Jump to content
Cruise Critic Community

Cruising The Conquest June 1st - 8th

WestTxCruiser

By WestTxCruiser,
in Carnival Cruise Lines

Recommended Posts

WestTxCruiser

WestTxCruiser

Posted
Posted

I hope that you enjoy reading about our voyage as much as we loved living it. I will do this in sections and include some pics and apoligize now if it is too long, but it is very difficult to leave something out cuz it was soooo much fun!!

 

Background

Hubby 46, myself 47, son 13 and daughter 6. This was our 2nd time to cruise the Conquest, 1st was in July last year.

We were also joined by some friends, along with their 6 and 13 y/o daughters, and their 15 y/o niece. This was their 1st cruise.

 

Our adventure began about 3am Sun morning. We had a 6am flight out of Midland into Hobby.

We arrived at the airport about 4:45am with ALL of our luggage in tow.

ConquestCruiseJune2008002.jpg

We had an uneventful flight, arriving into Hobby about 7:30am. We had a limo reserved to pick us up and take us to the port in Galveston.

Unfortunately the limo was about an hour late picking us up, but it all worked out fine, we just waited ANXIOUSLY!!

Just a note about this limo, we did lots of checking for our transportation from Hobby to Galveston and since there were 9 people in our group, the limo actually ended up being less expensive than some of the shuttles. It cost us $53 a person roundtrip, we thought it was very reasonable, and we felt like royalty! They also provided an Excursion to haul all of our luggage.

ConquestCruiseJune2008007.jpg

ConquestCruiseJune2008009.jpg

Excitement is really setting in now as we are heading towards Galveston. We did make one little stop as we were starving to death, so our driver pulled into McDonalds for a little breakfast.

Then off we go again. As we begin to cross the bridge and our friends get their first view of the Conquest, lets just say that we needed earplugs, it was quite noisy inside that limo.

The kids were screaming and hollering, the adults were WOOOOHOOOOING. It was an awesome feeling.

We arrived at the pier about 9:45, sent our luggage off with a porter, tipped $1 a bag, I believe our total number of bags came to around 22!!!!

ConquestwiththeCooks2008005.jpg

We went inside, up the escalator to the waiting area. We had 3 wedding parties in front of us and were told it would be about 45 min to an hr and they would start the boarding process.

So my friend Jodi and I and the 2 little girls took off for the Harbor House Patio where the webcam is.

Since I am a member of the Cruisin With The Crazies group I had to take our Mascots and give a big wave to all my fellow Crazies who are loyal Cam watchers every Sunday.

ConquestCruiseJune2008013.jpg

Then it's back to our group to wait for boarding.

ConquestwiththeCooks2008008.jpg

While waiting in line for boarding I begin to look around and see other people wearing Mardi Gras beads.

We had a Cruise Critic Roll Call group and Mardi Gras beads were our sign.

It was sooo cool, I just started going up to people and saying "who are you" It was great!!

I highly recommend that you join or start a roll call for your cruise. It was soooo much fun talking for months and getting to know everyone then meeting on the Conquest!! Awesome!!! More about that later...

 

They began boarding the wedding parties and about 5 minutes later we were through security and checking in.

The check in process was a little bit confusing because of the way our TA had booked the rooms.

We had 3 balcony rooms on Verandah, 8401, 8405 and 8409.

Since we were past guest we got a discount and an upgrade so in order for our friends to receive the same, one person from our family was booked into each room, then the others added.

The most confusing part was just getting the right person on the right credit card for Sail n Sign. Nothing but a thing, we got r done!

Then it was off to the chairs and wait for our group to be called, which was about 15 or 20 minutes.

We were onboard with DOD in hand right around noon!!!

Link to comment
Share on other sites
WestTxCruiser

WestTxCruiser

Posted
  • Author
Posted

Now that we are onboard and have DOD in hand, we go to the pursers desk to change our cards around to get the right people in the right room.

Our friends and their 6y/o in 8401, 3 bigger kids in 8405 and hubby, myself and Tara in 8409.

Well we were told it would be about 30-45 minutes before the computer system would be up to make those changes, so we decided to just have a seat and drink, oh I mean rest!!

By this time our little ones were just a little tired....we did get up at 3am!!

ConquestCruiseJune2008015.jpg

I sent one of my Crazies friends a text at this point and said Tara is crashed, well Lambie here is the proof!!

The big kids took off to the Lido deck to explore and eat lunch.

We just waited around and "rested" lol!!

We were in line for the Pursors desk when they finally got the computers up, we got our changes made, then went to Maitr'd to change dining time.

We were given 6:15, but we requested late, so we were able to get it changed to 8:15, but not for the first night, which was fine since we pretty much drank our lunch that day, we were ready to eat by 6:15!!

By this time it is 1:30 and we were able to go to our rooms and drop off our carryons, then it is off to Lido to find older kids and get little ones some lunch.

At 3 we had a meet n greet on Lido with our Roll Call!!

Just look for the mardi gras beads. It was a lot of fun!

About 3:30 we were summonded to Muster, it was really short and quite painless, well maybe not for some....

ConquestCruiseJune2008017.jpg

Then back to room, deposit life jackets, pick up champagne and off to Lido for sailaway.

I believe we sailed around 4:20, my Crazies friends can tell you the exact time as they were all bidding us Bon Voyage and I think feeling a little JEALOUS...ya think?

We actually celebrated sailaway with one of our new Roll Call friends, they just happened to be standing right by us, it was really neat. Hi Christine!!

The weather was beautiful and couldn't ask for a better sailaway!!

Link to comment
Share on other sites
WestTxCruiser

WestTxCruiser

Posted
  • Author
Posted

I love to see the changes in the color and the beauty of the water as we sail....so here is leaving Galveston

ConquestwiththeCooks2008018.jpg

We spent the rest of the afternoon enjoying the Lido and sailing out of the Galveston Bay.

We went back to our rooms to check on luggage, we had some but not all.

They said there was basically no dress code for dinner tonight, (well, maybe no bathing suits) so we corralled our group together and headed to Monet at 6:15. We had table 558, and I am sorry that I cannot remember our waiters name, but he was very nice and asked each person their name. We told him that we would only be there that night as we had changed our dining time to 8:15.

I honestly can't remember what we ate that night, I just know that it was good. Dessert was Warm Chocolate Melting Cake, yummy, yummy!!

ConquestCruiseJune2008060.jpg

This defenitely contributed to my 5 pound weight gain this week!

After dinner we went to the Degas Lounge to register the girls for Camp Carnival. Then we just roamed around and killed time until 10pm . CAMP CARNIVAL time!!!

The girls got their jammies on and off we went. They loved it. Tara went last year and she was really looking forward to it again.

So now it was Casino time for Moms and Dads. It was so wonderful to be back on that beautiful ship. I was in heaven!

Link to comment
Share on other sites
WestTxCruiser

WestTxCruiser

Posted
  • Author
Posted

Day One, A FUN day at Sea!!!

We woke up about 8 or so, got everyone together and decided on breakfast in the dining room.

It was okay, but honestly I really prefer the Lido Buffet for breakfast.

I tried to be good and stick to fruit, bagels and yogurt for breakfast, for all the good it did, still gained 5 pounds!!!

We took the girls to Camp Carnival about 9, then we headed up to Lido for some fun in the sun!!

I absolutely LOVE just lounging on Lido and just taking it all in. Hubby enjoys it too, so that always works well for us.

Cold Beer or DOD in hand, ocean breeze and live Calypso Music from "Rythm Crazy". Can life get any better?

Just a note, we found some lounge chairs by the waterslide cuz we knew thats where Tara would be after Camp. Hubby picked her up at 11:30 while I stayed put in my lounge chair. Got some burgers and fries for lunch and let Tara play for a little while.

At 1pm was Build a Bear at Camp Carnival which we took Tara to. Last year she did it, that is when Lisa was born. This year it is Daisy's birth.

ConquestCruiseJune2008023-1.jpg

This is Tara with Daisy, Machscot and Cap n Crazy.

At 2pm was our Roll Calls Slot Pull, hubby waited to sign Tara in at Camp at 2pm and I took off to the Casino to meet up with all my new friends.

All I can say is we had a blast!!

I believe we had 36 people participate in the Slot Pull, it was sooo much fun.

We did it on a Wheel Of Fortune Machine, we got to spin several times, that was always exciting.

We had lots of onlookers wondering what was going on, we were just a little bit LOUD!!!

Thank You BMW Mama for putting this together!!

ConquestCruiseJune2008300.jpg

We picked Tara up about 3:30 from Camp and what do ya think we did? Yep....Lido, lounge chairs, cold beer and DOD's.

Link to comment
Share on other sites
WestTxCruiser

WestTxCruiser

Posted
  • Author
Posted

Tonight is 1st Formal Night so it's Nap time for Tara.

ConquestCruiseJune2008024.jpg

We rounded everyone up and were ready to go to Captain's Welcome Party at 7:30. We were able to find a table in the Degas Lounge, the drinks were plentiful and the appetizers were good too (well the adults thought so, the kids weren't just overly thrilled) oooh, what's that?

Wow, are those our kids?? They clean up pretty good!!

ConquestCruiseJune2008041.jpg

Tonight was our 1st dinner at 8:15, we had table 192 in the Renoir. Our waitstaff was Bosco and Allen. They were wonderful, very attentive to all of the kids, and us too!!!

I always worry a little with the kids cuz you know, we do live out here in ole West Texas, we're just a bunch of rednecks....but here is my refined daughter in the dining room

ConquestCruiseJune2008046.jpg

Guess I raised her okay!!!lol!

This was me and my date on the balcony

ConquestCruiseJune2008035.jpg

Sorry honey!! I'm really not two timing ya!!

Dinner was great, once again, can't rememer exactly what we had, but it was all great, and once again it was Warm Chocolate Melting Cake for dessert.

 

Link to comment
Share on other sites
SheriNtexas

SheriNtexas

Posted
Posted
This was me and my date on the balcony

ConquestCruiseJune2008035.jpg

 

 

 

 

 

There's our Julie and our Machbird!!:D Yes, west texans are kind of redneckish, aren't we, Julie? You think YOU were nervous, wait until they get a load of my accent in London!!:eek: :eek: I love how Tara's pinkie was up in the air as she was drinking! Too cute!!:D

Link to comment
Share on other sites
WestTxCruiser

WestTxCruiser

Posted
  • Author
Posted
There's our Julie and our Machbird!!:D Yes, west texans are kind of redneckish, aren't we, Julie? You think YOU were nervous, wait until they get a load of my accent in London!!:eek: :eek: I love how Tara's pinkie was up in the air as she was drinking! Too cute!!:D

I'm enjoying this, I just know it is gonna take me a LONG time, geesh, I'm still on Monday!!!

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Archived

This topic is now archived and is closed to further replies.

Go to topic listing
  • Forum Jump
    • Categories
      • Welcome to Cruise Critic
      • Hurricane Zone 2024
      • Cruise Insurance Q&A w/ Steve Dasseos of Tripinsurancestore.com June 2024
      • New Cruisers
      • Cruise Lines “A – O”
      • Cruise Lines “P – Z”
      • River Cruising
      • ROLL CALLS
      • Cruise Critic News & Features
      • Digital Photography & Cruise Technology
      • Special Interest Cruising
      • Cruise Discussion Topics
      • UK Cruising
      • Australia & New Zealand Cruisers
      • Canadian Cruisers
      • North American Homeports
      • Ports of Call
      • Cruise Conversations
×
×
  • Create New...