Earlier this year, I spent 5-days on the Carnival Valor. Here are 10 things you should know about the balcony cabin on the Carnival Valor.
1. Plenty of Storage for Two Adults
It’s quite common to worry about having enough space for all your family’s belongings on a cruise. However, I discovered that my balcony cabin on the Carnival Valor had plenty of storage. However, I traveled with just my husband, so we only needed space for two people and our belongings. And, the stateroom was actually fairly comfortable for us.
However, it’s important to keep in mind that as you add more people to your cabin, the available space may start to feel less abundant. So, as you plan your trip, keep in mind the balance between the number of occupants and the available space.
Here’s a list of the storage areas inside the cabin:
- There are 3 small closets with at least 3 shelves. One closet can be set-up with additional shelves or transformed into another closet with a rod for hanging clothing.
- A vanity table with 4 small drawers and a large mirror. There are also very small shelves located beside the mirror.
- A television cabinet with a small (probably 21-inch) television. Below the television is more storage space where you’ll find wine glasses. Our cabin steward also provided us with an ice bucket, which we kept in this area.
- A small cabinet running along the wall. This is a very shallow cabinet that can hold something the size of a sunscreen bottle.
- A small nightstand next to the bed with a couple more small drawers.
2. There’s Only One Power Outlet
The Carnival Valor is an older ship and the staterooms show their age by the lack of power outlets. Newer ships are built with USB outlets next to the bed and additional power and USB outlets throughout the cabin. But you’re only going to find a one outlet in your balcony cabin. The sole outlet is located on the vanity; there is one 110 watt outlet and one 220 watt outlet.
There may be a few passengers on your cruise who won’t need more power outlets than that. But if you’re part of the other 99% of the ship, you may want to bring a combination power strip and extension cord with you. The extension cord part of the cord will allow you to charge your electronics on your bed or sofa. However the power strip is the real prize, since most cruise-approved power strips will come with at least 3 outlets and 2 USB outlets.
If you think you’ll need more power than a single power strip will offer, you should consider purchasing an international power adapter so you can also use the second plug in your cabin.
3. You Will Hear Noise on Deck 8
Our balcony cabin on the Carnival Valor was located on Deck 8, which afforded us a mixed experience. On one hand, we only had to go up one deck to get to one of the busiest areas of the ship: the pool deck. On this deck, we found both swimming pools, all the hot tubs and all of the fast casual restaurants. We only considered taking an elevator if we were going down to the lobby, theatre or main dining rooms.
But our location on deck 8 also proved to be somewhat problematic since it was so close to the action on deck 9. Strangely, we never had problems with noise in the late morning or later. But early in the morning we could the crew rearranging deck chairs above us. While we could hear the sounds, they never woke us up. But it was just bothersome enough that I would go down at least one more deck the next time I sail on the Carnival Valor.
4. You May Only Have Morning Cleaning
Here’s a tidbit that might impact your daily routine: cabin cleaning only took place once a day in the morning. I personally found this disappointing, since the cabin steward is one of the things I love about cruising. Although my husband does have regular cleaning tasks that he undertakes without complaint, I’m still one of primary stewards of my home.
Our cabin steward was one of my top 5 pleasures from my very first cruise. We honestly wondered if he was hiding in a closet somewhere watching to see when someone left their cabin. Almost every single time we left our cabin, we’d discover that he had come in and smoothed out the bed or replaced our dirty towels or straightened the furniture. Having someone keep my stateroom that neat was not just a pleasure, but an experience I couldn’t get in a hotel or resort. Unfortunately budget tightening has hit the cruising industry and staterooms on the Carnival Valor will only be cleaned once a day.
5. There are Wine Glasses and a Fridge in your Cabin
Every cabin on the Carnival Valor comes with a mini fridge to help you keep things cool during your cruise. This is a great feature for anyone who travels with medications that need to be refrigerated. But it’s also convenient for passengers to keep soda or wine in their stateroom.
Carnival allows passengers to bring a single bottle of wine on board the ship with them. Or, if you’re a soda drinker, you can bring a case of soda onboard too. There were two wine glasses available in our stateroom and our cabin steward provided a bucket of ice each day. I not only brought 2 bottles of wine onboard, but also purchased bottled water and beer for our cabin as well. The fridge came in handy for cooling down a bottle of water each day. And we kept all of the beer in the fridge as well.
6. Safe That Locks and Unlocks with a Credit Card
Concerned about the safety of your valuables while on board? The in-cabin safe is a great place to store important items such as your passport or cash. Each safe is programmed by sliding a credit card through the reader located on the front. This same card can be used to open the safe throughout your vacation. While I loved not having to remember a password, I was a bit uncomfortable sliding my credit card at first. So I tried to use a gift card instead. Unfortunately, the safe didn’t recognize the gift card so I eventually pulled out a credit card to use.
7. The Television Has Limited Channels
While you’re not likely to spend your entire cruise glued to the TV, it’s worth noting that the channels available in your cabin are somewhat limited. There is a dedicated Carnival channel that displays information about the ship and activities. Throughout the cruise, replays of game shows or other activities may be rebroadcast on your stateroom TV. There are the standard news channels and kids stations such as Disney and Nickelodeon. And then there’s a few random channels thrown in.
With the limited programming available, you’re unlikely to spend a lot of time catching up on your shows unless you plan on streaming them. But any streaming will have to be done on one of your personal devices, since Carnival does not allow passengers to connect to the stateroom television.
8. The Cabin Décor and Color Scheme Is Dated
While the Carnival Valor provides a comfortable accommodation, some cruisers might notice that the décor and color palette in the balcony cabin appear somewhat dated. The predominant hues in the room are an orangey-peach and avocado green shades. At no point did we wonder if our cabin had been remodeled recently. And, to be honest, I’m fairly certain that everything but the light bulbs and bedding were originally to the room.
The bed, adorned with all-white bedding, including a fluffy comforter, offers a touch of freshness. However, sitting next to the orangish-brown couch, the pristine bedding doesn’t do much to improve the feel of the cabin. While there’s no explicit flaw with the cabin’s furniture or colors, the overall impression conveyed by the furnishings, fixtures, and color scheme is one of ‘not new.’ However, despite the cabin’s slightly dated appearance, it still delivers an overall comfortable place to call home.
9. The Bathroom is Very Small
It shouldn’t be a surprise that the bathroom in the balcony cabin is very tiny. Even on the newest of cruise ships, the bathroom is typically very small. And the Carnival Valor is not a new ship. However, the bathroom has everything you’ll need during your time on the ship. There’s the standard set-up of a toliet, sink and shower stall.
The sink was somewhat shallow but overall worked fine. There was a bit of room on the counter to store some of our personal belongings. But we didn’t need to do this since there were also 6 small shelves attached to the wall on either side of the sink. We actually only needed to use 4 of the shelves between the 2 of us, so there was plenty of storage.
The shower uses a shower curtain which did cause our bathroom to flood every time someone took a shower. After my husband would shower, we’d throw his towel on the floor to start soaking up water while I took my shower. Inside the shower are bottles of shampoo and body soap secured to the wall. The water pressure in the shower was really good and the water temperature was always what we wanted (or hotter).
Unfortunately there was no where for me to keep my toiletries in the shower other than the floor. So I kept everything on the shelves next to the sink. Before each shower, I’d move my stuff to the countertop and grab what I needed from there. I also found that there was no room to shave my legs in the shower stall, so I’d open the curtain and use the sink ledge to take care of that task. Unfortunately, that didn’t help with the flooding situation.
The one thing you won’t find in your bathroom is an outlet. There’s only one in the cabin and it’s located on the vanity/desk in the main part of the cabin.
10. The Balcony
Of course, the primary reason to book a balcony cabin on the Carnival Valor is to have access to the actual balcony. The balcony comes with 2 chairs and a small table. And those items barely fit out there. But, the balcony fits the overall size of the cabin and fit our needs for private outdoor space.
The dividers between cabins can be opened by your room steward if you want to share your balcony space with your neighbor. We didn’t choose to do this on the Carnival Valor because we sailed alone. But on other cruises we’ve taken with family and friends, we have opened the dividers to create a larger balcony. You can also use the balcony as another way to enter your companion’s staterooms, if you’ve opened the dividers.
In conclusion, a balcony cabin on the Carnival Valor is a fantastic choice for those seeking a balance of comfort, convenience, and a touch of luxury. Armed with a few insider tips, a sense of adventure, an understanding of the cabin’s character, and an appreciation for cozy quarters and intimate balconies, you’re sure to embark on a memorable and enjoyable cruise experience. Bon voyage!
