Cruise-ginity lost on Carnival’s Victory – 10/7-10/14 Review

[trippingpara]

After reviewing my review (is that proper English?), I noticed that I left out a few of the little things that help to make a cruise special. Well, here they are:

 

Don't ask me why, but those little towel animals that they leave you turns you into a little kid. Every night after dinner, we would race back to our room to see what animal was now occupying our bed. You should see the photos of my wife imitating each towel animal. I think those photos are best left out of the public eye! Anyways, here is the parade of Carnival Towel Animals:

 

 

 

I had an extra pair of sunglasses, so Yuaday started putting them on the animals.

 

 

[trippingpara]

 

And last but not least...

 

 

But, of course, we could not forget the lovely little towel animals that my wife created in the towel animal class:

 

[trippingpara]

Okay, now that you have seen the towel animals that we ran into, here are some of the real animals that we ran into:

 

Sea Birds

 

Big flippin' snails

 

Tiny little lizards

 

Iguanas (Not so tiny little lizards!)

 

Sea turtles

 

Big, very hungry fish!

 

At first glance, I thought those fish were barracudas due to their large size. Well, considering that barracudas are a bright shiny silver, these guys are obviously not 'cudas. So in other words, I have no idea what they are except for big flippin' fish!

 

We also saw hummingbirds, parrots, monkeys in diapers (never did get to see any wild monkeys), cows, sheep, tons of fish, and a lot of feral cats and dogs (although those cats and dogs appeared to be well cared for).

[trippingpara]

Another note that I forgot to mention was music (like how I threw the word "note" in there!). Sigh...anyways, on Barbados there was a steel drum band performing next to the ship on the pier. Very nice music to get you in the mood for the island.

 

 

There was a reggae band that performed on the ship a couple times on the Panorama Deck just under the jumbotron screen.

 

 

The house band was very good as was the female singer (sorry, I forgot her name, she was a petite Filipino lady). The guitarist for the house band also played solo several times at the casino bar. He was also very good. And apparently he likes Guinness too. My wife and I were sitting at the table next to the casino stage chilling out. I was enjoying a nice pint of Guinness when the guitarist suddenly walked up to me and handed me a new deck of Carnival cards saying that Guinness is his favorite drink and anyone that drinks Guinness is a friend of his. Thanks buddy! You just saved me a trip to Guest Services to pick up a free deck of cards!

 

Photographers - I heard many people complain about pushy photographers and how crowded Promenade Deck got with them. We never found the photographers to be pushy. In fact they were downright friendly and funny. When we were getting our formal night photos taken the one photographer was so funny we had a hard time trying to get a good photo taken since we were laughing the whole time.

 

Now many of the photographers did ask if we wanted our photo taken at their station (most were on the Promenade Deck but some were also on the Atlantic and Lobby Deck by the stairs as well). Now maybe some people consider that to be pushy, I don't know. A simple 'no thank you and a smile' sufficed every time. During formal nights, the Promenade Deck did get a bit more crowded, but again, we never had a problem moving through the crowd. We did occasionally have to stop so we didn't interfere while a photographer was taking a picture but it never bothered us or annoyed us. We were just enjoying seeing everyone dressed up in their Sunday best.

 

Well, that is really about all that I can think of. The cruise was an absolutely fabulous way to celebrate our 15th anniversary.

 

But you don't really need a reason to go on this cruise. Just go! :D

[El Yunque PR]

Awesome pics, great review and explicit description on a gorgeous trip !!! Thnx a lot , now I can't wait till ours !!!

[KSDispatcher]

Trippingpara, THANK YOU so much for such a fun and imformative review. You squashed my apprehensive concerns I had about the Victory. I was a little concerned sailing on a Carnival Cruise....we previously have cruised with RCL....we have cruised this itinerary a few years ago and it's nice to get a detailed listing of what you enjoyed to help with our planning on this trip that we are taking in January! :)

[trippingpara]

Trippingpara, THANK YOU so much for such a fun and imformative review. You squashed my apprehensive concerns I had about the Victory. I was a little concerned sailing on a Carnival Cruise....we previously have cruised with RCL....we have cruised this itinerary a few years ago and it's nice to get a detailed listing of what you enjoyed to help with our planning on this trip that we are taking in January! :)

 

Being our first cruise, I was a little apprehensive myself with Carnival and its "reputation". After reading so many positive reviews on CC (along with a few not so positive reviews as well) combined with Carnival's good pricing made the decision for us. Although I might sample other cruise lines in the future, Carnival will definately be the first one on our booking list! Glad I was able to "squash" your concerns.

[luv2event]

What a great review!! I cannot wait to go - we are on in about 2 weeks :) Hey, this may be a random question that you don't know the answer to, but do you remember if you can see from the serenity deck into the balconies below? We were trying to decide which room, and don't want people able to just stand right above the 11th floor and look right into the balcony. Thanks!!

[trippingpara]

What a great review!! I cannot wait to go - we are on in about 2 weeks :) Hey, this may be a random question that you don't know the answer to, but do you remember if you can see from the serenity deck into the balconies below? We were trying to decide which room, and don't want people able to just stand right above the 11th floor and look right into the balcony. Thanks!!

 

The Serenity Deck extends all the way to the edge of the ship and there is a chest high railing along it. In order to see over the rail and into the balconies below, well, you would have to pull off some pretty impressive moves to accomplish that! You might be able to see someone's hands if they were hanging over the railing on a balcony but that would be it. Its the same as any other balcony deck on the ship.

[luv2event]

Thank you so much!! I really appreciate that you knew the answer to this question :) Thanks!

 

The Serenity Deck extends all the way to the edge of the ship and there is a chest high railing along it. In order to see over the rail and into the balconies below, well, you would have to pull off some pretty impressive moves to accomplish that! You might be able to see someone's hands if they were hanging over the railing on a balcony but that would be it. Its the same as any other balcony deck on the ship.

[carwen]

Excellent review - thanks for taking the time to post! We are considering this itinerary in Sept or Oct. My question - is there enough to see and do for a few days in SJ? We are thinking of flying in about 5 days prior to the cruise just to make the most of our trip. We are nature and history buffs.

 

btw - my husband loved the idea of keeping track of the nametags and countries. When our kids were little we always watched out for and recorded all the diff license plates when on holidays - same idea!

[Dirkgun]

Excellent review - thanks for taking the time to post! We are considering this itinerary in Sept or Oct. My question - is there enough to see and do for a few days in SJ? We are thinking of flying in about 5 days prior to the cruise just to make the most of our trip. We are nature and history buffs.

 

btw - my husband loved the idea of keeping track of the nametags and countries. When our kids were little we always watched out for and recorded all the diff license plates when on holidays - same idea!

 

Not trying to hijack... but yes there is plenty to do and see. We just went on this itinerary again. (12/16/12) and we went 3 days early and stayed 4 after. You have lots of history in Old San Juan with the forts and the city walls... some which have been there and in service since before Columbus' day. Go and see El Yunque rain forest, Camuy caves, Arecibo Observatory, The Bio-Luminescent bay in Fajardo.... so many things to see and do. I hope you do this Itinerary.... it is a great one.:D

[trippingpara]

Not trying to hijack... but yes there is plenty to do and see. We just went on this itinerary again. (12/16/12) and we went 3 days early and stayed 4 after. You have lots of history in Old San Juan with the forts and the city walls... some which have been there and in service since before Columbus' day. Go and see El Yunque rain forest, Camuy caves, Arecibo Observatory, The Bio-Luminescent bay in Fajardo.... so many things to see and do. I hope you do this Itinerary.... it is a great one.:D

 

Carwen,

Dirkgun is absolutely correct. There is plenty to do in San Juan for several days. Puerto Rico as a whole is not that large (at least not so large that it would prohibit you from traveling outside of San Juan to see some great stuff), especially if you are nature buffs. There are some absolutely breathtaking scenery around Puerto Rico (many of which Dirkgun mentioned above). Have fun! We are looking to return to Puerto Rico pretty soon!

Edited January 13, 2013 by trippingpara

[rollissaria]

You wouldn't happen to have pictures of the Ionian Lounge would you? I would be forever grateful if you did!

[PetElf]

You have a wonderful way of weaving a story - informative and funny! Great review, and I would love to do this itinerary now.

[trippingpara]

You wouldn't happen to have pictures of the Ionian Lounge would you? I would be forever grateful if you did!

 

Rollissaria,

Unfortunately I don't really have any that turned out well. I included the best of the ones that I have but its not very pretty. Sorry. I wish I had better ones for you. The Ionian Lounge, Adriatic Lounge and the Atlantic Dining Room proved to be pretty difficult to get good photos in.

[trippingpara]

You have a wonderful way of weaving a story - informative and funny! Great review, and I would love to do this itinerary now.

 

Thank you very much! You would absolutely love this itinerary! To me, its the best that Carnival offers.

[gelo7]

Nice review.

[rollissaria]

Thank you so much for the picture!! I loved your review and the witty way you wrote it! As you probably guessed, I'm a future bride on this ship in July, getting married in the Ionian Lounge - and though there are quite a few reviews posted on the Victory, since this ship has been so port intensive the last few years, most reviews focused on the ports, not the ship, so I've been desperatly searching for pictures. This helps quite a bit, and even though it's dark, is one of the better pictures I've seen of it so far. Thank you for your help! :o

[trippingpara]

Thank you so much for the picture!! I loved your review and the witty way you wrote it! As you probably guessed, I'm a future bride on this ship in July, getting married in the Ionian Lounge - and though there are quite a few reviews posted on the Victory, since this ship has been so port intensive the last few years, most reviews focused on the ports, not the ship, so I've been desperatly searching for pictures. This helps quite a bit, and even though it's dark, is one of the better pictures I've seen of it so far. Thank you for your help! :o

 

Rollissaria,

Congrats on your upcoming nuptials! There was a wedding on the Victory when we were sailing on our Sea Day. We were chilling in the Siren Pool on the back of the Lido Deck when we looked up to the deck above us and there was a beautiful bride standing there getting photos taken with the ships wake in the background. The Ionian Lounge will be a great place for the wedding. It is large and very pretty. Unlike many of the other lounges on the Victory, I didn't find it over the top (like the Aegean Sea Sports Bar!). It was very nicely decorated, had a very long bar and plenty of comfy sitting areas. Congrats again and have fun!!

[tortgirl]

First time poster and first time cruiser. This same itinerary is what I'll be doing for my honeymoon literally the day after I get married the last Saturday in September. This review has been VERY helpful in expectations and even ideas in a new camera. Thank you so much!

[trippingpara]

First time poster and first time cruiser. This same itinerary is what I'll be doing for my honeymoon literally the day after I get married the last Saturday in September. This review has been VERY helpful in expectations and even ideas in a new camera. Thank you so much!

 

Tortgirl,

You are very welcome, glad you found my review helpful. Congrats on your upcoming wedding!

[pghsteelerfan]

I just finished reading your review and really enjoyed "reliving" our cruise on Carnival Valor out of San Juan in May 2013. Valor and Victory switched places in February 2013. I honestly don't know how I missed your review the first time around! I really enjoyed reading (LOVE the humor) and your pictures are spectacular. At the time you went on Victory, we had not yet booked our Carnival Valor cruise. We booked it in January 2013 and our cruise was in May 2013, but this was an itinerary we had been wanting to do. We were on a similar itinerary out of San Juan on our first ever cruise, our honeymoon cruise, on Carnival Festivale in 1992. We went to St. Thomas; St. Maarten/St. Martin; Dominica; Barbados; and Martinique on that one. I only had a film camera so didn't get many pictures. When I read Dirkgun's Victory review (2010 one), I was sold on doing this itinerary again. I also love your pictures of Victory and I love the ocean themed décor and hope to go on her someday as well too. Glad to see your wife is also a Steeler fan (DH and I grew up near Pittsburgh) and would love to be a "fly on the wall" at your house when the Stillers play the Browns. :) Again, I really enjoyed your review and so glad I finally stumbled across it.

[trippingpara]

Thank you, I'm glad you liked my review. Yep, it is an interesting time in our house when the Browns and Steelers play each other. Too funny that you just read my review, as I am currently reading your review on your Valor cruise. We're taking our daughter on her first cruise in May (she's graduating from Virginia Tech in May) and she wanted to do this itinerary, so off we go again! Your review is great! I love all of the photos, especially the ones of San Juan from the air and your whale tail reflection ones.

[pghsteelerfan]

Thank you, I'm glad you liked my review. Yep, it is an interesting time in our house when the Browns and Steelers play each other. Too funny that you just read my review, as I am currently reading your review on your Valor cruise. We're taking our daughter on her first cruise in May (she's graduating from Virginia Tech in May) and she wanted to do this itinerary, so off we go again! Your review is great! I love all of the photos, especially the ones of San Juan from the air and your whale tail reflection ones.

 

I really enjoyed your review and am going back through some of it because I need a cruise fix. LOL!!! I just don't know how I missed it the first time around but there are times that I don't get on CC too often, especially when we don't have a future cruise booked but then I get on again and get the cruise bug. That IS too funny that we're reading them at the same time! Sure a great way to relive a great cruise. Glad you're enjoying my review and thank you about the pictures of San Juan and flying in. That whale tail reflection was hilarious when it happened. DH thought I was off my rocker taking pictures of the deck until I told him to come stand were I was. I LOVED your pictures from San Juan too and that one of the sentry box at the fort is gorgeous. I see that one framed and hanging somewhere. We have good friends who have a daughter who will be graduating from VA Tech in May also and they're down there this weekend getting here apartment all set up. Your daughter sure picked a great itinerary.