Good value, unfriendly service
Carnival Valor Cruise Review to Caribbean - Southern
7 Night Southern Caribbean (San Juan Roundtrip)
Sail date: December 21, 2014
Ship: Carnival Valor
Cabin type: Suite
Cabin number: 7307
Traveled as: Family (older children)
Reviewed: 9 years ago
Review summary
We upgraded to a Grand Suite because we prefer to pay more for more room and a nice balcony. The room was plenty big enough, the size of a standard hotel room. There was TONS of storage space for clothes and everything else, we didn't even come close to filling it all. There is a dorm-size fridge that comes stocked with mini-bar items (NOT included - you would still get charged if you used it) but it isn't one of those that automatically charges you if you touch it, so the stuff can all be removed and put in a closet if you want to use the fridge for your own things. There are two sinks in the bathroom and another in the dressing area. Our steward was very accommodating, filling our ice bucket twice daily and getting us more any time we asked within moments. All-in-all, we found the room to be great.
Unfortunately, most of the rest of the staff was very unfriendly. The "customer service" desk was always terribly backed up and the staff was rude and never smiled. The bartenders and people who worked the buffets and other food kiosks behaved as though it was a chore to serve you. The wait staff in the dining rooms were much more friendly, but don't bother trying to order from the "steakhouse menu" at the regular dining room unless you are willing to wait 30 minutes longer than the rest of your table to get your food.
We did go to the spa on sea-day and the staff was very professional and we both enjoyed our treatments. Unfortunately, as is customary at these types of spas, they practically ruined the treatment by giving us each a high-pressure sales pitch to book more treatments and buy the EXTREMELY over-priced products they used during the treatments.
I do highly recommend buying bottles of liquor to be delivered to your room prior to the cruise. They are VERY pricey compared to buying them in a regular liquor store, but it is still far cheaper than buying your drinks one-at-a-time. You can always bring home what you don't drink.
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