We are VERY experienced cruisers. We have been on most cruise lines, have cruised most North American ports and have done them all with children in tow. So if you are a family seeking cruise insight, always watch our reviews. I am a national TV personality (not revealing who, for obvious and some less obvious reasons why) and so we have the funds to travel where and how we choose. HOWEVER, we opt to cruise somewhat economically so as to keep our children connected with the real world. So I believe our insight will help those wanting to cruise on a reasonable budget.

We just returned from a 7 day cruise on Carnival Valor, for Easter week. This is not our first Carnival cruise nor is it our first time to cruise Carnival on a major holiday. So the problems we encountered cannot be attributed to cruising over a holiday. These issues are a deeper problem either within new Carnival policies or simply poor management. I will separate this review into 4 sub-sections to make it easier for you to peruse: 1. Over-ALL 2. Warnings/Tips For Would-Be Cruisers 3. Suggestions For The Cruise Line

1. OVER-ALL: The staff of The Valor seemed over-worked and burned out. Cruise line employees sign "contracts" which are generally 4 to 6 months in length. It is easy to spot the people who have been at Sea for several months because they seem tired, lack enthusiasm and are generally worn out from dealing with tourists. The staff of The Valor is clearly filled with people near the end of their contract. Chief amongst them is the Cruise Director, "Felipe". This guy is as fake and scripted as any Cruise Director I have EVER experienced in 20 years of cruising. Every comment he makes, every joke he tells, every "compliment" he pays, are sooooo rehearsed, so insincere and so lacking any credibility. He wasn't well spoken, his staff confidentially confided in me how "unliked" he is by fellow staffers, he makes CONSTANT references to drinking, being drunk, getting drunk, etc and MOST of all- he NEVER speaks unless he is trying to SELL you something. He doesn't even TRY to be the "cruise cheer leader" that is hired to make the "fun Ship" FUN. He has gone 100% corporate and it shows. He and his staff have certain financial goals to meet in every cruise and he make it VERY OBVIOUS that he needs YOU to BUY, BUY, BUY. Truly, you will NOT hear a single announcement from him that is not geared towards pressuring you to buy something. Brace yourself for SEVEN DAYS of hard selling, fake enthusiasm and staged "spontaneity". This is NOT a personal attack on Felipe, not at all. It is simply a note to Carnival corporate that they have the wrong person in the Cruise Director position on The Valor OR the pressure they have put on their Cruise Director's to SELL has broken the user experience. Either way, it needs to be addressed. His focus on SALES has permeated thru the entire staff and the ONLY time you will physically SEE the Assistant Cruise Director's or him in public is when they are SELLING. They are at poolside events pushing the drink specials, they are at all pre-shows pushing you to play Bingo (for a fee) they push the art auction, the sale on jewelry, the excursion trips, they even push your young children to pay to play laser tag, game room, etc. PREPARE TO BE PRESSURED TO SPEND, SPEND, SPEND. All courtesy of your Cruise Director staff. Read more