Carnival Valor Review from 9/18-9/25/05

[missylove12]

Embarktion: Was pretty easy. We flew into Ft. Lauderdale from NY arriving @ 11:20 am. Airport Express was waiting to transport (11) of us to the port of miami for $120. It was about a 40 minute drive. The baggage handlers immediately took our luggage at the pier and we got on the line. It moved pretty quickly. The check-in staff were very nice.We were on the ship by about 12:50pm

 

Room & Location : My room was on the main deck 2426(OV) it's in the back of the ship right by the elevators. It was quite spacious for 2 people, It had a couch and a wet bar. The shower stall was small compared to the Sensation (it could hold 2 people :p). But I was happy with the room.We found it to be a good location because those elevators led to all the main eating areas, and also since it was in the back it wasn't a high traffic area, If you didn't have a room on the 2nd level there was really no other reason to be there. Every one else in my group was on the 7th deck 7235, 7237.7209(Inside cabins). What I found out was that when you book an OV on the valor you can't get upgraded any higher than the 2nd level as that's where the ov stops unless you get upgraded to deck 11 which has floor to celing OV it holds 4 people (my sister had that room she got an upgrade and had 4 people in her room, I only had 2 people in my room. My other sisters on the 7th floor also received an upgrade, because they booked a gty stateroom. Which starts on the lower levels.

 

Our Steward: Jose was our steward, he was great and he always seemed to know when we were out of our rooms.

 

Dining: We had breakfast on the lido deck @ Rosies most of the time. There was plent to choose from. We also had breakfast in the dining room twice, the belgian waffles are to die for!! I never ordered room service although it is available 24 hrs. The hamburgers & fries were delightfule as well as the pizza. I ate frozen yogurt everyday. I wasn't able to eat @ Scarletts' since I waited until the last day to decide, and they were booked up. Dinner in the dining room was nice Indira & Kristina were our waiters table 330. They always remembered the little things like what kind of beverage we drank and the type of salad dressing.

 

Entertainment: There was a lot to pick from. We went to the 80's show and the R-rated comedy show (hysterical). Valor idol was good (like american idol) Karaoke with Misty was fun. My sister & her husband won $500 in the slots tournament. We went to the One-step disco everynight. We tried our hand at BINGO. There was something for everyone. My nephew (4Yr.) had his own itinerary @ camp carnival the first time he went it was a little hard (separation anxiety) but after that he loved it.

 

Ports of call: In Belize you tender. They let off the people who booked tours through carnvial off first, then you can get off. We were like #7 on the line, so we got off pretty quickly. We went cave tubing. We booked through http://www.cave-tubing.com. It was soooo much fun:D. I highly recommend it. There were about 20 people on our tour bus. We only paid $45,and we got to tube through 2 caves; while carnival charges $93. and you only tube through one cave and they have too many people on there tour. You walk through a rainforest for about 45 minutes & there are small bats in some of the cave. I sprayed myself with Cutters Advance (the new alternative to deet) I didn't get bit at all. One of the guides Junior said we didn't need the bug spray, but you are more than welcome to put it on if you brought some. We also went shopping @ the fleamarket and then we tendered back to the ship. It went very smooth.

 

Roatan: Was Beautiful. we went to Tabanya Beach through carnival for $33, they had a live reggae band, lemondade & water and hamburgers. It was about a 30 minute drive to the beach. You just basically stick your head in the water & you can see the coral reef and small fish its truly amazing. They also offered snorkeling & cayaking at this beach. I rented the snorkel equipment and the llife vest for $10. My sister got their hair cornrowed for $15. When we got back to the pier we went shopping. I loved it:D.

 

Cayman Islands: Was a production to get off the boat since the water was choppy they would start & stop tendering. We just basically walked around & shopped. Getting back on the boat was another production. We waited on the line for an hour and it was hot!! They even loaded up the liquor, before they let the people get on the tender boat.

 

Cozumel: What can I say, Mexico is a blast. We went to the beach by taxi first and then we came back to the ship for lunch and changed and went back out to shop. So many places let you taste the liquor before buying it. We went to Carlos & Charlies & Senor frogs. We made it back to the boat by 10 pm.

 

The Valor: Was pretty big, but once you got the hang of it, it was ok. I was very impressed with the gym, they actually have free weights, and the circurt trainging machines are with real weights not hydraulics. The dining areas were nice. I especially liked the big poster of war time rosie. The carribean band played every day on the lido deck. The casino was pretty big and it was crowed in there every night. The Java cafe has pastries and flavored coffe & cappuchino and they make these strawberry & whipped cream filled chocolate candy cupcake that is to die for along with some fantastic strawberry cheesecake. The staff was so polite and helpful, and they always had a smile on there face. They were always cleaning.

 

Disembarktion: We went with general disembarktion because our group was big, It wasn't bad we had breakfast and waited for the announcement customs was a breeze, and we found our luggage very easy. The luggage will be in the same area you came in at, and its assorted by the area of the ship you were on. In other words, you just look for the color of the luggage tags that you were given.

 

I loved this cruise, and I will definitely cruise carnival again. I'm thinking eastern carribean next time.

Feel free to ask me any questions.

_________________________

Sensation 9/18/04

Valor 9/18/05

[Bunkie103]

Thanks for a nice review. Can't wait until October 30th! We have also planned to do the Cave Tubing and it should be such fun! :D

[kelz66]

Thanks for the review..sounds like a great time. I highly recomend the Victory & the eastern cruise!!!;)

[MamaParrotHead]

I just have to read all of the new Valor reviews, I'm trying to relive our cruise on her from back in May! We were in 2412, right near your room, and Jose was our steward as well. Great service with that handsome smile, LOL. We loved the location as well and plan to book in that general vacinity next time we sail, too. Glad you had a good time.

[sotadragon]

Great review! Thanks for posting it. SOOO looking forward to our Valor cruise end of next month! :D

[jerseygirl3]

Thanks for the great review. We're booked on the Valor for May 28. We're taking our four sons and some of their friends. We take a cruise each time one of them graduates from college (to celebrate one less tuition bill!).