Just off Conquest 2-28-16

[funinthesun1964]

I just am off Conquest on Sunday, we had a nice 8 day cruise which visited Grand Turk, La Romana DR, Curacao, and Aruba.

 

It was nice, weather was cloudy and windy and ship was a little "rocky" but we made it just fine! On the return to Fort Lauderdale, it seemed a bit smoother.

 

We did an excursion at each of the ports with the exception of Curacao. We just walked around the port area/town and had a couple of drinks there.

 

Would be happy to answer any questions if I am able.

[bankofdad]

Thanks for posting! How was your embarkation and debarkation experience at Port Everglades? Did you do FTTF? Did you choose to park at the port or one of the neighboring park n cruise locations?

 

Thanks in advance for commenting!!!

[funinthesun1964]

Thanks for posting! How was your embarkation and debarkation experience at Port Everglades? Did you do FTTF? Did you choose to park at the port or one of the neighboring park n cruise locations?

 

Thanks in advance for commenting!!!

 

Hi! I will answer your question in reverse order:

 

We did not have to park since we flew in and stayed at Sleep Inn and Suites in Dania Beach, FL. We took the shuttle the hotel offered for $10 per person. There was a bike race with diverted traffic, road construction on the way, massive traffic, and the port area was a mess with several ships in port. So it worked out better this way for us, taxi service is on a meter - so the longer in the car = $$$$.

 

Even with the mess of traffic jams and back-ups in the port (our shuttle service van had to drop off some at the Royal Caribbean ship, one at the Norwegian ship, then those of us on the Conquest), it was no problem once we were in the Carnival terminal. We went to check in without problem and waited a short time. We are platinum so we did not purchase FTTF, we were on board sometime around noon, maybe slightly before. Our room was ready and we dropped off a carry-on bag.

 

Debarkation was fairly easy. The cruise director had announced the night before that we would be back at Port Everglades around 6:30 AM, and he was right. If we had wanted to, we could have carried off our bags and been off before 7. However, we had a later flight and we waited until 10:30 or 10:45 to debark. We had a slight wait in line to get through customs - maybe 20 min., and from there took a cab to the airport.

[LaCal]

How was the muster drill? And the casino if you gambled?

 

Thx

[funinthesun1964]

How was the muster drill? And the casino if you gambled?

 

Thx

 

Muster drill was same as always, don't remember anything that was out of the ordinary. It seemed to pass by quickly. We were out on deck for sailaway.

 

I went to the casino just a minimal amount, but unfortunately it was NOT good to me. One slot machine gave me back some, but it went right out the window again! It would have been much more fun if I would have won! I'm sure someone on the ship came out ahead....just wasn't me.

[CanPan]

How were the new Fun Shops onboard?

[funinthesun1964]

How were the new Fun Shops onboard?

 

Really, they seemed about the same to me. The only thing that I noticed that was different was the cheap costume jewelry. They did have some costume jewelry, but not the same cheapo brand they had in there before...forget the brand name. Not as much of it. And I didn't notice the $10 junk, or the watch sale.

[Clarea]

Interesting itinerary, thanks for posting.

[Keith1010]

Glad you had a nice cruise.

 

Welcome home.

 

Keith

[arubacabo]

What excursions did you do at each port?

[Clarea]

Were you able to dock inside the floating bridge in Curacao, or at the mega pier?

[Folsom]

I would be interested in your extrusions as well, since we have the same intenerary in April. Also any thoughts on the piano bar?

 

Thanks

-F-

[jamscckmc]

I'm also doing this itinerary next month. I heard they have a new ventilation system in the casino. Did you notice a difference in the smoke?

[harleygirl4rb]

Could you share your Funtimes with us? Thank you

[LaCal]

I'm also doing this itinerary next month. I heard they have a new ventilation system in the casino. Did you notice a difference in the smoke?

 

Also interested in the above question?

[funinthesun1964]

What excursions did you do at each port?

 

At Grand Turk, I guess we really didn't do an excursion -- we went to visit the exhibit on the rocket landing...

 

 

 

 

Then we laid on the beach for a while, ending up at Jack's shack for drinks and some jerk chicken for me and conch fritters for hubby.

 

 

At La Romana DR, we had signed up for a private excursion for a Rio Chavon River tour. It was really nice, we ended up at a secluded little place for a full lunch, did a little hike and a little kayak ride on the river. I give that tour an excellent rating!

 

 

 

[funinthesun1964]

In Curacao, we walked around the port area and then around the floating bridge that is pushed away for boats to get through...it was interesting. We stopped off at a couple local cafes to get a drink. We did a lot of walking that day, that's for sure! It was cloudy and windy that day.

 

 

 

 

And in Aruba, we rented Trikes. Again, this was done ahead of time and we met the tour operator right outside of the port. We had fun!

 

 

[funinthesun1964]

Were you able to dock inside the floating bridge in Curacao, or at the mega pier?

 

At the pier.

[funinthesun1964]

I would be interested in your extrusions as well, since we have the same intenerary in April. Also any thoughts on the piano bar?

 

Thanks

-F-

 

There was someone named Tommy G at the piano bar and unfortunately, he was not engaging or fun. This was our opinion only, and maybe other people thought differently. However, we did notice open stools right at the piano bar on a couple of different occasions. Usually not a good indication.

[funinthesun1964]

I'm also doing this itinerary next month. I heard they have a new ventilation system in the casino. Did you notice a difference in the smoke?

 

Sorry to say, still smoky in the casino. Especially on the side where they allow smoking and at the bar.

[funinthesun1964]

Could you share your Funtimes with us? Thank you

 

I will look around the house after work today to see if I still have the Funtimes. If so, I will scan them for you.

[Folsom]

There was someone named Tommy G at the piano bar and unfortunately, he was not engaging or fun. This was our opinion only, and maybe other people thought differently. However, we did notice open stools right at the piano bar on a couple of different occasions. Usually not a good indication.

 

Thanks for taking the time to reply.

-F-

[CRJ700]

How was the live music? We were on at the end of Jan and there was no cover band. They had a guitar solo guy, a roving accordion player a bass trio and a string trio. Nothing really you could dance to. :mad:

[funinthesun1964]

How was the live music? We were on at the end of Jan and there was no cover band. They had a guitar solo guy, a roving accordion player a bass trio and a string trio. Nothing really you could dance to. :mad:

 

There was a woman solo guitar player usually near the casino bar (she was also at VIFP party), the roving accordion player (we liked him, he was fun!), a brass group which played upon entrance to the MDR at dining time, also was a string group. There was also some other band which played in the atrium lounge but didn't really pay too much attention to them. Not sure who they were. The was a duo playing island music on the lido for a while every day.

 

I would have much rather had a band on near the casino bar rather than a soloist, as they have had in the past. I guess it's cheaper to pay one person rather than an entire band?

[soopamanluva]

At Grand Turk, I guess we really didn't do an excursion -- we went to visit the exhibit on the rocket landing...

 

 

 

 

Then we laid on the beach for a while, ending up at Jack's shack for drinks and some jerk chicken for me and conch fritters for hubby.

 

 

At La Romana DR, we had signed up for a private excursion for a Rio Chavon River tour. It was really nice, we ended up at a secluded little place for a full lunch, did a little hike and a little kayak ride on the river. I give that tour an excellent rating!

 

 

 

 

We are doing this same excursion in la Romana.... Sounds like we chose correctly