t1adams

Some districts set spring break the same week every year. Others always have spring break whenever Easter is. Others have spring break during Easter unless it's very late or very early. That is why prices are highest during Easter week and places like Disney are packed to capacity. Perhaps it was a generalization to say that southern schools have spring break during Easter, but some southern school districts do. If you want to know how many school districts have spring break during a particular week each year, the crowd prediction calendars for Disney are a good indicator.

Key word....."some." Yes it was a BIG

generalization. Other parts of the country equally do the same thing.

Back in the day....30+ years ago, they did try and connect the two. Not anymore.

The shorter and less expensive the cruise, the more kids you will see. The longer the cruise, the more $$ and less kids. That's been my experience anyway.

In the south, Easter has nothing to do with spring break. Our district ALWAYS does spring break the first week in April no matter when Easter falls on the calendar. I'm from Atlanta and it's always been that way. The system sets a certain week and every year it's that week. Nothing to do with Easter, whoever the silly person was that said that.[emoji23][emoji23][emoji23]

We've had the "Scenic OV" room three times. They're just about as nice. They're larger square footage than a balcony but not quite as large as a "grand." Consider that if you can't get one of the only two SGOV rooms. There are only about four of the SOV rooms so they don't come easy themselves. But we book a year in advance. Best view by far (when compared to other rooms on the ship besides the grands)!!![emoji7]

I personally think that it's a bad move to let a Fantasy Class ships do the 7 days runs out of San Juan. How are they going to compete with Adventure & Jewel of the Seas, Norwegian Gem and Celebrity Summit. I guess the prices will be historically low out of San Juan for Carnival!!

Agreed! And the way the water can be down there (i did this itinerary two years ago) would be really felt strongly on board a Fantasy class ship. It was already pretty strong on a Conquest line!!

But then again, I hardly even remember the Valor due to so little time being spent on the ship with such a port intensive itinerary.

Will do I will try not to drink her dry

 

This is the first time on the Valor for us

Any idea what two nights are the formal nights? Trying to find out, especially that second night as that is usually the worst meal all week, lol. Want to make sure we book the steakhouse that night.

We sailed on the Valor two years ago out of OSJ. Loved it. We sailed the Glory last spring break and loved the 2.0 upgrades but HATED what they did to our traditional menu!! That American table thing was nasty. Taking away the table cloths really gave it a Golden Coral touch [emoji6]. Just nasty. Guys was good but I'd trade anything to get my traditional menu and classy tablecloths back. valor still has these classy touches. Like another poster said, artery clogging burgers only appease for so long.

And mostly, like another poster said, we mostly sail for the destinations...not the ship. As long as it's large enough for an 8 nighter, I'm good. [emoji6]

What is in the port area? We are not doing an excursion, but are trying to decide if whatever is inside the secure area for shops and such is worth the tender ride?

 

 

 

Kevin

NOOOO!!! No excursion??? STAY ON BOARD! We went here last spring break and did the cave tubing. That was pretty cool. However, the drive to GET to the cave was over two hours and oh so bumpy and borrrring. Armed guards everywhere even at the park where the caves are. I never felt 100% safe. There's really not much of a shopping area at all. If i HAD to go back? I'd make it my own "at sea" day.

As others have posted, cookies available during buffet opening times, as well as room service. Also, at the specialty coffee shop there will be cookies available for a small fee. I think under 2.00, and they will be substantial cookies like all the cakes and desserts in that display case. I personally have not yet tried them, but if all else fails, there are these.:)

I have tried the cookies there at the coffee/sweet shop and absolutely ADORE the oatmeal raisin cookies!!!! To die for good!!! I'm not a huge eater though so those cake slices were just too much for me.

4 days we leave on Wednesday Mar 25th and board the Valor on the 27th :):)

We will be picking up where you leave off!!! Treat her well, okay?!! Too bad it's right before us or id ask for your opinion on itinerary and such (we've sailed Valor before out of OSJ).

14 DAYZZ!!!! [emoji7][emoji7][emoji7]

Can't change the name. I took part of that link and tried to find site and it won't find it.

Shortly after returning home last April from our spring break trip on the Glory, the tanzanite stone fell out of my white gold ring setting. Never did find it. I believe my husband paid around $400 for this ring. Well we will be cruising again in three weeks. Does anyone know if I brought my ring onboard with me if they will exchange or repair this ring? Not sure where the receipt is at this point.

Carnival does definitely makes some awesome frozen drinks! Their pina colada was WAAAY better than that restaurant that invented the Pina Colada in San Juan. So much more REAL tasting! (And stronger!)

The mojito is my fave non-frozen.

Frozen Mango margaritas are also very good!!!---if they use real mango or at least mango purée.

I don't usually care for super sweet frozen drinks either. They don't sit well in my tummy.

Scenic OV and Scenic Grand OV are two different types of rooms. There are only 2 GSOV rooms and I think four or six SOV rooms. We've had the SOV two times before. The one on Glory had a huge crack all the way across and upward which almost killed the beautiful view. The VALOR'S was sooooo much nicer!!

I have some friends on our roll call who really are hoping that a rumor that they're no longer served, is not true. I told them I would ask. Anyone sailed on her super recently, and can verify they have Caesar salads?

Yep, it's Main Lobster in the MDR now. Pretty good too considering all they have to cook for. I actually liked the lobster in the MDR more than the steakhouse lobster. I get the large filet mignon when dining in the steakhouse. They, unlike the MDR, use REAL FILET. So to sum up, real filet in the steakhouse, and real and better lobster in the MDR.

Hopefully midship deck 9 (Lido). 9268 and 9270. Location to the action was our priority. But it's quiet in the rooms. Close to the pools. We will confirm our choice spring break. :-)

And after that Liberty moves to Galveston somewhere next year.

Correct. However, several posters on here keep referencing "Valor to ----Tampa, Tx, Charleston, etc." I posted to inform that the Valor will be repositioned next month in PC.

Several of you still think the Valor is still in San Juan. It's moving to Port Canaveral next month and the Liberty moves to San Juan.

Last late spring when I was looking to book this spring break's cruise, Celebrity had a cheaper 7 day going to the southern Caribbean (and a nice newer ship) than Carnival did for their 8 day going to Aruba. Not the same ports but still the Southern Caribbean. Its one day shorter but it gave you the option of selecting a perk, one of them being the unlimited drink package. We went with the Carnival only because we were given a 25% discount due to something personal from another cruise. Otherwise we would have gone with Celebrity.

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Inwas on the Glory in November I lov3d the cruise but the food in the MDR was blah and service slow. I had to walk out one night to mot miss epic rock. I hope OP you at least saw that shoe as it is good. Divas blah. The other two producion shows were decent and thr crew and casino were great. My only other gripe.was. the Karaoke machine was down. But I got to do Super Star Karaoke which was amazing. Agree the commedians fill up to quickly, but they also work better in small venues.

 

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Agree about Glory food in the MDR. Worst food of any ship I've been on. Keeping in mind it was last spring break only four months into that stupid new menu they started. But the food was BAD. The other Carnival ships I've sailed on weren't that bad at all!! Service also sucked. Our scenic OV room had a huge crack in it going two direction. Glory is my least favorite ship. Liberty was my fave.

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The thing is,there were votes on John Healds FB page and blog. Past cruisers voted on this. The majority voted to do away with the coupons. How can you fault a majority vote....oh wait NVM.

Can you copy and paste this "vote" that you saw? I subscribe via Facebook and have never seen this poll you talk about. And this is NOT why it was taken away! We all know why....CUTBACKS. You know it, we all know it. But nice try. ;)

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We're you on one of the first roll outs for the new menus? We didn't encounter any of this in the Liberty. There are more selections than pie for dessert and I didn't see it served table side...you can order a Cesar salad and there was a nice selection of apps. I agree the filet is not the best, but no more different than any other steak that rests too long. I don't order steak in the MDR for this reason - go to the steakhouse for prime cuts of beef.

You say here "I agree, it's not the best but NO MORE DIFFERENT THAN STEAK THAT RESTS TOO LONG." That implies that you believe it's filet and that you have at least tried it.

You are obviously a HUGE Carnival cheerleader. Heck I enjoy Carnival too! Just Admit It's NOT a real Filet!!! OMG!!!! Hahaha

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I haven't read all of your posting, but I did catch were you for some reason are under the impression that "fillet mignon" means the quality of the meat. That's simply not true. "Fillet mignon" simple distinguishes the cut of beef....like, where on the steer the meat was cut. It's cut from the tenderloin which is the long muscle under the spine. It's the most unused muscle in their body; hence why it's so tender (that is, if it's real). So it has nothing to do with "prime" or "choice" meat. There's no mistake when you eat fillet mignon you know it's fillet mignon. It doesn't mean it's all great quality filet mignon as some are a bit more textured than others (usually because it comes from the tail instead of the center of the loin), but it's still the same cut of beef and you know it when eating it. And, it's super expensive. In order to be honest, Carnival should really call it "mock fillet mignon.". There's really nothing wrong with that, and I've had some mock fillets that were actually center cut sirloin's that weren't really that bad! however, what they are serving is not even at the level of sirloin. I will try and go back and read the rest of your post when I get some time.

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We're you on one of the first roll outs for the new menus? We didn't encounter any of this in the Liberty. There are more selections than pie for dessert and I didn't see it served table side...you can order a Cesar salad and there was a nice selection of apps. I agree the filet is not the best, but no more different than any other steak that rests too long. I don't order steak in the MDR for this reason - go to the steakhouse for prime cuts of beef.

Here's the problem....if you call a piece of meat "a steak"....and even go to the extent of specifying it as "filet mignon," it's deceiving and a blatant lie to serve anything else but that. THAT is where the problem lies.....Dishonesty. No, I wasn't expecting a steakhouse quality experience, just expecting my food to be what it is called. Hahaha. And

I think you know that their filet isn't a steak that's just been "sitting too long." ;). If you don't know that, then one would think one needs to get out more and experience restaurant dining...and "fine restaurant dining" ISN'T what I'm talking about nor is it necessary to know the difference between a piece of chuck roast and filet mignon. Just any run of the mill restaurant that serves filet or any other steak. And their cheap cuts of meat don't just stop at their "filet." It's all of the proteins. This was noticed most with the menu change. I DO enjoy the steakhouse!!Unfortunately, we can only visit once or twice a cruise due to cost.

Oh and about us being one of the first for the new menu....well, we weren't the last but not the first either. It was five months into it by the time we cruised. I believe that was plenty of time to get the kinks out. So what other desserts were offered to you other than the pies (glad they don't cut tableside anymore!), the WCMC, or the occasional square cake for the table? I have heard they added back or were planning to add back the Bitter and Blanc, and the cold soup appetizers. Did your cruise offer these?

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