Carnival Valor Review 3.4.07

[mircua]

Here are the things I learned, liked or disliked on my first cruise on the Carnival Valor March 2007:

 

Like the live music and shows - in particular the violinist and pianist in the American Lobby were excellent. Lindy Hop piano bar is fun with a good musician playing familiar songs with occasional sing-a-longs. The Paris Hot club had a good bluesy band. Some of the evening shows in the theatre were excellent - particulary the last professional one two nights before the end of the cruise. Hypnotist was also good show.

 

Like the food - Bouilibasse from the Fish & Chips bar upstairs Rosies Restaurant (yum had it everyday!), margarita pizza near aft deck lido, and multiple dining room choices but loved the ahi ahi with ginger. The dining room always had a vegetarian entree and a sugar free option. Some of the sugar free cakes were very good like the orange and bannana. The Asian bar in Rosie's Resatuarant was ok .. but it would be nice to have some more meatless and non-fried options. Unlike many on board - I found it pretty easy to not overindulge because there were healthy tasty choices available.

 

Liked Mahaual in Costa Maya - definitely take the $3 taxi to this little village and get away from the cruise ship mall at port. Definitely get a $20 massage from the raised massage place - about 1/2 down the street on the Beach side (so much nicer than the on the beach massage!) You are still on the beach just raised up. Also - I walked back from the village to the ship .. it was a nice walk.

 

Like the GYM! The gym jacuzzi and steam room. Plenty of equipment and nice environment.

 

Like the 3rd floor deck - fewer people, quieter.

 

Liked Tea time :)

 

Like NON SHIP excursions learned about from cruise critic and other boards. HIGHLY recommend Boddentours.com for Roatan, Cave-tubing.com for Belize, thenativechoice.com for costa Maya (or a day at the PEZ). All of these were excellent with twice the tour for half the price. The ship will try to scare you that you might not get back on time if you don't use the ship excursions - but these vendors go above and beyond to make your tour outstanding and ensure your timely return. Cave-tubing.com even has a back up bus in between the ship and the tour site in case it is needed. They all know that their business hangs on their reputation and they deliver!! It is also great to support the local trade.

 

Like staff - they work very hard and much of their work goes unnoticed - I made an effort to express appreciation verbally and monetarily.

 

Liked that it is a great way to travel with a group - everyone can do their own thing and then meet up for dinner.

 

Disliked SMOKE. Nine in our group all were unhappy about the smoke. The Kings Boulevard walkway on 5th always had smoke in the air - on one end was the casino and on the other end was a wine bar both of which were smoke zones that were not contained. As a result the whole walkway between the two had a tinge of smoke in the air - rendering the seating area unpleasant to hang out and very irritating to those with lung issues. Oddly too - the floor on 4th required one to walk through Winston's Cigar Bar in order to get to the WEB or to the Lincoln dining room. And last - all of the bars were smoke zones as was one whole side of the decks.

 

Disliked - 3-4 rows deep of bodies on deck - hard to find a vacant lounge chair and it feels kind of crowded.

 

Disliked LIDO area with pools, slide etc due to constant loud music or someone on the speaker system.

 

Disliked noisey, small closet of a room (1451). The thrustors must have been right underneath this room. When going into port it felt like I was on the back of a plane on a bumpy takeoff - it was noisy and everything literally shook. Next time I will spring for a balcony for sure - or at least an ocean view. Solo travel makes that expensive, however. Other rooms had their problems too though - I visited someone in a balcony room 8445 right under neath the LIDO deck and it was constant noise from above -scrapping chairs etc. This apparently went on all night and they didn't get much sleep. Also spoke with someone on 7th above the theatre's and that noise came right up through to their room. So I'd say midship balcony may be the answer!

 

Learned that cruising (at least this one) is highly focused around constant consuming and indulging - food, alcohol, shopping, self portraits. There was tremendous waste that was hard to reconcile with the stunning poverty one finds a street or two back from the tourist trade. There were not any educational talks or information provided about the countries we were visiting - all the talks and info were shopping focused. Having traveled to other countries by other means, the cruise felt like a very removed way to travel- removed from the local culture and lifestyle of the places we were visiting. I can't say that I feel like I've been to Belize or Honduras or even Mexico. I can say that I spent a week in luxury, I liked having my bed covers turned down with chocolate awaiting me each evening, and I enjoyed the easy access to wonderful live music and theatre.

[DebP]

Yes, a cruise does remove a person completely from reality, which is why I think it makes a great vacation!

[Donna n Francis]

Thanks so much for sharing....looking forward to our cruise on the Carnival Valor soon.

[spikester]

that's a great review. I am going on this ship in Aug.

 

I will probably hear the thruster noise, since I am room 1211 but I don't care about that!

 

I agree about the being removed from the local cultures. I think of it as a "taste" That is one reason I am reluctant to go on a European cruise. I have traveled a lot around the world and to just see such a small taste would be very disappointing!

 

And some of the public areas do get very smokey. Maybe on their next class of ships they can put better ventilation in the lounges and casino so that the smoke doesn't hang.

 

Thanks again for the review!

[florida cruiser girl]

Did the ship change time zones or stay on ship (Miami) time? I have asked previously but am having trouble getting someone that actually already cruisedon the Valor to answer. Thanks

[jmcancruise]

The ship does not change time zones. Thanks for the review. We will be travelling on the Valor in Sept. and can't wait. We have sailed on the Glory and I would agree with the smoke issue. Hopefully that will be addressed on future vessels. We did have a close call with a non carnival shore excursion. Our bus broke down getting back to the ship, but the tour operator worked frantically to get us alternative transportation. Our experience has left us leary of doing non carnival excursions, but I wouldn't blame people for doing it. Certainly is cheaper.

[vlwalker]

Here are the things I learned, liked or disliked on my first cruise on the Carnival Valor March 2007:

 

Like the live music and shows - in particular the violinist and pianist in the American Lobby were excellent. Lindy Hop piano bar is fun with a good musician playing familiar songs with occasional sing-a-longs. The Paris Hot club had a good bluesy band. Some of the evening shows in the theatre were excellent - particulary the last professional one two nights before the end of the cruise. Hypnotist was also good show.

 

Like the food - Bouilibasse from the Fish & Chips bar upstairs Rosies Restaurant (yum had it everyday!), margarita pizza near aft deck lido, and multiple dining room choices but loved the ahi ahi with ginger. The dining room always had a vegetarian entree and a sugar free option. Some of the sugar free cakes were very good like the orange and bannana. The Asian bar in Rosie's Resatuarant was ok .. but it would be nice to have some more meatless and non-fried options. Unlike many on board - I found it pretty easy to not overindulge because there were healthy tasty choices available.

 

Liked Mahaual in Costa Maya - definitely take the $3 taxi to this little village and get away from the cruise ship mall at port. Definitely get a $20 massage from the raised massage place - about 1/2 down the street on the Beach side (so much nicer than the on the beach massage!) You are still on the beach just raised up. Also - I walked back from the village to the ship .. it was a nice walk.

 

Like the GYM! The gym jacuzzi and steam room. Plenty of equipment and nice environment.

 

Like the 3rd floor deck - fewer people, quieter.

 

Liked Tea time :)

 

Like NON SHIP excursions learned about from cruise critic and other boards. HIGHLY recommend Boddentours.com for Roatan, Cave-tubing.com for Belize, thenativechoice.com for costa Maya (or a day at the PEZ). All of these were excellent with twice the tour for half the price. The ship will try to scare you that you might not get back on time if you don't use the ship excursions - but these vendors go above and beyond to make your tour outstanding and ensure your timely return. Cave-tubing.com even has a back up bus in between the ship and the tour site in case it is needed. They all know that their business hangs on their reputation and they deliver!! It is also great to support the local trade.

 

Like staff - they work very hard and much of their work goes unnoticed - I made an effort to express appreciation verbally and monetarily.

 

Liked that it is a great way to travel with a group - everyone can do their own thing and then meet up for dinner.

 

Disliked SMOKE. Nine in our group all were unhappy about the smoke. The Kings Boulevard walkway on 5th always had smoke in the air - on one end was the casino and on the other end was a wine bar both of which were smoke zones that were not contained. As a result the whole walkway between the two had a tinge of smoke in the air - rendering the seating area unpleasant to hang out and very irritating to those with lung issues. Oddly too - the floor on 4th required one to walk through Winston's Cigar Bar in order to get to the WEB or to the Lincoln dining room. And last - all of the bars were smoke zones as was one whole side of the decks.

 

Disliked - 3-4 rows deep of bodies on deck - hard to find a vacant lounge chair and it feels kind of crowded.

 

Disliked LIDO area with pools, slide etc due to constant loud music or someone on the speaker system.

 

Disliked noisey, small closet of a room (1451). The thrustors must have been right underneath this room. When going into port it felt like I was on the back of a plane on a bumpy takeoff - it was noisy and everything literally shook. Next time I will spring for a balcony for sure - or at least an ocean view. Solo travel makes that expensive, however. Other rooms had their problems too though - I visited someone in a balcony room 8445 right under neath the LIDO deck and it was constant noise from above -scrapping chairs etc. This apparently went on all night and they didn't get much sleep. Also spoke with someone on 7th above the theatre's and that noise came right up through to their room. So I'd say midship balcony may be the answer!

 

Learned that cruising (at least this one) is highly focused around constant consuming and indulging - food, alcohol, shopping, self portraits. There was tremendous waste that was hard to reconcile with the stunning poverty one finds a street or two back from the tourist trade. There were not any educational talks or information provided about the countries we were visiting - all the talks and info were shopping focused. Having traveled to other countries by other means, the cruise felt like a very removed way to travel- removed from the local culture and lifestyle of the places we were visiting. I can't say that I feel like I've been to Belize or Honduras or even Mexico. I can say that I spent a week in luxury, I liked having my bed covers turned down with chocolate awaiting me each evening, and I enjoyed the easy access to wonderful live music and theatre.

 

I'm traveling with family members on Valor this summer, but I have often wondered about taking a cruise alone. How was it for you? Was this your first time cruising alone? I'm thinking about another cruise in 08, but I know my family will not want to cruise in 08.

[DarkJedi]

Very nice review!

We had the pleasure of a group from Valor's company on our tour in Costa Maya and they were a blast. I'm pretty sure you were with us in Belize as well since I seem to remember someone saying they were from the Valor at Cave Tubing.

[mircua]

vlwalker - I had my own room but I was with a group of nine - so it wasn't a solo cruise. However... based on my experience this time I wouldn't hesitate to do a solo cruise.

 

darkjedi - we might have been in the same cave-tubing group - there were quite a few from the Valor - some went earlier than we did. I loved Costa Maya! I hung out at the Pez all day.. it was great!

[SnorkelChick]

We had room 1452 last April on the Valor. Loved the nice oceanview room, but hated the thrustor noise.

[ginasj55]

Thanks for the detailed review. We're leaving on April 1 on the Valor and I'm a cruise virgin, so your review was very helpful. We booked two excursions through Carnival, both to Mayan ruins. Did you visit either of these? (one is in Belize, the other in Cozumel I believe). Did you do any of the ship's excursions at all?

 

I can hardly wait!!!

 

Gina

[florida cruiser girl]

Thanks for the detailed review. We're leaving on April 1 on the Valor and I'm a cruise virgin, so your review was very helpful. We booked two excursions through Carnival, both to Mayan ruins. Did you visit either of these? (one is in Belize, the other in Cozumel I believe). Did you do any of the ship's excursions at all?

 

I can hardly wait!!!

 

Gina

 

I'm on there with ya!! It's coming up fast, isn't it? We are doing the Coral Beezes our in Belize (not a ship tour) that takes us to Caye Caulker. Cozumel, been there 4 times, so we will be winging it there.

Just enjoying the anticipation!! It'll be here before we know it...maybe we'll see you on board!:D

[DarkJedi]

darkjedi - we might have been in the same cave-tubing group - there were quite a few from the Valor - some went earlier than we did. I loved Costa Maya! I hung out at the Pez all day.. it was great!

 

Mike, Evan, Jazzy Jeff, and Mr G as the driver?

[kapcruiser]

Thank you for the great review, does the valor have the chinese food station?

[mircua]

ginasj55 - we did not do any of the ship excursions - we used all the local vendors cited in my original post. The ruins that 8 of our group visited were in Costa Maya and they used thenativechoice.com - Carolina was their guide and everyone this was their favorite excursion. the nativechoice.com guides are extremely knowledgeable in history and archeology and that adds a lot to the tours.

 

darkjedi - those names are not familiar so I think we were with different groups.

 

kapcruiser - the Valor has an Asian station located in Rosie's Restaurant on the 9th floor.

[kapcruiser]

Is the asian section free?

[SnorkelChick]

Is the asian section free?

 

Yes. There's also a fish 'n chips and a deli in Rosie's that are both free. There's a sushi place elsewhere on the ship that's also free.

[ginasj55]

I'm on there with ya!! It's coming up fast, isn't it? We are doing the Coral Beezes our in Belize (not a ship tour) that takes us to Caye Caulker. Cozumel, been there 4 times, so we will be winging it there.

Just enjoying the anticipation!! It'll be here before we know it...maybe we'll see you on board!:D

 

Cool, floridacruisergirl! Congrats to you and your husband. Hope to see you on board to congratulate you both!

Gina

[vacationfool]

Just wondering if anyone tried the cheesecake that is offered elsewhere besides the dining room. I read about it on here somewhere but not much information. Thanks-