Carnival Valor Review
Very bad experience, will NEVER cruise with Carnival again.
Rating by category
Additional details
Ship rocks and sways the entire time, so be ready for motion sickness. Necessities not available for purchases at the gift store on this ship, such as sunscreen or tampons.
The embarkation experience was a nightmare. We were first charged $100 to park in the parking desk in New Orleans, which would have not been an issue if there were parking spots. After we paid we drove around the parking desk for 30 minutes looking for a parking spot, which there were not any. After driving around looking for one for 30 minutes we were then informed by the parking staff to just park in nonparking spots. The only place I could find was a spot that blocked another car completely in. I was worried about my car being towed for blocking in another car during my entire trip. They should not be charging people for parking spots that are not available. If I would have known that before I paid, I would have parked elsewhere and took a shuttle to the port!! Then once we were in the port trying to get on the ship many of the port staff were complete rude when I tried to talk to them about the parking situation.
The food on this ship was very disappointing. The buffet was downright disgusting, couldn't eat any of this food except the cereal and cut up fruit. The dining room was a little better but many of the sides on the main course were under cooked. The only good food I had on this boat was from the specialty restaurant we ate at on the last night, which was the steak house that cost us $100 for 2 adults and 2 kids. The steak was very good; however, the side was a joke. I just ordered fries on the side, but they were cheap crinkle fries that you would buy from the frozen area in your grocery store. I am also a huge coffee drinker and the coffee on this boat was so gross that I had to go a week without. the Free coffee at the buffet was so burnt that I tried to add as much sugar as possible to cover the taste, but I eventually gave up because it was so nasty. I also tired the so called "coffee shop" on the boat named Java, but this was no better. Since the coffee was so bad, I tried to get a chai latte from the coffee shop instead; however, these are not real chai lattes. They were only steamed milk with one chai tea bag placed inside the cup. Very Disappointing!!!!
Cabin Review
Balcony
The main beds were very comfortable, other than that though this room was a disappointment as well. The couch that changed into a bed and the bunkbed that came out of the ceiling were so uncomfortable that my boys were trying to sleep with us on the main twin beds. The door that went out to our balcony was not airtight, so most of the time we heard a whistling in our room from the wind outside the door. Very annoying when you are trying to sleep!!!!!! Also, on my last night in our room I found fake eyelashes in our room on the bedside counter, which were definitely not ours because none of us wear fake eyelashes. Super gross!!
Port Reviews
Cozumel
This port was great. It was beautiful, easy to navigate, and many stores to explore. I only wish there had been more dining areas to try.
New Orleans
The port experience was a nightmare. We were first charged $100 to park in the parking desk in New Orleans, which would have not been an issue if there were parking spots. After we paid we drove around the parking desk for 30 minutes looking for a parking spot, which there were not any. After driving around looking for one for 30 minutes we were then informed by the parking staff to just park in nonparking spots. The only place I could find was a spot that blocked another car completely in. I was worried about my car being towed for blocking in another car during my entire trip. They should not be charging people for parking spots that are not available. If I would have known that before I paid, I would have parked elsewhere and took a shuttle to the port!! Then once we were in the port trying to get on the ship many of the port staff were complete rude when I tried to talk to them about the parking situation.
Progreso
This port was okay. It was easy to navigate and there were many stores to explore as well; however, no dining areas available that I saw, and the port was right next to a shipping dock with many shipping containers. Not very pleasing to the eye when you arrive.