Valor - convince me that I'll love it.

[KmomChicago]

1 hour ago, kwokpot said:

One point that you bring up that hasn't been emphasized is the difference in the amount of kids on a Carnival vs Celebrity. Since NONE of Celebrity's ships have the bells and whistles that kids and teens would enjoy there's naturally going to be less of them on ANY Celebrity cruise. That difference alone will account for a different cruise experience on a Carnival vs Celebrity cruise.   

Agree and the school schedule impacts this too; I have a teen myself so we usually travel during school breaks but hubby and I did one during a shoulder season after spring break ended last year (Carnival Vista) and there were very few children aboard and no bad or rude behavior.

[CruizinSusan70]

6 minutes ago, KmomChicago said:

Agree and the school schedule impacts this too; I have a teen myself so we usually travel during school breaks but hubby and I did one during a shoulder season after spring break ended last year (Carnival Vista) and there were very few children aboard and no bad or rude behavior.

Very true, but there is still a propensity to see more kids on Carnival vs Celebrity during the fall when kids are back in school.  Many parents these days think nothing of taking their precious little darlings out of school to go on vacation.  And then some of these parents take a vacation from parenting and let the kids run wild and create kaos.  After all, the kids can't get lost, they're stuck on a ship.

[wemjam]

1 hour ago, CruizinSusan70 said:

Very true, but there is still a propensity to see more kids on Carnival vs Celebrity during the fall when kids are back in school.  Many parents these days think nothing of taking their precious little darlings out of school to go on vacation.  And then some of these parents take a vacation from parenting and let the kids run wild and create kaos.  After all, the kids can't get lost, they're stuck on a ship.

NAILED IT!

[wemjam]

1 hour ago, CruizinSusan70 said:

Very true, but there is still a propensity to see more kids on Carnival vs Celebrity during the fall when kids are back in school.  Many parents these days think nothing of taking their precious little darlings out of school to go on vacation.  And then some of these parents take a vacation from parenting and let the kids run wild and create kaos.  After all, the kids can't get lost, they're stuck on a ship.

Exactly why we avoid the summer season like the Plague.  We used to cruise with 2 boys, but they were under our thumb!  Now the volume of kids and out of control is ridiculous.

[boopuff]

Ok!  Thanks everyone.  DH and I are planning to book the Valor.  Going end of January so hopefully more calm.  We go to relax, not fight for pool loungers, no late night disco.   I think we’ll have fun 🙂. 

[momof3cruisers]

11 hours ago, wemjam said:

Let me give you examples of what I have seen in the last year.  

 

Standing patiently at the customer service desk waiting my turn in line.  A man and woman going at each other right in the middle of the atrium.  I mean cussing, yelling, screaming at each other.  We are talking right in the middle of... oh, I don't know... like 50 people. Didn't give a crap who was listening or watching.

 

Again, another cruise, standing patiently at customer service.  Three young gentlemen (I use that term in jest - like 10-13 if I had to guess - no parents in sight) are jogging around the atrium hitting and running into each other.  Go running up to the Kiosk and start slamming buttons and literally hitting and kicking the kiosk.  One of them then turns around runs up to the customer service desk and demands the agent give him a band aid because he cut his hand.  The agent politely (man I give him tons of credit) tells the boy to please politely wait his turn in line and he would be happy to help him.  This child begins to scream and cuss this guy out... I mean F this and F that and you B...  It was all I could do to not grab this little punk around the neck and slap him silly. 

 

A group of kinds at 1am running down the halls banging on every single door and yelling and screaming as they do. 

 

Drunks and I mean to the point where security was called in.

 

Again, this is is just in the last 6 or 7 cruises.  These are what I would call the "bigger" things.

 

Smaller things.... No courtesy in buffet / food lines.  People feel they are too good to wait like everyone else.  Attitude if they don't get what they want. Rudeness to staff and other guests.  Letting it ALL hang out everywhere (again the pool deck is fine you want to be like that, but not in the indoor  public places and especially where I am eating please!).  

 

Again, on ships it just this behavior just seems more "compact" and in your face than what you might see day to day.  And again, IMHO my own personal experience the shorter/less expensive the cruise the worse it gets. 

 

Got to take the good with the bad. 

Wow ! You have had very bad luck! I’ve been on six cruises since the restart and the worst I have seen was a group of obnoxious guys who seemed to have taken over the Red Frog Pub one night.   
 

And thong swim bottoms but thankfully only at the pool or beach. Does anyone want to see anyone else’s naked butt? Yuck. 

[vacruisin]

Lots of people seem to just have the misfortune of picking just the wrong Carnival cruise.  I guess I've just been extremely fortunate in my FIFTEEN Carnival cruises that the worst thing I've experienced were kids running in the halls late night on ONE of those cruises.

 

I don't know if people like embellishing how bad their Carnival experiences have been or if they just have the worst luck in picking Carnival cruises because their posted experiences are soooo much different than my experiences on FIFTEEN Carnival cruises.  Hmmmmm....just wondering out loud.

 

OP, my advice is to book the cruise and make your own assessment.  Neither me nor anyone else can tell you how you'll enjoy the Valor out of New Orleans.

After the trip, please come back to this thread and let us know how it went.

 

Happy Sailing!

 

 

Edited May 3, 2023 by vacruisin

[jsglow]

26 minutes ago, vacruisin said:

Lots of people seem to just have the misfortune of picking just the wrong Carnival cruise.  I guess I've just been extremely fortunate in my FIFTEEN Carnival cruises that the worst thing I've experienced were kids running in the halls late night on ONE of those cruises.

 

I don't know if people like embellishing how bad their Carnival experiences have been or if they just have the worst luck in picking Carnival cruises because their posted experiences are soooo much different than my experiences on FIFTEEN Carnival cruises.  Hmmmmm....just wondering out loud.

 

 

Not going to doubt anyone's word but I have 23 including more than a dozen post re-start. My experience is similar to you.  And I've been on everything from 4 to 14 nights out of at least 5 cruiseports worldwide. 

[TigerGalCruiser]

I'm sailing on the Valor in July - this will be my first Conquest Class Ship. I've never been on a Celebrity Cruise, but a lot of the older folks I know love Celebrity.

 

Carnival is not Celebrity or RC. It is a budget friendly line that's great for folks entering the cruise vacation space at a cost that works for them. Personally, I love Carnival - but I love it because it's always fun, the CDs and ship events are hilarious, and my kids love it. (I have well behaved kids who know better than to cut a fool.) Oh - and I love the soft serve ice cream machine. LOL

 

I sailed RC Majesty of the Seas once and hated it. Ship activities were ok, but didn't like the ship - it was dated, the pool was out of order a lot. We had fun, but my friends and I decided if we ever did another RC ship - it had to be newer.

 

All of that said - your vacation is what you make of it. I've meet some great folks on my Carnival trips - and still keep in touch with them! I wouldn't worry too much about the crowd - go do what you like - Bingo, casino, karaoke, etc, and have a good time!

[kwokpot]

22 minutes ago, TigerGalCruiser said:

Personally, I love Carnival - but I love it because it's always fun, the CDs and ship events are hilarious, and my kids love it.

I think you hit it on the head. This is the defining aspect of a Carnival cruise. EVERYONE, from employees to guests, are there to have a fun and enjoyable experience. You will never find another cruiseline where deck parties are routinely packed and well attended (although Virgin Voyages' Scarlett Night Deck party is stealing that title from Carnival!). I also love that in GENERAL, Carnival guests aren't constantly complaining about everything, which is the norm on Celebrity,especially from their seasoned cruisers.

Having said all that not everyone who goes on a cruise vacation wants Carnival's definition of FUN. And that's where knowing what you're booking and understanding what each cruise line represents becomes important. 

[Oakman58]

I agree with taking a 7 day or longer cruise.  Consider the Glory which is also a Conquest Class ship out of NO.  Also I wouldn't take a cruise out of NO in March or the summer months when kids are out of school.

[TigerGalCruiser]

18 hours ago, CruizinSusan70 said:

Very true, but there is still a propensity to see more kids on Carnival vs Celebrity during the fall when kids are back in school.  Many parents these days think nothing of taking their precious little darlings out of school to go on vacation.  

My mother's school rule has been passed won to my kids "every day that school is in session, you'll be there as long as you aren't sick." I'm not a fan because I'd hate for my kids to miss instruction and struggle with a lesson upon their return.

[wemjam]

3 hours ago, vacruisin said:

Lots of people seem to just have the misfortune of picking just the wrong Carnival cruise.  I guess I've just been extremely fortunate in my FIFTEEN Carnival cruises that the worst thing I've experienced were kids running in the halls late night on ONE of those cruises.

 

I don't know if people like embellishing how bad their Carnival experiences have been or if they just have the worst luck in picking Carnival cruises because their posted experiences are soooo much different than my experiences on FIFTEEN Carnival cruises.  Hmmmmm....just wondering out loud.

 

OP, my advice is to book the cruise and make your own assessment.  Neither me nor anyone else can tell you how you'll enjoy the Valor out of New Orleans.

After the trip, please come back to this thread and let us know how it went.

 

Happy Sailing!

 

 

Just curious how many of these 15 cruises were 3 or 4 or even 5 dayer's? and how many were more recent?   Also, my post about my personal experience was not embellishment in any way (not saying you were singling me out, but I did post first hand honest accounts of things that I have encountered over the last year).  It was first hand experience, all were shorter cruises.

 

That was the point I think several of us were making.  The behavior has gotten "worse" in recent years.  I have 50 cruises over 20 years (the bulk of which are in the last  7 years or so).

 

I can't recount one bad experience on a longer cruise to speak of (like 7 days or more), it seems you see this type of bad behavior being more prevalent on short/inexpensive cruises.  Again, demographic

 

[wemjam]

2 hours ago, TigerGalCruiser said:

I'm sailing on the Valor in July - this will be my first Conquest Class Ship. I've never been on a Celebrity Cruise, but a lot of the older folks I know love Celebrity.

 

Carnival is not Celebrity or RC. It is a budget friendly line that's great for folks entering the cruise vacation space at a cost that works for them. Personally, I love Carnival - but I love it because it's always fun, the CDs and ship events are hilarious, and my kids love it. (I have well behaved kids who know better than to cut a fool.) Oh - and I love the soft serve ice cream machine. LOL

 

I sailed RC Majesty of the Seas once and hated it. Ship activities were ok, but didn't like the ship - it was dated, the pool was out of order a lot. We had fun, but my friends and I decided if we ever did another RC ship - it had to be newer.

 

All of that said - your vacation is what you make of it. I've meet some great folks on my Carnival trips - and still keep in touch with them! I wouldn't worry too much about the crowd - go do what you like - Bingo, casino, karaoke, etc, and have a good time!

Ditto, I said RC once and never went back.

 

I felt like I was sailing in a retirement home.  Now, that was years ago, and things may have changed as I see more commercials with lots of exciting things on the new RC ships that seems to me they  maybe changing how they entice their clients

 

I too love Carnival or I wouldn't keep going back.  As I stated in an earlier post, you have to take the good with the bad. 

[vacruisin]

34 minutes ago, wemjam said:

Just curious how many of these 15 cruises were 3 or 4 or even 5 dayer's? and how many were more recent?   Also, my post about my personal experience was not embellishment in any way (not saying you were singling me out, but I did post first hand honest accounts of things that I have encountered over the last year).  It was first hand experience, all were shorter cruises.

 

That was the point I think several of us were making.  The behavior has gotten "worse" in recent years.  I have 50 cruises over 20 years (the bulk of which are in the last  7 years or so).

 

I can't recount one bad experience on a longer cruise to speak of (like 7 days or more), it seems you see this type of bad behavior being more prevalent on short/inexpensive cruises.  Again, demographic

 

Okay, I hear you; that's a fair question.  My shortest cruise was 4 days and it was on the Victory in 2017.  I've also had a 5-day on the Sensation.  The rest have been 6-8 days in length.  So, I apologize for doubting the accuracy of you and others experiences.

 

It's just that sometimes it seems like some posters feel like they have to make Carnival look like some low budget, ghetto cruise line just to make themselves feel better about paying more for other lines.  Makes me wonder why they even bother to "lower" themselves by cruising on Carnival at all.

 

I definitely could afford to pay higher prices for other lines and I think my standards are pretty high so I'm often baffled when some people (not you in particular) try to imply that Carnival caters to the lowest of the low.  I just have not experienced that in 15 cruises on Carnival.  Again, I don't typically do the shorter cruises so that may be why I've not experienced any of these situations that are often cited as common occurrences on Carnival.

 

Happy Sailing!

Edited May 3, 2023 by vacruisin

[wemjam]

18 minutes ago, vacruisin said:

Okay, I hear you; that's a fair question.  My shortest cruise was 4 days and it was on the Victory in 2017.  I've also had a 5-day on the Sensation.  The rest have been 6-8 days in length.  So, I apologize for doubting the accuracy of you and others experiences.

 

It's just that sometimes it seems like some posters feel like they have to make Carnival look like some low budget, ghetto cruise line just to make themselves feel better about paying more for other lines.  Makes me wonder why they even bother to "lower" themselves by cruising on Carnival at all.

 

I definitely could afford to pay higher prices for other lines and I think my standards are pretty high so I'm often baffled when some people (not you in particular) try to imply that Carnival caters to the lowest of the low.  I just have not experienced that in 15 cruises on Carnival.  Again, I don't typically do the shorter cruises so that may be why I've not experienced any of these situations that are often cited as common occurrences on Carnival.

 

Happy Sailing!

Agree, I too could afford to cruise other lines, but come back to Carnival because my overall experience is good.  The OP seemed concerned about what to expect so was just giving honest feedback.  When I book cruises at certain times, or shorter ones I KNOW what to expect - for me it isn't a deal breaker (yet anyhow lol!).  The OP was asking because this is new for them.  If you know what to expect, then you can be prepared and make an informed decision of what will work for you.  

 

I like value for my money and would rather cruise a lot then take one or two high end cruises.  Not the kind of person that needs tons of pampering.

 

 

[MississippiMom]

56 minutes ago, wemjam said:

Ditto, I said RC once and never went back.

 

I felt like I was sailing in a retirement home.  Now, that was years ago, and things may have changed as I see more commercials with lots of exciting things on the new RC ships that seems to me they  maybe changing how they entice their clients

 

I too love Carnival or I wouldn't keep going back.  As I stated in an earlier post, you have to take the good with the bad. 

We tried RC last summer, and I would still sail them, again.  However, we did find their activities lacking a bit, or, maybe, just poorly scheduled.   Smaller venues used, when larger ones were available.  Then, some venues NEVER had an activity scheduled in them at all.  The daily calendar might have three things at once or complete emptiness at times.  I can only assume that the never-in-the-crowd cruise director was still working his way back from the many covid protocols.  (This was a sailing where negative covid tests pre-cruise were still required.)

[KmomChicago]

My take on RC with only 2 cruises on them: it depends on the ship.  Oasis of the Seas was easily our best cruise, ever, because of the ship, period.  We noticed that the activities crew had a rather different vibe, a lot less "loose" and, let's face it, "fun" than we are used to on Carnival.

 

Our 2nd RC was Adventure of the Seas and it was. . .  FINE.  It was slightly more upscale than Carnival, pleasant sleek (unmemorable) decor, excellent entertainment, but just not the same fun vibe. We even had the best rooms we've ever had (Jr. Suite on the hump). 

 

We are trying Quantum class next year for Alaska and we would love to sail Oasis class again and maybe someday try Icon class, but smaller RCI ships would almost never be my first choice. I would rather do a Fantasy class Carnival ship than a small, probably better looking RCI ship.

[trummy]

On 5/2/2023 at 2:16 PM, wemjam said:

Let me give you examples of what I have seen in the last year.  

 

Standing patiently at the customer service desk waiting my turn in line.  A man and woman going at each other right in the middle of the atrium.  I mean cussing, yelling, screaming at each other.  We are talking right in the middle of... oh, I don't know... like 50 people. Didn't give a crap who was listening or watching.

 

Again, another cruise, standing patiently at customer service.  Three young gentlemen (I use that term in jest - like 10-13 if I had to guess - no parents in sight) are jogging around the atrium hitting and running into each other.  Go running up to the Kiosk and start slamming buttons and literally hitting and kicking the kiosk.  One of them then turns around runs up to the customer service desk and demands the agent give him a band aid because he cut his hand.  The agent politely (man I give him tons of credit) tells the boy to please politely wait his turn in line and he would be happy to help him.  This child begins to scream and cuss this guy out... I mean F this and F that and you B...  It was all I could do to not grab this little punk around the neck and slap him silly. 

 

A group of kinds at 1am running down the halls banging on every single door and yelling and screaming as they do. 

 

Drunks and I mean to the point where security was called in.

 

Again, this is is just in the last 6 or 7 cruises.  These are what I would call the "bigger" things.

 

Smaller things.... No courtesy in buffet / food lines.  People feel they are too good to wait like everyone else.  Attitude if they don't get what they want. Rudeness to staff and other guests.  Letting it ALL hang out everywhere (again the pool deck is fine you want to be like that, but not in the indoor  public places and especially where I am eating please!).  

 

Again, on ships it just this behavior just seems more "compact" and in your face than what you might see day to day.  And again, IMHO my own personal experience the shorter/less expensive the cruise the worse it gets. 

 

Got to take the good with the bad. 

Wow, what bad luck. All this on your last 6 or 7 cruises. I am sure after all this, you are done with Carnival forever.

[Butterbean1000]

On 5/2/2023 at 3:16 PM, wemjam said:

Let me give you examples of what I have seen in the last year.  

 

Standing patiently at the customer service desk waiting my turn in line.  A man and woman going at each other right in the middle of the atrium.  I mean cussing, yelling, screaming at each other.  We are talking right in the middle of... oh, I don't know... like 50 people. Didn't give a crap who was listening or watching.

 

Again, another cruise, standing patiently at customer service.  Three young gentlemen (I use that term in jest - like 10-13 if I had to guess - no parents in sight) are jogging around the atrium hitting and running into each other.  Go running up to the Kiosk and start slamming buttons and literally hitting and kicking the kiosk.  One of them then turns around runs up to the customer service desk and demands the agent give him a band aid because he cut his hand.  The agent politely (man I give him tons of credit) tells the boy to please politely wait his turn in line and he would be happy to help him.  This child begins to scream and cuss this guy out... I mean F this and F that and you B...  It was all I could do to not grab this little punk around the neck and slap him silly. 

 

A group of kinds at 1am running down the halls banging on every single door and yelling and screaming as they do. 

 

Drunks and I mean to the point where security was called in.

 

Again, this is is just in the last 6 or 7 cruises.  These are what I would call the "bigger" things.

 

Smaller things.... No courtesy in buffet / food lines.  People feel they are too good to wait like everyone else.  Attitude if they don't get what they want. Rudeness to staff and other guests.  Letting it ALL hang out everywhere (again the pool deck is fine you want to be like that, but not in the indoor  public places and especially where I am eating please!).  

 

Again, on ships it just this behavior just seems more "compact" and in your face than what you might see day to day.  And again, IMHO my own personal experience the shorter/less expensive the cruise the worse it gets. 

 

Got to take the good with the bad. 

I have been on 11 Carnival cruises and I have never experienced any of this. There were some rowdy kids in the canin next to is once, but it didn't last long. We have never seen any fights or even any objectionable behavior.   Yes, some rude actions in the buffet, but nothing I haven't seen else where. 

 

Just a note, we always sail out of Port Canaveral,  Lauderdale and Miami.  I don't know if that makes a difference or not.

[wemjam]

1 hour ago, trummy said:

Wow, what bad luck. All this on your last 6 or 7 cruises. I am sure after all this, you are done with Carnival forever.

Not at all, as I stated, have to take the good with the bad.  Have 3 more booked this year and 1 for next year already.

 

Just a fact of society today.  Doesn't matter if you are cruising or anywhere else.  There are going to be people that are rude, care only for their wants, don't mind their children, etc.

 

However, to the point of my posts.  There IS most certainly a difference in the demographic and what you experience depending on the cruise length, destination and time of year you cruise with Carnival.  This is readily apparent when you cruise a lot.

[CruizinSusan70]

3 hours ago, Butterbean1000 said:

I have been on 11 Carnival cruises and I have never experienced any of this. There were some rowdy kids in the canin next to is once, but it didn't last long. We have never seen any fights or even any objectionable behavior.   Yes, some rude actions in the buffet, but nothing I haven't seen else where. 

 

Just a note, we always sail out of Port Canaveral,  Lauderdale and Miami.  I don't know if that makes a difference or not.

The main problems occur on the shorter cruises of 3-5 days in length.  The worst are the 3 day weekend booze cruises where an even higher percentage of people partake in the Cheers package.  If you predominantly cruise on 7 day cruises, there can be problems once in a while, but nowhere near as often as the shorter cruises.

This is another reason we prefer the Excel Class since they are mainly 7 day cruises with the occasional 6 or 8 day.

Edited May 16, 2023 by CruizinSusan70

[Butterbean1000]

10 hours ago, CruizinSusan70 said:

The main problems occur on the shorter cruises of 3-5 days in length.  The worst are the 3 day weekend booze cruises where an even higher percentage of people partake in the Cheers package.  If you predominantly cruise on 7 day cruises, there can be problems once in a while, but nowhere near as often as the shorter cruises.

This is another reason we prefer the Excel Class since they are mainly 7 day cruises with the occasional 6 or 

I've only cruised one 5 fay cruise.  We prefer 7 and 8.  You don't have to cruise on a mega ship for 7 and 8 day cruises. BTW, I was not a fan of the Fantasy class ships. No balconies on some and after market balconies on others.

[CruizinSusan70]

13 hours ago, Butterbean1000 said:

I've only cruised one 5 fay cruise.  We prefer 7 and 8.  You don't have to cruise on a mega ship for 7 and 8 day cruises. BTW, I was not a fan of the Fantasy class ships. No balconies on some and after market balconies on others.

The only thing close to a mega ship in Carnival's fleet are the two Excel Class ships.  If we drive to a port, we do 7 days.  If we fly, it's usually a B2B.