Valor question(s)

[Nando52]

Sailing on the Valor on 11/11. It will my first time on a carnival boat with a "supper club." Based on the rave reviews, I definitely want to check out Scarletts. How does one make a reservation? Can it be booked prior to? Any insider tips would be great!

 

I also see that there is a sushi bar (I love sushi). How does it operate? It didn't look like there was much seating. Do they serve during lunch and dinner? Can any sushi-heads comment on the fish quality/variety?

 

Finally, I'm thinking of doing some SCUBA diving in Belize. Considered doing it as an excursion, but sometimes the cruise ship diving tours don't take you to the best sites. Finding a dive operator on my own is also an option. Cany any divers comment on this?

[mosel]

We went to the supper club on the night that the dinning room served Beef wellington,as I like that the least. We made the reservations on the first day at the supper clubs table in the atriam. The food there was great as was the service. As for diving in Belize, ambergris cay has great diving but you need to take a short flight to get there. We flew on Mayan Air to the key and then back to belize city after the dive. We used a dive shop called Grumpy and Happy. http://grumprandhappy.com. Although there are many dive shops over on the cay. Mind you that timing is key and this is a bit of a risky adventure as you risk missing the boat. We made sure we had our passports and enought room on the credit cards for a flight out of Belize in case we were left behind. But it all worked out in the end for us. Hope this helps some.

 

Marty

[lives to cruise]

Sailing on the Valor on 11/11. It will my first time on a carnival boat with a "supper club." Based on the rave reviews, I definitely want to check out Scarlett's. How does one make a reservation? Can it be booked prior to? Any insider tips would be great!

 

I also see that there is a sushi bar (I love sushi). How does it operate? It didn't look like there was much seating. Do they serve during lunch and dinner? Can any sushi-heads comment on the fish quality/variety?

 

Finally, I'm thinking of doing some SCUBA diving in Belize. Considered doing it as an excursion, but sometimes the cruise ship diving tours don't take you to the best sites. Finding a dive operator on my own is also an option. Cany any divers comment on this?

 

Hi,

 

I just sailed the Valor last month. She is a beautiful ship and you will have a wonderful time.

 

You can make online reservations for Scarlett's here: http://surv.cheetahmail.com/s?aid=982238741&o=1&n=28

 

You will get a confirmation email in about two weeks or so and there will be a note in your cabin mail when you arrive. Scarlett's was amazing but I suggest you do not eat a late lunch or a heavy lunch. You will not be able to walk out of Scarlett's if you do.:D

 

The sushi bar is only open in the early evenings prior to the dinner times. There are small round tables with upholstered chairs that you will be able to sit at.

 

Now, I am not sure about diving in Belize but in Grand Cayman, there is this terrific area called Eden Rock and Devils Grotto. There is a good dive shop there and it is only minutes from the port. Here is a link so you can check it out. http://www.edenrockdive.com/3.htm

 

Hope this helps and have a terrific time.

[abitaturbodog]

The sushi bar is open from 5-8 pm each night. There are 3 or 4 different kinds of sushi available each day. You just walk up and grab a plate. You can eat it there or take it with you. (I like to find a table on the promenade and people-watch before dinner.) The sushi isn't anything to write home about, just simple selections and you can always ask the chef to make you something if he has the ingredientss on hand.

 

Enjoy!

[Nando52]

Hi,

 

I just sailed the Valor last month. She is a beautiful ship and you will have a wonderful time.

 

You can make online reservations for Scarlett's here: http://surv.cheetahmail.com/s?aid=982238741&o=1&n=28

 

You will get a confirmation email in about two weeks or so and there will be a note in your cabin mail when you arrive. Scarlett's was amazing but I suggest you do not eat a late lunch or a heavy lunch. You will not be able to walk out of Scarlett's if you do.:D

 

The sushi bar is only open in the early evenings prior to the dinner times. There are small round tables with upholstered chairs that you will be able to sit at.

 

Now, I am not sure about diving in Belize but in Grand Cayman, there is this terrific area called Eden Rock and Devils Grotto. There is a good dive shop there and it is only minutes from the port. Here is a link so you can check it out. http://www.edenrockdive.com/3.htm

 

Hope this helps and have a terrific time.

 

Thanks for the info. Just out of curiosity, I was all over Carnivals web-site and I couldn't find that reservation link. Where did you find that? I would imagine that Carnival doesn't want everyone to be able to make reservations in this fashion, but I'm just curious.

[lives to cruise]

Thanks for the info. Just out of curiosity, I was all over Carnivals web-site and I couldn't find that reservation link. Where did you find that? I would imagine that Carnival doesn't want everyone to be able to make reservations in this fashion, but I'm just curious.

 

 

It can be found on John Heald's Blog website. John is a long time CD for Carnival and this is a service he started just trying to make our (Carnival's customers) experience better. Do a search for John Heald and read his blog and site and take a moment to post. I know he will appreciate hearing from you.

[lives to cruise]

Looking at your sig line, I see you have sailed the Victory. How did you like it? We will be sailing her next year so any info will be great.

[Nando52]

Looking at your sig line, I see you have sailed the Victory. How did you like it? We will be sailing her next year so any info will be great.

 

Did the Victory last November. 7 day Eastern out of Miami. I went with 12 guys from our volunteer fire/rescue company and we had a blast. The ship was nice...well kept. Identicle to the Triumph. Service in the dining room on the first night was dismal, (which is usually never the case). After a chat with the maitre de, the service after that was excellent. Staff was great. At nights, we usually migrated from the casino, to the piano bar (which was blast), to the disco. The only problem I had with the disco was that they played to much hip hop, which I personally find hard to dance to. They needed to mix it up a little. Maybe a little club stuff or 80's to cater to everyone.

[tigermaroon2]

There is an excellent tour on board you can purchase...take the Goff's Caye Snorkel excursion. You'll tender right from the ship and take about a 40 minute boat ride to Goff's Caye....they'll drop off the people who just want to beach it on the Caye and then take you back off the island to snorkel...about 300 yards or so...it's pretty deep...but clear...the ocean was a bit rough the day we were there but the reef is spectacular...it's a guided snorkel tour so you stay in a group but that's pretty re-assuring when it's so far off shore and deep.

 

After snorkeling about 90 mins you'll be taken to the island..that is about the size of a football field...they have a snack bar there...but nothing else...it's pure paradise. U can snorkle there off the beach but there's not much to see that way.

 

BEST SNORKEL OF THE TRIP: ROATAN...at Tabyana Beach. Immaculate reef...drop off of150 feet and it's like being in a bathtub it is so clear....

[lyssa13]

We went to the supper club on the night that the dinning room served Beef wellington,as I like that the least.

 

Hi Mosel (or anyone else that I'm sure can answer my question)

 

How did you know which night Beef Wellington would be served? I have been looking for menus to get an idea for our upcoming Valor cruise but haven't had any luck, can you help me? My dad and I would love to make reservations for Scarlett's, but it would be great to know which night I would rather miss in the dining room!

 

Thank you!

[Dayna1517]

I would love to know the menu too. I've been searching, but no luck so far.

 

Thanks!

[angelface0113]

You will absolutely LOVE Carnival Valor. It is our favorite ship! (Maybe because my DF won $2500 on Wheel of Fortune. Tip: If you like slots play the $1 Wheel of Fortune machines facing the casino bar. I dont believe in loose slots but these deffinitely are. I won everytime I played. Don't play the last night of the cruise! EVER! on ANYTHING! The sushi bar is great! Many choices. It is a nice appetizer before dinner especially if you have late seating. The martini bar was my favorite, especially the peach martini. We had to stop there everytime on our way to the dining room. The boat was very clean and we had all around great service. We are scheduled for the Dec 8 cruising of Carnival Freedom! I hope it is half as nice as Carnival Valor. I better stop writing this message or I will have to change my reservations to the Valor!

[luv2cruz44]

Hi Nando,

 

First question, why aren't you on our roll call? I know, I know, it's not that active but it's still a roll call!

 

Now about diving. 3 years ago we did pretty much the same ports (except Roatan) with my DD who is a diver. I emailed her to get her opinion on diving in Belize and she said that most of the cruise ships use Hugh Parkey as the dive sites are so far away from Belize City. In Cozumel, she recommended Eagle Ray Dive. She will actually be staying in Roatan for a 2 week dive vacation when our ship arrives and says she uses Subway Watersports there. Hope this helps and maybe we'll see you aboard.

[Nando52]

Hi Nando,

 

First question, why aren't you on our roll call? I know, I know, it's not that active but it's still a roll call!

 

Now about diving. 3 years ago we did pretty much the same ports (except Roatan) with my DD who is a diver. I emailed her to get her opinion on diving in Belize and she said that most of the cruise ships use Hugh Parkey as the dive sites are so far away from Belize City. In Cozumel, she recommended Eagle Ray Dive. She will actually be staying in Roatan for a 2 week dive vacation when our ship arrives and says she uses Subway Watersports there. Hope this helps and maybe we'll see you aboard.

 

Thanks a lot for the info. And by the way..I just found the roll call for our sailing and left placed a short post. Although I have cruising for several years...cruise critic is new to me. I'm learning!:)

[mosel]

Lyssa13 its not as hard as it might seem...I went to the Maitre de when we got on board and asked.

 

Marty

[lyssa13]

Lyssa13 its not as hard as it might seem...I went to the Maitre de when we got on board and asked.

 

Marty

 

Right, but is there any way to see an example of the menus before we board? I know when I sailed on Princess a few months ago, they were easy to find, but I can't find any for the Valor.

 

We are going with a large group, therefore we would love to make advance reservations, but I'd love to see the menu first!

[mosel]

Lyssa13..I thought you wanted to know how I knew which night the dinner would be served, sorry, my bad. to see the menues try this link. community.webshots.com/album/231083491RrRMfu

Im not sure if its still up though, Im at work and our internet is limited.

Marty