oregonjuli Posted April 28, 2014 #1 Share Posted April 28, 2014 Carnival Valor We just got home from our Carnival Valor Southern Caribbean cruise last night. As soon as I am not hung over from travel, I will get my review going. If you have a question in the mean time, let me know. It was fabulous! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bases5 Posted April 28, 2014 #2 Share Posted April 28, 2014 Welcome home glad you had a good cruise. I was wondering if you knew what time they started boarding. We are flying in same day and want to do a drop and run back in san juan Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
k9_Cop Posted April 28, 2014 #3 Share Posted April 28, 2014 Welcome home glad you had a good cruise. I was wondering if you knew what time they started boarding. We are flying in same day and want to do a drop and run back in san juan We did that cruise a few weeks ago. We walked into the cruise terminal at 11, but didn't get onboard until about 12. Sent using the Cruise Critic forums app Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cruisedrew Posted April 28, 2014 #4 Share Posted April 28, 2014 Hey Juli! I think I've been having withdrawal symptoms all day!! haha I might write a short review.... if so, I will include in my signature... What a great week!!! And the WEATHER!!! Awesome!! :-) When's the next trip? haha Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
abisha Posted April 28, 2014 #5 Share Posted April 28, 2014 Glad it was wonderful. I did sailed her a year ago (same itinerary) and also had a wonderful cruise. Loved the Valor..loved the ports. Looking forward to your review. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jmwg49 Posted April 28, 2014 #6 Share Posted April 28, 2014 I can't wait! We are sailing on the Valor in August...and I'm soaking up all the info I can get! I am anxiously waiting to see what you did on each of the islands!!! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jjh9 Posted April 28, 2014 #7 Share Posted April 28, 2014 We leave on May 11. Hope weather is good for us also. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bases5 Posted April 28, 2014 #8 Share Posted April 28, 2014 We did that cruise a few weeks ago. We walked into the cruise terminal at 11, but didn't get onboard until about 12. Sent using the Cruise Critic forums app Thanks That still give us lots of time in town. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
poppadevan Posted April 28, 2014 #9 Share Posted April 28, 2014 I am on the Valor in June. Can't wait to hear the details for each island. Mucho Pictures Pleeeeease! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pokerski82 Posted April 29, 2014 #10 Share Posted April 29, 2014 On the valor June 8 can't wait to read your review Sent from my iPhone using Forums Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lunagirl Posted April 29, 2014 #11 Share Posted April 29, 2014 We are leaving on the Valor on Sunday and CAN NOT WAIT! I am glad you had a great time! Do you have any tips about the ship, staff, or ports? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare marshalltp Posted April 29, 2014 #12 Share Posted April 29, 2014 Please request Juan and Windiasa if you have Lincoln Anytime dining.....amazing (let them know Tammy, Tammy and Logan sent you. Easy to import your own beverages if so inclined. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
oregonjuli Posted April 29, 2014 Author #13 Share Posted April 29, 2014 We got in line to board about 10:30. We were about the first 30 people or so to enter the terminal. (You can check luggage right then). About 11 we got inside and headed up to get sign and sail card, etc... and then waited til about 12 for them to start boarding. We were onboard by 12:30. (Group 3 boarding passes). Hope this helps. You totally have plenty of time to go back in to town. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
oregonjuli Posted April 29, 2014 Author #14 Share Posted April 29, 2014 Drew- It was amazing weather. Did yall do the catamaran? We did it in Barbados and it was amazing. I am ready to book the next one. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
oregonjuli Posted April 29, 2014 Author #15 Share Posted April 29, 2014 I agree about the importing of beverages. We had some in our carryon and also the checked suitcase, and no questions asked. Granted they werent large bottles and were the smaller plastic type bottles. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
oregonjuli Posted April 29, 2014 Author #16 Share Posted April 29, 2014 Lets start by saying The apostrophe key on my computer doesnt work, so Im not really illterate (I hope) just technologically challenged. I dont have my photos downloaded yet, but I will get to them this week. Still unpacking and recovering. This cruise began with an unopened letter from Carnival that sat on the counter for a week. When I finally opened it, I read I qualified for a FREE CABIN. Woo Hoo!! Who doesnt like a free cruise!! I waited for my DH to come home and excitedly showed him the letter. He wasnt quite as thrilled as I was. I began looking through the available cruises to see which one I wanted to take. We had done the Southern Caribbean 23 yrs ago on our honeymoon, and I had always wanted to do it again, but the cruise AND airfare were always too much. BUT with a free cabin, we could swing the airfare. SO, decision was made and cruise booked. I did a lot of research on Cruise critic and trip advisor, since I wasnt familiar with some of these islands. I decided we should fly in on Saturday, and just enjoy not rushing to the terminal. We would have time to explore Old San Juan, in theory. I didnt, however, realize it was Easter Sunday. Oops! This fact did not go over well with the kids, 20, 18 and 10 that were left home with Grandma. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
oregonjuli Posted April 29, 2014 Author #17 Share Posted April 29, 2014 My DH and I are 43, and 44, and this was to be a relaxing getaway for us. We moved last August to Austin, Tx. and in October, my mom moved in with us. We definitely needed a break!!! (whole other story!) DH was not really thrilled with the idea of this cruise, mainly because we were already booked to do Spring Break with the kids in Florida in mid March. He was concerned about taking another week off a month later, but it all worked out and he came around to like the idea. He also isnt a huge fan of flying, and given the choice of flying out of Austin at a better time and having to change planes, or a direct non-stop flight out of Houston - he chose Houston. ugh! SO 5 am Sat. morning we headed to Houston for out flight. The Flight left around 10:30am and we arrived in San Juan 3pm. We grabbed out luggage and headed to get in the taxi line. I had chosen to stay at the Sheraton Old San Juan since it is so close to the port. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sundown331 Posted April 29, 2014 #18 Share Posted April 29, 2014 Set sail on this cruise on Easter 2013, the only bad part was waking up the following Sunday in San Juan and our week was over. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
xowendyxo Posted April 29, 2014 #19 Share Posted April 29, 2014 My DH and I are 43, and 44, and this was to be a relaxing getaway for us. We moved last August to Austin, Tx. and in October, my mom moved in with us. We definitely needed a break!!! (whole other story!) DH was not really thrilled with the idea of this cruise, mainly because we were already booked to do Spring Break with the kids in Florida in mid March. He was concerned about taking another week off a month later, but it all worked out and he came around to like the idea. He also isnt a huge fan of flying, and given the choice of flying out of Austin at a better time and having to change planes, or a direct non-stop flight out of Houston - he chose Houston. ugh! SO 5 am Sat. morning we headed to Houston for out flight. The Flight left around 10:30am and we arrived in San Juan 3pm. We grabbed out luggage and headed to get in the taxi line. I had chosen to stay at the Sheraton Old San Juan since it is so close to the port. Your husband sounds like mine! I booked this cruise for next March and he is grumbling about it (really? complaining about a cruise?? :confused: )! He is also a terrible flyer and I booked a non-stop from Detroit, so hopefully it won't be too bad :) Looking forward to the rest of your review! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lancer74 Posted April 29, 2014 #20 Share Posted April 29, 2014 Going on June 8 and love reading the reviews. Sent from my iPhone using Forums Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
oregonjuli Posted April 29, 2014 Author #21 Share Posted April 29, 2014 When we arrived at the Sheraton, check in was a breeze, but out room was not ready yet. Quite a few people checked out due to the Celebrity and RCCL ships leaving port that night. We left our luggage and ventured out to see into Old San Juan. If you walk dont the waterfront away from the cruise terminal you will come to the Paseo. There were lots of booths and vendors set up to see some local artisans. Lots of locals out and about. The hotel called about 15 min into our walk and said the room was ready, so we headed back. For some reason I didnt take pics of the hotel or room, but it was good sized. Older, but well maintained. Our room looked out into a courtyard, so not really a view. We rested and ventured back out again around 6pm or so. Senor Frogs is right across the street, so we headed in there for drinks and dinner. Food was pricey, but good. I will post pics of our lovely balloon hats. Had to make the DH wear his. After dinner, we headed to the CVS to get our bottles of wine. From there back to the hotel and to bed early, since we had a very early morning that day. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GaMtnMom Posted April 29, 2014 #22 Share Posted April 29, 2014 We have this cruise booked for next April so I am reading all the reviews and posts about it that I can find. Have to do something to occupy my time for the next 341 days!! (not that I'm counting or anything! LOL) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
oregonjuli Posted April 29, 2014 Author #23 Share Posted April 29, 2014 Easter Sunday We had full intentions of going to Sunrise services. A church has a service every year at El Morro. Well, that didnt happen. We did wake around 6:30am to the sun already high in the sky. Excited to start our vacation (DH has warmed to the cruise idea, by now. might as well since we are here. ha!), we decided to walked to San Cristobal fort. It is about a 10 min walk from the hotel - uphill! As you will see from pics later, we are not great physical specimens of fitness. This was an uphill hike, huffing and puffing, but the view was amazing and a great way to celebrate Resurrection Sunday (as the locals referred to it). Everyone from the hotel bellman to people on the street called out Happy Resurrection Day! as you passed them. It was really neat. From San Cristobal we headed west to El Morro along the upper road. We passed La Perla, but did not venture down there, and it appears they were all still sleeping. (its only about 7:00am at this point) As we got to El Morro, we saw the people leaving the Sunrise service, again more greetings called out. We didnt go into El Morro since we had been there last cruise. We turned back toward town and headed down toward the hotel area. It was still very early and everything was closed. Back at the waterfront, we stopped in at Subway and grabbed a breakfast sandwich and shared that on a bench overlooking that water. We then headed back to the hotel. Its too early to head to the pier, so I went up to the rooftop pool and read a book and enjoyed the tropical breeze. Around 10:30 we couldnt contain ourselves any longer and headed to the port. There are a lot of guys in red shirts that you check your luggage with them and they will do the rest. I will say it was still a bit hectic since the disembarking passengers are right there trying to get cabs and leave. (They didnt look happy, and as Karma goes, dont laugh at the pitiful looks on their faces because this will be you in a week.) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
FloridaLaura Posted April 29, 2014 #24 Share Posted April 29, 2014 Thanks for posting the review...looking forward to the rest of it. We are onboard the Valor on May 11th, 11 day 22 hours and 51 minutes til our flight from Tampa to San Juan!!!! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Aplmac Posted April 29, 2014 #25 Share Posted April 29, 2014 I am on the Valor in June. Can't wait to hear the details for each island. Mucho Pictures Pleeeeease! .You might enjoy some of these sights, when you go... I_NEq9aLVhQ The dock in Sint Maarten wtQl1Mj1jJI Lido Pool area, aft. nxG91NzItcU Waterslide action on Valor! . Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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