Just off Valor Yesterday western great time.

[caribbean dreams]

I just stepped off the Valor yesterday, had a great time, the ship looked brand new and the staff was great, well, all except for in the dining room, there were 7 of us and they put us at seperate tables even though we were booked under the same name, we made the best of it but our waiter was given a 2 ten top wedding party and they were very demanding, by the 3rd night when we had not received our dinner by 10:30, (dinner time at 8:30) we gave up on the dining room and went to the buffet.

Our first sea day we had to turn the ship around and pick up 12 cubans in a tiny row boat yelling USA... they were with us until saturday when the coast guard cutter picked them up.

Our favorite port was Roatan, it was beautiful and the people were very friendly. We hired Lena (with Cynthia & Dianes) for the day, she is a non stop talker but very imformative, we went zip lining, an island tour and to the beach for some snorkeling.

Belize- we hired a private guide to take us cave tubing and then for someBelizian beer at a beautiful jungle resort.

Costa Maya- walked to Chac-chi earily in the morning, it is a nice beach but we wanted more excitement so we went to town and ended up at the mayan Bar, there is a beach with chairs and had a nice relaxing day.

Cayman- went on a private tour to stingray city & snorkeling.

 

We had a Deck 8 aft,

DANGER-- for the first 3 nights there were 19-21 yr olds above our cabin, lighting splenda packets, napkins and anything else they could get their hands on, on fire and tossing them off the back of the ship, we kept calling security and after the 3rd night it finally stopped, until the last when we woke up to puck all over our balcony & lounge chairs.

I wondered up to the f-deck a few times for some sun and relaxation, it's amazing how fast the wives drag the husbands away when a top comes off.

 

All & All we had lots of fun and did not let the few little problems that arose from time to time bother us at all.

For the first timers--We have never incountered fire starters or puck before, this was a isolated fluke so please don't get worried, i am sure it won't happen again.

Pre cruise we stayed at the Holiday Inn port of miami, its a very nice hotel across the street from Bayside market, we hung out everynight and watched the live bands, at one end they had classic rock and at the other end they had salsa music. Lots of great shopping also.

[Suzq8579]

I just got off the boat myself and all I can say is ...

 

AWESOME!!!!

 

PS..Alex was the best Lido deck waiter on the boat:)

[dgack1]

hey, glad to hear that your trip went well. I was wondering, did the ship keep it's time on eastern time zone the whole trip, or did they move the clock back/forward depending on the port.

 

Thanks for the help!!!

[caribbean dreams]

hey, glad to hear that your trip went well. I was wondering, did the ship keep it's time on eastern time zone the whole trip, or did they move the clock back/forward depending on the port.

 

Thanks for the help!!!

 

We moved the time back 1 hour when we got to Cayman (tuesday) and stayed on that time until saturday when we changed it back to eastern time.

[caribbean dreams]

I just got off the boat myself and all I can say is ...

 

AWESOME!!!!

 

PS..Alex was the best Lido deck waiter on the boat:)

 

Great to hear you also had a great time, my favorite staff was Anton at the shogun casino bar, we pured some mean martini's and the best part was he would over mix so after you had the first one half drank he would keep filling up your glass.

[caribbean dreams]

I also want to add that the tendering in Cayman went very smoothly, we had a private tour so we went to the lounge in the morning and got our numbers, before we had even gotten seated they called it and off the ship we went. We returned to the ship at 3:30pm, no tender lines just walking right on the tender back to the ship.

In Belize there was a pretty long line to get back on the ship but it went very fast. I was very happy with the tendering process in both ports.

[divetrash]

I was on there at the beginning of the month and loved it as well. So glad to see another satisfied customer.

 

Our first sea day we had to turn the ship around and pick up 12 cubans in a tiny row boat yelling USA... they were with us until saturday when the coast guard cutter picked them up.

 

Ron Pass (piano bar) e-mailed me some pics of the Cuban refugee pickups. I kept meaning to post them, but I wasn't sure how. But I think I have it now:

 

 

 

Click on one to make it bigger...

 

Laura

[cruisinjean]

HI! Will be leaving on the Valor for the western route on the 6th. We are also looking at going to Cha Chi in Costa Maya. Did you have any problems getting there? Any advise on getting there? Thanks so much!

[dgack1]

I also want to add that the tendering in Cayman went very smoothly, we had a private tour so we went to the lounge in the morning and got our numbers, before we had even gotten seated they called it and off the ship we went. We returned to the ship at 3:30pm, no tender lines just walking right on the tender back to the ship.

In Belize there was a pretty long line to get back on the ship but it went very fast. I was very happy with the tendering process in both ports.

 

Thanks...you just answered my next question. All of our tours are through private companies so will need to get an early tender. What time did you go to the lounge and get a tender number, also does everyone need to be present to get a number, or can one person pick them up for the family?

 

again many thanks..

[caribbean dreams]

Thanks...you just answered my next question. All of our tours are through private companies so will need to get an early tender. What time did you go to the lounge and get a tender number, also does everyone need to be present to get a number, or can one person pick them up for the family?

 

again many thanks..

 

We got to the lounge within a 1/2 hour of arriving, everyone in your party has to arrive at the same time or they will get a different tender number.

in Belize our daughters arrives 5 miutes after us and had different numbers so we waited with them until their numbers were called which was less that 10 minutes.

In Cayman we all arrived at the same time and our numbers were called before we even sat down.

[caribbean dreams]

HI! Will be leaving on the Valor for the western route on the 6th. We are also looking at going to Cha Chi in Costa Maya. Did you have any problems getting there? Any advise on getting there? Thanks so much!

 

No problems, walk straight out the gate, down the road to the first right, right on the corner there is a large hole in the fence, walk through and follow the trail.

they are doing construction ahead where the old hole used to be so the first hole at the corner is less confusing.

we were the only ones there for 2 hours, right after we left another group arrived. i think they were the only ones there for the rest of the day.

[caribbean dreams]

I forgot say anything about dining room attire.

On the first night the dining room rule was anounced and inforced, I saw them turn people away for not dressing to code, mostly tank tops & tee shirts.

On formal night i only saw 3 men without a tie, the rest were dressed in suits & ties. Most all women had full length formals or cocktail dresses, on the second formal i did see a few women in pants suits.

Everyone looked Great.

 

[bubbles1209]

Can you tell me more about the ziplines? What was it like to do that? Did it make ya sore? Was there a lot of physical exertion to it? Anything ya can tell me would be sooo appreciated:)

[caribbean dreams]

Can you tell me more about the ziplines? What was it like to do that? Did it make ya sore? Was there a lot of physical exertion to it? Anything ya can tell me would be sooo appreciated:)

 

I am in my 40's and terrified of heights, i can't even get on a step ladder without getting sick, but i had no problem with this. We took our girls 12. 19. 20, i think i had more fun than any of them. We took a private tour, we were the first to arrive so we had the rainforest to ourselves, first a short line, ok i can do this, then a suspended bridge, longer line, small rock wall that was high up in a tree, by the 3rd or so zipline, i was hanging upside down with no hands flying through the forest, it was hot and sweaty but i never felt over excerted.

The next day none of us were sore, you don't have to have muscles for this, all you have to do is sit down and go, sort of like a swing. Zip lining is now in my top 3 must does while on vacation.

 

Before you get in the trees, there are lots of bugs so don't forget your deep woods off.

[JulietteValor]

I just stepped off the Valor yesterday, had a great time, the ship looked brand new and the staff was great, well, all except for in the dining room, there were 7 of us and they put us at seperate tables even though we were booked under the same name, we made the best of it but our waiter was given a 2 ten top wedding party and they were very demanding, by the 3rd night when we had not received our dinner by 10:30, (dinner time at 8:30) we gave up on the dining room and went to the buffet.

Our first sea day we had to turn the ship around and pick up 12 cubans in a tiny row boat yelling USA... they were with us until saturday when the coast guard cutter picked them up.

Our favorite port was Roatan, it was beautiful and the people were very friendly. We hired Lena (with Cynthia & Dianes) for the day, she is a non stop talker but very imformative, we went zip lining, an island tour and to the beach for some snorkeling.

Belize- we hired a private guide to take us cave tubing and then for someBelizian beer at a beautiful jungle resort.

Costa Maya- walked to Chac-chi earily in the morning, it is a nice beach but we wanted more excitement so we went to town and ended up at the mayan Bar, there is a beach with chairs and had a nice relaxing day.

Cayman- went on a private tour to stingray city & snorkeling.

 

We had a Deck 8 aft,

DANGER-- for the first 3 nights there were 19-21 yr olds above our cabin, lighting splenda packets, napkins and anything else they could get their hands on, on fire and tossing them off the back of the ship, we kept calling security and after the 3rd night it finally stopped, until the last when we woke up to puck all over our balcony & lounge chairs.

I wondered up to the f-deck a few times for some sun and relaxation, it's amazing how fast the wives drag the husbands away when a top comes off.

 

All & All we had lots of fun and did not let the few little problems that arose from time to time bother us at all.

For the first timers--We have never incountered fire starters or puck before, this was a isolated fluke so please don't get worried, i am sure it won't happen again.

Pre cruise we stayed at the Holiday Inn port of miami, its a very nice hotel across the street from Bayside market, we hung out everynight and watched the live bands, at one end they had classic rock and at the other end they had salsa music. Lots of great shopping also.

 

 

I was on the Valor the same week, also stayed on deck 8 :-) Never did see the kids tossing stuff off balcony's that were lit on fire!! I do wonder though if our cabin was noisy. I was rooming with three young kids - and we were ALWAYS ordering room service and playing music!! We had such a good time though, I wouldn't of traded that cruise for the world.

 

What cabin were you staying in? Just curious to see how close you were to us!

[Wennfred]

Great review !!!, The Valor is so far my favorite besides the Spirit, but Wendy didnt like the bigger ship. As for those kids throwing lit items over the side, and nice tall Can of Whoop Ass would of solved the problem.

 

Fred

[salty dingo]

As for those kids throwing lit items over the side, and nice tall Can of Whoop Ass would of solved the problem.

 

I think they should have been disembarked - right into the blue rowboat the Cubans left behind!

[bubbles1209]

 

I am in my 40's and terrified of heights, i can't even get on a step ladder without getting sick, but i had no problem with this. We took our girls 12. 19. 20, i think i had more fun than any of them. We took a private tour, we were the first to arrive so we had the rainforest to ourselves, first a short line, ok i can do this, then a suspended bridge, longer line, small rock wall that was high up in a tree, by the 3rd or so zipline, i was hanging upside down with no hands flying through the forest, it was hot and sweaty but i never felt over excerted.

The next day none of us were sore, you don't have to have muscles for this, all you have to do is sit down and go, sort of like a swing. Zip lining is now in my top 3 must does while on vacation.

 

Before you get in the trees, there are lots of bugs so don't forget your deep woods off.

 

:eek: I'm the same way when it comes to heights, and I'll be 40 next summer. I was concerned about the exertion, DH is 58 and is on medication for high blood pressure, but doing very well. I wanted to make sure this was something he would also be able to do. He's all for trying it, his sense of adventure is still wonderful, but wanted to make sure it wasn't something that would make ya sore. I would feel so badly if we did it, and he suffered 2 or 3 days afterwards because of sore muscles. There was a rock wall? Did ya have to climb it? Or did the ziplines take you to it? A little lost on that one, can ya shed a little light on that one for me also? Thanks for your help:)

[caribbean dreams]

:eek: There was a rock wall? Did ya have to climb it? Or did the ziplines take you to it? A little lost on that one, can ya shed a little light on that one for me also? Thanks for your help:)

The rock wall was very small maybe 6 feet tall and there was hand rails on the sides, you are also strapped in your harness, it is up in the trees on one of the perches.

We walso crossed 2 suspension bridges and a tight rope wire, it was a little wabbly but they were a piece of cake.

[caribbean dreams]

I was on the Valor the same week, also stayed on deck 8 :-) Never did see the kids tossing stuff off balcony's that were lit on fire!! I do wonder though if our cabin was noisy. I was rooming with three young kids - and we were ALWAYS ordering room service and playing music!! We had such a good time though, I wouldn't of traded that cruise for the world.

 

What cabin were you staying in? Just curious to see how close you were to us!

 

I was in cabin 8448, corner port aft. The only time i heard any noise is when the sexually active people next door were out on ther balcony and one night in the cabin about 3 doors down, their little girl locked herself in the cabin and they were bamming on the balcony door trying to wake her up.

never heard any music.

the fire starters where directly above us on the portside corner, the same spot someone throw up all down onto our balcony on the last night.

 

Me too! i will cruise again and again, can't let the little things get to you.

[RvrCrzr]

 

 

the fire starters where directly above us on the portside corner, the same spot someone throw up all down onto our balcony on the last night.

 

 

After what happened to STAR PRINCESS, there SHOULD have been some @$$ beatings onboard! :mad:

[caribbean dreams]

After what happened to STAR PRINCESS, there

SHOULD

have been some @$$ beatings onboard! :mad:

 

One of the bad things about trying to catch them is there is no number in the book or on the phone so we had to call the front desk (7777) and they had to call security, by that time, they had gotten away for first 2 times. I brought some comment cards home and i am going to suggest the security number to be put in the book.