Please tell me the truth about Victory

[anaslile]

Weather in New England will be warm in July, it can get up to 100F and muggy at times. That being said, pack layers as it will be chilly in the morning and evening but hot and muggy during the day. We also have a saying here, "if you don't like the weather, wait 5 minutes".

 

The water will NOT be warm in the ocean if you plan on doing any beach days. Of course it's plenty wonderful once everything goes numb ;).

 

I can't speak at all to the Victory (considering sailing on her in March '09).

[kellylw]

but we did the western Caribbean, so I can't comment too much on the weather, other than Boston is hotter in august (more of those pesky 100 degree days that were mentioned above) than July, but there can still be some hot ones then as well.

 

I found the ship very pretty (I expect cruise ships to be a bit over the top), and didn't have the problem that others have mentioned navigating. The ship was clean and the staff was friendly, but the design of the lido deck buffet left a bit to be desired. It just didn't seem to work. I did really like the new big movie screen on the lido deck. during the day there wasn't much, but they showed a football game on the Sunday departure day, and movies at night throughout the cruise.

 

But I would definitely do the Victory again, after I have tried of few others, of course!

[jlane]

I wanted to book Victory out of San Juan, but just decided I couldn't manage all ports and the air fare. I'm sure that experience would be vastly different than sailing to New England.

 

NCTribeFan:

 

I'm pulling together a group with this itinerary...perhaps the CC group pricing will help. We are still waiting on the final word on pricing, but check out the post on my inquiry: http://boards.cruisecritic.com/showthread.php?t=748341

 

Jodie

[TheRaven]

We have sailed Victory twice once for our honeymoon out of miami and once for our 5th anniversarry out of NYC to Canada. the ship had certainly shown a little age. and we werent thriled with our room steward but the food was excellent. the itinerary was not one we'd do again st johns was aquanit lil place with really nice people but it just didnt seem like a cruise to us to much fog and all except for a few brave souls noone used the pool at all Id honestly suggest a cruise to nowhere before this itinerary

[LynneL]

Wow - I'm surprised to hear so many negatives on this one. Did the Victory Canada cruise 4x already. Love the idea of sailing out of NYC for a short get-away. The Victory has the nicest decor of any of the Carnival ships I've been on. I like the soft sea foam green colors rather than some of the dark styles on the Pride or all those urns on the Legend...or some of the crazy decor of others.

 

As far as weather...3x in July & 1x August...never had to sit out in a sweater during the day. I can recall at least one July trip & the August trip laying on the deck chair in a bathing suit (maybe same for other 2 July trips - just can't remember). Halifax was foggy early in the a.m. sailing in but all times cleared up. The August trip was the warmest (shorts & T-shirts in Halifax), One cruise was 5 nights so stopped at St. John's & that was chilly in a.m. (needed sweater) but warmed up as the day went on.

 

Bottom line - it's not the Caribbean. Its a more sedate crowd, not that beachy type place you're going to, etc. but we always had fun & had some of our best staff on those cruises.

[belle907]

Wow - I'm surprised to hear so many negatives on this one. Did the Victory Canada cruise 4x already. Love the idea of sailing out of NYC for a short get-away. The Victory has the nicest decor of any of the Carnival ships I've been on. I like the soft sea foam green colors rather than some of the dark styles on the Pride or all those urns on the Legend...or some of the crazy decor of others.

 

As far as weather...3x in July & 1x August...never had to sit out in a sweater during the day. I can recall at least one July trip & the August trip laying on the deck chair in a bathing suit (maybe same for other 2 July trips - just can't remember). Halifax was foggy early in the a.m. sailing in but all times cleared up. The August trip was the warmest (shorts & T-shirts in Halifax), One cruise was 5 nights so stopped at St. John's & that was chilly in a.m. (needed sweater) but warmed up as the day went on.

 

Bottom line - it's not the Caribbean. Its a more sedate crowd, not that beachy type place you're going to, etc. but we always had fun & had some of our best staff on those cruises.

It's so nice to see someone post such nice things about this ship and itinerary. DD & I are doing the 4 day in June and I know we won't have Caribbean temps - if that's what I was looking for then that's where I would have gone.

As far as decor goes, that is so subjective to each person. I usually don't remember much about decors and it's so much better than looking at my own walls it won't matter what the ship looks like.

[merrymaker]

Just cruised Victory on 03/30/08. Just had recent refurb. Big Movie screen on Lido deck. Ship was in great shape. Food was great, dining room and room staff were wonderful. We had the best time on this cruise. Camp Carnival was great, I have an 8 yr old son and we only saw him when he slept. Casino was very generous to alot of people.:o The only problem I saw with the layout was that if you had the Pacific Dining Room you had to go to the 5th floor walk to the back of the ship and take the elevator or stairs down to the 3rd floor. Other than that I didn't see any problems. The decor I thought was alot better than some of the other ships we have sailed. Happy Cruising:)

[SnowWhiteNYC]

Sailed the Victory out of Miami a couple of years ago and loved her

 

booked her for 2 canadian cruises this summer - one 4-niter and one 5-niter

We love sailing out of NYC

 

Cruises are wonderful if you sail with the right attitude

Even the worst day on a cruise is better than the best day at home IMHO

 

Hope you have a great cruise!

 

I'll be on the Freedom 4/19!!!!

 

Susie

[jrmende63]

We were on the Victory in Sept of last year. This was before the refurbishing. I did not see one surly employee or guest. Our table in the Pacific dining room was wonderful. Our servers were wonderful. Our cabin steward was efficient...not overly friendly but ok. The ship is great...as long as you remember decks 5 and 9 go all the way through the ship, the other decks don't.

I would sail the Victory again in a heartbeat. I loved the scenic ports and sailing. We did have a little fog but temps were good. Now granted we were there in Sept so it was chilly out at times. It is not a party atmosphere like the Caribbean can be. But Canada is beautiful and Portland and Boston were great too.

We had a very good time. The port of NY is not the easiest to sail out of, but it is nice.

Book the cruise, go with an open mind and see for yourself. A cruise is what you make of it.

[bleuiz]

Sailed the Victory two times from NY to Canada........both times with people who never sailed Carnival, very apprehensive and loved it.......

The first was July 2006, with friends.......we had a wonderful time....

The weather was lovely and we did the small bus tours....

The cruise and the excursions are not like the Caribbean tours......much more mellow.....we go for the relaxation part........and the ship being very confusing is true.........hubby, myself and friends made a joke out of it.....figured it was a new cruise game, finding your cabin.......

Last summer, 15 of us took my parents for their anniversary......everyone had a great time, especially my parents, who never sailed Carnival, but they have been sailing for almost 40 years........that cruise was very foggy, cooler than the previous trip, but still relaxing........

Both cruises were relaxing (I know I said that).... the staff and service was superb.........we are doing it again this August.......... :D

[Gingee]

Now I am afraid we are going on a fog trip. Our daughter's boyfriend is going on his first cruise with us and I hope he isn't disappointed. I hope we aren't. I think I do remember our cruise to Alaska also had fog one day.