Thread: Carnival Victory

Anyone been on this ship recently? See alot of older posts. It's our 1st time on a Carnival ship and would appreciate any tips/advise you all have.

Originally Posted by tipsyq

Anyone been on this ship recently? See alot of older posts. It's our 1st time on a Carnival ship and would appreciate any tips/advise you all have.

You can read some more reviews , see photos and generally get some more information via the Ship Profiles. (please see embedded links above)

Have you started a roll call yet? I see from your profile that you're on a Caribbean voyage. Any destinations you are particularly excited about? Where are you cruising from?

Hi Tim,
1st hope you made out ok with "Irene", no major damage here by us. didn't even lose power which was very lucky.
Will go check out the ocean beaches tomorrow to see how bad they are, live @ 10 min away.

I checked out all the reviews and pictures. I didn't start a roll call thought it was too early.

The itinerary is St Thomas, Barbados, St Lucia, St Kitts, St Maarten, leave from San Juan. Been to St Thomas many times (if don't stay on board, will take a taxi to Sapphire Beach for the day) and to St Maarten once. Rest of the islands are reason we choose this cruise.
From the forums here,
On Barbados, I got great info @ Cataraman tour (Cool Running) for snorkeling w/ turtles etc and a beach stop. Will book with them rather than cruise tour.
St Lucia, again from here,a suggested beach break tour w/ Spencer Ambrose, or beach day at the Pitons. Do you know of them?
St Kitts, at a loss, was going to take the train tour but saw alot of mixed reviews and most were not good. Ship offers a "beach extravaganza" trip that sounds nice. But haven't finished checking out the island tips from here yet.
St Maarten, ship has two tours that sound fine - last time we went to Divi Bay Beach resort which was very nice but not sure if this cruise line offers it. was on RCCL.
the ship tours are Golden Eagle catamaran or to the Tiki Hut snorkel park/shipwreck cove, but don't want to be like "cattle" on board or the snorkel park be like Trunk Bay on St John, which is disappointing since most of the coral is dead from too many people touching,standing on them. Plus the whole beach area can get very crowded, too touristy now. Was on St John last year for a week, and finally got to get into Trunk Bay on the last day, but was so crowded and crazy that we left and went to Maho again.

So St Maarten is still up in the air. Any tips are welcomed.
Have you had any exp. with the tours/places I mentioned here?

Thanks for helping us out.
Debbie

Hi Debbie!!

We did the Victory in May 2009. The ship was in good shape for being an older ship. I don't know if it's been in dry dock since we were on it or not.

Barbados we took a taxi to Accura Beach. It was nice beach, but the day we were there it was very choppy.

St Lucia we used COSOL. Would recommend him highly. We also used him when we were there on the Destiny in 2007. In 2007 when we were there they drove us down to the Jaloise (sp?) Beach, which is between the Pitons, and in 2009 for some reason we had to take a water taxi over to the beach. I had heard of Spencer Ambrose when we went, but decided to go with COSOL.

St Kitts we did the train. It was OK. There was some pretty scenery especially when it gets close to the ocean. When you're done with the train then you get on a bus for the rest of the tour thru town. Once is enough.

When we were on the Victory it didn't go to St Maarten, we did Dominica and Antigua instead.

Hope this helps you a little.

Originally Posted by DOTTE

Hi Debbie!!

We did the Victory in May 2009. The ship was in good shape for being an older ship. I don't know if it's been in dry dock since we were on it or not.

Barbados we took a taxi to Accura Beach. It was nice beach, but the day we were there it was very choppy.

St Lucia we used COSOL. Would recommend him highly. We also used him when we were there on the Destiny in 2007. In 2007 when we were there they drove us down to the Jaloise (sp?) Beach, which is between the Pitons, and in 2009 for some reason we had to take a water taxi over to the beach. I had heard of Spencer Ambrose when we went, but decided to go with COSOL.

St Kitts we did the train. It was OK. There was some pretty scenery especially when it gets close to the ocean. When you're done with the train then you get on a bus for the rest of the tour thru town. Once is enough.

When we were on the Victory it didn't go to St Maarten, we did Dominica and Antigua instead.

Hope this helps you a little.

Hi Debbie,
sorry for being so long in ans. but last week was very crazy and wasn't on PC much at all.
Thanks so much for all the info. Will look into COSOL for St Lucia.

Know the ship went into dry dock for up grading but not sure when either.

How did you like Dominica? We liked it alot but Antigua was so-so. think it was the tour we took that spoiled it for us.

Any more info you come up with just send my way.

Debbie

Originally Posted by tipsyq

I didn't start a roll call thought it was too early.

I assure you that April is not too early for a roll call. We have one for October...2012!

Originally Posted by tipsyq

Hi Debbie,
sorry for being so long in ans. but last week was very crazy and wasn't on PC much at all.
Thanks so much for all the info. Will look into COSOL for St Lucia.

Know the ship went into dry dock for up grading but not sure when either.

How did you like Dominica? We liked it alot but Antigua was so-so. think it was the tour we took that spoiled it for us.

Any more info you come up with just send my way.

Debbie

Hi Debbie!!

I liked Dominica. Once you get away from the port area it really is a beautiful island. Like you, I didn't care much for Antigua. The people there seemed rude, like they could care less if we were there are not. The 1st time we were there we just got off the ship and walked around. The 2nd time we went to an all inclusive resort (can't remember the name right now) and it was nice.

I don't know if you like early or late dining, but I would do the late dining. Gives you more time to get ready. I don't know if they have the any time dining on the Victory or not. I don't think they had it when we were on it.

The Victory does not call at Dominica anymore. That port was cancelled by Carnival in response to guest comment cards. That itinerary now has 1 sea day.

Originally Posted by DOTTE

Hi Debbie!!

I liked Dominica. Once you get away from the port area it really is a beautiful island. Like you, I didn't care much for Antigua. The people there seemed rude, like they could care less if we were there are not. The 1st time we were there we just got off the ship and walked around. The 2nd time we went to an all inclusive resort (can't remember the name right now) and it was nice.

I don't know if you like early or late dining, but I would do the late dining. Gives you more time to get ready. I don't know if they have the any time dining on the Victory or not. I don't think they had it when we were on it.

We're going with anytime dining and always do the late one, like you say, it gives us more time to "play" and to get ready.
See from Tims post that Dominica has been removed, that's a shame. It's very poor but people were friendly and some good things to see away from the port. I have some real nice handmade items by the island people, we found great places off the beaten path. Never felt uncomfortable or nervous exploring there either.
Antigua was a whole diff. thing. The "resort" we went to on a ships tour, was a shack w/ "cold"drinks in a coolersitting in the sun and crackers (that was our refreshments included in tour), no chairs/umbrellas, one tree and way off the beaten path, don't even know where the resort was. ha... We were right across the water from Montserrat and got some real good pics of that island.
But thats why we go on cruises, to see diff. places and if like them, go back for a land vac. Did that with St John USVI. And Aruba.

Originally Posted by MD11F

The Victory does not call at Dominica anymore. That port was cancelled by Carnival in response to guest comment cards. That itinerary now has 1 sea day.

Thats sad, it was a pretty island and despite being so poor,people were so friendly. They told us where to go to see other things besides port area, wrote out the directions and all.

Being such a poor island, losing this cruiseline has to hurt them badly.