Victory review Sept 20-27

[terryde]

We are just back from the Victory and will write in the Ports section about each individual port. No pics either (sorry, Cigar Dude really covered it well - look at his pics!).

 

We were on our 10th Carnival and 14th overall and just hit platinum - reviewing that sep under Platinum. We liked the ship, in great shape, appreciate the new movie screen on the Lido. We never had to shoo kids out of the adult pool and hot tubs. No sea days so not much worry about "chair hogs". We were rarely on the ship with such a port intensive schedule, but loved it!

 

Food was up and down, but if you are new to Carnival, read the cruise critic threads and you will see what foods are fabulous. French onion soup, pumpkin soup, seafood if you love it, flatiron steak usually, lobster, etc. etc. Even the buffet food is great and there are a lot of things you won't get in the dining room. The reuben sandwich in the deli is now done as a panini, and it was soggy and no butter and squished bread wasn't appealing. The pizza was great as usual and several different kinds.

 

Shows were good - I love the productions and they were great. My DH loves magic and comedy and said they were good.

 

When you are in port every day and our age (late 50's) you want to get up early, play hard on shore, and go to bed late! What saved us: did excursions early in the trip that included a lot of activity, snorkeling, hiking, etc, and two day passes at resorts towards the latter part. Last day (in St. Kitts) did only a morning excursion. We also had late dining and took the time between 5pm and dinner to shower, sleep, relax, hot tub, sauna.

 

Ask me any general ship questions - and check out the ports in the ports area.

[Hawk15]

I'm interested in the resort passes. Were they all-inclusive? Was transportation included? Were they very crowded? Did you buy them on the ship? Beach activities? Thanks

[terryde]

The resort passes were not Carnival excursions. Transportation was on your own. The two we used:

 

The Crane, Barbados - it is the oldest resort on the island, from the 1800s! They offer (in their website) a $13 pass that is good all day. YOu need a cab (expensive as it will be about 40 mins away - maybe $50 one way) or we took a bus. The bus took about 55 mins and you have to be ok being the only tourists on the bus! They are very friendly, but you have to ask where to get off. This resort is very British and quiet this time of year. Keep your email confirmation, and you don't pay until you get there. This place is on a cliff overlooking a pink sand beach. You get a chair and umbrella (again, show the email to the guys on the beach confirming that it includes them), and the $13 is redeemable for food at the restaurant. We had a private balcony for lunch and it was about $15 each for green curry chicken sandwich and flying fish sandwich with sides. This is a beautiful place to see, but an effort to get there.

 

The second was Jolly Beach, Antigua. Again, reserve with their website in advance, and pay when you get there. Theirs is well organized: $75 each for 9:15 am to 5pm, and including full hot breakfast buffet, all the drinks you want, full lunch buffet or grill including the most fantastic jerk chicken, use of pools, and non-motorized water sports including Hobie catamarans you take out yourself if you know how to sail. The drinks included anything you can imagine, but also serve yourself pina colada and strawberry daiquiri machines (virgin) with a bottle of rum there so you can add to your taste. And a bartender making all kinds of things. Again, we were there in the quiet season and a lot of British guests there. No air conditioning anywhere but it was cool (even with 86 degrees outside) and comfortable. Still fairly quiet and peaceful, but the big pool had a swim up bar and DJ and music constantly - not too loud. I expect in season it is really busy.

 

We would definitely do that one again.

[Hawk15]

Thanks for the info. The all-inclusive in Antigua sounds good but by the time we sail in Feb Antigua is not on the itinerary.