Heading out on the Conquest in two weeks

Need some advise on excursions from Montego Bay, Grand Cayman and
Cozumel.

The wife is interested in shopping and we're saving for the last port
in Cozumel. Any ideas where to go to get away from the crowds and get
the best deals?

Any recent experiences with snorkling in Jamaica, Grand Cayman and
Cozumel.

Finally, how is the night life on board the ship?

On 27 Jan 2005 07:31:25 -0800, #6s Dad wrote:

The wife is interested in shopping and we're saving for the last port
in Cozumel.
Finally, how is the night life on board the ship?

Depends on your wife.

#6s Dad wrote:
Need some advise on excursions from Montego Bay, Grand Cayman and
Cozumel.

I enjoyed the Conquest in November. The entertainment and the service
was good, the food was wonderful and the ship never felt crowded.

Check out the Cruise Ship Terminal information on Montego Bay. You will
find several means of transportation and the rates they charge.

Montego Bay Cruise Ship Terminal
http://www.cruisemontegobay.com/

They have beautiful beaches in Montego Bay. Aguasol is a private beach
club, they have food, drinks, rest rooms, beach chairs. I do not like
it as well since they remodeled. They charge admission.

Aguasol
http://www.aquasoljamaica.com/

The last time we went to Montego Bay we went to the Sunset Beach Resort.
They had 3 swimming pools, one pool had a swim up bar. They had a large
hot tub, play areas for children, mini golf, bars, a restaurant and
grill. They had a beach, a topless beach and a nude beach. You could
spend the day there, using all of their facilities, including the food,
soft drinks and alcoholic beverages, for $20.00 pp. We used their towels
so I did not have to take wet towels back to the ship. It was nice and
close. Transportation was $2.00 pp on the shuttle at the pier.

In Grand Cayman, you can go to the beach, go scuba diving, snorkeling,
sailing, you can also take a tour of the island (it was $15.00 pp booked
at the pier). You can go snorkeling, just a couple of blocks from the
pier. There is no charge if you bring your own gear. You can go to
Stingray City, I believe that is $35.00 booked at the pier.

In Cozumel, I have gone scuba diving, snorkeling, I took the jungle
tour, rented a jeep, went to the beach, played mini-golf. There are
plenty of good restaurants and internet cafes in Cozumel.

If you like visiting the beach, there are a few private beach
clubs in Cozumel. It costs around $15.00 each way for a cab (regardless
of how many people are in the cab).

Playa del Sol is a private beach club, located just past Chankanaab.

http://playasol.com.mx/

They have a zoo of native animals to the left, and the entry gate is
located to the right. They have a swimming pool, volley ball, hammocks,
restrooms, showers, children's play area, a water trampoline, a floating
rock climbing wall, beach chairs, etc. After you go through the gate,
you pass by a few vendor's booths, and then you reach a large covered
pavilion, this is the open air restaurant. It has a thatched roof that
must be 60 feet high. The food is pretty good. The pool is right next
to the restaurant, they have a swim up bar, plus a couple of other bars
on the property.

Mr Sancho's offers much of the same and they do not charge for
admission. The rest rooms are clean and the food is good.

http://www.mrsanchos.com/mr_sanchos/front.htm

Paradise Beach Club is nearby and there is no charge for admission.
There is no swimming pool but the beach is nice. The food there was
very good.

If you like miniature golf, try Cozumel Mini Golf. A group of us played
there and we had a great time.

http://geocities.com/smallsal/minigolf/index.html

Becca -----enjoy the Conquest!

I, my wife, a son, a daughter-in-law, five grandchildren, and
daughter-in-law's nephew sailed on the Conquest last March. It was a
great cruise and a great trip. Entertainment was significantly better
on the Conquest than it was on the Diamond Princess cruise I was on
over New Years, food was quite good, and the Conquest has a beautiful
6-8 deck atrium (missed that on the Diamond with its meager three-deck
atrium). In fact, in spite of the number of passengers, the only thing
that was crowded on the Conquest was the area around the pool.

In Montego Bay, we took a van (about $4 to $8) to Jimmy Buffet's
Margaretaville. At the top of Margaretaville is a 100+ foot slide that
takes you down to water. The slide is really a large diameter tube with
water flowing down it and zigs and zags its way down to the water. In
fact, you don't see the light at the end of the tunnel until you are
almost there. About 150 to 200 feet out into the water are a couple of
large water trampolines. I and my grandchildren went down that slide 10
to 15 times or more and played on the water trampolines while my wife,
son, and daughter-in-law listened to the band playing inside the place.
When son and daughter-in-law left with children to return to ship, my
wife and I probably stayed another hour to listen to the band while I
enjoyed several adult milkshakes (AKA Pina Coladas). My only suggestion
is that if you go, get there by 11:00 a.m. Otherwise, it becomes very
packed and you probably won't find a table.

In Grand Cayman, there are several companies that will take you by boat
to swim, snorkle, etc. at stingray city and a couple of reefs.
Finally, at Cozumel, there is a state park within a few miles of
Cozumel. Taxi fare there and back was not very expensive. At the park
you can rent snorkle equipment, snorkle at a reef with lots of fish,
and use one of the many chaise lounges on the beach for R&R.

Hope you have a great time. We did. My grandchildren still talk about
Margaretaville.

John

#6s Dad wrote:

Need some advise on excursions from Montego Bay, Grand Cayman and
Cozumel.

The wife is interested in shopping and we're saving for the last port
in Cozumel. Any ideas where to go to get away from the crowds and get
the best deals?

Any recent experiences with snorkling in Jamaica, Grand Cayman and
Cozumel.

Finally, how is the night life on board the ship?

Can only comment about the night life aboard ship--I had no interest in
off-ship activities.

Entertainment was top-notch, considering the venue. Comedian, magician,
and dancers in the showroom were very good, almost Vegas quality. The
band was right down my alley--they played good dance sets of truly
danceable music, mostly swing. Very professional (I used to play in a
band).

The entertainment in the Degas Lounge was more pop and rhythm &
blues--definitely more contemporary, but NOT hip-hop or rap (thank
G*d). Alfred's Bar was a nice quiet jazz venue, especially for smokers
(the only indoor area where one could smoke cigars). They even had a
classical afternoon tea party. Blues, the piano bar, was a hoot. Don't
miss it--the piano player was very entertaining. By all means, ask him
to do his rendition of Charlie Daniels' "The Devil Went Down To
Georgia", and make sure your wife is along (I'll say no more--don't want
to spoil your fun!). The karaoke bar (don't remember the name) was
hopping every night, but was only open 3 or 4 hours. The disco
pleasantly has evenings for various musical eras--not all hip-hop. The
bar just off the casino has a lone guitar player and vocalist who was
quite talented, and leaned mostly toward country flavored songs. Hope I
didn't forget anything.

And, people watching is the best!

Oh, forgot to mention--I sailed her in May, 2004.

Enjoy! She's a great ship.

Stranger

#6s Dad wrote:
Need some advise on excursions from Montego Bay, Grand Cayman and
Cozumel.

Montego Bay take a taxi to Doctor's Cave Beach. It was beautiful and
had clean rest/changing rooms. Then take a walk down the street a bit
and you will be at Margaritta Ville.

Grand Cayman go swimming with the sting rays, a wonderful experience.

Cozumel is a great place to shop no matter what you are looking for.
Be sure to go to Los Cinco Soles my DH's favorite store. In the back
of this store is a restaurant, Pancho's Backyard, very good food and
it is safe to eat there.

http://www.loscincosoles.com/home.htm

The only real problems with the Conquest is the smoke in the casino
and in all the lounges. The food and service was very good to excellant.

sue