Embarkation was horrific. We dropped off the car got our free Alamo bus to the port and thought WOW this so easy. WE WERE WRONG! Everything went smooth until just after we went through the Id check and got into the line for the metal-detectors. Sorry to hear you guys were stuck outside for that mess Joanne. As we stood for hours inside I wondered what was happening outside the building. Relived to hear they were giving water it must have been just miserable out there. Cool inside we were still getting tired and before long security had to start escorting people from the line to bathroom. A real mess and I don't know if its true but the word inside was there was a search underway because 4 people were not checked out -- by body or just missed card? -- the ship. It took forever, people beyond grouchy everywhere and I won't be including a sail away picture but we looked like axe murders rather than gleeful vacationers after the embarkation process. No idea if this is normal or often for Port Everglades but the experience was so bad we booked our next for May 2017 back to Miami.

 

Here is the point where we pulled up and thought "This is easy"

 

Oh and the muster. Anyone ever just drop to the ground from heat and fatigue in one of those? Completely understand the why but I just wish there was some way to keep from feeling I may pass out from the heat crammed so tight with everyone out on that deck.

 

Getting going a nightmare we made it and with drinks in hand and down the hatch everyone enjoyed out sail-a-away.

 

Oasis was our Port Buddy

Away she goes and that means we are next,

 

 

No clue what this was about but made one fell awful safe as you sail.

 

After the long wait everyone got in the swing of things real fast. I think everyone had a bite to eat and went right for the sun after the embarkation struggles.

 

Away we go!

 

Daughter in the white hat wasted no time shaking it with cocktail in hand.

 

Here we come ST Maarten!

[JaneAustenite]

Loving the review! We're going on the Conquest at the end of this month and, I can't wait. We are also considering going to Everglades Holiday Park because we will be in Ft. Lauderdale for an extra day after the cruise. I am nervous about embarkation, we have FTTF and are hoping to get to the port early. What time did you guys get to the port?

[PamalaX]

WE got there at about noon? You guys should be fine with the FTTF. I think those people were the ones sitting in the lounge area rather than standing in the son. Our issues we unusual I think and once they did the search and cleared the ship things moved fast.

Have fun!!!

[PamalaX]

Actually we had two sea days before St Maarten so I will slip some stuff in here, including a hilarious story about the birthday that never ends, before getting to the St Maarten port day.

 

Love my sea days! Part of my favorite thing about cruising is these days. Husband and daughter are big itinerary planners so time like this when they can not do that is fantastic.

 

Loads of looking around the ship, sunning, eating and just plain old taking it easy.

 

 

 

 

Dancing late into the night.

 

 

After all that we have the Birthday that never ended.

My son has his 19th birthday on May 8th. First dinner on the MDR they came over with a lil cake and made a event out of singing to him. Very nice and enjoyed then it wore thin and had us all laughing to tears when the same thing happened over and over all cruise long.

 

I have no idea if they just look for someone who has a Bday near that time or what but none of us ever told them to do it once let alone night after night. Once it had happen THREE different dinner times the boy lived in fear of the wee cake. He would spend dinner looking around to see if there was a cake at the ready and would make plans to make a run for it if he saw it coming again.

 

It really was hilarious and while I know they easy thing to do was to say they already did the cake when the brought it again you really couldn't because by the time you knew it was going to happen AGAIN there was already a crowd gathered, lighted candle and staff standing around happily singing. Just couldn't say "been there and done this" in the middle of their song and smiles.

So this was the cruise of Ryan's endless 19th Birthday.

 

 

[LMBB]

He'll surely never forget this birthday! Haha!

 

 

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[l2f]

WE got there at about noon? You guys should be fine with the FTTF. I think those people were the ones sitting in the lounge area rather than standing in the son. Our issues we unusual I think and once they did the search and cleared the ship things moved fast.

Have fun!!!

 

We were on this cruise as well. We had FTTF. We arrived at around 11:30, and they let us check in. We were told only Diamond, Platinum, & FTTF were allowed to check in as the waiting area was standing room only. There was no room to let everyone check in because of the delayed embarkation.

 

Sure enough, when we made it to the waiting area there were a lot of people standing.

[PamalaX]

So you were guys were stuck standing too then. Hopefully there were at least restroom? The worst part where we were was the stuck just before the security check so long. Once one person had to go NOW ( its was a really long time so you can blame anyone) many needed to so the security people ended up restroom escorts. Looks like it didn't go well for anyone that day. Sure hope that sort of thing is the exception and not the rule there.

 

Impressive with so much in airport, hotels and the rest it really was just that one thing that pushed us back to Miami. Knowing my luck we'll have some of the same in Miami next May. LOL

[Joeychgo]

We were on the cruise also. We got there early so we only had to wait about an hour or so in line.

 

This was our second tip on the conquest, and IMO it is sub par. I (and other passengers agreed) think its run in a very disorganized fashion.

 

Some TV channels didn't work for part of the cruise, they locked up all of the mid elevators the first and last day for luggage while other ships only take 2 mid elevators, early morning coffee (pre 6am) was only available on the far aft in the lido instead of midship. All of this made for a lot of unnecessary walking around to find stuff.

 

One thing that really struck me, we had late dining. They crammed us into a small table upstairs in the mid dining room while leaving all the big tables on the main level empty. When I asked for a bigger table for the 4 of us they wouldn't accommodate. They screwed up our orders and the order of food, and to be fair, they seemed short-handed. I even noticed the maitre d carrying food and clearing tables. This wasn't just one night, but every night we ate in the DR.

 

The ship is starting to really wear. You can see evidence of it all over. Broken elevator buttons, scratched up doors and door frames, stuff like that. Many of the floor tiles in the Lido restaurant are broken and make noise when you stop on them. The place is really starting to fall apart.

 

This was my second cruise on the conquest, and both were like this. I told my PVP never to book me on the conquest again.

[PamalaX]

I've certainly heard some don't care for the ship and naturally respect that. That said we really like it and honestly do to the point we sailed her our last two in a row and actually went out of our way to chose another Conquest class ship ( The Glory ) for next May.

 

I know she is a little older and may need some fixes here and there ( we did see a lot of painting and other repairs here and there which was new from our 2014 Conquest trip ) but there is something about her that has been good for us personally. I think the biggest thing for me is crowds. Biggest comparison for me and the reason we developed an affection for Conquest was a trip on Breeze in 2013. Don't get me wrong it was a beautiful ship and great trip but it also really felt so much more crowded. Never got near the pools there and each time there the buffet lines ran all down the side to or past the deli window. Very nice but just too big and too many people for me. Pool deck, movies, buffet, theater and all the rest just have a less crowded ease to me on Conquest... hopefully also on her sister Glory too. Never much of a line at the buffet, great seats for shows including comedy and always a good spot for sunning and movies nights is just a big win for us.

 

As far as service aside from the perpetual BDay cake thing our dining experiences were super this time. Best prime rib I ever had on a cruise, endless lobster tails -- they kept bringing the guys another one! -- and all our servers were nothing short of adorable. I did run into a couple cranky bartenders but just a couple and some of the others made up for that 10x over. I was using my TWD Tervis tumbler and always had a smile for the one bartender that always gave me a "Looks like Walking Dead Diet Coke is back... how much ice this time love. Stuff like that sort of wipes out the bad to me. Food and drink service aces our cabin steward, on his first trip out, was wonderful and I must say the guy cleaning the smoking area on his last trip out before a break -- "Mr. Look a Whale! -- was utterly fantastic.

 

I guess it comes down to each individual experience? I'm sure many thought the brand new Breeze ideal where I felt miserable in the crowds and lines. Crowds the worst for me I suppose the lack of that may make me not notice things other may see far more clearly? Sorry to hear it wasn't as good for for others I just wanted to share my points of appreciation for those yet to try The Conquest. Take her out, put your feet up with a cold drink and see what you think. :)

[LMBB]

I've certainly heard some don't care for the ship and naturally respect that. That said we really like it and honestly do to the point we sailed her our last two in a row and actually went out of our way to chose another Conquest class ship ( The Glory ) for next May.

 

 

 

I know she is a little older and may need some fixes here and there ( we did see a lot of painting and other repairs here and there which was new from our 2014 Conquest trip ) but there is something about her that has been good for us personally. I think the biggest thing for me is crowds. Biggest comparison for me and the reason we developed an affection for Conquest was a trip on Breeze in 2013. Don't get me wrong it was a beautiful ship and great trip but it also really felt so much more crowded. Never got near the pools there and each time there the buffet lines ran all down the side to or past the deli window. Very nice but just too big and too many people for me. Pool deck, movies, buffet, theater and all the rest just have a less crowded ease to me on Conquest... hopefully also on her sister Glory too. Never much of a line at the buffet, great seats for shows including comedy and always a good spot for sunning and movies nights is just a big win for us.

 

 

 

As far as service aside from the perpetual BDay cake thing our dining experiences were super this time. Best prime rib I ever had on a cruise, endless lobster tails -- they kept bringing the guys another one! -- and all our servers were nothing short of adorable. I did run into a couple cranky bartenders but just a couple and some of the others made up for that 10x over. I was using my TWD Tervis tumbler and always had a smile for the one bartender that always gave me a "Looks like Walking Dead Diet Coke is back... how much ice this time love. Stuff like that sort of wipes out the bad to me. Food and drink service aces our cabin steward, on his first trip out, was wonderful and I must say the guy cleaning the smoking area on his last trip out before a break -- "Mr. Look a Whale! -- was utterly fantastic.

 

 

 

I guess it comes down to each individual experience? I'm sure many thought the brand new Breeze ideal where I felt miserable in the crowds and lines. Crowds the worst for me I suppose the lack of that may make me not notice things other may see far more clearly? Sorry to hear it wasn't as good for for others I just wanted to share my points of appreciation for those yet to try The Conquest. Take her out, put your feet up with a cold drink and see what you think. :)

 

 

I agree with you, PamalaX. I totally forgot about the "Look, a ...." Guy! What a riot!

 

I will admit to not being terribly high maintenance and mainly wanting some quiet and relaxation. Conquest was perfect for that. Overall, I was very pleased.

 

 

 

 

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[PamalaX]

First stop after two sea days was St Maartens. First time here and really the reason, get to that in the next set of pictures, we were on this itinerary.

 

For now how about a few general pictures of St Maarten's.

Loved the port for many reasons and really hope to go back one day. Its a beautiful place with one attraction we had to see.. again that part coming soon.

 

For now...

 

 

 

 

Gorgeous place we hated to leave.

At least this sight as we sailed away help.

 

Just so I don't keep you wondering I will get to pictures of our day trip at St Maarten right away. ;)

[PamalaX]

Maho Beach and the motherload top dog of plane-spotting.

 

The endless birthday boy, Ryan, is a life long aviation junkie who began studying Aviation at Western Michigan University in the fall of 2015. After completing his freshman year and spending a life time -- started after 5th grade -- taking summer plane-spotting trips it was at last time to go to the spot all aviation junkie long for.

 

After extensive research thanks to the webcam from PTZTV we knew Tuesdays were fabulous days for heavy ( really big planes) arrivals and departures. He was going see good stuff and *ride the fence* behind a big, big aircraft. It was a moment of a lifetime for him and I highly recommend a trip out here for anyone who finds that sort of thing even a little entertaining.

 

 

Wasn't long after we got there it was clear something big was on the way in.

 

 

Something real, real big!

 

Drawing a huge crowd and load of excitement when she landed things got even more fun when she turned around and readied to leave an hour later.

 

People went right for the fence to do the world famous *riding the fence*.

Can't say I was thrilled to see it but both boys, son and husband, ran off to join the rest of the crazies.

 

 

She came down, turned around and was ready to go.

Hold on boys!

 

 

Both described it as holding on for dear life while being hit in the face by the heat of 100 furnaces as the little needles from high speed sand grains pelt your body. Awful sounding to me they were beyond thrilled and loved every minute of it. Be bragging on this one for years. LOL

 

Heck of an experience!

To be honest it was fairly expensive at $9 a head for the cab both out and back, big $$ for lunch on the beach and way too much in the gift shop. It was pricey but in the end it was worth it and I would do it again as well as recommend it highly to anyone who thinks that would find that sort of thrill

[deborahjo]

Maho is one experience everyone should have. It is awesome. Took 2 sisters who had never cruised out to Maho and they were shocked.

 

 

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[Joanne G.]

Embarkation was horrific. We dropped off the car got our free Alamo bus to the port and thought WOW this so easy. WE WERE WRONG! Everything went smooth until just after we went through the Id check and got into the line for the metal-detectors. Sorry to hear you guys were stuck outside for that mess Joanne. As we stood for hours inside I wondered what was happening outside the building. Relived to hear they were giving water it must have been just miserable out there. Cool inside we were still getting tired and before long security had to start escorting people from the line to bathroom. A real mess and I don't know if its true but the word inside was there was a search underway because 4 people were not checked out -- by body or just missed card? -- the ship. . . . .

 

Oh and the muster. Anyone ever just drop to the ground from heat and fatigue in one of those? Completely understand the why but I just wish there was some way to keep from feeling I may pass out from the heat crammed so tight with everyone out on that deck. . . . .

 

 

Someone asked at the Q & A with the cruise director if there was a specific reason for the miserable embarkation process. They had heard a rumor of "stowaways"! He claimed not to know anything about it. At the port, there was a man outside directing everyone to the end of the ever-expanding line, and he said a few times that people were late getting off the ship, but he never said why. So we remain unsure if this was a fluke, or if we should expect it next year, too.

 

Yes, it was nice they were passing out water, but we didn't know when we would get to a bathroom so we were afraid to drink too much!

 

My sister did almost pass out during the muster. Staff rushed to escort her back inside. It was awful, and we were in the front row. Those crowded in the back rows had it much worse. That process could certainly be improved on.

 

But, with a couple of sea days, a great balcony, and a wine package, we soon forgot the stresses of embarkation. :D