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Victory, April 29 - May 6, 2012


jks336

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I don't have a long reveiw to write as our "plans" changed for our cruise on what we were going to do which was just hit the beaches and relax. We did relax and not do much of anything, but didn't hit the beaches as was planned.

 

I do have all the fun times that I will post once i'm home from work tomorrow i will start working on them as well as the daily "specials" for the spa.

 

First thing i'll start off with that people still were NOT aware of is that you MUST go through the USDA line before you check in to your airline. We were at the airport early and as people were coming in and we'd get talking and I let them know. and it's true what I've read, those dang stickers do NOT like sticking to your bag, so keep an eye on it. the one i moved and stuck at the top of my bag stayed put verses on the side.

 

2nd thing, if you are a smoker, get your bags first before you leave the airport. We did ask as we usually go outside to smoke before our luggage gets off the plane. Worker told us you'll have to have your boarding pass to get back through, apparently you'll have to go back through security to baggage claim.

 

oohhh.. and just in case, i'm going to say this, fill out your declaration forms!!. we did self assist and we were waiting to get off the ship and the 2 ppl behind me did not have theirs done, good thing the lady at immigration had extras. I said to them that they were in your room with your papers and she said something about too many ppl or something in room, etc. so save yourself some time and fill them out lol.

 

Next, I did not have issues with any workers on the ship, I know some ppl do, but all were pleasant and always greeted us when we passed. Daewa (spelling) was our steward and took very good care of us and definately got his extra tips from us at the end of the cruise. Our waiters, did their job, nothing out of the ordinary. But hey, as long as we get served in a timely manner, no complaints.

 

I don't have pics of the menu's or food, I havent done that yet on my cruises but the food was decent, some better than others. Most times I very cold in the dining room. Especially the night my back was burnt from falling asleep on the one beach i did get to lol. my own fault of course.

 

Some ppl think soda card drinkers get bad service from some posts i've read, but at least at the casino bar I didn't see that problem and they got it in a full large glass. lido does not use glasses so that is why probably ppl say their small glasses which is what my jack n cokes were served in there. I did see that on the lido they have new travel mugs they were selling, i asked one woman to see if that is what ppl used for their sodas and i believe so with even the soda card.

 

OHHHH, and as of this cruise, dod's and drink specials CUPS ARE STILL USED. if carnival is doing away with them, as of right now, not on the Victory at least and many other's i've read.

 

will work on this more later, but first day back at work and it's my double, so as I think of things and/or wednesday when i get home from work i will start working on this more. :)

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no escargo. also, as others have posted, no daily shrimp coctails. Menu's do not seem as large as before. they do have on the left side the menu you can get everyday and on the right side was the "specials" of the night.

 

as to bands on lido, yes they did have some as well as in the casino. no steel drums but still fun. they also did a couple times trivia on the lido as well as the casino.

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which reminds me of some more info...

 

we had cabin 6323, balcony deck 6 upper. which i like the area midship over the shops. if you go out to the left from our room and down one flight, casino bar. we had pacific dining upper so again, down 1 floor, then walk around the casino bar down promenade, sushi, photograpers, coffee bar, dessert bar, arcade, ionian lounge, wine bar and through the doors was the lounge for comedy acts. once thru that door and you see the lounge, you go down 1 flight stairs and to the upper dining room of the pacific.

 

i did see that the anytime dining was in the atlantic dining room.

 

again, if i went out left from my room to the elevators, up to deck 9 lido, walk right out and theres the pool. smoking to the right, which were alot, (so they shouldnt do 2.0 on victory lol) non smoking to the left.

 

if i went to the right from my room to those elevators that went down to deck 0 for leaving the ship.

 

OHHH, and YES, there is in the funtimes about no reserving chairs as well as there was a sign up a level. i did take a pic of it.

 

we always have had the room in the back, not sure if thats because of our room location or what lol. just more movement eating in the back, not bad unless your prone to motion sickness.

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docking information

 

St. Thomas, Starboard side (odd number cabins)

 

and Senior Frogs right there, after a shower I sat on my balcony and watched/listened to the music there. DJ was great even waved goodbye as we pulled out of port

 

and yep, I was waiting for "pier runners" there were late ppl. but i think they were just rude, they knew they were late and just walked, didn't run. There was some very late ppl, but i'm thinking they let Carnival book their flights (just speculating) as they came with luggage. That i'll give to them, but the "pier runners" just walking are just rude. we still cat-called them lmao.

 

Barbados, Starboard side.

Industrial dock. views behind are nice. got souvinier passport stamp in port, it's to the right when you walk into the port shops from cruise ship.

 

St. Kitts, Port side

was cool walking back to the ship because they had lowered the starboard side life boats for a run. good to know they double check and make sure they do run. :) which also was cool that i've never noticed before (just didn't pay that much attention i guess) was that when your at safety briefing and standing in front of the boats there is a chart that states the maximum guest and crew number for that boat and then says "for this cruise" and that number of guests, same number of crew tho. so not every berth was filled lol. got souvineer passport stamp. after walk into covered area, door to right side.

 

St. Lucia, starboard side

can't remember if we did or not right now for passport stamp, i'm thinking not as the port was crazy when we were leaving with all the tour ops trying to get your business. was our AI day so when we got back it was straight to the ship for shower!. they had a bar that made you think of senior frogs as far as the noise and music. they were having fun, small little place.

 

St. Martin, starboard side.

no passport stamp, was sat, few ppl we asked stated wouldnt be open so we didn't go looking. one said once thru gates go to left, near green bldg? but the guard at the main st gate said we could try the office at the port to the right, but again saying with sat most likely not open.

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bring smaller bills. they don't care much for large bills in some of the shops at the port at least in barbados. friend was buying a 15 sundress and went to give her a 20 and asked for exact money. but also, i think because we were the only ship in port and still before noon.

 

ohh. this is something new i didn't know about... they have 2 kiosks that you can check your s&s bill at without having to go through the guest services desk now or through your TV. I know I had read that on the TV on the victory you couldn't get your total like on other ships which I found to be true. but they had the totals at the kiosks which was nice.

 

also what I liked about the kiosks is that i have more than 1 person on my s&s and when you would check on the TV i'd get all totals. the first time that happened to my on our last cruise i about freaked out that there was NO way i spent that much, but thankfully my 2 other friends were looking and said, well that ones mine and this ones hers. so then i realized that ok, on theirs they get just their own totals, but me, i got all of them. sheesh.

 

so, on the kiosk i was able to see just mine, or just hers (only 2 on my s&s this time) or both totals. now the s&s they put under your door the last night has it all on there, but on the last night early evening/late afternoon, i went to the kiosk and printed them out individually so i didn't have to sit there and figure out whos was whos the next day. that was nice :)

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ok, for the smokers..single carton $28.50 and for 2 cartons of smokes on the ship are 2 for $52.00. i smoker marlboro light 100's (3.00 less than my last 2 cruises) can't remember the names, as i don't smoke those, but there was a couple brands that were more. Single packs at the bar were $5.00. i ran out and was waiting till the shops open lol.

 

I didn't really look at all the liquor prices, i'm a jack drinker. but the price was great and if i wasn't flying i'd have bought some. for 2 bottles of 1 litres was $40.00. great price for new england, i live in VT and a fifth is $22.00.

 

one thing i missed was a t-shirt that had the cruise we were doing, was bummed about that. now they had t-shirts, just not what i wanted. i did get my ornament and was half price which was cool. like 4 bucks for the ships chrismas ornament which i collect ornaments when i travel.

 

8 x 10 photos were 21.95.

2- 5x7's were $10.00

the 6x9 photo coming on board was 11.95. i used one of my photo coupons and since it was less than 15, i got one of their photo frames that was half price for $3.00 so no extra charge on my s&s that time.

 

speaking of which. I pre-order from Bon Voyage the photo coupons which are $15.00 off your photo purchase and can be used on any product in the photo department.

 

i also order from BV the drink coupons. when i ordered a jack n coke, after my coupon of $5.75 subtracted, 58 cents was added to my s&s. when i got a icy drink $1.73 added to my s&s. I didn't seem to drink much this cruise and most likely was because we didn't stay up late this cruise. i did one night at the comedy club.. what a riot the 2 shows i saw which was the late night "R" rated.

 

I have a copy of the drink menu from the bar.. yes, i took one lol.

 

They also have half price bingo couple days in the show lounge.

 

they changed a couple of the black jack tables to a game called Fun 21. i tried it, and like the slots, didn't do well lol.

 

I did play the slot tournament on the day at sea and i actually got in the top 6 place, but alas, did not when that $500 bucks and the ship on a stick. but i did get a t-shirt.. so not the t-shirt that i usually buy that didn't find i liked any, but it was FREE.. well, that $20.00 entrance fee :)

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Thanks for your review so far. 2 1/2 weeks and I will be boarding the Victory!! I also read your roll call the past few weeks to get ideas what people were doing at the different ports.....enjoyed reading your roll call!! Reading reviews really gets me that more anxious!! So THANKS!!

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while i'm thinking of it.

 

Harley Shops. My friend was to get some for hubby if we ran into them lol.

 

St.Thomas, as you walk thru the port shops its next to a tattoo place. $30.00 each for long sleeve.

 

Barbados, in the port shops, $40.00 ea but they were short sleeve. They had a sign that their main store was a mile from port, but we didn't go there.

 

St. Kitts, not sure where she got them, but i know she did and since they didn't leave the port area, i would say it has to be in the shop area. Not sure the price at the moment but I know it has to be less than $40. she wouldn't pay that price.

 

st. Martin, i know from previous reviews that its on the dutch side to the left of port. they didn't go over and I forgot to look when I was over there.

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Excellent review, lots of details!! I love it! We are trying to read as much up on the Victory's southern cruise as we are also sailing her this Thanksgiving. Looking forward to reading more and a glimpse of the FunTimes. I'm subscribing!!

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ok, i finally got the funtimes scanned into my pc and then uploaded to photobucket. then was working on uploading my photos. the scanning is a pain, i'm not overly technical with my pc. each page had to be uploaded individual to photobucket ughh lol. then my pics were taking soooo long. so i brought my pc to work today so while i'm working i'm uploading the pics.. much faster here than at home.. lol. sooo the funtimes will be posted shortly.

 

I also uploaded the shore excursion pamplet too as I know as well that they don't give you the times for the shore excursions and you don't know until you board if you can book a second one. so there are a couple that have more than one time to do it. not many tho.

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which reminds me of some more info...

 

we had cabin 6323, balcony deck 6 upper. which i like the area midship over the shops. if you go out to the left from our room and down one flight, casino bar. we had pacific dining upper so again, down 1 floor, then walk around the casino bar down promenade, sushi, photograpers, coffee bar, dessert bar, arcade, ionian lounge, wine bar and through the doors was the lounge for comedy acts. once thru that door and you see the lounge, you go down 1 flight stairs and to the upper dining room of the pacific.

 

i did see that the anytime dining was in the atlantic dining room.

 

again, if i went out left from my room to the elevators, up to deck 9 lido, walk right out and theres the pool. smoking to the right, which were alot, (so they shouldnt do 2.0 on victory lol) non smoking to the left.

 

if i went to the right from my room to those elevators that went down to deck 0 for leaving the ship.

 

OHHH, and YES, there is in the funtimes about no reserving chairs as well as there was a sign up a level. i did take a pic of it.

 

we always have had the room in the back, not sure if thats because of our room location or what lol. just more movement eating in the back, not bad unless your prone to motion sickness.

 

 

I just had to comment........We are booked on the Victory leaving on 6/17 and we will be in cabin 6323.......Did the a/c work okay in this cabin?

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except for a couple times we turned it up, we had the knob turned far off as possible. so no worrys about that rooms a/c lol. and they did have an extra comforter in the closet.

 

If you have the same cabin steward, his name was Daewa (sp) he took good care of us. easy access to the elevators. good storage space in the room.

 

1 thing we did notice was the room did seem smaller than our last balcony as some have reported on this ship. But still was workable :) for 3 ppl.

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