Onboard the Victory, initial Impressions

[L1211]

I’m sailing Carnival next March after cruising the past 2 years with NCL, and I noticed the price difference in water. I couldn’t believe it! I know I will be ordering water for my cabin!

 

 

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Lots of folks say "just get it with your Cheers package, stop by a bar and bring it back to your room, why pay for something you're already paid for...". We loved having it in our room! With cheers, they have to scan your card and you have to sign the slip. So, same wait as for a drink. No thank you! Three of us drank three cases of water on a four day cruise. Best purchase!!! Go for it.

 

 

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[L1211]

Loving your review! Keep it up. Seeing all these pictures are making me really anxious for my cruise next month. After you’ve done many cruises with the same line, things seem so familiar and you start missing them. As soon as I step onboard, I feel like I am “home.” And until I can be home again, I’m loving vicariously through you. [emoji4]

 

 

 

 

 

Yes, those are all free of charge.

 

 

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You are so welcome and yay!!! For your upcoming cruise. Carnival was warm and welcoming. I can see how it starts to feel like home. Lucky you to sail enough for that!!!

 

 

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[L1211]

Cabin steward/service - this was my first time with once per day service. I never met my steward but my room was cleaned each morning early. I'm an early riser and walker and he quickly figured out my habits and cleaned accordingly. I was solo on this cruise and I'm a neat freak so not much to clean around. I had a towel animal everyday. My shower overflowed when used and I can tell you the floor was spotless when I cleaned up the water! I thought the entire ship seems really clean. He never asked if I needed ice, which I did not. Overall, it worked.

 

 

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[varela79]

We had several Away class sailing is the last couple years and LOVED them. I'd be lying if I didn't say I was worried about the older boat without the bells and whistles. But, we had a blast. We experienced more lines but you adapt and figure out your own patterns. No pay restaurants but the MDR was excellent. Fewer clubs but we found favorite and made friends. We loved the cabins and the stewards were outstanding. It was truly a great time. Here's the Siren's pool. Didn't take a pic of the bar but that was always hopping. It was next to pizza which was always busy. This was closed when cool and open when nice. Lovely area.

 

 

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Thank you! Real excited for 4/30!

 

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[L1211]

Our final night dinner was a bit sad, a four night cruise flies by so quickly, but my spring breakers thought it was perfect. They weren't there for relaxation and were concerned a few more days may have killed them! Still, the last night is always bittersweet. Till next time Carnival!

 

Dinner was wonderful again. It was just me and my daughter. What a treat. Honestly, this is one of the biggest reasons our family had fallen into cruising - wonderful time shared with young adult children - it is priceless!

 

My girls have always loved a nice dinner out- it's an event for them. They like getting ready and dressing up for dinner. On land, a nice restaurant dinner for a family of four can literally cost the cruise fare for one for this four day cruise! It makes cruising such a value. More dinner pics! We did a heavy appetizer dinner and shared it all.

This pumpkin soup tasted exactly like mushroom soup. And a little salty. We likely wouldn't have finished it, but it was served just before the baked Alaska parade and farewell song and dance. That totally stopped dinner service on the final night and we were hungry...

"Your bags are packed, it's time to go..."

shrimp cocktail. It needed to be colder but the shrimp was still tasty

escargot. My daughter's first time trying it and she loved it!!fried shrimp - she loved the sauce served on the side.

 

All in all, another wonderful evening. We had requested the same staff nightly and they didn't disappoint. Our head waiter graciously asked if we'd mention them in our survey since we were full of praise. You bet we will!!!

 

 

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[L1211]

Check out this sunset... Nothing like being at sea!

 

 

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[L1211]

Bonsai sushi on 5, right next to the casino bar, was another favorite. It's one of only two pay restaurants onboard. When likes were crazy at peak times, we opted for sushi for lunch.

 

 

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[L1211]

Confession. I thought the green Tiffany-styled lobby ceiling was garish when I saw it in pics and video. Wow, it works in person! Honestly, I don't know how but it does. It really grew on me. Here's a pic that I hope does it justice. Anyone else out there fall in love with the crazy green ceiling??!https://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20180317/e3b88c075005c73e701a097a40e22641.jpg[/img

 

 

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[L1211]

A few pics of my lovely dinner mates.

 

 

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[grandmarnnurse]

Looks like you all had a wonderful time! And after reading this, I’m getting excited for my Carnival Cruise next March. I was a little hesitant and worried about sailing Carnival again after so many negative reviews, but yours convinced me that we will have a lovely time. I just need to tell myself to not constantly compare it to RCCL and NCL, my cruise line of choice over the last several years. I have not sailed with Carnival since 2007, and much has changed with them. No longer do they do the big Captains receptions with free cocktails and appetizers, or the past cruisers party with free cocktails and appetizers. Now only the upper tier loyalty gets those parties. I only have 5 past Carnival cruises under my belt making me only Gold tier.

[L1211]

So since this blog is a memory for me to keep a lifetime, I'm going to share a personal story with those of you following along. My daughter lost a dear, dear friend just a month ago. Her friend was only 23. It has been devastating. At 21, she just wasn't truly equipped to handle such extreme and senseless loss - are we ever? Her dear friend sailed on a carnival cruise with her mother when she turned 21 and Cozumel was her favorite port. We, of course visited Cozumel. We've been looking for a moon necklace as a memorial to her friend. Her friend loved the tarot card La Luna 23. She will now be forever 23. Here's the pic of that card.

 

I've been looking for a moon necklace everywhere. I travel for work so I tell my daughter "I'm in Denver this week, surely I will find something there". Then "I'm in Austin this week, bound to find something". And so on it has gone with no luck.

 

The girls did the passion Island excursion and I went shopping in the port. In the first silver shop I entered, I asked the man assisting me if they happened to have a moon charm and silver chain. He said to me "La Luna?" Whoa, yes! I'm looking for La Luna!!! Honestly, I hadn't thought to ask. It takes a while, their inventory is huge, but wait till you see what he came back with! I instantly cried. I simply couldn't believe it. There she was. La Luna.

 

So, he polished it up, put it in a lovely box and now I just had to wait 6 long hours till the excursion was over to give the gift to my daughter!!!

 

You guessed it, she bawled when she opened it. It took her breath away. It was like her dear friend had come to visit her in Cozumel, a place she loved. She's voweled to never take it off. This just helped make an already special trip that much more special. A memory of a lifetime.

 

 

 

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[SMSACE6]

I loved the green ceiling in the atrium too! actually loved the whole ship décor, and along with the Liberty my two favorites décor wise.

 

Thanks again for the review, was nice going back to see Victory again.

 

Aww, just read your latest installment, that is sad for your daughter, but also a wonderful way to remember her friend. Thanks for sharing that.

[L1211]

Victory was my first Carnival ship too. I did it last year. The first night was packed everywhere. After that, it was mostly free-flowing.

 

You are right Joe Bucks, the crowds definitely spread out and people flow was much better!! We loved it!! Off yesterday and ready to go back!!!

[champagne123]

You just made me cry.

[L1211]

Looks like you all had a wonderful time! And after reading this, I’m getting excited for my Carnival Cruise next March. I was a little hesitant and worried about sailing Carnival again after so many negative reviews, but yours convinced me that we will have a lovely time. I just need to tell myself to not constantly compare it to RCCL and NCL, my cruise line of choice over the last several years. I have not sailed with Carnival since 2007, and much has changed with them. No longer do they do the big Captains receptions with free cocktails and appetizers, or the past cruisers party with free cocktails and appetizers. Now only the upper tier loyalty gets those parties. I only have 5 past Carnival cruises under my belt making me only Gold tier.

 

We are huge NCL fans and I was worried that the big, new Away ship experiences would over shadow the older, less sparkly carnival Victory. But we LOVED it!!!! I sail Harmony of the Sea with my youngest lovely and DH for her senior spring break in only two weeks! It will be my first RCI sailing since 2007. And I feel sure the mid-sized ship we did a four day sail on will be nothing like the Harmony! we will have a great time - that's is how we roll, but this ship and this trip will keep a special place in my heart. Excited for your upcoming carnival cruise! We had some lines/waits but nothing else to complain about. It was really a great experience!!! Enjoy!!!

[L1211]

You just made me cry.

 

You are so sweet! You are crying with me then. Just writing it brought tears back to my eyes... good to know I have some company!

[L1211]

No access to Ionian room?? (To be fair it’s not easiest venue to find)

 

 

And here is the Lonian Room. Hard to find, out of the way, underutilized, pretty dark venue. But easiest place to get a drink!

 

 

 

 

 

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[L1211]

I agree. We sailed with our two youngest daughters before they both married, and had a blast! This was before drink packages, and they ran up a $2000 sail and sign bill to my charge card! Lol! But those were wonderful memories. Hoping to get the whole family (5 children with spouses and 14 grandchildren) together for our 50th Anniversary cruise in March 2020.

 

 

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That sounds amazing!!! Good luck with the logistics and planning. Well worth it i know!!!

 

 

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[L1211]

I loved the green ceiling in the atrium too! actually loved the whole ship décor, and along with the Liberty my two favorites décor wise.

 

Thanks again for the review, was nice going back to see Victory again.

 

Aww, just read your latest installment, that is sad for your daughter, but also a wonderful way to remember her friend. Thanks for sharing that.

 

 

 

I'm new to carnival so no idea what the liberty looks like. The NCL Away class ships are just slightly modified versions of one another but that is not my impression of carnival. I think they all have their own personality? Is that so?? This ship certainly had a ton of personality!! We will be back!

Thanks for your kind comments. Such a special and sentimental find!!

 

 

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[L1211]

So here is the Passion Island excursion through the eye of my girls. They loved it. All inclusive and they thought the food and drinks were awesome. The weather was perfect. They had a couple get engaged and everyone celebrated with them. They ate, sunned, swam, and chilled. A perfect private island day!!

 

 

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[L1211]

Me and my biggest baby.

 

 

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[L1211]

A few more thoughts. Pizza - oh my! Just wow, amazing. Blew me away. Couldn't believe I found a Prosciutto and arugula pie at sea. To die for!

 

Disembarking- totally easy. We had FTTF but no where to be early so decided to walk off later. Took about 15 to 20 minutes total.

 

Uber back to MIA - called for uber just outside the port and she was there in under 5 minutes. Wow, that's service. But, there was a wreck just outside the bridge so it took about 45 minutes. Glad we didn't have a quick flight to catch. The uber ride in uber x was $33.

 

 

 

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[L1211]

Final thoughts - we loved the carnival experience! Would totally sail carnival again. Realized we don't need all the extras, the victory had all the bases covered. Choices were more limited but that worked just fine. Loved our cabins - lovely soft decor, exceptional mattresses, plenty of space. They totally lacked any sound proofing but we made do.

 

Food and service in the MDR were great. Plenty of choice on the one page menus. Dinner service was fast and efficient. Food was warm and taste was great. Nothing tasted like it was warmed from a can or delivered pre-made by Sysco. Big thumbs up.

 

 

Buffet was a bust in my opinion. Terrible lines. When I did try it, food was cold.

 

Cheers! Highly recommend it. I'm a wine drinker and appreciated the Kendal Jackson by the glass. Didn't take much to make the cheers worth it. Bar service could be slow due to crowds. Had to figure it the right times and places. Bar tenders were friendly.

 

Entertainment- missed the first production show due to high seas. And the last night due to timing of dinner so cannot comment. The cruise director, Philippe was great. Comedy was funny but raunchy. Not necessarily my thing, but there is something for everyone. Piano bar was a blast! Lobby bar acts were all enjoyable. Thumbs up again.

 

Wonderful experience overall. Way to go carnival. Bye bye whale-tail. Till we meet again...

 

 

 

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[champagne123]

BRAVO and Thank You for the wonderful review. I feel soooo much better about sailing the Victory in a couple of months!

[L1211]

BRAVO and Thank You for the wonderful review. I feel soooo much better about sailing the Victory in a couple of months!

 

 

 

You are so welcome! Let us know how you enjoy her! It sure how you couldn't! Happy sailing. So soon!!!

 

 

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