Carnival Conquest in one read
Carnival Conquest launched in 2002 as the lead ship of a five-ship class, and she carries a French Impressionist art theme through her public spaces — a nod to the New Orleans homeport she originally sailed from, even though she's been based out of Miami for years now. At about 110,000 gross tons, she's a genuinely big, well-equipped Carnival ship at a fare that typically undercuts anything built in the last decade.
She's also, as of a February 2026 dry dock, the freshest overall refit in her class — a new Heroes Tribute Bar, an expanded casino, a redone Club O2 nightclub, and a refreshed Warehouse arcade. What she doesn't have is a WaterWorks aqua park; her current deck plan doesn't list one, unlike four of her sisters.
Fit scores, not review scores — a lower relaxation number means she suits a quiet trip less well, not that she's a lesser ship.
Value-focused families and couples near Miami who want a short getaway on a genuinely big ship with the newest overall refit in her class.
A water park is a must for your trip — her current deck plan doesn't list a WaterWorks aqua park, unlike Glory, Valor, Liberty and Freedom.
Is Conquest your ship?
Four quick questions and we'll give you an honest read on whether she fits — not a sales pitch.
Where she sails
Durable pattern, not a fixed schedule — verify your exact sailing.
Miami, on short getaways. Conquest runs 3- and 4-night Bahamas and Caribbean itineraries from PortMiami, with stops that typically include Celebration Key and nearby Caribbean ports. She's built for a quick trip rather than a full week away.
Her February 2026 dry dock refreshed several onboard spaces without changing her homeport or itinerary pattern — if you're booking a short Miami getaway on a big, recently updated ship, she remains a straightforward, dependable choice.
Onboard: her features & standouts
A recently refreshed lineup, with one confirmed gap worth knowing before you book. Tap through.
Conquest's February 2026 dry dock is the most recent of any Conquest-class ship's as of this writing — useful to know if "how new does it feel" matters more to you than any single venue.
Cabins & suites
What's aboard
- Standard interior, ocean view, balcony and Carnival's usual suite tiers.
- Cabin finishes reflect a 2002 build with periodic refreshes — comfortable rather than modern.
Worth knowing
- There's no Havana, Family Harbor or SkyRide on this ship — all later-class features.
- Carnival markets her at about 110,000 gross tons (110,239 registry), carrying roughly 2,980 guests at double occupancy.
Her sisters
Same stretched-Destiny platform, four different paths since — here's how her sisters compare.
Carnival Glory
From Port Canaveral, with the longest-standing WaterWorks in the class — added back in 2017.
Sister shipCarnival Valor
New Orleans (moving to Mobile in 2027), with patriotic theming and a brand-new 2025 refit.
Sister shipCarnival Liberty
Longer 6- to 8-night weeks from New Orleans, tied for the class's highest Cruise Critic rating.
Sister shipCarnival Freedom
The one built at a different shipyard, with occasional Mediterranean and transatlantic sailings.
The honest read
Conquest holds a 3.9 out of 5 Cruise Critic member rating — solid, if the softest of the five ships in her class. She doesn't appear in Cruise Critic's official best-or-worst Carnival ships feature at either end; that conversation currently centers on newer ships entirely. One independent aggregate ranking places her mid-to-lower in the class, roughly in line with her Cruise Critic score.
The honest trade here is straightforward: she has the freshest single refit of the five as of early 2026, but she's also the one ship in the class without a confirmed WaterWorks aqua park. If a water park is central to your trip, that's worth weighing against the appeal of her newer casino, bar and arcade spaces.
Our verdict
Conquest is a strong pick if you want a short, easy getaway from Miami on a big ship that just came out of dry dock — the new Heroes Tribute Bar, expanded casino and redone Club O2 all land well for a quick weekend or long-weekend trip. Her fare typically sits well below anything built in the last decade.
Book her with the water park gap in mind: if that's a must-have, Glory, Valor, Liberty or Freedom all have one and Conquest currently doesn't. Her godmother, former US Representative Lindy Boggs of Louisiana, ties her back to that original New Orleans identity even now that she sails from Miami.
Ask Seabound about Conquest
Tell us about your trip.
Homeport, group size, kids' ages, budget and length — and we'll tell you honestly whether Conquest is your ship or another Carnival fits better.
Instant answers from our guides · always verified against current Carnival information before you book.
Quick answers
Is Carnival Conquest a good ship?
She holds a 3.9 out of 5 Cruise Critic member rating — solid, the softest of the five Conquest-class ships but not by much. She doesn't appear in Cruise Critic's official best-or-worst Carnival ships feature in either direction.
Does Carnival Conquest have a water park?
Not currently listed on her deck plan. Four of her five sisters — Glory, Valor, Liberty and Freedom — have a WaterWorks aqua park; Conquest does not, as of this writing.
Where does Carnival Conquest sail from?
Miami, Florida, on short 3- and 4-night Bahamas and Caribbean getaways.
Has Carnival Conquest been refurbished recently?
Yes — a February 2026 dry dock added a Heroes Tribute Bar, expanded her casino, redid Club O2 and refreshed the Warehouse arcade, making it the most recent full refit of any ship in her class as of this writing.
What's Carnival Conquest's steakhouse called?
The Point Steakhouse — a name unique to this ship. Every Conquest-class ship carries her own steakhouse identity rather than a shared class-wide brand.