Just Back from the Valor..... Any questions???

[Bontongrl]

It is a Dock port. They don't adjust the dining room times, you either miss your time if you stay ashore and you always have the lido option.

 

 

Thanks for the info :)

[Bontongrl]

Ok, here's another question for ya'll.. :)

 

We plan to see Stingray City while on Cayman Island. There seems to be quite a few companies to choose from for this excursion.

 

Who's the favorite company to use ?

 

Need all the advice we can get. This is my first cruise in almost 20 years :)

[bigdaddyvoges]

Fins N Flippers sounds great and we're considering going there. I've heard of lots of stray dogs and aggressive locals around on the walk to/from the boat ride. How bothersome was this?

 

Just keep walking and you won't have a problem. We saw 2 stray dogs but they were in no way agressive towards people, just hungry.....

[bigdaddyvoges]

Water slide is open for about 4-5 hours daily and closed while in port. Sea days it can get a pretty long line (max of like 20-25 people). The main pool area is always poppin with things to do. The aft adult pool and hot tubs are a great place to relax (as long as it is not a day at sea, as they pack it in). quote]

 

I am going to have to disagree with this. I was also on this cruise and waited over 30 mins to ride the slide once on a sea day. DS, however, got to ride 10 times in 1 hr while docked at Key West.

 

Yeah sea days were very long indeed.

[bigdaddyvoges]

How dressed up was everyone in the dining room for dinner?

How was the food in the dining room?

Thanks

 

Formal nights were suits for the most part. Some had slacks and blazers, some had slacks and a shirt and tie.

 

Other nights is basically smart casual. I wore pants most nights and 2 nights I wore dress shorts and a button down.

[bigdaddyvoges]

Bob,

Did you play blackjack Sat night back toward the casino cashier? Did you have a white shirt on and talk about having a bunch of drinks in Key West so you didn't make the free drink party on the ship and how bad the Italian guy played by splitting face cards.

 

Just thinking we might have met.

 

Blue,

 

Sorry, that wasn't me. I made it to the casino every night but Saturday. Was normally wondering around by the hold em table, blackjack, or roulette.... Or with the wife by the Munsters penny slot machine....

 

Bob

[bigdaddyvoges]

Did you stop by 7665 and see if someone was in my cabin :mad:

 

 

Nope I was down in 7275....had family in the 7300's, but never got to the 7600's.....

[bigdaddyvoges]

Hi all,,,,,:)

 

We will be on the Valor on July 5th and can't wait !! Less than 2 weeks to go. :D

 

I have a question regarding some of the excursions.

 

We want to do the Fins and Flippers on Roatan. Is Roatan a dock port, or a tender port, and if its a tender port,, how do you know what time to tell them to pick you up ?

 

Since we don't pull in till noon, and I'm sure everyone will be trying to get off the ship at the same time, how do you know when to tell them to pick you up ?

 

And, does the ship adjust dinner times for this day, since we don't leave until 7 pm ? What do you do if you have the early seating at dinner ?

 

Bonton,

 

We walked off the ship at 12:20 without any problems or crazy lines what so ever. It is a 3 minute walk to the Fins n Flippers Kiosk (#12 on the right) and from there you are escorted on a 5 minute walk to their pier where a pontoon boat shuttles you back and forth. Once on the island a shuttle leaves every 20-30 minutes or so, but if you are ready sooner, you can ask, and be back basicvally whenever you want to. The food was so good on this island that we stuffed ourselves and ended up skipping dinner that night (which was filet night :(). You will have plenty of time to have fun and get back to the boat.

 

Bob

[moviejunki]

Hi! We're leaving on the Valor on July 12th! Thanks for the info, it's just fueling my excitement!

 

Do you know what the movies were on the big screen? I'm loving the idea of a movie under the stars..

[BlueHonu]

Nope I was down in 7275....had family in the 7300's, but never got to the 7600's.....

 

 

 

Bob,

 

We were in 7247. This is really funny!! We probably tripped over each other and didn't know it.

 

I mostly played blackjack, some slots. Wife was all over the slots.

We were there most eves after late show until almost 2AM.

[CruiseLover824]

 

Since we don't pull in till noon, and I'm sure everyone will be trying to get off the ship at the same time, how do you know when to tell them to pick you up ?

 

And, does the ship adjust dinner times for this day, since we don't leave until 7 pm ? What do you do if you have the early seating at dinner ?

 

 

1. I just wanted to warn you what a mess I experienced gettting off of the Valor when we stopped in Roatan!!! :eek: The main problem was that NO ONE waited for Big Tex to announce that we had been cleared to get off of the ship. It was after 12, and people started to get anxious. It seemed like everyone and their brother just started for the stairs all at the same time!!! After the announcement was made, we started for the stairs to get down to the gangway---and OMG---people were lined up for 7 decks!!!!

2. Dinner times were not altered for this port day. I did notice less people came to dinner, but it was at the usual times. I am sure many people just ate at the buffet or grabbed some pizza.

[sauvichick]

I want to know more about the "FREE DRINK PARTY" on the ship!!!!;)

 

Me Too!

[BlueHonu]

I want to know more about the "FREE DRINK PARTY" on the ship!!!!;)

 

 

It is a farewell cocktail party. Ours was Sat night(last night of the cruise). Free drinks In the Eagles lounge from 5-6:30p. It wasn't very busy. I think most people forgot... All the better for us!! I think we each had 8-12 drinks. The waitress was very good about bringing drinks.

[FLCruisinMom]

What nights were formal? Also, was there a mexican deck party and if so what night? In your opinion what would be the best night to eat in the Supper Club?

 

Thanks!

 

Lisa

[BlueHonu]

What nights were formal? Also, was there a mexican deck party and if so what night? In your opinion what would be the best night to eat in the Supper Club?

 

Thanks!

 

Lisa

 

Mon(2nd) and Fri(2nd to last) were formal

 

Mex buffet midweek. Missed it....was in casino:D

 

We never ate at the supper club. Had table mates that ate there Tues and Sat. I would just make sure that you didn't have a busy day, so you can enjoy.

[margaritaluvr]

Hello,

 

We are going on the Valor Sept 6 and are thinking about booking 2 days at a hotel "pre-cruise" in Miami. Did you book your hotel thru Carnival or on your own? Did you have any trouble with transfers to/from airport-hotel-pier? We are thinking about going thru Carnival for room with transfers but I find much better prices on our own but with no 'transfers'. Any info will be appreciated,

Thanks!!

Dawn

[LizzieTrowbridge]

Hello,

 

We are going on the Valor Sept 6 and are thinking about booking 2 days at a hotel "pre-cruise" in Miami. Did you book your hotel thru Carnival or on your own? Did you have any trouble with transfers to/from airport-hotel-pier? We are thinking about going thru Carnival for room with transfers but I find much better prices on our own but with no 'transfers'. Any info will be appreciated,

Thanks!!

Dawn

 

If you are flying to Miami, you don't need transfers because the airport is close to downtown Miami and the cruise port. There are plenty of taxis at the airport and it was about $25 for a cab to the Miami Holiday Inn downtown. The disadvantage of taking the transfer is that it is usually a large bus and they wait for it to fill up before leaving. If you take a cab, it leaves right away. One more thing, based on our experience when we sailed on Valor in March...we bought airport transfers from Ft. Lauderdale since we flew there because flights were cheaper and we could only use the transfer the day the cruise departed so although we arrived the night before, we had to stay at a hotel in Ft. Lauderdale and took the carnival transfer the next morning from the airport, the day of the cruise. The transfer got us to the port around noon, which was OK, but I would have preferred to arrive earlier and be one of the first on the ship.

[zao71]

I am sailing on Valor next month...I'm curious about the excursions most of all. What to book and what to avoid...I'm wanting to book soon and this is what I am looking for

[nwbaltimore]

We're going on the Valor on Aug. 2....

 

Questions!

 

-- Will we have a refrigerator in a balcony room?

 

-- What's the best way for families to stay in touch on board ... I'm assuming not via cell phone; do those family walki-talkies work?

 

-- They provide beach towels that you can take off the ship with you??

 

-- Here's a silly one ... what size bed will our balcony room have ... I forgot to ask that -- do they have queens? kings?

 

-- Last one ... I know there's an outdoor movie screen on board ... what kind of movies do they show?

 

-- Oh -- one more! Is there somewhere where I could see a sample schedule day-by-day of things to do on the ship?

 

Thanks, all!

-- Nancy

[LizzieTrowbridge]

We're going on the Valor on Aug. 2....

 

Questions!

 

-- Will we have a refrigerator in a balcony room?

 

-- What's the best way for families to stay in touch on board ... I'm assuming not via cell phone; do those family walki-talkies work?

 

-- They provide beach towels that you can take off the ship with you??

 

-- Here's a silly one ... what size bed will our balcony room have ... I forgot to ask that -- do they have queens? kings?

 

-- Last one ... I know there's an outdoor movie screen on board ... what kind of movies do they show?

 

-- Oh -- one more! Is there somewhere where I could see a sample schedule day-by-day of things to do on the ship?

 

Thanks, all!

-- Nancy

 

Yes, we had a refrigerator in an inside room, so I would imagine balcony rooms have a fridge. It was a small fridge.

 

The first time we cruised we used walkie talkies, but it did not always work, especially on a large ship like Valor. This time we just let each other know where we would be by leaving post-it notes in the cabin, or asking the children (teens) to check in with us at a certain time/place. You can call your cabin anywhere from the ship on one of the ship phones for free.

The WalkieTalkies are actually a bit obnoxious for other guests since they tend to make a lot of noise! You can text, but it adds up fast! Just bring pens and post-it notes.

 

Yes, Carnival provides beach towels that you can bring off the ship with you. There will be towels in your room the day you arrive and you can trade them in for dry towels as often as you like, but if you loose one, or leave it somewhere, you will be charged so be sure that your children know that.

 

We had an inside room and I think with the beds together it was a queen. However, when we stayed in a balcony cabin on Carnival Miracle, I think it was a king. Sorry I am not 100% certain.

 

The outdoor movie screen was fun. During the day they had music videos and short clips. At night there was a mixture of movies, but we were busy doing other things so I don't remember what they showed. I do think there were PG movies earlier (when we were at the late seating dinner) and movies for older kids and adults later at night.

 

I didn't save my Capers (daily newspaper listing all activities) but you could post a thread asking if anyone has Capers from the Valor. There were many activities going on at any given time-you wil not be bored!!! Have a great cruise-we had a fantastic time with our children (ages 15, 13, and 9). Happy to answer any other questions for you...

[LizzieTrowbridge]

I am sailing on Valor next month...I'm curious about the excursions most of all. What to book and what to avoid...I'm wanting to book soon and this is what I am looking for

 

The excursions we did on Valor in March...

 

Costa Maya: Chochoben Mayan Ruins through The Native Choice with Ivan and David-it was fantastic, but long for the kids. After the ruins we went to the beach in Majahual-beautiful-great place for a late lunch and a gorgeous (free) beach.

 

Belize: We took the Carnival excursion to Goff's Cay. Convenient to leave directly from the ship. Beautiful boat ride to a tiny island. The snorkeling was pretty good. There was little else to do there, just a tiny snack shop and some jewelry being sold. If you like to snorkel, it was great, and the kids loved it. We were back on the ship by lunch time. Had lunch, and then took the tender to check out the shops at the pier.

 

Cozumel: We went to Nachi Cocom (not through Carnival) and this was by far our favorite excursion-we LOVED it! This is an all inclusive beach with a pool. They limit the number of guests so you need to book in advance through their web site cozumelcruiseexcursions.com. You can search the Cruise Critic boards for more info on Nachi.

Grand Cayman: We did not do an excursion, we just took a taxi to seven mile beach. We docked late, so there was not a lot of time.