Please tell me about the VALOR!

[CRU1Z1N]

Going on her in August western itinerary! It will be me, 47, housewife. My husband, 48, RN critical care burn unit. My daughter, 21, college business major. My son, 18, just graduating high school.

 

Please let us know the good, the bad, and yes even the ugly!

 

Any ideas for shore excursions...money is a little tight. Thanks! CRU1Z1IN

[shipty2]

We sailed on the valor this past New Years Eve. We loved the ship.

 

In Roatan you can just walk off the ship and in five minutes you are at the beach where there is no charge for beach chairs. Just eat before you get off the ship. We did not because we wanted to try the restaurant on the beach but after we had the nachos that tasted like chewing on a 2 by 4 we gave up. This could easily be a cost free day if you just stay at the beach.

 

At the same port we rented kayaks and peddle boats for 20 dollars.

[mferris77]

It's a big ship with lots of people on it... but that's not important right now.:D

[FreezingInMichigan]

We sailed on the Valor last November - Costa Maya, Belize, Cozumel, Grand Caymen. Loved our cruise. I recommend spending some time pre-cruise learning the basics of the deck layout. It's a BIG ship and easy to get lost on. We had an inexpensive inside and it was fine for the week. Arrived the day of the cruise - big exhausting mistake. Lesson learned.

 

Are you going to Costa Maya or Roatan?

 

Belize - we were scheduled for cave tubing but ended up staying on the ship. My husband (45) rented a wave runner in Costa Maya and had wayyy too much fun. The next day his back said, "I think we need to stay on the ship today, crazy man."

 

Cozumel - changed our plans at the last minute. Ended up going to an eco-park with friends we met onboard. Would skip that if I had it to do over again. (the eco-park, not the friends...lol)

 

Grand Cayman - booked privately with a catamaran charter to swim with the rays. Experience of a lifetime!

[uglypirate]

Sailes on the Valor 1/11/09. great ship, balcony cabin mid ship. If you can book a balcony the ship tends to be a little noisy with so much going on and music everywhere. The balcony cabin gives you a quiet place to relax. Try the fish & chips at rosies great. The show are wonderful and high intensity. The ship is clean and the staff excellent. My wife have sailed on 60+ over the cruises over the past 30 years and on many different lines. While years ago Canival has a poor reputation that has changed. It is a busy line for the young and young at heart. Had agreat cruise aboard the Valor and have booked a cruise aboard the Miracle with 12 friends in Nov. Have a great time enjoying God earth and seas.

The Uglypirate

[evandbob]

Any ideas for shore excursions...money is a little tight. Thanks! CRU1Z1IN

 

here are some ideas, stingray city & Belize reef can be the highlights of your cruise, if you like that sort of thing they are not to be missed!

 

shore excursions: Cayman.....bus or taxi to the beach, or do stingray city $$$

Roatan......taxi to beach

Cozumel......eat & shop in town

Belize.........any snorkel expedition $$$

 

remember there's a free sushi bar before dinner if you like sushi

go to evening shows instead of the casino

[zirka]

Grand Cayman--If you have never been here before, I would do the ships tour that goes to Turtle Farm, Hell, and Stingray City. It is not very expensive and gives you a little taste of everything. Also, last October was our 2nd time in GC and we went to Eden Rock and snorkeled--awesome:D:D!!!

[LynneL]

We have done Captain Marvins sting ray tour in Grand Cayman a couple of times & always enjoyed it. half day snorkle & string ray. Cost about $35. Much smaller boats than the exursions booked with Carnival. One time we had only about 12 people on board - another time bit of a bigger boat with 25 on board. Carnival looked like theirs was a double decker ferry style boat with about 75+ people all going in the water at the same time & not much ray interaction. Captain Marvins is a short walk (5-7 min.) from the pier. I think tour was 2 1/2 hrs. compared to Carnival's saying maybe 3 1/2 hrs. but Carnival counts in the time to get everyone together, drive you to the boat area, etc. Captain Marvin's doesn't so the tour the same or maybe Cap't Marvins prob. longer. Really a fun experience.

[nybumpkin]

It's a big ship with lots of people on it... but that's not important right now.:D

One of my favorite movies - I think we're both showing our age.:o

 

We sailed on Valor two years ago, Western itinerary. Loved the cruise, but four ports in four days is a lot. By the time we reached Cozumel, we were exhausted. Don't forget to keep your watch on ship's time (Eastern) and be careful if you're using a cell phone to tell time. Our oldest son made that mistake when we were on Valor - he showed up for dinner an hour late when we were in Cozumel.:rolleyes:

 

GC - When we sailed on Valor, we booked the "Outrage Eco-tour" with Island Marketing, which took us to Stingray City, snorkeling the coral reef, and Starfish Beach. When we were there last month on Conquest, we booked the "Turtles, Turtles and More Turtles" excursion through Carnival. Both are very good tours. Roatan - we booked a "Best of Roatan" tour with Victor Bodden. He'll customize the tour for you. Belize - we booked cave tubing with Major Tom. Cozumel - we've gone to Paradise Beach on all three of our visits.

[bjgraham]

Hi :), we been on her twice :D. Use decks 5 (promenade)& 9 (lido)to navigate from one end to the other. GC & Belize are tender ports with GC being a short one and Belize being a long one. There's not much to do in Belize if money is tight so you may choose to stay on the ship. There's a shopping area there but it's the only thing there unless you take a excursion. Same thing for GC , although there's a little more there and closer to get to (try the trolly tour to save some bucks). Mahoganey beach at Roaton should be fairly cheap and as far as Cozumel is concerned, you'll have to take a taxi into town although there is a shopping area at the pier too. There is not much to do in town so you may choose to stay at the pier shopping area. Bottom line : try and save some money for excursions as cruises are rare and far in between . You may get bored just walking around the port shopping areas so save & splurge if possible. As for the ship, hit the deli, fish n chips,comedy club & karaoke.Stay away from the art auctions & shop talks. Have a good one :). J & B :cool: