Valor Review

[karrie]

Hi, We just returned from the Valor Nov,1. This was a great cruise. Four friends (42-56yo) took our kids (20-30yo) on this cruise. We flew in the day before and stayed at the Deauville Beach Resort.The hotel was nice but there was a high school semi formal dance that night. Many of these kids stayed at the hotel there was lots of alcohol, noise and fighting. The next morning our cab driver said there is always a lot of complaints about this place.This was the only bad part of this vacation.

Embarkation was very quick.We arrived about 12 and were on Lido by 12:45.

 

Grand Cayman We did the swim with the dolphins and stingray city excursion. Swimming with the dolphins was wonderful.I know most people like the stingrays but I didn't care for it. A little creepy for me.

 

Roatan This turned out to be my favorite port. We did the Tabyana beach excursion. It was a beautiful beach. The kids did snuba ($40hr). They loved it.

 

Belize We did the catamaran snorkeling and beach break excursion.

The catamaran picked us up right at the ship and took us to the reef for 1hr of snorkeling. The water was rough so the swimming was hard. the coral reef was pretty but not many fish. Those that swam farther out said there were lots of pretty fish. After this they took us to another beautiful beach for 1.5hr then back to the ship.

 

Cozumel We did the Playa Mia deluxe beach break. This included transportation, lunch and all drinks.This was another great day. The beach was beautiful. The buffet was pretty good. Floats,chairs and umbrellas were also included. This excursion was 5hrs which left a couple hours for shopping at the port after.

 

We did not see all the shows but the ones we went to were good.The food was good. We had late seating in the Washington dining room.The dining staff sing and dance during dessert which was great fun.

Disembark This was the easiest and quickest ever! We did self assist and were off the ship and at the airport by 8:45.

 

I had a wonderful time on this cruise. Any questions feel free to ask.

Carol

[LynneL]

Glad to see you enjoyed the Valor. My family is booked for August. We're traveling with our kids (in their early 20s), 4 of their friends, my friend & her husband. Interested in the tours you did. Were they booked on your own or thru Carnival. We like to book tours independently. Snuba sounds interesting for Roatan. How did you arrange that? Already have done the stingrays a couple of times in Grand Cayman - where did you swim with the dolphins? What do you think was your kids favorite thing that you did? Thanks.

[Froufie]

Sounds like a great cruise! wondering if you visited the piano bar and if so what did you think? Also who was the cruise director? Any one of the social hosts stand out in your mind? Favorite activities?

[karrie]

All our excursions were booked through Carnival. I think the favorite was swimming with the dolphins and the snuba.The snuba was booked right on Tabyana beach. Gary was our cruise director. He was leaving the ship at the end of our cruise.

Carol

[jester121]

Perfect trip report -- 6 paragraphs and moving on! :)

 

Thanks!

[gliner]

Awesome!

 

We are on the Valor in April and are really looking forward to it. Always good to read a positive review.

[chloes_mom]

[Disembark This was the easiest and quickest ever! We did self assist and were off the ship and at the airport by 8:45.

 

I had a wonderful time on this cruise. Any questions feel free to ask.

Carol

 

With the self-assist, what time did they call you to get off, and did you have to go right when they called you, or could you wait? We have a late flight, and don't want to get up too early, but don't want to be stuck on the ship til 10:00 either. Thanks!

 

Renee

[HockeyTown]

Ya, I was wondering the same...I thought on previous cruises you had to be up and out of your rooms by like 7am at the latest; and I also remember being out and about the ship till 4ish ;) What is the latest time you can vacate your room?

[karrie]

We had an early flight (10:45) so we were off as soon as they called us. They called the decks very quickly. hey start wih deck 1 and called the last deck within 15 minutes. I am not sure if others stayed after their deck was called. They do ask you to vacate your room by 8:00 or 8:30.

Karrie

[dear23]

Sounds like a great cruise! wondering if you visited the piano bar and if so what did you think? Also who was the cruise director? Any one of the social hosts stand out in your mind? Favorite activities?

 

I boarded the Valor the day the OP got off, and can tell you that Big Tex is now the current Cruise Director. Loved him!

[Manetamers]

Hi, We just returned from the Valor Nov,1. This was a great cruise. Four friends (42-56yo) took our kids (20-30yo) on this cruise. We flew in the day before and stayed at the Deauville Beach Resort.The hotel was nice but there was a high school semi formal dance that night. Many of these kids stayed at the hotel there was lots of alcohol, noise and fighting. The next morning our cab driver said there is always a lot of complaints about this place.This was the only bad part of this vacation.

Embarkation was very quick.We arrived about 12 and were on Lido by 12:45.

 

Grand Cayman We did the swim with the dolphins and stingray city excursion. Swimming with the dolphins was wonderful.I know most people like the stingrays but I didn't care for it. A little creepy for me.

 

Roatan This turned out to be my favorite port. We did the Tabyana beach excursion. It was a beautiful beach. The kids did snuba ($40hr). They loved it.

 

Belize We did the catamaran snorkeling and beach break excursion.

The catamaran picked us up right at the ship and took us to the reef for 1hr of snorkeling. The water was rough so the swimming was hard. the coral reef was pretty but not many fish. Those that swam farther out said there were lots of pretty fish. After this they took us to another beautiful beach for 1.5hr then back to the ship.

 

Cozumel We did the Playa Mia deluxe beach break. This included transportation, lunch and all drinks.This was another great day. The beach was beautiful. The buffet was pretty good. Floats,chairs and umbrellas were also included. This excursion was 5hrs which left a couple hours for shopping at the port after.

 

We did not see all the shows but the ones we went to were good.The food was good. We had late seating in the Washington dining room.The dining staff sing and dance during dessert which was great fun.

Disembark This was the easiest and quickest ever! We did self assist and were off the ship and at the airport by 8:45.

 

I had a wonderful time on this cruise. Any questions feel free to ask.

Carol

we are sailing Apr.11 on Valor... there is 3 of us "Balcony Babes" ( no hubbies)and want to do a beach break .. is Roaton better than Cozumel for this? .... sounds like you had a great time.... thanks TrudyBB#1:o

[deeolasingh]

Nice review!! I was on her in aug and I Loved it..actually loved it so much Im going back May 2010..this time Im taking the kiddies along....

[Sdallnct]

Sounds like a great cruise! wondering if you visited the piano bar and if so what did you think? Also who was the cruise director? Any one of the social hosts stand out in your mind? Favorite activities?

 

I know you weren't asking me...but....(oh, realize we must have gotten on when OP got off - you can see full review, blog in link in my signature if your interested).

 

The cruise director was Big Tex. I talked to him a bit. Nice guy. He made me comfortable wearing my cowboy boots even on cruise elegant nights.

 

I did not enjoy the piano singer at all. He was good on the piano, but I didn't like his voice. Others might, so check it out. But it just sort of annoyed me. He was nice, took requests and such.

 

Honestly we usually had drinks in the lobby, casino bar or pool side bar.

[HockeyTown]

We had an early flight (10:45) so we were off as soon as they called us. They called the decks very quickly. hey start wih deck 1 and called the last deck within 15 minutes. I am not sure if others stayed after their deck was called. They do ask you to vacate your room by 8:00 or 8:30.

Karrie

 

Thanks karrie...and thanks for the review!

[paulsang]

Was the piano player Roger? We loved him, and he always had the room full when we sailed Valor in June.

 

BTW...June's cruise had 1450 persons under the age of 18! (According to Big Tex) Won't make THAT mistake again!!....LOL

[Bermuda C]

Karrie-

 

Thanks for the review. We are sailing on the Valor in January.

 

For the Belize excursion were there any kids say ages 8 or below? We are having trouble finding excursions where we can take our boys ages 8 and 5.

[karrie]

I don't remember seeing any kids that young on this excursion. The water was very rough and he swimming was very hard.I think 8 and 5 is probanly oo young for this one.

Karrie

[wentworth]

Karrie-

 

Thanks for the review. We are sailing on the Valor in January.

 

For the Belize excursion were there any kids say ages 8 or below? We are having trouble finding excursions where we can take our boys ages 8 and 5.

 

 

We're sailing on the Feb 21st sailing with a five year old. I've been

on the Belize board trying to find an excursion but having no luck.

Caulker Caye is one suggestion for a beach, but the ride there is 45

minutes. Two years ago we went to Bannister Island and the beach was nice. Boat ride about 20 minutes. May just stay on the ship.

[Froufie]

We're sailing on the Feb 21st sailing with a five year old. I've been

on the Belize board trying to find an excursion but having no luck.

Caulker Caye is one suggestion for a beach, but the ride there is 45

minutes. Two years ago we went to Bannister Island and the beach was nice. Boat ride about 20 minutes. May just stay on the ship.

 

Not sure if your kids like snorkelling/beaches but there is a Goff's Caye snorkelling excursion that sounds like fun - only a 25 min boat ride (which I think the 5 yr old would like?)

 

If not there is also a zoo in Belize and there is a city tour combined with zoo that is also offered!

[JoeSmooga]

For the Belize excursion were there any kids say ages 8 or below? We are having trouble finding excursions where we can take our boys ages 8 and 5.

 

I would recommend Bannister Island for the kids (we have kids that are 8 and 7). In Belize there's not much that's geared towards the kiddo's.

 

What week are you going in Jan? We're going Jan 3 on the Valor. For us we're skipping the excursions in Belize (we're making a quick run to shore to walk around the shops and then head back to the ship to have the waterslide all to ourselves) and doing the "kid" excursion in GC (the Pirate Adventure, or something like that).

 

Sorry folks... didn't mean to hijack :)

[Alaska-forget-me-not]

I would recommend Bannister Island for the kids (we have kids that are 8 and 7). In Belize there's not much that's geared towards the kiddo's.

 

What week are you going in Jan? We're going Jan 3 on the Valor. For us we're skipping the excursions in Belize (we're making a quick run to shore to walk around the shops and then head back to the ship to have the waterslide all to ourselves) and doing the "kid" excursion in GC (the Pirate Adventure, or something like that).

 

Sorry folks... didn't mean to hijack :)

 

Please let me know how the Pirate Adventure is. Hubby and I are thinking of taking it when we cruise in February.

 

Thanks! And have a great trip!

 

Patty