Carnival Valor Review

Valor Western Caribbean

Review for the Western Caribbean Cruise on Carnival Valor
User Avatar
092306
First Time Cruiser • Age 50s

Rating by category

Value for Money
Embarkation
Dining
Public Rooms
Entertainment
Fitness & Recreation
Service
Cabin

Additional details

Sail Date: Sep 2009

Here is a review of our 7 night cruise on the Valor to Grand Cayman, Roatan, Belize and Cozumel. We flew into Miami the day before and rented a car from Thrifty for the day. It was $35 with an American Express discount and they offered a shuttle the next day from the rental drop off to POM. It was a great deal since it gave us the opportunity to tour Miami and not be limited to the area right around the hotel or pay for cab fare back and forth. We went to South Beach, shopped a little, had lunch and walked on Miami Beach. It was really warm and overcast with light rain at time so it really wasn't a beach day. We went back to the hotel, the Hyatt Summerfield Suites, which was great. We got it for $40 on Priceline and it was a great place to stay with free parking and free buffet breakfast the next day. All and all a great deal. That night we went to Versailles for Cuban and enjoyed it. They also have a bakery next door with a big selection and we shared a dessert. The next morning we dropped the car off at Thrifty and got the shuttle to the port. The shuttle runs every 30 minutes and it was a very easy, painless process. We had to drop the rental car off by 9:30, so we were at the port early. It was a very smooth check in process and there were quite a few others there early as well. We were on board by noon, took our embarkation picture and headed to the Lido for lunch. Since we were early, I went upstairs to get fish and chips and it was pretty good. It started to fill up pretty quickly and we went to walk around the ship. I know some like the dEcor of the Valor and some don't, but we liked it. I liked the flag and eagle theme throughout. The Ivanhoe theater as a little much, kind of like a high school production set, but the Bronx Bar, Washington dining room and Scarlett's Steakhouse were nicely done. After walking around the ship, it was nearly 1:30 so we went to see if the cabins were open. The doors opened and everyone waiting went to find their rooms and we were in our cabin for about 5 minutes when one of the cabin stewards (later found out that he was the assistant cabin steward) came to tell us that we had to leave the room because he wasn't done preparing it and still needed to dust. So he told us we had to leave and go to the lido. I was confused as to why the cabin area doors were opened in the first place, but it could have been passengers who did it and not them. Not sure, but in any event, we left. He was pretty abrupt with us, but I understand his point of view in that the room wasn't ready according to his standards though it looked fine to us and he was responsible for it. So we left and went back 15 minutes later. Room looked the same! We had a balcony stateroom, Deck 8, toward the front of the ship, port side. Port side ended up being a good choice as the ship happened to dock in most of the ports with us able to enjoy the best view.

DH noticed that the room was warm. The temperature was on max cold, and air was blowing from the vent, but not like it should have been. Sitting there you were fairly comfortable, but as soon as you moved it was noticeably warm. When the cabin door was opened, the hall way air was much cooler and it shouldn't be that way. So DH went to the purser and they said they'd send a technician up to take a look and if that didn't work, they'd give us a fan. DH was a little stressed out by this proposition as he likes the room cool, particularly at night for sleeping and we had read a previous Valor review with a huge problem with a hot room for the whole cruise. We left for he muster drill and which wasn't too long and was finished before the sail away started. We went up to deck 10 and watched Miami go by. We were fortunate to have mostly sunny weather for the sail away. It had been pouring rain at embarkation so we weren't sure how the day would turn out. After sail away, we went back to the room to see if our luggage had arrived and it had. We also hoped the room would be colder, but it wasn't. Our bags were there, and we got unpacked and were sweating by the time we finished so we weren't feeling the greatest at that point about the comfort level of the room for the next several days. Shortly after a technician came and removed the grate that covered the air conditioning vent. He moved a lever to allow more air to come out and said that it would have to stay like that with the vent uncovered and the thermostat wouldn't work anymore because he set the lever to bring out maximum air or whatever that meant. It was a lot better after he did that though. The room was never cold cold, but it was comfortable and you could always get a blast of cold air if you stood directly under the open vent. We were relieved at least that it was promptly addressed and though not perfect, there was some resolution to it. Later in the cruise DH was in the atrium and heard another passenger at the purser complaining about her hot room. She wanted to change rooms and the purser told her the ship was sailing full and she didn't believe her and ultimately was dissatisfied. That, combined with our room issue and the other post with the AC problem leads me to believe a few cabins on the Valor may not be up to par in the AC department. We had gone earlier to the Washington dining room to see what our table assignment was and it was open, but no maitre'd to be found. We were hoping for a table for two because we were celebrating our anniversary this cruise and just wanted to be by ourselves. Last cruise we went with my mother-in-law and this might be the last cruise we have before we start a family, so we wanted one last shot at being by ourselves. DH went back to see what was up and found out that we were at a table for 4 and were put on a waiting list for a table for 2. We would have a note in our cabin the next day if it could be done. I'd rather a table for 8 than 4, if I can't have one for 2, but we would make the most of it. That night we met our tablemates and they were very nice people, so it would have been fine to dine with them each night, but we still just wanted to be alone. We told them that we were waitlisted for the table for 4 so they wouldn't think our not showing up in the future if we got the table had anything to do with them since it didn't at all. The first night of dinner was good. I had the tilapia and dh had the chicken a la grecque and we had the chocolate melting cake for dessert. It was pretty good, not gooey like it was on past cruises. That night we went to the welcome aboard show and saw a comedian who was pretty funny. Gary is the cruise director. He was fine. Nothing outstanding about him, but he wasn't annoying either. The two singers were pretty good and the dancers were the dancers. That night we tried our luck in the casino, at the Fun 21 table, and left ahead. The dealers were very personable, moreso than on other ships. I had fun at Fun 21...at least for the first couple of days that I was winning! We called it a night after that...great night sleep with the comfy Carnival bedding. Trying to post some pictures, hopefully it will work. Tomorrow was the first sea day. Will post more tomorrow, thanks for reading!

Day 2—Sea Day

Cabin Review

previous reviewnext review

Find a Carnival Valor Cruise from $339

Any Month

Get special cruise deals, expert advice, insider tips and more.By proceeding, you agree to our Privacy Policy and Terms of Use.

© 1995—2024, The Independent Traveler, Inc.