HELP please! Splendor & Spirit for MR, or Conquest for Bahamas/Caribbean

[lovetocruise74]

Hi all you Carnival experts!
My family and I are travelling over from Australia next Feb specifically to try a Carnival cruise. Our shortlist is to either do 2 separate Mexican Riviera cruises on the Splendor and Spirit, or else a B2B on Conquest from Galveston which would go to Bahamas and then Western Caribbean.

The B2B on Conquest is attractive as we could stay on the same ship for different itineries, however it would mean an additional day of travel at both ends, and is more expensive (but still within budget).

Can anyone give us any advice that would help us make our decision?

Many thanks!

[glrounds]

I'm obviously biased, but I'd stick with the SPLENDOR (new) and the SPIRIT (my favorite class of ship). I don't care for the CONQUEST class at all. The SPLENDOR has the best embarkation area I've ever experienced (you can also visit the QUEEN MARY in the embarkation area). The SPIRIT does the lower Mexican Riviera which was fascinating for me. Pics of both below in my webshots.

Whatever your selection, enjoy your cruise.

[quickrate]

This is a tough one! I too love the Spirit class ship but not sure I would want to do 15 days on the Mexican Riveria even tho they are all different ports. Also, changing ships would not be attractive to me. I'm not overly fond of Conquest class ships either but so love the waters of the Carribean and the ports. Have you considerated doing a BtoB on the Miracle out of Florida? Great ports and great ship! A perfect combination
Pat

[aggieastrosfan]

Originally Posted by glrounds

I'm obviously biased, but I'd stick with the SPLENDOR (new) and the SPIRIT (my favorite class of ship). I don't care for the CONQUEST class at all. The SPLENDOR has the best embarkation area I've ever experienced (you can also visit the QUEEN MARY in the embarkation area). The SPIRIT does the lower Mexican Riviera which was fascinating for me. Pics of both below in my webshots.

Whatever your selection, enjoy your cruise.

I should be biased, but I'd pick Splendor/Spirit over Conquest anyday. The Splendor is my favorite ship, and the Conquest itinerary is boring (well, to me, anyway). Not to mention the crowding the Conquest ports will experience.

I imagine it's a bit of a pain to change ships, but I'd say the itinerary difference between the two makes it well worth it.

[MaiTaiMary]

Honestly, if I flew all the way from Australia to San Diego just to do a Mexican Riviera cruise, I'd be pretty disappointed. I've done the Cabo, Mazatlan, Puerto Vallarto cruise and am doing the Acapulco, Manzanillo, Zihuatanejo cruise next year, but that's only because the port is a 30 minute drive from my house! *lol* The ship looks great and I'm very excited for the cruise, but I just don't find the Western side of Mexico to be worth any flight. Which ports would you visit on the Conquest?

[aggieastrosfan]

Originally Posted by MaiTaiMary

Honestly, if I flew all the way from Australia to San Diego just to do a Mexican Riviera cruise, I'd be pretty disappointed. I've done the Cabo, Mazatlan, Puerto Vallarto cruise and am doing the Acapulco, Manzanillo, Zihuatanejo cruise next year, but that's only because the port is a 30 minute drive from my house! *lol* The ship looks great and I'm very excited for the cruise, but I just don't find the Western side of Mexico to be worth any flight. Which ports would you visit on the Conquest?

LOL, I could say the same for the Conquest ports! One route would be Montego Bay, Cayman, and Cozumel, the other leg would be Key West, Nassau, and Freeport.

I think the OP needs to get opinions from people who aren't local to either of these ships.

[quickrate]

I did give my opinion-if possible, do a BtoB on the Miracle!
Pat

[lovetocruise74]

Thanks so much for everyone's opinion- greatly appreciated, and obviously there are pro's and con's on each side. The reason we hadn't shortlisted anything departing from Fort Lauderdale or Miami is simply due to travel time. We have a 5 year old, and the 13 hour flight from Aust to LAX is long enough without adding on another 5-6 hours.

I would be interested in hearing what it is about the Conquest that some of you don't like as much as other Carnival ships. Can anyone elaborate more on that??

Many thanks.

[cascole]

Originally Posted by lovetocruise74

Thanks so much for everyone's opinion- greatly appreciated, and obviously there are pro's and con's on each side. The reason we hadn't shortlisted anything departing from Fort Lauderdale or Miami is simply due to travel time. We have a 5 year old, and the 13 hour flight from Aust to LAX is long enough without adding on another 5-6 hours.

I would be interested in hearing what it is about the Conquest that some of you don't like as much as other Carnival ships. Can anyone elaborate more on that??

Many thanks.

With a 5yo in tow... try the Spirit/Splendor routes - and throw in a day or two at Sea World, the zoo, Disney, Knotts or Universal Studios. That would be my recomendation! (I love the Caribbean, but I have a 5yo as well & would very much be ready to be done flying!)

[firefly333]

Originally Posted by lovetocruise74

I would be interested in hearing what it is about the Conquest that some of you don't like as much as other Carnival ships. Can anyone elaborate more on that??

Many thanks.

I dont think the Splendor is very much different than the Conquest, just newer. Many love the Conquest class and thats the only class they will cruise, okgirl from the Crazies and others, so there are some who love that class... but I dont feel there is that much difference between the two ships, just Splendor is newer.

Depends on how important the ports are to you. I did a B2B on the Conquest late Sept, and the pros are that you dont have to leave the ship, except briefly, they gave us new S&S cards in the atrium, then thru customs and back on.

The folks on the ship knew me by the end of the first week and I had workers who I didnt even recognize coming up asking if I hadnt just been on the week before and some I had made friends with from trivia and ping pong, some of the dancers ran ping pong, got to know the dancers, that was fun. Camp Carnival will know your kids, the ports were so so, we liked Key West more than usual and found some bargains, I bought like $100 of "stuff" I didnt plan on. $10 navy blue hoodies, stuff like that.

A B2B on the same ship is fun I think.

[firefly333]

Some other comments on my B2B on Conquest, we got a bottle of champagne and a large fruit basket, with nuts and dried fruit as a B2B gift from the hotel director on Conquest.

The matre d' came to us the last night in the dining room and wanted to know if we had a special request for the 2nd leg, he would have put us anywhere at any size table we wanted, as part of doing a B2B on Conquest.

[quickrate]

I think both Fire and Cascole have very valid points. And I definetly understand not wanting to add 5 hours to your flying time with a 5 year old. One advantage to the BtoB on the Conquest is all the staff will get to know you and your 5 year old will be very comfortable with camp Carnival. She[orhe] wouldn't have to get use to a new ship and staff. Something to say for that.
Pat

[lovetocruise74]

Thanks again everyone for your input. If we do end up doing the Conquest B2B, is there a major theme park of some description in Houston that you would recommend? We would probably have to miss doing Disneyland or Universal Studios if we don't stay around LA and it just seems wrong to get all the way to California and not do something like that!

[aggieastrosfan]

Originally Posted by lovetocruise74

Thanks again everyone for your input. If we do end up doing the Conquest B2B, is there a major theme park of some description in Houston that you would recommend?

Not anymore. Our theme park abruptly shut down in 2005. I was pregnant so I didn't even get to go one last time.

Being from Houston, I honestly have a hard time suggesting what the "to do" things are. I know Space Center/NASA is popular with cruisers, as is Moody Gardens in Galveston. The Kemah Boardwalk area is nice, and has quite a few rides for the kids (and a few for the adults, including a wooden roller coaster).

Some people are fascinated with the downtown tunnels, but having worked down there for years and using them every day, it's hard for me to see the fascination with it.

Any TexMex restaurant is a must-visit - Ninfa's and Pappasito's are two of the best, but there's tons of local ones. The BBQ around here isn't too bad, either.

I think someone who's visited the city might have more to contribute than someone who lives around it every day and has no idea what would be interesting to see for an out-of-towner.

Then again, I may just be clueless - we're trying the Splendor for a 2nd time in October, since we were on the swine flu cruise the first time, and while we're going to try and take our then 5 year old to Disney Land this time, it's the only thing we can think of in the area to do for us.

[firefly333]

Originally Posted by lovetocruise74

Thanks again everyone for your input. If we do end up doing the Conquest B2B, is there a major theme park of some description in Houston that you would recommend? We would probably have to miss doing Disneyland or Universal Studios if we don't stay around LA and it just seems wrong to get all the way to California and not do something like that!

Before my cruising days, we used to rent one of those houses on stilts on Galveston beach for a long weekend and play on the beach and fry up a bunch of shrimp for dinner. I dont know if they still sell shrimp in the strand in Galveston, probably not, but the beach is still there. If you like beach time. Rent a fishing boat and go out.

go to galveston.com for some ideas of what to do in Galveston.

[xitappers2bx]

i have a 5 year old as well, and she is SOO into outter space... we're doing the pride out of baltimore, which makes a stop at port canaveral and since my mum told her about the nasa tour she's been begging me for weeks...


to get your 5 year old interested you could google 'outter space' and just let s/he explore around... my daughter can spend a good deal of time just looking at saturns moons (and now can name a good deal of them)

[firefly333]

I think Calif might be a easier port to get to the cruise port from, Galveston isnt so easy ... that might be a consideration too.

[JRock59]

I vote for the B2B on the Conquest. If you haven't been to the Ports of call you'll truly enjoy them. And B2B on the same ship id really enjoyable for all the reasons stated in another post. She's a nice ship a bit confusing at first but I think all ships are! We leave on her Sunday for the Eastern route planning on taking lots of photos! Will be our 3rd Cruise on her. Here's some links that might help you decide:

http://boards.cruisecritic.com/showthread.php?t=1067709 this is a GREAT review of the Eastern route by Host Mach

http://www.galveston.com/default.asp website of Galveston Island the Conquest is in port on Sundays and you can see her on the Cruise Cam

http://www.moodygardens.com/ Great attraction lots of fun there is also a water park on the island and lots of beaches.

IMHO staying right on the Island for a few days is a wonderful pre-cruise holiday and youd find lots to do! Good luck and let us know what you decide.

[cruisekwazee]

The Conquest is an awesome ship and I don't think you would be disappointed in the ports at all. I haven't been on the other ships so I can't comment. You can't go wrong either way in my opinion because you will be on a Cruise!!!!!!

[yogi2929]

Originally Posted by cascole

With a 5yo in tow... try the Spirit/Splendor routes - and throw in a day or two at Sea World, the zoo, Disney, Knotts or Universal Studios. .............

Add Legoland to your list. It is in Carlsbad, just north of San Diego. A very lowkey amusement park. San Diego Wild Animal Park is also nice.

The West Coast boards have a lot of info.

One thing to think about is how to get from LA to San Diego. The cities are too close for air. The train is a great way to go. It follows the coastline.