Just Back From The Valor 4/12/2015

[Tutontow]

A quick report about my 4/12/2015 Valor cruise.

 

A short 2 hour door to door drive from Plant City to Port Canaveral and on the ship in 20 minutes.

 

We had cabin #7434 which is one of those odd shaped cabins way in the back. It was nice with a huge balcony. The quietest cabin we have ever had.

 

Our cabin steward Michael had a subdued attitude. He was quiet, friendly and did his job well. Extra tip for him.

 

The food in the MDR was some of the best we have had on a cruise ship. Food is subjective but I will say the Mahi Mahi, lasagna, beef stroganoff, braised short rib, lamb shank and lobster were pretty darned good. Two lobster tails with six shrimp and a flat iron steak and I was doing quite good.

 

We had anytime dining and never had to wait. Table 119 with Tomi and Chisanga waiting on us was the best. They really made us eat in the MDR every night, they are that good, except one when we did the steakhouse. Extra tip for them.

 

We never got off the ship in Freeport. In Nassau we walked to the Da Fish Fry and had a couple of drinks and talked to the locals who worked there. A nice walk along the water and cold Kaliks.

 

On the way back we stopped at Senor Frogs and had a couple of more beers. Fun as always.

 

Half Moon Cay was fantastic as always. It was my birthday. We hung in the water enjoying the weather and scenery, drinking beer and listening to music. I never really cared for the hairy chest contest. They held one on the beach at HMC. It was wet your pants funny. They had a participant named caveman and he was hilarious. Do a Facebook search on caveman Half Moon Cay.

 

Sea Day Bruch was fantastic as always.

 

Embarkation was a breeze and we were home by noon and already had lunch and laundry going. It gets mighty hot and humid in central Florida but it sure is convenient to cruise from here.

 

Overall another great cruise with Carnival and we already have booked a Carnival live cruise with Boston the day after we returned home.

 

The people, staff as well as fellow passengers, port locations, price (bang for the buck) keep us coming back.

Edited April 20, 2015 by Tutontow

[ATLCruiseJunkie]

Thank you for the report! We will be on the Valor in 17 days, and will also be in one of those long balcony rooms. We love them - extended balcony for regular balcony price :)

[Tutontow]

Thank you for the report! We will be on the Valor in 17 days, and will also be in one of those long balcony rooms. We love them - extended balcony for regular balcony price :)

 

If you have YTD I recommend trying to get a seat in Tomi's section.

[JennN]

Cool and concise. I like!

[Tutontow]

Cool and concise. I like!

 

Yep as much as I enjoy reading a good trip report I am just too lazy to type one myself.

[peteukmcr]

Many thanks for your review, much appreciated, especially regarding your experience of YTD. We have YTD and I have read some worrying reports of long waits in the MTD. What time did you eat?

 

This is our first Carnival cruise and we're also on deck 7 in an aft cabin (7449) in 17 days too! Really looking forward to experiencing a new cruise line (to us Royal Caribbean veterans!).

[SMSACE6]

Nice concise review! Thanks for posting.:) Also interested in what time you went to dinner, was it usually the same time each day? or different times. Two times I had YTD, I had excellent wait staffs, and wanted them each night, so always went early, just to get them, but sometimes I think I might like to go later, and that is the point of YTD. So, did you go same time to MDR each evening or different times? Thanks for your review.

[SunnyDayz4me]

Short and sweet ! Very nice....glad to hear you enjoyed the Valor...we'll be on her in 13 short (hopefully) days for our first B2B :)

[Tutontow]

Many thanks for your review, much appreciated, especially regarding your experience of YTD. We have YTD and I have read some worrying reports of long waits in the MTD. What time did you eat?

 

This is our first Carnival cruise and we're also on deck 7 in an aft cabin (7449) in 17 days too! Really looking forward to experiencing a new cruise line (to us Royal Caribbean veterans!).

 

First let me say we are VERY particular about our seats. Although it is just my wife and myself we want to sit at a table for four so we can sit side by side, by ourselves, not on one of those long bench seats with other people.

 

We also want to be by a window or at least see out of the windows.

 

We normally ate early, like as soon as they opened or late, like closing time. It depended on how nice the blackjack table was treating us.

 

My better half just reminded me that we did have a 10 minute wait one night when we went on formal night at 7:30. It worked for us because the lobby lounge is right there so it gave us just enough time to order a drink.

 

Remember decks 3 and 4 dead end due the galley. They put the galley between the two dining rooms.

 

As an FYI.....remember that only the aft elevator goes to the aft dining room.

and only the forward elevator goes to the midship dining room.

 

deck 5 goes all the way through.

 

BTW the dining room is actually behind the lobby lounge. If it is two or four of you eating try to get table 119, you won't regret it.

 

We had YTD in the midship dining room so we always went to deck five because it is the fastest deck to walk on and then went all the way forward to the elevator then down to deck 3.

 

We had a fantastic cruise and can't wait to go again in four months. I am sure you will have a great time.

 

PS: I forgot to mention get ready for a laid back informal experience. The staff and fellow passengers for the most part are some of the nicest, friendliest people I have ever met.

 

My server actually got me to dance with her on the last night and my wife actually hugged and kissed the male server goodbye. They were that good to us.

Edited April 20, 2015 by Tutontow
PS:

[Tutontow]

Nice concise review! Thanks for posting.:) Also interested in what time you went to dinner, was it usually the same time each day? or different times. Two times I had YTD, I had excellent wait staffs, and wanted them each night, so always went early, just to get them, but sometimes I think I might like to go later, and that is the point of YTD. So, did you go same time to MDR each evening or different times? Thanks for your review.

 

See my response to peteukmcr

[taecruise2]

I was also on this cruise and unfortunately have to say it was the worst I have ever experienced. I had a balcony room also , the room steward only did what he had too do or if I asked. No extra tip ..... We had late dinner seating and the slowest I have ever seen.

 

There were so many obnoxious drunks it was disgusting . I know that this has nothing too do with the ship , but it was a great dissapointment.

 

It will not stop me from cruising , I am platinum and will continue to enjoy cruising

[Cruisegirl6]

Hello and thank you for this info glad you had a wonderful time, we do have a few questions if you don't mind?

 

1- Was your room cool at night

2- Past 11pm did they offer anything else to eat besides room service and pizza?

3- Where did you go how long was your cruise?

[taecruise2]

Hello and thank you for this info glad you had a wonderful time, we do have a few questions if you don't mind?

 

1- Was your room cool at night

2- Past 11pm did they offer anything else to eat besides room service and pizza?

3- Where did you go how long was your cruise?

 

My room was very cool , day and night

Not much too eat after 11pm except what you have already mentioned

5 day cruise , Freeport, Nassau and Half Moon Cay

[OCruisers]

Thanks for this. :)

My beautician has Valor booked in mid May for a week (Western) and I so want it to be a good one for her. She's been through a lot in the past year and is so looking forward to getting away.

She's not a member of CC but would like to know what the Piano Bar is like?

Does Valor have a Steakhouse?

Sorry, I'm trying to help her but the only Carnival ships I've only been on were Glory, Fascination, and Fantasy. :o

LuLu

[Cruisegirl6]

Thank you.

[peteukmcr]

First let me say we are VERY particular about our seats. Although it is just my wife and myself we want to sit at a table for four so we can sit side by side, by ourselves, not on one of those long bench seats with other people.

 

We also want to be by a window or at least see out of the windows.

 

We normally ate early, like as soon as they opened or late, like closing time. It depended on how nice the blackjack table was treating us.

 

My better half just reminded me that we did have a 10 minute wait one night when we went on formal night at 7:30. It worked for us because the lobby lounge is right there so it gave us just enough time to order a drink.

 

Remember decks 3 and 4 dead end due the galley. They put the galley between the two dining rooms.

 

As an FYI.....remember that only the aft elevator goes to the aft dining room.

and only the forward elevator goes to the midship dining room.

 

deck 5 goes all the way through.

 

BTW the dining room is actually behind the lobby lounge. If it is two or four of you eating try to get table 119, you won't regret it.

 

We had YTD in the midship dining room so we always went to deck five because it is the fastest deck to walk on and then went all the way forward to the elevator then down to deck 3.

 

We had a fantastic cruise and can't wait to go again in four months. I am sure you will have a great time.

 

PS: I forgot to mention get ready for a laid back informal experience. The staff and fellow passengers for the most part are some of the nicest, friendliest people I have ever met.

 

My server actually got me to dance with her on the last night and my wife actually hugged and kissed the male server goodbye. They were that good to us.

Thanks for all the tips, very useful.

[Cruisegirl6]

Which dining room is My Time Dining?

[Tutontow]

I was also on this cruise and unfortunately have to say it was the worst I have ever experienced. I had a balcony room also , the room steward only did what he had too do or if I asked. No extra tip ..... We had late dinner seating and the slowest I have ever seen.

 

There were so many obnoxious drunks it was disgusting . I know that this has nothing too do with the ship , but it was a great dissapointment.

 

It will not stop me from cruising , I am platinum and will continue to enjoy cruising

 

Sorry you had a bad experience.

 

Where did you see the drunks? We didn't spend much time on the Lido Deck where I assume some people have a little too much liquid fun. The only drunks I saw were two in the casino and they were loud and obnoxious but not out of control.

 

I assume your MDR was in the aft and I agree we had the brunch in there and the food was great but the staff was brutal. If I was assigned there every night I would have switched to YTD and gone to the midship dining room.

[Tutontow]

Hello and thank you for this info glad you had a wonderful time, we do have a few questions if you don't mind?

 

1- Was your room cool at night

2- Past 11pm did they offer anything else to eat besides room service and pizza?

3- Where did you go how long was your cruise?

 

We keep our home very cool (72 degrees) so our cabin was just okay temp wise. I did sweat a little at night after a fatty supper.

 

After 11 PM it was Pizza and deli sandwiches or room service. I will say one night after a long casino run we pigged out on pizza, reubans and grilled cheese.

 

5 nights, Freeport, Nassau, Half Moon Cay.

[Tutontow]

Thanks for this. :)

My beautician has Valor booked in mid May for a week (Western) and I so want it to be a good one for her. She's been through a lot in the past year and is so looking forward to getting away.

She's not a member of CC but would like to know what the Piano Bar is like?

Does Valor have a Steakhouse?

Sorry, I'm trying to help her but the only Carnival ships I've only been on were Glory, Fascination, and Fantasy. :o

LuLu

 

They had Greg Alcock in the piano bar. He is a great pianist and an okay singer. Do a search on Greg Alcock piano and you will find a video of him.

 

They have a steakhouse and it was fantastic. I love steak and I had the spice rubbed ribeye and it was one of the best steaks I have ever had.

[Tutontow]

Which dining room is My Time Dining?

 

The Lincoln midship deck 3.

 

See my post above for directions.

[poison7fl]

We were on the same cruise and it was fantastic. I didn't eat in the Dining Room (I don't anymore, due to the production involved). The buffet on the lido deck was very good and the options were plenty. The burrito bar was good as well.

 

15th Carnival cruise and never been to Half Moon, and now I regret avoiding it all those times... IT WAS GORGEOUS and relaxing.

 

Clean ship too.

Edited April 21, 2015 by poison7fl

[taecruise2]

Sorry you had a bad experience.

 

Where did you see the drunks? We didn't spend much time on the Lido Deck where I assume some people have a little too much liquid fun. The only drunks I saw were two in the casino and they were loud and obnoxious but not out of control.

 

I assume your MDR was in the aft and I agree we had the brunch in there and the food was great but the staff was brutal. If I was assigned there every night I would have switched to YTD and gone to the midship dining room.

 

Yes , we were in the aft dining room. We always request late dining as this works best for us.

 

On two different nights in the dining room they had to ask people to leave. One night there were 2 ( women ???? ) that were so drunk their friends had too hold them up. On a 2nd night , there was a little person that was drunk and he fell down the stairs at the entrance to the MDR , his friends had to pick him up. Of course there were lots of drunks in the casino , but no more than expected.

 

I did not spend a lot of time on Lido , we spent most of our outdoor time on the balcony which was really nice.

[OCruisers]

They had Greg Alcock in the piano bar. He is a great pianist and an okay singer. Do a search on Greg Alcock piano and you will find a video of him.

 

They have a steakhouse and it was fantastic. I love steak and I had the spice rubbed ribeye and it was one of the best steaks I have ever had.

 

Thank you very much! :)

 

LuLu

[MaineYachtClub]

Thanks for the review. Our Valor cruise is in 25 days. DW is concerned about what to wear on the elegant nights. We have few opportunities to dress up, but we'd rather not be over-dressed (and over-packed). I wonder if you could give us an idea of what the attire was like on the elegant night.