Sailing on the Carnival Valor

We sailed on Carnival Valor a few weeks ago on an 8 day Southern Caribbean cruise with stops in Nassau, the Dominican Republic, Curacao and Aruba.

We had wonderful accommodations on the Empress Deck with an oceanview balcony.

Our first stop was Nassau, one of the busiest ports in the Caribbean. 

Our ship, the Carnival Valor, was in port along side RCL's Majesty of the Seas, and NCL's Norwegian Sky.


It's real easy getting around the island. You'll always find a taxi at the hotels, and you can easily hire the driver for an hour tour of the island.

Another mode of transportation are the Jitneys (buses) which run through downtown Nassau, as well as Cable Beach.


Check the schedules, as the jitneys do not run on the hour - the cost is $1.50 per person. You need to have exact change, and payment is made when you get off.  A slower, but scenic ride is with the horse drawn buggy ride.


Paradise Island is just 10 minutes away by ferry. Tickets are purchased at Woodes Rogers Wharf or Festival Place, and the cost is just $6.00 per person. The ferry runs every half hour on the hour from 9-6:00 p.m.


Aside from the resorts and beaches on Paradise Island, there is the Bahama Craft Centre featuring unique handmade straw items, wood carvings and souvenirs.


Heading towards Atlantis Resort is the upscale shopping Marina Village, and there are also a number of restaurants serving American, Bahamian and Italian food. You don't need to be a guest of Atlantis to stop off in the casino.


Other points of interest for cruise visitors is the Ardastra Gardens Zoo and Conservation Center - Watch the colorful march of the Pink Flamingo's. There are approximately 300 mammals, birds and reptiles to view, and many are endangered species.


Straw Market - Home of handmade Bahamian crafts such as hand-woven straw hats, bags, dolls, conch shell jewelry, wood carvings and tons of cheap t-shirts. You can bargain for deals.

Our second cruise stop was the port of La Romana. La Romana began drawing more tourists due to Casa de Campo, the finest resort on the island.


La Romana lies on the Southeast coast of the Dominican Republic, and is one of the most populated cities with an estimated 250,000 residents. 


The annual average temperature for the Dominican Republic is about 77 degrees, however the coastal regions temperature is a bit higher.

Just east of Casa de Campo is Altos de Chavón one of the country's leading sightseeing attractions. The village is a charming  version of the type of fortified medieval villages found in Spain, southern France, or Italy.


Off the coast of La Romana lies the deserted island Isla Catalina, which attracts divers and snorkelers. The island can only be reached by motorboat - the trip is 45 minutes, and there are no facilities on the island. Playa Catalina beach is surrounded by turquoise waters, and attracts many of the guests from Casa de Campo - so not entirely deserted.


Cruise passengers should be aware the majority of locals (including taxi drivers) in this area do not speak English - so being able to speak some Spanish will definitely be helpful.


Our third stop was the lovely port city of Willemstad, Curacao.

The capital city is a Dutch styled fantasy land painted in the palettes of pink cotton candy, mango-orange, papaya yellow, avocado green, and ocean blue.

If you've never been to Curacao, it's definitely worth putting on your bucket list. 


This is one of the more "unique" islands in the Caribbean chain, and the largest island of the Netherlands Antilles. 


The island boasts some of the best weather in the Caribbean region, and is located outside the Hurricane Belt.  
As you mingle with the locals, you will see a global citizenship of 50 nationalities who speak Dutch, Spanish, English, and the local dialect Papiamentu. 


Curacao has a lot more European flair than your typical Caribbean island. It's a perfect cruise destination as cruise ships arrive in the center of the island's capital - just a 15 minute walk from the ship.

As you leave the terminal, stroll across the Queen Emma Bridge which connects the two sides of the capital city. 


The bridge is at least 100 years old, and swings open to make way for ships docking or passing through. The bridge is fascinating, and a tourist attraction in its own right. When the bridge is open, you can take a free ferry ride to the other side. 


This is my third visit to Curacao, and the first visit by cruise ship. The Carnival Valor arrived at 1:00 p.m., and we left at 11:00 p.m., giving us time to see points of interest.   


Floating Market - The market has been around for decades, and has become an intricate part of life on Curacao. Venezuelan men sail to Curacao and sell their fresh fish, fruits, and vegetables daily. 


Museum Kura Hulanda - One of the best anthropological museum focusing on Curacao cultures, and showcasing  African exhibits, dating from 500 B.C. The complex features the Kura Hulanda Hotel, museum, and restaurant. 


The Sea Aquarium is located on the south coast just east of Willemstad. Features include a marina, arge beach, hotel, and the aquarium complex. Curacao Underwater Park is right next door, and is a protected marine area for divers, marine biologists and scientists. 


Dolphin Academy - Swim with the dolphins


Ostrich Farm offers great photo opportunity with hundreds of these big birds on site - a favorite activity for kids.  


The island's long coastline offers an array of approximately 30 public and private beaches - many with secluded coves. There are also numerous dive sites with multi-colored Parrotfish, Barracuda, colorful Butterfly-fish, Coral and Sea Anemones. 

Our last cruise stop was the island of Aruba. Known for it's fine beaches - the island's interior is a unique desert landscape. 

The walk into downtown takes less than 5 minutes, and then we'll hop the bus which makes stops at the hotels along the beach strip. 


First stop was Druif Beach next to the Manchebo Beach Resort. Then on to Moomba Beach which is located on Palm Beach, next to the Holiday Inn. My beach strip trip then took me on to Eagle Beach, a little farther to the North. 



Known for it's fine beaches - the island's interior is a unique desert landscape. 

 Points of interest in Aruba


Beaches are first on the list! The island has miles of pristine white sand beaches, and the consistent tradewinds make this a favorite destination for windsurfer's. 


The Butterfly Farm is located on Palm Beach. You'll find hundreds of beautiful butterflies enclosed in a tropical garden. If you make a visit when the farm opens (9 a.m.) you can see the new butterflies emerging.


California Lighthouse - Known as "Hudishibana" and a scenic island trademark. The lighthouse is located on the NW tip of the island, and is named for the U.S ship - the California. Perfect spot for photo's of Aruba's western coastline. 


Horse Back Riding - The Gold Mine Ranch (no time frames on private tours), Rancho Notorious (offers 3 different trails), Rancho Del Campo (offers free roundtrip transportation from your hotel). 


Visit Aruba's Ostrich Farm, and the on-site African Art Shop featuring authentic goods from South Africa. The Savanna Lodge Bar & Restaurant is also on-site and offers panoramic views of Aruba's north coast.


Bubali Bird Sanctuary - Home to more than 80 species of migratory birds.


Island Caves - Huliba Cave, known as the (Tunnel of Love) - the entrance is shaped like a heart - need flashlight to explore.