My wife and I had sailed a couple of years earlier on the Carnival Ecstasy, which was okay, so I was expecting a similar experience. The Conquest, however, was a better class of ship, and larger too.
The decor is themed around French impressionist artists, with samples of their work on the walls and ceilings and lounges and bars named after them. The two dining rooms are the Monet and the Renoir, and the two lounges we spent the most time in were the Degas and the Toulouse Lautrec. The ship was very clean all over - never once did I see a mess. In fact, the staff in the cafeteria (Cezanne) were quick to pick up any mess left behind by guests, and on two occasions I saw a waiter clear everyone aside and refuse to allow them to pick up their mess after a guest had dropped a plate of food. Rooms were cleaned twice a day, once just after breakfast and again during early dinner. Great feeling to come back to our room after dinner to a bed that had just been turned down.
The Conquest is huge, and on our seven day cruise we still feel like there were areas we hadn't explored. The pool areas have lots of space for sunbathers, but the pools themselves are quite small and are usually filled with children. The large hot tubs specify "adults only" but on more than one occasion they were filled with kids as well after dark, with no indication that the staff was asking them to leave. The staff should not wait until someone complains or asks the kids to leave to enforce their policy.
One of the highlights of any cruise is the food. I realize that Carnival is the "bargain line" of cruise ships, so I don't expect the best food experience. My food was okay, but my wife and the lady sitting across from us during the week were both very disappointed in the food. I think that the problem is that Carnival tries to list items on the menu that sound "gourmet" and "fancy", but can't quite serve them the way that people who desire those foods expect. Again, I had no real issues, but there was some room for improvement - I still ate everything because I love to eat!
Overall I give the Conquest a 4/5. The ship is great, with lots to do and very clean. The staff was very attentive and knowledgeable. Shore excursions and guest relations were fine. Food was average - fine but not stellar. I would recommend this cruise ship to anyone who is either new to cruising or who is simply looking for a fun time to be had and doesn't expect an exquisite fine dining experience. |
