Not a great cruise

Carnival Valor Cruise Review

Cruises: 4-6 cruises
Reviews: 8
Helpful Votes: 149

Overall rating:

3.7 out of 5
Carnival Valor

5 Night Western Caribbean (New Orleans Roundtrip)

Sail date: April 15, 2024

Ship: Carnival Valor

Cabin type: Suite

Cabin number: 7267

Traveled as: Singles/Friends

Reviewed: 7 months ago

Review summary

There are a few surprises waiting for the passenger, such as new fees charged for Theatre productions and game shows, movies under the stars and just about any entertainment before 10 PM. The Alchemy bar is worth a visit even though its location is inconvenient.

Embarkation

5 out of 5

Ship experiences

Food and Dining

3 out of 5
Main dining room food was sub-par. Dinner rolls were inedible. Staff bent over backward to please. Service was excellent. Scarlett’s Steakhouse was very good. It was what we would expect from a specialty restaurant. Buffet was not good and there were always long lines. A management issue, we decided. Seafood Shack portions were more than we could eat. Mostly fried food.

Onboard Activities

1 out of 5
Not much that is included in the fare.

Entertainment

1 out of 5
Fees charged fir most everything

Service and Staff

5 out of 5
The crew on this ship bends over backwards to please. I cannot say enough good things about them. Guest Services could use the same attitude.

Ship Quality

1 out of 5
Lighting around elevators and throughout the ship need upgrades. The ship is very dark. The only advantage to sailing on this ship is it does not take long to walk from forward to aft. Could use more cleaning especially stateroom balconies.

Cabin / Stateroom

3 out of 5
Ocean Suite stateroom was nice sized with plenty of closets and storage. A separate vanity area was nice withe exception of rhe hair dryer. The cord was very short. Hot tub in bathroom is a high narrow tub that maybe a child could enjoy. Shower wand was high and too close to the wall with a very weak spray. Rather than the expected flat screen TV on the wall, the TV was very small with a terrible picture. The Carnival software did not perform well with the old hardware. The refrigerator was barely cool enough to cool water. Our stateroom steward, Chai, was excellent, always cleaning, leaving towel animals

Ship tip

Don’t play in the ship’s casino.

Ports of call

Cozumel, Mexico

5 out of 5
Recommend any excursion that includes tequila tasting.

New Orleans, Louisiana

5 out of 5

Progreso (Merida), Mexico

5 out of 5

Disembarkation

5 out of 5
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17 Comments

CruiseMom2022     6 months ago

I don't believe the star means there is a fee. I think the star means it's a favorite or is featured. We just got off a carnival ship and didn't pay any fees for shows.

marybarry2017     6 months ago

We did not go to find out what the fees were. They starred the daily planner and it was not just game shows. This is a first for any cruise I have been on. Perhaps those of you who are sailing later this month or year can do the research on your cruise and share. I was very surprised to see the star by the movies…and the theatre show. I did not like the ship and I won’t book another cruise in that ship class again.

Ranjen617     6 months ago

No fees were charged in November 2023... Please elaborate.

bagzlady     6 months ago

Been on the Valor twice. Wish there was some elaboration on the extra fees. Would line to be prepared if needed when we go in Sept

jenn1973     6 months ago

I'm going on valor in 5 days. What fees are you talking about?

ggeane     6 months ago

What fee charges for shows? You never explained

tsjs0412     6 months ago

We were not charged fees in Jan on the Valor . It was a great time

TheAllensSail     6 months ago

We didn't have charges in August 2023.

dlh22701     6 months ago

There are no fees.

marybarry2017     7 months ago

It is the first cruise I have seen the fees.

cortneyb     7 months ago

There is not a fee for the production show. and they don't charge a fee for the game shows if you just want to watch.

ZATHROS     7 months ago

Thanks for sharing your experience.

mary0909     7 months ago

We were just on a cruise in January and had no fees charged for Theatre or outdoor movies. They do charge to play bingo,build a bear and one of the game shows. I think Deal or No Deal,but Family Fued was included. Not sure what you are referencing.

Shh813     7 months ago

The fees don’t sound right. Why would it only be on the Valor? I haven’t heard any other reviews from any Carnival ships about extra fees. Not even other reviews on the Balor.

srhandler     7 months ago

Would like to know when they started charging to watch shows in the theater? Thanks for your review.

cruising2004     7 months ago

Could you please elaborate on what fees were being charged in theater? Have never had to pay for a production show.

HeavySeas     7 months ago

Thanks for sharing

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