Valor - 1st cruise May 25th!

[NewHoustonCruiser]

I am taking my godfamily on the Valor cruise departing May 25th. It will be the 1st cruise for all but one of us and we are all incredibly excited.

I've been lurking here since I booked the cruise months ago and appreciate all the helpful info given. I feel I'm ready and know what to expect. I don't plan to have my phone with me at all times, but I'll share what pictures I do take. I'm also in an L-shaped balcony room, which I couldn't find many videos for online, so I'll try to make one - if I don't forget in all the fun.

[Desinico]

I am taking my godfamily on the Valor cruise departing May 25th. It will be the 1st cruise for all but one of us and we are all incredibly excited.

 

I've been lurking here since I booked the cruise months ago and appreciate all the helpful info given. I feel I'm ready and know what to expect. I don't plan to have my phone with me at all times, but I'll share what pictures I do take. I'm also in an L-shaped balcony room, which I couldn't find many videos for online, so I'll try to make one - if I don't forget in all the fun.

 

 

Have fun!! I was on her I'm December before the reposition to Galveston. Eat a guys burger for me. [emoji24] Make sure you try what the taste bar has at night, they have yummy things.

 

 

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[NewHoustonCruiser]

Thanks for the taste bar advice. And I'll definitely have at least one Guy's burger. I plan to eat a lot of food and let​ Mr. Sancho's in Cozumel be my drinking day.

[Desinico]

Thanks for the taste bar advice. And I'll definitely have at least one Guy's burger. I plan to eat a lot of food and let​ Mr. Sancho's in Cozumel be my drinking day.

 

 

When we went it was only to Nassau and Freeport. The ship it self is meh, but the cruise director made it awesome. I've never wobbled some much in my life and when I say wobble I speak of the dance [emoji23]. Update and let me know how you liked it!! Have a great cruise!!!

 

 

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[easyboy]

Thanks for the taste bar advice. And I'll definitely have at least one Guy's burger. I plan to eat a lot of food and let​ Mr. Sancho's in Cozumel be my drinking day.

Enjoy Mr. Sancho's. Looks like you really did your research!

 

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[NewHoustonCruiser]

Enjoy Mr. Sancho's. Looks like you really did your research!

 

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I made sure to search out actual cruisers for real reviews and advice. Cruise Critic was a great resource, even for finding the best parking garage since I live in Houston. Having so much 1st hand info on the exact ship is very reassuring to someone planning a family trip that has never been on a cruise. I'm confident everyone will have a great time. (Coincidentally their neighbor happens to be on the Valor now, so we'll have very current info).

[bury me at sea]

Your preparation sounds comprehensive. You might also prepare for the addiction it has become for many of us.

 

Hope it's all your hoping for with a couple of surprises thrown in the mix.

[evandbob]

Here's a tip for the Valor (or any other Conquest class ship): If you want to get from the theater to the comedy club, or the other way, from the aft dining room to the casino or theater, use the 4th floor hallway to avoid the picture taking crowds on deck 5. Take the stairs off the midship elevator near the casino bar, go down one flight to 4, turn right and continue out through the lounge. Take those steps up and you'll be at the aft elevators near the Alchemy Bar and the comedy club. If you take the middle stairs, you'll come up at the Taste Bar and still have to fight your way through.

Carnival is also changing the fish and chips just above the buffet to a BBQ station . The stairs behind the dessert station will take you to it. I've sailed the Valor 7 times but that wasn't done on my last time aboard. Maybe someone else can verify if this change took place. I've had the BBQ on other ships and it's better than the fish and chips ever was, IMO.

 

Enjoy your maiden voyage!

[Desinico]

Here's a tip for the Valor (or any other Conquest class ship): If you want to get from the theater to the comedy club, or the other way, from the aft dining room to the casino or theater, use the 4th floor hallway to avoid the picture taking crowds on deck 5. Take the stairs off the midship elevator near the casino bar, go down one flight to 4, turn right and continue out through the lounge. Take those steps up and you'll be at the aft elevators near the Alchemy Bar and the comedy club. If you take the middle stairs, you'll come up at the Taste Bar and still have to fight your way through.

Carnival is also changing the fish and chips just above the buffet to a BBQ station . The stairs behind the dessert station will take you to it. I've sailed the Valor 7 times but that wasn't done on my last time aboard. Maybe someone else can verify if this change took place. I've had the BBQ on other ships and it's better than the fish and chips ever was, IMO.

 

Enjoy your maiden voyage!

 

 

In December BBQ was still up stairs.

 

 

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[evandbob]

In December BBQ was still up stairs.

 

 

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Great, thanks for letting us know that fish & chips has been replaced by a BBQ station, so much better!

[Remus2010]

The Valor is my favorite ship, maybe because it was our first cruise/?? But I love her. Next cruise we will be trying out a different class, so my opinion may change, but the Valor will always have a place in my heart. Have a great time and don't sweat the small stuff, because any day at sea is better than a day at work, IMO. Go to the very front of the ship and go out on the not so "secret" deck. Especially when pulling into a port.

[NewHoustonCruiser]

I'm being pestered by one guest to go to the Captain's dinner. The dress code says formal, but would trying to get in with jeans and a collared shirt be tacky to those who packed nicer clothes?

I finally decided on what wine to bring and now I need to decide on the port parking lot. I heard the Port Parking in the red brick building with $60 indoor was a good place.

I'm very excited now that the cruise is just a few days away. And y'all have given me extra tips that I didn't think about, so I feel very prepared.

[Desinico]

When I went I saw ppl with slacks and some with jeans & a collared shirt or polo

 

 

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[shopreh]

I was on Valor April 22 it was my 1st cruise and we had a group of 20 ppl. DH and I stayed in a GS which was awesome! I agree with using deck 4 to get to/from MDR we didn't figure that out till end of our cruise. We would walk thru the Lincoln DR and Winston Bar to get to places. The Winston Bar was always empty if your looking for a quiet place to hang out. I think that's where the art auction takes place? We had one of the photographers take our group photo on the stairs after dinner on elegant night then some of the couples did individual pics on the stairs those were all great!

[NewHoustonCruiser]

As I was walking down deck 5 the first day I saw the staircase behind the taste bar coming up from 4 and instantly remembered the advice. Then forgot it for a couple days, but I was on 7, aft, so I found going up or down a couple flights of stairs to be so much easier than elevators. I spent most of my time on 5,9 and 10 anyway.

We already booked another cruise for March and are inviting everyone we know. The cruise was such an amazing experience.

[CharlesKru]

As I was walking down deck 5 the first day I saw the staircase behind the taste bar coming up from 4 and instantly remembered the advice. Then forgot it for a couple days, but I was on 7, aft, so I found going up or down a couple flights of stairs to be so much easier than elevators. I spent most of my time on 5,9 and 10 anyway.

We already booked another cruise for March and are inviting everyone we know. The cruise was such an amazing experience.

 

Glad you enjoyed your cruise! Be careful... 1 cruise a year somehow magically turns into 4 cruises a year when your not watching.

 

I hope you have a lot more exciting and fun sailings in the future.

[NewHoustonCruiser]

Glad you enjoyed your cruise! Be careful... 1 cruise a year somehow magically turns into 4 cruises a year when your not watching.

 

I hope you have a lot more exciting and fun sailings in the future.

 

If I could afford it, I would be back on the ship already. Last weekend's cruise was a vacation for my godkids, but March will be all adults. Not that it will make much of a difference, the 2 underage kids rarely crossed our paths, except to get cash for the arcade.