Conquest May 2-LONG Review

Let me start by saying what a fantastic time we had. This was the perfect way to get married and spend out honeymoon and we will always remember the experience.

Embarkation day:

We got to the terminal parking lot around 12:30. There weren't too many people around yet so we were able to get a fairly close parking spot and get our bags to the porter in a short period of time. Once inside the terminal we were checked in pretty quickly through the FunPass lane (these girls/guys really move you through fast) and then we were sent to pick up our S&S cards. After doing that we were herded to a sitting area where we waited maybe 15 minutes and then were called back to a second sitting area where we waited a total of 10 minutes. We had our embarkation picture taken quickly and then headed up the ramp to the boat. Upon arriving on the Lobby deck we were VERY impressed. This is such a beautiful ship. I really can't say enough about how beautiful and well kept it was. It was around 1:30 at this point and while they had told us we probably wouldn't be able to get into our room until after 2:00 we tried anyway because we were curious as to where we were. Go to our room and were ecstatic to see we had been upgraded from an OV GTY to a balcony cabin on the Verandah deck. Our room steward, who I never caught his name, was right outside the room and greeted us immediately. He proved to be wonderful through the entire trip. After settling in and unpacking our carry ons's we set out to explore the ship. Thanks goodness for those little deck plan things they give you! The ship is HUGE!!! I just marveled at the size. Later that week our wedding photographer, Jason, told us Carnival is planning a ship that is 70% larger than the Conquest class...I really can't imagine.

We did the spa tour and I booked all my girly stuff for the week: hair, pedicure, massage, facial...and even managed to book hubby a mani and pedi...haha! (He enjoyed it immensely!). We then headed to the Lido deck for some fun: drinks of the day, calypso music, etc. It was really neat seeing the NO skyline from the boat. We got some great pictures and had a couple of drinks. We had early seating dinner (which proved to be great for us) so we headed in to get freshened up pretty early. We found all our bags had been delivered so we finished our unpacking, dressed for dinner and then headed to the dining room. We were seated at a table for 4 with another couple who were our age and on their honeymoon as well. Our head waiter, Asep from Indonesia, and team waiter, Fu Xiang from China, were WONDERFUL. I will truly miss these guys. They were so good to us throughout our entire cruise and really made eating a memorable and enjoyable experience. Dinner was delicious! I was very impressed since I know these guys have to mass produce food for over 3,000 people and the presentation was always beautiful. Our water glasses were always full and everyone was so attentive. Right after dinner started we had sailed off and we didn’t even notice until looking out the window halfway through dinner and saw that we were indeed moving.

After dinner we headed back to our room because frankly we were EXHAUSTED from having gotten up at 6:00 and having had gone to a wedding till the wee hours the night before. We ended up falling asleep around 8:00 and not waking back up even though we swore we were just taking a nap and were going to wake up to watch the cruise directors show. I hate that we missed it because after watching it on TV the next day it was a riot!

Monday-Day at Sea

We woke up pretty early (around 7:00) since we had went to bed so early the night before and headed down to breakfast. We were seated at a large table with some older couples who were so nice. They were so excited to hear that we were getting married in Jamaica and asked us a ton of questions. Breakfast was really good and again the wait staff was so wonderful. We then explored the ship a bit more and found out where all the big stuff was (the Toulouse Lautrec lounge, Henri’s, the casino…ha-ha!) and then went to see what was going on the Lido deck. The skies were overcast and pretty cloudy but there were people lying out all over the place. We found some chairs and just hung out for a while enjoying the breeze. We had lunch at the buffet and the food quality was OK. Nothing nearly as impressive as the dining room but the hamburgers were really good we found out later that day. After lunch we went and had a couple’s massage—I can not even tell you how much we enjoyed this. It was heavenly. I then had my hair done for formal night and we rushed to get dressed for dinner. Dinner was so much this first formal night. After dessert was brought out we were entertained by our wait staff serenading us in Italian. It was so great. I had the prime rib for the main course and it was cooked perfectly and tasted wonderful. Jamie (hubby) had the lobster and he too said it was wonderful. Before he had a chance to finish the first, Asep had brought him out a second plate of lobster without Jamie even asking. Jamie managed to eat them both!

After dinner we went and had some pictures taken and then headed to the lounge to watch the first Las Vegas show which turned out to be pretty entertaining. We then went and had a couple of drinks at Henri’s and then headed in for the night where we enjoyed some wine on our balcony just listening to the sounds of the sea.

Tuesday-Day at Sea 2

Got up at 8:00 and the sun was shining BRIGHTLY! The water was already much bluer than the muddy Mississippi and Gulf and we were getting excited. We ate breakfast on the Lido and then grabbed a chair. It was a good thing we did this early because by 9:30 there wasn’t a chair in site. We sunned (and got pretty sunburned!) until lunch and then ate a quick lunch at the buffet again. This time I tried P.C.’s Wok and it was really good. W enjoyed many drinks of the day that morning and were feeling good. They had a great calypso band and it was a riot watching everyone dance. We headed to our room after this and then I headed to the spa yet again for my facial while hubby went to the casino. My facial was heaven and hubby even managed to win $20. After showers we went and got hooked up at the internet café so we could e-mail home and brag about what a wonderful time we were having and found out internet service cost an arm and a leg ($55 for 100 minutes that we never used all of). We then had tea at Alfred’s which was a nice experience and then headed up to get ready for dinner. Dinner was outstanding again and we were entertained this night by dancing and it was hilarious! Fu Xiang was then referred to as Ricky Martin for the rest of the trip! We watched the R&B show and it was GREAT. This was so much fun. This guy was a wonderful entertainer. We went to bed early as we were getting married in the morning so we needed out beauty sleep.

Wednesday-Montego Bay

We were up at 7:00, unable to sleep with all the excitement! We ordered breakfast from room service and went ahead and showered. I had a hair appointment at 9:00 to get all dolled up so I headed to the spa (see a pattern here? Lol!). Jenny was my hairstylist and she did a fantastic job with my hair, headpiece and veil. She was so interesting and we talked the whole time. I loved her accent (she was from England) and we really had a great time. She caught me up on all the crew gossip and we laughed the whole time. I had booked the Sunglow makeup treatment for face and then Jenny was going to apply my makeup but I ended up redoing it…just my preference and I will say that the SunGlo is not worth the $45 extra dollars. Just my opinion though. It was JUST a bronzer and even though they gave me the bronzer it just wasn’t worth it in my opinion. At 15 till 11:00 our coordinator knocked on our door and asked if we were ready to go and then took us down to the gangway to meet our photographer, Jason. We were given special treatment and didn’t even have to go through security or wait in line ïŠ Our pre arranged taxi was waiting and took us into Jamaica and up to Richmond Hill’s. Our ceremony was beautiful and although it was hot as well you know, we really enjoyed everything. The view was breathtaking. Everything went so smoothly and the minister was really nice. We were taken back to the ship by taxi and our photographer took tons of pictures around the ship. We then changed and headed out to the terminal to do some shopping. We weren’t harassed nearly as much as we expected. I think I was asked if I wanted my hair braided about 5 times and we were asked if we wanted to buy “something to have a good time with†once or twice. We ended up with a good deal on Rum-3 bottles for $30 including a bottle of banana Rum cream which is SO good in coffee. Got some other souvenirs and then headed back to the boat. Getting back on was pretty easy and we had to check our alcohol until we left. We went and grabbed a hamburger on the Lido deck and waited until we sailed away. We then went back to our room and watched everything from our balcony and ended up ordering room service for dinner that night….

Thursday-Grand Cayman

We were up early as we needed one of the first tender’s off the boat since we had booked the snorkel/stingray tour through Soto’s (they were FANTASTIC!!! I left a review of this trip on the ports of call board). Getting an early tender was very easy. We just went down to the lounge about 7:00am and got a number and as soon as they were ready we were sent to the gangway and got on the boat. We even had time to spare so we found a coffee shop and grabbed some coffee and banana bread and then headed to meet our pickup. I really can not say enough about the great time we had with Soto’s and the snorkeling/stingray tour. They were so hands on as we were in a small group of about 10 and it was just an amazing experience. I can’t wait to go back and we have decided our next vacation we are just going to spend a week in GC because it was so beautiful. WE had lunch at the Hard Rock café and then did some souvenir shopping. Cayman wasn’t like Jamaica regarding prices but we managed to get some nice stuff at pretty good prices. We caught the tender back around 2:30 and then grabbed some drinks on the Lido deck and listened to the band play as everyone got back on the boat and we sailed away. Since this was the second formal night we headed in to get dressed pretty early and then made our way down to dinner. Again, FANTASTIC. Our waiters again danced and sang for us and it was a riot. We even got up and danced at Fu Xiang request and had a GREAT time. We watched another Las Vegas show that night that was pretty good. Then after an exhausting day we passed out….it amazing how much we were drained by the end of the day.

Friday-Cozumel

We watched the ship dock where we were greeted by a Mexican patrol boat with two scary looking guys with machine guns. Got some great pictures of that for our photo album I am going to title welcome to Mexico. When we were able to get off the ship we grabbed a taxi and went Playa Sol beach ($14-admission $10 a piece). We sunned and swam out to the water trampolines. We rented a jet ski for about half an hour and that was a great time. We headed out when all the tour boats started to arrive. We took a taxi downtown to do some shopping and all I can say is I probably could do without ever doing that again. Everyone was so terribly pushy and yes they would really bargain with your but man it was aggravating having someone trying to usher you into every store you passed. We had enough and grabbed lunch at Carlos and Charlie’s which a riot was. Lunch was so-so but the margaritas in the yard glass were great. The shot girls were hilarious and this is definitely something to experience while in Cozumel. We then took a taxi back to the boat and took a nap. Dinner was Phenomenal again and we bought the Carnival recipe, entertaining, and drink books from Fu Xiang because who could say no? He got them autographed by everyone for us: the maitre de, Asep, the head chef, the hostess, and of course himself. They were really nice because everyone wrote something special like “happy honeymoon†in their own language and it will truly be something we keep forever. We were serenaded by the “Happy Honeymoon†song and had to kiss during each pause. The whole dining room got involved and it was hilarious. We heard “KISSY KISSY†everywhere we went for the rest of the trip. We made the show that night which was a magic act by Deja that was pretty interesting and then went and boogied at Henri’s and had way to much to drink. We had been given a complimentary bottle of champagne at dinner where we drank the whole thin so needless to say I was a bit sick that night, not to mention DRUNK! ïŠ

Saturday-Day at Sea and LAST DAY ïŒ

The boat was ROCKING like crazy. The movement had people sick everywhere. We stayed in bed late, ordered room service and really didn’t do anything except pack until our manicure/pedicure appointment. We had dinner, watched the show and then headed to bed. The night before had really kicked our butts. Dinner that night was again a lot of fun and we danced again despite the way we were feeling. We were so sad to see our waiters for the last time and made sure to give them a generous extra tip for the wonderful service we had.

Sunday-Debarkation

This went smoothly. We were all packed and ready to go and we just waited around on the Lido deck for our color tags to be called. We ate breakfast while we waited and around 8:00 they were letting people off the boat. We were off by 9:00 and getting off the boat and going through customs was a breeze. We found our bags pretty easily and a ported as right there to take everything out for us.

Other tidbits:

-Stuart Little, cruise director, was hilarious!!!! He had us in stitches the entire cruise with his jokes and antics. I think that was his last cruise and he is being replaced now because he was temporary but he was GREAT!

-Get to know all the crew you can. They have the most interesting stories to tell and we enjoyed them more than anyone else we met on the trip.

-Formal pictures—take all that you can. These photographers do such a wonderful job. Make sure you stop by Jason (he takes the piano photos on the Promenade deck) and tell him we said hello ïŠ

-Do the stingray tour. You won’t forget it.

-Bring lots of money!!!

-Bring fewer clothes!

-Relax and you will have fun. Ignore the stupid groups of 16 who make ignorant comments while in line waiting for pictures and ask you to take a gazillion pictures of them with EVERY person in their family.

-Tip extra for Great service.

-Bring No doze so you can stay up late at night so you don’t miss the midnight buffets because we weren’t able to catch one and we heard they were outstanding.

-Most of all HAVE FUN!

Sounds like you had an awesome time. Congrats on your new marriage! Thanks for the review.

Congrats, it sounds like you started things out a fun way. Thanks for the detailed review, worth the reading. I wish all the best to you two love birds. Hope to see you around sometime. Theresa

12/11 Carnival Holiday Mobile, AL to Mexico

Oh what a great way to start out your life together!

Thanks for taking the time to post such a detailed review...I was looking for current Conquest info just the other day...now I have it!

Happy Cruising

Chris

www.LifeIsCruising.com

Next up:

Caribbean Princess 06/26/04

Star Princess 10/24/04

Diamond Princess 12/22/04

Carnival Miracle 03/13/05

Thank you, thank you, thank you for such a great review. I am SO glad you had an awesome time!

I wish you all the happiness in the world!

I believe in Miracles

MIRACLE JUNE 19, 2004

Calm Seas, Good Friends

I really enjoyed your review, I am going on the Conquest in June and was looking for info, this was the best yet! Now I am really getting excited! and who knows, maybe this will be the cruise that my beau will propose, opps, I hope hes not reading this one, Anyway, what a nice way to start a life together, what better way than a beautiful cruise, where they pamper you. Congrats! and Thanks again

Triumph 7/02

Legend 7/03

Conquest 6/04

goingtothechapel: your review brought back some very wonderful memories for me as my husband and I were married on the Conquest in April. We also had an upgrade from OC to a balcony room on the Verandah deck (cabin # 8392) - wasn't it wonderful to sit on the balcony and drink wine with your husband? Our photographer was also Jason, he is great. We also spent time talking with the Carnival employees that interacted with us, they do have some really great stories to share...and the "happy honeymoon" song which our wait staff sang to us at dinner was cute. Stuart Little made us laugh so much our sides hurt at times. It sounds like you and your husband had a great time like we did. My husband and I went through cruise withdrawals after our honeymoon, cannot wait to take another one!

Congrats and best wishes for a happy future!

Married on Carnival Conquest 04/04/04

New Orleans, LA

7 Day Western Carribean Cruise

Thank you everyone for your well wishes It was really a great experiance and we too having cruise withdrawls. It was hard getting used to putting our own napkins in our laps at dinner time. I am sure we will take many a cruise on the Conquest for anniversaries.

To those of you going soon: I am so jealous! Enjoy because it goes by all too fast!

Magical Love: How neat that you too had Jason as your photographer! He took wonderful pictures for us and yes we bought them ALL. LOL!

I am glad everyone really enjoyed my review. After rereading a second time I get PCD all over again

Thanks!!! I posted some questions for you on the port of call for Grand Cayman area. I can't wait till our Conquest!

Our 2004 Conquest!!!

Isabel (yaya name: Duchess Baby of the Family)

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Nov 7th 2004 Conquest

Nov 2nd 2003 NCL Dream

Nov 22nd 2002 Conquest

May 2001 Inspiraton

March 1999 Celebration

goingtothechapel... i really enjoyed reading your review. thanks for all the great details and info. You mentioned that arriving back in NO that people were getting off the ship around 8:00 a.m. and you were off at 9:00 a.m. Did you go straight to the airport? If so, what time did you arrive at the airport? I have not booked my flight for my 9/19 trip, because I can't decide what to do. My TA says I will have no problem making the 10:45 flight and from what I've read, it sounds like I can be off the ship at 8:00 with my luggage in hand. Any advice is appreciated. I really don't want to wait for the 5:30 flight back to Nashville, as I will have been away from my DH and 3 little ones for 9 days as it is!!!

Girls Only Conquest!

Sensation Family Cruise

QTPieRye, we just got off the Conquest yesterday. If you have a morning flight you go to the Purser's desk with your flight documentation and they give you VIP tickets to disembark first.

Check out our pictures: http://community.webshots.com/user/natron24

Premier Royale 7/87

Sovereign of the Seas 11/90

Enchanted Seas 4/91

Ecstasy 11/91

Celebration 6/92

Crown Princess 11/92

Enchanted Seas 12/92

Tropicale 6/93

Crown Princess 11/93

Enchanted Seas 12/93

Celebration 6/94

Regal Princess 10/94

Enchanted Seas 12/94

Tropicale 4/95

Regal Princess 10/95

Enchanted Isle 5/96

Enchanted Isle 8/96

Crown Princess 10/96

Nieuw Amsterdam 4/97

Enchanted Isle 9/97

Celebration 10/97

Enchanted Isle 4/98

Norwegian Star 7/98

Celebration 11/98

Enchanted Isle 12/98

Norwegian Sea 5/99

Enchanted Isle 11/99

Enchanted Isle 5/00

Destiny 11/00

Inspiration 5/01

Celebrity Century 11/01

Explorer of the Seas 11/02

Carnival Conquest 5/03

Rhapsody of the Seas 11/03

Carnival Conquest 5/04

Sun Princess 11/04

Ronath.... great pictures from 2003. Did you find the ship to be as beautiful the second time around? I see you are in New Orleans, therefore I assume you did not need to go to the airport... However, you are a perfect person to ask: How long does it take to get from the pier to the airport? I am convinced that if I can get off the ship by 8:30 I will be fine. What do you think?

Girls Only Conquest!

Sensation Family Cruise

QTPieRye, yes the ship was still just as good, not too much wear and tear. It was just as we remembered it. Will try and post some new pictures sometime this week. As for your ride to the airport, it should take about 1/2 hour on a Sunday. Your only problem will be how long it takes before they let you off. Yesterday they started around 8:00 in which case you'd have no problem as you'd be one of the first to go off. (Just make sure and go to the purser on Friday or Saturday with your airline tix to get your VIP tags.) BUT, if they start late you may have a problem. They won't let people off until all foreign passengers have cleared with customs. If you have any that are slow or late that will hold everyone up. Don't mean to scare you but there could be a possibility that you'd not get off the ship until 9:00 or so, although it's probably slim.

Check out our pictures: http://community.webshots.com/user/natron24

Premier Royale 7/87

Sovereign of the Seas 11/90

Enchanted Seas 4/91

Ecstasy 11/91

Celebration 6/92

Crown Princess 11/92

Enchanted Seas 12/92

Tropicale 6/93

Crown Princess 11/93

Enchanted Seas 12/93

Celebration 6/94

Regal Princess 10/94

Enchanted Seas 12/94

Tropicale 4/95

Regal Princess 10/95

Enchanted Isle 5/96

Enchanted Isle 8/96

Crown Princess 10/96

Nieuw Amsterdam 4/97

Enchanted Isle 9/97

Celebration 10/97

Enchanted Isle 4/98

Norwegian Star 7/98

Celebration 11/98

Enchanted Isle 12/98

Norwegian Sea 5/99

Enchanted Isle 11/99

Enchanted Isle 5/00

Destiny 11/00

Inspiration 5/01

Celebrity Century 11/01

Explorer of the Seas 11/02

Carnival Conquest 5/03

Rhapsody of the Seas 11/03

Carnival Conquest 5/04

Sun Princess 11/04