Victory - Canada/new England

[LovesCruising]

This will be our 14th cruise, 2nd on Carnival. Previously have sailed Celebrity and RCL - We are in cabin 7433 AFT Empress Deck - 1st AFT Cabin. Have several questions please...

Is the AFT balcony any larger than others - can it fit a "lounger"?

What is the difference between the Atlantic/Pacific Dining Rooms and the Mediterranian Restaurant?

Is there a Cigar Bar/Lounge?

Where can I get the best Martini?

How is the Casino?

Is there a specialty restaurant?

Any tips for this ship and the Canadian Itinery would be greatly appreciated. Thanks for all your help:)

[cruisetmc]

We did the 7 day Canada/New England last year. Loved Halifax and Saint John. Loved the Victory, Casino was ok.

[big_duck]

Is the AFT balcony any larger than others - can it fit a "lounger"?

 

Yes and yes

 

What is the difference between the Atlantic/Pacific Dining Rooms and the Mediterranian Restaurant?

 

There is no difference in the two dining rooms, you will be assigned one or the other. The Mediterrian Rest. is the lido buffet (think Windjammer).

Is there a Cigar Bar/Lounge?

 

Yes, Ionian Lounge (Atlantic deck aft).

 

Is there a specialty restaurant?

 

No.

[Clutterlady]

I too will be going to Halifax and Saint John in July on the Victory for 5 days and am having a hard time finding much info about this cruise. How many formal nights on a 5 day cruise and is it really formal? Also, is the buffet open at dinner time instead of going to the dining room and how good is the buffet food? Thanks for any help!

[redlef]

I too will be going to Halifax and Saint John in July on the Victory for 5 days and am having a hard time finding much info about this cruise. How many formal nights on a 5 day cruise and is it really formal? Also, is the buffet open at dinner time instead of going to the dining room and how good is the buffet food? Thanks for any help!

 

They did one formal night when we did the 5 night Canada cruise a few years ago. I wore a tux, my wife a dress. Everyone else at my table was wearing suits. We saw a few people meadering around in khaki's and sports coats.

 

Buffet is open at dinner. You might want to check the menu, you may not want to do buffet on a lobster night. But that's your choice. If you're asking about the buffet because you don't want to dress formal, don't sweat it. I think the dinner in the main dining room is fun, just to watch the show.

 

Buffet quality is very subjective. They have lots of different choices. I didn't think the Asian was that good. Some of the fish & chicken dishes seemed a bit overdone (or should I say dessicated?). My son loved the pizza, although i couldn't see eating pizza for dinner after paying $800 to go on a cruise. Ceasar salad was always good & fresh at the pizza bar. Lots of choices of fruit & veggies. Some better than others.

 

I'm sure you'll find something you'll like - very few people starve on a cruise.

 

We're going back to Canada on this cruise again this summer. There's lots to do and it's a fun ship.

[Clutterlady]

They did one formal night when we did the 5 night Canada cruise a few years ago. I wore a tux, my wife a dress. Everyone else at my table was wearing suits. We saw a few people meadering around in khaki's and sports coats.

 

Buffet is open at dinner. You might want to check the menu, you may not want to do buffet on a lobster night. But that's your choice. If you're asking about the buffet because you don't want to dress formal, don't sweat it. I think the dinner in the main dining room is fun, just to watch the show.

 

Buffet quality is very subjective. They have lots of different choices. I didn't think the Asian was that good. Some of the fish & chicken dishes seemed a bit overdone (or should I say dessicated?). My son loved the pizza, although i couldn't see eating pizza for dinner after paying $800 to go on a cruise. Ceasar salad was always good & fresh at the pizza bar. Lots of choices of fruit & veggies. Some better than others.

 

I'm sure you'll find something you'll like - very few people starve on a cruise.

 

We're going back to Canada on this cruise again this summer. There's lots to do and it's a fun ship.

 

Thanks for the quick answer! Yes, the reason I asked was because my DH does not want to dress on this cruise. I usually force him to on our other cruises :p, but this one is just a quick summer get away for us and am really looking forward to trying Carnival. Friends of ours did this cruise last year and they told me on the formal night they just dressed casual and the other couple they were with wore jeans and jean shorts and were allowed in:eek: My DH will not do this..........so guess we'll just eat at the buffet!

[LovesCruising]

Thanks for all your replies. Can't wait to experience the AFT Cabin. Cheryl:)

[nybumpkin]

We've done this cruise twice on Victory (one 4-day, one 5-day) and have a 5-day booked for 8/11/07. The Atlantic Dining Room (decks 3 and 4 forward) has the 6:15 and 8:30 dinner seatings; the Pacific (decks 3 and 4 aft) has the 5:45 and 8:00 seatings. The Mediterranean Restaurant is the main buffet area; it will be open for dinner around 5:30 until around 9. I've never gone to the buffet for dinner, but always have had breakfast/lunch at the buffet. Breakfast is the usual Carnival breakfast: cereal, fruit, pastries, sausage/bacon, potatoes, French toast/pancakes, made-to-order omelets. Lunch has the main buffet (one area will be "Taste of Nations" with a different national theme each day), Chinese station (really good soups), deli, grill, and pizza.

 

Regarding formal night dress: While you will see some folks in tuxes/dresses (DH and I among them), you'll also see a lot of slacks/jacket combinations, and the lack of a tie or a jacket won't get you kicked out of the dining room. Shorts are not permitted at dinner on any night, though.

 

For dress during the day: Be sure to bring along a little of everything. On our first cruise, our day in Saint John was cloudy and cool and we needed jackets/sweatshirts. The next day in Halifax was very sunny and warm - shorts/tees were in order.

 

Cigar bar: We've always liked going after dinner; DH splurges and enjoys a drink and cigar. Last year, there was a really good jazz trio performing in the Ionian Lounge. Of the four ships we've sailed on, Victory's cigar bar is our favorite; it's a very comfortable place to sit and enjoy a drink at night.

 

One other factor for Canada cruises is the potential for fog. In 2004, when we sailed this itinerary originally, we sailed in and out of fog - and while you're in the fog, the ship's horn will sound every few minutes. If you're on the upper decks, it can be loud. However, fog's not a constant - last year, we had no fog at all during our sailing.

 

You can also keep an eye out for dolphins. In 2004, when we were returning to New York we had a school of dolphins following along.

[LovesCruising]

Hi Ny, 8/11 is our cruise as well.

 

Hubby also likes the cigar bar and I enjoy it as well.

We are a group of 9.

Although we do not do the tuxedo route, husband wears a dark suit and my idea of formal is wedding type of attire.

Since you are the expert on this ship - where can I get a great Martini?

Really looking forward to the trip and thanks for all your advise - maybe we will catch some dolphins!

[redlef]

- where can I get a great Martini?

 

I make it my duty to get at least one Martini at each bar - nightly if possible!

 

Has anyone purchased the same martini in three different bars and gotten charged differently each time? If you order Tanquerey, sometimes it gets rung up as "Premium" martini, sometimes just "martini." I remember a Tanquerey martini being rung up as a "Premium" martini at a different price on the same night in two different lounges.

[nybumpkin]

Hi Ny, 8/11 is our cruise as well.

 

Hubby also likes the cigar bar and I enjoy it as well.

We are a group of 9.

Although we do not do the tuxedo route, husband wears a dark suit and my idea of formal is wedding type of attire.

Since you are the expert on this ship - where can I get a great Martini?

Really looking forward to the trip and thanks for all your advise - maybe we will catch some dolphins!

We have a roll call going over on the Carnival Roll Call boards: http://boards.cruisecritic.com/showthread.php?t=420585. Come join us! I'm hoping for some good music in the Ionian Lounge on this cruise. When we sailed Liberty in February, the main dance band managed to miss the ship in Costa Maya and they moved the jazz group from The Cabinet to the aft lounge - which made for little music in the cigar lounge.

 

As to Martinis - DH and I aren't Martini drinkers, but we've always had really good drinks from the lobby bar. (DH likes Manhattans or rum gimlets, while I go for gin & tonics in the afternoon, scotch in the evening.:) ) Also, check your Capers each day for drink specials - I've seen specials on Martinis at different lounges.

 

Redlef - I have been charged different prices for gin and tonics, depending on whether it's Tanqueray or a house gin - but that's it. I haven't been charged different prices for the same drink made with Tanqueray. (If you're not fussy about the brand - and I'm not, when it comes to drinks like gin and tonics or screwdrivers - ask for the house brand.)

[LovesCruising]

Ny, posted on the roll call - thanks for the info - Cheryl

[Muumuu]

We have been on the Victory before and stayed in the same room. We really enjoyed it and are booked in the same room Sept 15th out of Ny to Canada. Can't wait!

[LHP]

We have been on the Victory before and stayed in the same room. We really enjoyed it and are booked in the same room Sept 15th out of Ny to Canada. Can't wait!

 

We will be a couple of weeks behind ya! Hope they know how to make a good cosmos!!

[ParrotRob]

What is the difference between the Atlantic/Pacific Dining Rooms and the Mediterranian Restaurant?

 

There is no difference in the two dining rooms, you will be assigned one or the other.

 

Well, there is no difference in the food, but there is a huge difference in the view. If you want windows on three sides of the dining room, including a view out the aft end, you want the Pacific Dining Room. If you want curtains covering the windows because there are lifeboats out the sides, then the Atlantic is for you.

 

Last July, the Pacific Dining Room was the 2nd and 4th seatings. The Atlantic held the first and third.