Carnival Valor Western Caribbean, July 24th - 31st 2005

BACKGROUND: This is a somewhat lengthy review told from a frequent cruiser perspective (Ecstasy, Triumph, Victory and Glory) so if your looking for more of what cruising is like it might not be the right one to read. I sailed with my g/f on this trip, we are both from Michigan, her (21) a student at MSU and I (22) am in Real Estate. This was my fifth cruise and her first. I'll try to arrange this by category so if there is something specific you are curious about you can skip right to it.

PRE-STAY: We flew from Detroit Metro on Northwest to Ft. Lauderdale on July 23rd. The flight was delayed slightly and wasn't exactly smooth but after skirting one of the hurricanes last year on the last flight out of Orlando... no turbulence really bothers me too much. After we landed we picked up a car from National (less then $50 for a Grand Am) and headed for the Hard Rock casino in Hollywood (for no reason other then to buy one of those shot glasses and increase my collection). From there we drove south to Miami and south beach, but decided not to stop there and simply drove through it. The idea was to drive past the port on McArthur Parkway to see the ships in port that day, which turned out to be Imagination and Navigator Of The Seas. After getting lost twice in some not too friendly looking areas and returning the car to the Miami Airport we took a cab to the Intercontinental Hotel on Biscayne Blvd. ($150 a night purchased well in advance). This was a fantastic hotel; nice view of the port from the room, overpriced but tasty room service, large bathrooms and friendly staff, and within walking distance to Bayside Marketplace, where we went for dinner and drinks (ended up just being drinks... there is a bar every 7 ½ feet). We made this a somewhat early night as we had both been up before 4:00 AM that morning. Read more