Not so great cruise!!!

Carnival Valor Cruise Review to Caribbean - Eastern

Cruises: 1 cruise (first)
Reviews: 0
Helpful Votes: 34

Overall rating:

1 out of 5
Verified Review
Carnival Valor

7 Night Exotic Eastern Caribbean (Miami Roundtrip)

Sail date: May 22, 2011

Ship: Carnival Valor

Cabin type: Balcony

Traveled as: Couple

Reviewed: 13 years ago

Review summary

The Ship was more for retirement couples than anything... There was nothing really to do for young couples like us between the age of 29-30... 1. We don't gamble - Deck 5 was all about gamble... 2. We don't smoke - It was uncomfortable for me to experience a sports game with the many chain smokers at the bar... the ONLY bar that provided sports game and I had to be the 2nd hand smoker so I can watch 10 mins of ESPN Sportscenter..UNREAL! 3. Cruise entertainment - "BINGO" - does a cruise really need to provide BINGO every night at the theater instead of providing a well deserve show?? 4. $$$$ - everything has a price at the cruise..nothing is giving in courtesy... 5. Food - Didn't really find the food interesting enough to say "WOW" what a great meal...Only way we were able to say "WOW" was by shelling out $30 per person at the Scarlett Steakhouse but then again we had to pay EXTRA on top of everything else at the cruise... 6. Refreshments - We did not know that refreshments weren't included in the Cruise...REALLY? We had to drink water and lemonade juice for 7 days because every drink that was ordered it had a %15 gratuity included on top of the $10 per guest gratuity for staff...Overall we ended up spending more money on gratuity than us... 7. Not much to do - We spent most of our days at our stateroom when the ship was at sea because there was nothing really to do for us... 8. Not really a cruise for Honeymooners... It was our honeymoon and from the trip experience, we are considering a second honeymoon.... 9. Walked around DECK 5 and DECK 9 every single day, every hour just because there is nothing to do.....

Ship experiences

Food and Dining

1 out of 5
1. breakfast - Nothing special for breakfast..it was always the same food at the buffet (DECK 9) and sit down at Washington Dining (DECK 3) 2. Lunch - The same food at the buffet, the "Taste of Nations" was nothing out of this world.. 3. Dinner - The sit down dinner Washington Dining was nothing special either, same appetizers, same entrees, same desert..... only few changes when it was the Captains dinner (Which we never saw the Captain) but overall, still the same food and nothing that made us say "WOW"...

Entertainment

1 out of 5
1. BINGO, BINGO, BINGO - it was all bingo nights at the VALOR.. 2. Latin Music - again, we don't smoke and only place to hear live latin music was at Winston's Cigar lounge.... 3. The everyday schedule the mostly the same with little attractions for young couples...

Service and Staff

5 out of 5
Excellent...Our housekeeper (Darwin), Waiter (I Putu), Bartender (Katja) were all excellent.. they provded us the best service and made our stay a bit pleasant All of them remembered our names and Katjia always knew my drink..Thumbs up for them..

Ship Quality

1 out of 5
Only well deserve rating is the staff and how prompt they are with everything.. If it wasn't for the staff we probably would've stayed in Puerto Rico and catch a flight back home...

Cabin / Stateroom

3 out of 5
1. Cleanness - the Stateroom was always getting cleaned at morning and night.. 2. Housekeeping - The staff was always around the staterooms in case in need of assistance..

Ports of call

San Juan, Puerto Rico

3 out of 5
We were able to walk around Old San Juan and experience the "Moro"..Also we were able to have a great delicious Puerto Rico dish which was the best food of the week we had...

Half Moon Cay, Bahamas (Private Island)

3 out of 5
1. Good private island but again nothing to do without spending money.... 2. Capt. Morgans bar was the only good place at the island with entertainment... 3. The food was horrible...Not sure what Jerk Chicken is for the Chefs but is not uncooked Chicken....BURGERS, BURGERS, BURGERS...everyday all day, felt like being at McDonalds...
Don't Miss: the food

Charlotte Amalie, St. Thomas

3 out of 5
1. The St. Thomas Colonial and Recommended Shopping tour was great, we got to experience the island, learn history about the island and the rest of island (St. Croix and St. John).. The Tour guy went as far as to take us to the top of the island so we can experience Megan's Bay beach...
Don't Miss: the Stores...

Grand Turk Island

5 out of 5
Loved the Beach, white sand and pool area...If it had a resort we would've stayed and start a new Honeymoon trip.

Pros: The service, immediate attention from the staff, waiters/waitress, housekeeping..

Cons: There was nothing really much to do at the cruise....Can experience everything in the cruise in 1 day...Not a cruise for Honeymooners..

Recommends Carnival Valor? No.

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