A cruise line can not organize the weather for you but they can make the cruise enjoyable in spite of the weather. For some reason, Carnival Valor does not let the passengers know what the outside temperature or weather forecast is. A psychological ploy to try and make passengers happy? One should know how to dress when getting to a port. Because of the cold spell during the beginning of January, people got off of the ship poorly prepared for the weather. I have been on other ships where the staff provides up to date weather information but also makes additional plans for activities for the large number of passengers remaining on the ship.

Organization of shore excursions - generally, a ship will organize a place to meet and receive group stickers for shore excursions. The staff of the Valor set up the process so as to create unnecessary bottle necks and confusion. The use of signage was markedly absent and the verbal announcements were incomplete and confusing. This is the responsibility of the Cruise Director, who was a disaster.

There were many youngsters on the ship and they were well behaved during the daytime. Apparently, parents left they to their own devises in the evening and they were running, shouting, and creating disturbances in the corridors of the cabin decks. This included underage drinking. Disturbances had to be reported to the Passenger Service desk by many people before they did anything. Read more