By Geoffrey Darling
Carnival Cruise Lines recommends its 110,000 ton Carnival Conquest for fun-loving and active passengers of all ages. The Conquest was the largest in the Carnival fleet in 2002, when it arrived in Galveston, Texas, from its Italian ship-building yard. Carnival Dream (130,000 tons) surpassed Conquest when it arrived in late 2009. Carnival Conquest accommodates 2,976 passengers and 1,910 crew. It is 952 feet long and 116 feet wide.
What are the dining options aboard the Carnival Conquest?
The Monet (1,122 capacity) and Renoir (744) dining rooms cater for guests who want an evening out. The Cezanne Lido Restaurant (1,396) is more casual and open 24 hours. The Cezanne selection includes a pizzeria, Asian food, grills, fish 'n chips, a New York style deli, "taste of nations" and bistro meals in the evening. The Point restaurant (80) offers upscale dining, with a surcharge.
How big are the staterooms?
Standard outside staterooms are 220 square feet and inside staterooms are 195 square feet. Families can choose the 230 square foot rooms next to the children's center. Carnival Conquest has 10 penthouse suites and 42 suites, which are larger. All bathrooms have showers and the suites have tubs.
What children's programs are there?
Trained counselors supervise four age group programs, for toddlers (2 to 4), juniors (5 to 8), intermediates (9 to 12) and teenagers (13 to 17), with day and evening activities. The play area has an arts and crafts station, a computer center and wading pool. Teens have their own disco, video arcade and soda bar.
Where does the Carnival Conquest cruise?
Galveston, Texas, is Carnival Conquest's home port. From there she cruises the western Caribbean, calling at Montego Bay, Jamaica, Georgetown, Grand Cayman, and Cozumel, Yucatan, for a total of seven nights at sea.
What spa facilities are there?
The Nautica Spa treatments include massages with aromatic oils and heated basalt stones, full-body rubdowns with a loofah sponge, facial mud packs, and ion-powered detox wraps. The associated beauty shop offers a full range of hair styling and manicures. The 15,000 square foot gymnasium is full of the latest equipment and a jogging track circling the smokestack (aft) is 11 times around for a mile.
What is included, and what is not?
The price of the cruise does not include spa care, the beauty shop and alcoholic drinks, says Carnival Cruise Lines PR manager Vance Gullisken.
How many pools are there and how long is the waterslide?
Carnival Conquest has four pools, two swimming and two whirlpools, and a 214-foot waterslide.
What is unique about Carnival Conquest?
The French Impressionism theme is the most striking feature of the Carnival Conquest, says Gulliksen. "Many come aboard to see reproductions of their favorite paintings in these settings. They love the huge murals all over the ship," he says. The architect and designer, Joe Farcus, took the French Impressionists "on board" to produce themes of water lilies, sunflowers and starry nights throughout the ship.
Sister ships
After Carnival Conquest the line added three more 110,000-ton ships in the Conquest class: Glory in 2003, Valor in 2004 and Liberty in 2005.
Resources
About the Author:
Geoffrey Darling has been writing since 1980. In 2007, he received an Ohio Senate award for contribution to the arts, recognizing his work performing in Ohio prisons. Darling also worked for the New Zealand government as the Minister of Energy's press secretary and edited three small community newspapers.
