I just returned from my very first cruise, and I cant wait to cruise again! I sailed on the Carnival Conquest with two first time cruisers (my sister, and a long time friend). We had a wonderful time!! We got on the ship in Galveston Texas on October 14, 2007. The lines were very long, and took us about two hours to get on the ship. Everyone was very nice,even when we realized that the male in our party left his passport in his luggage - the luggage was already taken by a porter! They allowed him to get on board with just his drivers license and he had to take an oath that he was a US citizen. Once on board, we had to wait about an hour up on the Lido deck eating and drinking, before our room was ready. They brought our luggage to our cabin around 6pm. (we boarded the ship around 1pm). We had an ocean view room on deck 1 (riviera). It was great! We were about in the middle of the ship. It was quiet and we did not get rocked around much. People on higher decks felt much more of the boat rocking than we did. We really enjoyed the Mardi Gras party, and the Halloween party! One day my sister and I played "sea feud" and had a great time! THere were a lot of people on board. Everyone was very nice and courteous (staff and other passengers). I did not come across even 1 rude person! I just loved our cabin steward - Pring. He did a wonderful job keeping us happy, and leaving us all of the very cute towel creations. The monkey was the best! Our waiters in the formal dining area were great also - Ida and Fracisco. The cruise director was so funny - Butch Begovich. That was his last cruise on the conquest, he is moving on to another carnival ship. The shows were awesome! The dancers, comedians, juggler, singers, were all great! Our first stop after 2 full days at sea was Jamaica. I did not do an excursion here. My sister and I paid $12 and took a shuttle bus around. We stopped at Margaritaville to take pictures. OUr male friend did go on an excursion. He did the sea trek helmet dive then went parasailing. He said the sea trek excursion was fun, and the parasailing was wonderful!! Our next stop was Grand Cayman Island. We went on the sting ray swim, and Hell excursion. Swimming with the sting rays in the Caribbean sea was a once in a lifetime experience! I recommend that everyone do this! Then we visited the very small town of Hell, and mailed postcards so they would be postmarked from Hell! THat was fun. Then back to the ship. Our last stop was Cozumel Mexico. It was breathtaking! The waters were so blue and clear! I enjoyed this stop the most! We went on the jeep and snorkeling tour. We drove around the whole island of Cozumel in a jeep. There were 13 people in our group. about half way, we stopped on the undeveloped side of the island and ate lunch. We ate on a private beach, on a blanket under an umbrella. The tour company had set up a mexican food buffet. The food was really good! We visited a small mayan ruins site, and stopped at a place that they called "the pee pee station". I did not see a bathroom, but we did get to buy souvenirs . I hated to leave, but we got back on the ship. only one more full day at sea, then we docked again in Galveston. This trip was a wonderful first time cruise experience. I am going to sail on the carnival ecstasy next! Two of the three out of our group are large people. We had no problem fitting in and having fun! I never felt left out!! THe staff on the ship go out of their way to make sure that everyone has a wonderful trip!!!! I did find out one thing - you don't have to know how to dance to join in on the conga lines!! Susan from Texas

We really enjoyed the Mardi Gras party, and the Halloween party! One day my sister and I played "sea feud" and had a great time! THere were a lot of people on board. Everyone was very nice and courteous (staff and other passengers). I did not come across even 1 rude person! I just loved our cabin steward - Pring. He did a wonderful job keeping us happy, and leaving us all of the very cute towel creations. The monkey was the best! Our waiters in the formal dining area were great also - Ida and Fracisco. The cruise director was so funny - Butch Begovich. That was his last cruise on the conquest, he is moving on to another carnival ship. The shows were awesome! The dancers, comedians, juggler, singers, were all great! Our first stop after 2 full days at sea was Jamaica. I did not do an excursion here. My sister and I paid $12 and took a shuttle bus around. We stopped at Margaritaville to take pictures. OUr male friend did go on an excursion. He did the sea trek helmet dive then went parasailing. He said the sea trek excursion was fun, and the parasailing was wonderful!! Our next stop was Grand Cayman Island. We went on the sting ray swim, and Hell excursion. Swimming with the sting rays in the Caribbean sea was a once in a lifetime experience! I recommend that everyone do this! Then we visited the very small town of Hell, and mailed postcards so they would be postmarked from Hell! THat was fun. Then back to the ship. Our last stop was Cozumel Mexico. It was breathtaking! The waters were so blue and clear! I enjoyed this stop the most! We went on the jeep

We went on the jeep and snorkeling tour. We drove around the whole island of Cozumel in a jeep. There were 13 people in our group. about half way, we stopped on the undeveloped side of the island and ate lunch. We ate on a private beach, on a blanket under an umbrella. The tour company had set up a mexican food buffet. The food was really good! We visited a small mayan ruins site, and stopped at a place that they called "the pee pee station". I did not see a bathroom, but we did get to buy souvenirs . I hated to leave, but we got back on the ship. only one more full day at sea, then we docked again in Galveston. This trip was a wonderful first time cruise experience. I am going to sail on the carnival ecstasy next! Two of the three out of our group are large people. We had no problem fitting in and having fun! I never felt left out!! THe staff on the ship go out of their way to make sure that everyone has a wonderful trip!!!! I did find out one thing - you don't have to know how to dance to join in on the conga lines!! Susan from Texas