Carnival Victory 8/27 Solo Cruiser Review

[OhJinkies]

I just posted my "official" review but thought I'd post here as well with a little extra in the way of descriptions, photos, etc.

 

I've experienced over a dozen cruises on a handful of mass-market cruise lines, and if I've learned anything, it's to do my homework so I know what to expect. It reduces the chance of unpleasant surprises and helps me plan for an enjoyable experience.

 

I booked this cruise only about three weeks out from departure. I live in Central Florida, so that's pretty easy to do. This was a solo cruise: my purpose was to enjoy a short cruise ship getaway so I could relax for a few days, and this cruise fulfilled that purpose well.

 

The Victory is not a new ship, and its latest drydock did not result in any miraculous facelifts. Same icky pink tile in the bathrooms, CRT TVs in the staterooms, etc. Neither was a particular detriment to my experience, but starting out expecting this meant no disappointment when I encountered this, or any other signs of aging. They did add a new bar, Alchemy, which I liked very much.

 

Embarkation

I drove from Orlando to Miami and parked at the port. When walking from the garage, it's not really clear where to go. I walked toward the line to check in, but they told me I had to go to a different location across the street to drop off luggage. This area was confusing as to what the process was for dropping off luggage, as there were a lot of people and porters standing and walking about. Once I got my luggage taken care of, the check-in process went smoothly. But I think ALL cruise lines need to provide an easy by-pass for those not wishing to have their picture taken. I consider it not only a hassle (and a negative first impression) but it slows down the flow of passengers considerably.

 

Stateroom

I booked an interior stateroom, 8321, which served my purpose well. It provided a comfortable bed, plenty of storage, and not too much noise. I did occasionally hear loud people in hall outside, and I heard some of the dancing on the deck above during the final sea day, but I wasn't spending enough time in my room to care.

My steward, Arip, was friendly and kept the place clean. I had ordered bottled water (which I usually mixed with some flavored tea concentrate I carried with me) so that was waiting for me when I arrived. No refrigerator, but I brought a insulated drinking cup with lid that I'd fill with ice, then poured my tea inside. Perfect. The cups on board are too small for me. I really liked the corner cabinet inside the bathroom. I was planning on using my cosmetic bag/door hanger to store all my toiletries but opted to place them all in the cabinet, and it worked out well. The water pressure in the shower was fine. I'm only 5'3" but on the "fluffy" side. The location of the soap/shampoo dispenser was a little inconvenient and I would have preferred to see it on the long end of the shower so I didn't keep bumping into it, but it wasn't a huge problem. The water temperature does fluctuate a bit: if it cools down, resist the urge to make it warmer as it will warm again in a few seconds and you don't want it to suddenly get too hot.

 

 

 

 

 

to be continued...

[johnlcruise]

Enjoying your review. Thanks for taking the time to report. Keep it coming.

[SMSACE6]

Thanks so much for your review! I am going on Victory next month also solo. Looking forward to more review:)

Edited September 12, 2015 by SMSACE6

[mafig]

I was looking for a cruise to Bermuda from Florida and came across an itinerary in May that was interesting. Then my heart sank when I saw it was on Victory. Victory was an old ship when we started cruising in 2000.:(

 

Maybe, just maybe, this review can change my mind.

[tncruisergurl]

Did you do the steakhouse selection in the MDR?

[CARNIVALCRUISE3]

Great review! Looking forward to reading the rest. I love the Victory! I have sailed on it 3 times(this summer and last, and in 2004). They take such good care of this ship, and looks as new as it did back then!

[S.C.]

Great start looking forward to the rest.

[OhJinkies]

Dining

Dining was "hit or miss" for me. The buffet wasn't too insane on embarkation day, and I put a lot of small portions of different foods on my plate. I enjoyed the various salads, pastas, fruit, etc. The beef was overcooked and the cubed cheese tasted really strange.

 

I had late seating in the Pacific dining room. I have traditionally chosen late dining to avoid families with small children (and the noise that ensues) but on this cruise, I wish I had chosen early dining. Meals ran long and I had to rush to make the late shows. It didn't leave time to enjoy the different entertainment options on board. My dinner companions were enjoyable, and the servers were very nice. Service was often sluggish. One night they were changing out our table ware, and I noted to my table mate that I hadn't see the dessert menu yet. They reminded me that our entrees hadn't even arrived yet. It seemed like we had been sitting there SO long that I lost track.

 

Quick meal rundown - The Victory is not on the new "American Table" menu. All appetizers were fine, though the soups were a little salty. For the first night, I ordered the spinach and artichoke dip with chips, and an appetizer-sized portion of the lasagna bolognese. Both were tasty. Then I tried the warm chocolate melting cake. VERY good but very rich.

The second night (elegant night) I ordered the prime rib, medium rare. It came out looking beautiful but had absolutely no taste. They brought what I thought was a boat of au jus, but it was gravy, which I didn't really want on my prime rib. I asked my tablemate for some of the horseradish she'd ordered, and that helped. I then had the bitter & blanc for dessert. It's raved about, but I thought it was just okay.

The next night I ordered the Caribbean jerk pork entree, and it was very nicely seasoned. I enjoyed it.

The final night I ordered the Veal Parmesan. This is not something I usually order in a restaurant, and remembered that my mom would make croquettes from ground veal and pan fry them, and they were pretty good. Both the texture and flavor of this dish were very strange to me. I don't think the veal was ground; it almost seemed like it was pressed. Anyway, I ate very little of it.

 

I ate lunch in port when in Key West and Cozumel. I tried breakfast in the buffet and the Pacific Dining Room, including the brunch on sea day. Breakfast was fine. I'm not an egg eater. I usually go for home fried potatoes or hash browns, bacon, fruit, and maybe a waffle or pancake. Because I wasn't getting eggs or omelette, I could go to the center island at the Med Buffet and get everything I needed for breakfast there without waiting in a long line.

As for my sea day lunch and in-between times, I also enjoyed one slice of pepperoni pizza (good but not spectacular) and a burger during my cruise. I enjoyed the burger, although the texture/flavor of the pickle was really odd and I didn't eat it.

As far as beverages, I'm not a big drinker. I had some sort of Pirate punch by the pool and a Spicy Chipotle Pineapple Martini one evening at Alchemy (yum).

 

Life On Board

I'm not one for the "pool party" or "sunbathing" scene. Nightlife for me is seeing a show or listening to music. I'm probably not Carnival's target audience, to be honest. But I made it work. The Serenity area, reserved for adults, looked very comfortable. I used the hot tub briefly upon returning from Cozumel, but it was malfunctioning and keep switching off and on. This area was just above the Lido deck, with music blaring from the DJ, so I'm not so sure about the "Serenity" part. So I found my own "Serenity" spot on deck 3, a promenade-style deck just beneath the life boats. There were chairs and lounges available (though not the cushy kind). The port side of the deck was smoke-free, while smoking is permitted on the starboard side. I enjoyed sitting out here and reading in the quiet and the shade.

I was out here after the ship had sailed from Miami, and began chatting with a nearby crew member. Out in the open water, we saw a long wave some distance away. It extended as far out as I could see, but was not very high. It was very strange and the crew member said he'd never seen anything like it. I recorded a little bit on video (below). I wonder if it was some sort of mini-tsunami from some underwater seismic activity.

 

 

 

 

 

I'm not sure if this will play:

[OhJinkies]

Did you do the steakhouse selection in the MDR?

No, I didn't. There was usually at least one thing on the menu that looked appealing, and I wasn't looking forward to paying the upcharge.

[OhJinkies]

Thanks for the feedback, everyone! It's nice to know that someone is reading this!

 

Ports

Key West --This port stop is really too short. Key West is best known for its Sunset Celebration and nightlife, and it's a little "sleepy" during the day. Still, there are things to see (Truman's winter residence, Hemingway's home, etc.). I've visited before and really all I wanted to do was to go to back to Caroline's Cafe on Duval and have their Macon & Bacon chicken salad. I had it a few years ago and it was fantastic. It was good this time but not as amazing as I remembered. Funny how time sometimes sweetens our memories. I also had a piece of key their lime pie (this was actually a little sweeter than I like).

It was VERY hot in Key West. If you go during the warmer months, bring a bottle of water, a hat, and a cloth to mop up the sweat that will be pouring from your face. We were able to dock in an area that didn't require a shuttle, so I was able to get back in plenty of time. Be prepared to stand in a long line with NO shade to reboard!!

 

Cozumel -- I booked the "La Case en la Playa Select Retreat," which was a all-inclusive small-group experience (limited to 40 guests, I believe) at a beach house on a nice quiet beach. There is a chef to prepare lunch (tasty but not remarkable) and snacks, and someone comes around to take drink orders (or you can head to the bar upstairs). There are restrooms, a freshwater outdoor shower, and plenty of comfy seating on the beach and under shady trees. There is a small indoor seating area and "front porch" as well. I don't like to sit in the sun and in many beach situations, you have to reserve or fight over the available shade, so this seemed like a great option for me. It was quiet - no loud music or kids screaming. The water temperature was perfect and there was only a gentle amount of waves coming in. The shallows extend out quite a bit, and I was able to go out and float on my back for a while -- blissful. There are large rocks under the water, but they're easy to see and step over and around. This is not a cheap beach outing, and I wish we'd had one more hour, but overall, I think it was a good choice.

If you choose this excursion, bring some cash for tips and if you want a massage. There is a massage therapist on site and a nice little cabana/tented area where she was working, but she takes cash only. I didn't bring enough cash and the ATM in the little shopping village where we all met up had a ridiculous surcharge, according to another passenger. I think they said it was a $20 fee!

 

PS The photographers who want to take your photo as you descend the gangway REALLY bother me as this causes such a backup of people trying to exit the ship. If they want to offer photos, move it to an area out of the way of traffic and people who want their souvenir photos can just move over there.

 

 

 

 

 

 

[OhJinkies]

I was looking for a cruise to Bermuda from Florida and came across an itinerary in May that was interesting. Then my heart sank when I saw it was on Victory. Victory was an old ship when we started cruising in 2000.:(

 

Maybe, just maybe, this review can change my mind.

I believe that the Victory was built in 2000. I think it's been well-maintained and I found many areas to be very pretty. After I finish the review, I'll post more photos I took around the ship. For me, the price was right, the length and itinerary were fine (honestly, I just wanted to be on a cruise ship), the inside stateroom was clean and comfortable, the crew was friendly, and although my reviews on the food were mixed, there was no risk of my going hungry. I have no regrets whatsoever. Just go in with a positive attitude and it will be great!

 

P.S. When we boarded, T.S. Erika was still heading in our direction and we had no idea what the next few days would bring. I just decided to go with the flow. At one point, I wondered if we'd even be able to return to port on time, or if we'd have to spend another day at sea. The storm dissipated and didn't affect us at all, in the end.

[OhJinkies]

I've mentioned the outdated decor and my frustration with the photographers. I also mentioned some of the strange-tasting food I encountered. None of these really had a negative impact on my cruise, they were just observations. There was really nothing terrible that happened during this cruise that would cause me to not want to do this all over again.

 

If I had to narrow my feedback down to two areas of improvement with Carnival, it would be these things below:

 

During sea day, I attended the "Love and Marriage" show in the Caribbean lounge, and really wanted to order a drink. I saw two people trying to clean up the room from the previous Bingo game, then ONE lady started taking drink orders. She'd move about randomly, and would not look up to see people trying to get her to come over to where they were seated. She FINALLY stopped by my seat (after prompting from another guest) about ten minutes before the show ended. I figured the show would be over by the time she actually brought it out, so I declined, but let her know that I was disappointed that the cruise only assigned one cocktail waitress to work the entire floor.

So I actually stopped by Guest Services to tell them what happened. I wanted to provide feedback to the Food & Beverage team that on one occasion when they literally had a "captive audience" who might like a drink, they failed miserably and probably lost out on some revenue. The person at the desk was very nice and even gave me a drink credit, but my hope is that they read my comments and re-evaluate the situation. It's just a matter of labor distribution.

 

My only other major complaint with Carnival is the air quality in the Casino. Due to the smoking restrictions on board, all the smokers seem to congregate in the Casino. Due to the design of the ship (portions of decks 3 and 4 don't have a throughway due to the Atlantic midship dining room and the galley), it's common to go up to deck 5 to get across to the other side of the ship. The China Sea Casino is right in the middle, so I passed through there many times just to get from "Point A" to "Point B".

I was diagnosed as allergic to cigarette smoke as a teen. I think I've gotten better over the years, but try to avoid it for that reason, along with general health concerns and not enjoying having my clothes and hair smell like an ashtray. I can tolerate smoky air for a short time (I've been to Vegas and the newer casinos have great air exchange equipment) but don't really want to stand next to someone blowing smoke in my face.

I inquired as to whether there was a non-smoking section, or even a row of slot machines where smoking was restricted. No. The Casino host pointed out a few random machines with a "no smoking" symbol on them, and most of these were right next to one with the symbol indicating that smoking was permitted. So if I were to stand at a "no smoking" machine, I would likely have a smoker standing next to me. That makes absolutely NO SENSE, and I mentioned that to the host. He sort of shrugged and agreed. I cannot understand what they were thinking when they just randomly picked some machines to stick the little "non-smoking" symbol on.

[OhJinkies]

Side-by-side shot of the Victory (left) and Elation (right) in Cozumel. The Elation appears to only have a few balcony staterooms.

 

 

"Invasion of the Towel Animals" -- I think this was the morning of our Cozumel visit. These were set all around the main pool. Very cute!

 

 

MY idea of Serenity -- reading on a quiet, shady deck:

 

 

I believe this was the Lido deck, seating by the Grill:

 

 

Aft "Sirens" pool (I think this is also an adult-only area):

 

 

Pretty lighting around the main "Triton" pool deck:

 

[SMSACE6]

OhJinkies, I am thoroughly enjoying your review. Even though I will be on a different itinerary, there is lots to learn from your review.

 

Re, that wave; I wonder if it had anything to do with the approaching weather of the Erica storm? Very interesting.

 

I have been on other Carnival ships with a deck three, and it is hands down my favorite relaxing place on board, and I see by your photo, and also (JennN's review) that there are now armchairs provided besides the loungers. I do look forward to this, since I find the loungers a little difficult to stay long in, and to get out of. The upright chairs are better for me for reading.

 

I agree with you about promenade deck and the Casino. I am a former smoker, who now finds it difficult to be in very smoky areas. I do love the casino however, but as of my last cruise last November, I have resolved to limit my time there/and my gambling to early in the day, and once it gets crowded I will find something else to do. I guess I will never again get one of those "drinks on us" cards again:D, and since I will not ever gamble much on Carnival again due to dense cigarette smoke, I also predict I will never get a free cruise from the casino:D. No problems though, last November, I actually found that there was so much more enjoyable things to do evening times, that I hardly missed the casino, and was happy to hold on to my cash too.

 

Great review. Thanks again.:)

[LMaxwell]

I was looking for a cruise to Bermuda from Florida and came across an itinerary in May that was interesting. Then my heart sank when I saw it was on Victory. Victory was an old ship when we started cruising in 2000.:(

 

Maybe, just maybe, this review can change my mind.

The ships inaugural sailing was in 2000.

[mafig]

The ships inaugural sailing was in 2000.

 

Really? Well I guess she's not as old as I first thought. :)

[OhJinkies]

OhJinkies, I am thoroughly enjoying your review. Even though I will be on a different itinerary, there is lots to learn from your review.

 

Re, that wave; I wonder if it had anything to do with the approaching weather of the Erica storm? Very interesting.

 

I have been on other Carnival ships with a deck three, and it is hands down my favorite relaxing place on board, and I see by your photo, and also (JennN's review) that there are now armchairs provided besides the loungers. I do look forward to this, since I find the loungers a little difficult to stay long in, and to get out of. The upright chairs are better for me for reading.

 

I agree with you about promenade deck and the Casino. I am a former smoker, who now finds it difficult to be in very smoky areas. I do love the casino however, but as of my last cruise last November, I have resolved to limit my time there/and my gambling to early in the day, and once it gets crowded I will find something else to do. I guess I will never again get one of those "drinks on us" cards again:D, and since I will not ever gamble much on Carnival again due to dense cigarette smoke, I also predict I will never get a free cruise from the casino:D. No problems though, last November, I actually found that there was so much more enjoyable things to do evening times, that I hardly missed the casino, and was happy to hold on to my cash too.

 

Great review. Thanks again.:)

Thanks so much! I wish I had another cruise planned. I do have a future cruise credit with NCL that I need to use in before too long. I was planning an Alaskan cruise before my sister decided to get married in Hawaii next year. So I'm heading back to Oahu (no cruise this time) and will have to put off Alaska for another year. But if I see any good sales, I may hop on another cruise before that!!

[SMSACE6]

I say lucky you to be going back to Hawaii, which is just about my favorite place in this world! I would gladly give up a cruise just to get back there for a vacation again.

 

This October cruise will probably be my last cruise for a while. Our Canadian dollar stands at about 75 cents to the 1.00 dollar US. So cruising solo, and paying double to cruise, plus airfare from Canada and pre cruise hotel, has become much too much for my meager budget. I will just have to ride out the economic storm, and cruise vicariously here through Cruise Critic reviews:D

 

Also, because of this, I intend to make the most of this upcoming cruise, knowing that it will be a long stretch before the next.:(

[OhJinkies]

I say lucky you to be going back to Hawaii, which is just about my favorite place in this world! I would gladly give up a cruise just to get back there for a vacation again.

 

This October cruise will probably be my last cruise for a while. Our Canadian dollar stands at about 75 cents to the 1.00 dollar US. So cruising solo, and paying double to cruise, plus airfare from Canada and pre cruise hotel, has become much too much for my meager budget. I will just have to ride out the economic storm, and cruise vicariously here through Cruise Critic reviews:D

 

Also, because of this, I intend to make the most of this upcoming cruise, knowing that it will be a long stretch before the next.:(

Thanks, I'm really looking forward to going back. There is plenty I still want to do in Oahu, so I'm not disappointed. I just had to put my Alaska plans on hold for a while.

I'm right there with ya on the solo cruising thing. It's hard to find low enough rates these days to pay up to double the fare. I'm seeing fewer "sales" and more offers of "free" drink packages, internet, etc. I wish they could understand that some of us are just looking for a value-priced cruise without all of the frills.

[maureencruiser]

Thanks for the review, could the wave be from a small boat?:confused:

[SailingRNC]

[emoji568]Enjoying your review. I'm a solo cruiser also [emoji568]

[CtheWorldFeeltheMovement]

Thank you for the review. It was well written and your photographs were very clear with exceptional quality and color. I will be a "First Time Cruiser" on Carnival Sensation in November. I am looking forward, as always, to an amazing vacation. I know that concerns might occur on any vacation, but beginning, maintaining, and ending with a positive attitude and actions often make a great difference in returning home with an amazing travel experience. Accordingly, you shared some very good to know concerns, but made sure that your post was also full of wonderful insights, alternatives, or solutions. This was very useful. So, any helpful cruise information that anyone can provide to a "first time cruiser" like me will be greatly appreciated. Happy Cruising!:)

[OhJinkies]

Thanks for the review, could the wave be from a small boat?:confused:

I was watching it for a while and never saw a boat; I also never saw the wave dissipate. I think we finally moved away from it. A boat usually leaves a wake behind it. It was really odd.

[OhJinkies]

Thank you for the review. It was well written and your photographs were very clear with exceptional quality and color. I will be a "First Time Cruiser" on Carnival Sensation in November. I am looking forward, as always, to an amazing vacation. I know that concerns might occur on any vacation, but beginning, maintaining, and ending with a positive attitude and actions often make a great difference in returning home with an amazing travel experience. Accordingly, you shared some very good to know concerns, but made sure that your post was also full of wonderful insights, alternatives, or solutions. This was very useful. So, any helpful cruise information that anyone can provide to a "first time cruiser" like me will be greatly appreciated. Happy Cruising!:)

Thanks, I'm glad to know that my review was helpful. I'm one of those people that does really extensive research before a trip, as I want the best experience possible (that said, spontaneity can be a wonderful thing). If I hadn't asked here on CC before booking, I might not have known about the quiet places on deck 3, for instance. I hope you really enjoy your first cruise!

[OhJinkies]

I didn't really mention entertainment and I think I should. I wish I'd had more time to enjoy the offerings on board. I made it to two of the production shows and had hoped to also take in a lot of the comedy shows but I was so tired at the end of the evening. Dinner service usually didn't end until 10 PM and I'd have to rush to the Caribbean theater on the opposite end of the ship (with that said, I had no problem finding a balcony seat). "Living in America" and "Vrooom" were both very good, with talented dancers and vocalists singing familiar tunes.

As I mentioned, I would have liked to catch the stand-up comedy but didn't have the opportunity to do so. The same applies to the piano lounge and karaoke. I get a kick out of karaoke, but just didn't have time for this trip. The movie screenings out by the pool looked good as well, but once again, I just didn't get a chance to check any of them out.

For these reasons, I'd probably choose the early dinner seating on a future cruise so I'd have more time after dinner to enjoy a couple of different offerings.

On sea day, I mentioned that I went to the "Love and Marriage" show (this was in the afternoon). These are usually fun and this one was fine but it may be the last one I do for a while. I've seen these done on a couple of different ships/cruise lines and the cruise director/host jokes seem to be recycled.

If there was a "Quest" (scavenger-hunt style show, usually a little risque') on this sailing, I missed it. I was also hoping for a martini tasting. I may have missed it in the Fun Times. Oh well. I had plenty to do if I got tired of sitting and reading, that's for sure!