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Carnival Conquest Cruise Review to Caribbean - Eastern
Contributor Level:
Purser
Cruises: 1 cruise (first)
Review: 1
Helpful Votes: 64
6 Night Eastern Caribbean (Ft. Lauderdale Roundtrip)
Sail date: January 14, 2018
Ship: Carnival Conquest
Cabin type: Inside
Cabin number: 2245
Traveled as: Couple
Reviewed: 6 years ago
Review summary
My advice: Among other things… BRING CASH. You should really TIP the steward, servers, bartenders, porters and other staff you love at some point during your trip. Tips are included for certain staff, and even bartenders if you get "Cheers!" but most times they deserve extra. They work really hard. With cash you can give a personal tip to people who really went the extra mile for you. Embarkation: My husband and I had a very great experience. The embarkation process did not take long and our room was ready once we stepped on the ship. We went directly to our room and put some things away. I started unpacking and my husband slipped away saying he wanted to look around. He came back with two beautiful piña coladas and that's when I knew we had arrived! After unpacking our carry-ons we explored the ship and watched Fort Lauderdale drift away while Chloe (the cruise director) danced with a group of cruisers on Lido deck. It was perfect. Renoir: The dining rooms and service staff made us feel like royalty. The food was phenomenal and we tried several things we hadn't before. Our service team, Philemon, I Dewa, and Martin, were exceptional. Philemon really made our nights perfect with his suggestions and good conversation. He and I Dewa really knew the menu and always remembered my requests and preferences. As a server myself, I was blown away at their professionalism. Martin was very sweet and checked on us frequently as well. The performance the service team gave us every night was also so fun. A few nights I even joined them. We had "our time" dining but we asked for this service team every night because of the quality of their work. We can't thank them enough for all they did and I actually teared up during the last night's performance because I knew I would probably never see them again. They were the very best. Bars: At the Alchemy Bar on deck 5, Anton Tatjana and Vera were absolutely wonderful. Vera really shined because she had a drink for everything. Vera really knew her ingredients and made us a ton of great drinks while being very charming. Tatjana and Anton made us some great drinks too (we drank A LOT) and they were all very attentive considering how busy it usually was at the Alchemy Bar. We also loved to just watch them make their drinks. They moved fast and really did seem like Alchemists, quickly muddling, measuring and pouring things together to make wonderful concoctions. They were all very talented "mixologists." The Red Frog Rum Bar was the first bar we went to on the ship. It set the stage for the whole cruise... and the message was loud and clear... FUN! These fellows really showed us a good time. Each time we were on or near the Lido deck (even when we weren't) we went to them for our drinks because we knew we would be taken care of. They had the best mojitos on the ship and really gave prompt courteous service. I don't recall the names of the men at the Lid deck Rum Bar but they were wonderful. There were four regular bartenders there and those are the guys that stuck in our minds. They were fast, polite, and funny (always cracking jokes). Activities and Entertainment: We spent time in the hot tub on Serenity deck, saw the Broadway style shows, watch some live music, went to the nightclub events several nights, and participated in the trivia games while on the Carnival Conquest. Chloe the cruise director was so fun. She had so much genuine energy and charm that her happiness was infectious. We saw a quite a few of her activities and it was always entertaining. One of our FAVORITE nights was the late night deck party. We dance for hours in the fresh air under the stars with our fellow cruisers on Serenity deck. I would have liked to see a Broadway style show more than 2 of the 6 nights. I just don't think 2 was enough. Also, I feel that there should have been a few more hot tubs (on Serenity Deck in particular) because that was one of our favorite places to relax and all hot tubs were usually full. That being said, we did get to be in the hot tub several times and loved the 21+ area of the ship. It would have been nice to have more than one outside deck party on the Serenity 21+ deck. That was a wonderful experience because of the fresh air and the stars were shining. There was plenty of dance activities on Lido deck but the 21+ party was better for us and we wanted more of that. Henri's Dance Club and the Lido and Serenity deck parties were amazing. The music choice was perfect and we were really able to let loose. All the DJ's were PERFECT. They played hot new music and older classics that we loved. We also enjoyed the pre-late party events like Latin, Motown and 90s night. The Broadway style shows were spectacular but were at times a little generic. Overall we enjoyed the performances and happily attended both. We don't have any children but when we do, Carnival will be our cruising choice. We noticed all the cute kids events they offered and know our future children will have a great time with Carnival. Staff, the Ship Overall and Our Accommodations: I've already mention the wonderful service team and my favorites but I also loved how kind the staff in the buffet areas were. They were always ready to help. The ship's layout was great, we loved were our room was (especially with the choppy waters). The design of the ship was spectacular. We loved all of that artwork and every single wall had some beautiful design on it. It was elegant and fun at the same time. Also, the lighting was great. Francisco was THE BEST... But I'll get to him in a moment. Our stateroom small but who cares? It was PERFECT. We were always comfortable (with better sheets than we have at home) and never felt cramped (even with a ton of luggage). The TV was a nice feature each night after we'd worn ourselves out dancing and the sheets were always new and cool. The artwork in the room was beautiful and there were SO many mirrors. I need mirrors so it was perfect. ONLY PROBLEMS (& they were not a big deal at all): The TV was locked or something and we couldn't change the screen brightness or hook up our iPhone (HDMI-iPhone cable) to watch videos we took on various Ports. We did NOT ask our steward Francisco about this, so I'm sure we could have gotten help from him. It just wasn't a big deal. Also, the bathroom was great, very beautiful and actually spacious... but I think the shower needs some more shelving for toiletries. The shower soap and shampoo dispensers provided in our shower weren't as good as the products I brought with me so I did not have any use for them. We managed with the few perches we had for our shower toiletries but they often fell. They need to add at least one more shelf. Also not a big deal though. Our stateroom steward, Francisco, was AMAZING. !! He got us robes, made us adorable towel animals, and was always around when we had questions or issues. Francisco was vital to making our cruise carefree and fun. We never wanted for anything. Francisco always seemed happy and had a very unique charm that we really enjoyed. Embarkation again: We loved our park and cruise company but Fort Lauderdale is not our cup of tea. ...we're not in Kansas anymore!!! That being said, it's one of the best places to embark from because it's relatively close to the islands we went to. Other embarkation ports that are farther away from Caribbean island would make the trip filled with way more "at sea" days/hours and less time at desired ports of call in many cases. We checked most of our luggage to make it easier and we were absolutely in good hands. TIP YOUR PORTERS! They work hard and are AWESOME. Nassau: We didn't go on any excursions and so we can't speak to that, the excursions did look fun though. Nassau was interesting. There were many stores and restaurants to explore and I especially loved the locals who were selling handmade goods and pretty things they collected from the ocean (like conk shells). We bought a beautiful conk shell from an old man on a boat near the sidewalk. He was cleaning and sanding the edges of the shells and would wrap them up in newspaper upon sale. It was interesting to watch him work and we were delighted to add one of his finds to our collection of souvenirs. We didn't go to the beach because we didn't want to use a taxi. Many people used the taxis and it's recommended. We had plenty of options though. Carnival's Half Moon Cay: It was gorgeous! The excursions were canceled due to safety (weather) concerns, which was for the best. We didn't mind. We swam, sun-bathed, visited "Captain Morgan's" abandoned ship for Pina Coladas and walked the beach. The sand was like fine, soft white clay and the water was clear and light blue. Perfection. We rode there in small 60 passenger boats and staff from the Conquest manned the island's bars and food areas. The ride to Half Moon Cay from the Conquest was delightful. Grand Turk: This was our FAVORITE port of call. The beach was on very close so we didn't need a taxi and there was a ton of great shops. On the beach you can rent a chair/chaise lounges and leave your things to be monitored or sit in the free chairs/chaise lounges which were just as safe. The rented chairs were also closet to the water. We opted for the free chairs and had success. This was one of the best places to snorkel because the fish were not shy here. Grand Turk had many bars and eateries as well. AND WiFi!!! We didn't go on any excursions and so we can't speak to that, the excursions did look fun though. Amber Cove: This was our least favorite port of call. We didn't go on any excursions and so we can't speak to that, the excursions did look fun though. Amber Cove was beautiful and rich in historic information but the only way to swim was to rent a little shack on the water or take a taxi. It was mostly all shopping and there was a little park with historical data about Amber and dinosaurs. The BEST part of Amber Cove was getting a personalized blown glass creation from a man at one of the shops. He was making personalized blown glass to order and another man carefully wrapped the glass for each guest. For $15 he made us a flower piece with our last name on it (my new last name). It was very special and the best souvenir we got for the entire cruise. (I included a picture) Overall we liked it but it still was not our favorite at all. We didn't go to the beach because we didn't want to use a taxi. Many people used the taxis and it's recommended. Disembarkation: We were able to check our luggage again and only had to carry small bags. TIP YOUR PORTER! They are awesome. We didn't want to leave so disembarkation was bitter-sweet.Embarkation
My husband and I had a very great experience. The embarkation process did not take long and our room was ready once we stepped on the ship. We went directly to our room and put some things away. I started unpacking and my husband slipped away saying he wanted to look around. He came back with two beautiful piña coladas and that's when I knew we had arrived! After unpacking our carry-ons we explored the ship and watched Fort Lauderdale drift away while Chloe (the cruise director) danced with a group of cruisers on Lido deck. It was perfect.
Ship experiences
Food and Dining
The dining rooms and service staff made us feel like royalty. The food was phenomenal and we tried several things we hadn't before. Our service team, Philemon, I Dewa, and Martin, were exceptional. Philemon really made our nights perfect with his suggestions and good conversation. He and I Dewa really knew the menu and always remembered my requests and preferences. As a server myself, I was blown away at their professionalism. Martin was very sweet and checked on us frequently as well. The performance the service team gave us every night was also so fun. A few nights I even joined them. We had "our time" dining but we asked for this service team every night because of the quality of their work. We can't thank them enough for all they did and I actually teared up during the last night's performance because I knew I would probably never see them again. They were the very best.
As for drinks, our favorite bars were the Alchemy Bar and the Red Frog Rum Bar on Lido deck.
The Red Frog Rum Bar was the first bar we went to on the ship. It set the stage for the whole cruise... and the message was loud and clear... FUN! These fellows really showed us a good time. Each time we were on or near the Lido deck (even when we weren't) we went to them for our drinks because we knew we would be taken care of. They had the best mojitos on the ship and really gave prompt courteous service. I don't recall the names of the men at the Lid deck Rum Bar but they were wonderful. There were four regular bartenders there and those are the guys that stuck in our minds. They were fast, polite, and funny (always cracking jokes).
At the Alchemy Bar on deck 5, Anton Tatjana and Vera were absolutely wonderful. Vera really shined because she had a drink for everything. Vera really knew her ingredients and made us a ton of great drinks while being very charming. Tatjana and Anton made us some great drinks too (we drank A LOT) and they were all very attentive considering how busy it usually was at the Alchemy Bar. We also loved to just watch them make their drinks. They moved fast and really did seem like Alchemists, quickly muddling, measuring and pouring things together to make wonderful concoctions. They were all very talented "mixologists."
Renoir Restaurant
Renoir Dining Room The dining rooms and service staff made us feel like royalty. The food was phenomenal and we tried several things we hadn't before. Our service team, Philemon, I Dewa, and Martin, were exceptional. Philemon really made our nights perfect with his suggestions and good conversation. He and I Dewa really knew the menu and always remembered my requests and preferences. As a server myself, I was blown away at their professionalism. Martin was very sweet and checked on us frequently as well. The performance the service team gave us every night was also so fun. A few nights I even joined them. We had "our time" dining but we asked for this service team every night because of the quality of their work. We can't thank them enough for all they did and I actually teared up during the last night's performance because I knew I would probably never see them again. They were the very best.
Alchemy Bar
At the Alchemy Bar on deck 5, Anton Tatjana and Vera were absolutely wonderful. Vera really shined because she had a drink for everything. Vera really knew her ingredients and made us a ton of great drinks while being very charming. Tatjana and Anton made us some great drinks too (we drank A LOT) and they were all very attentive considering how busy it usually was at the Alchemy Bar. We also loved to just watch them make their drinks. They moved fast and really did seem like Alchemists, quickly muddling, measuring and pouring things together to make wonderful concoctions. They were all very talented "mixologists."
Red Frog Rum Bar
The Red Frog Rum Bar was the first bar we went to on the ship. It set the stage for the whole cruise... and the message was loud and clear... FUN! These fellows really showed us a good time. Each time we were on or near the Lido deck (even when we weren't) we went to them for our drinks because we knew we would be taken care of. They had the best mojitos on the ship and really gave prompt courteous service. I don't recall the names of the men at the Lid deck Rum Bar but they were wonderful. There were four regular bartenders there and those are the guys that stuck in our minds. They were fast, polite, and funny (always cracking jokes).
Onboard Activities
We spent time in the hot tub on Serenity deck, saw the Broadway style shows, watch some live music, went to the nightclub events several nights, and participated in the trivia games while on the Carnival Conquest. Chloe the cruise director was so fun. She had so much genuine energy and charm that her happiness was infectious. We saw a quite a few of her activities and it was always entertaining. One of our FAVORITE nights was the late night deck party. We dance for hours in the fresh air under the stars with our fellow cruisers on Serenity deck.
I would have liked to see a Broadway style show more than 2 of the 6 nights. I just don't think 2 was enough. Also, I feel that there should have been a few more hot tubs (on Serenity Deck in particular) because that was one of our favorite places to relax and all hot tubs were usually full. That being said, we did get to be in the hot tub several times and loved the 21+ area of the ship. It would have been nice to have more than one outside deck party on the Serenity 21+ deck. That was a wonderful experience because of the fresh air and the stars were shining. There was plenty of dance activities on Lido deck but the 21+ party was better for us and we wanted more of that.
Entertainment
Henri's Dance Club and the Lido and Serenity deck parties were amazing. The music choice was perfect and we were really able to let loose. All the DJ's were PERFECT. They played hot new music and older classics that we loved. We also enjoyed the pre-late party events like Latin, Motown and 90s night.
The Broadway style shows were spectacular but were at times a little generic. Overall we enjoyed the performances and happily attended both.
Children's Programs
We don't have any children but when we do, Carnival will be our cruising choice. We noticed all the cute kids events they offered and know our future children will have a great time with Carnival.
Service and Staff
I've already mention the wonderful service team and my favorites but I also loved how kind the staff in the buffet areas were. They were always ready to help.
Our stateroom steward, Francisco, was AMAZING. !! He got us robes, made us adorable towel animals, and was always around when we had questions or issues. Francisco was vital to making our cruise carefree and fun. We never wanted for anything. Francisco always seemed happy and had a very unique charm that we really enjoyed.
Ship Quality
The ship's layout was great, we loved were our room was (especially with the choppy waters). The design of the ship was spectacular. We loved all of that artwork and every single wall had some beautiful design on it. It was elegant and fun at the same time. Also, the lighting was great.
Cabin / Stateroom
Francisco was THE BEST.. but I'll get to him in a moment.
Our stateroom small but who cares? It was PERFECT. We were always comfortable (with better sheets than we have at home) and never felt cramped (even with a ton of luggage). The TV was a nice feature each night after we'd worn ourselves out dancing and the sheets were always new and cool. The artwork in the room was beautiful and there were SO many mirrors. I need mirrors so it was perfect.
ONLY PROBLEMS (& they were not a big deal at all):
The TV was locked or something and we couldn't change the screen brightness or hook up our iPhone (HDMI-iPhone cable) to watch videos we took on various Ports. We did NOT ask our steward Francisco about this, so I'm sure we could have gotten help from him. It just wasn't a big deal.
Also, the bathroom was great, very beautiful and actually spacious... but I think the shower needs some more shelving for toiletries. The shower soap and shampoo dispensers provided in our shower weren't as good as the products I brought with me so I did not have any use for them. We managed with the few perches we had for our shower toiletries but they often fell. They need to add at least one more shelf. Also not a big deal though.
Our stateroom steward, Francisco, was AMAZING. !! He got us robes, made us adorable towel animals, and was always around when we had questions or issues. Francisco was vital to making our cruise carefree and fun. We never wanted for anything. Francisco always seemed happy and had a very unique charm that we really enjoyed.
Ship tip
Staterooms: Watch some youtube "How to" videos, that's how I got ready for my cruise. You should pack Dramamine and other medicines you might need because they're expensive on the ship. The walls are metal so magnet hooks help. Bring extension cords (WITHOUT serge protection) because outlets are limited. BRING CASH. You should really TIP the steward, servers, bartenders, porters and other staff you love at some point during your trip. Tips are included for certain staff, and even bartenders if you get "Cheers!," but most times they deserve extra. They work really hard. With cash you can give a personal tip to people who really went the extra mile for you. Also, if you need Dramamine, TAKE IT BEFORE YOU GET SICK! We learned this the hard way. Don't think just because you aren't sick you don't need it because it doesn't work if you are already sick. It says not to mix it with alcohol but that's just a suggestion ;) ...we drank quite a bit and we were fine!
Thumbs up
0
Ports of call
Ft. Lauderdale (Port Everglades), Florida
We loved our park and cruise company but Fort Lauderdale is not our cup of tea. ...we're not in Kansas anymore!!! That being said, it's one of the best places to embark from because it's relatively close to the islands we went to. Other embarkation ports that are farther away from Caribbean island would make the trip filled with way more "at sea" days/hours and less time at desired ports of call in many cases.
We checked most of our luggage to make it easier and we were absolutely in good hands. TIP YOUR PORTERS! They work hard and are AWESOME.
We didn't go on any excursions and so we can't speak to that, the excursions did look fun though. Nassau was interesting. There were many stores and restaurants to explore and I especially loved the locals who were selling handmade goods and pretty things they collected from the ocean (like conk shells). We bought a beautiful conk shell from an old man on a boat near the sidewalk. He was cleaning and sanding the edges of the shells and would wrap them up in newspaper upon sale. It was interesting to watch him work and we were delighted to add one of his finds to our collection of souvenirs.
We didn't go to the beach because we didn't want to use a taxi. Many people used the taxis and it's recommended. We had plenty of options though.
Half Moon Cay, Bahamas (Private Island)
Carnival's Half Moon Cay was gorgeous! The excursions were canceled due to safety (weather) concerns, which was for the best. We didn't mind. We swam, sun-bathed, visited "Captain Morgan's" abandoned ship for Pina Coladas and walked the beach. The sand was like fine, soft white clay and the water was clear and light blue. Perfection.
We rode there in small 60 passenger boats and staff from the Conquest manned the island's bars and food areas. The ride to Half Moon Cay from the Conquest was delightful.
This was our FAVORITE port of call. The beach was on very close so we didn't need a taxi and there was a ton of great shops. On the beach you can rent a chair/chaise lounges and leave your things to be monitored or sit in the free chairs/chaise lounges which were just as safe. The rented chairs were also closet to the water. We opted for the free chairs and had success. This was one of the best places to snorkel because the fish were not shy here. Grand Turk had many bars and eateries as well. AND WiFi!!!
We didn't go on any excursions and so we can't speak to that, the excursions did look fun though.
Amber Cove (Puerto Plata), Dominican Republic
This was our least favorite port of call. We didn't go on any excursions and so we can't speak to that, the excursions did look fun though. Amber Cove was beautiful and rich in historic information but the only way to swim was to rent a little shack on the water or take a taxi. It was mostly all shopping and there was a little park with historical data about Amber and dinosaurs.
The BEST part of Amber Cove was getting a personalized blown glass creation from a man at one of the shops. He was making personalized blown glass to order and another man carefully wrapped the glass for each guest. For $15 he made us a flower piece with our last name on it (my new last name). It was very special and the best souvenir we got for the entire cruise. (I included a picture)
Overall we liked it but it still was not our favorite at all. We didn't go to the beach because we didn't want to use a taxi. Many people used the taxis and it's recommended.
Disembarkation
We were able to check our luggage again and only had to carry small bags. TIP YOUR PORTER! They are awesome.
Traveler Photos
11 Comments
cruiSEAing 6 years ago
Great review! We always give a bit extra to those staff who go above and beyond, but if you don't mind answering, what do you feel is the appropriate amount of cash to tip? I've heard different values, including a buck or two, but it just never feels right tipping so little extra. What do you think?