Carnival Conquest Review

4.0 / 5.0
1,568 reviews
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Editor Rating
4.0
Very Good
Overall
Dori Saltzman
Contributor

Stepping onto Carnival Conquest is a bit like stepping into a 19th-century French Impressionist's dreamscape. Illuminated Murano-glass flower sculptures adorn the ceilings, and hand-painted replicas of Degas' ballet studios and Toulouse-Lautrec's Parisian theaters accent the lounges and theaters, while the main restaurants tip their caps to Renoir's "Lunch at the Restaurant Fournaise" and Monet's "Water Lilies" paintings.

It's a surreal juxtaposition, the high-brow art referenced in every nook and cranny of the ship contrasting with the leave-your-pretensions-at-the-door atmosphere that comes with every Carnival cruise. Passengers on Conquest are ready to shake off the concerns of their everyday lives and just let go, relax and have fun. To have the best cruise experience, you've got to do the same.

Carnival cruisers are onboard to for fun and have few worries about being judged. How could they when some of the biggest belly laughs come from watching a somewhat oversized man shake his groove thing while whipping his shirt over his head in order to win a bottle of Champagne and a "ship on a stick" (literally a plastic trophy featuring a gold replica of the ship)?

Carnival Conquest is also for cruisers who want to soak up the sun while listening to popular radio hits (loudly) and chatting it up with their deck chair neighbors. It's not at all unusual for large numbers of passengers to grab lounge chairs early and stay poolside until it's time for dinner.

This leaves cruisers not entirely into baking in the sun a bit out of the loop, as a typical sea day will offer few indoor activities, and the ones that are scheduled often centered on trying to sell you something (spa treatments, shoe inserts, paintings by little known artists). Just bring enough reading material, and you'll always find a quiet lounge to curl up in for a few hours of literary escapism. You'll also find sports broadcasts playing in the Deck 5 sports bar and movies on the TV in your room all day long. The beds in the cabins, by the way, are super comfortable for afternoon naps.

Pros

Let-down-your-hair vibe gives hardworking people the chance to unwind, with limited nickel and diming

Cons

Not for the easily offended; cruisers who don't like a lot of outdoor fun might be bored

Bottom Line

Good food, lots of laughter, friendly fellow passengers and no delusions of grandeur

About

Passengers: 2980
Crew: 1150
Passenger to Crew: 2.59:1
Launched: 2002
Shore Excursions: 132

Sails From

Inclusions

Included with your cruise fare:

  • Meals in the two main dining rooms and buffet, and at Guy’s Burger Joint and BlueIguana Cantina; also select room service items

  • All shows in the main theater, as well as Punchliner Comedy Club performances

  • Use of the sports court, mini-golf and water slides

  • Use of the Serenity adults-only area

  • Activities onboard except where noted

  • Fitness center (not including most classes)

  • Carnival kids club programs, until 10 p.m., for children aged 2 to 17

Not included with your cruise fare:

  • Daily gratuities of $13.99 per person, per day for standard staterooms and $15.99 per person, per day for suites

  • Drinks except water (not incuding bottled water), tea, basic coffee and select juices

  • Specialty dining

  • Automatic gratuities of 18 percent added to all beverage purchases, spa and salon services and specialty dining reservations

  • Specialty coffees and any tea beyond the basic choices

  • Services and treatments in the spa and salon

  • Most fitness classes and all personal training sessions

  • Select activities like Build-a-Bear workshops, alcohol tastings, bingo and arcade play

  • Evening events in Carnival’s kids club after 10 p.m.

  • Shore excursions

  • Photos and artwork sold in onboard shops or at the photo gallery

Fellow Passengers

Carnival Conquest draws families, couples and groups of friends in all age groups and from all across the United States and Canada, with a handful of passengers from outside of North America. Large groups, such as family reunions and wedding parties, are common, especially in the summer.

Carnival Conquest Dress Code

Daytime: As on all Carnival ships, the dress code for daytime is casual.

Evening: Evening is casual as well, but there are two "cruise elegant" nights on cruises of six days or longer (one formal night on shorter sailings), during which long pants and collared shirts for men are requested. Suits, sport jackets and ties are not required, but you will see plenty of men decked out in suits. On cruise elegant nights, women may dine in sundresses, cocktail dresses, pantsuits, and skirt and blouse combinations. Similar attire is required every night in the Point Steakhouse.

Not permitted: Cutoff jeans, basketball shorts and swimwear are never permitted in the main dining rooms.

For more information, visit Cruise Line Dress Codes: Carnival Cruise Line.

Find a Carnival Conquest Cruise from $179

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More about Carnival Conquest

Where does Carnival Conquest sail from?

Carnival Conquest departs from Miami

Where does Carnival Conquest sail to?

How much does it cost to go on Carnival Conquest?

Cruises on Carnival Conquest start from $179 per person.

Is Carnival Conquest a good ship to cruise on?

Carnival Conquest won 5 awards over the years.
Carnival Conquest Cruiser Reviews

First time cruise.

Great job Carnival Conquest !!Read More
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Olebuddy

oneFirst Time Cruiser

Age 61s

Something for Everyone! Great Food!

We chose Carnival Conquest for our 1st cruise bc we wanted a short trip to be sure we liked it. We loved it! The food was fabulous. I never had to eat at the buffet! Burgers were so good!Read More
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Burtonscruiser

oneFirst Time Cruiser

Age 40s

An old Carnival ship with good amenities

We sailed on the Conquest this week for a 4 night visit to eastern caribbean. Pros - Carnival is a fun loving, kid friendly cruiseline. We had kids who enjoyed being at camp ocean.Read More
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dib_04

oneFirst Time Cruiser

Age 30s

Disappointed in all

I’m not sure if I will book with carnival conquest again. Was disappointed in a whole at the end of it.Read More
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hCruiser305

oneFirst Time Cruiser

Age 26s

Carnival Cruise Line Fleet
Carnival Elation

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