Victory from Norfolk, review

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Book the Victory from Norfolk leaving 6/6/04. Carnival said we could board about 12:30.

Go to Nauticus and Police asked what we were doing. We told him "looking to board....." He said the ship wouldn't be there until 2:00 and to go park at lot 39 and they'd bring our luggage and us ..... at 2:00. We drove over to Va Beach to kill some time. Got back to lot 39 before noon and waited in line a while to get in to part. Bus took us and our luggage to Nauticus. We went to the Info Desk and asked for info on Victory Cruise. The lady said she had no idea but she thought it wouldn't be there until 2:00 and they'd have to let the people on there disembark. I knew that was wrong because Victory's last cruise was from Charleston, SC so she was arriving at Norfolk empty. We went to eat lunch. Afterwards we went out on the deck and there was a guy telling everybody the ship wouldn't be there until 2:00 and they had to clear Customs before anybody could check in and that would be about 3:00. Told us to go shop, eat or whatever. We walked over to the walkway and sat down. About 2:00, here she comes........... After Victory docked, we walked back to the deck and there were about 8 to 19 lines of people...checking in......... After standing in line about 30 minutes a lady said, "Everyone who isn't at the table go downstairs. I need to send you to a larger holding area" Gathered up the family and went down stairs where of all things, they're going through the line, checking documents, issuing sail & sign cards and boarding. Ended up on board about 4:00. Went to our cabin, walked around the ship, went to the meeting for Camp Carnival. Felt the ship moving so we ran upstairs to watch "us" leave. Wonderful cruise!!!!! Cabin 7325 and our Steward was a lady from Thailand. She was great. Waiter for late seating in the Atlantic Dining room was Tito and he was great also. No complaints at all, everything was fantastic.

We stopped in Nassau. Now here is where there is need for improvement. Excursions.........!!! Ours "left" at 1:30. Got off the ship along with 2000 others and stood around waiting for someone to tell us where to go. One time we were told to get in "this" line. Another time we were told to "move" from under the shelter. Then by accident we find out we should be under another shelter. Finally we hear our excursion "leader" tell us to follow her....walked to other side of "town" and got on our boat to Pearl Island. That was nice. Next day in Nassau, off to Blue Lagoon....same confusion getting to the boat. Blue Lagoon is undescribable! That evening we left for Freeport. Arrived about 7:30 the next morning. Very organized excursions in Freeport. Went to the Pirates Beach Party. It was okay, but does not compare to Blue Lagoon. After returning to the ship we sailed for home (Norfolk). We did the self disembarking. Waited for the okay to leave the cabin which came about 8:30. Waited at the elevator a long time. Once we were on the elevator it was smooth sailing.......down to floor 0 with documents in hand, off the ship, up the ramp, on the bus, at lot 39 and sadly on our way home.

Absolutely wonderful vacation!