Carnival Valor

The 2004-built Carnival Valor cruise ship is the third of all 5 Conquest-class Carnival vessels - with sisterships Conquest, Freedom, Glory, Liberty.

The vessel (IMO number 9236389) is currently Panama-flagged (MMSI 354298000) and registered in Colon.

History - construction and ownership

Carnival Cruise Lines (CCL) is a US shipping company, trademarked brand and subsidiary of Carnival Corporation (shipowner). CCL was founded in 1972 as an independent company by Ted Arison (1924-1999, co-founder of NCL Norwegian).

CCL has the Corporation's largest fleet as number of vessels and GT-tonnage (ship sizes/volumes and passenger capacities). In 2023, CCL had ~9% (by revenue) and ~19% (passengers) share of the cruise industry's worldwide market. In 2024, the parent company (Carnival Corporation) had ~51% stake in the US$64+ billion industry.

The 3000-passenger ship Carnival Valor and her sisterships are among the biggest in the CCL fleet. They are basically larger versions of earlier Destiny-class ships, as well as more feature-filled. More space reveals into additional decks, with even more bars and lounges, an upscale steak house, and well-proportioned public areas.

Decks and Cabins

Carnival Valor staterooms (1492 total, in 27 grades) include 54 Suites, 521 Balcony, 330 Oceanview and 587 Inside cabins, including 29 wheelchair-accessible (in all cabin categories). The ship has no "family cabins" but instead offers connecting rooms in various categories. Most cabins are sized 170-185 ft2 (16-17 m2). Cabin balconies are sized 35-75 ft2 (5-7 m2). The ship has 3 types of suites - Captain's, Grand, Ocean. The largest are Captain's Suites (500 ft2 / 46 m2 plus 150 ft2 / 14 m2 terrace).

The boat has 13 passenger decks, of which 8 are with cabins. Over 50% of all staterooms are outside, 60% of those are with balconies.

Shipboard dining options - Food and Drinks

On Carnival Valor, the two main dining rooms offer traditional dinner with set times and tablemates or flexible dining, via "Your Choice Dining" Carnival program. Washington Restaurant is nicer of the duo. It is located aft and framed by 3 walls of windows. Lincoln is positioned in a central spot, but both offer the same menu. At dinner, the vegetarian and low-carb fare is served, as well as Spa Carnival choices. Cuisine often exceeds expectations, especially at Scarlett’s Supper Club and the sushi station. The casual Rosie’s buffet offers a number of food stations with a variety of choices, including a salad bar, deli, dessert station, daily regional cuisines. The 24-hour room service provides a limited selection of items.

Carnival Valor emerged from her 16-day dry dock on May 08, 2016 with a host of new restaurants and bars, including upgrades already received by most of the rest vessels in the fleet. In addition to the apothecary-like Alchemy Bar, candy story Cherry on Top, RedFrog Pub and SkyBox Sports Bar, the ship also received poolside RedFrog Rum Bar and BlueIguana Tequila Bar, as well as their complementary eateries, Guy's Burger Joint (which has a tie-in with Food Network superstar Guy Fieri) and BlueIguana Cantina.

Follows the complete list of Carnival Valor restaurants and food bars.

• Lincoln Restaurant (744-seat forward Dining Room, with two fixed dinner seatings or “Your Time Dining”; offers “Seuss At Sea” themed breakfasts for $5)
• Washington Restaurant (1122-seat aft Dining Room, with two fixed dinner seatings and open seating breakfast and lunch)
• Rosie’s Lido Buffet Restaurant (1396-seat, self-service buffet restaurant with various food stations; operates as a bistro in the evenings)
• Scarlett’s Steakhouse (108-seat specialty restaurant for steaks and seafood; with dance floor and live music)
• Sushi Bar (complimentary)
• Sushi at Sea (Lido Bar) mini version of Bonsai Sushi, offers a la carte priced menu with rolls, sushi, sashimi, prices vary between USD 1,50-7,50.
• Alchemy Bar, candy story Cherry on Top, RedFrog Pub, SkyBox Sports Bar, RedFrog Rum Bar, BlueIguana Tequila Bar, Guy's Burger Joint, BlueIguana Cantina.

Shipboard entertainment options - Fun and Sport

The theme of Valor's decor is "Heroes and Heroism," regarding not just Americans, but heroes from every corner of the world. Cruisers are first represented to the theme as they board through the atrium lobby on Deck 3. To be sure, there is still enough Farcus bling in the details, bright molded gold leaf-gilded eagles on simulated pedestals are scattered all around the liner, as well as coffered ceilings of glossy, reflective materials and plenty of blinking lights and flashing video screens to trigger a 1960's light flashback. Like her Conquest-class sisters, Valor also boasts a 3-deck theater - Ivanhoe, and a series of stores. Carnival Valor offers the typical Carnival experience blended with a handful of twists. The "old faithfuls" are also there: personal service and diverse evening entertainment ranging from Vegas floor show to jazz to the "piano man".

Follows the complete list of Carnival Valor lounges, clubs and other entertainment venues for kids, teens, and adults.

• Ivanhoe Theatre (1400-seat main show lounge for musical productions and shows; also used for movies and bingo)
• Valor Atrium American Lobby (9-deck high open floor area; features American Lobby Bar with piano and stage for live performances)
• Betsy Ross Card Room (28-seat); John Paul Jones Art Gallery (36-seat); Iliad Library (17-seat; offers board games); Photo Gallery and Shop; Kiosk (S and S Card service); Capital Conference Room (100-seat)
• Circle C (complimentary kids club lounge with video games, parties, and planned activities)
• The Web Internet Cafe (24-hour, 6 Internet computers room)
• Washington’s Bar (147-seat cigar bar with live music)
• The Fun Shops (offers “Bon Voyage” items, duty-free liquor, jewelry, fashion boutiques, souvenirs, logo items); Formalities Shop (tuxedo rentals, special occasion gifts)
• Bronx Bar (55-seat sports bar); Java Cafe (specialty coffee bar); Jeanne’s Bar (30-seat wine bar); Lindy Hop Bar (100-seat piano bar); Paris Hot Bar (88-seat jazz bar)
• Shogun Casino (484-seat); King Boulevard Promenade Bar (23-seat)
• Club O2 (teens' lounge for video games, movies, karaoke, and themed parties); Video Games Arcade (24-hour)
• One Small Step Disco and Nightclub (211-seat); Eagles Lounge and Bar (425-seat; hosts Punchliner Comedy Club/brunch).
• Argonaut area (with two Whirlpools, two poolside bars, Grilles, and stage for live performances)
• Prometheus Pool area (aft pool served by Prometheus Bar, Grille, Pizzeria; with two Whirlpools and Sky Dome glass roof)
• Aqua Park (Dolphin Pool area which is connected to the Twister Waterslide; with one Whirlpool, splash pools, fountains)
• Carnival Seaside Theatre (LED screen outdoor cinema; with a stage for live performances)
• Spa Carnival complex (with Steam Rooms, Saunas, Massage Room, Beauty Salon, Spa Pool, Gymnasium)
• Sports Deck (multi-sports court/basketball, volleyball; Tennis Tables, Shuffleboard); Jogging Track; 9-hole Mini-Golf Course
• Serenity (adult-only sundeck with Serenity Bar, two Whirlpools, padded lounges)
• Camp Ocean (kids' club lounge hosting complementary programs with supervised activities, an outdoor playground). Camp Carnival's wading/paddling pool for kids is no longer available.

Itineraries

Carnival Valor itinerary program is based on week-long roundtrip cruises departing from Bridgetown and San Juan. Out of Port Canaveral, the ship offers Western Caribbean sailings to Puerto Rico, Mexico, Belize, Roatan, Grand Turk, and the Bahamas.

In 2021, Carnival Valor has scheduled two Transatlantic crossings. Both itineraries are 15-days, one eastbound from Port NOLA New Orleans to Barcelona (January 25 - February 9, visiting Hamilton Bermuda, Funchal Madeira, Malaga, Valencia) and one westbound from Barcelona to NOLA (February 26 - March 13, visiting Cartagena, Malaga, Funchal Madeira; Philipsburg St Maarten, San Juan Puerto Rico). Both Transatlantic cruises were planned because of the 17-day drydock refurb at Navantia Shipyard (in Cadiz Spain).

Fun Ship 2.0 upgrade was done in 2016. Valor is of Carnival's Conquest-class liners (Fincantieri Monfalcone-built), with sisterships Conquest, Freedom, Glory, Liberty. The vessel was christened by godmother Katherine Anne "Katie" Couric - US journalist, author at "Yahoo! Global News"). Ship's interior design decoration follows the "Heroes and Heroism" theme (by Joe Farcus).

Due to scheduled drydock refurbishment projects, in September 2020 CCL canceled all planned for 2020 and 2021-Q1 itineraries for 4 ships.

• Carnival Magic itineraries from Miami Florida were canceled from November 7, 2020, through March 13, 2021 (1st departure).
• Carnival Paradise itineraries from Tampa Florida were canceled from November 2, 2020, through March 19, 2021 (1st departure).
• Carnival Valor itineraries (28 total) from NOLA New Orleans were canceled from November 2, 2020, through April 29, 2021 (1st departure), including two Transatlantic crossings - from NOLA (January 25) and from Barcelona (February 26).
• Carnival Spirit itineraries from Brisbane Australia were canceled from December 6, 2020, through May 16, 2021 (1st departure is on June 12 / repositioning cruise from Singapore to Brisbane).

Carnival Valor refurbishment 2016 review

The list of deckplan changes made during the ship's drydock 2016 refurbishment (April 23 - May 7, done in Freeport Bahamas) includes:

• New eateries and poolside bars (by the Fun Ship 2.0 program) were added on Lido Deck 9. These are Guy’s Burger Joint (replacing the Grille /starboard), BlueIguana Cantina (replacing the Grille /portside), RedFrog Rum Bar (pool forward starboard) and BlueIguana Tequila Bar (pool forward portside).
• On Promenade deck 5 was added the Cherry on Top (candy shop) replacing the Formalities shop. New bars on Deck 5 are SkyBox Sports Bar (replacing Bronx Bar /portside), Alchemy Bar (replacing Jeanne’s wine bar) and RedFrog Pub (taking some space from the Club O2 lounge /portside).

Various technical enhancements were also be implemented, including shoreside power capabilities. Routine maintenance works included new hull coating.

In 2021-Q1 (February-March-April / refurb dates TBA) Carnival Valor will be drydocked at Navantia Shipyard (Cadiz Spain), mainly for general maintenance works.

Vessel's first drydock refurbishment was in 2008 ("Fun Ship 1.0" / "Evolution of Fun"). A new Mongolian Grill was added to the Lido restaurant, and Lido Deck received the huge LED screen for outdoor movies and shows. The second drydock was in 2011 (2-week project).

In 2011 were improved the Serenity (adults-only sundeck), 6 new scenic oceanview rooms and 2 new suites were added. Routine maintenance and some enhancements in the hotel, the public area and lounges were also done. Drydocks 2014-2016 added "Fun Ship 2.0" upgrades - new bars, lounges, new dining and entertainment options.