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Carribean Cruise by
Carol O. from Osoyoos, BC. Canada Sailing date: Oct 2008Pros: the staff Cons: felt a bit crowded We loved the decor of the ship and It was very clean. It is definitely a ship for young people and young families. They did have an "adult " pool area which was nice for those of us who were older and without children because the other pool areas were always full of boisterous and excited children which is ok for awhile but we liked the option of being able to go somewhere quieter. I can't say enough good things about the staff- they were always so friendly, upbeat and obliging as well as very efficient. A word of advice about the offshore excursions. They are very expensive. We found that if you get off the ship there are always lots of companies willing to offer the same experience for about half the price. Another good idea is to go to the Visitor's information bureau and they always have tips about where to go and what to see. For instance on St. Thomas the visitor's bureau warned us that Magen's Bay was not suitable because of the recent hurricane - the water was smelly and contaminated and suggested we go to "Secret Harbour" on the other side of the island. We did and it was wonderful -uncrowded and the water was clear with good snorkelling. When we compared notes with our shipmates we found they had seen no fish because of the turbidity of the water where they had been taken and they were very disappointed. Ship QualityFelt crowded. Small deck area for the number of people aboard. Other than that the layout was good, the decor was interesting and it was very clean. The "hot" tubs were not hot. Two were barely warm and the other two were almost cool. Dining/FoodI was a little disappointed in the food. The filet was tough and the food was just average. The soups were always great though. Stateroom QualityThe bed and bedding were extremely comfortable. Size was adequate. Our room was right under the bridge at the bow of the ship so we experienced a lot of motion which was fine with us but probably would not have been good for anyone prone to seasickness. Ship Staff QualityOur room stewards were so helpful and friendly even when one of them was seasick he still managed to smile and do his job. There was a running joke on board and it was" If you get up to go to the bathroom when you come back your bed is made." The service was that good. The waiters got together a couple of times and sang Italian songs for us.
Anything you asked for at table was done without hesitation. Entertainment & ActivitiesI would have enjoyed some crafts or educational lectures on the ship days. The evening shows were always entertaining. Some were excellent ; the ships orchestra, singers and dancers were fabulous. The comedians were good and the ventriloquist was hilarious. Lots of variety. One ,the magician was just ok. Children's ProgramsWe had no children with us. They did have a children's club and a teens club but some of the parents let their children run around unsupervised. I felt sorry for the security personnel who tried to keep them safe and under control.  
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Nassau, BahamasNot enough time here. We had to be back on the ship at 2pm and so didn't have time to really explore. I'm glad we took a taxi tour and at least had an overview. Didn't have time to eat on shore. The Bahamian shops right at the port were very good with lots of "made in Bahamas" crafts. Atlantis was amazing.
Don't Miss: Atlantis on Paradise Island Charlotte Amalie, St. Thomas, U.S.V.I.Snorkeling at "Secret Harbour" was the highlight here for us.
Don't Miss: Take a taxi for some views of the island from the top. Philipsburg, St. MaartenThe best thing to do is take a taxi to the French side - Marigot. A taxi is $15.00 for two. Walk up to the old fort remnants for great views then stroll away from the harbour into the inner part of town for the feel of a French Mediterranean village. Eat lunch at a sidewalk cafe. After go to Divi Resort for great swimming and beach.
Don't Miss: Marigot. 18 out of 18 people found this review helpful.
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  Restful, calm and enjoyable trip. by
Patricia from Rotonda West, Florida Sailing date: Aug 2007Pros: Great theater -- well layed-out casino.
Dining/Food
Stateroom Quality
Ship Staff Quality
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Entertainment: Not up to par with other lines.
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Nassau, BahamasDon't Miss: The Island - Paradise and Atlantis. Charlotte Amalie, St. Thomas, U.S.V.I.Had work to do!
On reason for this stop was to deliver sunday school supplies to Frederick Lutheran Church!!
Don't Miss: Beautiful beaches, lots of history, and a great tour of the Island! Philipsburg, St. MaartenDon't Miss: Shopping is great! 14 out of 18 people found this review helpful.
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We had so much FUN! by
Allen R from Arkansas Sailing date: Jun 2010Pros: excellent service, 4 countries in 7 days, great food, plenty of great entertainment My wife and I recently vacationed aboard the Carnival Valor. Our seven night cruise stopped in Grand Cayman, Honduras, Belize, and Mexico. This was our second cruise with Carnival, and because we enjoyed the first one so much, we had high expectations for this cruise as well. We werent disappointed. It was a fantastic experience.
The service on board the ship is probably the best part. We had a fabulous time on the cruise both on and off the ship. If you are hesitant about taking a cruise, its likely because you havent tried it. For my money, its the best value of a vacation experience that you can have.
Ship QualityAt times I questioned the layout of the ship. You often have to go up or down several floors to go from one end of the ship to the other. And, the decor is a bit of a hot-mess in my opinion. It's a patriotic theme (U.S.) and it features a lot of plastic gold eagles, president's faces, stars and stripes, etc... This, coupled with the casino-like carpet, were a little odd to me. My wife described it as looking like Memorial Day threw up on the ship. However, the ship was in good working condition and always very clean. Dining/FoodWe had dozens of choices for every meal. The buffet style meals on one of the top decks provided a fairly good quality meal starting with breakfast and ending with a late night buffet. You can choose from a deli line, a burrito bar, pizza by the slice, 24-hour ice-cream, burgers and hotdogs, or dozens of international offerings. Everything I tasted was pretty decent on the level of a meal at Dennys, Lubys, Applebees, or some other casual dining restaurant. However, the food offered in the main dining room was absolutely excellent! Everything I had in there was way above average, and could rival meals at many of the nicer restaurants that I have been to. The dining room staff was very attentive and efficient, and provided service that would rival most upscale restaurants. (They also perform for you in the dining room at dinner time singing and dancing.) Stateroom QualityOur stateroom was always perfect. It was serviced during the day when we were out having fun in the sun, and then turndown service was provided while we were at dinner. We never even saw the staff members that serviced our cabin. It was almost like the room magically cleaned itself every time we left for a few minutes. Ship Staff QualityThe service on board the ship is probably the best part. As on many cruise ships, the staff was a menagerie of dozens of nationalities. I loved hearing all the different accents and seeing where they were from (its printed on their nametag). Everyone was extremely polite and helpful. Many remembered our names and used them by the second day of the cruise. Entertainment & ActivitiesThe entertainment was very good. The ship offers a main attraction every evening such as a musical show, comedian, magician, or even a juggler. The Carnival singers and dancers were all good, and a few noticeably stood out as extremely talented. The shows were great. We watched the main show every evening and I enjoyed them all immensely. If youre expecting a Broadway show, 1) you shouldnt expect that and 2) it will not be that caliber of a performance, but it was way better than any show you would find in a theme park or local venue. In addition to the show, there is always something going on around the ship. If you get bored, its your own fault. There are plenty of opportunities for entertainment.
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Belize City, Belizewe loved the cave-tubing through the underground river
Don't Miss: watch for the monkeys that live in the wild Cozumel, Mexico
George Town, Grand Caymanbeautiful place... some of the best crystal-clear water that I have ever been in
Roatan (Isla Roatan), Bay Islands, HondurasDon't Miss: Tabyana Beach... maybe the best beach I've been to. 10 out of 10 people found this review helpful.
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Overall thumbs up but restrictive by
Lou B from Denver, CO Sailing date: Feb 2010Pros: The bang for the buck, GREAT service from staff Cons: Restrictive, very "packaged" I consider myself to be a seasoned traveler, but this was my first cruise. There were 13 of us in our group celebrating birthdays, ages ranging from 23 to 89. We figured the cruise format would best accommodate various desires and needs, and we found this to be mostly true.
The actual cost of the cruise was an incredible bang for the buck. For seven nights accommodations, all food included (not alcoholic beverages or soft drinks), many free amenities (very satisfactory gym, entertainment, etc.) and stellar customer service from very friendly staff, it's really an incredible deal. My partner and I got the "open" option for the stateroom which was most economical. We were basically assigned a room where it fit best for Carnival with other stateroom reservations, and we ended up in an inner room but on the 7th deck very close to most things. If you don't have your heart set on a balcony or a particular area of the ship, I would recommend this option.
Understandably, Carnival needs to "up-sell" where ever possible to make money since the actual cost of the cruise is so low. The biggest frustration I had, though, was with the ports/excursions. What we found was that we could simply get off the boat at a port, and find the same exact excursion options for less than half of what Carnival was selling them for. I think the main difference is that if you go with the Carnival excursion, there is some type of "insurance" that if you are late in getting back to the boat, they work with you on it (not sure how). If you go on an independent excursion and the van/bus you are in breaks down and you don't make it back to the boat on time, it's pretty much on you to resolve the problem (and the boat will NOT wait).
I was also surprised at how much influence the cruise ships have at the ports. For example, at Roatan, we wanted to visit a park but were told that it was ONLY open to those who booked the excursion through Carnival. Basically, Carnival has an exclusive on the park while the ship is in port. Another example was at Belize. We wanted to do the "inner tube ride through the caves" excursion, and Carnival limits their offerings of this excursion to 200 people. We were actually willing to book through Carnival for this one and pay the extra (the location is about 1 hour from Belize City), but Carnival sold out. We asked if this excursion would be available independently once we arrived at port, but they said they could not provide information on independent tour options. As a small business owner, in this instance, if Carnival's product (the tour) is sold out and not available, you do your best to meet your customers needs. Instead, they tried to convince us to book one of their other excursions. We rolled the dice, and we were easily able to book the excursion independently at the port.
I also thought the monetary aspect of the "fun pass" was a bit deceptive in an attempt to hide the "extra" optional costs for the cruise. While there is convenience in not needing to carry money or credit cards with you everywhere, its easy to lose track of the money you are spending using ship credit on drinks, in the casino, etc. if you dont pay close attention. I think Carnival counts on this.
I've discovered that a cruise is NOT my ideal way to travel, but for many others it seems to work really well. While I like my independence to be able to go off on my own and explore, I'm sure others like the security and safety of a "package deal" even if it costs more. For someone on a tighter budget and who may not have much experience traveling, this is a great opportunity to economically see some great places and other cultures and expand ones world view. Ship QualityI wasn't expecting a luxury ship and the Valor is not, but very clean and well maintained. The ship feels huge, but people ARE packed on it (both guests and employees). You will face crowds, but I was able to find places of greater solitude when I wanted that. Dining/FoodActually really pretty impressed with the quality and selection of the food. I would even say that some dishes they served were exceptional! Stateroom QualityAgain, didn't expect elegance, too a budget option and was completely satisfied with my room. The servicing of the room from the Steward was VERY good. Cleaned in the mornings, bed pulled back while away at dinner, and cute little animals made out of folded towels was a nice, friendly touch. Ship Staff QualityDefinitely once of things I was most impressed with! I loved the cultural diversity of staff (folks from all over the world) and they were VERY friendly and attentive. Entertainment & ActivitiesNone of the entertainment they offered interested me, really, but it did seem to satisfy many other guest needs. 11 out of 13 people found this review helpful.
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Great service. by
Emily from Chicago Sailing date: Jun 2007Pros: There were many things to do on the ship when you were at sea. The staff was very friendly and the ship was extremely clean. Dining/Food
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Belize City, BelizeAmazing Mayan ruins.
We did a day long excursion to the Mayan ruins and it was amazing. We were concerned about doing a excursion that took the whole day but it was worth it!
Don't Miss: The Mayan ruins. Costa Maya (Mahahual), Mexico
The Mayan ruins were nice and they did not take all day but the ones in Belize were more interesting. The shopping, restaurants, and the beach off the pier were the best of all the ports.
George Town, Grand Cayman
There was a great deal of shopping and restaurants available right off the pier. But almost everything was stuff that you could get at home.
Don't Miss: The turtle farm was interesting but I would not do a tour that only went there. You really only need an hour to see it all. Roatan (Isla Roatan), Bay Islands, HondurasRotan was wonderful.
There were lots of little shops with native things for sale. There was a lot of culture and beautiful scenery.
Don't Miss: We went on a tout of the island and it was very interesting. They take you to four different locations around the island and they were all great. 8 out of 8 people found this review helpful.
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March Cruise by
Steve S. from Chicago Sailing date: Mar 2009Pros: Itinerary, Food, Staff Cons: Ship, Drunk Kids The Carnival Valor is the largest ship in Miami according to Carnival. Big is not always better, The ship layout is horrible. The only deck that goes from front to back is Deck 5. Our cabin was on Deck 7 and our dining room was on Deck 3. Only one stairwell and elevator accesses the Washington dining room. To get from our room to the dining room required us to go to deck 5 then walk over to the correct stairway or elevator and go down. To go from front to back on Deck 5 requires zig zagging from one end to the other. I am used to every deck being open from front to back.
The pool areas are fantastic. Ship QualityThe ship is very clean. The decor is a little overbearing but not garish. Dining/FoodWait staff is great. Stateroom QualityWe had an inside room which was larger than previous cruises we have been on. I will say if you have the extra bucks go with the balcony. Ship Staff QualityMost crew memebers were happy and glad to help. We did notice a few that were arrogant and overbearing. Maybe being promoted isn't for everybody. Entertainment & ActivitiesWe saw the worst comedian ever. He wasn't funny and he knew nobody was laughing so it became very uncomfortable. John Heard was our cruise director, he is the head cruise director fro Carnival so he was absolutely fantastic. The entertainment staff was very active and keot things moving.
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Belize City, BelizeThe city is wonderful. We did the cave tubing adventure which was great.
Don't Miss: Cave Tubing Costa Maya (Mahahual), MexicoNot much to this port yet
Cozumel, MexicoThe last hurricane to hit Cozumel wiped out the dock. Carnival rebuilt the dock and added new shops, bars and restaraunts. Carnival does not share with the local economy any money from the dock area. Shame on Carnival for taking advantage of a disaster to benefit their bottom line. Do the city and Mexico a favor and travel into town. You have to look very hard for the taxis but they are there.
Don't Miss: Shopping and food. George Town, Grand CaymanGrand Cayman is still recovering form 2 hurricanes but it is still one of the best islands in the Carribean
10 out of 13 people found this review helpful.
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a little dissapointed by
A Traveler from ft lauderdale, fl Sailing date: Sep 2008Pros: full of activities Cons: eating dinner at a set time at an intimate table with complete strangers/meetings for port information at a specific time/information could have been printed out and left in the stateroom the ship was not the wow factor i was looking for. it seemed a little run down. Ship Quality
Dining/Foodlines were long for the buffet/they would close down at the drop of a hat to switch over for lunch, dinner, etc. i expected the chocolate reveiw to be a wow factor and it was not. the sushi chef seemed annoyed people were going up more than once for rolls even though its all you can eat. trying to bob and weave in and out of people with a try in your hand to get to your seat was somewhat aggrivating. buffet food quality was so so. sit down dinner food quality was pretty decent. Stateroom Qualitythe staff did do a great job of keeping our stateroom clean and providing us with any needs. Ship Staff Qualitythe roving bartenders were really great, however the stationary bartenders seemed a little annoyed. i did ask a few questions on the ship-some staff was annoyed some helpful but no one went above and beyond Entertainment & Activitiesthere were lots of activities to keep you entertained.
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Belize City, Belizeunless your doing an excursion i could not see the relivance of shopping. again they see the toruists coming and up goes prices.
Don't Miss: snorkeling in the barrier reef was great/great excursion staff/nice beach Cozumel, Mexicoi was dissapointed. the prices were so jacked up in us dollars it wasnt even funny and also they were trying to be cute in jacking up the peso price for items. i saw lunch menus with plates at $20 and up. i guess they see tourists as pay suckers.
Don't Miss: the cave snorkeling was nice but by the time you drive to your destination and get the continuous talking lectures the time goes by to fast to really enjoy the scenery. George Town, Grand Caymanbeaches were nice/turtle cove was interesting/little city tour was nice/the place they call hell (a tourist destination ) was not all that. advice is to always do an excursion.
Don't Miss: go to the tortuga rum factory where you can sample free rum and rum cake Roatan (Isla Roatan), Bay Islands, Hondurasvery dirty/no sewer system. it seemed as if though the sewer and garbage was backing all up into the ocean. i was surprised that for such a poor place they were dealing in american dollars trying to sell you items you could get cheaper in the usa. taxis were trying to charge $30 per person for a fifteen minute drive to the other side of the island. beaches were very dissapointing/not that clean. i still cant think of a reason i would ever go back. it was also very sad to see a lot of teens and kids begging for money.
9 out of 11 people found this review helpful.
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Awesome for a Honeymoon! by
Brandon W from Lexington, KY Sailing date: Oct 2008Pros: The friendliness of all the staff Cons: The price of alcoholic drinks were extremely high priced My newlywed wife and I set sail the day after our ceremony and it was the best choice for a honeymoon by far! The food was amazing, the staff was that of a five star restaraunt, everything was perfect.
Being a young couple we like to party, and the drinks (alcohol) were very expensive. For our 7- night cruise we spent almost $600 just on drinks!! That was the only negative thing about the cruise.
We were paired up for dinner with another young just married couple and we had a blast together!
The shows at night are great, the entertainment is always going, everything works together perfectly!
My wife and I would go on another cruise like this in a heartbeat!! Ship Quality
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7 out of 8 people found this review helpful.
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Ship Review by
Jeff from Dallas, TX, USA Sailing date: Jul 2007Pros: Theme.
Dining/FoodIt was hard to keep up with food schedule. Didn't always serve what was on the menu. Very tasty though.
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Belize City, Belize
Costa Maya (Mahahual), Mexico
George Town, Grand Cayman
Roatan (Isla Roatan), Bay Islands, Honduras
8 out of 11 people found this review helpful.
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My (Our) First Cruise by
A Traveler from Chicago, IL Sailing date: Jun 2009Pros: Everything Cons: Pool too small for laps! Big, beautiful, and clean! Ship QualityBig, beutiful, and clean Dining/FoodAll choices were excellent. The dining room faire was exquisite! The waiters were fantastic and very professional. Stateroom QualityI picked a great stateroom with balcony. Near the pool and other amenities-10th deck Ship Staff QualityWilson our Maitre'd allowed us to change our seating times in the Washington dining room! Entertainment & ActivitiesThe shows were great and the dancing revue fantastic. Tex the Director was amusing and so was the English Assistant Director. Children's ProgramsWhile we had no children with us, my wife and I were impressed with the governing of minor children on board and throughout the cruise.
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Belize City, BelizeBeach and tour
Key West, FloridaJimmy Buffet's "Margaritaville"- Cheeseburger in Paradise!
Don't Miss: Jimmy Buffet's "Margaritaville"- Cheeseburger in Paradise! George Town, Grand CaymanBeach and snorkeling, kayaking.
Roatan (Isla Roatan), Bay Islands, HondurasBeach and snorkeling.
7 out of 9 people found this review helpful.
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