Life on Lido
Friday, September 29, 2017
This day was a jam packed day of fun in the sun! We spent most of our time at the main pool area of the Lido deck swimming in the pools, hot tubs and even took a few rides down the WaterSlide!
Morning
Ding Dong, Ding, Dong, DING DONG! It was 5AM and there was a doorbell ringing. I got up quickly and checked all the phones laying around and it was none of them. I ran to the door thinking maybe we had a real doorbell (I have seen them on some cruise ship suite cabins) and even peaked outside the door but it kept going off. As I crept back into the room Allison had gotten up to look for it too. It continued for several more minutes before we found my mom's purse underneath the chair and her phone was in her purse! Needless to say, I was not able to go back to sleep so I went to the balcony and spent the rest of the early morning hours there watching the sky as the sun came up.
There is nothing sweeter than spending the morning on the balcony!
Good Morning Carnival Valor!
Morning time on the balcony!
The water was spraying in her face!
Natalie and everyone else woke up around 7:15AM and we made it to the SeaDay Brunch in the Washington Dining Room around 9AM.
Cheers to a GREAT day at sea!
The SeaDay Brunch offered great food but just average service. The meal took nearly 1.5 hours and this basically took up most of our morning. I still feel that the downfall of the Carnival service is the time between the main course and dessert and this "brunch" meal fell right into this trap. Chris and I used to love the SeaDay Brunch but quit coming and instead now eat breakfast at Blue Iguana or the omelet bar and this reminded me why. It is just too long to wait for an omelet and pancakes! Tip- SeaDay Brunch is offered on sea days from 8AM to 1PM in one of the Main Dining Rooms. Also, be sure to check out the upcoming FOODIE BLOG which will have pictures of ALL of the menus as well as many food items! I will be posting it in a few days so stay tuned for that.
After breakfast we ventured out to the very back of the ship, the aft, to watch the wake sail by. This is my absolute FAVORITE place of any ship and it is my go-to place on every cruise. I could literally, and have on many occasions, spend the entire day at this location. It is peaceful and quiet and offers some of the best scenery of the entire cruise. Natalie didn't agree with me, per-say, and didn't appreciate the stillness and quietness so my moments of solitude were fleeting fast. Natalie went up to the sports deck to walk the track but even that only lasted 10 minutes. It was a good 10 minutes but I was back on "mom duty" shortly after that.
Glorious bliss!
Our traditional bench picture!
She is learning to love this area as well!
Should be teaching but I am here... life cannot be any better!
Me and my girl!
There was a storm brewing as those 10 minutes passed and as Natalie came back to the aft it began to rain. The Conquest class ships offer a retractable roof over the aft pool on deck 9 and many workers started to get it closed as the rain started to fall. The roof was making a loud beeping sound and Natalie got worried as to what it meant. About that time a deck crew worker came by and jokingly said "Oh that sound? It means we're sinking". This was anything but funny and my poor Natalie Grace just started sobbing then and there! It was not our favorite moment of the trip and it goes without saying that this particular crew member did NOT receive an additional tip from me.
The storm was fast moving but pretty fierce! Heavy rains and winds!
The retractable roof closing!
We calmed her down and then she decided she wanted to swim in the rain so we went back to our suite to change clothes. By the time we all got ready the storm had passed but we spent the rest of our morning swimming at the main pool deck area.
She went down this slide about 20 times over the course of 4 days!
Ok next time I will not "woohoo" as much... SORRY!
Afternoon
We swam for nearly 2 hours before getting out and drying off for lunch. Tip- There are many lunch options available on the Valor and if you are a foodie be sure to try them all. Our favorites include; Guy's Burgers (12-6PM), Blue Iguana Cantina (12-2:30PM) and the Good Ol' Fashioned BBQ on Deck 10 aft (12-2:30PM). Between the 4 of us we had all of these and it provided a very tasty lunch! Natalie quickly ate her mac-n-cheese from the BBQ and then wanted to go and lay out just outside the restaurant while we finished up. By the time we finished she was bored with laying out so she then walked around the walking track while the 3 of us laid out for a bit.
Sea Day #1 on the Carnival Valor!
After a little while we all started to feel our minor sunburns from the previous day and decided to go into the Atrium and Promenade areas. We shopped in the shops and even got some candy at Cherry on Top before once again making our way to the pool.
We spent the rest of our afternoon enjoying the pool and hot tub as well as the WaterSlide. As the afternoon progressed we got to participate in the Lido dancing and watch ice carving too. I even got the meet the cruise director, Frankie, and talk with him about his upcoming promotional trip to the State Fair of Texas and cooking with Guy Fieri. Frankie was so cool and talked to me a long time and gave me a lot of information about being a cruise director. I shared with him about my cruise blog and he was very informational. While he was not as funny or entertaining as some of my favorite cruise directors, I appreciated him taking the time to talk to me.
Natalie is ready to go down the slide!
BUT... Mom needs another picture!
Frankie was so cool to take the time to talk with me!
He turned out to be a pretty good CD. Definitely in the top 5 for me!
We went back to the room to enjoy our balcony but unfortunately we were on the west side of the ship at this time in the voyage and the sun was beaming down on us. It got to be unbearable so we all started getting ready for formal night.
Pre-Dinner pictures on the balcony!
I loved cruising with this little girl! She was too funny!
I love this one!
Ha... Natalie's face... Poor thing was looking into the sun!
Girls Gone Cruising!
Evening
As we were getting dressed and ready our cabin steward, Adrian, came by and delivered some "Sweets for our Suite guests". This was unique, cool and really promoted yet another perk of Carnival. Natalie got ready and then went down to see the backdrops available for the formal pictures. I noticed they were closing soon so hurried back to the room to get the girls.
This was the best surprise!
There were hazelnut cookies and a strawberry jelly!
A much needed Mai-Tai from the casino bar! It was delicious!
Natalie got a "Shirley Temple" as she was being a great trooper waiting for a late dinner!
We made it back down to the promenade just in time to take several pictures in front of several of the backdrop options. Chris usually hates these professional pictures and despite it being tiring, it was nice to get to take pictures with family.
This is my favorite and will be enlarged for my mantle!
Girls Gone Cruising!
Where did my little girl go? She is growing up way too fast!
I love the GiGi and Natalie picture!
Me and my girly!
That sass, though!
Sometimes you just have to be silly!
(Natalie's face is PRICELESS)
Last one... for today!
After getting pictures in front of 4-5 settings we made a pit-stop at the Taste Bar. Tip- This is offered on most Carnival ships in the promenade! It is usually offered on sea days and from 5-8PM.
The Taste Bar selection featured Cucina del Capitano meatballs!
Natalie had 3 separate servings!
She did so well taking all of OUR pictures, she wanted to take a silly one of her own!
Then went back down to the atrium for the Captain's Toast. Tip- This is offered on all Carnival ships (and most other cruise lines as well) on the 1st formal night of the sailing. Guests can meet the Captain, his officers, the cruise director and the FunSquad (Cruise directors staff and helpers). It is a great social event and I personally love it... but my cruising partner, my husband Chris, does not so we usually miss it! Carnival almost always offers this at 7PM. In our case, the Captain did not show up until about 7:15PM so this pushed our dinner back even further.
We went to change shoes before dinner and this was taken from our balcony!
After taking pictures with the Captain and officers we got in line for what we thought was to be seated in the dining room but it proved to be the line to get a pager to get into the dining room. We arrived in line at 7:25PM and waited in line for about 15 minutes just to get a pager and then an additional 25 minutes to get seated. We didn't sit down until after 8PM and didn't even order until 8:15PM. We walked out of the dining room at the conclusion of our 4 course dinner at 10:10PM! Now I remember why my cruising partner, my hubby, doesn't like all the pictures and "non-sense" as he calls it! This was a VERY late dinner for excellent nonetheless!
After dinner we ventured outside to the deck 3 promenade and watched the waves crash onto the side of the ship. It was very windy and even at night you could see more white-caps than earlier in the day. I was worried this meant my sister would get sick but she never did (Thank you Lord, as this was a HUGE answer to prayer).
Not great quality but it gives you an idea!
We came back in expecting the show, Studio VIP- a tribute to the 70's, to just be starting but it was about 15 minutes into the show. This was another great show put on by a very mediocre cast! The songs were great and we all sang along but most of us in the audience were in the right key! I cannot say the same for the lead singers! It was so bad I think Chris would have gotten up and left! Tip- Studio VIP is listed as a "family show" but this performance was not. One of the dancers stripped down to his very tight underwear center stage while they sang a song about sex. I could see "double-0 and 7" and I had to cover Natalie's eyes. I do not know if this was because it was the 10PM show but just be forewarned.
Definitely NOT the best cast I have heard!
We laughed about the show and then made our way back to the cabin to prepare for the following day in Cozumel. Once we got back to our room we noticed that Adrian had left us a sweet little surprise. Gigi, Allie and I all got a SPA gift-card worth $50. Chris and I have received something like this before but it has been for pictures, dinner or wine. Tip- Be sure to contact your PVP to help set up these birthdays or celebrations. They will get it into the system and help get you any and all perks they can!
This was a very special treat and surprise!
Again, be sure to tell you PVP!
Thank you Adrian for being an amazing Steward!
I talked to him for good time while the girls were finishing getting ready and he told me about his family and his daughter. She would be turning 12 next month and he missed her! He told me she looked like Natalie! I said a quick prayer for him and his family and told him I needed a picture (OF COURSE) so I could remember him!
I spent over an hour on the balcony as they finished getting ready for bed. I absolutely LOVE a balcony and the solitude it brings! We were in bed and asleep just after midnight!
Tomorrow we will be in our only port of Cozumel and will be swimming with the dolphins! Stay tuned for great tips and tricks for this shore excursion!
Up next... Cozumel and swimming with the dolphins!
God is good... All the time!
Carnival Valor- 2016
Carnival Legend- 2016
Caribbean Princess- 2016
Carnival Triumph- 2015
Carnival Magic- 2015
Royal Caribbean Serenade of the Seas- 2015
Royal Caribbean Navigator of the Seas- 2014
Carnival Conquest- 2013
Carnival Conquest- 2006
Morning
Ding Dong, Ding, Dong, DING DONG! It was 5AM and there was a doorbell ringing. I got up quickly and checked all the phones laying around and it was none of them. I ran to the door thinking maybe we had a real doorbell (I have seen them on some cruise ship suite cabins) and even peaked outside the door but it kept going off. As I crept back into the room Allison had gotten up to look for it too. It continued for several more minutes before we found my mom's purse underneath the chair and her phone was in her purse! Needless to say, I was not able to go back to sleep so I went to the balcony and spent the rest of the early morning hours there watching the sky as the sun came up.
Morning time on the balcony!
The water was spraying in her face!
Natalie and everyone else woke up around 7:15AM and we made it to the SeaDay Brunch in the Washington Dining Room around 9AM.
The SeaDay Brunch offered great food but just average service. The meal took nearly 1.5 hours and this basically took up most of our morning. I still feel that the downfall of the Carnival service is the time between the main course and dessert and this "brunch" meal fell right into this trap. Chris and I used to love the SeaDay Brunch but quit coming and instead now eat breakfast at Blue Iguana or the omelet bar and this reminded me why. It is just too long to wait for an omelet and pancakes! Tip- SeaDay Brunch is offered on sea days from 8AM to 1PM in one of the Main Dining Rooms. Also, be sure to check out the upcoming FOODIE BLOG which will have pictures of ALL of the menus as well as many food items! I will be posting it in a few days so stay tuned for that.
After breakfast we ventured out to the very back of the ship, the aft, to watch the wake sail by. This is my absolute FAVORITE place of any ship and it is my go-to place on every cruise. I could literally, and have on many occasions, spend the entire day at this location. It is peaceful and quiet and offers some of the best scenery of the entire cruise. Natalie didn't agree with me, per-say, and didn't appreciate the stillness and quietness so my moments of solitude were fleeting fast. Natalie went up to the sports deck to walk the track but even that only lasted 10 minutes. It was a good 10 minutes but I was back on "mom duty" shortly after that.
Our traditional bench picture!
She is learning to love this area as well!
Should be teaching but I am here... life cannot be any better!
Me and my girl!
There was a storm brewing as those 10 minutes passed and as Natalie came back to the aft it began to rain. The Conquest class ships offer a retractable roof over the aft pool on deck 9 and many workers started to get it closed as the rain started to fall. The roof was making a loud beeping sound and Natalie got worried as to what it meant. About that time a deck crew worker came by and jokingly said "Oh that sound? It means we're sinking". This was anything but funny and my poor Natalie Grace just started sobbing then and there! It was not our favorite moment of the trip and it goes without saying that this particular crew member did NOT receive an additional tip from me.
We calmed her down and then she decided she wanted to swim in the rain so we went back to our suite to change clothes. By the time we all got ready the storm had passed but we spent the rest of our morning swimming at the main pool deck area.
Afternoon
We swam for nearly 2 hours before getting out and drying off for lunch. Tip- There are many lunch options available on the Valor and if you are a foodie be sure to try them all. Our favorites include; Guy's Burgers (12-6PM), Blue Iguana Cantina (12-2:30PM) and the Good Ol' Fashioned BBQ on Deck 10 aft (12-2:30PM). Between the 4 of us we had all of these and it provided a very tasty lunch! Natalie quickly ate her mac-n-cheese from the BBQ and then wanted to go and lay out just outside the restaurant while we finished up. By the time we finished she was bored with laying out so she then walked around the walking track while the 3 of us laid out for a bit.
After a little while we all started to feel our minor sunburns from the previous day and decided to go into the Atrium and Promenade areas. We shopped in the shops and even got some candy at Cherry on Top before once again making our way to the pool.
We spent the rest of our afternoon enjoying the pool and hot tub as well as the WaterSlide. As the afternoon progressed we got to participate in the Lido dancing and watch ice carving too. I even got the meet the cruise director, Frankie, and talk with him about his upcoming promotional trip to the State Fair of Texas and cooking with Guy Fieri. Frankie was so cool and talked to me a long time and gave me a lot of information about being a cruise director. I shared with him about my cruise blog and he was very informational. While he was not as funny or entertaining as some of my favorite cruise directors, I appreciated him taking the time to talk to me.
BUT... Mom needs another picture!
He turned out to be a pretty good CD. Definitely in the top 5 for me!
We went back to the room to enjoy our balcony but unfortunately we were on the west side of the ship at this time in the voyage and the sun was beaming down on us. It got to be unbearable so we all started getting ready for formal night.
Ha... Natalie's face... Poor thing was looking into the sun!
Girls Gone Cruising!
Evening
As we were getting dressed and ready our cabin steward, Adrian, came by and delivered some "Sweets for our Suite guests". This was unique, cool and really promoted yet another perk of Carnival. Natalie got ready and then went down to see the backdrops available for the formal pictures. I noticed they were closing soon so hurried back to the room to get the girls.
There were hazelnut cookies and a strawberry jelly!
Girls Gone Cruising!
Where did my little girl go? She is growing up way too fast!
I love the GiGi and Natalie picture!
Me and my girly!
That sass, though!
Sometimes you just have to be silly!
(Natalie's face is PRICELESS)
Last one... for today!
After getting pictures in front of 4-5 settings we made a pit-stop at the Taste Bar. Tip- This is offered on most Carnival ships in the promenade! It is usually offered on sea days and from 5-8PM.
Natalie had 3 separate servings!
Then went back down to the atrium for the Captain's Toast. Tip- This is offered on all Carnival ships (and most other cruise lines as well) on the 1st formal night of the sailing. Guests can meet the Captain, his officers, the cruise director and the FunSquad (Cruise directors staff and helpers). It is a great social event and I personally love it... but my cruising partner, my husband Chris, does not so we usually miss it! Carnival almost always offers this at 7PM. In our case, the Captain did not show up until about 7:15PM so this pushed our dinner back even further.
Traditional Cruise Director picture- take 2!
Us with the Captain (and Junior Captain)!
We went to change shoes before dinner and this was taken from our balcony!
After taking pictures with the Captain and officers we got in line for what we thought was to be seated in the dining room but it proved to be the line to get a pager to get into the dining room. We arrived in line at 7:25PM and waited in line for about 15 minutes just to get a pager and then an additional 25 minutes to get seated. We didn't sit down until after 8PM and didn't even order until 8:15PM. We walked out of the dining room at the conclusion of our 4 course dinner at 10:10PM! Now I remember why my cruising partner, my hubby, doesn't like all the pictures and "non-sense" as he calls it! This was a VERY late dinner for excellent nonetheless!
We are ready for formal night!
Me and my mini-me!
We came back in expecting the show, Studio VIP- a tribute to the 70's, to just be starting but it was about 15 minutes into the show. This was another great show put on by a very mediocre cast! The songs were great and we all sang along but most of us in the audience were in the right key! I cannot say the same for the lead singers! It was so bad I think Chris would have gotten up and left! Tip- Studio VIP is listed as a "family show" but this performance was not. One of the dancers stripped down to his very tight underwear center stage while they sang a song about sex. I could see "double-0 and 7" and I had to cover Natalie's eyes. I do not know if this was because it was the 10PM show but just be forewarned.
We laughed about the show and then made our way back to the cabin to prepare for the following day in Cozumel. Once we got back to our room we noticed that Adrian had left us a sweet little surprise. Gigi, Allie and I all got a SPA gift-card worth $50. Chris and I have received something like this before but it has been for pictures, dinner or wine. Tip- Be sure to contact your PVP to help set up these birthdays or celebrations. They will get it into the system and help get you any and all perks they can!
Again, be sure to tell you PVP!
I talked to him for good time while the girls were finishing getting ready and he told me about his family and his daughter. She would be turning 12 next month and he missed her! He told me she looked like Natalie! I said a quick prayer for him and his family and told him I needed a picture (OF COURSE) so I could remember him!
I spent over an hour on the balcony as they finished getting ready for bed. I absolutely LOVE a balcony and the solitude it brings! We were in bed and asleep just after midnight!
Tomorrow we will be in our only port of Cozumel and will be swimming with the dolphins! Stay tuned for great tips and tricks for this shore excursion!
Up next... Cozumel and swimming with the dolphins!
God is good... All the time!
Click on a link to see our past cruising adventures:
Our Cruise Ship Experiences 2006-present
Carnival Breeze- 2017
Carnival Dream- 2017
Our Cruise Ship Experiences 2006-present
Carnival Breeze- 2017
Carnival Dream- 2017
Carnival Valor- 2016
Carnival Legend- 2016
Caribbean Princess- 2016
Carnival Triumph- 2015
Carnival Magic- 2015
Royal Caribbean Serenade of the Seas- 2015
Royal Caribbean Navigator of the Seas- 2014
Carnival Conquest- 2013
Carnival Conquest- 2006
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