Carnival Valor

Ship Statistics

Name: Carnival Valor	Registry: Panama
Ship Completed Date: 12/1/2004	Capacity: 2974
Number of Crew, Nationality: 1180, International	Gross Tonnage: 110000
Number of Passenger Decks: 13	Non-Smoking Dining: Yes
Non-Smoking Ship: No

Come aboard the Carnival Valor, which just set sail in December 2004. Elegant dining rooms offer both traditional and international cuisine. Other dining options include themed restaurants and buffets, with everything from burgers to Italian delights. Lounge on deck, then cool off in one of three swimming pools, or get a relaxing treatment at SpaCarnival. Kids will love the spiral waterslide and Camp Carnival's supervised games and activities, while teens hang out in a club designed just for them. After a day in port, relax in one of 22 lounges, catch a Vegas-style show, or try your luck in one of the largest casinos at sea.

Ship Highlights

Luxurious spa with a fully equipped gym and beauty treatments
Outdoor jogging track
Award-winning Camp Carnival program for kids
Casual dining in the Seaview Bistro
Spectacular Vegas-style productions
22 bars and lounges throughout the ship
One of the largest casinos at sea
Multiple swimming pools and one kids' pool
All-night dance club
Onboard theme of Heroes and Heroics

Overview

Valor Carnival Valor, Carnival's third Conquest-class ship, represents a continuing evolution for the cruise line.

For starters, this 110,000-ton, 2,974-passenger vessel definitely fits in with the city-at-sea concept. It's got 22 bars and lounges, 7 whirlpools, a 13,300-square-ft. spa and fitness area and a swanky alternative restaurant. But where Carnival Valor really stands out is not in the quality and quantity of its public rooms and facilities (it is nearly identical, layout-wise, to sisters Carnival Conquest and Carnival Glory -- and even Italian relative CostaMagica), but in its theme, executed by Joe Farcus, Carnival's revered architect and interior designer: heroes and heroism, both real and fictional.

We loved the clever design of the One Small Step Dance Club, Valor's disco celebrating Neil Armstrong. It truly transports cruisers far from Earth with twinkling lights adorning the ceiling; cool-to-the-touch "craters" reach upward to the "starry" sky from the floor and bar, illuminated on the inside with colored lights. Dance-lesson-style footprints across the floor and bar tie the "first walk on the moon" theme to the room's true calling as a dance club. And Farcus really hit a home run with the Bronx Bar sports bar, themed entirely after baseball -- and more specifically, Yankee Stadium. Bar stool seats are soft white leather with red baseball stitching steadied on -- what else -- baseball bats, all atop a green "grass" carpet, and each table holds a piece of Lou Gehrig's famous "#4" uniform.

When we stepped onboard, the first word that came to mind was "patriotic." The nine-deck-high centrum through which passengers enter the ship features touches of Americana. These include the floor, which is a blend of maroon- and natural-wood-toned "stripes" with squares of navy blue. The effect? An earthy, understated representation of the American flag. Faces of past presidents and heroic icons like George Washington grace the perimeter, and the dome above features bas-relief panels depicting 10 U.S. destinations, such as Miami Beach, San Francisco, New Orleans and the Grand Canyon.

Ultimately, after further exploration, the ship's hero and heroism theme began to transcend that of the United States -- the Ivanhoe Show Lounge celebrates the classic tale by Scotland's Sir Walter Scott, and Winston's Cigar Bar is named after British Prime Minister Winston Churchill. Still, the emphasis on American heroes and history is pretty obvious. And although we know that Farcus never repeats his designs, we're pretty curious about this theme for Carnival's next ship: Carnival Freedom.

Carnival Valor is the largest Fun Ship to be based in Miami. It will sail alternating seven-night Western and Eastern Caribbean itineraries year-round.

Activities

Aboard the amazing Carnival Valor, our abundance of activities is endless. We challenge you to complete them all. Are you sure your adrenaline will be able to sustain the excitement? Don't worry, we provide a Multi-Media Conference Center for those who enjoy minimal excitement. On the other hand, we also furnish the adrenaline seekers with 4 swimming pools, Health & Fitness Center, as well as a jogging track, etc. You're invited to choose your own activity possibilities.

4 Swimming Pools, 1 with a 214-foot long water slide
15,000-square-foot Health & Fitness Facility
Internet Cafe
"Boulevard" of Shops & Boutiques
"Action Alley" - a recreation center housing a video arcade
Teen Coffee Bar & Dance Club
3,300-square-foot Children's Play area
Multi-Media Conference Center
Expansive Sports Deck - with basketball & volleyball courts
Jogging Track
Card Room
Game Room

Entertainment

As the moon lights the sky no one will be able to deny the magnitude of their excitement. Piercing through the night air while you relish the many entertainment preferences. There are no limits to our gratification. We provide our one of a kind Las Vegas Style Show in the Ivanhoe Theatre, plenty of lounges and bars to share a toast with old and new friends, make your way to the One Small Step to practice your dance moves, or catch an upcoming singer, comedian, band, or musician perform while you enjoy our various music selection.

Full Gambling Casino
Cigar Lounge
Main Show Lounge
22 Different Bars & Lounges to choose from

Overall

Carnival Valor has something for everyone, from well-performed shows for the adults to Carnival's revered Camp Carnival program for the kids, and from the sporty Bronx Bar for him to the luxurious (though pricey) Spa Carnival for her. Also, you'll get good value for your money here, a plus for folks who want a contemporary, big-ship experience on a conservative budget.