Carnival Conquest

Theater

The three-level 1,400-seat Toulouse-Lautrec Lounge, on decks 3 to 5 forward, is the ship's main theater. Inspired by Henri de Toulouse-Lautrec's provocative images of Parisian theater in the late 19th century, the space is bedecked in red velvet and on the first level features small tables inset with snippets of actual Toulouse-Lautrec paintings. The theater hosts a variety of evening shows, including song-and-dance revues with lots of multimedia elements, variety acts that might include magicians or hypnotists, and family-oriented "Hasbro, the Game Show." During the day, the theater plays host to Bingo and port shopping presentations.

Most nights the theater is host to at least one of four Playlist Production shows, which feature song-and-dance routines bursting with elaborate costumes and digital special effects. The dazzling background images, projected onto an enormous screen at the back of the stage, can be a bit overwhelming and sometimes take away from the actual singing and dancing. Shows are done multiple times on different days and at different times, so all passengers get a chance to see each one without worrying too much about schedules. Beware if you sit in the first few rows; you might need to don rain ponchos for one show or end up pulled into the aisle to dance during another show.

"Hasbro, the Game Show" is a family-friendly interactive experience based on the TV show "Family Game Night." Split into two halves (one for the younger participants and the other for their elders), volunteers are put through a series of board-games-come-to-life activities in order to vie for a chance to win a complete Hasbro board game set. For instance, using colored basketballs, teams play Connect 4 and try to get four in a row. In a life-sized version of Simon, players wearing colored cubes must rearrange themselves to match a series of colors flashed momentarily on the screen in front of them.

Daily Fun

Most of the fun to be had on a Carnival cruise during the day centers on the outside Lido Deck and main swimming pool. It's where you'll find the line's infamous Hairy Chest contest (leave your dignity at the door, even if you're just watching), as well as the Mr. & Mrs. Conquest pageant and an ice sculpting demo. Once per cruise, at the RedFrog Rum and BlueIguana Tequila bars, you can partake in the Red vs. Blue mixologist competition.

Those who wish to be indoors can participate in a number of activities throughout the day. Watch out for the spa seminars (lots of them), which are free but designed less around helping participants and more about making money. Other daily activities include cooking demonstrations, indoor golf putting contests, trivia sessions, art seminars and auctions, dance classes (mostly line dancing), bingo (for a fee) and sales/raffles in the onboard shops. A video arcade (Deck 5), used mostly by kids and teenagers, is open 24 hours.

At Night

Evening fun gets started early on Carnival Conquest, with the Degas Lounge (Deck 5, aft) transforming into the Punchliner Comedy Club at 7:15 p.m. most nights for a family-friendly comedy routine. There's typically another family-friendly show at 8 p.m., then two to three adults-only standup routines throughout the rest of the night. (The last show is at midnight.)

Another day-to-night area is the Lido Deck, which transforms into Carnival's Seaside Theater around 7 p.m. most evenings. Movies change nightly and are themed around Action & Adventure, Family Movie Time, Drama Night, Blockbuster Night and Comedy Night.

The Tahiti Casino (Deck 5, midship) is open every night (except during overnight port calls) and features a multitude of slot machines and electronic poker, along with blackjack, craps, roulette, Texas Hold'em and Let it Ride poker. Smoking is permitted in the casino.

Live music is available every night in several areas of the ship, but it's most prominent in the lobby (Deck 3, midship) and along the Deck 5 promenade, next to the casino. There's also Latin music and dancing every night in Alfred's (Deck 4, aft) and a sing-along piano jam in Blues (Deck 5, aft).

Henri's Nightclub (Deck 5, aft) doesn't get grooving until after midnight when DJ Commodus starts spinning hits and mixes.

Bars and Lounges

Whether you like cocktails, tequila shots or sweet rum drinks, Carnival Conquest has you covered. The ship is still missing the line's popular RedFrog Pub (coming in 2017), and wine-lovers might also feel a little left out -- though glasses of wine are available at most of the lounges onboard.

Most of the ship's bars and lounges are located along the Deck 5 Promenade (or are just one or two decks down), making them easy to move between.

Sports Bar (Deck 5 midship): Carnival Conquest's Sports Bar is the best place on the ship to catch all the games, as long as they're being shown on network TV or ESPN and ESPN2. The ship does not have access to Fox Sports. On a typical day, the bartender will have four to five games going on seven different TVs, and most afternoons the entertainment staff will hold one session of sports trivia, as well. In addition to the small beverage menu, you can get freshly baked jumbo pretzels with mustard for snacking.

RedFrog Rum Bar (Deck 9, midship): Located across the pool from the BlueIguana Tequila Bar, RedFrog serves up all beverages rum-based (coladas, daiquiris, mojitos).

BlueIguana Tequila Bar (Deck 9, midship): An integral part of the Lido Deck happenings along with the RedFrog Rum Bar, BlueIguana Tequila Bar pours 10 different types of tequila, four frozen margaritas and a handful of tequila-based cocktails. You also can get buckets of beer or pitchers of hard lemonade or margaritas there (as well as at RedFrog).

Alchemy Bar (Deck 5, aft): At Alchemy Bar, a pharmacy-themed cocktail bar, you'll find lab coat-clad mixologists whipping up a selection of inventive cocktails with names like the French Kiss, Deal Closer, Perfect Storm and Forty is the New Twenty.

Impressions Bar (Deck 5, midship): Not quite inside the casino, but close enough to be the casino bar, Impressions Bar is a popular spot in the evening to sit and listen to live music (presented on a small stage along the promenade). Just be aware that the bar is close enough to the casino for the smell of cigarette smoke to waft by.

Artists' Lobby & Bar (Deck 3, midship): Not technically a lounge (though there is a bar), the lobby is nevertheless one of the centers of activity on Carnival Conquest. During the day, you'll find trivia, charades, Scattergories and other similar activities. At night, the space transforms into a live music venue with a small amount of room for dancing. Look up for a fantastic hand-painted mural depicting details from several famous Impressionist paintings.

Degas (Deck 5, aft): Golden ballet dancer statues, insets of painted ballet studios on the backs of sofas -- there's no hiding that the Degas lounge is a clear nod to Impressionist painter Edgar Degas, whose portrayals of ballet studios hang in some of the most storied museums in the world. No such high-culture here though: The Degas lounge is the place for karaoke and comedy at night, as well as spa and shop seminars during the day.

Alfred's (Deck 4, aft): Named after painter Alfred Sisley (we had to look him up), Alfred's is hidden away toward the back of Deck 4. During the day, it's a quiet place to read a book (but lighting is dim) or check your email (the small Internet cafe is tucked away in a corner), though you may find the occasional trivia session down there, as well. At night, the space transforms into the ship's Latin music and dancing headquarters. Once per cruise, the late-night adults-only Quest scavenger hunt is held there, as well. (Come early if you want a view of the dance floor, where all the action takes place.)

Henri's Nightclub (Deck 5, aft): It's a jungle on the dance floor -- at least in Henri's Nightclub, where images of jungle paintings by Henri Rousseau dominate. But you'll barely see any of the decor after 11 p.m., when bright lights, flashing strobes and special effects combine with loud, bass-driven dance music and cruisers get their groove on. During the day, you'll find tamer art auctions.

Blues (Deck 5, aft): The ship's sing-along piano bar (with its somewhat psychedelic decor inspired by the color blue, so prevalent in Henri Matisse's paintings) is a fun place to spend an hour belting out your favorite piano tunes by the likes of Elton John, Jimmy Buffet, Billy Joel and others. The horseshoe-shaped bar, which surrounds the piano, has room for about 18 people, but there's plenty of seating scattered throughout the rest of the lounge -- which, by the way, has no bar, though bar staff will come by to take your order.

Vincent's Jazz Bar (Deck 5, aft): The ship's cigar bar is a light and airy space inspired by the Vincent Van Gogh paintings of sunflowers in a vase. However, the lounge, which is fairly large, was underused on our sailing. Though called a jazz bar -- and there is a stage for live music -- there were no shows during our eight days onboard. The only people who used the space were smokers.

Sky Bar (Deck 9 aft): Grab a beer or fruity cocktail between dips in the aft pool at the adjacent Sky Bar.

Carnival Conquest Outside Recreation

Pools

Carnival Conquest has three pools and five hot tubs. The main pool and surrounding multi-tiered sun deck, located on Deck 9, midship, are the center of activity on Conquest. As long as the weather is nice, the pool remains crowded with adults sipping drinks and kids splashing around. (The pool is rimmed with shallow water.) The nearby hot tubs (each capable of fitting about 10 or so adults) are similarly full. Live and DJ-spun music fills the air during the day, as do showings of concerts on the 270-square-foot movie screen suspended above the main pool. At night, the space transforms into the ship's outdoor Seaside Theater, with a new "dive-in" movie shown each evening on the big screen. Also throughout the day, the entertainment crew hosts a variety of poolside games and contests.

One deck up (or three Lido Deck tiers) is a smaller pool, adjacent to the end of the Twister water slide, which spirals two levels before splashing down. A third hot tub is nearby.

The ship's aft Sky Pool (Deck 9) is nominally adults-only, but because of its proximity to Pizza Pirate, there are always kids around (if not in the pool). It's a bit quieter back there but still crowded. Two hot tubs also are adults-only.

Pools are generally open from 8 a.m. to 10 p.m., except for the aft pool, which stays open until midnight. Children must be potty trained to use any of the pools.

Recreation

There's plenty of outdoor recreational fun on Carnival Conquest, from half-court basketball and volleyball on the Deck 11 Sports Deck (midship) to a nine-hole mini-golf course one deck up (only accessible via the sports court). Runners will appreciate the jogging track, aft on Deck 11; 10 laps equal one mile. Walkers can stroll around the outer perimeter of Deck 10 as well, though half of the time you'll be walking into the wind, which can be strong. Shuffleboard and Ping-Pong also are available.

Sun Decks

There are few outdoor areas on Carnival Conquest that are not also used as sun deck space. You'll find blue lounge chairs on decks 9, 10 and 11, both near the pools and along the port (left) and starboard (right) sides of the ship.

You'll also find lounge chairs on Deck 3 (port and starboard), but there is little to no sunlight.

Carnival Conquest Services

Carnival Conquest's Sunflower atrium rises nine levels from Deck 3 and is decorated with a beautiful mural showcasing bits and pieces of Impressionist paintings (many by the namesakes of the ships' lounges). On either side of the atrium's Artists' Lobby & Bar are the guest services and shore excursion desks.

Also on Deck 3 are the multi-use Cassat and Pissaro Rooms, which flank the entrance to the Renoir main dining room and are used for art exhibits or the Chef's Table.

One level up on Deck 4 is one of the saddest libraries ever encountered on a cruise ship. Multiple bookshelves are bare, with a smattering of foreign language books thrown carelessly about. Several board games are available, but all are missing pieces. The quiet space is, however, a good place to bring your own book to read or play a game of cards.

Opposite the library is the Pixels photo gallery, where every night (or while at sea during the day) glossy photo after glossy photo of cruisers living it up onboard is on display for purchase. Also for sale are photo albums, scrapbooking supplies, frames and digital camera accessories.

Farther aft on Deck 4 is the small four-station Internet cafe, tucked away in a corner of Alfred's, though bow-to-stern Wi-Fi also is available. Cruisers can choose from three Internet plans. The Social plan gives users access to popular sites like Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, Pinterest, What'sApp and Snapchat. The Value plan gives all the same access as the Social plan but adds email, news and sports sites, weather, banking and finance. The most comprehensive plan is the Premium and gives users access to just about any form of Internet-based communication, including Skype and FaceTime video calling. Speeds also are three times faster than those of the Social and Value plans. If you're using the Internet Cafe, keep in mind that no one is on hand to help.

Cruisers looking to book their next cruises will find the Future Cruise sales desk on Deck 5 across from Fans Cafe. Around the corner are Carnival's Fun Shops, including scoop-it-yourself candy store Cherry on Top. At the other shops, you'll find everything from designer purses, daywear and watches to Carnival-branded tees, magnets and stuffed animals. Snacks, toiletries and cold and seasick pills are also available, as is a large selection of duty-free alcohol, cigarettes and perfume. An ATM is conveniently located outside the shops, though no cash is actually accepted onboard the ship (except in the casino, which is right down the hall).

For those who can't wait to do laundry until they get home, DIY launderettes are available on decks 1, 2 and 6 through 9. You'll need lots of quarters. Each room has an iron and ironing board for passengers to use free of charge.

There is a medical center on Deck 0.

Free Dining
Complimentary dining options abound on Carnival Conquest. You'll find two main dining rooms, a buffet, a burger joint, Mexican fare, fish and chips, and pizza. Most of the food gets average to high marks, with a handful of standouts; the Cezanne buffet is the ship's weakest culinary offering.

On sea days, breakfast is served in the buffet (6:30 a.m. to noon) and at the BlueIguana Cantina (7:30 a.m. to 10:30 a.m.). Brunch is served in one of the main dining rooms (8:30 a.m. to 1 p.m.), while lunch is only served in the buffet and BlueIguana Cantina (both noon to 2:30 p.m.) and Guy's Burger Joint (noon to 6 p.m.).

On port days, breakfast is served in the buffet and one dining room. Times vary depending on port arrival time but are generally 6:30 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. in the buffet and 7:30 a.m. to 9:30 a.m. in the dining room. The BlueIguana Cantina also is open for breakfast (7 a.m. to 10:30 a.m.). Lunch on port days is only available in the buffet, BlueIguana Cantina and Guy's Burger Joint.

Room service also is available 24 hours a day, though breakfast choices are all cold options (cereal, yogurt and pastries).

With almost all of the dining venues onboard Carnival Conquest included in the cruise fares, passengers will find just a handful of culinary options with surcharges.

Monet and Renoir Restaurants (Decks 3 and 4): The two-deck Monet and Renoir Restaurants, named after famous impressionist painters, are Carnival Conquest's two main dining rooms. Passengers may choose from two dining scenarios. With traditional set seating, cruisers are assigned an early (6 p.m.) or late (8:15 p.m.) time slot in either Monet (both decks) or the upper deck of Renoir. Those who crave more flexibility may choose Carnival's "Your Time Dining" program and eat in the lower level of Renoir anytime between 5:45 p.m. and 9:30 p.m. If you like having the same waiter each night but have Your Time Dining, just ask to be seated in the same section, or request a specific waiter each night. (Other than at opening, we never saw long lines of cruisers waiting to be seated for the Your Time Dining option.)

Dinner menus are the same in both restaurants and consist of "everyday" options, as well as daily selections that change nightly.

Everyday choices include: chilled shrimp cocktail, fried vegetable spring rolls and a Caesar salad for appetizers; broiled fillet of Atlantic salmon, grilled flat iron steak, grilled chicken breast, Indian-style vegetables with lentils and basmati rice, and southern fried chicken with mashed potatoes and gravy as entrees. Sides available all nights are baked potatoes, steamed white rice, French fries and steamed vegetables. For an extra $20, cruisers also may order grilled lamb chops, filet mignon or New York strip from the Steakhouse any night of the cruise.

Options from the rotating menus can include anything from seafood delicacies (broiled Maine lobster, jumbo black tiger shrimp) to meat dishes (roasted prime rib, barbecued pork spare ribs, beef stroganoff) and Italian favorites (minestrone, lasagna, spaghetti carbonara). There are always vegetarian options (chilled peach cream soup, black bean and vegetable enchiladas) and a "Didja" (as in "did you ever") choice that might include spicy alligator fritters, frog legs, and shrimp and redfish ceviche.

You can choose as many appetizers and sides as you like, have an entree as an appetizer or vice versa, or combine parts of one entree with another. (We frequently combined the grilled chicken -- which was never too dry -- with sides from the rotating menu.)

Desserts also change every night, but Carnival's heavenly warm chocolate melting cake is always available, as are fresh fruit and a selection of ice cream flavors. Other choices might include apple pie, baked Alaska, tiramisu and a variety of sugar-free and low-fat cakes.

The quality and variety of food in the main dining room is good; the lobster, in particular, got first-rate reviews from diners (many of whom had more than one lobster tail). Italian dishes also were quite tasty. Waiters asked every night how the food was, whether it had been cooked well enough and if the temperature was okay.

Breakfast in the dining room consists of traditional morning items, including eggs your way (omelets and Benedict included), pancakes, waffles and French toast, various sides (corned beef, sliced ham, hash browns, sausage, bacon), cereals and breakfast pastries. (The mini chocolate chip muffins were delicious.)

Cezanne Restaurant (Deck 9): Cezanne, the ship's buffet, located on the Lido Deck, is the weakest link in Carnival Conquest's dining offerings. Other than a generic salad bar, most of the food choices are heavy, and there isn't much choice, especially for anyone with food restrictions. (The gluten-free bread on offer at the Deli is not very good and can't be toasted.)

Cezanne is divided into several distinct areas. Comfort Kitchen (called Good Eats for dinner), located near the main entrance, offers a variety of pasta, meat and fish options. Near the back of the buffet is a section called, on a rotating basis, Caribbean Favorites, Italian Favorites and American Favorites. The carving station is located there. On port days, only half of this section is open during lunch.

You'll also find two dessert stations inside Cezanne. The smaller of the two is in the front and offers one cake choice, plus a variety of puddings. At the back of the buffet is the Sweet Spot, which typically has four or five cake varieties to choose from.

Self-service beverage stations with lemonade, water, tea (iced and hot) and coffee are scattered throughout Cezanne, as well as near the aft pool outdoor seating area.

In addition to these buffet-style sections, you'll find one-off specialty food item venues within (or near) Cezanne as follows:

Carnival Deli (11 a.m. to 11 p.m.): Situated (port side only) inside Cezanne between Comfort Kitchen and the Favorites buffet, this place serves up deli-style wraps and sandwiches. Cold choices include turkey wraps, tuna sandwiches, smoked salmon on a bagel, and arugula and pepper with mozzarella on ciabatta bread. Hot selections are pastrami or corned beef on rye, a grilled Reuben sandwich, roast turkey on a roll, grilled ham and cheese or an all-beef hot dog.

Fish N' Chips (noon to 2:30 or 3:30 p.m.): You'll need to go up the steps at the back of Cezanne to get to this small food station, serving classic fish and chips, along with other items like seafood ceviche and fried oysters. Dipping sauces include tangy tartar, sweet chili and English mustard.

Pizza Pirate (open 24 hours): Located at the back of the ship, just outside Cezanne, near the Sky Pool and Sky Bar, Pizza Pirate is the only spot on the ship to grab a slice of pizza. But don't expect to grab and go. Every time we stopped by during lunch, there was always a wait. Choices include margherita, mushroom, pepperoni and four cheese. 

Swirls (open 24 hours): Ice cream 24/7. There are three Swirls self-service soft ice cream and yogurt stations located on Deck 9 -- two on either side of the entrance to Cezanne near Guy's Burgers and BlueIguana Cantina, respectively, and one near the aft Sky Pool.

Guy's Burger Joint (Deck 9): This poolside Lido Deck venue comes to Carnival cruise passengers via a partnership with celebrity chef Guy Fieri, and it's a burger-lover's paradise. You can build your own or choose from five pre-designed burgers, from the Plain Jane to Chilius Maximus (a burger with super melty cheese, an onion ring, donkey sauce and chili) or the Pig Patty (a patty made out of bacon topped with cheese and donkey sauce). There's also a toppings bar with everything from lettuce, tomato and pickles to caramelized onions and sauteed mushrooms. Lines during prime lunch hours are long, but they move fast. Vegetarians can ask for a veggie burger instead of a beef burger. There are no turkey burgers (nor are there any to be had in the buffet). Fries come standard, as well. Guy's Burger Joint open noon to 6 p.m.

BlueIguana Cantina (Deck 9): This is the place on the ship for tacos (fish, chicken or beef) and burritos (shrimp, chicken or beef). Tortillas are available in wheat or jalapeno (or just have them serve it all up on a platter if you don't want the wrap), and add-ons include all the necessities: refried beans, cilantro lime rice, black beans, diced tomatoes and shredded lettuce, roasted corn, sauteed onions, guacamole, sour cream, Monterey jack cheese and pico de gallo -- there's also a salsa bar with even more toppings! Don't forget, while BlueIguana Cantina is hopping for lunch, breakfast there is quiet; the scrambled egg burritos are to die for. (Hours vary but are generally 7:30 a.m. to 10:30 a.m. and noon to 2:30 p.m.)

Fee Dining

The Point Steakhouse (Deck 10 mid); $38: Located in an intimate spot on Deck 10, the Point Steakhouse is a great date or special occasion spot. The service is first-rate and the food excellent. Menus consist of appetizer, salad, entree and dessert choices. Start with escargot, grilled Portobello mushroom, beef tartare or a New England crab cake (just to name a few of the choices). Then move on to a salad before choosing from four steak options (New York strip, cowboy, ribeye, filet mignon), plus surf and turf, broiled lobster tail, rosemary-infused chicken, grilled lamb chops, Maine lobster ravioli and a grilled fish of the day. No matter what you choose, you really can't go wrong. Hours are 5:30 p.m. to 9:30 p.m.

Sushi at Sea (Deck 9, aft); a la carte: On offer are four sushi or sashimi options, as well as rolls. Prices start around $2 per piece. Diners place their order at the counter, are given a pager and then paged when their order is ready.

The Chef's Table (location varies); $75: Available on all Carnival ships, the Chef's Table is the closest you'll get to a gourmet experience on Carnival Conquest. Before the multicourse meal is served, diners are invited to tour the ship's galley with the head chef while sipping complimentary wine. The event is limited to a dozen passengers; it's held once to three times per cruise, depending on demand.

Cafe Fans (Deck 5, midship); a la carte: Located on the interior Promenade along Deck 5, Cafe Fans serves up specialty coffees, teas and chai lattes, plus milkshakes, hot chocolate, cookies and slices of swoon-worthy cake. Prices range from $1.95 to $5.95.

Green Eggs and Ham Breakfast (main dining room, Deck 3); $6: Offered just once per cruise, this fun family-centric breakfast is for Dr. Seuss-lovers (young and old alike). Held in one of the main dining rooms, the decor is decidedly Seuss with red and white tablecloths and napkins and pompom-esque centerpieces. The Cat in the Hat and Things 1 and 2 make appearances and pose for photos with kids. The best part is the menu with items like green eggs and ham (they really are green!), French toast coated red and blue and topped with Fruit Loops, regular and red pancakes stacked high, and striped yogurt parfaits.