Frequently Asked Questions About The Carnival Valor
By Sue Mead and Holly Reich

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Frequently Asked Questions:

How many passengers? 

Normal guest capacity is 2972 with 1180 in crew. (That’s about the size of my hometown, without the college students!)

How about the accommodations?

There are 10 penthouse suites; 42 suites; 503 ocean view /balcony cabins; 337 ocean view w/out balcony; 18 ocean with glass wall and 577 interior cabins. We had a room with an ocean view and a balcony. Our cabin was framed in teak, with soothing watercolors, and cubbies and nooks for everything. It was so well designed that you could fit days of clothing.

What’s to eat?

There’s something for everyone! You can either go casual or dress up. We preferred to put on our sparkly clothes (they look great on the water).  The two main restaurants -the Washington and Lincoln restaurants- have dining on two levels. Decorated colonial style with bas relief images of the Presidents, they have dark wood chandeliers with a gold leaf dome and a general peach-colored theme. There are fourseatings at these restaurants, so that gives you a lot of time and food choices.
 
And, what did we eat? We had our first dinner at the Washington, a sit-down restaurant, where are six appetizers, two salads, six entrees and four desserts nightly as well as a show put on by the wait crew. Dinner menus also have low-carb diet, Spa Carnival Fare and a children’s menu.

Rosie’s Restaurant (as in Rosie the Riveter) is buffet-style and seats up to 1250 in a cluster of comfortable seating nooks. Foods range from Asian specialties to grilled hot dogs and hamburgers, pasta and meat-carving stations, a deli with fresh sandwiches or an upstairs seafood area that serves ceviche, oyster fritters and bouillabaisse. Scarlett’s, a more intimate steakhouse and  supper club is worth making the $25 per person reservation. A jazz duo will serenade you while you enjoy a gourmet meal of choices, including  lobster tail, 24-oz porterhouse, nine-oz filet mignon, Alaskan King Crab and Chilean Sea Bass.

But, wait- there’s more...a 24 hour pizzeria with seven kinds of pies and calzones; and a 24 hour frozen yoghurt, ice-cream station; the Java Cafe with drop-dead carrot cake and any combo of coffee you could dream up; a sushi bar; and 24-hour free room service.

NIGHT EATING Yes, there are those late-night buffets, a midnight gala buffet once each cruise and a Chocolate Extravaganza.

Note: Purchase a Fountain Fun Card. You pay a one-time fee which gives unlimited soft drinks thru out the voyage. It will save you a bundle!!!

What else?

SPA: There is no excuse not to experience the gym.13,300 square feet of the latest equipment and yoga, the gym also offers palates, fitness and yoga classes. There are treatments as lush as a lime and ginger salt glow, aroma stone therapy or marine facials. Wall-to-wall windows that look out to sea And, the steam and sauna rooms have floor to ceiling windows that look out to sea, with two Jacuzzis in the gym.

SWIM: OK, we’re talking four  swimming pools--a children's wading, a more secluded pool aft covered by a retractable dome, a main pool on Lido deck and one on panorama deck with a 214 foot long corkscrew water slide.

ENTERTAINMENT: Two Las Vegas style reviews “Far from over-the 80’s” and “Nightclub Express” are held in the 1400-seat medieval theme Ivanhoe Show Lounge. These are elaborate events--hot costumes, hot dancers, lots of audience interaction, light shows, video, and comfortable seats or couches, with cocktail tables built into the furniture to rest your champagne on.

FOR THE KIDS: Camp Carnival: A 4200-square foot play area with a 16-monitor video wall continuously displays movies and cartoons, along with an arts and crafts center with spin, sand art and candy-making machines, a soft play padded area for under twos, a computer lab and PlayStation 2 game consoles and a children’s library.

TEENS and YOUTHS: The 1800 square foot teen club, The Caboose, is a dance club with a DJ and a ‘mocktail’ lounge for 15-17 year-olds. The Youth Spa Program allows children ages 12-14 and their parents to have body and beauty treatments together on port days.

For Rent: Parents can rent single and double strollers for a weekly fee of $25. Bouncy seats, travel swings and Game Boy Advance units are also available for rent.

Babysitting: $6 for first child and $4 for an additional child per family per hour.

WHY CRUISE?

Well, bottom line---it’s great value. Compared dollar to dollar, an all-inclusive cruise can be significantly cheaper than a land-based product. Cruising has something for every age, it is often easy to get to (there are many ports you can drive to) and there is constant entertainment, if you so choose. Once you’ve cruised, you’ll see the pull.

Where Does the Carnival Valor Travel?

The Carnival Valor sails from Miami on 7-day Eastern and Western Caribbean cruises.

For More Information:

Call: 1-888-CARNIVAL or visit www.carnival.com

Photos courtesy Carnival Cruises; used with permission.