business side terible, staff/ship great
Carnival Valor Cruise Review to Caribbean - Western
5 Night Western Caribbean (Galveston Roundtrip)
Sail date: January 14, 2017
Ship: Carnival Valor
Cabin type: Inside
Cabin number: 1320 & 1317
Traveled as: Family (older children)
Reviewed: 7 years ago
Review summary
5day became 4day & only 1 port. fog closed port & understandable mother nature can't be helped but carnival kept putting of making decision of not boarding till next day until their 4:30 notice which made it very hard to find accommodations being I had 7 people in group. Found hotel 50 miles away @ 5:30pm,also was told we would not have another update until 12noon Sunday. I received a call @ 9am Sunday that Valor was going to start loading @10am & leaving port @ 2pm. Keep in mind I'm 50 miles away with 7 people to feed & get ready & get to port to load in such a short notice, very stressful. We make it on board knowing we will only do 4 days with Progresso being port of call. On second day @ sea, carnival changes port of call to Cozumel, which I feel is because they sell books to shop @ their stores @ the dock in Cozumel. They also said we would get reimbursed for 1 port in 3weeks, why didn't they just give us on board credit the way it has been done before, heard this same complain from several passengers. I know now why, they didn't want passengers talking to each other about it. I was finally told I was going to get $171 for cabin #1321 when I had paid $1119.04($739 just in port fees & taxes) & $145 for cabin #1317 when I paid $924.37($544 just in port fees & taxes), this is no where close on $ for 1 port of refund" It's highway robbery". If other passengers r having same problem, we need to get together as a group & go after them legally to resolve this. I'm Victor Thanks
Ship experiences
Food and Dining
Onboard Activities
Entertainment
Service and Staff
Ship Quality
Cabin / Stateroom
Ship tip
Great ship but ask questions about how refunds work, if something doesn't go as plan, from the business side. It;s rare that it happens but be informed before hand just in-case u might consider canceling & taking cruise u will enjoy & not one they force on u.
Ports of call
Progreso (Merida), Mexico Did not visit port
9 Comments
ctav 7 years ago
5day became 4day & only 1 port. fog closed port & understandable mother nature can't be helped but carnival kept putting of making decision of not boarding till next day until their 4:30 notice which made it very hard to find accommodations being I had 7 people in group. Found hotel 50 miles away @ 5:30pm,also was told we would not have another update until 12noon Sunday. I received a call @ 9am Sunday that Valor was going to start loading @10am & leaving port @ 2pm. Keep in mind I'm 50 miles away with 7 people to feed & get ready & get to port to load in such a short notice, very stressful. We make it on board knowing we will only do 4 days with Progresso being port of call. On second day @ sea, carnival changes port of call to Cozumel, which I feel is because they sell books to shop @ their stores @ the dock in Cozumel. They also said we would get reimbursed for 1 port in 3weeks, why didn't they just give us on board credit the way it has been done before, heard this same complain from several passengers. I know now why, they didn't want passengers talking to each other about it. I was finally told I was going to get $171 for cabin #1321 when I had paid $1119.04($739 just in port fees & taxes) & $145 for cabin #1317 when I paid $924.37($544 just in port fees & taxes), this is no where close on $ for 1 port of refund" It's highway robbery". If other passengers r having same problem, we need to get together as a group & go after them legally to resolve this. I'm Victor @ Thanks
Research
Research
Research
Are the first 3 things you should do before booking the cruise.
Air lines, rentals, shuttles hotels before and after the cruise, places to eat, gas stations, detours, and insurance in case there is a problem.
Embarkation day, I'm up early checking the web site for possible delays with the ship coming in to port, traffic and last minute packing the car. I arrive at the port early and if I need to, I will wait in the car if I'm too early.
I cruise in October and I'm always looking at rentals, hotels and shuttles to the port ( free if the hotel provides them) and making reservations both on the ship and during travel.