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Carnival Conquest Cruise Review to Caribbean - Southern

clark474

Contributor Level: Purser

Cruises: 7+ cruises

Review: 1

Helpful Votes: 39

Overall rating:

3.2 out of 5

Verified Review

8 Night Southern Caribbean (Ft. Lauderdale Roundtrip)

Sail date: September 16, 2017

Ship: Carnival Conquest

Cabin type: Inside

Cabin number: 8329

Traveled as: Couple

Reviewed: 7 years ago

Review summary

Our cruise changed itinerary twice. In the end, only one out of four of our original ports was kept. When our most prized port, the one we really bought the cruise for - Turk and Caicos - was cancelled due to hurricane damage, we were hoping to be given the opportunity to cancel. Since we didn’t have the option, we had to go on the cruise or lose our money, including airfare. While we were on the boat, another route change occurred. This time we were rerouted to Ocho Rios Jamaica and Grand Cayman, both of which we had already been to before. The route change did not make sense from a risk-avoidance standpoint. The change actually put us closer to Maria’s path instead of farther away from it! Curacao and Aruba are much further west than Ocho Rios and Grand Cayman and therefore farther away from Hurricane Maria’s path! Everyone we had talked to suspected that the change was to save money, not to avoid Hurricane Maria! Carnival took advantage of the hurricane threat to save money by sailing a much shorter route. The detour destinations were a cheaper substitute than the itinerary we purchased. We therefore feel cheated by the cruise line! Food and service on board were good, but the Music was sub-par. Every one of the bands, except for the Hispaniola Duo played for themselves rather than their customers they were supposed to entertain. Example, it was all 80’s music, very oldie, moldy, and they played the same thing over and over again. Example: We requested a romantic tune for dancing, and ten couples got up to dance. Instead of taking the cue, they went right back to the playlist they had after the requested song, making no changes to encourage the customers to dance. Very immature performers! The worst we have seen on any cruise and this is our 10th cruise!

Embarkation

2 out of 5

Long lines.

Ship experiences

Food and Dining

4 out of 5

Food & service were Good!

Onboard Activities

3 out of 5

Entertainment

2 out of 5

Music was sub-par. Every one of the bands, except for the Hispaniola Duo played for themselves rather than their customers they were supposed to entertain. Example, it was all 80’s music, very oldie, moldy, and they played the same thing over and over again. Example: We requested a romantic tune for dancing, and ten couples got up to dance. Instead of taking the cue, they went right back to the playlist they had after the requested song, making no changes to encourage the customers to dance. Very immature performers! The worst we have seen on any cruise and this is our 10th cruise!

Service and Staff

4 out of 5

Great service!!!

Ship Quality

3 out of 5

Cabin / Stateroom

2 out of 5

Poor Air conditioning in our cabin and sometimes unbearable that wakes you up at night.

Ship tip

Very Old ship and poor air conditioning.

Thumbs up

Ports of call

Ft. Lauderdale (Port Everglades), Florida Did not visit port

Just for embarkation

Thumbs Up 0

La Romana, Dominican Republic

4 out of 5

Altos Chavon and River boat cruise was great excursion!

Thumbs Up 0

Disembarkation

4 out of 5

Good!

18 Comments

Gwbigdog 1 year ago

Thanks for sharing

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thate1 7 years ago

Wow

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CajunCruiseDreamer 7 years ago

Save money or lives? Surely you and “everyone" meant lives not money. In reality, you were bummed that the weather caused you to miss the port you really wanted, and everything else was a disappointment.

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xina1999 7 years ago

No one said our opinion was supposed to effect you in any way. Being disappointed is fine-it's semantics and perspective. When someone has lost everything and entire islands are decimated-whining about missing your 'prized port' comes off as entitled and frankly bratty. If you are cool with that-awesome. Don't post on a public forum and your opinions won't be questioned. I mean shoot-you get a 7 day cruise, someone else lost everything-perspective isn't a bad thing

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Summerholiday 7 years ago

Sorry its not just a port change its a whole itinerary. We have been on cruises that have changed ports so what thats cruising ..but beg to differ this is different and I believe they should of been given an option ? to change there dates ?and I understand they being unhappy 😔 We have cancelled all flights and cruises as we had five cruises booked and international flights and did not want to end up at the same ports for five weeks ..but besides that it was our choose as we would of had to fly into san juan which is no going to happen ..you have your opinion and i have mine and if it rubs you up the wrong way ... too bad its doesn't effect me too each there own ...

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xina1999 7 years ago

TNT Green-glad it wasn't just me! I get being disappointed, but in light of what happened-this type of complaint just rubs me the wrong way

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TNTGreen 7 years ago

Xina1999 is correct about your "prized port"; what a selfish person you are!!!

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TNTGreen 7 years ago

Jitterbug You don't go on a cruise then; be it Carnival, RC, Holland or NCL it's in all of the cruise contracts. When you book if the ship still sails the exact length of the cruise (you book a 7 night and it's going 7 nights) why would any cruise line give you an option to cancel because of a port change?! That would put all the cruise lines out of business.

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jberg1007 7 years ago

I agree on the fact that I book a cruise on what ports it's going to but if your going during hurricane season than buy teavel insurance

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xina1999 7 years ago

Then perhaps trip insurance should have been purchased. And they could have cancelled-they would be out money, but they didn't have to get on the ship.

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Summerholiday 7 years ago

I totally agree with clark474 ...under the circumstances you should of been give the option of cancelling cruising is part of being flexible and it should not matter for change in a port but to change the whole itinerary is a different matter and people do look at where the ship is going that's all part of you making the discussion on which one you book. This situation was out of everyone's control cyclone season or not ... it's disappointing for you to be backed into a corner and not given an option ..

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jberg1007 7 years ago

I'm anxious to see Turks and caicos also but ports can change...its in the contract, especially during hurricane season. So you got to be flexible and go with whatever changes there will be and that way you make the most out of your cruise instead of complaining about it.

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junst 7 years ago

Don't book during hurricane season.

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woodworks32129 7 years ago

Geography is not always easy is it, they move the cruise to the west further away from the hurricane not closer.

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xina1999 7 years ago

Gotta add-this makes me rather upset. Your prized port? People had their homes destroyed, their livelihood taken away, but you are upset you didn't get to visit your 'prized port?' Wow-just wow

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xina1999 7 years ago

Gotta agree with TNT! If a specific port of that important maybe an all inclusive is the way to go. Read your cruise contract and purchase trip insurance. As for being a cheaper substitute, unless you have proof that's quite an accusation. Complaining and picking at everything because you were disappointed doesn't further your cause. A cruise is what you make of of. GC is gorgeous but if all you saw was 'we've already been there.' Well that's ok you. As for your music complaint-it's a big ship-go somewhere else. Carnival doesn't control the weather.

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banaford 7 years ago

Aruba and Curacao are actually southeast of Ocho Rios and Grand Caymen.

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TNTGreen 7 years ago

Do you not realize 'Ports are Subject to Change'? That is something you agreed to in your Cruise Contract. Don't book a cruise on any cruise line with primary reason being the ports; you may be disappointed especially if you're booking during peak hurricane season.

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Other reviews of this sailing

Absolutely incredible cruise on the Carnival Conquest. Amazing food, drinks and entertainment. Loved the 8 days and would go again in a heartbeat!!!!

great cruise

Would of been perfect except for the Hurricane and Bad Storm when we returned.