Valor July 2011

[fraz0132]

I have been looking at cruises for July 2011. I am really wanting some more input on the Valor. It sails to Grand Cayman, Isla Roatan, Belize, and Cozumel. My husband and I (early 30s) have not been on a cruise in 4 years. We cruised on the Fantasy to the Bahamas (loved it). Looking into a balcony or suite this time. Any information will be helpful. Anything I should ask for in particular when booking?

 

Thanks

[Peter Of The Seas]

I have been looking at cruises for July 2011. I am really wanting some more input on the Valor. It sails to Grand Cayman, Isla Roatan, Belize, and Cozumel. My husband and I (early 30s) have not been on a cruise in 4 years. We cruised on the Fantasy to the Bahamas (loved it). Looking into a balcony or suite this time. Any information will be helpful. Anything I should ask for in particular when booking?

 

Thanks

 

The Valor is a great ship, a big bigger than the Fantasy

 

I am sure you will enjoy her

[firefly333]

Contact victor bodden for roatan, he is the best. He will take you all day for like $35 plus the cost of what you pick to do. Roatan be sure and stop and pick up some coffee to bring home. Its really good.

 

Sounds like awesome ports to me :)

 

What else would you like to know specifically.

[fraz0132]

I guess I would like to know more about the excursions and things about the ship and most first timers don't figure out until the last day.... I did see there are 2 dining rooms, which would be the best? Early or late dining and what is this "Your Time" dining option? Didn't have that one the last time. Also, is it worth it to do a balcony or suite?

[sscottcruiser]

Family and I were just on that cruise on the Valor the week of July 4. It was great. We did Victor Bodden's Best of Roatan tour and did the zip-lines at his house and had a blast. The staff and ship are great. We did Nachi Cocom in Cozumel and it was really a great time as well. Wish we were going back tomorrow.

 

Have fun, I'm sure you will.

[fraz0132]

What is the best deck to get your room on?

[nybumpkin]

What is the best deck to get your room on?

If you're looking at a balcony, I'd opt for deck 7 - you have cabins above and below you. Most of the suites are on deck 7 as well. We had a balcony on deck 6 and while it wasn't terribly noisy, we did hear noise from the casino. If you don't mind being forward, a number of cabins on decks 8-10 also have cabins above and below.

 

We did this cruise two years ago and did all independent excursions:

Grand Cayman - the "Outrage Eco Tour" with Captain John Michael, available through Island Marketing.

Roatan - Victor Bodden's "Best of Roatan" tour.

Belize - Cave tubing with Major Tom.

Cozumel - Paradise Beach.

[nybumpkin]

I guess I would like to know more about the excursions and things about the ship and most first timers don't figure out until the last day.... I did see there are 2 dining rooms, which would be the best? Early or late dining and what is this "Your Time" dining option? Didn't have that one the last time. Also, is it worth it to do a balcony or suite?

You normally don't get to choose your dining room, but the food is the same in each. One dining room will be midships, right off the lobby, while the other will be all the way aft. The aft dining room has windows on three sides, the midships on only two. However, I find less vibration and movement in the midships dining room.

 

Dining room seatings: There are two set times in both dining rooms, 6:00 and 8:15. "Your time" dining allows you to eat when you wish; they will have a portion of one of the dining rooms set aside for "Your time" diners. I haven't done "Your time" dining, as we prefer to eat closer to 6:00 anyway.

 

Is a balcony or suite worth it? The balcony is definitely worth it in my view. I love being able to get up in the morning and go outside, and DH and I tend to spend a fair amount of time on the balcony. We're not sun worshipers, so we like a more shaded area when we're outside. As for a suite - we've had a suite several times, and they're really nice. I've stayed in hotel rooms smaller than some of the suites. But is it worth the price? That depends on what you're looking for. The suites will have a bath/shower combination with jacuzzi, while the regular balconies will have a shower only. (And an annoying shower curtain that tends to wrap itself around your legs. It's better if you weigh down the shower curtain with clothespins.) There's a nice dressing area. But we've managed just fine with a regular balcony - in fact, on our next cruise in September, we're putting all four of us in one balcony cabin. It's a short cruise, it's not something we had planned for, the price was right - and we'll be fine.