Let me begin by saying....if you have never been on The Conquest, you are in for the time of your life. If you sailed on her before, then get ready, the staff and crew are even better than before. The weather was fantastic all week and the largest wave we had all week was about 2 feet. You could have been out in the middle of the gulf on a flat bottom boat. So that you'll understand the story, our entire family was onboard (31 of us) as we celebrated my niece and nephews h/s graduation. Be sure to check your Carnival Capers (daily newsletter) for what's going on where on the ship each day....
Now for the rest of the story.....1st things 1st, get to the cruise terminal as early as you can on Sunday morning, we arrived around 10a and were some of the first ones to check in. The sooner you arrive, the sooner you will get on the ship. For starters on Sunday, once onboard the buffet is open and you can have lunch on the ship (you have paid for it, so EAT) There are several places I would suggest you consider and make them DO NOT MISS places to visit.
SUNDAY....if all goes well on EMBARKATION, you will leave Galveston around 4p. If you have early seating dinner (6:15p) then you will have about 2 hours before your first dinner (for the first night you can wear whatever you wore to the ship or you can change in "business casual". At this first dinner you will meet your waiter and have the 1st of 7 really nice dinners. Once in International Waters the Casino will open, it will be open until around 2a. No need to worry about getting to bed too early because Monday is a Day @ Sea.
MONDAY...Other than the onboard activities, you won't miss too much other than some sun, really good music (I will talk more on this later) and a few cold ones should you decide to. Each day they have a "Drink of the Day" and most of them are all some sort of fruity things (too sweet for me)! Monday evening is the 1st of two formal nights (you will see everything from shirt w/tie and slacks to tuxedos and evening gowns. I suggest the later if possible as they have numerous photography options with different backdrops nightly. The pictures are mostly 8x10 and run about $20 each but given the facts that you don't have to pay a sitting fee, you probably end up better off in the long run.....at least that is what the Mrs. told me all week as she purchased photos daily (a little over $300) for the week for us. Dinner on Monday features lobster. If I forget to mention, per the Mrs. if you like chocolate order the Warm Chocolate Melting Cake everytime you get a chance which will be everynight (it is found under the Carnival Classics section on the dessert menu.
Tuesday.....This will your stop in Key West, FL. I would suggest parasailing by booking early with fury water adventures, they are near the dock and about 1/2 the price of the onboard prices. As far as places that are Do Not Miss in Key West, I would say you have not done yourself justice if you don't visit Jimmy Buffett's Margaritaville Cafe on Duval St. (it is that one that started it all). The walk is about 6 blocks but you will see many souvenir shops along the way. Another do not miss is the Hoggs Breath Saloon, they are the opposite directions on Duval St. but worth the walk. On the way to Margaritaville you will pass The Bull (2/1 margarita's) and you may have the oppurtunity to find out where Elvis has been hiding all these years. Dinner back on the ship.
Wednesday......Freeport, Bahamas (Grand Bahama Island). Several things to do Freeport but you will need to catch a cab ($5pp) to Port Lucaya Shopping District. There are a couple of bars near the shopping area and one even has $2 Jose Cuervo shops, at last count we were at 37. Across the street from the shopping area is the Isle of Capri Casino and behind it is the public beach. If you go to the beach, ask a local "how do I get to Billy Joe's?" In the Bahamas you will be introduced to the Conch. We had the Conch Salad and it was awesome. Be sure to allow yourself time to get back to the boat as it about 10 miles from shopping area back to boat and the speed limit is like 40-45 mph.
Thursday.....Nassau, Bahamas, first off don't get hustled by the guy in the cruise terminal offering a Ferry Boat ride to Paradise Island ($3/pp), I suggest walking outside and catching a cab directly to the public beach where there is a large variety of water sports options (jet skis, banana boat rides, parasailing, or just laying out on the beach and the oppurtunity to go into some of the most beutiful water most have ever seen). As far as don't miss items in Nassau, sign up for the Atlantis Deep Water Swim w/ Dolphins, it is a little pricey ($199/pp) but my daughter and niece said their trip was complete once they had swam with the dolphins. The straw market is near the cruise terminal and then there is Senor' Frogs. I will leave it to the imagination, but by those that didn't swim with the dolphines and ended up at Senor' Frogs it was GREAT ! Once back on ship, formal night #2 awaits you. By this time the waiters know most guests by your first name and how you like your steak cooked. Did I mention they have multiple oppurtunities to take some really neat pictures and once back into International Waters the casino will reopen.
Friday/Saturday....hard to believe but only a couple of days left. Both Friday/Saturday are both days @ sea and by this time you have learned where most things are located on ship and probably learned how to take a short cut to get there. As I mentioned before re: music there is a guy onboard by the name of Tim Pierce, he plays an acoustic guitar and sings. He will comment that he doesn't know alot of Texas Country Music....yet (as he says), but he is really good. He plays each evening in the Sunflower Lounge and is a don't miss as far as things on the ship. I challenge you to strike up a conversation w/ him and mention you are from College Station. If you don't have a chance to catch him during a break or insert the words "Sweet Home College Station" when he sings Sweet Home Alabama. Because he will be reminded of our group if you mention to him College Station, TX. I'm certain he will have some stories to tell if you mention College Station. Unless things change in the next month or so, Chris will be your Cruise Director, he is really good and I would suggest not missing the welcome aboard show and also the Not So Newly Wed Game show. His staff of assistant's are also really good as well, there is Charli, Annie, Simon and Marcello and none of them speak Texan so just listening to them talk if fun in itself. I know you have to be as excited as we were for the date to get here but having planned ours for over 10 months, 7 days goes by in a hurry, so enjoy yourself.
I have most of the info from ship and if you would like we can visit more and perhaps I can answer any additional questions you might have. Have a Great Cruise and I hope to read your review of your trip in a month or so.
