Conquest Review 7/18/04 part 1

[btrtigerfan]

REVIEW: CARNIVAL CONQUEST 07/18/2004

 

 

 

BOOKING: We booked our cruise approximately six weeks prior to the cruise date. We used *****.com and selected the lowest bidding agent. We grabbed a very good rate. Carnival later offered shipboard credit to those who booked with Carnival directly. We missed on that, but still received a great deal. We also purchased travel insurance from our agent. We did not need our insurance, thankfully. I cannot say if it was as good as, or better than Carnival’s similar policy. I would not leave home without some form of benefits. We saw many folks returning to the ship injured from various shore excursions. Medical care on board ship, and in port is NOT covered under most U.S. medical plans.

 

ACCOMODATIONS PRIOR TO CRUISING: We live within two hours of the port in New Orleans. After five weeks of hype on Cruise Critic’s boards, we had to go a day early. I booked the Riverside-Hilton for $97 with Priceline. It did not include parking. In the future, I will ask for the “cruise-special.” I have read that it is $99 for the night and it includes seven days parking. Personally, I paid $22 parking the first day and $12 per day thereafter if you show your cruise documents. One more note. It is not the Hilton of my youth. It left a lot to be desired. We have had much better service in lesser hotels.

 

PARKING: I already said we parked at the Hilton. I want to add that the Port of New Orleans has a deal with many garages for a set rate of $12 per day. Look them up at http://www.portno.com.

 

TRANSFERS: Taxi service from the Hilton-Riverside to the port cost $14. It is a lot cheaper via the streetcar, but a lot more walking as well. When you are dragging a week’s luggage, take the taxi.

 

EMBARKATION: We arrived at the Julia Street terminal at about 10:30am. There were people everywhere. We wove our way to the terminal. Once there, we were immediately told to go and sit in an area away from the mass of debarking folks. At about 11:00am, we were allowed to check bags, and check in. I used a birth certificate. She used a passport. No problems. Find a sea-cap early for your luggage, we should have. To the yellow chairs we went. To sit... We were on board at 12:15pm. Not bad. We could not enter our room until 2:00pm, so we went to the Lido deck mid-ship. Two buffets were set up here. I opted for the cheeseburger and hotdog line, my fiancée chose the steam line with various meats and veggies. Overall, it was light fare compared to the food offerings on board after sailing. It was then and there that we purchased our fountain drink cards at a rate of $5.50 per day x 7 days for adults. All of the pools were covered with nets, and no one was sunbathing that we could see. We took this opportunity to check out the ship and went for a drink at the sun bar on the Lido deck-aft.

 

CABIN: Our cabin was not a room the size of the Hilton’s, yet it was much cleaner and very well appointed. When booking, we requested the bed be arranged as a king. It was. The room was plenty spacious for us two with plenty of closet storage. The toilet became a fun joke of sorts for us. It was VERY loud. It operates much like an airline toilet. We had fun trying to hit the flush button and get out before the BOOM! It really wasn’t that bad. It’s just different. My favorite feature was our balcony. It was a welcomed retreat for us. We are smokers, and hate the smell of smoke, so this is where we did the nasty. None of our balcony neighbors complained about the smoke. Had they done so, I would have accommodated them in some way. Our room had a mini bar that we had to request be unlocked. Nothing was in there I wanted except for a Coke or two ($1.50.) The beer was Amstel-light. Not my brand. I later used the fridge to keep other drinks cool, and was not charged. Our cabin steward offered to empty it for us to use as a refrigerator, but we declined, as there was plenty of space for our needs. The bathroom-shower had all the amenities including soap and shampoo, we had brought our own. No tub. No problem. I almost forgot to mention, we had a pullout sofa we never pulled out. It looked like it was full-sized at best. Extra linens were in the closets. We were on Deck 8 directly below the Lido Deck. Yes, we could hear the deck chairs scraping. Bring earplugs and get over it. We slept well. Your vacation is what you make of it.

 

DINNER: Our dinner sitting was 5:45pm. It was the earliest of sittings. This was more good than bad in my opinion. We missed two sail-a ways, and it was tough on shore days time-wise, but we were free to see the early shows in the lounges. Folks in the late sittings miss a lot unless you are night owls. We thought we were late night people until you start eating such heavy meals. It makes a difference. Our dining room was the Monet located on the aft of the ship. From our table, we could see the ship’s wake in the water as well as where we have been as we dined. Most tables could NOT. The food was first class. Our headwaiter did not seem to understand English very well. We just pointed and were not too disappointed. The waiter’s assistant named Sonny kept our iced teas filled and mended the language gaps. In the grand scheme of things, dinner was really good.

 

THE SUPPER CLUB: If you sail on this ship and do not eat at THE POINTE supper club, you have wasted a wonderful opportunity. For $25 per person, we ate one of the best meals we have ever enjoyed. At least eight courses of food and four wait staff per table. I have paid hundreds more for much less. This is a MUST DO.

 

BREAKFAST AND LUNCH: These we the meals where we did some exploring. The buffet was at least good for breakfast. It was better at lunchtime. Simply awesome for the midnight buffet and on the last sea day it is all chocolate. We were impressed. Pizza, grill, deli, they all has their strong points. If you miss a meal on this ship, it is your own fault.

 

ELEVATORS: Forget them. Kids play in them constantly. This is not unlike any hotel we have ever stayed at. We took the stairs most times. As a result, we gained almost no weight with all the eating we did.

 

DECK 4: The muster deck. This is where everyone has to go prior to sailing. Remember this deck. With 4000 persons on board, this deck is virtually deserted on the outside. We used it like an expressway. It is the absolute BEST way to go aft or forward in a hurry. Try it.

[btrtigerfan]

POOLS AND SUNNING: The aft or covered pool area is quite tame. A great place to read a book and get some sun. When the lid is closed it can be somewhat stuffy. Two whirlpools there are adults only, and we witnessed it being enforced. The 24hr pizzeria is in this area, so the bar staff is busy filling soft drink orders for the kiddies.

A bandstand separates the midship pools. This is where lots of stuff happens. All the contest, activities, music, etcetera, it happens here. You can forget a Lido deck level lounger. We had better success one level up. We could see and hear everything, but less crowded. Bar service is good here. More on drinking later.

The Funnel deck is very quiet and stoic. Be prepared for a few visitors. This is a favorite hangout for some of the female crew and dancers. We spent 3 or 4 hours here with my fiancée topless. No one talks. Everyone stares into space. One day I will study human behaviors. I promise.

 

ENTERTAINMENT: Everyone on this ship tries really hard. We went to the shows most nights. It was a different show every night. Even though they say it is Vegas style, you are not in Vegas. With all of the different routines and scripts, these people can’t be perfect. Sit back and relax. Be entertained. If they were perfect, they wouldn’t be on a ship. We both really enjoyed the Deja magic show. Pay attention to the props and lighting. This is some of the best I have ever seen as far as the tech stuff goes.

 

ALCOHOL AND BEER DRINKING: Some folks like wine. I like beer. A single beer cost $4.89 from the bars. The best deal is the “bucket” of beer. It was, in my case, four-16oz Miller Lite for $13.23 after gratuities were added. When these were brought to me in my deck chair, I would tip. When I got them myself, I did not.

My fiancée tried several of the foo-foo drinks of the day. She said they all tasted similar, and were very heavy alcohol-wise. All I can say is that they were all the same color. J

I also brought a fifth of Crown Royal onboard hidden in our luggage. It arrived safely. I still have it. It was opened once. Alcohol is available everywhere. Carnival staff walks around selling drinks all day, even in the theater in the evening. Just say no if you don’t want it.

 

STAFF: Everywhere we went at anytime of the day, Carnival staffs are cleaning something. They wipe handrails, floors, counters, and door levers. Never, when we approached, did they not stop and speak, or at least smile. These guys are first class. It is a large part of the reason we will sail again with Carnival.

 

PHOTOS: The photographers are everywhere. We dodged them most of the time. Their work looks great. We did not want a bunch of gangway or novelty photos. I regret not posing for portraits when we were both dressed to the nines on formal night. We later found out that the do this on the Promenade Deck 5. Make a note.

 

JAMAICA: Prior to our cruise, we had heard a lot of negative stuff about Jamaica. Our experience was very good. We were on vacation for rest and relaxation. From the gated and guarded cruise terminal, we asked for a taxi. The lady at the taxi stand recorded our names, the taxi number we got in, as well as our intended destination. We paid $6 to take a short ride to Sunset Beach Resort. The resort was gated as well. From our taxi, a nice gentleman personally escorted us directly to the front desk. For $20 each, we enjoyed a day pass at this all-inclusive resort. We ate, we drank, we swam, and we did lots of sunning. The service is awesome here. There are three beaches, two pools, a swim up bar, and lots of stuff for kids. All of the non-motorized water sports are free. They even send a guide with you to snorkel. The middle or topless beach is where we landed. If you want to see the au-natural beach beyond, you will meet a guard and be asked to disrobe prior to entering. The food was average. The drinks were serve yourself in some places. The beer was draught Red Stripe. Resort spa staff therapist walk the beaches offering massages. Massages are $1 per minute in covered cabanas along the beaches. We chose a couples massage in the spa itself for $100/45 minutes. Spa services on the ship are at least twice that amount. We were in heaven. It was clean, it was safe, and we turned down the taxi driver’s offer of drugsJ

 

GRAND CAYMAN: We booked Carnival’s, “Hell, turtle farm, and stingray-city tour.” Driving through Georgetown reminded us of the Florida panhandle area. The terrain is very flat. It is congested with strip malls, hotels, and fast food restaurants. Hell is a nice place to send a postcard. We were allowed 15 minutes here. Be quick. The turtle farm is ok, but uneventful. The best part of this stop is the rum cake bakery and free samples. Even if you hate rum, buy your weight in these cakes. The Tortuga rum cakes are simply addictive. Our boat to Stingray city was our next stop. It was, by far, one of our favorites. You must do this to appreciate it.

 

COZUMEL: At the suggestion of fellow passengers, we took a taxi ($6) from the cruise terminal to Chakkanuba park. It was excellent. Great snorkeling, nice beaches, lockers, and bath facilities can be found here. They even had lifeguards walking around. Entry is $12 per person. When we got tired of snorkeling, we hailed a taxi to Carlos and Charlie’s ($11.) If you do anything in Mexico, do this. It is fun for all. I can’t remember much about this port beyond that. LOL.

 

OVERALL: This was our favorite vacation ever. Carnival has something for everyone. We did see and hear some things we did not care for. We didn’t let that ruin our vacation. Come with a loose mind, that blue-green water will loosen the rest.

[kirby1000]

A great review we can't wait until we get on board 8/8

[sanermae]

What a wonderful review! Thank you for taking the time to share your great experience. We are sailing the Conquest in September with 3 other couples--our 2nd time on-board--the 1st for them. You expressed our thoughts completely--the best vacation ever and we will continue to sail Carnival again and again. So glad to hear from a positive cruiser!

[SxyEbnyFem]

What a wonderful review! Thank you for taking the time to share your great experience. So glad to hear from a positive cruiser!

Ditto. We are sailing her in Jan 2005 and I simply cannot wait. You are so right. Our vacation is ours; we will make it enjoyable regardless! I am glad you and yours had a fabulous cruise! :D

Happy sailing,

T.

[NinaCO]

Thanks for posting such a well written and entertaining review!

[Rosered]

Thanks for the great review and info!

[Em6554]

That was one of the best reviews I have read yet! You discussed everything I was wondering about or planning on doing during my sailing on 9/5 from the Sunset Beach Resort to the Funnel Deck and Chakkanub Park in Cozumel. Thank you for all of the wonderful information!!

 

I do have a couple of questions:

 

1. What did you have to do to book the couples massage at Sunset Beach Resort?? Where there people walking around offering them or did you have to call the spa when you got there? I heard the couples massage on the ship is $220 so $100 would be a much better deal.

 

2. The topless beach at Sunset Beach is a separate beach from the nude beach? I always tan topless but have not quite ever built up the confidence to go completely nude so I was just wondering where to go. Also, were there a lot of "visitors" on the Funnel deck? How far away is the nearest pool?

 

3. In Cozumel, how far of a ride was it to the Park? We have booked the Royal Dolphin Swim since we will be there on my birthday and I wanted to do something special. Did you have to take a cab back to the pier from Carlos and Charlies or is it withing walking distance (or do you not remember ;) )?

 

We are also staying on the Verandah deck below the Lido deck, but luckily our room has other rooms above and below it so I won't have to worry about the chairs scraping. There are only 37 days til I leave!! I can't wait!!

 

Thank you for any help or suggestions you might give.

 

~E

[CruiseCATnMACK]

Thanks for the excellent review. We are looking forward to our cruise on the Conquest in December.

[bethm214]

It is amazing how i soak up the info these reviews give us! I eagerly search the boards each morning for information about 'our' ship and I get so excited when i see a post! And when it is SO well written I just get even more excited and filled with anticipation! Gee, I sure hope i have the energy to write a review when i get back for the future Conquest cruisers!

By the way...you did almost exactly what we want to do as far as ports are concerned. Only difference is that i want to book the string ray tour off the ship instead of through the ship and i don't really care about the turtle farm or Hell.

Also, I was planning to skip Carlos and Charlies because of our 11 year old...but maybe i should go anyway......any opinions?

Thanks so much for doing such a great job of helping us out!

Glad you had a great time. Maybe we will cruise together one day!

[LSUtraveler]

btrtigerfan,

 

One of the best reviews I've read. There have been other

good reviews but it was obvious that you intended to have

a good time and not complain about every little thing. I

enjoyed it. Thanks.

[peanutprincess1977]

I loved your review. Very information, yet sarcastically dry humor. I like that.

[shungirl]

I have to agree with everyone else, one of the best reviews I have ever read!! More people need to have an attitude like yours. 3 weeks till I go on her for my HONEYMOON!!!!!

[bethm214]

shungirl...what sailing date? are you with me on 8/29? if so..have you checked in on the roll call board yet?

[btrtigerfan]

QUESTIONS:

 

Em6554: I booked our couples massage from a Sunset Beach Resort phone at the drink-hut that separates the topless beach from the nude beach. We were approached about 30 minutes later by the spa therapists walking the beach about seaside massages. We told them we had a pending appointment, and they went on. Ironically, the same man and woman were the ones that tended to us in the spa.

 

The topless beach at Sunset Beach Resort is separated from the nude beach by about 100 yards. A guard is there to turn away the roving eyes. Not everyone is topless on this beach. It is simply top optional. There were many European and Australian families present on this beach. Their kids are more fascinated by the water than the bodies. It must be nice to grow up with such a cavalier attitude towards nudity and self-image.

 

The Funnel deck on the Conquest is also a great place to pose for a photo from below. It has a protective tarpaulin around the deck railing for modesty. This banner reads, “Carnival Conquest.” Yes, there are visitors, but they don’t usually stay long. The ones that you worry about are the repeat visitors. If you make eye contact with them and glare a bit, you will not see them again.

 

Chakkanub Park in Cozumel is about 3 or 4 miles from the port. $6US for the taxi. From there to Carlos and Charlie’s is $11US. From Carlos and Charlie’s to the pier was $14. Please don’t ask how they came up with that. It is about 5 or 6 miles between C and C’s to the pier. Do not walk it. The cruise terminal has 100’s of shops and vendors. Do all of your shopping there.

 

Bethm214: We had more than one person tell us that they went straight to Stingray City. The earlier the better they said. We got there about 1pm. The early tour arrived at 9 or 10am. They said it was much less crowded. We will try that next time.

 

Carlos and Charlie’s is tame enough for all ages. We saw kids getting free balloon animals. It is non-stop fun. Please try it. Write back and tell me if it was a mistake.

 

THANKS to all for your nice comments. We really did have a great time. You will too. I will close with some tips we gathered from others that worked for us.

 

TIPS: Bring a few hundred in small bills. Order $2 bills from your bank for tipping, (the servers will remember you.) If you take care of your cabin porter, he/she will take care of you. Pack less street clothing. Bring 3-4 swimsuits. We way over packed. See the sunrise on Wednesday. It is awesome as is rises next to Jamaica on your approach. Have fun!

[MizzouMary]

EXCELLENT Review! We are going 11/28 and can't wait! You mentioned the Sunset Beach Resort is all inclusive for $20 pp. That includes all of your drinks (including alcohol) and food for the day?? That sounds too good to be true! What kind of food do they have? How about snorkeling equipment? Do they rent that on site or is it also included?

 

Thanks again for taking the time to give such a detailed review!

[cruisinqt]

The food and alcohol is free at Sunset with your $20 entrance fee.:) The snorkeling equipment is also free. It also includes kayaks, hard back floats and all non motorized water sports. I have heard many people say that you should try the hummingbird ( it's alcoholic) because it tastes like a milkshake but will knock you on your butt.:D Mudslides and dirty bananas were also highly recommended ( alcoholic.) The food there is very americanized so most people like it. The cheeseburgers and caribbean jerk chicken have been raved about. Most of this information is stuff I read about from people who have stayed there at tripadvisor.com. I read through tons of reviews of the place before I posted the info. on the boards under "Jamaica." We plan on going there on our cruise in October. You can check them out at www.sunsetbeachresort.com if you want to.

 

 

I too, appreciate btrtigerfan's review. It's not all fluffy and sugercoated.:rolleyes: But it's not real critical and negative either. His review sounds pretty balanced and he seems to have a good outlook on cruising and vacationing in general.:) I am also glad to hear of his good time at Sunset. I plan on going there myself. Much of what he did is what I plan on doing too. So I'm hoping that I have as good a cruise as he did. I'll post a review and let you know how things went. All of you be sure and post some reviews of your time on the Conquest too. That's all that keeps me going as I wait for my cruise!:D

[sanermae]

I am loving the idea of visiting Sunset Beach in Jamaica. Have always heard of how wonderful the all-inclusive resorts are. One question though--is there a beach that is not topless or au-naturel? We would have no trouble with it (would probably not join the fun, but to each his own)--but some of our friends travelling with us might.

[seajan]

Jamaica: I've never been there. I've always wanted to go to Dunn's River Falls, but the Sunset Beach trip sounds good too. Is it possible to do the Falls by ship excursion, then do the Sunset Beach trip while ported there? How would you pull it off?

[cmez]

What a great review!! Looking foward to Conquest on Halloween!!

[sam-E]

My first post and the first of many questions.

:confused: How does one book the day pass at Sunset Beach?

 

 

Conquest-9/12/04

[SadieQ]

No advance booking required for Sunset beach.

 

And there is a non-topless beach as well.

[NinaCO]

Jamaica: I've never been there. I've always wanted to go to Dunn's River Falls, but the Sunset Beach trip sounds good too. Is it possible to do the Falls by ship excursion, then do the Sunset Beach trip while ported there? How would you pull it off?

The Falls are in Ocho Rios. Sunset Beach is in Montego Bay. Don't think you could easily do both in the same day. If your ship docks in Mo' Bay, the visit to the Falls would take most of the day (long drive). I don't think it's worth it. But, that's just MHO. Lots of people love Dunn's River Falls.

 

If your ship docks in Ocho Rios, then you'll probably want to find someplace there to go after a trip to the Falls. I've heard that Margaritaville in Ocho Rios is a lot of fun and much better than the one in Mo' Bay.

[btrtigerfan]

If I can help in anyway with questions you may have about our trip or my review. Contact me at brtigerfan@aol.com. I will repsond via email or provide a phone number if you prefer.

 

Great sailing!

 

Btrtigerfan

[btrtigerfan]

If I can help in anyway with questions you may have about our trip or my review. Contact me at brtigerfan@aol.com. I will repsond via email or provide a phone number if you prefer.

 

Great sailing!

 

Btrtigerfan

 

 

The correct email is btrtigerfan@aol.com