Carnival Conquest Review

Since then, the ship has undergone a number of refurbishments and refreshes that have left if in excellent condition, even if the décor onboard is decidedly “Old School Carnival” – and we’re OK with that. Then-lead designer Joe Farcus crafted Carnival Conquest’s interiors to be a feast for the senses, and they certainly are that, from the upscale confines of Alfred’s Bar to the absolutely retina-shattering décor in the Blues Piano Bar (which does look better at night).

Carnival Conquest was most recently refreshed in 2022, expanding the Tahiti Casino and adding Carnival’s new Adventure Store on Deck 5 (where Pixels Photo Gallery used to be), along with a new Dreams Photo Studio on Deck 3 (where the Art Gallery used to be).

Additionally, soft furnishings throughout the ship and cabins were replaced: our spring 2024 voyage featured brand-new carpeting, shower curtains and blackout drapes in our balcony cabin, plus new bedside lighting with much-appreciated USB power outlets – a must on these ships, which have always been notoriously short on in-cabin power.

The result is a ship that feels new and modern – even if some minor wear and tear is apparent around the vessel, crewmembers are always hard at work replacing decking, repainting, and cleaning 24 hours a day.

Carnival Conquest operates out of Miami on primarily three-and-four-night cruises to the Bahamas, and the line knows how to pull out all the Fun Ship fun. Don’t expect cerebral experiences, or really much in the way of subdued quiet onboard: these sailings are loud, boisterous and filled with vacationers of all ages, races and orientations looking to cut loose for a few days.

Having said that, the party-hard atmosphere – particularly on the short three-night weekend cruises – can be tiring. Experienced cruisers may find themselves at odds with the relative chaos and heavy drinking that is an integral part of Carnival Conquest’s short cruises, while those who are new-to-cruise might find these always-sold-out sailings to be overly crowded. If you have young kids, stick with the four-night sailings that tend to be a little less rowdy; we’d have a difficult time recommending the three-night voyages to families with little ones.

Still, there’s no denying a short cruise on Carnival Conquest offers plenty of bang for your buck, and the friendly and experienced crew will ensue you have a memorable time onboard and ashore.

The Carnival Conquest Deck Plan Includes Plenty of Fun Ship Favorites

Despite the fact that Carnival Conquest is over two decades old, passengers can expect to find Carnival Conquest’s deck plan crammed with favorites past passengers will instantly recognize, along with some of Carnival’s more classic features that are missed aboard newer ships like Carnival Celebration and Carnival Jubilee.

Most public rooms aboard Carnival Conquest are nicely located along Decks 3, 4 and 5, and are interconnected by the soaring Studio Atrium that rises up a total of seven decks. Topped with a skylight and flanked by banks of glass elevators, the artistically-inspired Studio Atrium is the place to see and be seen, particularly for the nightly entertainment that happens in front of the Lobby Bar on Deck 3.

While Decks 4 and 5 run all the way forward and aft, Deck 3 can prevent a challenge, as the ship’s galley (kitchen) runs the full width of the vessel. That means passengers have to ascend the forward staircase (or atrium stairs) to Deck 4 or 5 in order to pass-through and reach the aft end of the ship. This confusing layout is present on all Destiny and Conquest-class ships, so it’s certainly not unique to Carnival Conquest – but will take a bit of getting used to.

Carnival Conquest still sports a massive, three-story theatre styled after French artist Henri de Toulouse-Lautrec, where production shows are held most nights, along with welcome activities and game shows.

Other past favorites aboard Carnival Conquest may have different names (all vessels in the Conquest-class sport uniquely-named and decorated bars and lounges), but still offer the same fun found aboard every other Carnival ship. These include a piano bar that’s often packed from open to close; a dance club that kicks off around 11 p.m. most nights; a coffee bar; and the Degas Lounge, where Carnival’s Punchliner Comedy Club performances are held.

Passengers will also find the Alchemy Bar almost all the way aft on Deck 5, just forward of the Blues Piano Bar. Seats get snapped up quickly here and stay that way. Be prepared to elbow your way to the bar for one of Carnival’s craft cocktails.

Other past-passenger favorites include the BlueIguana Tequila Bar, and the RedFrog Rum Bar, which are situated on opposite sides of each other by the midship pool on Deck 9. As the name suggests, BlueIguana specializes in tequila-based libations, while RedFrog focuses more on rums and craft beers, including Carnival’s own lineup of RedFrog beers.

For a bit of relaxation, passengers will find the Cloud 9 Spa up on Deck 11 forward, along with the ship’s Fitness Center. The large hot tub that used to be situated in the Fitness Center was removed in a past refit, leaving an empty space that is used for Yoga classes. The Serenity Adults Only outdoor deck area is just one deck up from here, on Deck 12 forward.

A few public rooms feel like they would be better served as something else. The Painter’s Library, aft of the atrium on the port side of Deck 4, is the saddest example we’ve seen at sea in a long time – mostly devoid of books, and of people, throughout our quick weekend jaunt. Ditto for Vincent’s Bar, all the way aft on Deck 5, which remained empty and unused throughout our sailing.

Cabins on Carnival Conquest Offer Plenty of Choice (and Some Modern Touches, Too)

Carnival’s strength has always been its larger-than-industry-average cabins, and Carnival Conquest is no exception. In fact, stepping into our balcony stateroom on Deck 9, we were surprised by how big the room felt compared with the brand-new cruise ship we’d just disembarked some weeks earlier. We’re talking three full closets, a desk area, a very decently-sized couch, large bathroom, and a balcony that, while not extravagant, could still fit two people comfortably.

Budget-conscious travelers will love that Carnival Conquest has a whopping 564 interior staterooms onboard. While these lack a window, they’re still plenty large for a couple – and let’s face it, you’ll be partying it up on the ship outside your cabin for most of the days onboard.

For a nice middle ground, Carnival Conquest has 324 oceanview staterooms onboard – including some that are classified, weirdly, as interior rooms because of their obstructed views (usually, railings and deck fixtures on the Conquest-class), or because of their small windows: 10 oceanview rooms have portholes, and typically appear in the booking process under the Inside category for a substantial discount.

Most passengers will likely choose one of the 523 balcony staterooms onboard, all of which are largely identical. Expect to find standard Carnival colors, from the blue carpeting to the Miami Vice-esque pink trim that encircles the ceiling. Balconies are of a decent size, with enough room for a small table and two chairs and offer unobstructed views of the ocean below – something that is becoming a rare sight on more modern ships that feature tiered balcony cabins.

Best of all, every cabin aboard Carnival Conquest – from the economical insides to the ship’s lavish suites situated high atop the navigation bridge – offers Carnival’s Signature Bed and Bedding, which makes for a very restful sleep, indeed.

Dining aboard Carnival Conquest Punches Above Its Weight

Passengers will never go hungry aboard Carnival Conquest. Carnival has so many complimentary venues onboard – from an expansive buffet to two dining rooms that cater to those who prefer Anytime or fixed early and late seating dining, to casual venues like BlueIguana Cantina and Guy’s Burger Joint.

Service in the two main dining rooms – the Monet and Renoir Restaurants – was efficient and friendly. We had late seating (8:15 p.m.) dining in the Renoir and were pleased to find the dining room uncrowded. A request for a table for two was easily met (we’d been assigned to a table for eight) and service went with the well-oiled precision you’d expect on an older ship with an experienced crew.

Food is tasty but uncomplicated. That’s the best way to quantify cuisine onboard Carnival Conquest: not every dish is a hit, but the majority are. In a world where plenty of Carnival’s competitors are charging for nearly every little thing, it’s refreshing to see that quality pool deck food venues like BlueIguana Cantina, with its burritos and tacos; and Guy’s Burger Joint are still provided gratis.

Perhaps our most memorable meal came at The Point Steakhouse on Deck 10 midship. Carnival offers a special promotion for booking a table on embarkation day – a complimentary bottle of red or white wine – and we enjoyed watching sailaway from Miami in the darkened splendor of this clubby steakhouse.

The room, with its gold accents, star-lit ceiling and crimson chairs, makes for an upscale dining experience you may not expect on a short sailing. Service was attentive and friendly, if not exacting, but the quality of the meal – a filet mignon with all the trimmings – did not disappoint, nor did the complimentary wine.

For those looking for a more exclusive dining experience, The Chef’s Table is an intimate degustation event that starts with drinks and canapes in the ship’s galley before moving on to a private dining room where a menu is prepared for a small group of patrons.

Room service is available for a small fee around the clock, and snacks and meals in the Lido Buffet were available until 1:30 a.m. most days – and were always well-attended, even at the late hour.

Carnival Conquest Offers a Solid Cruise Getaway

More than anything, Carnival Conquest offers a solid short cruise getaway. Despite the vessel’s age, staterooms are comfortable, public rooms are engaging and present a feeling of discovery that we found we missed on newer ships thanks to their unique décor, and the service from the ship’s dedicated crew is spot-on.

While you won’t find some of the cruise industry’s most whiz-bang features (you’ll need to go on Carnival Celebration, Jubilee or Mardi Gras, for example, to ride the first-ever rollercoaster at sea), Carnival Conquest offers more fun in the sun than most people are able to cram into just three or four days onboard – and plenty of reason to return.