We chose this cruise because of ports that we had never seen before-Amber Cove and Grand Turk. Amber Cove was just ok but Grand Turk was amazing. This was our third cruise-second with Carnival. We found the Valor to be a fun ship to cruise but were perplexed by the decor. There seemed to be two different themes going on in the same ship and they didn't quite go together. In particular, the dining room (Washington) had bright neon pinks and oranges that seemed more theme park than fine dining. While the food was amazing and our waiters Anak and staff (table 412) were top notch, the elegance of fine dining was lost in the strange color scheme. Each evening, we did wonder about who decorated the boat! The atrium area had creepy faces lining the walls that appeared to be Washington, Lincoln, and who knows????

While the decor lacked the typical beauty of other ships, the staff on board the Valor was amazing. Everyone we came in contact with was hospitable and worked hard to make sure everyone was well taken care of and having fun. The musicians were plenty and good. The stage shows were fantastic! It appeared that they were trying to get more people in the casino area as they had musicians performing nightly. The only problem was the seating which did not face the music and the smoke. It didn't seem well thought out. Going smoke free would be something that Carnival should consider! Our stateroom, while small, was clean and comfortable. We had no issues with loud neighbors or strange smells.