Carnival Conquest • August 12–19, 2012
About This Experience
This seven-night Western Caribbean cruise departed from New Orleans with stops in Cozumel, Grand Cayman, and Montego Bay. The sailing featured a mix of beach time, snorkeling, and shopping, alongside themed sea days and shipboard entertainment. A moderate level of walking was involved at some ports, depending on chosen shore excursions.
🎉 1. Family Surprise at Sea
In August 2012, we left behind the summer haze of home and headed for the vibrant port city of New Orleans, Louisiana, where the Carnival Conquest awaited at the Julia Street Cruise Terminal. Launched in 2002 as the first of Carnival’s Conquest-class ships, she was built to impress—with bold interiors inspired by French Impressionist art, over a dozen decks, and the capacity to host more than 2,900 guests and 1,100 crew members.
🚢 2. Embarkation
Embarkation in New Orleans was smooth and festive. Carnival’s energy pulsed through every corner of the terminal. We boarded early, easily locating our stateroom—cabin 7293, a cozy midship room that offered quick access to both the pool deck and dining areas. The ship itself felt classic and full of life—vibrant interiors, art-covered walls, and that familiar stretch of deck chairs reaching toward the horizon.
🎨 Design Detail: The ship’s central atrium, “The Toulouse-Lautrec Lounge,” features color palettes drawn from the Belle Époque art scene of 19th-century Paris.
But before the fun officially began, we had one mission: the surprise. While our cruise had been quietly booked behind the scenes, our family had no idea we were coming. We found a pair of chairs near the gangway—right in plain sight of those boarding the ship—and sat back with drinks in hand, playing it casual. When our family finally stepped onboard and locked eyes with us, their wide-eyed grins and stunned laughter said it all. The surprise was a hit, and in that moment, the cruise transformed—from just another vacation into a story we’d be telling for years.
🛳️ Cruise Fact: Carnival Conquest’s Impressionist-inspired design includes full-scale reproductions of Monet and Degas paintings throughout public spaces.
🗓️ 3. Cruise Itinerary: Daily Logs
Sunday, August 12 – Departure from New Orleans
📍 Location: New Orleans, Louisiana
⏳ Time Spent: Embarkation Day
🕒 Departure: 4:00 PM
📌 Event: Embarkation & Surprise Reunion
🧭 Navigation Note: Sailing from New Orleans means navigating 100 miles down the Mississippi River before reaching the Gulf—a journey that can take up to 7 hours.
Monday, August 13 – At Sea
📍 Location: At Sea (Gulf of Mexico)
⏳ Time Spent: Full Day at Sea
Our first sea day was all about slowing down. We slept in, had breakfast by the windows, and then spent the afternoon bouncing between trivia games, nap-worthy loungers, and people-watching on the lido deck. The water was calm, the sky bright, and the mood… pure vacation.
Tuesday, August 14 – At Sea
📍 Location: At Sea (Gulf of Mexico)
⏳ Time Spent: Full Day at Sea
By now, we’d found our rhythm. Some of us explored the ship’s art collection and casino, while others parked themselves by the aft pool with buckets of beer. The night’s show was a lively revue of 70s hits.
Wednesday, August 15 – Montego Bay, Jamaica
📍 Location: Montego Bay, Jamaica
🕒 Arrival Time: 9:00 AM | Departure: 6:00 PM
📌 Event: Negril Experience – Margaritaville & Cliff Diver
We hopped on a scenic drive from Montego Bay to Negril, where we kicked off the day at Seven Mile Beach. Later, at the Rick’s Café, we cheered local cliff divers as they leapt from the top tree platform into the ocean below.
Thursday, August 16 – George Town, Grand Cayman
📍 Location: George Town, Grand Cayman
🕒 Arrival Time: 7:00 AM | Departure: 4:00 PM
📌 Event: Sea Trek Underwater Adventure
In George Town, we donned futuristic helmets and descended a ladder to the seafloor. With air pumped into our helmets and fish darting all around, we walked along a sandy underwater path like deep-sea astronauts.
Friday, August 17 – Cozumel, Mexico
📍 Location: Cozumel, Mexico
🕒 Arrival Time: 10:00 AM | Departure: 5:00 PM
📌 Event: Passion Island Break
There was an inflatable water park for the energetic, a beachfront grill for the hungry, and multicolored hammocks for those craving relaxation.
Saturday, August 18 – At Sea
📍 Location: Atlantic Ocean
⏳ Time Spent: Full Day at Sea
Our final day at sea was slow, sun-soaked, and tinged with the bittersweet feeling that comes at the end of a perfect vacation. We had one last long dinner together, followed by cocktails under the stars and promises to do it again.
Sunday, August 14 – Return to New Orleans, Louisiana
📍 Location: New Orleans, Louisiana
🕒 Arrival Time: 8:00 AM
📌 Event: Disembarkation
🍽️ 4. Dining Experiences
Although we weren’t initially assigned to the family’s table, my brother-in-law made sure that didn’t last long. With a bit of polite persistence, he convinced the staff to squeeze in two more seats. By the next night, we were gathered together, just as it should be.
Every evening brought familiar comfort foods: roasted chicken, baked pastas, grilled fish, hearty soups—and of course, the legendary warm chocolate melting cake. Daytime meant pizza on the lido, soft-serve cones, and leisurely breakfasts. The food wasn’t fancy, but it was shared, and that made it special.
🎭 5. Unexpected Moments
- The Helmet Mishap: During our Sea Trek dive in George Town, my helmet was lifted too early on the way up, sending a flood of seawater straight into my face. I surfaced coughing and drenched—but grinning.
- The Hammock Grove: No one planned to nap on Passion Island, but under the pines and palms, each of us drifted off one by one in the midday heat. That spontaneous siesta might’ve been the most relaxing hour of the entire trip.
💫 6. Favorite Moment
My personal favorite moment wasn’t on the beach or under the sea—it was around the dinner table. Once we were added to the family’s seating arrangement, those nightly meals became our time to reconnect. No matter what the day had brought—sunburns, belly flops, or rum punch—we always came together in the evening to talk, laugh, and just be a family. The food was good, the service friendly, but it was the conversation that mattered most. We didn’t need fancy food or perfect timing. Just being there, with everyone, talking and toasting and teasing like we’d never been apart… that was everything.
📋 7. Cruise Details
📍 Embarkation Port: New Orleans, Louisiana
🗺 Itinerary: 7-Night Western Caribbean
🚢 Cruise Line & Ship: Carnival Cruise Line – Carnival Conquest
📆 Sailing Date: August 2012
⏳ Duration: 7 Days
Cruise Itinerary Disclaimer:
Cruise itineraries shared on OceansAfoot are independently written and based on personal sailings. OceansAfoot is not affiliated with any cruise line and does not receive compensation or direction from operators referenced in these narratives.
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