Valor Vs Summit?

[Wildgrits]

Valor Vs Summit?

 

I am having very hard time making a decision on which ship for our next trip in March. I know there are a lot of you out there who have done a lot of cruising and I would love your input if you have experience on either ship.

 

We are DW, DH, and three DD's all teenagers. Our first and only cruise as a family was last year on the Legend. We really liked the ship but weren't crazy about most of the ports. So we would rather do the southern Caribbean.

 

One of the pluses for us was how well the Teen Club was attended. My girls made many friends they still text and FB to this day. They really liked the freedom it gave them and that is one thing they are looking forward to on our next cruise. Never cruising with Celebrity, I'm not sure if their Teen Club is as well attended.

 

For us adults, the drinking package is really an incentive for us. I know a lot of folks don't feel it is worth the money but in our case it would be hundreds less than we spent last year.

 

Interest wise we have no use for the Serenity Area, don't go to shows, like the casino, only do the buffet as a last resort, and like the late time dining.

 

We are looking at getting two interior cabins on the highest deck possible.

 

So what pros or cons do you have about either of these ships?

[Topo Gigio]

I have been on both ships and Summit wins hands down in almost everything. Besides that she got a complete refurb earlier this year so she should look like brand new. She is just a step above Valor. What's the price difference?

[Cruisegirl6]

Thats a difficult one....

 

Here is my opinion:

 

Summit just refurbished but Valor was refurbished last year so its pretty much even out there.

 

For Carnival: teens programs may be more active more things to do, you also find more teens on Carnival, Carnival not have teen curfew check with Celebrity if they do. More relaxed and dressed down than Celebrity.

 

For Celebrity: Food quality/selection/variety excellent and overall dining excellent as so is the service. You mention you like the Celebrity drink package (I also feel its worth it) and you enjoy the Serenity area....

 

For me there this is not difficult I say Summitt

 

What is the price difference good question but remember you get what you pay for.

[firefly333]

It does sound like the adults would prefer Summit and the kids prefer Valor.

 

Im now diamond on RCL so that carries over to Celebrity so thats a plus for me.. but you dont say what loyalty level you are.

 

I think it depends on your teens. when I was a teen, I would find my own fun but I know my parents picked beach vacations when I was that age they knew I would love.

 

Who wins.. teens or the adults in your family?

[susie8862]

The Summit is one of our favorite ships. Great service, great food...love the cabins...just all around a wonderful ship.

 

As the other poster stated...your children would probably prefer the Valor.:(

[Cruisegirl6]

I know like Firefly333 was the same way I found my own fun, my kids also grew up cruising as very young kids and they did the same. I think the OP teens could find their own fun and friends aboard the Summit.

 

If food, entertainment, service is important I have to say stick with Summit. Its the parents that work hard all year and need a break and vacation (ok kids do also but they really easy to please) it appears that the Summit give everybody more than Carnival will.

 

I think what the OP needs to do is get hold of the daily programs for each ship....also look at the MDR menu's....then entertainment that is offered and sit down as a family and discuss it all...also taking an online tour of each ship just to get a feel what it looks like inside, then taking a vote and deciding that way, its fair to all I think. ;)

[cyntil8ing]

I've been on both. My Summit Southern Caribbean in 2009 was my favorite cruise ever. Valor in 2010 was my least favorite. Both reviews and photos are linked in my sig.

 

If it were just adults traveling, I'd recommend Summit without hesitation. The ship is smaller, muchless crowded, and the strict smoking rules would make it an easy choice.

 

I have no experience with the teen clubs on either line. My kids are under 10, so our experience is with Camp Carnival and Fun Factory. Camp Carnival is just better. It's more secure, more organized, more activities, more involved, energetic staff. It's also a lot more crowded.

 

That's not to say my kids were unhappy on the Summit. They still had a great time! We loved the less crowded pool, however there is no water slide on Summit. I guess it just depends on if your girls are looking for organized activities with lots of other kids or if they're happy hanging out with just a few.

 

Tough choice, though I'm definitely partial to Summit. Either way, it's going to be a great experience.

[Tapi]

Woah! There was a time that asking this kind of question on the Carnival board meant getting an overwhelming response in favor of the Carnival ship. I've noticed that recently, when this question has been asked, the "other" ship gets the nod. What's going on?? Weird...

 

BTW, I'd pick the Summit over the Valor too! :o

[HandHandB]

Have been on four Carnival cruises with a fifth booked. Have been on Royal, MSC, Costa and several smaller lines. No experience with Celebrity. We have also done many AI trips and have travelled extensively through Europe (both cruise and land). We always take our now 17 year old son with us. Carnival wins hands down in his opinion; even better than the two "Beaches" resorts we have stayed at.

 

We know he won't be travelling with us much longer so we are happy to stick with Carnival where we know we will all have a great time.

 

Our son has many awesome friends on Facebook who he met on Carnival cruises. He has learned so much about other countries and cultures from these new friends. One the other lines and AI resorts; he had no interest in the kids programs. Carnival just does the best job of this. Knowing that our son is having fun allows dh and I to relax and have fun.

 

My thoughts would lean towards Carnival.

[Cruisegirl6]

HandHandB I'm

sure your son could find friends on the Summitt too...not mentioning the OP has three siblings not just one child.

 

You have to consider another thing, the adults...and the fact this OP likes the fact that Celebrity offers drink package and OP says will save her alot of money....

 

Carnivals pools are very small...and salt water, where Celebrity generally larger pools call up Celebrity I believe they could be fresh water pools.

 

Tapi your so correct but from my experiences Carnival has cut back the most drastic out of all the other cruise lines so I believe this is probably the primary reason people suggesting other cruise lines over Carnival.

[HandHandB]

You may be right about friends but ds definitely made friends on Carnival. He met very few kids his own age on our other cruises. Carnival is more family focused and the more teens onboard means more chances to make friends.

 

Not sure if the drink pkg makes up the difference between Carnival price and Celebrity but if it does then I guess that plays a factor in the ops decision.

 

Do people really care that the pool is small and salt water? My ds is more interested in the slides, rope course, climbing walls, mini golf etc. the pool is just to cool off in ; we can swim at home.

 

Anyway, the op was looking for reasons to pick on cruise over another and she seems to be getting lots of feedback both ways.

[judatt]

We have been on both ships and liked them both. Our preference would be the Summitt but the Valor is a great ship as well. On the Summitt we went to Bermuda from New York and the Valor we went to Roatan, Belize, Grand Cayman and one other port. I'd say it comes down to the price and the itinerary. In general we prefer Celebrity but are getting ready to go on another Carnival (Pride out of Baltimore) with our family and I'm confident we will have a great time.

[firefly333]

You may be right about friends but ds definitely made friends on Carnival. He met very few kids his own age on our other cruises. Carnival is more family focused and the more teens onboard means more chances to make friends.

 

Not sure if the drink pkg makes up the difference between Carnival price and Celebrity but if it does then I guess that plays a factor in the ops decision.

 

Do people really care that the pool is small and salt water? My ds is more interested in the slides, rope course, climbing walls, mini golf etc. the pool is just to cool off in ; we can swim at home.

 

Anyway, the op was looking for reasons to pick on cruise over another and she seems to be getting lots of feedback both ways.

 

I guess this is generic feedback?? As Valor doesnt have a rope course, (only Magic and Breeze) and the climbing walls are RCL.

 

No waterworks, just a slide on Valor.

 

True, we dont know if the OPs teens are avid pool kids or not.

[t1adams]

I have only sailed on Carnival. I'm no cruising expert and won't pretend to be. My question is where is the Summit sailing to? I am booked on the Valor (hence my interest in reading this thread) for next March. At that time, it sails out of Puerto Rico. I would select a ship that is sailing where I want to go (and of course where the rest of the family wants to go). I have heard numerous people comment to me about how this itinerary is the best of them all. I am soooo super excited! We're sailing on 3/31 and I too have a teenage daughter (14). She is super excited!:D

[firefly333]

I have only sailed on Carnival. I'm no cruising expert and won't pretend to be. My question is where is the Summit sailing to? I am booked on the Valor (hence my interest in reading this thread) for next March. !:D

 

Im actually on the Summit for the equilavent cruise out of San Juan. Its the B2B in my signature. The ports change by week so not sure which week the OP is looking at. This is where my 2 weeks go.

 

 

DAY DATE PORT ARRIVE DEPART Sat Nov 30 San Juan, Puerto Rico

8:30pm Sun Dec 1 At Sea

 

Mon Dec 2 Barbados 8:00am 5:30pm Tue Dec 3 St. Lucia 8:00am 5:00pm Wed Dec 4 Antigua 8:00am 5:00pm Thu Dec 5 St. Maarten 8:00am 6:00pm Fri Dec 6 St. Thomas, U.S. Virgin Islands 8:00am 5:00pm Sat Dec 7 San Juan, Puerto Rico 6:00am

 

 

DAY DATE PORT ARRIVE DEPART Sat Dec 7 San Juan, Puerto Rico

8:30pm Sun Dec 8 St. Croix, U.S. Virgin Islands 8:00am 5:30pm Mon Dec 9 St. Kitts 8:00am 5:00pm Tue Dec 10 Roseau, Dominica 8:00am 5:00pm Wed Dec 11 Grenada 8:00am 5:00pm Thu Dec 12 At Sea

 

Fri Dec 13 St. Thomas, U.S. Virgin Islands 8:00am 5:00pm Sat Dec 14 San Juan, Puerto Rico 6:00am

[Wildgrits]

Thanx for all the great feedback.

 

The price differences was around $300 last time I checked.

 

I have only been on two Carnival cruises so not much in the way of loyalty to make a difference. But I did do the Victory out of San Juan, same itinerary as the Valor, last January. Liked the ports but was Meh about the ship. In hindsight that might have been the company I kept :cool: and not so much the ship.

 

My girls are more about socializing and less about "Activities". The pool is not a big seller because we have one at home. They might enjoy Putt-Putt but i know getting a Ship on a stick is a big deal to them. Is there4 anything like that on Celebrity?

 

Also as smokers I am glad you brought up the policies. I will need to look into that as that could be an issue.

 

I also posted this question on the Celebrity board. Funny how they said go with Carnival. I think the thought of Three Teens is scary to some.