Valor 2/20 just returned to Miami

[avid]

Update...my internet minuets ran out just as I hit submit on this post...(I cannot believe I Went through 500 minutes on line...that bow to stern wifi is really addictive and there is nothing like doing your email from the aft hot tub).

 

 

 

Posting this from cabin 8450 balcony via wifi on my own laptop.

 

It was a GREAT cruise...will post a detailed review as soon as I get home..(am almost out of internet minutes) meantime checkout these pix

 

http://community.webshots.com/album/275463724TnYQtl/0

 

 

 

Boarding last Sunday was effortless considering the number of folks cruising that Presidents Holiday week..The ship was pretty easy to get around on considering its size. I really think its much better laid out than the Legend or the Victory, though the only decks with bow to stern access are Lido and Deck 5 which had the Casino and The Ivanhoe Theater (what’s with that whole medieval theme, I don’t get it) the free Sushi bar...great just before Dinner and all the clubs/pubs clustered in the Deck 5 AFT. The 2 dining rooms are on Deck 4 with Winston’s (as in Churchill) Cigar Bar nestled in between (by far my favorite for great Jazz an after Dinner Cognac and a good smoke). Our stateroom was 8450 a category 8C AFT cabin right next to the suite with the wraparound balcony but I think ours was a much nicer wider and more amenable to party. it came with a chair and half reclining lounge and a table but given the room left over, I went up to lido via crew stairs right next door and brought down a regular pool deck lounge chair which fit right in and I still had plenty of space left over for my travel hammock (see the pix at link above).

 

We joined the Cruise Critic Feb 20th Roll Call at the top of the slide during Miami sail away and got to meet Quinn and a few others (hey folks, I have a couple of mpeg video clips to share if anyone knows where I can post them. As you can see from the pix, our 4 Carnival web site booked daily excursions were very enjoyable....(everywhere but Grand Cayman where we went to 7 mile Beach at Marriott Resort which like so many other Georgetown resorts is still closed for renovations due to Ivan’s destruction last fall....so access was free and all the staff who provided food and drink service directly on the beach were very customer service oriented). The food was great and we found dinning room service impeccable except at Scarlett's which was rather amateur, though the food was well worth the surcharge.

[mom of four]

Looks like from your pictures that you were in walking distance of 7 mile beach. Were you?

[CRUISEN4ALIVIN]

thanks for the review, will be on the Valor in 6 days! any other things we shouldnt miss out on? what excursions did u do? parrot tree looks gorgeous....

[JrMafia90]

Some nice pictures. I can't wait!

[avid]

7 mile beach was a $4 pp cab ride (usually van of 8-12)as for excursions we took and recommend..besides parrot tree in roatan we did ah tuna/river wallace in belize and xcaret near cancun in cozumel. As pix show we had a great time>> happy to answer all other questions

[lynyrd]

Thanks for the review. I especially loved the pictures of the aft. We will be in cabin 8455 (the wrap around that you were next to). I can almost picture myself lounging on the balcony. We don't sail until 9/25 but your pictures made it feel even closer.

 

Thanks again

lynyrd

[DHB]

Thanks for the pics and the review. I have room 8452 during a Oct. cruise and did you notice any vibration or noise from the engines? We experienced some on the Glory last year and wondering if the Valor has any?

[Carnival Queen]

Just wondering how you liked the layout of the Valor compared to the Legend. We just got off the Miracle and absolutely loved the layout. Not sure how I'd like the mega-sized Valor, although I've heard that there might be more to do for a 16-year old?

 

Also, the Miracle was the smoothest sailing cruise we were ever on - not sure if has anything to do with it's size . . . or if we just lucked out with perfect weather, cabin location, etc.

 

We're going to do one of them again President's week, 2006 - the ports are the same, except for interchanging Costa Maya and Roatan.

 

Can you tell me what you thought of Roatan? It looks like the beach you were at was beautiful. Was that an excursion, or did you go on your own?

 

Would appreciate any input/suggestions. Thanks.:)

[mnsawyer]

Was the weather not good/warm? You're on the balcony with your long sleeved sweatshirt and sweatpants!

[xanax]

Hi! Glad you enjoyed the Valor. Did they have alternate music, other than disco, trio or Island? Like Jazz or Big Band style?

 

Thanks in advance, we have to wai until October for our sailing!

 

K

[avid]

Thanks for the pics and the review. I have room 8452 during a Oct. cruise and did you notice any vibration or noise from the engines? We experienced some on the Glory last year and wondering if the Valor has any?

 

There was a slight vibration but not very often...mostly when docking when he reversed engines. There was am annoyance with furnituredraging sounds coming through from the Lido deck above (thats a glass enclosed area that only has tables and chairs which I thought would be rarely used at night, but I guess the all night pizza/Ice Creame crowd love to sit by the windows).

[avid]

Just wondering how you liked the layout of the Valor compared to the Legend. We just got off the Miracle and absolutely loved the layout. Not sure how I'd like the mega-sized Valor, although I've heard that there might be more to do for a 16-year old?

 

Also, the Miracle was the smoothest sailing cruise we were ever on - not sure if has anything to do with it's size . . . or if we just lucked out with perfect weather, cabin location, etc.

 

We're going to do one of them again President's week, 2006 - the ports are the same, except for interchanging Costa Maya and Roatan.

 

Can you tell me what you thought of Roatan? It looks like the beach you were at was beautiful. Was that an excursion, or did you go on your own?

 

Would appreciate any input/suggestions. Thanks.:)

 

We sailed the legend TWICE in 2003 (Once out of NYC and Once out of Miami)and loved it but I really thought that the layout was better on Valor (except for the limitation in treversing the ship only on decks 9 and 5). I think our AFT Verendah location had alot to do with it quick access (often used the crew only stair right next door) to Lido deck aft pool and bar and food as well as 3 flight down directly to ALL the lounges and bars including free sushi bar before dinner and one more flight down to dining room and Winstone's Cigar Bar (my favorite for great Jazz and a good smoke). Didnt spend too much time forward except for going to casino or Ivenhoe show room which are both easy to get to on Deck 5 traverse. The ship really didnt seem as big as it is.

[avid]

Hi! Glad you enjoyed the Valor. Did they have alternate music, other than disco, trio or Island? Like Jazz or Big Band style?

 

Thanks in advance, we have to wai until October for our sailing!

 

K

As mentioned, Winstin's Cigar bar featured great jazz, so if you can stand the smoke the music is worth it. Also, the Orchestra at Ivenhoe showroom had a big band sound, but was not featured too much.

[avid]

Was the weather not good/warm? You're on the balcony with your long sleeved sweatshirt and sweatpants!

The weather was just great snny in 80s most of the time...and sometimes it reall got hot on the balcony with midday sun (I think the long sleeved sweatshirt and sweatpants were cloths I traveled in from NYC on embarkation day.. and ook pix before luggage arrived).

[avid]

We're going to do one of them again President's week, 2006 - the ports are the same, except for interchanging Costa Maya and Roatan.

 

Can you tell me what you thought of Roatan? It looks like the beach you were at was beautiful. Was that an excursion, or did you go on your own?

 

Would appreciate any input/suggestions. Thanks.:)

 

I have never been to Costa Maya.. but if its part of Mexico, then I think Cozumel does the trick. I was excited to visit Hondures, though very third world especialy near piers, the excursions (through Carnival) take you to the great beaches on the west end of the island where it more resort-like. We opted for Parrot Tree Plantation which is on the other end of the island, primarily because it was more secluded but very secure. Its really a condo development see http://www.parrot-tree.net/photo15.htm and we wanted to check them out as well as have some beach time.

[avid]

thanks for the review, will be on the Valor in 6 days! any other things we shouldnt miss out on? what excursions did u do? parrot tree looks gorgeous....

In Belize, we took the Ah Tuna/Reo Wallace rver tour. Wife really wanted Talum in Mexico, but I couldnt bear 3+hours on the bus. This was a compromize, she got some Mayan ruins and I got the bus ride cut short to only 1 way with this great river cruise (1+hour Open air boat that meanders down river to see wildlife etc...). Oncle on land, there is a tourist trap type shopping shack rest stop set up that serves a great chicken, rice an beans (cooked in coconut milk) a bargin for $5 and you board a bus (condemmed NJ Transit Commuter bus in our case) for the short ride to the ruins.

 

Roahan, I spoke about in a previous post but we mainly went for

http://www.parrot-tree.net/photo15.htm

 

Grand Cayman was 7 Mile beach, a great beach day at Marriott Beach resort, by the remains of Ivan's devestation was disturbing.

 

Finally Cozumel, where we took Carnival's Xcaret excursion to near Cancun by ferry from ship pier to mainland Mexico and a short bus ride to Xcaret where you get up to 4 hours on your own (see http://www.xcaret.com/index.php ).

for more stuff than you could possibly do in that time.

 

Great fun!

[CrazyMums]

Can you tell me what you thought of Roatan? It looks like the beach you were at was beautiful. Was that an excursion, or did you go on your own?

 

We were also on the 2/20 Valor and loved Roatan. I just wish we had more time there. We took the 10:15 Dolphin Encounter tour (through the ship). A very nice mini-bus took us to Anthony's Key. The tour guide on the bus was very informative about his country and answered many questions. When we arrived at Anthony's Key, we took a short boat ride to the dolphin area and were divided into groups of 6 to 8 people - each group with its own trainer and dolphin. It wasn't a "swim" with the dolphins but we were in the water with them, learned a great deal about them and each got a "kiss" and a "hug" from our dolphin. Well worth the money. From there, some went on to a beach and others back to the ship or to shop. I would have liked more time to explore Roatan though - thought the people were very friendly and informative - much more so than in Grand Cayman where I found them to be quite stuffy and pushy.