My boyfriend and I just got back from the Carnival Valor...we had a fantastic time on this vacation. We live in Delaware, and decided to drive down to Miami because plane tickets were too expensive for our budget. The cost of gas and parking (the lot will run you about $105 for the entire week) is still way less than what two airline tickets from Philadelphia would have cost).

Embarkation proved to be a long process. The FunPass that we completed beforehand didn't seem to help move things along any faster. I felt that the Carnival terminal was somewhat disorganized, as people who were initially behind us in line ended up getting on the ship sooner. Too many people in one space. When you eventually get up to one of the attendants, they will ask for a credit card to be used as a link to your Sail and Sign card, the little piece of plastic that will be your buying power for the entire cruise (you can purchase drinks, casino chips, photographs, items from the duty-free shops, etc. with this card).

Although many other reviewers have described the Valor as gaudy, we really enjoyed the way it was decorated. It is done in a Heroes and Heroism theme, and it is a very patriotic ship. One important thing to note about the Valor is that it is very clean. At all times, you could find a worker trying to fix things up. The ship is very large, and the 5th and 9th decks are the ones you should use if you want to navigate the entire length of it. The atrium is quite nice, and it goes up to the 10th or 11th deck. There is usually someone playing the piano in this open lounge. If not, the piano is usually playing itself. I feel that there is something for everyone on the ship. You have a variety of lounges (including Paris Hot, Lindy Hop, Bronx Sports Bar, Eagles Lounge, Heroes Club, Winston's Cigar Bar) that cater to a variety of different tastes and age groups. If you like the club scene, visit the One Small Step Disco. They play the popular hits and the floor has changing light displays. This is a really neat club. They also have several activities for children and teens on board. I am not too familiar with these, as I did not use them, but the kids that I saw seemed to be having a blast. There are also a few shops on board. There is a souvenir/bathing suit/toiletry/alcohol shop that has some really amazing prices for liquor. There is also a boutique that sells fragrances, jewelry, Swarovski crystal, and other fine retail items. In addition, there is an extensive photo gallery on deck 4 that the photographers use to display the pictures that they have taken of passengers throughout the week. You can purchase these photos...but beware...if you want a smaller version of the 8x10 that is on display, you must first purchase the 8x10. These cost $19.99. Read more