Just got back from the Valor on 11/20!

[klfhngr]

Don't have time to review, but I was rather disappointed! Few reasons why:

a) FOOD! I've been hearing about this new chef and new food?! Whatever! Same food as last year, getting crappier each time. The best food was definately Scarlotts, pizza and burgers, that is it!

b) Debarkation was a muttha! We thought we would be smart and wait till the very end.. then the cruise directors assistant had the ballz to say that there were no lines.... bullcrap! Took an hour to get off after everyone was supposedly off! Don't listen to him/them, take your time!

c) Misty the kareoke person was the most annoying Carnival employee I have ever ran into, dump her!

d) No Costa Maya due to GAMMA!

e) Bed BUG/MITES!

f) Smell of mildew/urine in bathroom ALL WEEK LONG! Nothing was done to correct it.

g) Did I already mention the food?!

h) TENDERING SUCKS! Especially in Belize if you wait till the end.

 

Things I enjoyed:

a) Seeing the RCCL and NCL ships at port!

b) Hmmm.. room service

c) Ummm... Valor is a nice ship

d) Gosh, I can't think of anything else..

e) Oh.. ANDERSON! Ask for him at the pool area and in showroom.. Be nice and he'll take care of you all week long! Tell him that James and Robert 'sent' you! He remembered me from a year ago on the Spirit.

f) Fiesta night is pretty cool..

g) Thats it for now.... the beds are ok, better than before, but just ok. I have a Select Comfort, so it's hard to beat.

 

Once I get over this land sickness, I'll give you more details.. feel free to ask questions. Oh, for some reason, many people had/got the flu! Take some meds just in case.. and remember those bed bugs!!

[GoinCruisin]

a) FOOD! I've been hearing about this new chef and new food?! Whatever! Same food as last year, getting crappier each time.

I agree with you here, the food on the Valor definitely wasn't the best...

 

b) Debarkation was a muttha! We thought we would be smart and wait till the very end.. then the cruise directors assistant had the ballz to say that there were no lines.... bullcrap! Took an hour to get off after everyone was supposedly off! Don't listen to him/them, take your time!

Did you go to the debarkation talk?? The CD the other week specifically made a point about this and said that as soon as he says "there is no line", that is when the major line forms and to give it some time. Our debarkation was perfect... we didn't wait in any line, and we were off by 8:30, but also listened to the debarkation talk on TV

 

h) TENDERING SUCKS! Especially in Belize if you wait till the end.

Tendering is never fun. I don't get off the ship in Belize and that is one of the reasons.

 

e) Oh.. ANDERSON! Ask for him at the pool area and in showroom.. Be nice and he'll take care of you all week long!

Anderson definitely rocks!!!

 

Thankfully never encountered bed bugs, nor did I hear about anyone else having them on our cruise... YUK!!!!!

 

Sorry you didn't enjoy your cruise... better luck next time!!

[BrendaB1]

Only thing I can halfway agree with is ...the food was not as good as in the past.

 

Tendering was not a problem in Belize or Grand Cayman. Guess it's all part of the adventure for some of us.

 

Anderson was very good. :D

 

Things I enjoyed:

a) Seeing the RCCL and NCL ships at port!

 

If you enjoyed seeing them in port so much....maybe you should try cruising on them next time & hope they are as good as they look. :) Happy sailing!

[donsuej]

My husband, two cousins and their husbands were on this cruise on deck 6 aft. None of us saw any bedbugs in our cabins. Thought the cabin was great...big balcony on cabin 6450. Never saw anyone get sick. Thought the food was good...better than other ships we've been on. Had no complaints at all except for the weather and Carnival can't control that. If you don't like tendering don't go on on a cruise that has tendering ports! We took a shore excursion in Belize (snorkeling) and we left right from the ship. Overall we thought the cruise and the crew were very good. Debarkation was a nightmare and so was the transfer back to FLL airport. However embarkation was a breeze. Got there early and we were on the ship by 12:30. Any questions feel free to ask.

Sue

 

Celebration 96

Monarch 98

Destiny 00

Fascination 01

Holiday 01

Monarch 01

Adventure 02

Norwegian Sky 02

Spirit 03

Destiny 03

Norwegian Sun 03

Glory 04

Victory 04

Legend 04

Triumph 05

Valor 05

Jewel 3/06

[klfhngr]

Only thing I can halfway agree with is ...the food was not as good as in the past.

 

Tendering was not a problem in Belize or Grand Cayman. Guess it's all part of the adventure for some of us.

 

Anderson was very good. :D

 

Things I enjoyed:

a) Seeing the RCCL and NCL ships at port!

 

If you enjoyed seeing them in port so much....maybe you should try cruising on them next time & hope they are as good as they look. :) Happy sailing!

 

People always ask about tendering and that's why I explained it the way I did. And yes, you can call it an adventure, OR, a pain in the @$$. I guess we have different terminology!

Regarding your comment about the other ships, I will be sailing on them, there's no need for you to tell me to cruise on them next time!

 

Tropicale 84

Commodore 85

Jubilee 90?

Sensation 9?

Jubilee 9?

Elation 9?

Explorer of the Seas 2001

Princess Star 2002

Carnival Spirit 2004

Valor 2005

And a few more in between but I forgot! You know how it was during the .com craze, all about the $$$$$!

[Valor2005]

klfhngr - What cabin were you in?

[BrendaB1]

People always ask about tendering and that's why I explained it the way I did. And yes, you can call it an adventure, OR, a pain in the @$$. I guess we have different terminology!

Regarding your comment about the other ships, I will be sailing on them, there's no need for you to tell me to cruise on them next time!

 

No need to get so defensive. You were the one that said you were so unhappy with Carnival. It was just a suggestion. :rolleyes:

 

Personally, I think the tender rides are fun. Guess it's just a positive attitude. :D

[Debfife]

I was on this sailing too. I'll write a review over the weekend but just wanted to add a few comments...

 

I do agree with the food being just ok.

It was Josh, the cruise directors last cruise.

Tendering wasn't a hassle at all. We never waited more than 10 minutes! We always got in line 15 minutes early and got on one of the first tenders (we booked our own excursions).

 

My husband and I were one of the many that ended up with the horrible cold that was going around the ship.

[Valor2005]

I sure hope they disinfect the ship before our 12/04 sailing. I take meds that suppress my immune system and really don't want to catch anything. That happened to me on the Inspiration and it really took the hats and horns out of THAT sailing! :eek:

[GoinCruisin]

I sure hope they disinfect the ship before our 12/04 sailing. I take meds that suppress my immune system and really don't want to catch anything. That happened to me on the Inspiration and it really took the hats and horns out of THAT sailing! :eek:

 

At this time of year, it is inevitable that there will be people sick on the ship... it's flu season. You should take the precautions ahead of time, and know that you could indeed get sick, especially in your condition. Talk to your doctor and let him/.her know that you will be cruising and ask what precautions you can take in advance. Also, wash your hands FREQUENTLY... good luck.

[funinthsun]

I was on this sailing too. I'll write a review over the weekend but just wanted to add a few comments...

 

I do agree with the food being just ok.

It was Josh, the cruise directors last cruise.

Tendering wasn't a hassle at all. We never waited more than 10 minutes! We always got in line 15 minutes early and got on one of the first tenders (we booked our own excursions).

 

My husband and I were one of the many that ended up with the horrible cold that was going around the ship.

Who will be replacing Josh as cruise director, anyone know?

[Debfife]

Who will be replacing Josh as cruise director, anyone know?

 

 

He didn't say. He is going to work somewhere in Vegas.

I guess working at sea for 7 years straight is a LONG time!

 

The guy that plays in the piano bar also left the ship on Sunday. I think he had a 3 month deal. I thought he was good the first night but night after night he plays the same songs almost in the same order and tells the same one liner jokes. For me it got old quick but the others I was with seemed to dig him.

[BrendaB1]

Too bad Josh left. He was one of the better cruise directors.

 

I have to agree about Ed Rocks in the piano bar.

[Valor at Xmas]

What did they do about the bed bugs? I heard that bed bugs get in your luggage and personal stuff and you can bring them back home with you.

[babyher]

My wife and I were on the 11/13 Valor cruise and thought the food in the dining room was very good. The food in the Lido was just so so, but the terrific pizza and Deli sandwiches along with the salad bar more than made up for that. We found the ship to be very clean and through the whole trip every staff or crew member we encountered was always courteous and friendly and very helpful.

 

Like someone already said the weather could have been a little nicer, but that certainly wasn't Carnivals fault.

 

We were with a large group of friends so we made our own good time no matter what :)

 

I don't have an exact count of how many kids there were on this trip, but there were a good number of them, but all the ones I encounterd were well behaved. There was a large group of teens that all seemed to congregate in that lounge area by the windows next to the casino, but everytime I saw them they wree just sitting around talking to eachother not bothering anyone.

 

Granted I didn't patrol the ship in search of trouble making kids and people who shunned the dress code, but the people I encounterd on board all seemed very nice and friendly and generally having a good time.

 

There was one lady who was raiseing the roof about something when we were getting ready to tender in Belize. She had a party of 20 people and was making a ruckus that they could not all get the same numbers for the tender. Something like that, As I said , she was doing more gum flapping than making sense *LOL* Tina, the Asst. CD , who was handing out the numbers , was great and professional , she never lost her cool, she never raised her voice, or sunk to this womans level. I don't know how she resolved this, but eventually the woman went away happy, or at least as happy as someone like that is capable of being *LOL*

 

Embarkation was really not that bad , maybe an hour from getting in line to sitting in the lounge with a Foo Foo drink *LOL*

 

Debarkation was good too. During the trip we joined the Vacation Club so we met at the One Small Step Disco , they had set up coffee and danish for us while we waited. It was very nice. We got to the Disco at 8:30 had some coffee and pastry before being called and we were off the ship, luggage in hand waiting for our hotel shuttle a little before 10.

 

All in all we had a great time, a little rainy, a whole lot rocky (sometimes) *LOL* But the food was good , the service was wonderful, and the ship was beautiful

[PA Dutchman]

I want to know what ship you can go on, and never have to waite in line to be tendered or get on or get off a ship. Anybody that has cruised before knows everybody wants to be first on or off. Its a fact of life if you want to go on a cruise ship. Chill and always have patience, you will get there.

[chrly]

I want to know what ship you can go on, and never have to waite in line to be tendered or get on or get off a ship. Anybody that has cruised before knows everybody wants to be first on or off. Its a fact of life if you want to go on a cruise ship. Chill and always have patience, you will get there.

 

:D I agree with you....especially when you have kids with you life is a never ending waiting game...You will get somewhere eventually. :D

[klfhngr]

klfhngr - What cabin were you in?

 

6452

[klfhngr]

Details and responses to follow..

FYI, we all know about embarkation/debarkation, but the question ALWAYS comes up, how was it getting on/off? My response was what I encountered, there's no need to add lame comments about it being normal/expected/ordinary/common, whatever the case might be. I was there last week and stated the facts, no more, no less.

Last Oct., embarkation was terrible for the Spirit but debarkation was a breeze.. you just never know what's gonna happen getting on/off a ship! I just stated teh facts, so chill people!

[GoinCruisin]

Details and responses to follow..

FYI, we all know about embarkation/debarkation, but the question ALWAYS comes up, how was it getting on/off? My response was what I encountered, there's no need to add lame comments about it being normal/expected/ordinary/common, whatever the case might be. I was there last week and stated the facts, no more, no less.

Last Oct., embarkation was terrible for the Spirit but debarkation was a breeze.. you just never know what's gonna happen getting on/off a ship! I just stated teh facts, so chill people!

 

I think you might be just a TAD sensitive :rolleyes: I didn't see anyone flaming you for saying what you did... and I certainly wouldn't call someone else's opinion "lame"... they were also stating facts. No need to get upset...

[cruise pup]

Something tells me those "bed bugs" may have been sand fleas brought back to the ship from the beaches on Roatan that are notorious for them.

 

As for tendering, I agree it wasn't a pain but you had to know what to do. I mentioned to the fellow handing out numbers that I had an early, privately booked excursion. He told me who to speak to in the theatre and she gave me an earlier tender. In fact, I left immediately from the theatre.

 

Food was "different" in the dining room. Some dishes I loved on other cruises were disappointing. Others were better. It is the same menu as the other ships it's just that different cooks spoil the broth differently. And I would add that after my last Royal Caribbean cruise, Carnival's food seemed like Michelin 4 star rated cuisine.

 

By the way, I was on the ship 10/2-10/9 and came home with that dreadful cold. I was out of work for a week. This is pretty serious stuff if it's still going around a month later.

[sea girl2]

Dont think that NCL is any better been there and done it. Will not do it again. Food was alfull:mad:. Service was great. Show was none. Love my room thats it. Get me back to Carnival.:D

 

 

Destiny 12/25/05

NCL 12/04

Destiny 12/03

Victiory 12/01

 

[MooNGaTe27]

We just got back also.This was our 9th carnival cruise & 13th overall.I wuold have to say this was the worst cruise we have ever been on.Getting on the ship they held up the line & we were never told why.Getting off the ship we had waited until we heard the same anouncement of no lines(what bull).It took us over an hour to get off the ship.So if Dan says there are no lines & you dont have to get off the ship early dont.....

As for the food,it could be better.

We also had a problem with a smell in the hallway in the back of the ship on deck 7,most of the inside cabins had to leave there rooms.We had a cabin in the back & every time I would walk to my cabin I would get lightheadded & sick(I dont drink).I ask what it was & was told I dont know by an officer.So I told him to find out & let me know because it could be harmful.He never got back to me.I had to make several call to find out they were painting with a type of paint that had like a glue in it so they made them stop.They started again the next so a few of us called again & they stoped.All in all not a fun cruise

[oceanvac]

was on the cruise in July #6439

turned me off on carnival!!!!!!!

very impersonal service I guess thats what happens when there are 3000 people on the ship

[klfhngr]

We just got back also.This was our 9th carnival cruise & 13th overall.I wuold have to say this was the worst cruise we have ever been on.Getting on the ship they held up the line & we were never told why.Getting off the ship we had waited until we heard the same anouncement of no lines(what bull).It took us over an hour to get off the ship.So if Dan says there are no lines & you dont have to get off the ship early dont.....

As for the food,it could be better.

We also had a problem with a smell in the hallway in the back of the ship on deck 7,most of the inside cabins had to leave there rooms.We had a cabin in the back & every time I would walk to my cabin I would get lightheadded & sick(I dont drink).I ask what it was & was told I dont know by an officer.So I told him to find out & let me know because it could be harmful.He never got back to me.I had to make several call to find out they were painting with a type of paint that had like a glue in it so they made them stop.They started again the next so a few of us called again & they stoped.All in all not a fun cruise

 

Thanks for 'validating' my comments! I was looking so forward to this trip, soooo disappointed! Didn't get a chance to meet you all, perhaps on a future cruise!