First time Trip Report - VALOR - 5th - 12th

[Bontongrl]

Bontongrl we went to see the Sting Rays the same day. See those three wave runners in the background and that group gathered to the left, that was us. Did you feed one? It was great experience having all those Sting Rays swimming around you. The water was crystal clear.

 

Hiya jackdhouse,,,

 

Yes, I remembering seeing the wave runners. We had actually thought about doing the same excursion, but opted for the catamaran instead.

 

I loved the stingrays, it was sooo cool !!

 

That must have been a longggggggg ride out there on those waverunners,

Did you get caught in the rain ? lol

[Bontongrl]

We loved Stingray City. It's the most amazing experience,,, and one that not a lot of people get to do, so the minute we anchored, off the boat we went and into the water.

Its only about 3 or 4 feet deep, depending on where you are standing, so its easy for everyone.

 

 

 

The water was beautiful and pictures really don't do it justice, you just have to see it for yourself to believe it. Crystal clear, and the most beautiful colors.

And, make sure your mask fits tight enough, cause that salt water will STING your eyes good lol

 

 

 

Our guide, Chip, who owned the catamaran,,, likes to use fish instead of squid for feeding the stingrays. He believes they like the fish better. He puts out a small container filled with frozen fish and weights it down to the ocean floor. I don't know if they can smell the fish, but they were surrounding us in a matter of minutes.

 

 

 

It's a little eerie, getting used to them swimming ALL around you, and brushing up against you in the water, but after a few minutes you get used to it. They feel like rubber on the top , and like a soft mushroom on their bellies.

 

They seem to be VERY affectionate, and if you have a good guide, they will help you with holding and petting them and teach you how to feed them. You put a fish in your fist, with your thumb locked down, and hold it down into the water. They will swim over the top of your hand and suck it up into their mouths. Make sure you lock that thumb down, or you'll feel the teeth against your hand,,, lol I know, cause I did at one point when I was feeding them. EEEKKKK !!!!

 

 

 

 

 

[Bontongrl]

I love your review! I am going on this cruise in March (darn--why do I have to wait soooo long?!?) and I am wondering who you booked your catamaran trip with? We will be a group of 20, so I would love to book this for our group. I have been to stingray city twice before, but most of the group has not. This looks like a good way to make it something different for me, while still doing the stingrays everyone else doesn't want to miss. Thanks again for taking the same to write this awesome review!

 

Hi luvncruisn,,,,

 

We booked the catamaran trip with http://www.stingraysailing.com/

Chip owns the catamaran and he and his crew did a great job.

 

I think it would be PERFECT for a private party such as yours. You could probably get it totally to yourselves for the day and that would be awesome !!

[kazcuties]

Fabulous review! We leave on Valor this Sunday with our 7 & 9 year old kids for our first cruise ever! We are all enjoying your pictures ~ so excited! Thanks for sharing, and I really hope you can get the your entire trip review done by Friday (we are leaving Sat and spending the extra day in Miami), no pressure tho :)! I'll keep checking in!

 

I am taking notes, thanks a million!!

[MzOhioLady]

This is really a good review! I'm enjoying reading it and checking out the pictures. Thanks for taking the time to write it!

[ssca]

Quick question:Did all 4 of you go to where ever you need to go to get the tender tickets? I saw where it said the entire party needed to . I am the one who usually has to stand in line waiting while everyone else is still sleeping.:)

We are leaving on the 9th, keep it coming !!

[Bontongrl]

Fabulous review! We leave on Valor this Sunday with our 7 & 9 year old kids for our first cruise ever! We are all enjoying your pictures ~ so excited! Thanks for sharing, and I really hope you can get the your entire trip review done by Friday (we are leaving Sat and spending the extra day in Miami), no pressure tho :)! I'll keep checking in!

 

I am taking notes, thanks a million!!

 

OMGGGGGGGGG,,,, the PRESSURE,,,,, !!!!! :eek:

I'll try to get it all up before you go kazcuties !!! but, no promises lol

 

This is really a good review! I'm enjoying reading it and checking out the pictures. Thanks for taking the time to write it!

 

Your welcome MzOhioLady :)

[Bontongrl]

Quick question:Did all 4 of you go to where ever you need to go to get the tender tickets? I saw where it said the entire party needed to . I am the one who usually has to stand in line waiting while everyone else is still sleeping.:)

We are leaving on the 9th, keep it coming !!

 

Yes ssca, we ALL went to the Eagles Lounge to wait to be called for the Tender. We had been told to take the FIRST available tender off the ship, and anyone going ashore without a Carnival excursion, was told to meet in the Eagles lounge at 8 am.

 

We were there and ready to go, all 4 of us,,, We didn't want to hold up our own trip by being late. We didn't have to wait long, maybe 15 minutes, then they were calling everyone to the tender to go ashore.

[Bontongrl]

They say, that if you kiss a stingray, then you will have 7 years of Good Luck !!

 

Well,,,,,, I'm due for at least 70 years of good luck now, cause I was smooching BIG time with those stingrays,,,,,, <wink>

 

 

 

 

DH got a few years of luck himself,,,,, lol

 

 

 

 

 

After playing with the stingrays,, Chip took us to a nearby reef where we could go snorkeling,,,,,

 

 

 

 

[trini_ras]

keep it coming girl, love the reading. this must be fastest review ever, great job!!

[kazcuties]

did you use a disposable waterproof camera for those great pics of the stingrays??

[Vacationjunkie4]

Quick question:Did all 4 of you go to where ever you need to go to get the tender tickets? I saw where it said the entire party needed to . I am the one who usually has to stand in line waiting while everyone else is still sleeping.:)

We are leaving on the 9th, keep it coming !!

 

ssca, everyone has to be there because they give you a numbered sticker, not a ticket and were actually sticking it on each persons shirt as they came thru the line. No. 1 for the first boat and No.2 for the second. Then when ready they herded us thru the ship down to deck zero to catch the tender. I am all too familiar with the "go get in line and I will meet you when it's time to catch the boat" routine. The method used got me off that hook.

[Bontongrl]

We snorkled for a while longer,

 

 

 

 

It did rain on our way back to the Marina, but by the time we got there, it had stopped.

 

We looked around the dock area, and had some conch fritters and a few drinks at Breezes Restaurant and did a little more exploring....

 

 

 

No comment,,,,, we just HAD to get a picture,,,,lmao

 

 

then headed back to the tender, and a short ride and we were back on the ship, and headed to the room to relax and get ready for dinner.

[Bontongrl]

did you use a disposable waterproof camera for those great pics of the stingrays??

 

No kazcuties,,,, DH and DF both had underwater housings for their cameras. They worked great. We got some great pictures.

 

And, I'll admit, I did a little enhancing with the contrast in Photoshop, to show them clearer,,,, but shhhhh, don't tell anyone, ;)

It'll be our lil secret :D

[Bontongrl]

We got ready for dinner in the dining room, and after dinner was served the wait staff did a song and number routine and were dancing on the tables. They sang the Slum Dog song and it was a blast. I wanted to get up there and dance with them lol

 

 

After dinner we strolled down the Promenade, and ended up at the Piano Bar for a while. Roger was playing and he did a great job. He's got great musical talent and a good voice,, it was just funny hearing some of the songs with an Phillipino accent. We all sang along and had a great time !!

 

 

 

My recommendation would be for Carnival to start a Dueling piano bar on all their ships. All the ones I've ever been to are a blast and it gets everyone involved.

Just my .02 !!!!

 

Headed back down the promenade and there was a great band playing by the casino.

 

 

Some of the gals from the theatre were out there dancing and getting everyone excited. They were great !!

 

 

Even DH got into a lil pole dancing,,, <wink>

 

 

By now we were exhausted, it had been a long a full day, so back to the room and off to sleep,,,,,

 

Tomorrow was Roatan !!!

[rigldbrg]

 

Look at that,,,,,, DH got lucky already !!!

 

Lucky? I'd say that's the understatement of the year! Looks like he hit the jackpot;). Did you say you're a grandmother? Amazing. Good for you, you look great!

[crusinmo]

where did you go? we are on the valor 9/13 i cannot wait and i love your review because i thought at first i would'nt like this ship and then i remembered it goes on water i will love it. can't wait till you get more done

[nanuak]

GREAT review!

I would love to get my husband on a plane, and take a cruise out of FL: A lot less expensive then sailing out of Galveston. It's not bad, but alas, we are sailing again on the lovely Carnival Conquest.

Hopefully for me, the Carnival Magic will come to either the Port of Houston or Galveston: I would love a 8 day or more, cruise out of our home port :rolleyes:.

Thanks so much, for letting me live vicariously through your review :D.

[shawnie]

Hi luvncruisn,,,,

 

We booked the catamaran trip with http://www.stingraysailing.com/

Chip owns the catamaran and he and his crew did a great job.

 

I think it would be PERFECT for a private party such as yours. You could probably get it totally to yourselves for the day and that would be awesome !!

 

We used stingraysailing with chip too and had a great time. Only had about 20 people on the catamaran compared to some of the other boat out there that where packed to the limit. I would highly recommend anyone going on this excursion to use them. Just wanted to throw that in there.:D

[Bontongrl]

Lucky? I'd say that's the understatement of the year! Looks like he hit the jackpot;). Did you say you're a grandmother? Amazing. Good for you, you look great!

 

Why thank you rigldbrg,,, what a nice thing to say :)

 

No, I'm not a grandmother yet,,,, my kids are 25 and 21, and they are no where near ready to be parents yet, so I think I've got a few more years to go before that happens,,,, :D

[Bontongrl]

where did you go? we are on the valor 9/13 i cannot wait and i love your review because i thought at first i would'nt like this ship and then i remembered it goes on water i will love it. can't wait till you get more done

 

Working on it now crusinmo,,, ;)

 

GREAT review!

 

I would love to get my husband on a plane, and take a cruise out of FL: A lot less expensive then sailing out of Galveston. It's not bad, but alas, we are sailing again on the lovely Carnival Conquest.

 

Hopefully for me, the Carnival Magic will come to either the Port of Houston or Galveston: I would love a 8 day or more, cruise out of our home port :rolleyes:.

 

Thanks so much, for letting me live vicariously through your review :D.

 

yes, Nanuak,,, they are less expensive out of Miami and you have a bigger choice of intineraires,,,,, and we were limited on dates we could go, so, we chose to go out of Miami. That, and the air miles we used, so that helped a lot :D

 

We used stingraysailing with chip too and had a great time. Only had about 20 people on the catamaran compared to some of the other boat out there that where packed to the limit. I would highly recommend anyone going on this excursion to use them. Just wanted to throw that in there.:D

 

Chip will be glad that you did shawnie , Thanks ;)

[Bontongrl]

Ok, had to take a break for a bit, but, back now, with MORE pics,,,,, lol

Are ya'll getting tired of this long drawn out report yet ?

 

 

This was our late day port. We pulled into Roatan late morning. The sounds of island music greeted us as we pulled in. <swaying to the memories of the music> :D

 

 

 

 

Its a dock port, so we were able to walk right off the ship. That sure does make things easier than waiting on a tender.

 

 

 

We had planned to go to Fins and Flippers for the day. Its a small island within sight of the ship. We could see it from our balcony. We had pre-registerd and it was $20 person.

 

 

 

It was overcast and kinda gloomy weather, but that was NOT going to stop us from having a great time. As most of the time in the Caribbean, it can be gloomy, overcast and raining one minute, and within an hour the sun will break through and be beautiful the rest of the day. So we went off to Fins and Flippers with high hopes of sunshine at some point. This was going to be our "relax on the beach and do nothing" day lol

 

 

A pic of the Fins and Flippers island from the ship

 

[rigldbrg]

Why thank you rigldbrg,,, what a nice thing to say :)

 

No, I'm not a grandmother yet,,,, my kids are 25 and 21, and they are no where near ready to be parents yet, so I think I've got a few more years to go before that happens,,,, :D

 

My apologies, I mistakenly thought I read something in your post about taking grandkids on a cruise, but I must have been distracted ;). Does'nt change what I said one bit!

 

I'm really enjoying your review and pictures. Thanks for taking the time to post.

[Bontongrl]

My apologies, I mistakenly thought I read something in your post about taking grandkids on a cruise, but I must have been distracted ;). Does'nt change what I said one bit!

 

I'm really enjoying your review and pictures. Thanks for taking the time to post.

 

Doesn't change what I said one bit either,,,,,,, ;)

 

Glad you are enjoying it :)

[PunkiC]

Wow, Debbie. It looks like you threw yourself into your first (in a long time) cruise with a passion, which beats the heck out of being bored. ;)