Carnival Valor Review: 4/28 sailing from Puerto Rico

[JennN]

First off, thanks for the review! I love reading these in anticipation of our cruise on the Valor in 148 days! It will be our first cruise.

 

Stupid question, but how did you bring home the alcohol you purchased? I assume you can't put it in your carry on luggage, because of liquid restrictions, so did you just spread it out between your checked bags and pack it between clothes? Or is there some other easier way to do it that I haven't thought of? :)

 

I am a firm believer in NO STUPID QUESTIONS! That's just what we did - we put the liquor in our two smaller, checked bags and wrapped it up in dirty laundry. We always bring home at least 4 bottles (from St. Thomas - you can bring 4 liters from there alone) and never had an issue with anything breaking. Plus, if TSA looks through it, they have to go through my dirty laundry :D

[kathy884]

When in March? Not to HJ a thread but, we are planning for the 23rd, sailing.

 

We're the week right before you. Awesome time to go to the Caribbean. Looks like such a great itinerary too plus I love San Juan.

[JennN]

Thank you for posting this review. 20 friends will be heading out on the Valor in less than 4 weeks and I can't wait. I see your family is made up of water babies:D and you guys looked like you had a blast from beginning to end. This will be my first 7 day cruise with Carnival and I am looking forward to all the new ports.

 

I was totally born into the wrong sign (Libra-air) as I am a total water baby! My wife gets cold quickly (she wears wool socks and sweatshirts in the 100 degree heat!) but was a-ok staying for an hour in the Caribbean waters. You are going to have a blast. We did a 6 day last time (on the Breeze) and it was way too short! Enjoy!

[JennN]

Thanks you for your review and pictures. So nice too that you could spend some time in San Juan before and after. We are doing this cruise next March 2014, so really loved hearing about your experience.

 

Plans for ports for us are

1) St. Thomas -- Sapphire beach on our own and some ship time hopefully with slightly lighter crowds // have never ever for example been able to get a lounge chair near the pool on every past cruise I've ever taken. Always have had to put towel and clothes on the floor for using the swimming pool and hot tub // Would be nice to do mini golf with lighter crowds too

2) Barbados -- doing a Cat sea turtle excursion too -- great to hear you enjoyed yours (most expensive tour we are splurging on for the trip, so always great to hear positives)

3) St. Lucia -- as you confirmed beaches don't sound like they are as good as some of the other ports -- We're planning on an island tour here.

4) St. Kitts (planning on this mini Plantation House tour and seeing their rescue animals on our own) // Will then probably stop at Shipwrecks by the beach -- maybe some monkey's will be out // Planning hopefully for some lighter crowd ship time

5) St. Maarten -- Relaxing morning on ship and planning to hit the beach with the big planes in the afternoon (DS 17s favorite place to fly on Flight Simulator lol)

 

We have late dining too. Have a feeling I'll just be visiting family a little on the balcony and will probably make some early nights of it on quite a few nights.

 

Sounds like you've got a plan stan! And it sounds like you will have a great trip ;)

[hockeyluver]

Thanks for the review, I am loving it!! We will be heading on the Valor (2nd time for hubby and me) with our bestest friends (3 couples in all) Looking forward to the rest of it!! :D

[JennN]

Hi,

We are doing a cruise out of San Juan on the Valor next spring break (March 2014).

 

One of the things I really haven't liked on the last two Carnival cruises I've taken -- both Conquest class like this one -- were the extremely heavy crowds by the pool (it was only on days at sea that we got down there). For example for swimming with my son or going in the hot tub, I never ever could get a lounge chair near the pool or hot tub. Always had to put clothes and towels on the floor and be in the pool or hot tub or sitting on the ground to watch him/be close by. Mini golf wasn't that bad, but pretty crowded. // Anyway for three of the ports on this next cruise, we aren't going to be out and about all day and I was hoping it might be less crowded. Looking at ship time in late afternoon while in port in St. Thomas after hitting Sapphire Beach for a little bit // Looking at ship time in late afternoon while in port in St. Kitts after very short Plantation House tour -- they have some native rescue animals and a stop at Shipwreck's (Friar beach) just for a quick walk to maybe see if there are monkey's out. // Also in St. Maarten will be on ship in the morning before hitting Maho beach in the afternoon when the big planes come in.

 

Will I find lighter crowds at the pool and maybe even be able to get a lounge chair near the hot tub do you think, based on past experience with this cruise? Maybe lots of people will be in port. Will I be able to play mini golf with lighter crowds? // Hoping for a little less of a mad house. What about towels on chairs with no people? Is there an acceptable period of time where I could use the chair / move the towel to the ground if people never show -- maybe 45 minutes or an hour?? // Just sort of got to me on my last cruise that there were so many chairs with towels, but no people for long periods of time and that to be close my to my kid that I had to sit on the ground on my towel if I didn't want to stay in the hot tub / pool the whole time.

 

I am not sure if you will find lighter crowds. We were shocked when we went back on the ship for lunch and it was packed! I think that it will be less (when we walked through Lido after lunch, chairs were free in the middle by the pool and 4-5 people were in the pool itself) crowding so I hope you find a chair. We never really have an issue as we sun on Deck 10 and then walk down to the adults pool if it is over crowded.

 

The towel/chair situation has been addressed by Carnival. If you tell someone, they will tag the chair and after 45 minutes, they will move it. I didn't see a lot of empty chairs. And remember, the pools empty greatly if you go around 4p! ;) Have a blast!

[JennN]

Thanks for the review, I am loving it!! We will be heading on the Valor (2nd time for hubby and me) with our bestest friends (3 couples in all) Looking forward to the rest of it!! :D

 

We had a blast as you can see ;) Enjoy!!!

[MagneticMags]

As a cruise virgin, I have quick question about towels for the pool: are towels provided by the ship or is this something we should be bringing from home?

[JennN]

As a cruise virgin, I have quick question about towels for the pool: are towels provided by the ship or is this something we should be bringing from home?

 

They leave you two fresh beach towels each night. Don't bring them from home :) You are allowed to take them into port with you as well. They don't dry super fast but who cares! Once you get them back on board (and make sure you do), we leave them in a heap of other towels in our bathroom and the steward always brings us fresh, clean ones.

 

We've also purchased the beach towels at the end of the cruise (from the Serenity deck). We've got a tan one and a yellow one at home too.

 

Hope that helps! Happy cruising!

[MagneticMags]

They leave you two fresh beach towels each night. Don't bring them from home :) You are allowed to take them into port with you as well. They don't dry super fast but who cares! Once you get them back on board (and make sure you do), we leave them in a heap of other towels in our bathroom and the steward always brings us fresh, clean ones.

 

We've also purchased the beach towels at the end of the cruise (from the Serenity deck). We've got a tan one and a yellow one at home too.

 

Hope that helps! Happy cruising!

 

Thanks! This really helps. You also mentioned that you book your excursions through Carnival. DH and I plan on doing this as well. Did you pre-book ahead of your cruise or did you do it when you embarked? Is it too early for us to book them now? Do you have some sort of confirmation in your room that the excursions are booked? Is it a long process getting off the ship to meet up with the tour guide? How much time should I allow?

[JennN]

Thanks! This really helps. You also mentioned that you book your excursions through Carnival. DH and I plan on doing this as well. Did you pre-book ahead of your cruise or did you do it when you embarked? Is it too early for us to book them now? Do you have some sort of confirmation in your room that the excursions are booked? Is it a long process getting off the ship to meet up with the tour guide? How much time should I allow?

 

We booked all 5 ahead of time. We actually had a different one booked for St. Lucia and booked ahead of time but my MIL didn't and by the time she got around to pre-ordering it, it was sold out. We had a different excursion planned in St. Kitts (a hike - the heat would have killed us) and so we switched that one on board. The excursions desk is really friendly. Sometimes it gets super busy though.

 

We are already planning our excursions for December. It's never too early. Sometimes though, they add a few more excursions so if you aren't happy with a port, go back and check in a few weeks. Or, book now and go back in a few months and see if you are still happy with what you picked and if they added more.

 

When you purchase them, you get an email confirmation. Then, on your first evening turn-down service, the steward brings all your tickets to you in an envelope and leaves them in your room.

 

The process to disembark can be lengthy depending on what time you get off the ship. Sometimes lines form but I will say that we were down at 8:30a every morning for our 9a excursions on this cruise (docked at 8a) and we never ever hit a line. I would allot about 20 minutes - 10 to get downstairs and 5-10 to find your guide (they hold signs like the one in the picture below). Where to meet the guide is printed on your ticket. We never had an issue finding them :)

 

Let me know if you have any more questions! I love to help when and where I can.

 

Jenn

 

[MagneticMags]

We booked all 5 ahead of time. We actually had a different one booked for St. Lucia and booked ahead of time but my MIL didn't and by the time she got around to pre-ordering it, it was sold out. We had a different excursion planned in St. Kitts (a hike - the heat would have killed us) and so we switched that one on board. The excursions desk is really friendly. Sometimes it gets super busy though.

 

We are already planning our excursions for December. It's never too early. Sometimes though, they add a few more excursions so if you aren't happy with a port, go back and check in a few weeks. Or, book now and go back in a few months and see if you are still happy with what you picked and if they added more.

 

When you purchase them, you get an email confirmation. Then, on your first evening turn-down service, the steward brings all your tickets to you in an envelope and leaves them in your room.

 

The process to disembark can be lengthy depending on what time you get off the ship. Sometimes lines form but I will say that we were down at 8:30a every morning for our 9a excursions on this cruise (docked at 8a) and we never ever hit a line. I would allot about 20 minutes - 10 to get downstairs and 5-10 to find your guide (they hold signs like the one in the picture below). Where to meet the guide is printed on your ticket. We never had an issue finding them :)

 

Let me know if you have any more questions! I love to help when and where I can.

 

Jenn

 

 

So I can book ahead of time and then change on board if I change my mind? That's awesome. DH and I are so used to doing 7 days at an all inclusive and booking the tours from the resort once we arrive there. Our last trip was Jan 2012 and we spent an awesome week in St. Lucia. Trying to figure out which excursion to do there as we've done most of them already!

[seannyice81]

Excellent and informative review! I'm doing this same cruise in December and bet I'm on the same flights (JetBlue one-way out of/into DCA?). If so, how long were the flights?

 

In your opinion which stop seemed to have the nicest beaches?

[JennN]

So I can book ahead of time and then change on board if I change my mind? That's awesome. DH and I are so used to doing 7 days at an all inclusive and booking the tours from the resort once we arrive there. Our last trip was Jan 2012 and we spent an awesome week in St. Lucia. Trying to figure out which excursion to do there as we've done most of them already!

 

Yup - no fee to switch excursions. There is only a fee if you outright cancel (20% I believe).

[JennN]

Excellent and informative review! I'm doing this same cruise in December and bet I'm on the same flights (JetBlue one-way out of/into DCA?). If so, how long were the flights?

 

In your opinion which stop seemed to have the nicest beaches?

 

Yup! An 8a flight out of DCA getting to PR right before noon. It took about 3.5 hours in total.

 

Nicest beaches - probably St. John. No one pushing stuff on you because it is a national park. Soft sand too! It just took tooooo long to get there.

 

Barbados beaches were huge and beautiful but active (again, it was a national holiday though). Soft sand and nice water.

 

St. Martin, it seemed, had the MOST beaches so more of a choice. We loved the private beach we were on. Not sure about the others I've seen.

 

It all depends on what you are looking for. Quiet, relaxing water and beach time? I'd go for St. John Trunk Bay. Barbados too. We never did JUST the beach so it's hard to judge. Hope that helps.

[bunchesofun]

Thanks for a wonderful review. We are booked on Valor for a June 2nd sailing. We too are doing the snorkel trails at St. Thomas. Wanted it because we didn't want to have to climb off and on a boat to snorkel. We're "fluffy" and that wouldn't be very easy for us to do. I've heard from others that the water can be a little rough there. We have beach time at three of the four ports, but with the weather likely to be really hot I'm wondering if we should change that to five out of five! Anyway, thanks again for a very nice review.

[JennN]

Thanks for a wonderful review. We are booked on Valor for a June 2nd sailing. We too are doing the snorkel trails at St. Thomas. Wanted it because we didn't want to have to climb off and on a boat to snorkel. We're "fluffy" and that wouldn't be very easy for us to do. I've heard from others that the water can be a little rough there. We have beach time at three of the four ports, but with the weather likely to be really hot I'm wondering if we should change that to five out of five! Anyway, thanks again for a very nice review.

 

As you can see from my pics, I too am fluffy :D and the boats in Barbados were SUPER easy to get in and out of. Even with a foot injury, I was able to get up and down the ladders with ease. Then again, there is always jumping off the ship like I did.

 

[JennN]

Hey Ron-

 

Here are the pics of the hotels. I've also listed the pros and cons of each. Enjoy and let me know if I can help any further!

 

Conrad Condado

 

PROS

Beautiful grounds

Pools are well kept and always clean

Pool area was less busy on the weekend than Caribe

$135/night + $18/day resort fee

Casino attached

More stores ad restaurants within walking distance

Beautiful places to relax (sitting areas, hammocks)

Rooms were clean and spacious

View was beautiful, even on the lagoon side

friendly staff

 

CONS

Room wasn't ready until 4p

Had a wedding there and so it made for a busy lobby

Food at the hotel wasn't great and super expensive

Our room on the 8th floor was musty smelling

A bit further away from OSJ which tacked on a few bucks to taxi fare

 

Beautiful lobby

 

View from patio - we ate a Starbucks breakfast of oatmeal and coffee out here each morning. It was also the smoking section, sadly but we sad far back from the ashtray and still had a very pretty view

 

Our room from the balcony. It was nice and spacious. Our bathroom was a bit run down and that musty dang smell but overall, we were happy with the room. Not sure what the rooms on the left side of the building look like (see picture in pst above)

 

My MIL on her balcony. It really was a super nice view.

 

Tennis courts are behind the hotel.

 

So is the shack that sold water sports. This is the walkway. At the back of the building, there is a lap pool as well

[JennN]

CONRAD, CONT'D

 

View from the saltwater pool (smaller one just in front of the bigger, bar pool) On Saturday, they had a bouncy castle. View of the ocean from the loungers!

 

"Front" of the hotel, from the pool.

 

Front walkway and ocean

 

The front is really just the side that faces the ocean. There is a street that separates the two buildings (ocean and lagoon) with a skywalk to get back and fourth. The lap pool is in the lagoon side building and the bigger and saltwater pools are on the ocean side. I didn't get a shot of the bigger pool. It was nice though. The "beach" is really a small area off the pool that connects the lagoon to the ocean.

 

The saltwater pool. The larger pool and main restaurant ad on the other side of the chairs/bushes.

 

Next is the Caribe

[JennN]

CARIBE HILTON

 

We felt very at home at the Conrad. I believe we were room 850 or 851. The Hilton had a much different feel - trying to be higher class, but not IMHO. They have a lot of shops, more restaurants but we found everything, including drinks, to be a ton pricier (drinks by $5 and meals by $10). Even the Starbucks here was more expensive (by about $1). We checked in on Sunday and our rooms were ready at 11. However, the hotel lobby (which is outdoors) and pool looked like it hadn't been cleaned in days. I was pretty disgusted considering I thought we had a great room (which was by the ice machine and elevators so the noise level was a lot higher). My MIL's room was in the garden area and ours in the Main building (we requested a feather free room so she had to move us).

 

PROS

Room was ready early

Better choice of on-site eating (Italian, Asian, Steakhouse, Pina Colada Club)

Pool bar, 3 layer infinity pool.

Round couch area on beach area - looked comfortable and neat to see

Offered a happy hour from 4-6pm - offered bar snacks of popcorn and pretzels when you sat at a table

Cool pier to spot fish swimming in the surf

 

CONS

It took them 12 hours to make the room feather free, we suffered allergy attacks because of it

Pool the first day had bandaids and straws floating in the water, no one maintaining it, no waiters/bar service (at the Conrad, you could always see a server), dirty pool floors, etc.

Pina Coladas (supposedly born there) were $16 a piece during non-happy hour.

Smaller grounds and not as nicely kept. The animals in the garden really freaked me out! Koi pond was nice, but severely dirty

I found the pool furniture uncomfortable (the chairs hurt my back and the cushioned furniture got soaked)

 

We wound up finding another, smaller pool in the garden area the last night. Can't speak to how busy it was though. The main pool was clean and we swam on Monday and Tuesday though but that first impression didn't go away. Overall, we all preferred the Conrad (which also had a Denny's attached to the marina side - we never went though).

 

View from the bed. Our room actually looked across "the beach" of the Conrad and at the Conrad

 

Koi Pond

 

Signage - I think the Caribe was a lot larger of a property but the decor didn't do it justice

 

Animals on the way to my MILs room (I would NOT want to be on the first floor) - some may like this but we didn't. The peacock sounded like a meowing cat. And we heard it on the 8th floor of the main building.

 

 

Edited May 13, 2013 by JennN

[JennN]

CARIBE CONT'D

 

The Caribe had hammocks too, but they were in the sandy area near the beach, which had glass all over (broke bottles). It was not cleaned on Monday.

 

Walkway to the pier

 

The pier, looking at fish

 

View of the hotel property from the pier

 

The infinity pool - pool bar is at the top level

 

Better view from our room of the Conrad

 

"Secret" pool, at night. It had color changing lights in it.

 

The Caribe was a bit closer to OSJ and cut about $2 off cab fare. I didn't find the staff here to be as accessible or friendly as at the Conrad. Lots of conferences here to made it busy. They have a large parrot cage in the lobby - take that as a pro or con

 

I hope these pics were helpful Ron. We paid about $20 more a night at the Caribe, plus their resort fee was closer to $20. If you have any questions, please let me know.

 

Jenn

[divinmule]

Ok so I just had to try this picture thing once I read ur review.

Thanks for posting .....We are doing this trip in August.

 

Will have to try again...that didn't work...tried grabbing from facebook

Edited May 13, 2013 by divinmule
picture comment

[JennN]

Ok so I just had to try this picture thing once I read ur review.

Thanks for posting .....We are doing this trip in August.

 

Will have to try again...that didn't work...tried grabbing from facebook

 

Make sure you are grabbing the "copy image location" link. Should work. My pictures are private but I can link them here.

[cruiseclues]

Nope - didn't pay extra to visit the Cucina on the Breeze. When we were either on the Dream or Valor, the upstairs used to be a pasta bar. The pasta was always either undercooked or overcooked and soggy. None of the sauces were good either. Perhaps I am confusing the Conquest and Dream class ships?

 

Yes, Conquest class has always had the Fish N Chips as far as I know...and the Valor for certain. It must have been the Dream that "The pasta was always either undercooked or overcooked and soggy." That explains why you called it nasty. We were fortunate on the Breeze as the lunchtime pasta was al Dente or better (even slightly less cooked) and very tasty, as I would have not accepted it, otherwise, because overcooked pasta doesn't taste good to me, and is not worth the calories. :):):):)

[JennN]

Yes, Conquest class has always had the Fish N Chips as far as I know...and the Valor for certain. It must have been the Dream that "The pasta was always either undercooked or overcooked and soggy." That explains why you called it nasty. We were fortunate on the Breeze as the lunchtime pasta was al Dente or better (even slightly less cooked) and very tasty, as I would have not accepted it, otherwise, because overcooked pasta doesn't taste good to me, and is not worth the calories. :):):):)

 

I am not quite understanding why the word "nasty" is bothering you so much but bad pasta - overcooked and tasteless sauce - makes it nasty to me.

 

Glad you had a good experience! Perhaps on the Dream in December we'll give things another try.