***hey you!-let's talk about the Valor!.. (lol)

[huntm]

We were on the Valor a couple of years ago when she was in Miami. Our last several cruises have been on boats with all the upgrades... Hoping we won't miss them too much this time around!

 

We will be sailing July 6th. Very excited about this itinerary :). We have been to St. Thomas once, but all the others are new to us!!

[Island Hopper58]

Thanks for all the info posted on this thread, I am getting some great ideas.

Our turn is just around the corner, and now I am happy we added that extra day after the cruise.

Might have thought to add two on the back, instead of the front

but what is done is done, and we will be sailing in a few LONG weeks :D

[LadyDAC]

After our cruise in July we went to the Biobay in Vieques. It was awesome and if you have an opportunity to go you should definitely take advantage of it.

[fergusonvt]

Went on the repositioning cruise last year to San Juan. We loved the Valor. The pizza was great. Overall we liked the layout of the ship. Planning another CCL cruise for 2016.

[teetee6263]

Dislikes:

-Missed the Blue Iguana Cantina & Tequila Bar. The current burrito bar they had was ok.

 

Thats my fear...sailing in June for my birthday & I know I'm gonna miss the Blue Iguana Bar...but I'm sure I wont go thirsty:D!!!

[tawaik]

Loving this discussion:) I want to get all of the information I can about the Valor. This will be DH first cruise and I know we will be worn out.

 

Can anyone recommend any excursions that are not too costly? We would like to do the minimum of two and I'm definitely purchasing the Steak House for our first Night.

 

What nights are lobster tail and elegant nights?

[xobrandnewox]

We did the jolly roger pirate ship in barbados last may. It was fantastic. Its a non-carnival excursion but they bussed us there and back and unlimited booze and swimming with wild turtles. It was fantastic

 

Sent from my SAMSUNG-SGH-I317 using Forums mobile app

[Athankfulheart]

We booked the Valor next January for our 25th wedding anniversary.

We are going to spend a week in PR prior and probably one day after (to recharge). We booked Calabaza for Barbados and Spencer Ambrose Land and Sea for St Lucia. We intend to go to St John on our own ( Cinnamon Bay) from St Thomas. We will probably stay aboard ship for St Kitts and Maarten.

 

Check out Calabaza Sailing at Trip Advisor.

[shark&minnow]

Great ship and itinerary like everyone else says...very port intensive but wonderful ports. Great crew.

 

Tips:

Ship is right up against the main street. There is a CVS when you get off the ship and to the left about a block down. Here, you can get your water, soda and wine (bring your suitcase/carryone with wheels to lug it back)

 

Tour of ship (cost is $95 for four hour tour and closed in shoes are required) was wonderful. You will go in many many areas of the ship where guests are not allowed, including the bridge and meeting the captain. You will get to see all areas of deck 0. Sign up first thing on embarkation day.

 

Debarkation party on lido deck is alot of fun.

 

Grab seat early for adult comedy show as lounge fills up fast.

 

Have a great time!

 

What time was the tour of the ship?

[keijenxs]

On the first day, I would recommend eating at the fish and chips station on deck 10 right above the buffet on the lido deck. The food is awesome and not many people know about it, so it is not crowded. We did this on our cruise in 2012 and did not have to wait at all. I added the link to my review.

 

http://www.cruisecritic.com/memberreviews/memberreview.cfm?EntryID=112895

Edited March 18, 2014 by keijenxs
Add information

[Love Cruising With My Hon]

I loved the ship, loved the itinerary BUT..... would have loved having at least one more sea day!!!!

 

We found the slot machines to be very old, and hardly paid out at all!! I usually have at least one or two big wins ( over $100) and not a single one this cruise.

 

Hey hockeyluver, we were on the same cruise as you Jan 26. We would love to have had 1 less sea day. Loved the ship as well and did not spend any time in the casino (we learned our lesion 5 years ago that they do not pay out).

[t1adams]

Our favorite ship and itinerary so far but as others have said another sea day, especially at the end, would make it even better. Don't know if they are still there but bartenders Nina and Chitta were awesome. They were at the Atrium bar when we were there. Chitta's husband Kem was a waiter and he was good too. All of the staff were friendly and seemed the happiest of any ship we've been on.

 

Like this person said^^^........the atrium bar is the best on this ship than any other bar anywhere. Not sure who our bartender was, but we went on this cruise last spring break. I'll just tell you this: The pina colada was invented at a particular restaurant in OSJ (the name has slipped my mind but we DID go there and try one of the ORIGINALS!!!). That said, the one they made for me at the atrium bar FAR EXCEEDED that of the famous restaurant in OSJ!!! It tasted soooo homemade from the atrium bar. Definitely try one!!! Not from a machine, that's for sure.:cool:

 

MUST DO: Royston Tours in St. Kitts! BEST excursion I have ever been on. He is like family to us now. We still email back and forth. He only charges $45 a person which is waaaaaay too low. We tipped VERY WELL. He takes you all over the island and pays for all entrance fees into forts, pays for lunches, takes you snorkeling and gives you the accessories. Its an experience my kids will never forget, or me either.

 

Another sea day would have been nice but if it meant taking away one of those islands, forget it!!!! Not worth it.

 

Biggest surprise for us?? Was NOT impressed with St. Marten. The people on the French side were mean and that side looks so dirty. The Dutch side was super nice, but sooooo touristy there. The water is gorgeous though. The other biggest surprise was how much we enjoyed St. Kitts. We figured that would be the boring stop. So much rich history and the landscape is AMAZING. The way the Atlantic meets the Gulf of Mexico is so unique. Even their govt. was impressive to us. Instead, St. Marten was the bore for us. We came back to the ship after only about two hours in St. Marten. Getting back and forth to the French side is toooooooo mind numbing too. One lane of traffic that doesn't move. It was a Friday that we were there.

Edited March 19, 2014 by t1adams

[t1adams]

So, I've read many forums about sneaking alcohol onto Carnival ships. In one forum, many posts mentioned how easy it was to do this, especially on the Valor. Has anyone experienced this/seen it happening? Any tips/suggestions would be appreciated!

 

Not much to sneak. It's really super easy. I snuck on all my cheap purchases in OSJ but didn't open any of the liquor. Just wanted to make sure it didn't break somewhere. Kept it all on the top shelf in our room unopened. Nice decorations.....Sheritan, a Bottle of Rum from each of our stops, etc. Now, I did get off two times before we took off and kept bringing on an additional bottle of wine. That we did drink. You show it at check in but there's a long walk before you set down for security and you can always stick it in a back pack. It wasn't stressful at all. Funny, when you CAN bring stuff on, you don't really take advantage of it by drinking it. I still like my DODs!!! :D

[christyran1228]

I am *just* the slightest bribe away from getting DH to agree to let me switch our Triumph cruise we have booked in November to this one ... aside from the airfare to Puerto Rico, our 4 day in a balcony is the same price as an inside on this one. I would totally make the sacrifice!

 

Dream cruise for sure! I could be on the S.S. Minnow and love this itinerary ... have a wonderful time!

 

Sent from my Commadore 64 using the Cruise Critic forum app

[lostdart1]

The way the Atlantic meets the Gulf of Mexico is so unique.

 

That would be a trick!! ,,,but it is actually the Caribbean Sea. :)

[Bakmmo]

We were on same itinerary on a different boat last December. It was great, I agree a sea day at hte end would be nice. They could reverse the ports and have the one sea day at the end. We are doing this one again in a few weeks

[Aplmac]

These short video-clips might give you some Valor flavor.

 

 

I shot these (beginner stuff) while on our Valor cruise

in mid-Feb. a month ago

... just hours after buying my GoPro in St.Maarten

 

 

 

 

 

.

Edited March 19, 2014 by Aplmac

[Dubz1]

Great thread. Keep the tips, excursions coming. We depart in about a month from tomorrow!

[Aplmac]

I just posted two more brief VALOR videos, shot up high on Sky Deck 14!

 

 

First one is a general pan showing the Havensight area at St.Thomas, USVI

and some of Lido Deck 9 as seen from up high!

 

 

Second shot shows the girls having fun, going down Valor's waterslide!

 

.

Edited March 25, 2014 by Aplmac

[gracie65]

It really sounds like the service and food has gotten better on The Valor since we sailed her from Miami in 2008. We are booked again for this November. Looking forward to some ports they don't sail to everyday. Hesitated about booking her again but the itinerary won out. Looks like many things have improved so really looking forward the this sailing!!

 

I agree with what a previous poster said about the Fish and Chips go the first day. I have also been told if you dine in the Steakhouse on the first night you get a free bottle of wine so we will be planning that for sure!!

[oregonjuli]

Great thread. Keep the tips, excursions coming. We depart in about a month from tomorrow!

 

We leave April 20th. Are you on that cruise?

[Island Hopper58]

It really sounds like the service and food has gotten better on The Valor since we sailed her from Miami in 2008. We are booked again for this November. Looking forward to some ports they don't sail to everyday. Hesitated about booking her again but the itinerary won out. Looks like many things have improved so really looking forward the this sailing!!

 

I agree with what a previous poster said about the Fish and Chips go the first day. I have also been told if you dine in the Steakhouse on the first night you get a free bottle of wine so we will be planning that for sure!!

Just got off Sunday. Food and service both were wonderful. Loved the fish and chips :)

[Aftastic]

I'll be on this ship in January 2015. I was able to snag one of the Aftastic aft-wrap rooms and I am really looking forward to it.

[#croozerman]

Those rooms look crazy cool..!

 

 

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[Aplmac]

Here's two more quick videos of Old San Juan Harbor, Puerto Rico :)

 

 

Early morning

 

 

Again at sunset

 

.