Cruise Ship Tips
This was our 3rd cruise, so at this point I would consider myself somewhat knowledgeable about cruising, espcially with Carnival. First of all let me start off by saying the Conquest Ship is huge. It takes a lot of time to get on and off the ship because of the large number of people. This also applies to the buffet lines and really anything that is group oriented. This is somewhat the achilles heel of this ship. It really is too big in my opinion. I recommend you get to the ship 2 hours early so you can get on without any delay. We basically walked right on. Make sure and fill out your forms for credit card charges early, so you don't have to at the check-in counter. Our bags were delivered within a few hours which was nice.
The Conquest ship has an Impressionist art theme throughout with names like the Monet diningroom. Using this theme the ship is quite unusually decorated with lots of autumn colors, metals and collages of Impressionist styling everywhere. We got an upgraded room packaged this time with more room and even a couch. It was nice but I don't really think it was worth the extra $300 we paid. I would be just as happy in an interior room with a double bed. I personally found the window distracting. We were on the first level towards the front and water kept splashing on the window and making sounds.
Four of our days in the Gulf of Mexico were somewhat bumpy. If you think that the size of the ship is going to negate the bumpiness then you are wrong. The rough seas will make you sea sick if you are prone to that. There is a constant rolling left and right and you walk left then right. I had no problem with it but my wife had to take Dramimine a few times.
Shows:
If you like variety shows and Vegas shows on a budget then you will enjoy the shows. I am not big fans of those things so we only went to a couple. The comedians on our cruise were hit and miss.
Bingo:
Single tickets are $10 and 3 tickets are $20. They play several times during the week for $1000 and the last night is for $1500.
Meals:
For the best food the sit down dinners are the only way to go. But they are slow, taking about 1.5 hours. For faster food the ship offers buffets on the lido deck every night and all day. The only issue is the lines are quite long and can take 15 minutes or more. Especially if it is a desert buffet. There is also a pizza and grille buffet on the back of the lido deck. The food is okay but nothing to write home about. There is a seperate sandwich and chinese food line that have pretty decent food. They also have sushi in the evenings which was good . Remember you can also order sandwiches etc... for room service if you don't want to brave the long lines.
Islands:
One big thing most people don't know is that you can get off the ship and buy the same excursions for half price.
Cozumel:
When you get to the dock at Cozumel there are literally dozens of venders offering tours from horses to glass bottom tours and fishing excursions. You can negotiate a price with them and save a bundle. You can also rent cars here,
always get the insurance if you do. If you wreck the car in Mexico they expect money immediately and you can't leave until it is settled. Shopping is great in Cozumel and remember to negotiate. You should be able to get any item for 50-60% of what they are asking. We picked up 3 diamond pieces at Diamonds International for $1000. They were asking $1700+ when we first looked. If you are not good at negotiating then just say you are going to think about it and walk off. They will always come back with something lower. You should never take the first offer. There is always room for more. I highly recomend that if you know what you are looking for that you price it out online before you go so you can work from a point of knowledge.
Jamaica:
Jamaica is a very beautiful island with lots of poverty and crime. Do not take expensive jewerly, rings, watches to the island. You will be safe if you are careful and stay in the tourist areas. Be aware that everyone is a hustler and they all want to help you for a tip and sell you something. We have been there twice and shopped around Margaritaville with no real problems. But some people will start to follow you and hassle you to buy something. It is quite annoying. Always make sure you saying clearly " NO!" when they ask. Never pre pay for rides later or anything else. The beach at Doctors cave is very nice and cost $5 per person to get in. They will rent you umbrellas, chairs and snorkel gear. The reefs in the water are interesting to look at but nothing incredible. The water is a beautiful blue and clear.
Grand Caymans:
The Caymans are still part of the British empire and as we all now are home to lots of off shore illicit businesses ( remember Enron?). The island has lots of money and everything is quite nice and expensive. Sandwiches cost $10 and cokes cost several dollars. But the island is beautiful, clean, and safe. The people are friendly and helpful. The seven mile beach is stunning. If it is your first visit I recommend the stingray tour. It is a lot of fun and the water is beautiful and you can pet the stingrays. You can also buy the tours on the island and save $$$ versus buying them on the ship. If you like beaches then the 7 mile beach is the way to go. If you want a more remote beach then Smith's Cove is an amazing place to go. Remember if you rent a car you drive on the other side of the road.
Ten Tips to make your cruise better: |
- Pack light and fit it all in one roll on. This makes it a lot easier when you leave and can disembark on your own. Most people way over pack for a week of sitting around a cruise ship. You don't need 2 changes a day and most of the time you are in shorts and T shirts. The ship has 2 formal nights, which are optional, so you dont have to bring those items unless you want to take pictures.
- If you bring electronics, computers or rechargeables bring a 3 way adapter to plug them all into. The rooms only have 1 plug.
- Bring a large plastic cup for casual dining drinks. The ship only has small cups which don't hold anything if you are in the casual dining room. This way you can get a tea or juice and take it around with you.
- Take food with you. Most people don't realize that you can take food to your room and eat there. You can also order room service for just about anything at no additional cost
- If you like alcohol you can put it in a alcohol or scope bottle to get it on to the ship. I am not sure if they run your bag through x rays getting on the ship, but a scope bottle is not going to get anyone's attention. Remember, customs is not going to care if you have alcohol, it is only the ship's policy. They want you to drink their $5- $7 drinks.
- Order seconds at dinner if you like it. You can order 2 appetizers or 2 main courses if you really thought it was good. That goes for anywhere else on the ship.
- Don't play the slots too much. I played them to the tune of $1,000. I won a few jackpots , but in the end I lost. My personal opinion is that they are tight. You may get lucky with a single pull but I would not expect to come out a winner if you think you will keep playing. I would tell you that if you get up to quit for the day.
- Bring cards, dominoes or small games. You will have 3+ days on the ship and they can get long if it is overcast or raining.
- Order large bottles of water for your room every night. They are a few dollars and taste so much better than the ships water. Well worth it. I might also recommend you take a portable water filter. The ships water is very heavily clorinated.
- Don't forget Dramimine, Tylonol, Advil, sunblock and cold medicine. The ship's Dr. keeps short hours.
- If you like to snorkel you should bring your own equipment. It cost $5-10 a time to rent used and sometimes run down equipment. Make sure you put your name on them and tell the people you are bringing it with you at the sites so they dont think you are leaving with their equipment.
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Jamaica Links: