GAPearl's Second Valor Review- Solo Southern Caribbean Cruise! (2/24/13)

[gapearl]

Cruise- Day 3! Sea Day!

 

 

 

 

 

 

Edited March 10, 2013 by gapearl

[Leo's Rule]

Come on with the review already. LOL :)

[gapearl]

Look at what I woke up to! Pretty blue water!

 

 

I was up around 8ish, took an Advil to help with my slight hangover, and headed to the gym at 8:30 am. The seas were a little rough today, so I really didn't want to run. Plus it was really hot in there since all the shades were raised and the sun was beaming in. I did the stationary bike with a few free weights for about 30 minutes. Not much, but better than nothing. Back to my room for a shower, and then to the Washington dining room for the first time ever to have brunch. Unfortunately, it was not the comedy brunch. The hostess seated me at a large table with 3 couples. I brought my free drink coupon and had a Miami Vice.

 

Here's the brunch menu.

 

 

 

The Miami Vice, one of my favorite drinks. Half pina colada, half strawberry daiquiri. Yum!

 

 

Our waiters brought our table two baskets of warm pastries.

 

 

I had French toast, hash browns, and chicken sausage. I really with Carnival offered turkey or chicken sausage at the breakfast buffet. I'm sure that there are many others such as myself that don't eat pork, and we don't want to have to venture down to the MDR every day to get some.

 

[Leo's Rule]

Yay!!!! The review has started!!!!!

[Kak86]

Yay, more of GAPearls review!

[gapearl]

I made it out to the pool at 10:30 am. It was already crowded, but somehow I managed to grab an empty chair right in the front.

 

 

I sat next to two nice families from Minnesota. I settled in and gave my card to a drink server when he came by to get another Miami Vice. He came back and said my card was declined and I needed to go to guest services. What? :confused: I had already made a couple of purchases, so I was confused. The lady at guest services said she didn't have a credit card on file for me. When I checked in online at home before leaving for San Juan, I put my debit card information in and thought I was good to go. When I checked in at the port, I asked do you need my card, and the lady said no. That's a bit strange, but whatever. Thankfully, my room was a short walk from guest services and I was able to go grab my card in about a minute.

 

Now that I've got that taken care of, I can finally have my drink!

 

 

I wasn't sitting for long when the assistant cruise director, Peter, asked for volunteers for the master mixology competition. I have wanted to enter this forever, and since I was close to the front, I went for it. I was contestant #1. That nice family next to me from Minnesota took some pictures for me.

 

Me with the other contestants.

 

 

Macio, one of the Punchliner comedians, was the host. Much more on him later though.....:)

 

[gapearl]

Peter gave us all a sheet to come up with our drinks. First, you pick your main alcohol- rum, vodka, or tequila. Then, you have the option of adding up to 3 other mixers. Next, you pick your juice, and then you pick if you want it on the rocks or frozen. Finally, you have to come up with a memorable, family friendly name for your drink. If you win, your drink is sold at the bars for the rest of the cruise and printed in the Fun Times every day.

 

My drink was called The Jetsetter, named after me. :) It was rum, apricot brandy, peach schnapps, amaretto, and pineapple juice. There's a bartender on stage to help you out. The judges were Peter, a fellow passenger, and the bar manager.

 

Preparing.....

 

 

Pouring.....

 

 

Shaking.....

 

 

Raising the roof!

 

The judges loved my drink, but I ended up in second place. A frozen drink that tasted somewhat like a mudslide was the winner. I've heard that frozen drinks almost always win. I really wanted bragging rights and a ship on a stick, but not this time. I had fun and got a free drink out of it though!

 

Not much left of my drink at the end of the competition.

 

[gapearl]

I had really worked up an appetite. Time for lunch.

 

 

Wait, is that cornbread? Did Carnival not see my last post about CORNBREAD??? :rolleyes:

 

 

I'll admit it. The cornbread was actually pretty good this time around! I hope they that know when all else fails, turn to Jiffy. You can get 3 boxes for 99 cents. My offer from the last review about sending the chefs to Georgia so I can take them around town to sample good, southern cornbread is still on the table. :)

 

Ice carving demonstration.

 

[jaxstiles]

Stop the madness....cornbread again??!?!?!!!!:eek:

Now you have my hubby cracking up!! I just showed him the pic of the infamous cornbread and he almost spit out his beer while laughing!!!!!:D:D toooo funny!!!

[gapearl]

The hairy chest contest. This was everyone's favorite contestant, a cute older gentleman from Puerto Rico. When asked for his stage name, he couldn't think of one, so the audience named him Papi.

 

Booty shaking part of the contest.

 

 

Papi was the winner!

 

 

After all that, we did some line dancing for Groove For St. Jude. I took a dip in the pool to cool off and then a lido deck salsa lesson started. That was fun to watch. I left at 3 pm to head to our roll call meet and greet. We did the 1 1/2 hour paid party with unlimited drinks and a few snacks. We had a pretty good turn out. I loved talking with cruisinmimiof3. She's even more of a comedian than I am. Sandysurprise, aka Laura, and I, were going to be on an excursion together in St. Lucia along with her husband. We chatted for a few minutes about what was to come. Keep reading. Trust me, you do NOT want to miss that part of the review.

 

 

 

[Leo's Rule]

Your secret is out now...I've been refreshing like a crackhead looking for his next high...and you're on FB lolly-gagging around. :p You do know I'm just teasing you, right?

 

But I really am waiting on the next installment. :):):)

[Leo's Rule]

The hairy chest contest. This was everyone's favorite contestant, a cute older gentleman from Puerto Rico. When asked for his stage name, he couldn't think of one, so the audience named him Papi.

 

Um, were they his groupies? EDIT: or his back up dancers? LOL :eek::D

 

Keep reading. Trust me, you do NOT want to miss that part of the review.

 

 

I'm trying to, but something else has your attention. Come on GAPearl; you have a fanbase and musn't keep us waiting. :D

Edited March 10, 2013 by Leo's Rule

[gapearl]

Tonight was our first elegant night. I didn't see a single person wearing jeans. Everyone looked really good. Ladies all had on cocktail dresses, men wore suits, and there were a few tuxedos (on the men, not the women haha).

 

 

These were the vegetable rolls from the every day menu. They were so good, I ordered them every night the rest of the week.

 

 

Strawberry bisque.

 

 

I had the chili rellenos for my entree. It was ok. The sauce was really spicy and really good on the rice.

 

 

Sorry, I guess I forgot to take a picture of the dessert menu. I had a warm chocolate melting cake with guess how many ice creams. Our waiters sang That's Amore for us and the maitre'd made the couples stand up and dance. *yawn*

 

My little hot pink dress.

 

 

Edited March 10, 2013 by gapearl

[gapearl]

After dinner, I headed to the promenade to take some pictures at the photo stations. Some backgrounds had really long lines. I always recommend taking pictures at each station, or at least as many as you have time for. The good thing about doing this is each photographer has their own style. Out of 20 or so pictures, you're bound to like at least a couple. The bad thing about taking so many pictures is you might like them all and spend too much money buying every one!

 

I was off to the Eagle's Lounge for Happy Cole's comedy show at 11 pm. He was just as funny as he was the night before. I had no idea I would become a part of Macio's midnight show. I wasn't in the front row, but was still really close to the front. Macio's act started with him talking about Fifty Shades of Grey. He asked one lady a Fifty Shades-ish question, and then, lucky me, I got asked that same thing. He got an answer he was not expecting, and about 500 people erupted in laughter. The show and our conversation went downhill from there. I refuse to repeat the questions or the answers on here. :eek:

 

To those of you that might have been in there that night, remember:

 

What happens in the Eagle's Lounge STAYS in the Eagle's Lounge!

 

I repeat!

 

WHAT HAPPENS IN THE EAGLE'S LOUNGE STAYS IN THE EAGLE'S LOUNGE!!!

 

No joke, for the rest of the week, people were coming up to me in the disco, at the elevators, at the beach, OMG you're Kim from the show!!!! Yeah, that was me. :o

 

Off to the disco for some dancing.

 

 

Me with DJ Aurelius.

 

 

The crowd was actually much bigger than this. You can't see all the people by the bar, at tables, hang around etc.

 

 

 

Next installment: A photoshoot with sea turtles!

[Leo's Rule]

No ma'am; spill the beans. You're not getting off that easy. Repeat what was said...use code names if you have to, but spill the beans gosh darnit!

[Cruiser 2 too]

Your outfits are beautiful on you. Looks like you were really having fun! The drinks made me thirsty, I'm gonna try them all when I sail in Oct. Waiting for the next installment!

Edited March 10, 2013 by Cruiser 2 too

[tiff123]

More, more, more...!! I'm starting to feel like a junkie now. What am I gonna do when this review is all over!? Oh yeah, I am going on the same cruise in less than 2 weeks... phew. :p

[annaspjs]

Lmao!!!

 

Sent from my HTC VLE_U using Tapatalk 2

[kansascruiser1]

Lmao!!!

 

Sent from my HTC VLE_U using Tapatalk 2

 

I absolutely love Gapearl's updates, this is awesome. I think she should be the cruise director, seriously. What a following she would have. Our cruise is June 30th.....I'm ready to sail tomorrow!

 

What a god given talent you have! We all will be bored when this is over......

 

Let's vote for Kim, cruise director!!!!!

[waterdancn]

:DDH and I are going on this itinerary April 14! Thanks for the review and photos so we can see what we have to look forward to. You are a very funny lady! Loving your review!!:D

Edited March 10, 2013 by waterdancn
Misspell

[cuted126]

Um' date=' were they his groupies? EDIT: or his back up dancers? LOL :eek::D

 

:D[/quote']

 

Girl,I think those are his groupies lol:eek::p:p

[cuted126]

Kim,you must tell us what happened in the Eagles lounge!!!

[Chitownlou]

Don't go too far down there! It reeks of pee! :eek:

 

 

Illegal activity, right on the the edge of history. What a shame.

 

 

That little face is called the Taino Sun.

 

 

NBA player Carmelo Anthony built this basketball court.

 

 

You're not kidding... we are getting married on July 6th in Puerto Rico and went last year to PR to take engagement pictures.... IT REEKED like a Porta Potty! We are taking the Valor on July 7th for our honeymoon... CAN'T WAIT!!!

[girlscruise2011]

The Miami Vice, one of my favorite drinks. Half pina colada, half strawberry daiquiri. Yum!

 

I love the Miami Vice. Nothing taste better then a Miami Vice while sitting in the hot sun on a cruise ship. Tried them at home and they don't taste the same. I try to have one as my night cap while I'm cruising.

 

Boy, do I want one about now (A Miami Vice and a Cruise) ;)

Edited March 10, 2013 by girlscruise2011

[tooneely]

Hi GAPEARL, Loving your Valor review. My cruise is in August and I can't wait. The beach you went to in St. Thomas, did they have jet skis? Also, what color nail polish are you wearing?