It is our first cruise, we leave on 8/29 on the Carnival Conquest. Any tips about the trip. what time should we get there? What to and not to pack? What excursions should we do? Is formal night really formal? anyone else going on this cruise?

On a Carnival cruise the word 'formal' means clean white socks with your Bierkenstocks.

cracking up and rolling on the floor laughing at your response luv.........

Carnival is not really formal. For men will wear a sport coat and nice sweater with pants. I usually wear a dress and will dress down for the second formal night. You will see people in fancy dress down to just passing formal.

Pack everything you want - you don't have to carry the luggage, fit it in the overhead bin. Guaranteed, if you packed the entire contents of your house, you will see someone else with more stuff. Just returned from 1 week cruise - my daughter (age 13) and I cracked up when we realized between us we had 13 pairs of shoes. Never wore most of them.

I regularly travel for a week at a time with only a legal carry-on for a plane trip - maybe it was just a relief to stop obsessing about packing.

By now you should have received your travel documents from Carnival. The booklet that they send will answer most of the questions you have, expecially about packing. Best tip is try to relax, don't try to do everything. Each night in your room will be a document explaining all the activities of the next day to choose from, etc.
I see cruisers all the time make the mistake of trying to do everything and coming home beat. Just take your time, have fun and enjoy the cruise experience. (PS. It will take you most of the week just to see everything on this ship.

Here are a few things I always pack while crising that come in handy:

Post it notes to leave messages for your cabin stewart or companion.
Power strip.
Lots of Ones & Fives for tipping
Woolite to wash out bathing suits

Have a great time.

If you have an inside cabin, pack a nightlight because when the lights are off, you won't be able to see a thing.