Writer Andrea Miller based this independent review on her 7-night Eastern Caribbean cruise departing from Miami, Florida.

Carnival Valor is the newest ship in the Carnival fleet, having set sail for the first time in December 2004. She’s also one of the largest, with space for 3,700 passengers. The themes of valiance and bravery are incorporated throughout the décor, with paintings and sculptures of famous heroes and heroines of history and literature -- including Albert Einstein, Amelia Earhart, and Nelson Mandela -- scattered throughout the ship. Favorites include paintings of early American presidents plastered across the atrium and vintage photos of baseball greats posted throughout the sports bar. Though large and bustling with activity, Valor provides enough quiet spots for easy relaxation any time of day.

Why Carnival Valor?

• Family friendly: This Christmas cruise had 900 children onboard, all finding something to entertain them, including pool game on deck, the enormous teen arcade and dance club (the Caboose), and Camp Carnival’s all-day activities.
• Location, location, location: Carnival wisely made entertaining oneself easy by placing most bars, lounges, shopping, and theaters along Promenade Deck -- no running between decks to compare entertainment options.
• Choice of activities: With two theaters, a spa and fitness center, numerous pools, a casino, an extensive shopping plaza, and more than a dozen bars and lounges, dancing, drinking, shows, games, gambling, eating, and shopping are available almost 24 hours a day.

Who should go
Families with children, and those having reunions of families and friends, will have plenty of space and opportunity to play and relax. Folks looking to escape day-to-day life will enjoy the several days at sea.

Who shouldn’t go
Those looking for cultural or educational opportunities will not find many onboard. Also, singles and 20-somethings will have to seek each other out amongst the mass of families and children.

Hits and misses

• Don’t miss: Nightclub Express transports the audience through musical history with song-and-dance numbers like New York, New York; Copacabana; YMCA; and even a country-style hoedown.
• Best part of the ship: The indoor Promenade Deck has it all. Hit the shops, drop a quarter in the slots, dance at the disco, sing along at the piano bar or karaoke lounge, and catch a performance at the show lounge, then recoup with a pick-me-up at the coffee shop or wine bar.
• Best experience: An intimate and leisurely dinner at Scarlett’s Supper Club includes selections of meat and wine that rival any land-based restaurant.
• Best shipboard activities: The afternoon/early evening special events at Winston’s Cigar Lounge provide a welcome breather from the hot sun. Try the afternoon tea or head there before dinner for a frothy margarita and a sampling of the chips and salsa buffet.
• Needs improvement: The daily “Carnival Caper” newsletter is often missing events or has them listed at the incorrect times or at sketchy locations -- nowhere is it listed that the “Jean Paul Jones” room is also the Art Gallery.
• Activities to skip: The singles party is more painful than entertaining. But if you want to pop a balloon against a person of the opposite sex whom you’ve never met, have at it.

How to meet the captain
The Captain’s Cocktail Reception, held on the first formal night of the cruise, is a great way to meet the captain and his executive crew. All lounges on Promenade Deck aft, as well as in the Ivanhoe Theater, serve free drinks during this cocktail hour.

Meals are surprisingly tasty for a ship this large, but they’re not overly sophisticated. Sit-down breakfasts and lunches are available in the hard-to-find Lincoln Dining Room with the Washington Dining Room only open for dinner. Breakfast and lunch can also be had in Rosie’s, a buffet-style dining adventure (leave plenty of time to eat as lines can get long). Pizza, soft serve ice cream, and yogurt are available 24 hours a day to the delight of many. While the sushi at Togo is free, it’s only available from 5 to 8 PM, and is a popular draw for a pre-dinner snack. With room service available 24 hours a day, not a minute goes by without the opportunity to enjoy something savory or sweet.

Lincoln and Washington (main dining rooms)
The Lincoln and Washington dining rooms serve dinner at four set seating times (the earliest is 5:15; the latest, 8:30) with pre-determined tablemates. A mix of tables and booths fitting two to 10 guests line the walls, which are, strangely, covered in bright pink and gold. But as the friendly wait staff descends on the table, the wall color is quickly forgotten. Entrées rotate daily with selections including prime rib, veal, and lobster, plus lighter Spa Carnival meals and vegetarian dishes. When dinner is coming to an end and the lights dim a little, get ready for some wait staff entertainment, mostly in the form of singing and dancing. By the second occurrence, guests are dancing with feather boas to The Macarena.

Heard on the deck (from a woman to her tablemates): “The waiter dancing on top of the podium is the cutest!”

Scarlett’s Supper Club
Carnival Valor has only one specialty restaurant, but with a restaurant like Scarlett’s, one is all she needs. Soft lighting and heavy brocaded chairs in shades of red and pink take passengers back to the days of Scarlett O’Hara’s own manor house. The menu is decadent -- escargot, Russian caviar, and sushi are the starters alone. But the main course options are what everyone comes for: Aged-to-perfection steaks are most popular, but pork, chicken, and seafood dishes are offered as well. Service is excellent, with at least three people watching over every need; never will a wine glass be low or a bread plate empty. With a dance floor and musicians on the scene, Scarlett’s is a romantic evening waiting to be shared. Dining fee: $25 per person.

Rosie’s
Named after Rosie the Riveter (of World War II fame), this buffet-style restaurant decked out in lime green and chrome is so interesting to look at it makes standing in line almost enjoyable. Breakfast includes standard fare of hot and cold cereals, scrambled eggs, fruit, and pastries. Breakfast is also the time when the lines are the longest, due to the specialty omelet stations being smack in the middle of the line. Lunch themes vary day-to-day with tasty options like fried chicken on “All American” day and made-to-order stir fry when Asian foods are the theme. At night Rosie’s turns into the Seaview Bistro as an alternative to the dining rooms, but selections are limited, and overall, not that appealing.

Other dining options

• Fish and Chips, The Oriental, and the Deli: These specialty spots located inside Rosie’s are open during lunch hours. There’s often a wait and at peak hours it can be very long, but the tasty selections are worth the delay.
• Pizzeria and The Grille: Located just outside Rosie’s, The Grille serves up backyard fare like hamburgers, chicken burgers, hot dogs, and French fries. The adjacent 24-hour pizzeria has piping hot pizza and calzones at the ready, even in the wee hours. The spots are popular at lunch, but hit them a little off peak and walk right up.
• Ice cream and frozen yogurt: Enjoy soft-serve ice cream and yogurt 24 hours a day, inside at the buffet and outside at The Grille.
• Togo Sushi: Located on Promenade Deck, Togo offers a sampling of sushi -- salmon, tuna, and veggie rolls -- from 5 to 8 PM. Lines are long but generally move quickly.
• Late-night buffets: The late-night buffets take a little hunting to find, but it’s worth it. Most evenings it’s located behind Rosie’s by the Prometheus Pool and offers desserts, fruits, and assorted entrées. The chocolate extravaganza (complete with ice sculptures and time for pictures) and the final formal night event are held inside Rosie’s to provide more room for the vast crowds.
• Room service: Continental breakfast, sandwiches, salads, and burgers are on the room service menu 24 hours a day. Those needing a sugar fix can get a plate of cookies (highly recommended), and those wanting cocktails can have those delivered too. Order early as the wait can be close to an hour.

Best dining

• Dish: Don’t miss the tender, mouth-watering filet mignon served at Scarlett’s.
• Dessert: One serving of the milk chocolate champagne truffle cake from the main dining room is not enough. Warm, rich, creamy milk chocolate is baked into crispy, flaky phyllo for a dessert that calls for seconds.
• Restaurant: Make up any excuse to dine at Scarlett’s Supper Club; the steak and ambience are well worth the $25 per person dining fee.
• Food seminar: The closest thing to a food seminar on Valor is afternoon tea. Have your pick of Lipton teas, scones, and cucumber sandwiches.

How to…

• Get a table for two: Head to the main dining rooms as soon as you board to request a change in seating, including requests for tables for two. There are not many in the main dining rooms so ask early.
• Celebrate a birthday/anniversary: Request a cake (chocolate or vanilla) from your waiter or maître d’. For $7.95, it’ll serve the whole table.
• Change seating: Head to the main dining rooms as soon as you board to request a change. If you’d like to change later in the cruise, ask your dining room’s maître d’. Note: Groups of four or fewer are easier to reseat than are larger tables.
• Dress for formal night: Female passengers do it up with sequins and glitter on both cocktail- and floor-length dresses. A few men wore tuxedos, but suits were the norm.
• Dress for casual night: The “Elegant Casual” non-formal nights had most people wondering what to wear. Turns out it means skirts, slacks, polo shirts, and even jeans (but only if accompanied by a button-down shirt or blouse and dressier shoes). Beach attire is not welcome in the main dining rooms.

Valor has some of the largest cabins at sea, ranging from 185 to 220 square feet for inside, oceanview, and balcony cabins. A 375-square-foot suite includes such extras as a whirlpool tub and walk-in closest. But even for those in the smaller cabins, there’s plenty of room to maneuver and store items. Most luggage fits easily under beds, leaving closet space for everything else, including the plush robes Carnival so nicely provides (but don’t pack one to take home, unless you want to pay a $35 fee). Bathrooms are functional with tiny showers and plenty of spots for shampoo and other toiletries. Forgetful passengers will be thankful for the “goodie bowl” of his and hers razors, toothpaste, mouthwash, and dental floss. Stewards are friendly and efficient, cleaning cabins in the morning and providing turndown service at night. Chocolates and small puppies and ducks (made out of towels) are a treat to see when rolling in at midnight after a big show.

Cabins for guests with disabilities
Valor has 28 modified cabins to accommodate guests with disabilities. Modifications include added hand rails, extra wide doors, larger-than-normal bathrooms, shower chairs, and raised commodes.

Tips:

• All cabins have hair dryers, but they’re frustrating to use as the “on” button has to be held down with one hand to keep the dryer on. Find the luggage space to bring one from home.
• Be sure to close the shower curtain all the way to prevent “flooding.”

Valor is all about mingling and meeting new people. From the small but inviting Bronx Bar sports den to the Josephine Baker-inspired Paris Hot Karaoke lounge, there’s a little something for everyone. With more than a dozen bars and lounges, seven on Promenade Deck alone, finding friends or even meeting someone new is easy.

Bars, lounges, and casino
For an evening of fun and events, head to Promenade Deck. The Shogun Casino and Dream Bar take up almost the full width of the deck, and when they’re open, they’re hopping. If dancing to hip-hop or salsa is called for, head to the One-Step Disco, where the décor brings the first walk on the moon back down to earth. If you prefer singing to dancing, there are two places to check out: Lindy Hop, with a rotating piano and performer and a motif chronicling Charles Lindbergh’s first transatlantic flight, where song requests are expected; and for karaoke, Paris Hot, where those who really get the crowd going might even be asked to compete in Carnival Idol. Big band, jazz trios, country and western, and classical ensembles can be found in Eagles Lounge, Winston’s Cigar Bar, and various other spots around the ship.

Heard on the deck (from the piano player in Lindy Hop): “By the end of the cruise, people call that Sail and Sign card everything from my ‘Sip ‘n’ Sail’ to my ‘Drink and Sink’.”

Swimming pools
Valor sails the Caribbean year-round, so pools are plentiful (though small) and deck space vast. With five pools and six hot tubs, even the little ones have their own little kiddie pool. The two-story waterslide keeps the kids (and some adults) happy, while parents relax in deck chairs on any of three outside decks. If the weather gets rough and the main pool closes, there are still two options: Prometheus Pool, with a retractable roof; and the indoor gym pool.

Shows
Carnival ships have some of the most impressive song and dance entertainment at sea, and Valor is no exception. Nightclub Express starts off the week with a crowd-engaging song and dance show chronicling music from Paris to Nashville to NYC. Later in the week, Far From Over brings back ’80s leg warmers and big hair with odes to Prince, Madonna, Janet and Michael Jackson, and even Pee-Wee Herman. Beware of the “R-rated” comedy -- while truly funny, it is also truly R-rated (no one under 18 is allowed). If seeing other passengers squirm is enjoyable, as it often is, then check out the passenger trivia shows, the Not-So-Newlywed game, and Carnival Idol.

Shore excursions
Diamonds, tanzanite, sapphires… on this Eastern Caribbean cruise, it seems shopping was the main excursion. Diving, snorkeling, and city tours are all available, but most passengers are looking for deals on gems. For those who do enjoy venturing out, Carnival makes it painless by providing passengers the tools to book excursions from their TVs with tickets delivered to their cabins.

Weddings and vow renewals
Weddings and vow renewals can be performed while on a cruise but require advance planning with Carnival’s Fun Ship Wedding Department. Onboard weddings are only conducted while the ship is in port (and only specific ports at that). If done on embarkation day, non-cruising guests are welcome onboard until shortly before the ship sails. Couples may also hold ceremonies on shore in St. Thomas and Grand Cayman. All ceremonies are performed by a secular officiant. Packages vary in amenities and begin at $750.

Looking for…

• Quietest spot: Sun Deck’s chairs are far from the pool and noise (but a little windy). For inside solitude, relax in an oversized leather chair at Winston’s Cigar Lounge.
• Liveliest spot: Since Promenade Deck houses most of the public venues, it also has most of the people. Start at Dream Bar and walk aft: A party will surely be found.
• Most popular activity: Gambling is big whether at the tables, slots, or bingo games.
• Best view: There is no “observation bar” to kick back and watch the water, so the next best spot is on Deck 10 aft by the Prometheus pool. But beware: When the retractable roof is closed, the room turns into a sauna.
• Best show: Don’t miss Night Club Express and Carnival Idol. At the former, the professional Carnival singers and dancers perform an amazing show, but with passengers performing at the latter, the anticipation of the unexpected makes for a rousing evening.
• Best drink: New to Valor is the Java Café, a pay-for specialty coffee stop. Anytime of the day, people line up to get their espresso, mocha, and latte fixes, with drinks starting at around $2.50 each.

Tips:

• Valor is the first ship to have end-to-end wireless service, and it truly works, even in the bottom of the ship.
• Bingo games are often held in the Ivanhoe Theater about 15 minutes before a show. The cost is $10 per card, or three cards for $20.
• If missing daytime soaps is a problem, check out the Bronx Bar any weekday to get a fix.
• Most areas on the ship are nonsmoking, but those that allow smoking (including the casino and disco) can get very smoky. If you’re smoke-averse, head to Paris Hot or Lindy Hop; both are nonsmoking (and kid friendly).
• Java Café has “to go” cups for its free drip coffee.

Camp Carnival has even the littlest tyke making friends and having fun all times of the day. Children are grouped by ages: 2-5, 6-8, 9-11, 12-14, and 15-17 (the 12- to 17-year-olds are much less supervised than younger children). Scavenger hunts, edible craft making, dance classes, and pool games keep everyone busy. Open play begins as early as 6:45 AM some days, with late-night slumber parties lasting until 3 AM. Most activities are free, though fees for the slumber party are $6 per hour for the first child, $4 per hour for each sibling. For the older kids, the place to be most evenings is the Caboose, the teen-only dance club, serving mocktails until 11:30 PM.

Tip: Strollers, baby travel swings, bouncy seats, and Nintendo Game Boys are all available to rent for $25 each.

Heard on the deck (from a dad to his dressed-in-all-black daughter): “Did you give your new friends your e-mail address -- brain_sucking_leech@yahoo.com?“
Her response: “Daaaddd, its blood_sucking_leech. Jeesh!”

Spa and salon
Spa Carnival has every treatment one might want, from massages and facials to manicures and pedicures to hair styling and more. The friendly staff makes every passenger feel welcome, taking the time to explain the treatment and find out what you are looking to get out of it. Staff is thorough and professional but treatments tend to be quite pricy, and the product sales pitch is a little much. If you aren’t looking to spend another few hundred dollars on products, just say “no” and the matter is dropped.

Fitness areas
Located on Deck 11, the gym might just have the best view on the whole ship. Stationary bikes, elliptical trainers, treadmills, and stair steppers line the front of the room so exercisers can watch the waves as they work out. The “class” area, free weights, and personal training spots take up the rest of the space. Aerobics classes are free while spin, yoga, and Pilates are $10 per class (price breaks are given for multiple class sign-up). Personal training is available for $75 per hour.

Heard on the deck: “At first it was cool to run watching the water, but then I got dizzy. Wonder if anyone else did?”

Tips:

• Head to the first art auction (and get there on time) to bid on a spa treatment. On this cruise, the auctioneer sold everyone who had their cards up a $150 treatment for $75.
• If you really want a facial but don’t want to pay full price, attend the “Facial Bar” seminar. You’ll receive instruction on how to exfoliate, but more importantly, at the end of the seminar you will get a discount on a real facial if booked then and there.

Forgot toothpaste? Maybe an evening bag? How about film? Sundries, day and evening wear, jewelry, Carnival logo items, souvenirs, liquor, cigarettes, and even photo supplies can be purchased at Promenade Deck’s Boulevard Shops, all duty- and tax-free. Items often go on sale, the most popular of which is costume and fine jewelry, scarves, and $10 watches. Whatever the budget or reason, something fabulous will be found.

Tip: The first time the “Gold by the Inch” display comes out, you may see a “one-day only” sign. Don’t fret if you miss it; there will be at least a two-day extension because of “high demand.”

Carnival Valor will sail alternating Western/Eastern Caribbean cruises from Miami through 2006.

• Cruise line - Carnival
• Ship name - Carnival Valor
• Total cabins - 1487
• Private balcony cabins - 555
• Decks - 13
• Passenger capacity - 2974
• Total crew - 1180
• Officers nationality -
• Year entered service - 2004
• Tonnage - 110000
• Registry - Panama
• Ship size - Large