Sailed on the Conquest out of New Orleans on Halloween. This was a annual meeting cruise for our small company and we had sailed on Carnival previously, so we knew the drill pretty well when it comes to Carnival's way of doing things - which we happen to like.

The Port of New Orleans Terminal is a mess currently due to construction going on there....the lines of cabs and buses trying to get into the Terminal on Sunday morning at around 11:30 a.m. were outrageously long - upwards of an hour wait to drop off passengers.

Luckily, we found an "end around"....go to one of the external parking lots run by Carnival west of the terminal and drop your luggage off there to one of the Carnival porters. Have your cab driver take you through...even though you aren't going to park. Check you luggage there and tip them and then have your cab driver take you to the French Quarter and you can enjoy a nice lunch and then walk through the Riverwalk Center (which adjoins the terminal) and walk into Carnival's operations around 2:00 p.m. Much less of a hassle and much more valuable use of your time in New Orleans than waiting in an endless cab line. And if you're a soft drink addict, pick up a six or twelve pack and carry it on the ship with you....much cheaper than the $1.50 per 12 oz can that is charged onboard.

There are plenty of great reviews posted about the ship already here...so am just going to add a few observations. If you can, book a room on the 8th, 9th or 10th levels....you can then avoid the elevators (which are crowded often with almost 3000 passengers aboard) and walk DOWN to the main dining rooms and public areas.

We would also recommend staying either mid ship or at the front of the ship....we were in 8418 and 8420....but I'd suggest 22 or 24 since that will put you farther away from the steward's storage area which gets noisy early in the morning. Also, pay the extra for the balcony....it is WELL worth the premium as a place to enjoy the solitude when you want to get away from the masses. Also, if you are traveling with another party...and they are next to you...you can open up the door between the two balconies and in essence double your space. We spent a lot of time drinking our own wine that we brought on board....and enjoying the view.

There are two current entertainer groups on board that you MUST visit when you cruise the Conquest. Mary Ann and Roger form "Twos Company" and this duo is a WORLD CLASS vocal experience. Mary Ann sings Whitney Hoston and Celine Dion as well as the originals and several times she got standing ovations from the crowds that gathered to hear them sing nightly. The Conquest moves them around ... sometimes in the atrium bar....sometimes in the Cigar Bar, etc. Whatever you do, find out where they are playing and give them a listen. If you're like us, you'll go back and hear them every night. Free music that is terrific to listen to and dance along with and we felt we were listening to BIG stars in the making.

Roger's brothers are normally in the Degas Lounge doing classic rock from the 70's and 80's.....their group is called the Blood Brothers. Filipinos who mimic the great songs from the past...their version of Stairway to Heaven is specatacular, as is their medley of over 25 Beatles songs. Again....these two groups were a real highlight of our cruise...and the BEST two groups we've ever heard on a cruise ship. Don't miss them....!

The sky pool at the rear of the ship is much more quiet than the public pools mid-ship. That is also where the 24 hour soft ice cream and soft frozen yogurt machines are located...so be sure and give both a try. Lounge chairs around the Sky pool fill up early .. so get down there by 9:00 a.m. if you want poolside lounges.

In terms of port visits....two things you should really do are the Jamaican Horseback ride and the Cayman Singray City experience. The horseback ride is $78 each, but WELL worth the bucks. You get to ride in the Jamaican hills and then be sure and wear your swimsuit under your pants and you can actually SWIM with your horse in the ocean at the end of your ride. The guides tell us that there are only two places in the world that allow you to swim with the horses....here and in Aruba....so don't miss it. They also have digital photographers on shore to capture you with your horse swimming...pricy ($20 for four photos)....but a perfect souvenir of a wonderful experience and the highlight of our trip.

Stingray City in the Caymans cost $48 per person when booked through Carnival..although you can get the same experience for $35 as soon as you get on the pier from the tenders that take you from the ship to the dock. We'd recommend going EARLY to avoid the crowds at Stingray City....about a thirty minute boat ride to a sand bar where 60 to 80 live, wild stingrays congregate and allow you to touch them and feed them. They are HUGE (5 feet wide in some instances) and they don't bite or sting you.....so rest assured that anyone from age 8 to age 80 would enjoy this incredible experience. Again, digital photographers with waterproof equipment are there and are fairly costly, but what a way to document the moment.

The Caymans have been devastated by Hurrican Ivan...expect to see lots of places with roofs being repaired and 80 or 90 percent of the trees damaged or knocked down completely. Georgetown shopping is also VERY expensive...think Tiffany and Rolex....so spend your tourist dollars more wisely in Jamaica or Cozumel. One thing you might want to get in Cayman is Big Black Dick Rum....made locally with a very colorful bottle and a very coloful history of a slave who escaped and began making top notch rum 200 hundred years ago. $20 for two bottles...and a GREAT gift to take home to friends and family.

The Point alternative restaurant is also very nice...costs $25 per person extra....but the service and the food are on par with a top restaurant stateside. We went once and enjoyed it a lot, but the food in the main dining rooms is also very good. If you can get the later seatings (8:00 p.m. or 8:30 p.m.) you'll find that you'll not be so "rushed" during the day. We've tried both early and late and much prefer the later option.

Disembarkation is pretty well run...but watch out for the service (separate from Carnival) called Rush Delivery that offers to take your luggage to the airport while you stroll the French Quarter on Sunday when you return. They CLAIM that they'll have your luggage there by 12:30 p.m....but we (and several other cruise visitors) were still waiting at 3:00 p.m. for a couple of pieces to show up. Be forwarned....and don't let them ruin your last day if you have a airline trip home before 5:00 p.m.

Two other things worth mentioning. The hot tubs on board are NOT hot...they are lukewarm, which is disappointing but understandable when you think of all the various ages who use them. We found the hot tubs in the exercise room (11th floor at the Spa at the front of the ship) to be much more appealing. There are also 12 treadmills (and other exercise equipment) there to help you walk off some calories that you'll invariably take in during your week aboard.

The Conquest is a huge ship that is well run and kept very clean. But it does get crowded at times....just remember that you can always try the side decks outside the pursers office on Deck Four....nice loungers there and NO people to speak of vs the middle of the ship that is always full of people and noise.

Manage your expectations...and you'll have a wonderful experience for less than $150 per person per day. Where else can you have all the great food you want (try the deli sandwiches - they're top notch) and a very nice 185 square foot room and a view of those blue Caribbean waters for less than the price of most hotel rooms in major cities these days?

Enjoy your trip. And be sure and sit down on the promenade level (5th floor) and have a drink and watch the parades of people walk by before or after dinner. GREAT people watching...we call it the "perp" walk, since some of the outfits people put together could get them arrested (for poor taste or mismatched attire).