Crew, ports (mostly) and ship great! Fellow cruisers not so much.

Carnival Conquest Cruise Review to Caribbean - Western

W4559

Contributor Level: Second Mate

Cruises: 4-6 cruises

Reviews: 5

Helpful Votes: 165

Overall rating:

4.1 out of 5

7 Night Western Caribbean (Miami Roundtrip)

Sail date: October 05, 2019

Ship: Carnival Conquest

Cabin type: Balcony

Cabin number: 8277

Traveled as: Family (older children)

Reviewed: 4 years ago

Review summary

I want to first preface this by saying my wife and I have been on 6 cruises, with 5 of those being on Carnival. We are gold card people so I believe I have credibility to what I will be saying. We went on Miracle (Tampa) over Christmas 2018 and would have given it 8 stars if I could have. This cruise was about half as much cost as my Miracle cruise, and it was reflected in the passengers. Here is list of firsts and concerns: 1. I have never smelled so much marijuana being smoked on cruises as I did on this cruise. This really is disappointing if you have paid thousands of dollars for balcony rooms and can't enjoy them because of someone smoking. Not only is it illegal, it is also dangerous. If Carnival was as concerned about marijuana as they are about people smuggling booze on board, this problem would probably be taken care of. 2. Portable speakers on balconies and tender boats. If you want to listen to music that's great. It doesn't mean the whole starboard side needs to hear it. 3. I saw for the first time ever cruising that a fight had taken place among guests on the FIRST NIGHT and security had to be called in. 4. The balcony partition closing when not at port. Still makes me mad! 5. RUDE, RUDE, RUDE guests. From fighting with and yelling at guest services over the perception of being screwed over because "I paid for internet but I can't make a phone call" (while we were out 300 miles in the middle of the ocean. to a passenger throwing up into a napkin and then into a garbage can in the Lido dining area and not even making an attempt to go to the bathroom. She then continued eating. 6. RUDE guests strolling into the 8:15 dinner service at 9 p.m. and expect to be treated like queens and kings. 7. Muster Drill- After standing in a cramped area packed like sardines for 45 minutes in the hot and humid Miami heat we heard the announcement "If you didn't make it to the muster drill, you need to go to the theater (air conditioned) for a make up. Why even go to the muster drill? We are still in port, kick them off the ship if they don't come! 8. A great deal of bad behavior was by the "Blue Cards" or first time cruisers. We are super easy people to please and are about as low maintenance as they come. If this is what truly Carnival Cruise Lines has fallen to then I believe I have taken my last Carnival Cruise.

Embarkation

5 out of 5

15 minutes from the time our feet hit the pavement to the time we were on the ship. Flawless.

Ship experiences

Food and Dining

4 out of 5

Main dining room with Victor (headwaiter), Khomang (asst. waiter) and Dalimah (asst. waiter) were all great. BLT's from the deli and Pizza Pirate were all good. Some complain about the quality of the food but I saw no one on that cruise that was in danger of starving to death in the seven days we were at sea. Also, the massive amounts of food wasted by guests is appalling. The filet mignon was great, along with flat iron steak, lobster tail, escargot, pork chops and baked Alaska.

Onboard Activities

4 out of 5

Two pools that were almost always full. Serenity deck is awesome for those 21 and over. Plenty of bingo, seminars and things to keep you busy.

Entertainment

4 out of 5

Stage shows were all well produced and good performances. On board musicians were good. Very talented singers and dancers.

Children's Programs

Kids too old.

Service and Staff

5 out of 5

Room steward I Gede was excellent as well as the dining room staff mentioned above. All staff were friendly and were helpful.

Ship Quality

4 out of 5

The ship was very clean considering its age and the behavior of some of the guests. Always someone cleaning.

Cabin / Stateroom

3 out of 5

I would rate it a five but Carnival did what I believe is one of the most inexplicable things/policy I have seen. We had an adjoining balcony rooms and requested the balcony divider removed. Much to my dismay, they closed it every time we were under way. The divider could only be opened when we were at port and at anchor which is basically when you are not on the ship. This was very disappointing! Now to talk to our family we had to lean our heads out over the rail. We cruised on the Miracle in December 2018 and our divider stayed open the entire time. I asked everyone from the person assigned to close the partition to the the service desk to the cruise director who all told me it was "policy". No one could tell me why this was "policy" or what the rationale was behind it. I am all for safety, but I don't see what makes having a door open between two balconies a problem.

Ship tip

Take advantage of the Sea Day brunch. Very enjoyable but crowded.

Thumbs up

Ports of call

George Town, Grand Cayman

4 out of 5

Took a cab ($34 for 6) to Calico Jack's on Seven Mile Beach. Rented four chairs and two umbrellas for $40. Nice port. Clean and safe. Good beach.

Thumbs Up 9

Mahogany Bay, Roatan, Bay Islands, Honduras

5 out of 5

Favorite port of all!. Went to Little French Key ($88) a person. This includes meal, taxi, and two alcohol drinks. Very nice. Perfect. Nearly no one there that day. Ask for Renie the waiter. Excellent.

Thumbs Up 4

Belize City, Belize Did not visit port

I have been to Belize before and was not overly impressed. Cramped, crowded pavilion with hundreds of vendors trying to sell you things. Once outside the pavilion, it gets very dangerous very fast. Cruise director made the announcement to not take extra money and not to wear jewelry and do not go outside the pavilion without a tour. Plus a 20-30 minute tender ride.

Thumbs Up 0

Cozumel, Mexico

4 out of 5

Went to Nachi Cocom Beach Club ($34 cab for 6). $60 entrance fee for all inclusive and all you can drink and eat. Very crowded on this day and was full with 120 people the max. I have been there before with 1/2 to 1/3 full and loved it.

Thumbs Up 8

Disembarkation

4 out of 5

Off the boat by 10. Only holdup was getting through customs and that was only a wave through. Be patient and take your time.

8 Comments

Other reviews of this sailing

Depressed it's over

Probably my last Carnival Cruise