Valor July 14-21 plus Vieques; Port and photo intensive review

[cra-z-2cruise]

On the way back, Sammy brought us by a small bar on the beach for a short visit.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Sammy was funny, super friendly, and a great guide.

 

After a little bumpy start, we had an overall great experience with Lucian Style Tours and I would recommend and use them again.

[cra-z-2cruise]

Stopped by The Rum Shop for a quick drink, some music, and free wifi. :)

 

 

Grabbed some pizza, showered, and watched sail away from our balcony.

 

 

 

 

We planned to skip the second formal night, so we headed back to the Serenity deck and a comfy round lounger. Later, we had deli sandwiches and watched a movie out on lido deck.

Another great day!

 

 

 

[Windinmahair]

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Compared to MI waters, our waters are warm all year round.

 

 

 

Some of us locals laugh when we say

we simply don't swim between Christmas and Easter -water's too chilly! :D

but that's because we are spoiled and can afford to wait for 80+ temps later in the year.

 

Between Christmas and Easter,

the waters around this island at 13 degrees N.

is more like in the 70s, if you can stand it that "chilly"! :D

 

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I'd like some of your kind of ice :D our lake turns into a block of ice every winter. I am a wimp Aplmac those 80 degree plus water temps sure sound good. Maybe another time. The excursion I'm most excited about during the whole trip is in Barbados on Calypso Girl. I can't wait to see your beautiful island.

[Aplmac]

 

 

These trees with the long aerial roots are Bearded Fig Trees.

 

They occur in all the islands of the Eastern Caribbean, including Barbados

where I have a huge example growing about 200 yards from my house: they're all over.

 

It is thought that The Portuguese adventurer-sailors who first put Barbados on the map,

named the island Los Barbados = "The Bearded One" because of all these trees on the island(back then)

-the name later Anglicised to BARBADOS.

 

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[Aplmac]

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[MrFunInTheSun]

Great review and pictures! Thank you for sharing!

 

 

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk. Please excuse any typographical errors.

[cra-z-2cruise]

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Nice photo. Which ship is that?

Almost looks like it curves in both directions. :)

[Aplmac]

Nice photo. Which ship is that?

Almost looks like it curves in both directions. :)

Carnival Victory -when she was doing the same Southern Caribbean route

 

10.5 mm. Nikkor Fisheye..explains the curves ;)

 

Sneak out on to Deck 6, on the sunny side

lean waaay over the side while your wife isn't watching

-and get the shot!

 

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Edited August 9, 2013 by Aplmac

[Leo's Rule]

Someone mentioned on our roll call that there is a black light party on Thursday night. Can someone verify?

 

Verified! :D And it's called Electric White Night. You'll be given a glow in the dark bracelet to wear, but if you want (since you know in advance), you can bring your own items to wear as well.

 

Sent using the Cruise Critic forums app

 

Thank you for all of the great pictures and comments about your trip. We are on the Valor 10/13/13. A good friend who works frequently in San Juan also recommended the Hilton Caibe and that is where we have our reservations for the night before the cruise. We are departing the Sunday afternoon on return back to SJU. Here are the excursions I have planned:

St. Thomas: Magen's Bay

Barbados: Calabazza

St. Lucia: Cosol Tours

St. Kitts: Royston Tours

St. Maarten: Capt. Bob with Souliga Destinations

We have been to St. Thomas, St. Maarten, & San Juan before but have never been to the other 3 islands.

So 2 quick questions (for now, will probably have more later), did you ever go to the sports bar on ths ship, and if so how was it? Also, do you know of any good sports bars in San Juan around the hotel? Travelling in Oct. is right in the middle of college football season, and down South, that is like a religion to us. :D But we will be in San Juan one Sat. and at sea heading in on the 2nd Sat. Just currious.

Again, thanks for your pics and review and I continue to watch for more.

 

You're going to enjoy your tour with Royston. And if his van is full you'll have his cousin Ashton. I had Ashton last year.

[cra-z-2cruise]

Carnival Victory -when she was doing the same Southern Caribbean route

 

10.5 mm. Nikkor Fisheye..explains the curves ;)

 

Sneak out on to Deck 6, on the sunny side

lean waaay over the side while your wife isn't watching

-and get the shot!

 

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I could tell it was a fisheye, but trying to figure out where you shot it from.

 

Deck six makes since now!

 

LoL! I understand about the wife though!

DH is always fussing at me to be careful...

"...but I need this angle." :D

[Aplmac]

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...where you're right under the Bridge(on 8)

with the Captain's big ole searchlight right there!

 

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[cuted126]

 

 

This pic is GORGEOUS!

[Dirkgun]

Great review and pics. I love this itinerary.... we have done it twice on the Victory and really want to do it again on the Valor. Thanks for bringing back the good memories. :D

[Aplmac]

I love this itinerary.... we have done it twice on the Victory

and really want to do it again on the Valor.

Thanks for bringing back the good memories. :D

Having done four cruises on Victory

and now recently done Valor, I can tell you that Valor is much improved over Victory.

 

Not that Victory was bad, but Valor is better/newer/bit-bigger

with the Lido buffet area now split into two areas that share the load!

You'll see.

 

Crew almost knocked themselves out to be nice

-maybe someone read them the riot act or it's just a happy ship.

 

My wife came off our June 2013 Valor cruise and said (quite unsolicited)

"That was my best cruise ever!"

 

It was our tenth cruise overall, so you take it from there!

 

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[cra-z-2cruise]

Up early again, all alone on deck 10, for the beautiful approach to St Kitts!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

I know the pano didn't come out perfect, but I thought it was too cool to leave out!

 

 

 

[cra-z-2cruise]

Originally, we had made arrangement through Pereira Tours for a scooter rental for St Kitts.

About a week later, Liz emailed and informed me that a scooter was not going to be available on our date.

 

So, when we arrived at the port,

the plan was to get off and figure something out.:eek:

 

 

 

We were approached by several operators offering tours of the island. Then I saw a man holding a Spectrum ATV sign.

 

I had done this tour back in 2011 with two DS's and it was a blast. I had even considered it while planning this trip, but the price online had gone up to $95/pp.

 

When I asked at the port, the guy tells me $75. I smile at DH and he agrees! :D

 

A short time later, we are on our way with our two new friends, a mother and daughter celebrating high school graduation.

 

After a few laps around the training track and we are off!

 

 

 

Our first stop was a tour of Romney Manor and the Batik factory.

 

 

[cra-z-2cruise]

The grounds were absolutely gorgeous!

Wish we would have had a little longer to look around. Also, we were given a demonstration of the Batik process.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

[cra-z-2cruise]

 

 

 

 

 

[cra-z-2cruise]

Then it was time to get back on the ATV's for some action!

Our Guide for the day was Ivan Jr. He was sooooo much fun!

 

Their web site says they go as fast as their slowest rider.

What it should say is they go as fast as their fastest rider, then stop and wait for the rest, Lol!

 

I stayed right on Ivan's tail down a dirt trail.

At one point, he even challenged me to a race!

Of course he won, but what a blast!

 

We rode through a sugar cane crop, down to the ruins of an old sugar cane mill.

 

 

 

 

 

 

[Dirkgun]

Having done four cruises on Victory

and now recently done Valor, I can tell you that Valor is much improved over Victory.

 

Not that Victory was bad, but Valor is better/newer/bit-bigger

with the Lido buffet area now split into two areas that share the load!

You'll see.

 

Crew almost knocked themselves out to be nice

-maybe someone read them the riot act or it's just a happy ship.

 

My wife came off our June 2013 Valor cruise and said (quite unsolicited)

"That was my best cruise ever!"

 

It was our tenth cruise overall, so you take it from there!

 

.

 

 

Yeah, I am really wanting to do it again. We have done the Valor on a western Caribbean cruise , so I know the ship is nice. I really do think the Valor is a great fit for San Juan (and Barbados :cool:).

[cra-z-2cruise]

Ivan gave us a great tour of the old mill, explained the history of the island, pointed out different plants and fruits, and even climbed a tree to get us each a mango.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Ivan is showing us a "leaf tattoo"- cool! :)

 

 

 

[Rottenapple]

Wonderful review

[Aplmac]

Ivan... pointed out different plants and fruits,

and even climbed a tree to get us each a mango.

MANGO.. ^

 

 

NOT a Mango ^

 

That IS a Mango tree -and dem look like Imperial Mango!

There are several varieties, Julie being by far the most delicious!

 

but that large circular thang shown is not a Mango

-that is BREADFRUIT a tasty starchy foodstuff, staple of many island diets.

The original Breadfruit plants were brought to this part of the world

by Capt. Bligh/Mutiny on the Bounty? no kidding. ;) --from out Tahiti-way!

 

Breadfruit is best boiled in thin slices, then fried quickly

with slices of cheese thrown over it when still hot from the pan

so it goes all melty. Yummy!

 

A fisherman friend of mine once roasted a breadfruit on the beach, in a wood fire

and when it was done, he rolled it into the sea to cool it.

That also draws sea-salt into the delicious smoked flavour.

OMG never had it quite that good, since! = Island Life, you guys.

 

After enjoying Breadfruit..

you can look out for a certain degree of flatulence later in the night.

If you ever hear West Indians referring to the Musical Fruit

- you'll understand why! :) -more island life lol

specially if you time it with the bongo drums.. :D

 

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Edited August 10, 2013 by Aplmac

[cra-z-2cruise]

Time to climb back on the ATV's and head back down a different path.

 

Ivan stopped along the trail, climbed a palm tree, and gave us all a coconut to drink the water.

Funny, but this coconut water tasted completely different from the one in St Lucia.

I thought this one was better.

 

 

 

Again, Ivan was a fantastic guide, and we had an amazing day with him.

 

After we got to talking, we figured out that his dad, Ivan Sr, was our guide back in 2011.

 

 

 

I would definitely recommend Spectrum, and Ivan, for a real adventure in St Kitts!

However, I recommend closed-toe shoes as opposed to the flip flops I had on! :)

 

 

 

[Aplmac]

Ivan stopped along the trail, climbed a palm tree,

and gave us all a coconut to drink the water.

Funny, but this coconut water tasted completely different from the one in St Lucia.

I thought this one was better.

 

Looks like he picked you younger coconuts -whole different taste.

Plus they were growing in a completely difrnt soil too.. ;)

 

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