The Carnival Valor, by cruise industry veteran, Art Sbarsky
When you combine the successful approach to cruising used by Carnival Cruises - the "fun" concept" - with an innovative Western Caribbean itinerary, it's sure to be a winning formula. Thus it was on a cruise, 7-nights round-trip out of Miami. After a day at sea, there were four ports in a row: Grand Cayman, Roatan, Belize and Costa Maya. Another day at sea followed before the ship returned to Miami. Thus the ship went to places most cruisers have not seen yet. All four days were pretty much full-day calls; Grand Cayman and Belize were tender ports and the ship docked in Roatan and Costa Maya.
One effect of the ports all in a row is that the 3200 guests had the first and last day to completely enjoy the ship and all of its features while they were first settling in and then getting ready to get off. It seemed to make the flow very smooth. Days at sea were filled with a variety of activities, mostly fun oriented with no emphasis on lectures or learning. There were games, contests, bingo, art auctions, etc., all of which were well attended but none seemed to be overly crowded. This was also the most activity I've seen on a cruise at night. The lounges, bars and other public areas were jumping to say the least, whether it be the disco, the piano bar, the casino or the theater for late night comedy shows. The late night deck party was packed for a long time with dancers and revelers; the buffet served was easy to navigate despite the crowds. The pool area was always busy (especially the water slide) but it was also always possible to get a deck chair on one deck or the other. Maybe the best loungers were on the deck five promenades on the two sides of the ship since they had very comfy cushions. This was also one of the few quiet areas where one could get away from the hustle and bustle.
Carnival has been at the forefront of the overall elevation of the cruise product for years now and it showed on board in a number of ways. The dining program is much improved. The offerings in the main dining room were of considerable variety; everything was quite good and well-presented. Service in the dining room was also much improved from years ago. They've even turned it into a bit of a show by having the dining staff dance and/or sing at the end on each dinner. The maitre d' was very entertaining and guests really got into the spirit of it all. The alternative dinner restaurant, Scarlett's, is absolutely one of the finest options afloat. Sort of based on Gone With the Wind, it's a very handsome room serving a variety of options from steaks to chops to lobster tails with a great range of appetizers and side dishes as well. Service was great and, with a two-person combo playing a range of dancing/dancing music, it makes for a very relaxing/romantic evening at sea. The $30 per person charge is very acceptable. In addition to the regular buffets for both breakfast and lunch, there are specialty offerings such as the deli, an Oriental variety counter and the fish 'n' chips spot (a deck up from the buffet and never crowded for sitting). The deli was flat out spectacular, with roast beef, turkey, corned beef, pastrami and more for individually put together sandwiches. And, since it was open from 11 -11, it was also a wonderful option when coming back from a tour in the mid-afternoon.
Carnival has also successfully jumped on the stateroom bedding bandwagon, introducing the Carnival Comfort Bed: mattresses, sheets, pillows, and duvets of very high quality. The sheets are 200-thread count, cotton-rich and very soft. The pillows are either 100% synthetic down or 100% hypoallergenic down and feather. Naturally, they're all available for purchase.
As part of the enhancements Carnival has made to their past guest programs, Platinum Guests (those sailing for their 10th or more time) get Concierge Club Privileges. There's no special deck or lounge for the concierge club but these special guests get: personalized stationery, canapés, a logo item gift and access to the Carnival Concierge Club Desk at the purser's office. Also, there are guaranteed dining times, guaranteed supper club reservations, a special behind-the-scenes galley tour, complimentary wash and fold service, free entry to the slot or black jack tournament (saves $20), priority debarkation back in Miami and, perhaps most importantly, priority tender boarding. This last is of significant benefit since it does take considerable time for non-shore excursion guests to debark the ship in a tender port.
As for the ports, Grand Cayman has become extremely popular but overrun when the large ships are in. The stingray excursion, one of the best for kids of all ages, has taken a bit of a hit with the recent Steve Irwin incident but it's sure to bounce back. Roatan and Belize offer a wide range of things to do, especially water-oriented adventures. Costa Maya, a new gem of a port-of-call, is superb. The dock facilities make it easy to walk ashore into a shipping/entertainment complex that is only a few years old. The town is a short taxi ride away and features beaches, food/bars and some shopping. Shore excursions include Mayan ruins or a Mayan cultural tour (both are excellent) as well as dune buggy, ATV and jeep tours or the area. The developers of Costa Maya have done an excellent job with the development so it cannot be overrun such as some other ports.
Carnival Valor will be doing alternating Eastern and Western Caribbean itineraries through at least spring 2008.
