Daddy and daughter date

Carnival Valor Cruise Review to Caribbean - Western

Cruises: 2-3 cruises
Review: 1
Helpful Votes: 32

Overall rating:

4 out of 5
Verified Review
Carnival Valor

7 Night Western Caribbean (Port Canaveral Roundtrip)

Sail date: December 12, 2015

Ship: Carnival Valor

Cabin type: Inside

Cabin number: 2447

Traveled as: Family (young children)

Reviewed: 8 years ago

Review summary

This cruise was a great experience for my daughter and I.  We had a really good time and truly enjoyed ourselves.  My eight year old daughter loved the pools, the hot tub, water slide and Camp Carnival!!  She was so occupied with those activities that there no real time for much else for us to do.  The food was very abundant, available and good tasting.  The staff was extremly friendly and attentive to our needs.  The housekeeping team assigned to our cabin remembered our names and called us by them from the first day on.  The wait staff also did a very good job in creating a special trip for us.  The recall our preferences and attended to them for each meal.  We would recommend anyone to experience a cruise for a great family get-a-way.  

Ship experiences

Food and Dining

5 out of 5

Onboard Activities

5 out of 5

Entertainment

5 out of 5

Children's Programs

5 out of 5

Service and Staff

5 out of 5

Ship Quality

5 out of 5

Cabin / Stateroom

3 out of 5
We booked a regular cabin and it was rather on the small side. We did not know about the different locations when we selected our cabin. We were lower aft very close to the engine. When we would enter a port (usually early in the morning) our entire room would vibrate from the strain of the engine. The room would mildly vibrate while to ship was sailing. But no where as violently as when we were docking. Live and learn. If you can avoid a lower aft cabin, do so.

Ship tip

Great ship loved the "Dive-in" movies. Great touch. Avoid lower aft cabins Very clean ship. Staff constantly walking around polishing and touching up.

Ports of call

Port Canaveral, Florida

5 out of 5

Cozumel, Mexico

5 out of 5

Belize City, Belize

1 out of 5
We did not get off in Belize, the ship did not dock in a port. It was anchored a few miles out and much smaller boat from local company's shuffled passengers back and forth. I did not like to looks of those smaller boats. So we chose to stay aboard ship that day.

Mahogany Bay, Roatan, Bay Islands, Honduras

5 out of 5

Costa Maya (Mahahual), Mexico

5 out of 5
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3 Comments

gronn169    8 years ago

There was a "Emergency" on board one morning and I did not feel the crew handled it properly.  They made an announcement through all of the PA systems, including the room that there was a fire in the forward engine.  They refereed to this as a training drill from that point on.  The kept saying that the matter was being investigated.  They instructed all emergency crew to report to their muster stations with life vests.  So some of the staff was walking around with life preservers on while all guest were to remain calm.  I remained in my cabin until I was confident the matter needed me to do anything.  I recall on our first day when the instructed everyone to return to their cabins to retrieve their life preservers in case of emergency.  I was with my 8 yr old daughter and did not want to alarm her too much if I did not have to.  I occupied her till I feel sure the matter was resolved or at least well in hand.  They went as far as to sound the emergency ship horn.  Even after they gave the all clear someone said over the PA system: "Abandon Ship".  Just one other passenger and myself seem to hear and react to that.  If this was truly only and emergency drill; I feel they could have done this between cruises rather than when there was a full ship of passengers.  no other explanation was given.  This is only my second cruise so I may have over reacted but I feel it could have been done differently.  I loved the cruise other than this matter.

sweetliberty13    8 years ago

This is a great itinerary. We did get off in Belize, didn't have anything planned as far as an excursion. Unless you have an excursion planned - it really isn't really worthwhile to tender in and back. 

marsnyde    8 years ago

So why only 4 stars?

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