Carnival Conquest Review
Bio-Hazards in a filthy cabin, Disability access disaster
Rating by category
Additional details
I booked this cruise before ever having cruised before, although by the time we sailed a few months later I had spent over 4 weeks between two other cruises with two other companies. People warned me that I would not like Carnival in comparison with my 3 weeks on the NCL Star my Danube river cruise with Vantage. I tried, however, to keep an open mind, knowing for example, that a lot that was being said critically wouldn't relate to me.
I am disabled with a degenerative neurological disease. I have no reliable feeling to about my waist, typically. I also have periods when I cannot control the muscles in my legs and one arm. That said, I can usually walk "okay." I did inform Carnival when I made my reservation that I was disabled, would need wheelchair assistance, and requested an accessible stateroom. Furthermore, I informed them that I would be using a rolling walker during the cruise.
There were no handicapped accessible staterooms when I made our reservations. I checked a couple of times to see if any became available, but had no luck. Let me be clear, I am not judging Carnival for this. There were, to my mind, an extraordinary number of mobility impaired passengers on this sailing.
Cabin Review
Ocean View
The cabin itself is very roadside Holiday Inn-ish. The lighting is horribly designed, with what appear to be florescent bulbs behind plastic suspended panels lining two walls of the room. To me, that screams 70's basement rec room. Blich. In terms of space, it is fine. Certainly cramped with two adults and two kids, but not especially so if the third and fourth beds are put away/restored during the day. It was convenient for disembarking at ports as on this trip that was always from the front. If one has any mobility issues, however, keep in mind that every dining option is to the rear of the midship. It is convenient to elevators, but one cannot traverse on the third deck, so there is that mild inconvenience if assigned to the rear dining room on that level.
Port Reviews
Fort Lauderdale (Port Everglades)
Efficient port. Good handicapped support. We stayed at the Renaissance Cruise port hotel which was nice enough and convenient.
St. Maarten
Fascinating island, but 18,000 cruise ship passengers arrived that morning. The taxis were overwhelmed with very little functional organization. We went to Marigot which offered good food and some interesting shopping, though that wasn't a primary interest of ours.
San Juan
Stupid as could be that we had only a half a day here when there is so much to see and do, particularly when one considers the forecast and our inability to visit the port scheduled for the next day (or any other)