1/20/08 Well me and the wife went on the Valor for our 5 year anniversary. All I can say is WOW, absolutely wonderful trip................. However, it didn't start out that way. Our friends that were booked 2 cabins down had to cancel the morning of our flights down due to medical reasons ..................... We flew down to Miami a day early and stayed at the La Quinta East. It is not a 5 star hotel by any means but for the price it works and they have a killer shuttle service. They have a Bennigans right next door with good food. The embarkation process was nice and smooth except for the line outside................man it was cool weather for Miami. When we checked in Mrs. Luisa was wonderful and we told her of our situation with our friends cancelation. See I had booked everything and didn't want to pay for excursions that wouldn't be used. No problem Carnival just credited my account ........... We brought on 3 bottles of wine and a mouthwash bottle full of colored rum. Nobody said a word they just delivered the bags right to the room.........................Once on the ship, up to our cabin we go 9275 on the Lido deck. Man it was right on the Lido deck next to everything and it was pretty quiet at night, The best of both worlds. Being this was a western Caribbean cruise our first stop was Grand Cayman. We had been here before on our honeymoon. I love GC, the place is wonderful. After a short tender ride your there. We booked the Island tour and Stingray city through the ship. If you go to GC you have got to do some form of the Stingray city tours. First we got on a bus with our guide and rode around the island to see the little tourist town called Hell. It is pretty cool but once you see it and mail some cards(take a list of addresses with you)your done. Next, we went over to the Turtle farm. Man that was pretty cool, those things are huge and that main pool is full!!! You also get to hold a small one if you'd like. Then to the boat for the Stingray trip, when you get out there do not wait on the guides to do everything for you. Go find the bait bucket and go do your own thing.............They will come to you and I have not had any problems with them they just want food............I will never go to GC and not do the Stingray tour..................GC is a great stop you'll love it..........There is also a lot of stores to shop in if that is your thing. Our next stop was Isla Roatan, Honduras. The ship is docked so you can just walk right off. It is a very pretty place, but if you don't scuba it is kinda limited. This was my least favorite of the stops .We did the catamaran and snorkel through the ship. After a short bus ride we were at the catamaran a few miles up the coast from the ship. Everyone got the what to do lecture and then we were off for a reef.............We sailed back down the coast line to the reef and anchored then snorkeled for a bit. The water wasn't that clear that day and something keep stinging everybody..............After a hour or so in the water, we were back on the boat for drinks and a light lunch. The rum runners were the worst drink I have had in years. Finally we got back on the ship thank goodness............As I said I just didn't like this stop.... Next stop was Belize. The ship is anchored a good ways off shore and have to take the high speed tenders.................those boys got that down to a art................ We booked the Cavetubing tour through www.belizecruiseecursions.com They met us right at the dock and took us right to their little office. We then met our guide and the rest of the group and boarded our van and off we went. It is about an hour or so ride inland to the area for the tubing. Once there they outfit you with a tube, a head lamp and a life jacket. Then you walk up the trail about 2 miles to the starting point. This tour does 2 caves and the ship's only does 1. I absolutely loved this tour...................Once at the starting point you can slide into the river or if your like me you can climb the rock there and jump 13-15 feet off into the deep pool.......... Once in the water right into the cave ya go. The first cave is about a 1/4 of a mile long, then you pop out and this is the entry point for tours only doing 1 cave. Then right back into another cave ya go, this one is much longer about 3/4 to a mile long. There are 2 small sets of rapids and the river pace is kinda slow. Once you pop out of the cave you go down river for a bit more before ya gotta get out. Oh yeah there is a much higher jump off spot at the bottom just make sure no tubers are coming. After a shower and a change of clothes, back in the van for the ride back. Along the way back you'll stop at a hole in the wall called Los Amigos for a nice lunch and a Belkin beer if you'd like. Once back down to Belize city our guide rode us through the middle of town to see the inner city and back to the dock. This was a very nice tour and I recommend belizecruiseexcursions they did a very good job. And last but not least is Cozumel. The ship is docked right at the Punta Langosta pier. As with GC we had been here before on the Conquest in 03. Low and behold what ship pulls up right next to the Valor.......The Conquest. Here we done the Jeep and Snorkel tour through www.cozumelcruiseexcursions.com We met our guide Richard and guide in training Kito at the Barracuda Hotel just down from the pier. This is where it gets good. With the cancellation of our friends and another cancellation, me and the wife got a private tour. It was us 2 and the 2 guides and that was it . Well Richard gave me the option to drive, but I declined and he handed me and the wife a beer a piece. Then off we go......... we stopped at a spot to snorkel. After the instructions, in the water we all went. We saw squid a emoray eel and a ton of fish.......... Much better than Roatan to me. After an hour or so, we dried off and back in the jeep. We went inland to the town of El Cathedral for a history lesson. Watch the local shop owners here they will follow you everywhere.............I DO NOT like that so we went to the guide and told him we were ready to leave. We then rode to the other side of the Island (the exposed side). Man that is one of the prettiest coastlines I have ever seen. We stopped for a cocktail and a short swim. Oh yeah, watch that raccoon like animal of the leash at the Tiki hut it will try and bite you................... If you go down to the water Be CAREFUL!!!!!! The riptide is very strong, if your not a strong swimmer do not go in!!!!!!!!!!!! Back in the jeep and up the road we go again. After a short ride we cut back across the island. Once back in town we stopped at a local restaurant for a chicken lunch. That was the closest grilled chicken to my dad's (which is the best in the world to me.....) I have ever found. Man it was finger licking good. Sadly the tour had to end. Richard and Kito if you guys read this thanks for the best tour of our cruise........ Now that the excursions are covered on to the ship itself. I loved the ship, I thought it was well decorated and I loved the hero theme. It can be a little hard to navigate at first, just take time to learn it as soon as you get a chance. Our dinner seating was at 8:30 in the Lincoln to begin with. So I go see the maitre' D and change it. We then get to our new table and it is one of those tiny 2 person tables in the middle of the way. After almost getting my head took off by trays and such, off to speak with the maitre' D again. maitre' D Pablo took care of us and we were now in a decent booth.........away from the crowd. The food in the dining room was wonderful as usual. The chocolate melting cake is the best desert I have ever tasted. Make sure you go see AJ at the sushi bar on deck 5 for a appetizer................wonderful. His sushi was better than the sampler in the main dining room. Please don't judge sushi by the sampler in the dining room it is not good...........We also done Scarlett's the last night on the ship. The fee is $30 per person. The food and service is wonderful, but it is a little to fancy for my liking. The lobster was unreal and the chocolate dessert was great. We have done it once but we both agreed not to do it again. Now to the only negative comment you'll hear me say, the service in Rosie's was not very friendly on a number of different occasions the attendants were kind of rude to guests. Oh yeah, I almost forgot make sure you do the Fish'N' Chips it the floor above the buffet line in Rosie's. I purchased the fountain card for sodas, it was like $46 bucks. I drank more coke in one week than I have in a year............. If you do get one take a mug or big cup from home to get fill when you want. I had one bartender refuse to fill my cup the whole trip. I just walked across the deck and got one of the other ones to do it....... More than one way to skin a cat........ The photo department does a great job. On the formal nights me and the better half went from spot to spot and got our pictures taken. Don't buy them till the last night on the ship. They will not come off the price, but you can get them all together and choose your favorite. The 8x10 photos are like $22. Also that Sheridan's liquor is the bomb................They will set up a table by the stores on deck5 DO NOT try the sample, you'll buy it if you do...............The shows were very well done and the showgirls.........................wow. The 80's show was very good and the last one with the guests participating was down right hilarious. The cruise director Becka and her crew are outstanding. Yeah BABY!!!!! Matt is hilarious, I my opinion Matt will be a director on his own pretty soon, that guys is frickin funny. Debarkation. We had a hotel room in Miami, so we booked another excursion to do the Everglades tour. They got us right of the ship and on to the tour pretty quickly. The tour was a bus ride into the Everglades to a touristy deal for a airboat ride and a tour of the gator farm. Pretty neat, but I'll check it off my list as well. Overall, I was impressed with this cruise and I will be booking another for next February in the near future. I believe we will do the Southern Caribbean out of San Juan next. I really like Carnival and how they operate their ships. I also liked the 4 category upgrade and past guest perks we received as well. Man I love to cruise......... Thanks for reading my review, I hope you enjoyed the review as much as we did the cruise