*** PHOTO Trip Journal aboard Carnival's CONQUEST (Sept. 2012, Caribbean) ***

Thanks for this MOST thorough review! Your pictures are fantastic!

 

I would never think to take some of these interesting shots you were able to capture. The expressions on some of the faces are stories in themselves.

I believe you capture the essence here: the OP intention is not to embarass the subject of the photo but more likely to capture a beautiful feature, an emotion, a fashion trend or something that stands out.

Moreover, the OP plays with the camera finding unusual frames or angles and that makes it special in our eyes.

Saturday was our last Fun Day at Sea and everyone was pretty much chilling...

didn't do much outside reading by the Pool (finished the book though!).

Skipped lunch and basically went straight for... desserts (and coffee)!

Desserts (Saturday, September 29th 2012 - Carnival's CONQUEST)

Saturday, our last Fun Day at Sea, was a GAME day, so most of the people were glued to the big screen TV that afternoon!

Last Fun Day at Sea aboard Carnival's CONQUEST (September 29, 2012)

VIDEO (watching the games on the big screen TV by the Pool):

The water slide proved to be FUN for everyone, regardless the age factor!

Exploring the CONQUEST ship on Saturday afternoon - the last Fun Day at Sea:

Exploring the CONQUEST ship on Saturday afternoon - the last Fun Day at Sea:

Exploring the CONQUEST ship on Saturday afternoon - the last Fun Day at Sea:

Our neighbor, like many others, enjoyed reading that Saturday afternoon:

LATOUR Bar looked different during daytime... shall be back later that evening!

One of the many colorful places aboard the ship

(that we often used for our personal photos' background)

More COLOR aboard Carnival's CONQUEST cruise ship!

Taking a break from all the colorful places to check out the meeting place for that Saturday afternoon "Cocktail Party:"

We will return soon to this Lounge for the "Cocktail Party" - one of the highlights of this cruise (for us)!

Note: For those who may remember, went on this Western Caribbean cruise for NOTHING because of the CruiseMiles (free cruise winner)!

Among the PERKS provided by this particular organized group:

- organized a "Costume Night" aboard (aka "Fancy Dress night") with special incentives for the winners;

- sponsored a Steakhouse dinner;

- organized a "Cocktail Party" and sponsored ALL the drinks for the entire event (around 2 full hours);

- provided marketing materials for the entired group (160-180+ people aboard the Conquest) such as t-shirts, magnets etc.

FYI - Last week, they received the "World's Leading Travel Rewards Program" 2012 award!

To avoid potential 'advertising' claims, you may want to briefly cover the 'Cocktail Party' event and quickly move on to the evening activities onboard.

To keep up with the cronology of the events that Saturday, we attended a private event in one of the Conquest's Lounges.

For the first time I've been part of an organized group aboard a cruise ship and the experience was pleasant overall.

The free booze during this Cocktail Party was enjoyed by many but the best memories involved the new friends we made

(not to mention reconnecting with awesome friends that we met on previous cruises).

Moving along, the activities aboard the CONQUEST were plenty on Saturday night and we enjoyed several of them!

Saturday night, we entered the Toulouse Lautrec Lounge as the Latin Dance Class was wrapping up (see image above).

Have been cruising for a while now, but never attended a "Gender showdown" type of activity,

so decided this time we should take time to see it aboard the Conquest.

Team Captains were chosen (for the girls and the boys team respectively) and the GAME was on!

Each team had to answer couple of challenging questions and the MEN were leading for most of the time that night!

The moderators from Carnival were trying hard to be engaging and entertaining, so they both deserve an "A" for effort!

The GENDER SHOWDOWN continued in the Toulouse Lautrec Lounge with more challenges and the MEN were really good and spot on

especially on some unexpected questions!

The girls were lacking some coordination that night and they did not seem to be as quick on their feet as their competitors!

The GENDER SHOWDOWN @ Toulouse Lautrec Lounge aboardCarnival's CONQUEST (September 29, 2012)

VIDEO (The balloons challenge @ the Gender showdown):

VIDEO (another entertaining challenge @ the Gender showdown):

With he moderator's help, the girls became the unexpected WINNERS as the last challenge weighted heavily,

allowing them to surpass the men who were basically leading the entire evening!

In the spirit of being FAIR PLAY, both teams received trophies (with the men kneeling down to handle the trophies to the winning girls).

VIDEO (the trophy presentation @ the Gender showdown):

Let's preface the next installment with a summary posted by a fellow cruisecritic member:

"we headed to the opposite end of the ship for the Legends show. Guests were chosen, I don't know how, I think from karaoke, to perform in this show, play the parts of music legends and sing abbreviated versions of their hits.

The show couldn't have lasted more than about 45 minutes. Really? That was the problem with the big shows on this ship. It seemed they were too short.

Oh, the Legends show...it was entertaining. Squishy and one girl from the entertainment staff did a funny Sonny & Cher. Gary, the CD, came out in the Dolly Parton outfit.

The guests were good.

4 claps."

The entire review is posted at http://boards.cruisecritic.com/showthread.php?t=1718256&page=3

Thanks, truby!

It's still Saturday and our Last Fun Day at Sea before disembarkation in NOLA...

As advertised, the "Carnival Legends" show proved to be very entertaining and we enjoyed it a lot!

Didn't take pictures though because I recorded most of the performances,

so I'm using the capture(s) to post the links for the VIDEOs.

First up, Carnival's own JAMES BROWN!

VIDEO (James Brown's performance @ Carnival Legends):

"I feel nice like sugar and spice!"

La La La : - ))

(after the talent show, we mingled with the STARS, so James Brown

was no exception @ Lobby 3 Atrium that evening)

The "Carnival Legends" show continued with Carnival's own ARETHA FRANKLIN!

VIDEO (Aretha Franklin's performance @ Carnival Legends):

Oh, boy! This lady was something else!

Where would you see a STAR shaking her booty on stage like her or kissing the ring with a smile that has DIVA read all over it!

Great FUN aboard the CONQUEST ship that night!

As Cruise Director Gary (from UK) would say:

"Ladies and gentlemen, put your hands together right now for the One and only, Sir ELTON JOHN" @ the "Carnival Legends!"

VIDEO (Elton John's performance @ Carnival Legends):

(after the talent show, we met & mingled with the STARS and Carnival's own

ELTON JOHN was @ Lobby 3 Atrium that evening too)

The Sonny & CHER segment of the "Carnival Legends" was indeed hillarious!

The young lady was GAME and the CD Assistant/Activities Manager Squishy (from UK) was very entertaining!

VIDEO (Sonny & CHER's performance @ Carnival Legends):

Great FUN overall!

(after the talent show, we mingled with the STARS and Carnival's own

CHER was @ Lobby 3 Atrium - without her dark wig)

The entertainment level rated pretty high on Saturday night @ the "Carnival Legends" show!

Still, the guests showcased their musical talent too

(while some proved to be more entertaining than others).

And a "talent show" must have a blonde, so Carnival's own BRITNEY SPEARS was singing that night,

taking the stage by storm @ the Toulouse Lautrec Lounge!

VIDEO (Britney Spears' performance @ Carnival Legends):

Shall we... sing along?!

Oh! "Hit me baby one more time!"

VIDEO (Madonna's' performance @ Carnival Legends):

From MADONNA's "Like a virgin" (and her entourage of Eye Candy in tight shorts) to...

Latin sensation RICKY MARTIN - "Livin' la vida loca" around sexy ballerinas!

What a FUN night we had aboard the CONQUEST!

VIDEO (Ricky Martin's' performance @ Carnival Legends):

It's time to go a little... COUNTRY ! : - ))

VIDEO (Dolly Parton's entertaining performance @ Carnival Legends):

From CD Gary's (from UK) parody of Dolly Parton to legendary GARTH BROOKS,

the night was a nice mixture of talent, passion and good laughs

(and even some teared eyes were spotted in the room that night)!

VIDEO (Garth Brooks' performance @ Carnival Legends):

'Cause I've got friends in low places

Where the whiskey drowns

And the beer chases my blues away

And I'll be okay !

Welcome back! Can't wait to see and listen to some more!