Pirate's Quick VICTORY Cruise Photo Review

[pirate4me2]

Hello, CC family!

 

I returned home yesterday from a quick weekend getaway on the Victory. This review will be bittersweet for me to write, as many things did not turn out as planned, some for the good, and some for the bad.

 

I booked the July 28, 2016 sailing of the Victory back on December 21, 2015 when my mom FINALLY expressed an interest in cruising. I have been wanting to get her, as well as my father, to try a cruise ever since I became addicted. When she finally mentioned that she would like to possibly try cruising, I jumped at the chance and booked us an interior room with a picture window on Lido deck. However, a few weeks later I upgraded us to an extended balcony on deck 6. Then, about 2 months prior to sailing, I got an upgrade email (first time I've gotten an email and not a phone call) to upgrade to a Lido balcony for just $10 total. HECK YES! I jumped on that, and ended up with room 9281.

 

However, the excitement came to a screeching halt mid June when my mom decided that due to some medical issues she would not be able to make the cruise with me. I called my PVP, and we were able to switch the reservation to my husband's name. I was super bummed that Mom wouldn't be experiencing the cruise with me, but on the upside I didn't get charged the $50 name change fee.

 

Now...anyone that has read any of my recent reviews knows that I seem to be pre-cruise cursed. The past three cruises I have taken, something has happened the week or so ahead of time that makes me wonder "Should I really go?" I was hoping to avoid that this time around, but it happened. The week before we were to sail my mom got some pretty bad health news, and she had to go in for tests the Friday I would be gone. I felt torn...do I go and hope for the best? Or do I stay, drive her to the doctor, and hang out with her for the weekend? In the end she pushed me to go and have a good time since everything was paid for, and I went. I will admit though that it caused me to have a pretty bad attitude going into this trip.

 

Chris and I headed out for Port Canaveral from our home in Western NC around 9 Wednesday night. The plan was to drive down overnight, and we made good time, arriving in Cape Canaveral about 7 Thursday morning. We drove around to kill some time, stopping into Walmart, Ron Jon's Surf Shop, and finally finding some breakfast at a place called Barrier Jack's. The place doesn't look like much inside, but holy moly, the food is EXCELLENT. I ordered the Huervos Rancheros, and Chris ordered the Chicken Fried Steak. Both our entrees came with home fries.

 

 

 

Both of us agreed that our breakfasts were fantastic, and altogether with an unsweet tea and the 2 entrees, our check was $19.01. Not bad for a decent breakfast!

 

We headed to the port at about 10:30, and we dropped off the truck in the parking garage. Parking for the 3 days was $64 (my 7 day on Sunshine a while back was $120...has parking gone up at PC??) and after finding a spot in the garage with no problems we headed inside. By 10:45 we were checked in and sitting waiting for them to begin boarding. We had FTTF, and we felt it was well worth it. Boarding finally began about 11:45, and we were onboard and in our room at 12:01.

 

Our stateroom for the weekend was 9281, a Lido balcony. It has not been "beautified" yet.

 

Our cabin door, decorated so I wouldn't get lost. Hehe.

 

Typical Carnival bathroom

 

 

Hallway in the cabin...storage to the left, bathroom to the right

[pirate4me2]

"Desk" area

 

I think this TV is older than me...

 

Couch area

 

The best part of the room....the balcony!

[lagienomai]

Can't wait for the rest of your review. And on a happy note almost 88 days till the Magic cruise.

[pirate4me2]

After decorating the door and dropping our carry ons onto the couch, DH and I crashed and had a nap. Driving all night wore us out! We woke up around 1:45 and went in search of some lunch. My first meal was a burger with chili fries and coleslaw. So unhealthy, I know, but I am on vacation!

 

 

 

The burger was delicious...I like the old grill burgers better than Guy's. They are not squashed thin and greasy, they are thicker, juicier, and just yummier I think. The fires were crispy, the chili was a tad salty but not bad. The coleslaw was disgusting though, too much dressing.

 

After lunch we took a self-guided tour of the ship. Let me just say, Victory is a PRETTY ship. I think that after the Liberty she has my favorite atrium of any ship I have been on, and for being an older ship, she is in pretty darn good shape. There were always crew members cleaning, repairing worn out deck, or working. I really enjoy seeing the different décor of the ships, and I told Chris that I hope Carnival doesn't begin decorating all their ships the same and naming all the venus the same (Liquid Lounge, Beach Pool, Tides Pool....you know what I mean) because that takes away from the character of the ships. Anyway...here are some pictures from around the ship.

 

Elevator area...I kind of like the crazy carpet.

 

Aft pool area

 

Punchliner Comedy Club lounge. I LOVED this area.

 

Looking down at the atrium bar

[pirate4me2]

Atrium Light

 

 

Atrium Elevators/Light fixture/Bar

 

Atrium Elevators

 

Caribbean Lounge

[pirate4me2]

I do not know why, but I was kind of obsessed with the chandelier in the show lounge.

 

Creepy Octopus outside one of the venues on deck 5

 

Piano Bar

 

Around 2:30 we went back to our stateroom and our luggage had been delivered, so we unpacked and settled in for our short little cruise. Now, one awesome thing about this stateroom....the storage space is AMAZING. Usually DH and I are squabbling over who gets what storage space, but this room seemed to have a ton. There were 2 full closets, 3 full drawers, where the fridge normally is was a small cabinet, cabinet space below the TV, and I think a few more shelves below the desk area. IT WAS AWESOME. I wish we had that much storage on the newer ships!

 

While we were unpacking our room steward came by and introduced himself. Aris was his name, and he asked if we wanted morning or evening room service. I chose evening because I feel like with the morning service, I worry about sleeping in and not hearing them knock (yes, I know there are the "Snoozin' signs, but then I feel like I am holding them up) and honestly, sometimes we take naps in the afternoon and that messes the bed up again anyway...then they have to make it AGAIN in the evening. So we chose evening, and he asked if we needed anything else. I said we needed wine glasses and beach towels, and he promised to get them for us.

 

The dreaded muster drill took place around 3:45, and on Victory it is held outdoors. It was pretty quick and painless, and afterward we went back to our balcony to watch sailaway. I can now say that I have seen dolphins playing while on a ship! But wouldn't you know it, as I reached for my camera they quit jumping and splashing. Oh well.

 

 

[pirate4me2]

After sailaway, Chris decided he was hungry. I do not know how he eats like he does, but we went ahead to the Atlantic dining room for Your Time Dining. I ordered the spinach and artichoke dip as well as a Caesar salad for my starters.

 

 

 

The dip was kind of meh...reminded me of creamed spinach, but not as yummy. The salad, though, was SPOT ON....perfect.

For our mains, Chris and I both ordered the brisket, which he said was more like a pot roast. I don't care what it was more like...IT WAS FANTASTIC. He agreed that it was really, really good.

 

For dessert, I got the strawberry cheesecake. It was OK.

 

After filling our bellies, we went to Lido to watch the first Dive In movie, The Intern. It was excellent.

 

The movie ended, and we walked around to see what was going on. We found an old friend in the Piano Bar, Rob, who was the Piano Bar entertainer on our Pride Journeys cruise earlier this year. He is a heck of a piano player and a really, really nice guy. We listened for a few minutes, then went to the Welcome Aboard show at 10:15. It was OK, but I have seen better Welcome Aboard shows on other ships.

At 11 I decided to call it a day and headed back to the cabin. I needed a shower and some shut eye.

[pirate4me2]

Can't wait for the rest of your review. And on a happy note almost 88 days till the Magic cruise.

 

YES! I can't wait for the Halloween cruise aboard Magic, and mom got good news from her doctor today (no cancer, hooray!!!) so we are still on for that cruise. I will be celebrating and having fun for sure!

[pirate4me2]

Alright peeps, I have got to get some sleep so I can go to work tomorrow. I will finish this review up tomorrow, I have all the pics uploaded so I just have to write the review and add them in. I'll finish tomorrow!

[riclop]

Thanks for the review.

[lagienomai]

YES! I can't wait for the Halloween cruise aboard Magic, and mom got good news from her doctor today (no cancer, hooray!!!) so we are still on for that cruise. I will be celebrating and having fun for sure!

 

So glad she got a good report.

[crewsweeper]

Pirate....

 

It's okay to jinx the Magic cruise (it's Halloween:p). But don't jinx your pre-cruise on the Vista.:eek:

 

Enjoying the review and pictures. See you on the roll call

 

Crew

[SMSACE6]

Thanks for your review of the Victory. Funny, is that I just posted in another thread that after Liberty, Victory was one of my favorite decor's with respect to color. I love that atrium, and the green. I have the pinkness of Splendor coming up later this year lol.

 

I enjoyed my time on the Victory last year, so look forward to reading more of your review. Your photos are excellent.

[JaniceB]

Enjoying your review, so sorry that your mom couldn't join you.

[pirate4me2]

Pirate....

 

It's okay to jinx the Magic cruise (it's Halloween:p). But don't jinx your pre-cruise on the Vista.:eek:

 

Enjoying the review and pictures. See you on the roll call

 

Crew

 

Hehe I better not have a jinx on anymore of my cruises! I'm over the pre cruise stress! And I don't care what happens, I WILL be on Vista in January!

 

 

 

 

 

Thanks for your review of the Victory. Funny, is that I just posted in another thread that after Liberty, Victory was one of my favorite decor's with respect to color. I love that atrium, and the green. I have the pinkness of Splendor coming up later this year lol.

 

I enjoyed my time on the Victory last year, so look forward to reading more of your review. Your photos are excellent.

 

 

Have fun on Splendor. She is VERY pink. And thanks for the compliment on my photos, they were all taken with my phone.

 

 

 

 

Enjoying your review, so sorry that your mom couldn't join you.

 

Thanks for reading, more to come later today! :)

[vadersprincess12]

Following along and enjoying your review. Sailed Victory many years ago and will be onboard again in January for a 4 night cruise. Looking forward to the rest of your review.

[CARNIVALCRUISE3]

I'm loving your detailed review and amazing pictures. I love the Victory. I have sailed on it 4 times. I just returned from the Splendor on Saturday.

Edited August 2, 2016 by CARNIVALCRUISE3

[Jamman54]

You know that I'm following along!! :D GREAT start to your review, and glad your Mom got some positive news!!

[Ms. Fun Bunch]

Waiting for more........

[Clarea]

Enjoying the review and photos, following.:)

[pirate4me2]

Following along and enjoying your review. Sailed Victory many years ago and will be onboard again in January for a 4 night cruise. Looking forward to the rest of your review.

 

Thanks for following! I will post the rest later tonight.

 

 

 

 

 

I'm loving your detailed review and amazing pictures. I love the Victory. I have sailed on it 4 times. I just returned from the Splendor on Saturday.

 

 

 

I hope you had a good cruise on Splendor!

 

 

 

 

You know that I'm following along!! :D GREAT start to your review, and glad your Mom got some positive news!!

 

 

Hey Jamman, thanks for coming along! :) I'm glad my mom got good news too...if not I was going to be canceling some cruises. :( So maybe it's selfish of me, but what can I say...I'm a cruise addict!

 

 

 

 

Waiting for more........

 

 

I will be posting more after I get home from work and feeding the horses. :)

 

 

Enjoying the review and photos, following.:)

 

Thank you for reading and following along!

[nybumpkin]

 

Creepy Octopus outside one of the venues on deck 5

 

If I recall correctly, this guy was outside Virtual Sea, the arcade. I recall on one of our Victory cruises a rather oddly-dressed woman (hey, I'm not a fashion maven but she looked like she was wearing a house dress:eek:) bellowing down the Promenade Deck for her grandson: "RAAAN-DY! Get over here! I want to take your picture with the octopus!!

 

Thanks for sharing your cruise. Victory was our first cruise in 2004 and she holds a special place in my heart.:cool:

[pirate4me2]

If I recall correctly, this guy was outside Virtual Sea, the arcade. I recall on one of our Victory cruises a rather oddly-dressed woman (hey, I'm not a fashion maven but she looked like she was wearing a house dress:eek:) bellowing down the Promenade Deck for her grandson: "RAAAN-DY! Get over here! I want to take your picture with the octopus!!

 

Thanks for sharing your cruise. Victory was our first cruise in 2004 and she holds a special place in my heart.:cool:

 

YES!!! That is where it was! I knew we passed it A LOT on our way to the Piano Bar, so it makes since now. :)

[pirate4me2]

I apologize everyone, I did not take too many pictures today. I think my main goal was relaxing and forgetting my worries, and to do that I may or may not have had some drinks, so picture taking was forgotten. :p

 

Anyway..my notes say that I slept in today to a time that I haven't slept until for years now...10:30!!! Can you believe it? That's the beauty of arriving in port at noon though, you don't have to get a wake up call. :D The FunTimes said that all the breakfast options shut down at 10:30, so by the time that I was dressed I figured I would go get myself some pizza for a late breakfast. It's supposed to be served 24 hours, and it's a semi respectable breakfast option, right? Walking thru Lido it did appear that all the breakfast buffets were closed, but when I arrived at the Pizza Pirate (next to aft pool), it was set up as a breakfast buffet. The guy informed me that the buffet was closed, and when I asked about pizza he said that they did not serve it until about 11, after breakfast. Um....ok. Now what? Luckily he let me get some "eggs" (I use that term very loosely...I HATE the Lido eggs, they are inedible unless I drizzle my hot sauce I sneak onboard over them), sausage and potatoes. Y'all know how I feel about the eggs, but the sausage links were pretty darn yummy, and the potatoes were OK. I finished it off with a small bowl of ice cream.

 

Oh, and a word of warning: if you are eating on Lido around 11:15 while pulling into port...watch out for the attack of the birds. Our breakfast entertainment was watching these young guys get assaulted by sea gulls. I mean, these birds are RELENTLESS and literally ran the guys off their bacon. I guess birds like bacon and will fight you for it...who knew?

 

We went back to the room (have I mentioned how much I LOVE Lido cabins for the location???) to pack our beach bag for our day in port. I stepped onto the balcony to snap some pics.

 

 

MSC Divina was in port with us today

 

Divina and Atlantis

[pirate4me2]

We were docked and cleared at 11:45, but Chris and I waited until 12:15 to get off. We didn't have a ship excursion booked and wanted to avoid the mad rush of people getting off first thing. The line wasn't bad at 12:15, and we walked the 10 minute walk to the British Hilton Colonial. I booked our day passes thru Resort for a Day, they allow you to use their beach, pool, lounge chairs, snorkel gear, and kayaks. The cost was $60 per person, with a $4o per person food and beverage credit. We arrived, paid the rest of the day pass cost (you reserve the passes with a $12 per person deposit paid in advance, then the rest upon check-in) and made our way to the beach area. We stopped at the towel hut to get beach towels, and they took my driver's license in exchange for two towels. They explained that when we returned the towels I would get my ID back. I promptly claimed my lounger, and this was my Friday afternoon view.

 

 

 

Chris went and got into the water, and that is where he spent the rest of his time at the resort. LOL. The water was FANTASTIC today, when I decided to wade in there was absolutely no shock at the temperature...I started walking in and continued with no hesitation until I was neck deep. It was heavenly.

 

This is where things begin to get a little foggy and I forgot to take any pictures due to my partaking in the food and beverage credit. LOL. I remember getting out of the water because Chris wanted food, so we got menus and sat down. I saw the drink special, buy 2 Bahama Mamas get 1 free. So I ordered a Bahama Mama (I love those) and a veggie burger. They brought the drinks out (Chris got a local beer of some kind....Sand something) and my drink was good and STRONG. I began to happily suck it down, and tried some of DH's beer. To me, all beer tastes the same, so I was unimpressed and continued on with my drink. The food came, and the veggie burger was excellent, and the side "salad of the day" was yummy too....it was mixed beans with a Italian dressing type flavor to it. At this point, I ordered my second Bahama Mama to drink, and when it was gone I went and laid back down in my beach chair for a short nap, and then some light reading. When Chris came out of the water, I ordered my third drink, and he ended up trying a Bahama Mama as well, but decided it wasn't his taste, so I ended up with his as well. :eek: Now, I'm not really a lightweight, but 4 drinks in a semi short time period makes me pretty mellow. At this point it was about 4:45 and Chris decided he wanted to walk around downtown for a little bit, so we turned our towels back in, collected my license, and headed on. I told Chris that he was in charge of making sure I got back to the ship safely in my "happy" state. :p