Just Off The Victory November 6th to Nov 13th.

[frito58]

I'm exhausted just looking at your pictures and we just came back from the same cruise , you must have saw everything and done it all. :) I am shocked at the ships you saw at port we saw one ship all week .

[karma54915]

My family will be sailing with you.Can't wait!

 

Awesome! Have you posted on the Roll Call yet? It is pretty quiet, but still a great place to meet people...

[Bride2Be]

Can't wait to read your review. We are taking our three children on this cruise 7/22/12 and I am already super excited. My DH and I have cruised each year since 2002 (we did take a year off when our youngest was born and one year for Disney.) The two oldest (19 & 14) have been on one cruise in '05, but this will be the first cruise for our youngest (7). I cannot wait to see everything through his eyes! This will be all of our first time on Carnival. My DH and I usually cruise Celebrity, but we have also done RCCL.

[BenjiRodney]

Can't wait to read your review. We are taking our three children on this cruise 7/22/12 and I am already super excited. My DH and I have cruised each year since 2002 (we did take a year off when our youngest was born and one year for Disney.) The two oldest (19 & 14) have been on one cruise in '05, but this will be the first cruise for our youngest (7). I cannot wait to see everything through his eyes! This will be all of our first time on Carnival. My DH and I usually cruise Celebrity, but we have also done RCCL.

 

All of my cruises have been Carnival, the next is RCCL to Alaska, and hopefully in the next week we will book the Victory again for 11/04/11.

[BenjiRodney]

We left shortly after Enchantment of the Seas pulled out, Tuesday would be the only sea day of the trip, maybe a little chance to relax for the rest of the week? No to many things to get involved with on the ship. We had not yet planned anything for Barbados and decided to book the Coast to Coast Panorama through the shore excursion desk.

 

We we driven through Georgetown, out towards the Carribean side of the Island past many hotels, resorts and villages. The first cahance to get out and take pictures would be at the Highland Center, here you are offered a free drink, the rum punch was yummy. A snack bar was available to purchase other sodas water or chips as well as some local crafts. Nice views of the Atlantic coast can be seen from this point. We would then proceed down towards the Atlantic and Batsheba, this has to be one of the most beautiful beaches I have ever laid eyes on. In my pictures it is the one the with rocks in the water and near the shore. Our tour guide was great to point out plants and animals and buildings that he thought that we should know about. After a stop here for pictures and a few trinkets it was time to continue back towards the port. Once at the port we decided to go downtown for some shopping. OMG Big mistake.

[BenjiRodney]

The taxi dispatch at the pier put us back into a cab with a spanish family and off we went, great, on our way to some shopping. He starts pointing out things that we have already seen and this is not the way downtown. As soon as he came to a stop we asked, were are the stores we want to go shopping, he said this was a tour, he let us out for 5 dollars and gave us walking directions back to the downtown area. The taxi drives once we got back downtown were pushy and relentless. Cab cab tour ride hey come here. If i have told 1 of you no and you heard me, what makes you think I have suddenly changed my mind? Well after 30 minutes of feeling like road kill being circled by vultures we finally had enough and said please take us back to the ship. FYI there are stores in the cruise terminal sort of like a little mall. The rum cakes are to die for. If we had not booked the excursion and only ventured to town, I would have hated Barbados, but the shore excursion saved the day and my overall opinion of this Island.

[BenjiRodney]

We pulled out on time at 5pm and next stop would be St Lucia. We had pre-booked Scenes of St Lucia, stops would be St Marks house, Caribelle Batik Studio and Rum Distillery. With 3 ships in port this day we were kind of rushed through the first 2 pretty quick, the St Marks house was nice, and you are served a local snack and rum punch yeah again, it was good (yes I like me some rum). Caribelle Batik would have been nice had it not seemed like every taxi was there. The countryside was lush and tropical. Bananas were everywhere, I even tried the banana ketchup, it was very good. The Rum Factory, short video on the history, short demo of the distilling process, then on to the tasting area. Self service, 20 different kinds to try and you can purchase diret from them, they will tell you we have the best price on the island, I bought 2 bottles for 10.00 each. Well guess what, back at the duty free shop at the terminal it is 7.00 a bottle. Oh well at least I can say it was factory direct.

[BenjiRodney]

Friday was St Kitts, my favorite island of the trip. Romney Manor Gardens were stunning to view and walk through. Here you had a better chance of seeing and browing through Caribelle Batik, so I would wait for St Kitts to do the Batiks. Next stop was Brimstone Hill Fortress, what spectatular views from the fort. This alone was worth the cost of the tour (which we booked again through Carnival) Next we would drive back towards the port and the south end of the Island for views of both the Atlantic and Caribbean. Here we got our first chance to hold an 8 month old monkey, so sweet I wanted to take him home. Tip, always set the price ahead of time for your picture with the monkey(s) so you do not get ripped off.

 

If you purchase a vacation home here for 350000.00 dollars, you quality for economic citizenship, come on powerball numbers Roger needs a vacation home and a new monkey.

 

We continued our journey back to the port and decided to eat before shopping, I don't remember the name of the resturant/bar, but it is above the casino. I even managed to slip some of the rum I bought earlier in the day into my diet coke without getting caught. Jerome bought 2 mixed drinks so it all worked out, the bar still got their money.

 

There are alot of stores here and the prices are good if you need anything little last minute things to take home.

 

Here we got to play and have our pictures taken with 3 monkeys, the little one was fascinated with the ear and kept playing with it. Please Santa, I want a monkey from St Kitts, I promise the dog and the monkey would be best of friends. It was almost 4 and the past guest party was at 445 so time to go get back on the ship and booze it up for an hour.

 

Carnival was not skimpy on the drinks, if you wanted them they were there for the taking.

[BenjiRodney]

Saturday, last day, St Maarten. Booked Island Tour through Carnival. We were driven through the Dutch side, towards Orient Beach and the French areas of Grand Case and Marigot. We stopped in the French City for 45 to explore and shop. The tour then continued towards the Dutch side and downtown for more shopping. We ate at Hard Rock Cafe, shopped and took the water taxi back to the ship.

[BenjiRodney]

Some Final Observations:

 

Embarkation/Debarkation the fastest and easiest ever, felt it was much better than Miami.

 

Food on Ship: Ok at best, I seemed to eat more at Lido and enjoyed it more than the MDR.

 

Cruise Staff: Best so far, plenty to keep you busy.

 

Shore Excursions: Plenty to suit all styles and ages.

 

Please ask if you have any questions. Hope I was able to share just a little from our fabulous cruise.

[Jenna1983]

I agree with you on St. Kitts as the best stop on this itinerary! I honestly would book St. Kitts as an island vacation if it weren't $800 to fly there! lol Did you get forced to hold the monkeys? A VERY pushy man threw them on me and then said, "5 pictures." It turned out at the end he wanted $40. I said, "I'll delete the photos. I don't HAVE $40." And he was very forceful. Finally, handed him a $5 and said to walk away. Sadly, at dinner, someone said, "Oh they eat monkeys in St. Kitts." UGH!!!!!

[BenjiRodney]

No, I asked to hold them and said I would pay 5 dollars for Jerome, when he caught me taking pictures, he said not problem you get to hold them too and it's 10 for you, so all siad 6 pictures with 3 monkeys for 15 dollars was fine with us. I don't see how you could eat something so cute, they seemed sweet.

[jimbo5544]

What time did you get to the airport upon debarkation?

[mom22tinks]

Great review! I was just wondering if they had the new menu in effect when you were on the Victory?

[Buffettfan 225]

Did you fly through Charlotte? I heard them calling for people interested in taking another flight for the $550 voucher while waiting to fly back to Baltimore at 4:30. It looked packed when I was trying to decide where to eat!

 

And it was a great trip/ship! I have never had as wonderful of a cruise as I had on this one. I still can't catch up on sleep though. My body doesn't want to adjust to the time difference! lol I'm debating doing this itinerary again or trying the cruise to Curacao and Aruba!

Victory looking forward to a recent review as we have booked Victory for second time in two years on this itinerary.

As far as posters decision-Victory and Curacao/Aruba--it is harder to find, and not always available all months so that may limit you. I do hope to return to those some cruise--enjoyed them both.

[BenjiRodney]

What time did you get to the airport upon debarkation?

 

We stayed at the Shearaton Old San Juan post cruise so no trip to the airport until Monday when I gave up my seat for travel voucher. Came home on Tuesday.

[BenjiRodney]

Great review! I was just wondering if they had the new menu in effect when you were on the Victory?

Yes the new menus are in place.

 

We tried the fried chicken and meatloaf from the comfort foods sections. The Bacon Mac and Cheese was the best. Page one in the menu is always available each day, flat iron steak, fried chicken, Page 2 changes daily with the didja ever selections. I did not try any of them I am not that brave. The waiter would bring us a couple of things to try and we would but not if it was seafood.

[BenjiRodney]

Victory looking forward to a recent review as we have booked Victory for second time in two years on this itinerary.

As far as posters decision-Victory and Curacao/Aruba--it is harder to find, and not always available all months so that may limit you. I do hope to return to those some cruise--enjoyed them both.

 

Flew through Charlotte, it was so easy to take the flight voucher for $550. They put me up for the night at Vedanza Hotel near the beach amd paid for the taxi both ways.

 

It took a while to rest up a sleep, never knew I would need a vacation after a vacation. But we enjoyed this so much we are going to do it again same week next year. Should have it booked this weekend, waiting to see if Carnival follows NCL and Princess with any holiday rates. If not it is still cheaper than last year.

[iceleven]

We took this same cruise this time last year...or was it the year before? Anyway, we had a port every day with no sea days. We were exhausted, just as you mentioned. If it wasn't for the jet lag and the $$$ airfare for us to fly in from SFO, we'd love to take that cruise again. Maybe we will; it sure was a lot of fun.

[BenjiRodney]

[shonandsuzie]

We stayed at the Shearaton Old San Juan post cruise so no trip to the airport until Monday when I gave up my seat for travel voucher. Came home on Tuesday.

Thanks for the info! I've been checking out your pics this evening too!

 

For the Sheraton; Did they let you check in early? We are staying there post cruise as well and wondered what we'd do about the time between debarking and hotel check in.

[BenjiRodney]

Thanks for the info! I've been checking out your pics this evening too!

 

For the Sheraton; Did they let you check in early? We are staying there post cruise as well and wondered what we'd do about the time between debarking and hotel check in.

 

They let us drop off our bags, took our cell number and called us when the room was ready, they called about 130 pm to tell us it was ready.

[shonandsuzie]

They let us drop off our bags, took our cell number and called us when the room was ready, they called about 130 pm to tell us it was ready.

Okay. Thanks!

[k2]

I have uploaded all of the pictures including post cruise pictures to the following shutterfly site, I could not get anyof them to attach to the postings.

 

http://rogerstraveladventures.shutterfly.com/

 

Pictures of the Carnival Glory from last November are there as well. Enjoy and I will continue with the review as well. Starting with St. Thomas.

 

We sailed the Glory a couple years ago and are headed to the Victory in Feb. How did they compare for you?

[BenjiRodney]

We sailed the Glory a couple years ago and are headed to the Victory in Feb. How did they compare for you?

 

The only 2 differneces I can think of are, Victory is shorter length wise compared to Glory, so it does not have all of the Buffet Stations, so the lines to eat can be longer. Also Victory does not have the extra deck, so no Fish and Chips or Steakhouse. But otherwise the public areas are all laid out the same. You still have to go down from deck 5 or up from 2 to get to the aft dining room.