First back to back on Valor

[keene state mom]

Just off the Valor on a back to back, it was by far an incredible vacation. I will just tell you the basics. We arrrived at the port early in the morning we were on the ship eatting lunch at 11:30.

We booked a corner AFT that Carnival tried taking away for the first week, by telling me they were going to keep me in the same room for the two weeks, but I made many calls and got it back ,so until I had my ticket in hand I was anxious, I booked a balcony quarantee for the second week, and they gave me the room next door which was a cat 9 extended Balcony. The first room 8448 was so noisey we heard chairs scraping all night long. The room was very tiny, compare to our second week, and every morning we walked outside to a huge puddle of water from the deck washing at night, not a room I would ever book again, although it was nice and we enjoyed the balcony.

We went to Cabbage beach in the Bahamars , went over to St. Johns for the day in St. Thomas, then went to orient beach and shopping in St. Martin. We received a letter in our cabin a few days into the cruise telling us to meet in Circle C at 10:15 , on the last day. It was so awesome pulling into Miami knowing we had another week, not a port I have ever enjoyed before for that reason, they started calling all numbers at 7:00 and were done by 10:00 everyone was off the ship that first week. We then were escorted down thru customs , and back onto the ship. It took 10 min.

My room stewart cleaned my new room by 7:30, and I had most things on hangers so I just carried things from one closet to another, it was very easy. I was all done and moved by 8:30. We were able to stay in our rooms or do what ever we wanted until the new people came on.

My new room was so much bigger and nicer, the balcony was also big so I would book that again over the wrap.

The second week was so relaxing knowing we did not have to go to all the shows again, so we spent more time in the casinos and I came home with $ 1800.00 not bad for a cruise ship, casino that has never giving me a quarter before.

Each week they did pass out a paper to sign up for another cruise to be used within 18months, It was $ 100.00 towards your deposit, and you will get $100.00 on board credit. and it is 100 percent refundable. You will miss the paper if you are not looking for it, you get a lot of junk mail, and it was in that. They did not advertise it.

On my western side we went to 7 mile beach it was just o.k. but Rotann was my favorite the men went zip lining with a company we found on the Island off the ship, and the girls went to West side beach , the guide stayed right with us, and other then the little kids trying constantly to sell us something it was beautiful

We had a very stresssful day in Cuzumel as I booked a dolphin swim on my own for 1:00, not realizing the time change so there time it was for 2:00, and and they were one hour late, so by the time my husband got into the water we needed to leave, so he missed out, on his turn I tried fighting for my money, but they wanted me to fill out an incident report, but we did not have time, as it was we told the taxi to step on the gas and we would give him a good tip , we made it back at 4:15, 15 min to spare. whew, not something I would do again. The manager told me to go on line and work on getting my money back and he would back me up, but we will see. I will bad mouth them after if it does not work, not now.

anyway they started calling numbers again at 7:00 am and we were off the ship by 7:15 . The new terminal is awesome in Miami. Customs did stop us, as we were wearing carnival sweatshirts, we wrote down 200.00 in Jewlery, and he wanted to know why we did not write the sweat shirts down, I told them they were a gift from my sister this past summer, when she went on a cruise, and I took her three kids for a week, so he let us go. We had wonderful weather except one rough night coming back , and the last sea day was cool out, and you could not get near the hot tubs, it was a good day to pack, and say your good bys to your new friends. Any questions ask away

[AZ ParrotHead]

Hi,

 

Thanks for the great review. We have 8448 on the Western Run on 5/25. Am a little concerned about your comments re. the noise and puddles. Was there chair scraping all night long? Also, was there enough room in your cabin for luggage? Did it feature a seating area?

 

Thanks,

[Yurita]

Hi, we are booked for the dolphin swim in Cozumel at 2:00pm. I forgot they have a different time. I wanted to ask you how far is the park from port, also how is the time difference? how many hours?

I heard you could also snorkel with sealions or something at Chakanaab park, is it true? or do you have to pay extra? thank you!!!!

[keene state mom]

The chairs to me were scrapping all night long, my husband woke up at 1:30, and he said it was still noisey, there was plenty of room for your suitcases under the bed, plenty of room on bathrom shelves, three closets, and we used the three large window sills for a lot of junk. no sitting area no sofa.

[keene state mom]

Yurita

Do not go at 2:00, we booked for one, and never had time. by the time they got into the water it was after three ship time. It was not that far away, they tell you 5 min, but on the way we ran into an accident so traffic was backed up, we made it back to the ship in 10 min. rushing

[stthomaslover]

Thanks for the review, we are also doing our first btb on the Valor in September, can't wait.

[afcgirl]

Thank you for the great review. Wow, a back to back , you are so lucky! Did you prefer the Western or Eastern?

 

Oh and how were the seas on the last day? I noticed on magicseaweed that they were projecting waves between 8' and 15' on your last day. Was it real bumpy on the ship?

 

TIA!

[keene state mom]

Friday night coming back I was not sure if I should sleep with my life jacket on or wait at the muster station, it was the worse I have ever had. We could not use our balcony as it was so windy, I was afraid to go outside., but that was the only night, it felt like we were going way too fast also.

[lat920]

Hey,

Thanks so much for this review!! I am booked on the Valor in 8449- the extended balcony next to the wrap - leaving this weekend, so I was happy to hear that it worked out well. I am dying of curiousity about the cabin, so anything more you can tell me about it would be great. Was there room for a regular deck chair on the balcony? I've heard people say with the wrap that you should ask your steward for one of the real chairs, so I was thinking about doing that if it seemed like there was room. How about the sun on the balcony? Any other tips you can offer? Thanks so much, glad to hear you had fun!

[keene state mom]

This was the same as my 8442, I loved this room, I checked yours out it was the same. The balcony had a lounge chair and two chairs, and a small table. It was huge and so was the room, we had hardly any sun, so your room must get it all, we had no noise at all from above, like we did in the wrap, and no puddles,

I had three closets and a huge window sill to put stuff.

We had two tables one that kept our cooler with beer on it, and the other was for our towel animal

I forgot to mention in my review that they took three beers from our back pack in Miami, but let us walk on with a 12 pack in the other ports, go figure.

[2aztravelers]

Is that Keene State NH? I am an alum from KSC and was just wondering.

-Angelique:)

[keene state mom]

It is Keene State N.H.

 

and my daughter is graduating this sunday from there, what a beautiful mothers Day for me I am so proud ...

[2aztravelers]

It is Keene State N.H.

 

and my daughter is graduating this sunday from there, what a beautiful mothers Day for me I am so proud ...

 

 

That is so Great! I graduated in '92. So many changes the last time I visited there. I loved going to college there. Will you be taking her on a cruise? LOL! I was so excited when I saw your board name. It is nice to see other KSC peeps out there.

 

Have fun at the graduation - say Hi to the campus for me!

-Angelique:)

[mageemae]

Just wondering if the Valor has mini golf, and if so where is it located? We have cabin 7444 extened balconey on the empress deck next feb.

 

Thanks

[Ashleezmom]

Thanks for the review - I loved the Valor so much when we were on her a few years ago. OK so will you tell us what machines you were playing to win all that $$$$ Lucky!!!