Other notes from this cruise in no particular order:
- We asked for a table for two and got it. In contrast to most other ships they had plenty. However, nearly all of them turned out to be between the four person booths and had walkways on both sides. Waiters carrying up to twelve plates on a tray were continually whizzing right by the table. It just did not seem like an elegant setting.
- Many ships have had small rolled up cloth towels in the public bathrooms. All had paper towels. Conquest had neither. On the other hand the blowers were powerful and actually worked, so this was not a big deal.
- They provided a shopping guide for each port, as long as you wanted to buy diamonds or tanzanite.
- If you lean back while on your room's toilet the lid can contact flush switch. While this is quite a surprise you apparently can't get sucked in.
- They have a huge LED screen in the front pool area, with terraced seating climbing up in the back. A neat place for outdoor movies at night, but why do they have to charge $1.50 for the popcorn? There should be a few freebies.
- Speaking of freebies: they had a "captain's reception" just like every other ship we've been on. Though discounted, this is the first one we've seen were they charged for the drinks.
- You know how they are always taking your photo, but how can they sell them on such a large ship? We looked but could not find ours among the thousands.
- Crew persons sometimes rode the elevator with passengers and were sometimes in the lines in the Cezanne and specialty food places with the passengers. I have never seen this before, but it was not excessive. They were handy for questions. Sometimes they could tell me if I wanted to get into that line or another one.
- Sue won some treatments in the beauty spa on Royal Caribbean once and had a great experience. She bought the special on the Conquest, four different treatments for $120. Her words when she came back: "That was no spa. That was a cheap beauty shop." (ouch!).
- I never could get room service or housekeeping directly from my room phone. Guest services would answer however, so I asked them to connect me. They always did and appeared to expect that was the way things worked.
- Getting on and off the ship was as fast as I have ever seen, and this was a bigger ship. Well, I did say they were efficient.
- Many we talked to were on their first cruise. Most of those who were not had cruised only Carnival. Most seemed fairly satisfied.
- We had already heard that Carnival was the line for family and kids, and now agree with that totally. There were a lot of kids and a lot of teenagers. If they were rude, obnoxious or annoying they must have been so somewhere else. I think they were mostly Texans. I guess Texans overall are OK.
- The crew was busy and hurried, but always friendly. If anyone was surly, even once, we did not catch it.
- We don't do all the things available. We can't comment on the casino, bars and bar tenders, or the shows.
- We are frugal people and at least try to get a basic cruise price of around $100 a day per person when we can. Six months ago in the South China Sea on Costa cruise lines we did just that, and it was great. Sue was ready to sign on for another two weeks. This cruise was a bit more and was nice. When it was over we were ready to hop in the car and go back home. Our kids, all in Austin, want to cruise the easy Galveston way also. If they are going to go in Summer or Fall, Carnival is the only option. They have not cruised much at all, and that long ago when they were children. Still, it's tough for me to recommend the Conquest. If they can wait until November (through April) Royal Caribbean is an option. It is a big ship also, but I wonder . . .
