Galveston - Carnival Conquest Terminal

  Galveston, Texas, United States
Sunday, July 1, 2007

(01-07-07)  GALVESTON ISLAND - CARNIVAL CONQUEST TERMINAL
Wet and warm, is how I would remember the morning of the 1st day of July.  Our spirits were dampened by the early morning precipitation.  The Island of Galveston is located 77km south of Houston and it is the homeport of two major cruise ship terminal, Carnival Conquest and The Royal Caribbean Cruise.  In order to get there from the mainland,  one have to drive across a 4km causeway that connects the mainland to Galveston.  Facing the Gulf of Mexico, Galveston is often exposed to the elements of destructive hurricanes and vicious storms.  Fortunately, Poseidon was not throwing his tantrum at that time of the year.  As we arrived at Galveston 2hrs ahead of our schedule boarding time,  we took that opportunity to drive around the island of Galveston.  The drive through Galveston Island enable us to unearth some of the island's best kept secret, their beautiful Victorian designed houses.  After a brief scenic tour of the island, we stop to have breakfast at Popeye.

Carnival Conquest

Galveston Island

At the Terminal

Finally, it was time for us to board the ship that's going to take us to the Caribbean, The Carnival Conquest.  I stood in awe, the 1st time I lay my eyes on the mammoth-sized ship.  It's 952ft from bow to stern and 114ft wide.
The ship also features 13 passenger decks, housing four swimming pools - one with a 214ft long water slide - a 15,000ft² health and fitness facility, an internet cafe, four restaurants and a boulevard of shops and boutiques.
Expanded family-friendly facilities will include action alley; a recreation centre housing a video arcade, teen coffee bar and dance club, along with a 3,300ft² children's play area.
Other features aboard the Carnival Conquest include a conference centre, an expansive sports deck with basketball and volleyball courts, a jogging track and a full casino.
Dining choices include twin two deck-high formal restaurants and an expansive two-level poolside eatery (offering casual alternatives for breakfast, lunch and dinner), a 24hr pizzeria and a variety of specialty areas.
A reservations-only supper club, a patisserie, a sushi bar and complimentary 24hr room service are also available.
I can go on and on but I rather let the following pictures tell you the rest.

1 of 26 Life Boats

At the Ramp

Boarding Time

The moment we set foot on board, a live band welcomed us with an array of Calypso music.  Our cabin was the lowest of all at deck 1, which was just about the sea level.  To my surprised, the cabin was much more spacious than I had anticipated, with full amenities and a port hole.  So glad that we did not opt for the cheapest cabin available.  Next, we hit the buffet table while the ship was still in it's boarding process with zealous gluttony.  Curious to know more about the place that we were to call home for the next 7days, we went on a discovery trail and check out every nooks and cranny of the ship.  When the call came for everyone to gather on deck 4 for the safety briefing, we ran like headless chickens back to our cabin to grab our life vest as instructed by the PA system and then return to deck 4 for the mandatory procedure.  After all said and done, we finally set sail towards the blue yonder.

Calypso Live Band

Welcome Cocktail

1st of many more Buffets

Eat all you can ice-cream

Our Room

Our Room

Our Bathroom

Cable TV

Our Bath

Buffet Again

Buffet Again

Casino

Casino

Bar

Bar

Deck 5

The Grand Dining

The Theater

Maestro Ling

Err...nevermind

Another Pool

Swimming Pool with a Slide

Safety Drill

Leaving Galveston

Liquor Tasting was one of the many interesting things that was constantly happening on board the cruise.

Duty Free Sales

Liquor Tasting

Salute!

At the end of each day, fine dining at the Grand Dining Hall was a must.

Fine Dining

Starter Course

Main Course

 

Spectacular Gala Show to welcome all the guest was install for us, featuring Freddy, our cruise mascot.

Our Host, Mark

Freddy the Mascot

Dancers

(02-07-07)  2nd DAY AT SEA

2nd day was a picture perfect day at sea.  I remember the warm sun stroking my skin...the sound of the waves, and the gentle salty breeze in my nostrils.  The sea is of perfect tranquility and the water,...oh the water,... was so clear and the color of deep royal blue.  I could just lie on the deck chairs and let that perfect day takes me to another dimension of time and space.  We just assumed the lifestyle of the rich but not so famous for the rest of that afternoon.

Perfect Day at Sea

Perfect Tan (10)

Ahhh - Life!

Art Auction

Open Deck

Crystal Clear Blue Sea

Night Falls and it was time to get dressed up and attend the Captain's Formal Night function. All the guest were supposed to look their best.  We were ushered into a lounge that was quickly filling up with other guests.  A Philippino Live Band was playing jazz as we sat comfortably at the lounge.  Waiters were offering hors d'oeuvres from silver trays, which we graciously helped ourselves to it numerous times.  Captain Roco (of Italian descent) emerged on stage and greeted us with a commanding voice; well, he's the Big Dick after all.  He then proceed to introduce the rest of the crew members to all of us.  There's this First Officer (also of Italian decent) that has an eerie resemblance of Al Pacino and a Maître d' from India.

Hors d'oeuvres

Captain's Lounge

Dressed up for the night

Captain Roco

The Crew

Philippino Live Band

After the Captain's speech, we adjourned to the Grand Dining Hall for another scrumptious dinner.  We were assigned a fixed table for the duration of the cruise and have 2 regular waiters to wait on us.  One of them's from the Philippines (Litto) and the other, from St.Lucia (Glen). They were gregarious and affable in nature.  We have fond memories of them long after we left.

Fine Dining

Lobster Dinner

Show Time!

The theatre is were we headed next for another evening of entertainment from a multitudinous of talent from Stand-up Comedians,Circus Performer to Magicians.

(03-07-07)  3rd DAY AT SEA

Life at sea on a cruise liner was marvelous.  They say ignorance is bliss, well, there no bigger bliss than Hanging Ten on a luxurious cruise liner like the Carnival Conquest.  By the third day, we were ready to sign up as permanent resident.  We could just sat for hours on the open decks with the constant sun high above the clear blue sky.  Any real world problems seemed so far away beyond reach.  YES! life at sea was blissful and therapeutic.  There's seemed to be an invisible force at work out there luring us into the oblivion, like the siren of Lorelei casting a hypnotic spell over us, rendering us helpless over it's charm.

ZZZzzzz...

Contented Face

Blissful Sleep

Fortunately, before we started to turn into Thanksgiving turkeys,  our stomach needed pacifying.  We got ourselves another round of ice-creams and coffee.  That had became our staple diet for the duration of the cruise.  Wonders never ceased - party animals were prowling restlessly looking for the next available Jamboree.  We were more interested in some intellectual challenges that was install for those who were interested to participate.  Styled after the Game Show "Win Lose or Draw", the event drew-in a number of game show enthusiast participant including Ling and I.  If there's anything that the Americans is extremely good at; it's their trivial knowledge.  It's just so amazing that they can cramped so much of insignificant triviality in their brain.

Win Lose or Draw

Win Lose or Draw

Party Animals

We were invited to visit the Galley (in layman's term, the ship's kitchen) where they churned out all those delicious meals 24-7.  That visit took us through the ship's wet and dry galley, the pastry kitchen, the fine dining section and the crew quarters.  We got to do some food tasting along the way.  It was the first introduction for me, to the work environment on board of a cruise liner.  Their workplace is comfortably huge compare to the galleys of a commercial jetliner.  I'm very envious of their spacious workplace.  If only.......nevermind!

Galley Visit

Fine Dining Section

Fine Dining Dish

Fine Dining Dish

Soup Tasting

Clam Chowder Soup

Pastry Chef

Sushi

Fruit Carving

Sunset at a beach is beautiful.  Sunset in the middle of the ocean was even more remarkable.  There's an eerie calm as the sun slowly disappear below the horizon, turning the sky from indigo to deep blood-red, awesome!

Gym Freaks

Sunset

The Giant Chimney

Dusk

Blood-Red Sky

Sunset in Deck

That night, at the Grand Dining Hall, I was crowned "The King of all humankind with an IQ below 35" by Litto, headgear and all.  Actually, he was just fooling around with us.  We were treated to a group performances by all the waiter and waitress, dancing to the tune of  "Mambo #5".  Never have I witness anywhere else that employees work and play with such fervour.

King Derek

Mambo #5

Litto and Glen

And we reflected on every thing that we had experienced, and, behold, it was very good.  And the evening and the morning were the third day.