First cruise. Need some answers please

[elle330033]

Hi everyone Hubby and I are going on our first cruise next month. We've decided on the Valor. I've got a couple of questions and I apologize in advance if the questions are silly.

1. When the ship is docked or at a port, are we able to get on and off the ship?

2. What are the dining options on the Valor? Hubby and I are more into casual dining. Are there other dinner options besides the arranged dinner?

3. Hubby and I are arranging our own airfare to Miami. Should we fly into Miami a day earlier or take a chance and take an early flight the day of departure?

4. If hubby and I do fly into Miami a day earlier, do you recommend reserving a hotel by the Port or by the airport?

5. Are there hotels around the Port that will provide a complimentary shuttle to and from the airport?

6. Hubby and I are US citizens and have our passports, is that sufficient travel documentation?

7. Approximately how much spare cash should we bring?

8. Are we able to bring food and non alcoholic drinks on board? Or take food and drink off the ship?

TIA Ellie

[mistergq]

Hi everyone Hubby and I are going on our first cruise next month. We've decided on the Valor. I've got a couple of questions and I apologize in advance if the questions are silly.

congrats. Valor is a nice ship.

1. When the ship is docked or at a port, are we able to get on and off the ship?

I am not exactly sure what you are getting at with this. On the day of embarkation, once you are on the ship, you are on the ship. On days that the ship is dock in ports during the vacation, you can get off the ship once the ship has been cleared by customs. You can get on and off the ship as often as you want until the time when you have to be back on the ship.

2. What are the dining options on the Valor? Hubby and I are more into casual dining. Are there other dinner options besides the arranged dinner?

besides main dinning room, you can eat at the buffet for more casual options.

3. Hubby and I are arranging our own airfare to Miami. Should we fly into Miami a day earlier or take a chance and take an early flight the day of departure?

I will always fly in the day early. Not worth the risk.

4. If hubby and I do fly into Miami a day earlier, do you recommend reserving a hotel by the Port or by the airport?

I would stay near the port because there is more to do.

5. Are there hotels around the Port that will provide a complimentary shuttle to and from the airport?

Not sure. We took a shuttle from Marriott Biscayne Bay for about $6 a person.

6. Hubby and I are US citizens and have our passports, is that sufficient travel documentation?

I would bring your drivers license as well.

7. Approximately how much spare cash should we bring?

Depends. The general rule of thumb is bring more than you think you need. The question is what do you plan on spending on the ship? Do you and your husband consume alcohol? How much? How often? The price of alcohol is not outrageous, but it adds up quickly. Do you and/or your husband, plan to use the casino. You need to put that into your budget. There is also the stores on board.

8. Are we able to bring food and non alcoholic drinks on board? Or take food and drink off the ship?

TIA Ellie

When you first get on, you can bring some non-alcoholic drinks on board. I believe you can bring sealed non fruit food on board at embarkation. However, when you go into port, you will only really be able to bring bottle water they are selling on board. You can bring some non-alcoholic stuff back on, but again, it has to be sealed.

[arlodog]

1. When the ship is docked or at a port, are we able to get on and off the ship? Yes, when you are in port you can get on and off as you want. Just pay attention to the all aboard time that will be in the daily paper and pay attention to the announcements before you get off the ship so you don't miss the ship!

2. What are the dining options on the Valor? Hubby and I are more into casual dining. Are there other dinner options besides the arranged dinner? You can always eat at the Lido. If you have assigned seating please tell the dining room so they don't hold up the rest of the people assigned to your table waiting for you to arrive for dinner.

3. Hubby and I are arranging our own airfare to Miami. Should we fly into Miami a day earlier or take a chance and take an early flight the day of departure? These days don't take chances! Fly in the day before!

4. If hubby and I do fly into Miami a day earlier, do you recommend reserving a hotel by the Port or by the airport?

5. Are there hotels around the Port that will provide a complimentary shuttle to and from the airport?

6. Hubby and I are US citizens and have our passports, is that sufficient travel documentation? I also take our state ID's--probably don't need it, but we do.

7. Approximately how much spare cash should we bring? That completely depends on you and what you want to do. You will need cash to tip the baggage handlers at the dock, cabs ect..on shore excursions, any gifts you buy on shore ect..we usually budget $100pp per day, but don't spend all of it. We do like to have adult beverages:p

8. Are we able to bring food and non alcoholic drinks on board? Or take food and drink off the ship? No reason to bring food. You will not believe the amount of food available. I believe that Carnival allows bottled water and soda in reasonable amounts. They also will sell you a all you can drink soda card if you don't want to carry it on. You can bring bottled water off the ship, but usually not food (some ports do allow prepackaged sealed foods such as small boxes of cereal, crackers) Read your paper which will be delivered to your stateroom the night before you dock and it will say if food is not permitted off the ship--and know that the port authority means business and will inspect your bags!

 

Sorry I don't know the answers to #4&5--if you go to the east coast departure thread and click on the Florida link at the top you will find out all the information you need for Miami along with suggestions for hotels. We have used Priceline many times with great success!

 

Hope this helps!

[cb at sea]

If you fly in the day before, and are arriving early in the day, nearer the port will have more to do. If you're coming in late in the day or evening, then ANY hotel--even near the airport--will do---and it will be cheaper, too.

Unless you have time to use a hotel's facilitiess and surrounding attractions, there's no need to pay that additional amount!

If you're flying into MIA and using the Port of Miami, a cab is your fastest, easiest way to come and go.

[QLUVS2CRUZ]

Oh I love the Valor...it was my first cruise!

 

Hi everyone Hubby and I are going on our first cruise next month. We've decided on the Valor. I've got a couple of questions and I apologize in advance if the questions are silly.

1. When the ship is docked or at a port, are we able to get on and off the ship? Of course...that is one of the reasons you cruise. We usually get off and back on once, but people do come and go as they please. You might want to go sightseeing at the port then get back on the ship for lunch, then go back out to the port. If you are on an excursion, you may just get off once in the morning and then back on before it's time to sail away. Don't forget to read the ports of call boards for fun things to do at your ports. Are you doing Eastern or Southern? If you go to Grand Cayman, don't miss the stingrays...we used Moby Dick tours and they were awesome.

2. What are the dining options on the Valor? Hubby and I are more into casual dining. Are there other dinner options besides the arranged dinner? There is the dining room, Windjammer, and Scarletts Supper Club. If you want to go casual, eat at the Windjammer; however, I highly recommend trying the dining room. You don't have to go on formal night if you don't want all that buzz, but try it on a regular night. The service is great. I also recommend Scarlett's. It is an additional charge per person, but the food is excellent and well worth the money. You will also find pizza, sandwiches, etc. kind of scattered around. Plenty of food everywhere.

3. Hubby and I are arranging our own airfare to Miami. Should we fly into Miami a day earlier or take a chance and take an early flight the day of departure? We fly in a day early. Too much can go wrong these days.

4. If hubby and I do fly into Miami a day earlier, do you recommend reserving a hotel by the Port or by the airport? I can't even remember where we stayed, but I do know that the hotels near the port are much more expensive compared to just a little farther out. The one that comes to mind is the Holiday Inn right near the port that is really expensive. We stayed at a nice Hilton, but we also had a car that we drove to the port, so you have to factor in a cab or transfer to the port.

5. Are there hotels around the Port that will provide a complimentary shuttle to and from the airport? Yes, but again price it out. Is the higher cost of the hotel with a free shuttle more than a cheaper hotel with a cab ride?

6. Hubby and I are US citizens and have our passports, is that sufficient travel documentation? Yes. Don't forget to bring your cruise docs though. Also if you got any kind of residency discount, make sure to bring your DL or something to prove where you live. Also would have to show ID if you got a military discount, etc.

7. Approximately how much spare cash should we bring? Depends on what you like to do. My DH and I are not drinkers or gamblers, so on our Valor cruise we spent about $600 in excursions and on-board purchases. If you are a drinker/gambler and want to do excursions, I'd say you would need to double that amount. Just my opinion.:D

8. Are we able to bring food and non alcoholic drinks on board? Or take food and drink off the ship? We took a 12 pack of diet coke and about 8 bottles of water with us. The porters told us we had to have them in our suitcase, so we shoved them in, and then there was no problem. Some people will tell you you can just put a luggage tag on a case of drinks and have them delivered, but that was not our experience. We also took a couple of plastic bags full of snacks. Did not try to take it off the ship, most of the time the agriculture laws prohibit this...same as the US does when you come back to the country.

TIA Ellie

 

Have a great time, you will love the VALOR!

[Essiesmom]

When speaking of spare cash...Be aware that everything you spend on board is charged to your Sail & Sign card, like a credit card, and you pay it off at the end of the cruise, wither with cash or a credit card. If you are using a credit card, there is not much need for spare cash except for what you spend in port. EM

[bluegirlum]

Hi everyone Hubby and I are going on our first cruise next month. We've decided on the Valor. I've got a couple of questions and I apologize in advance if the questions are silly.

1. When the ship is docked or at a port, are we able to get on and off the ship?

 

At some ports, you will have to take a "tender" to shore, which is a smaller boat. If it's a tender port, keep in mind that it will take longer to get to and from the port. Carnival should have "excursions" in each port that you can sign up for, or you can just walk around in each one, which is fun too.

 

2. What are the dining options on the Valor? Hubby and I are more into casual dining. Are there other dinner options besides the arranged dinner?

 

3. Hubby and I are arranging our own airfare to Miami. Should we fly into Miami a day earlier or take a chance and take an early flight the day of departure?

 

Definitely fly in the day before. Miami is a great port city to stay in the night before--we always stay in South Beach because we like to have dinner down there and relax at the beach--but it's just nice to know that you are down there and can relax before you get on the boat. You probably have a certain time listed on your papers that you can get on, but you most likely can get on the boat much earlier (so if it says you can board at 2, you can probably get on the boat at noon).

 

4. If hubby and I do fly into Miami a day earlier, do you recommend reserving a hotel by the Port or by the airport?

 

5. Are there hotels around the Port that will provide a complimentary shuttle to and from the airport?

 

6. Hubby and I are US citizens and have our passports, is that sufficient travel documentation?

 

Definitely bring a driver's license. Make copies of your passports to leave at home with someone in case something happens to yours, and have an extra copy in your carry on.

 

7. Approximately how much spare cash should we bring?

8. Are we able to bring food and non alcoholic drinks on board? Or take food and drink off the ship?

TIA Ellie

 

Have a great time!

[Mrs.C05]

Hi everyone Hubby and I are going on our first cruise next month. We've decided on the Valor. I've got a couple of questions and I apologize in advance if the questions are silly.

1. When the ship is docked or at a port, are we able to get on and off the ship? Yes, you're able to get off and on as much as you please. You'll just need to swipe your S&S card upon leaving the ship.

2. What are the dining options on the Valor? Hubby and I are more into casual dining. Are there other dinner options besides the arranged dinner? Yes, there is a buffet you can eat at or order room service that is free. (Drinks are not free on room service)

3. Hubby and I are arranging our own airfare to Miami. Should we fly into Miami a day earlier or take a chance and take an early flight the day of departure? I would fly in a day earlier, too much can delay or cancel your flight these days.

4. If hubby and I do fly into Miami a day earlier, do you recommend reserving a hotel by the Port or by the airport? I would google some hotels near the airport and read their reviews to decide.

5. Are there hotels around the Port that will provide a complimentary shuttle to and from the airport? Most hotels do offer shuttle services to the port. Caution, they can get backed up with all the cruise passengers that could be staying there.

6. Hubby and I are US citizens and have our passports, is that sufficient travel documentation? Passports are perfect.

7. Approximately how much spare cash should we bring? That all depends on how much you want to spend. We bring approx $100 for each port we are in. Now that hubby is into Craps, we bring more.:rolleyes:

8. Are we able to bring food and non alcoholic drinks on board? Or take food and drink off the ship? I've seen people bring UNOPENED itens/containers back on board with it being confiscated. I think that is just a hit or miss.

Enjoy your trip!!!

[elle330033]

Thanks everyone. I do appreciate it.