We Just Got Back From a Premier Cruise on The Valor

[AngAndBoys]

I say it is better to ask forgiveness rather than permission.

 

You should be fine.

 

Only cause you don't know my mom. She'd die of embarrassment if she was told to leave, seriously. At the very least, she'd hide in her cabin the rest of the cruise (bad) and cut me out of her will (worse). :D

 

Thanks for the advice, but I'm gonna have to ask.

[Who Cares?]

In the OP first line of her review I believe s/he said it was the Valor.

 

To OP, Made me look!

 

Ah, missed that. Thanks. :)

[Tutontow]

I know, I know, I emailed the mods I hope they fix my title. I wasn't even drinking. I had the Vista on my mind because CCL made it clear it wasn't included in the bounce back offer.[/quote]

 

Are you sure? I and my wife each received BB offers and the Vista was not a choice on line but my Carnival PVP emailed me the available lists the Vista was there so we booked two cabins on her June 3rd. Do not go by the lists on line talk to your PVP if you have one they can see more than you. Good Luck!!

 

I stand corrected. It appears you are right. I did a mock booking and the Vista was included. I could get a 13 day cruise out of Barcelona for free. Of course a balcony upgrade would be $350.00 each. Now if airfare wasn't so high and the IRS would stay out of my pocket I would be on her.

[hockeymom15]

We just returned from a premier cruise on the Valor. We sailed 1/9/2016 out of Port Canaveral. We had cabin number 7364, a balcony cabin on the port side. We now have 50 days at sea with CCL. All in all we had a great cruise.

 

I am lazy so I will just list the high points and low points.

 

The high points.

 

Being a premier cruise I paid $1500.00 (including tax and insurance) for a 7 night cruise for two. We had a nice balcony on the Empress deck. The casino then gave us $1500.00 cash just for showing up, essentially making it a free cruise. We also had free drinks while gambling.

 

The welcome aboard party for premier members was stellar. We had great finger food, drinks and live entertainment.

 

Muster drill took no time at all.

 

The food in the MDR was so good we never went to the Steakhouse. We have been on several CCL cruises and always enjoyed the Steakhouse but by far and away this was the best cruise food we have had in the MDR. I swear CCL must have changed food vendors.

 

Room service was good, as always. I tried some of the pay items. The chicken wings were okay but the French fries were a great late night snack and a bargain at $1.50.

 

We never went to any shows so I can’t comment on those.

 

In Cozumel we did the Salsa and Salsa excursion. It was a total blast. We had way too many fresh Margaritas and made five types of salsa. We then danced the salsa. Truly the best guacamole and margaritas I have ever had. I highly recommend this excursion if you like great margaritas, salsa and plenty of laughs. Also it was very well organized.

 

In Belize we did the city tour and zoo excursion. We really learned a lot about the culture and lifestyle of Belize. We love animals so the zoo was also a hit. Every animal was injured or rescued. None were actually captured for the zoo. Our tour guide, Merline, was wonderful.

 

At Mahogany Bay we got off for just a little while and looked at the shops. I must say before we got off we had a wonderful omelet on the Lido deck and enjoyed looking at the port from a window seat.

 

At Costa Maya we slept in late and then did a little shopping. It was a real treat watching my wife deal with the vendors.

 

In the casino we could not get it going our way until the last two nights. We switched from blackjack to Let It Ride and actually left the ship money ahead. The last night the casino gave us two bounce back offers but it looks like none of the dates work for us.

 

Debarkation was a breeze and we were off the ship and in our car at 8:35 AM. We were home and unpacked at 11:00 AM.

 

All in all a good time.

 

Of course nothing is perfect so here are some things that could use improving.

 

Our cabin, cabin #7364 should be avoided at all cost. It is directly across from the cabin stewards supply closet and you will hear a lot of banging, clanging and slamming from early in the morning to late at night.

 

Our cabin was too hot for me when I tried to sleep. We keep our bedroom at 70 degrees at night and we use a ceiling fan. From now on I will make sure I request a fan.

 

Drink service in the casino left a lot to be desired. We always tip and it was still bad. In all of my travels and all of the casinos I have been in throughout the world I have never become so frustrated waiting for a drink. More than once I would quit playing for 20 minutes or more and I would tell the pit boss when I get a drink I will start playing again. One of the pit bosses even told me he has no idea what the problem is on this cruise.

 

In the MDR it is just my wife and I eating together. We like to sit in a booth, side by side, not across from each other. Consequently the booth is set up for four diners. Everytime we would ask for the two additional place settings to be removed you would think I was giving the server a root canal. The pained look he gave me was something to behold. Finally the fourth time I ate in the MDR I just started clearing the settings myself before I sat down. You should have seen everyone scurrying when I did that. They must have made a note of my preference after that because we never had another problem. After that they knew our preferences even though we had Your Time Dining.

 

During a port day in Mahogany Bay the crew was conducting an emergency drill. Every time the situation would change the cruise director would say this is a drill, this is a drill. Then he would say something like “the crew has found a fire in the incinerator room”. Well one time the captain came on and did not say this is a drill. He only said “the fire cannot be contained, abandon ship”. This created some confusion and a little twinge of concern. A call to guest services told us yes it is still a drill.

 

In Conclusion

 

One again a great CCL cruise and we will be back working toward Platinum status.

Hello , I am on a premiere cruise on the valor few 20th. I am not sure if the casino staff will be the same but do you know who the hosts were on your cruise?

[winddawn]

We just returned from a premier cruise on the Valor. We sailed 1/9/2016 out of Port Canaveral. We had cabin number 7364, a balcony cabin on the port side. We now have 50 days at sea with CCL. All in all we had a great cruise.

 

I am lazy so I will just list the high points and low points.

 

The high points.

 

Being a premier cruise I paid $1500.00 (including tax and insurance) for a 7 night cruise for two. We had a nice balcony on the Empress deck. The casino then gave us $1500.00 cash just for showing up, essentially making it a free cruise. We also had free drinks while gambling.

 

The welcome aboard party for premier members was stellar. We had great finger food, drinks and live entertainment.

 

Muster drill took no time at all.

 

The food in the MDR was so good we never went to the Steakhouse. We have been on several CCL cruises and always enjoyed the Steakhouse but by far and away this was the best cruise food we have had in the MDR. I swear CCL must have changed food vendors.

 

Room service was good, as always. I tried some of the pay items. The chicken wings were okay but the French fries were a great late night snack and a bargain at $1.50.

 

We never went to any shows so I can’t comment on those.

 

In Cozumel we did the Salsa and Salsa excursion. It was a total blast. We had way too many fresh Margaritas and made five types of salsa. We then danced the salsa. Truly the best guacamole and margaritas I have ever had. I highly recommend this excursion if you like great margaritas, salsa and plenty of laughs. Also it was very well organized.

 

In Belize we did the city tour and zoo excursion. We really learned a lot about the culture and lifestyle of Belize. We love animals so the zoo was also a hit. Every animal was injured or rescued. None were actually captured for the zoo. Our tour guide, Merline, was wonderful.

 

At Mahogany Bay we got off for just a little while and looked at the shops. I must say before we got off we had a wonderful omelet on the Lido deck and enjoyed looking at the port from a window seat.

 

At Costa Maya we slept in late and then did a little shopping. It was a real treat watching my wife deal with the vendors.

 

In the casino we could not get it going our way until the last two nights. We switched from blackjack to Let It Ride and actually left the ship money ahead. The last night the casino gave us two bounce back offers but it looks like none of the dates work for us.

 

Debarkation was a breeze and we were off the ship and in our car at 8:35 AM. We were home and unpacked at 11:00 AM.

 

All in all a good time.

 

Of course nothing is perfect so here are some things that could use improving.

 

Our cabin, cabin #7364 should be avoided at all cost. It is directly across from the cabin stewards supply closet and you will hear a lot of banging, clanging and slamming from early in the morning to late at night.

 

Our cabin was too hot for me when I tried to sleep. We keep our bedroom at 70 degrees at night and we use a ceiling fan. From now on I will make sure I request a fan.

 

Drink service in the casino left a lot to be desired. We always tip and it was still bad. In all of my travels and all of the casinos I have been in throughout the world I have never become so frustrated waiting for a drink. More than once I would quit playing for 20 minutes or more and I would tell the pit boss when I get a drink I will start playing again. One of the pit bosses even told me he has no idea what the problem is on this cruise.

 

In the MDR it is just my wife and I eating together. We like to sit in a booth, side by side, not across from each other. Consequently the booth is set up for four diners. Everytime we would ask for the two additional place settings to be removed you would think I was giving the server a root canal. The pained look he gave me was something to behold. Finally the fourth time I ate in the MDR I just started clearing the settings myself before I sat down. You should have seen everyone scurrying when I did that. They must have made a note of my preference after that because we never had another problem. After that they knew our preferences even though we had Your Time Dining.

 

During a port day in Mahogany Bay the crew was conducting an emergency drill. Every time the situation would change the cruise director would say this is a drill, this is a drill. Then he would say something like “the crew has found a fire in the incinerator room”. Well one time the captain came on and did not say this is a drill. He only said “the fire cannot be contained, abandon ship”. This created some confusion and a little twinge of concern. A call to guest services told us yes it is still a drill.

 

In Conclusion

 

One again a great CCL cruise and we will be back working toward Platinum status.

If your bounce back offer cruise ship/dates don't work for you, keep checking until the expiration date on the offers. I got a bounce back offer last week on my cruise, and the initial offers showing when I got home and could check them online didn't work for me. Carnival updated the offers before my offer expired, and I ended booking an Alaska cruise under the bounce back offer before it expired. Continue to check what's available (online) before your offer expires (usually within 2 weeks).

 

Hope you can find a cruise that works for you before your bounce back offer expires! It is so worthwhile.