Some questions about the Valor and Eastern Caribbean...

[tflanag1]

My girlfriend and I will be taking our first Carnival cruise when we board the Valor on New Year's Eve for the Eastern Caribbean itinerary. I have some questions for those who have sailed on the Valor before...

 

1. Is it possible to speak with the maitre'd to obtain a table for two (two top) on the first day?

 

2. I am a big football fan and I will want to watch the college bowl games at night...Will the ship be able to get ABC and FOX for the college football game broadcasts?

 

3. Is it possible to bring a bottle of alcohol back to our cabin when re-boarding from a port?

 

4. Will there be a New Year's eve party with free champagne or will that be charged like other drinks?

 

5. We will be disembarking from Miami (Valor docks at 8 am), and we have our flights out of Miami at 11:30. The Carnival rep told us that we would have no problem making that flight. Does this sound right?

 

6. For those that have traveled the Eastern Caribbean before (Nassau, St. Thomas, St. Maarten) and love to snorkel, what your suggestions be for snorkeling on those islands?

 

Thank you for your help answering any/all of these questions!

[alphakitty]

My girlfriend and I will be taking our first Carnival cruise when we board the Valor on New Year's Eve for the Eastern Caribbean itinerary. I have some questions for those who have sailed on the Valor before...

 

1. Is it possible to speak with the maitre'd to obtain a table for two (two top) on the first day? You can ask, go to the dining room as soon as possible after boarding for your best shot. There is no guarantee, but it is likely your request will be honored.

 

2. I am a big football fan and I will want to watch the college bowl games at night...Will the ship be able to get ABC and FOX for the college football game broadcasts? It's hit or miss which TV networks will be available on a ship. I've never seen FOX though.

 

3. Is it possible to bring a bottle of alcohol back to our cabin when re-boarding from a port? Again, no guarantee you'll be allowed. They do scan bags coming back on board, if they find the bottle, they will confiscate it until you debark.

 

4. Will there be a New Year's eve party with free champagne or will that be charged like other drinks? I've never sailed on NYE, so I can't help with this one.

 

5. We will be disembarking from Miami (Valor docks at 8 am), and we have our flights out of Miami at 11:30. The Carnival rep told us that we would have no problem making that flight. Does this sound right? You should be fine as long as you arrive in port on time.

 

6. For those that have traveled the Eastern Caribbean before (Nassau, St. Thomas, St. Maarten) and love to snorkel, what your suggestions be for snorkeling on those islands? In Nassau, we enjoyed a day trip to Rose Island..the snorkeling was wonderful. Sea Island Adventures is a nice trip, so is Barefoot sailing. On St. Thomas, I'd suggest going over to St. John for some really awesome snorkeling. www.***** has lots of info on ferries, etc. to do this on your own.

 

Thank you for your help answering any/all of these questions!

 

You're welcome....happy to help. :)

[rt63]

My "answers" in red...

 

2. I am a big football fan and I will want to watch the college bowl games at night...Will the ship be able to get ABC and FOX for the college football game broadcasts?

 

Valor has a sports bar next to the casino. Every time I was in there, there was cricket or football (ie soccer) on all the screens, but you never know... I never stopped by on a weekend afternoon. I believe they had a bunch of Denver stations on the cabin TV, probably included ABC.

 

3. Is it possible to bring a bottle of alcohol back to our cabin when re-boarding from a port?

 

They WILL allow you to take a bottle of JW Blue - they didn't wany to check mine coming back aboard in Sint Maarten, where you can get a liter for $100. Said it was "too valuable". Everything else is kept and brought to your cabin the last night.

 

Of course if you are lugging a big six-pack liquor box (or two) and happen to have another bottle in a backpack they just might overlook it. ;)

6. For those that have traveled the Eastern Caribbean before (Nassau, St. Thomas, St. Maarten) and love to snorkel, what your suggestions be for snorkeling on those islands?

 

Haven't been to it, but a taxi drive in Sint Maarten said Dawn beach is much better for snorkeling than Orient Beach ... which is better for people watching :eek:. In St Thomas, Magens Bay is flat but there was nothing to look at in the water except the odd leaf, so I'd suggest you skip that beach if you want to snorkel.