Very bad experience! Will NEVER cruise with Carnival again. Ship rocks and sways the entire time, so be ready for motion sickness. Necessities not available for purchases at the gift store on this ship, such as sunscreen or tampons.
Embarkation
1 out of 5
The embarkation experience was a nightmare. We were first charged $100 to park in the parking desk in New Orleans, which would have not been an issue if there were parking spots. After we paid we drove around the parking desk for 30 minutes looking for a parking spot, which there were not any. After driving around looking for one for 30 minutes we were then informed by the parking staff to just park in nonparking spots. The only place I could find was a spot that blocked another car completely in. I was worried about my car being towed for blocking in another car during my entire trip. They should not be charging people for parking spots that are not available. If I would have known that before I paid, I would have parked elsewhere and took a shuttle to the port!! Then once we were in the port trying to get on the ship many of the embarkation staff were complete rude when I tried to talk to them about the parking situation.
Ship experiences
Food and Dining
2 out of 5
The food on this ship was very disappointing. The buffet was downright disgusting, couldn't eat any of this food except the cereal and cut up fruit. The dining room was a little better but many of the sides on the main course were under cooked. The only good food I had on this boat was from the specialty restaurant we ate at on the last night, which was the steak house that cost us $100 for 2 adults and 2 kids. The steak was very good; however, the side was a joke. I just ordered fries on the side, but they were cheap crinkle fries that you would buy from the frozen area in your grocery store. I am also a huge coffee drinker and the coffee on this boat was so gross that I had to go a week without. the Free coffee at the buffet was so burnt that I tried to add as much sugar as possible to cover the taste, but I eventually gave up because it was so nasty. I also tired the so called "coffee shop" on the boat named Java, but this was no better. Since the coffee was so bad, I tried to get a chai latte from the coffee shop instead; however, these are not real chai lattes. They were only steamed milk with one chai tea bag placed inside the cup. Very Disappointing!!!!
Onboard Activities
1 out of 5
All onboard activities were disappointing except the movie nights on the Lido deck. The ship had 3 very small pools on board, but many days they were closed off because the ship was rocking so bad that the water was spilling out of them and causing a walking hazard for the area. During the times they were accessible, it was so crowded that my family couldn't even find one chair for all of us to use. I am also very pale and cannot take full sun for long on my skin and not one chair for the pool deck was located in the shade. I know that is not a big issue for many, but it made it impossible for me to enjoy the pool area. The basketball court was a disappointment as well. My boys tried multiple times to get up there to play, but every time they tired a group of older kids or adults would be up there and they could play with them. They should have an adult basketball court and a kid one, or possibly certain times for young kids to play and other times for teens and up to play. The kids video game area was a disappointment as well. My boys were 11 and 10 at the time of our trip and since they were not 12, they were not allowed to use the video game area, which was ridiculous. Both my boys have their own gaming consoles at home and know how to work them, not sure why they were not allowed to access the ones on the boat because they were not 12. The fitness center was nice, but since the ship was rocking so bad most of them time, I felt sick most of the trip and could not get up there to work out because of it.
Entertainment
2 out of 5
I cannot say whether the shows were good or bad, because I could not go watch them. I was so seasick most of the time from the ship rocking so bad that most of the time that we were at sea I had to lay on my bed in our room to not throw up.
Children's Programs
1 out of 5
As stated before the kids club, or video game area, was a disappointment as well. My boys were 11 and 10 at the time of our trip and since they were not 12, they were not allowed to use the video game area, which was ridiculous. Both my boys have their own gaming consoles at home and know how to work them, not sure why they were not allowed to access the ones on the boat because they were not 12.
Service and Staff
5 out of 5
This is the only good thing I can say about this ship, the staff was great. Martin was our waiter in the main dining area, and he was always very attentive and polite. Bintang was our room steward, and he was always courteous and there anytime we needed anything for our room. The other ship personnel were very helpful and polite at all times.
Ship Quality
2 out of 5
The only reason I gave this two stars is because the common areas were always well-maintained. Whoever designed this ship however should not design anything else! The layout was difficult to navigate and there were some floors that you were not allowed to walk through. If you needed to get to the other side of the ship and you were on level 3 you would have to go to a different floor walk across the ship and then go back to the 3rd floor. Really ridiculous honestly. I have been on only one other cruise, and it was with Royal Caribbean, and I did not have any of these issues with them.
Cabin / Stateroom
2 out of 5
The only reason I gave this two stars was because the main beds were very comfortable, other than that though this room was a disappointment as well. The couch that changed into a bed and the bunkbed that came out of the ceiling were so uncomfortable that my boys were trying to sleep with us on the main twin beds. The door that went out to our balcony was not airtight, so most of the time we heard a whistling in our room from the wind outside the door. Very annoying when you are trying to sleep!!!!!! Also, on my last night in our room I found fake eyelashes in our room on the bedside counter, which were definitely not ours because none of us wear fake eyelashes. Super gross!!
Ship tip
Definitely bring Dramamine or some other type of motion sickness medicine if you plan to sail on this ship. I have only taken one other cruise and it was with Royal Caribbean and I never felt their ship rock once. But the Carnival Valor rocks back and forth the ENTIRE trip. Also, do not forget any important items because there will be a good chance you will not find them for sale on this ship. I forgot to bring my sunscreen, which was a huge problem for me since I have a very fair complexion. I was first told that sunscreen could be bought in the gift store, that was a lie. They had no sunscreen for sale. I was then told I could get free sunscreen up on the Lido deck, which is where the pools were, which was also a lie. When I got up there none of the staff were aware of any free sunscreen up on the Lido deck. I then went to Guest Services, and they told me there was free sunscreen on deck 0 for guests when they got off the boat for excursions. This was the only true information I was given. Once I got down there, I found that they only had 30 SPF, which was almost pointless for me. I must use 100 SPF or at least 50 SPF for my skin type. I did appreciate that they did have free sunscreen available since it was my fault for forgetting my own sunscreen; however, I find it completely ridiculous that they did not have sunscreen for sale anywhere on this ship.
This port was okay. It was easy to navigate and there were many stores to explore as well; however, no dining areas available that I saw and the port was right next to a shipping dock with many shipping containers. Not very pleasing to the eye when you arrive.
The disembarkation experience was better than the embarkation experience. They got us off the ship fairly quickly; however, I think the security for getting off the boat was a little too lax in my opinion.
We have cruised on this ship and we had rocking but it was due to weather, which no one can be blamed for that. It’s Mother Nature not Carnival nor the Valors fault. The Valor is not the only ship that you can not access parts of the ship without navigating a little. I personally loved this ship and the decor on it. I know some say it’s tacky but I love Oldie things. Im not one for the big and glam. When we cruised this ship we actually enjoyed the buffet every evening and that was a first for us. I think it’s just what you make of it.
Been on 11 cruises, all out of New Orleans, including one this past December on the Valor. Going again in May. NEVER had any issues with the port at New Orleans, and this past December was a breeze despite the COVID restrictions. Ship did rock one night due to some bad weather, but I didn't think to blame Carnival for the weather. Some people just like to complain, so to each his (and her) own. To suggest there was very few good things to eat is always a telltale sign that the person giving the review is exactly that type of person.
FYI.. the ship will rock due to bad weather, or what deck you are on. Anything past deck 5, and you will definitely feel movement. Cruising is not for you!
First come prepared for a cruise. Ships dont control the weather. The pools close when you are in rough seas because there is literally thousands of pounds of water sloshing around. Top heavy things tend to tip over. You should go back to RC if you are super picky about everything I guess. Sorry your kids had a bad time. That is not fair but you obviously didnt research anything. I have been on the Valor and found it to be a wonderful ship! Ok I'm done.
It definitely sounds like cruising or travel is for you. Most of the issues you mention are related to not researching or planning. Any ship will move if the ocean is rough.
Sorry, but your poor planning isn't the fault of Carnival or the ship. I've sailed the Valor before and will do so again in April. I'll have packed multiple options to battle any motion sickness. I'll also have packed two bottles of reef safe sunscreen because burns go hand in hand with red hair and pale skin. When I planned my first cruise I researched a lot about how to prepare and had everything prepared weeks in advance and packed days before. Check lists are key for travel. Especially cruise travel. Advice? More preparation. You'll have fewer complaints.
Sorry you didn't enjoy your cruise. Necessities are always your responsibility to provide because they may not be available to purchase onboard. Ports will often have shops with things like sunscreen and so forth. I didn't see where you mentioned any bad weather. I'm just assuming it was weather related as to why the ship rocked so much. Absolutely not Carnivals fault. Cruising may not be for you!
Haven't cruised Carnival, so a few questions:
Embarkation: does Carnival own/operate their own parking garage?
Are terminal staff Carnival employees or contract? If contracted, do the own/operate their own parking garage?
Sea sickness: how did the navigation crew manage to give you such a rough ride with no wind and smooth seas? Assume that was the case since you didn't mention any weather issues.
Security at disembarkation: were you expecting to be patted down as you left?
Kids activities: does the Carnival web site disclose age requirements for unattended video game area?
Crowded pool: since the navigation crew wasn't rocking the ship on only a few days I assume, guess other folks wanted to use the pools too.
No group of four chairs - say hello to the chair hogs.
Sorry this cruise wasn't any fun.
Cozumel is one of the best ports to go to with many restaurants to choose from. If you venture outside the port on the main road there are quite a few along that way as well. Hopefully you’ll get to go back and experience more of beautiful Cozumel. Did you encounter some bad weather on the cruise? We’ve cruised on her before and didn’t have the same issue as you had.
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