Carnival Valor
Sails from New Orleans, Louisiana · Fly into MSY
Page updated
Carnival Valor in Costa Maya, Mexico, March 2022 · Photo: Mason Piscitelli, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons
About Carnival Valor
Carnival Valor is a Carnival Cruise Line cruise ship of the Conquest class, in service since 2004. She measures 110,000 gross tons and carries 2,980 guests with a crew of 1,180. She sails Caribbean, Bahamas, Panama Canal itineraries. We rate her 3.7 out of 5.
Carnival Valor is a Conquest-class ship of about 110,000 gross tons, built by Fincantieri at Monfalcone and christened in Miami in December 2004 by journalist Katie Couric. She carries about 2,980 guests. A comprehensive dry dock completed in June 2025 added a WaterWorks park with twin slides, a Heroes Tribute Bar & Lounge and a larger casino; other venues include Scarlett's Steakhouse, RedFrog Pub, Alchemy Bar and Seuss at Sea. She sails Western Caribbean and Bahamas cruises from New Orleans and is scheduled to move to year-round sailing from Mobile, Alabama, in May 2027.
Ship facts
- Guests
- 2,980
- Crew 1,180 · 1:2.5
- Entered service
- 2004
- Refitted 2025
- Length
- 290 m
- Longer than 73% of 575 ships
- Decks
- 13
Carnival Valor is bigger than 72% of the 418 cruise ships in service on Cruises Frog with a tonnage on record, and carries more guests than 83%. At 36.9 gross tons per guest she is tighter than 62% of 416; the median ship is 39.4.
Ratings
- Cabins
- 3/5, fleet average 3.1
- Dining
- 3/5, fleet average 3.0
- Entertainment
- 4/5, fleet average 4.0
- Service
- 4/5, fleet average 4.0
- Pools & decks
- 3/5, fleet average 2.9
- Value
- 5/5, fleet average 5.0
Editorial scores, 1 to 5 per metric; the overall is their average, not an average of reader reviews. Ticks mark the Carnival Cruise Line fleet average across 29 rated ships in service.
Sister ships: Conquest class
Carnival Valor is one of 5 Conquest class ships. Carnival Freedom (2007), Carnival Liberty (2005), Carnival Glory (2003) and Carnival Conquest (2002) are in service.
| Ship | Year | Gross tons | Guests | Space | Rating |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Carnival Valor this ship | 2004 | 3.7/5 | |||
| Carnival Freedom | 2007 | 3.7/5 | |||
| Carnival Liberty | 2005 | 3.7/5 | |||
| Carnival Glory | 2003 | 3.7/5 | |||
| Carnival Conquest | 2002 | 3.7/5 |
Deck plans & cabin locations
Official colour deck plan - reviewed October 2026 · Published edition. Confirm the edition for your departure with the cruise line.
Explore the deck plans
What’s above your ceiling matters as much as the view. Compare the decks around your cabin, then use the location notes to build your shortlist.
No exact sailing-date window is supplied for this download. Confirm the cabin category, connecting doors, accessibility, view and refurbishment changes for your departure. Layout-based noise cautions are not confirmed disturbance reports; explicit obstructed-view flags are identified separately as operator-listed.
All decks
Official colour deck plan - reviewed October 2026 · bow to the right
Cabin-number search becomes available as verified cabins are mapped. All published deck diagrams are available below.

On this deck: Combined forward and aft diagrams

On this deck: Combined forward and aft diagrams











Cabins to avoid & quieter candidates
Deck 7 where accommodation overlaps vertically
Start with cabin sections on Deck 7
Compare a central room with cabins immediately above and below, away from lifts, stairs, connecting doors and service access. Check the exact three-deck footprint; category colour alone does not identify a quiet room.
Why we flag this
The ship-specific colour plans show substantial accommodation on Decks 6, 7 and 8. This is a layout-based starting point, not measured sound data or a guarantee of quiet. Check the source plan.
Deck 8 under occupied parts of Deck 9
Check Deck 8 beneath pool and buffet activity
Match the cabin with pools, outdoor seating, buffet/marketplace dining and public routes above. Ask about furniture movement and early setup where the room actually overlaps those areas.
Why we flag this
The ship-specific Deck 9 diagram shows pools and dining/open-deck facilities above portions of the Deck 8 accommodation. The upper deck also has forward accommodation, so rooms beneath other cabins need a different assessment. Check the source plan.
Deck 6 over occupied Deck 5 areas
Check accommodation above public venues
Compare the room with dining, lounge, theatre, casino or promenade spaces where labelled below. Verify exact venue hours and vertical overlap if you are an early sleeper.
Why we flag this
The official plans place substantial public areas on Deck 5 beneath portions of the Deck 6 accommodation. Individual venue names and footprints come from this ship's PDF, rather than a substituted sister-ship map. Check the source plan.
Cabins 2446, 2449
Operator-listed obstructed-view cabins
Carnival explicitly identifies these rooms as having obstructed views. If an unobstructed outlook matters, confirm what blocks the view and ask for a current cabin-specific description before booking. This is a view limitation, not a noise warning.
Verified cabin references
2446 · 2449
Why we flag this
The accommodation legend in this ship's official PDF lists 2446, 2449 as obstructed-view staterooms or suites. The original PDF retains the associated category and symbol key. Check the source plan.
Location-based guidance, not measured noise or a guarantee of quiet. Flags identify areas to investigate, not every cabin on a deck. Check the exact room, connecting doors, accessibility and the plan for your sailing date. Native per-deck artwork extracted from the ship-named official PDF colour/category plan, checked 21 October 2026. Forward and aft diagrams are combined on a single deck image when the source splits that level. The full PDF retains category legends and any additional accessibility overlay.. Reviewed 2026-10-21.
Photos

Carnival Valor in Costa Maya, Mexico, March 2022Photo: Mason Piscitelli, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons
Where she sails
- CaribbeanEastern, Western and Southern Caribbean islands, sailing year-round from Florida, Texas and Puerto Rico
- Bahamasshort trips from Florida, often with a day on a line's private island
- Panama Canalpartial or full transits between the Atlantic and Pacific
Home port: New Orleans, Louisiana.
Flying in for your cruise?
Carnival Valor sails from New Orleans, Louisiana. The airport is Louis Armstrong New Orleans International (MSY), with 3 lounges to wait in before you board.
All 3 lounges at Louis Armstrong New Orleans International on Lounge FrogEvery ship sailing from New Orleans, LouisianaQuick answers
Which cruise line operates Carnival Valor?
Carnival Valor is operated by Carnival Cruise Line and belongs to its Conquest class.
What are Carnival Valor's sister ships?
Carnival Valor is one of 5 Conquest class ships. Carnival Freedom (2007), Carnival Liberty (2005), Carnival Glory (2003) and Carnival Conquest (2002) are in service.
How big is Carnival Valor?
Carnival Valor measures 110,000 gross tons and 290 metres in length, with 13 decks.
How does Carnival Valor compare in size with other cruise ships?
Carnival Valor is bigger than 72% of the 418 cruise ships in service on Cruises Frog with a tonnage on record, and carries more guests than 83%. At 36.9 gross tons per guest she is tighter than 62% of 416; the median ship is 39.4.
How crowded does Carnival Valor feel?
Carnival Valor has a passenger space ratio of 36.9: 110,000 gross tons for 2,980 guests. Ratios over 50 feel spacious and under 30 busy, so Carnival Valor feels comfortable for her size.
How many passengers does Carnival Valor carry?
Carnival Valor carries 2,980 guests at double occupancy, with a crew of 1,180 (about 2.5 guests per crew member).
When did Carnival Valor enter service?
Carnival Valor entered service in 2004 and was last refurbished in 2025.
Where does Carnival Valor sail?
Carnival Valor sails Caribbean, Bahamas and Panama Canal itineraries. Her home port is New Orleans, Louisiana.
Which airport should I fly into for Carnival Valor?
Carnival Valor sails from New Orleans, Louisiana. Fly into Louis Armstrong New Orleans International (MSY), which has 3 airport lounges listed on Lounge Frog.
Where can I find the deck plans for Carnival Valor?
Carnival Cruise Line publishes the deck plans for Carnival Valor; this page links to Deck plans (PDF).
How is Carnival Valor rated?
Cruises Frog rates Carnival Valor 3.7 out of 5 overall, the average of 6 editorial scores. She scores best on value (5/5) and lowest on pools & decks (3/5).
Which cabins are good choices on Carnival Valor?
For the “Official colour deck plan - reviewed October 2026” plan, start with these quieter-location candidates: Deck 7 where accommodation overlaps vertically: Compare a central room with cabins immediately above and below, away from lifts, stairs, connecting doors and service access. Check the exact three-deck footprint; category colour alone does not identify a quiet room. Compare the exact cabin with the decks above and below, nearby lifts and connecting doors. These are layout-based suggestions, not a guarantee of quiet.
Which cabins should I avoid or check carefully on Carnival Valor?
For the “Official colour deck plan - reviewed October 2026” plan, review these flagged locations before booking: Deck 8 under occupied parts of Deck 9: Match the cabin with pools, outdoor seating, buffet/marketplace dining and public routes above. Ask about furniture movement and early setup where the room actually overlaps those areas. Deck 6 over occupied Deck 5 areas: Compare the room with dining, lounge, theatre, casino or promenade spaces where labelled below. Verify exact venue hours and vertical overlap if you are an early sleeper. Cabins 2446, 2449 (cabins 2446, 2449): Carnival explicitly identifies these rooms as having obstructed views. If an unobstructed outlook matters, confirm what blocks the view and ask for a current cabin-specific description before booking. This is a view limitation, not a noise warning. These flags are not measured noise reports or a warning about every room on a deck. Read the sourced cabin advice for the evidence and any explicit operator warnings.
How can I check whether a cabin is under a pool, nightclub or theatre?
Find the cabin on the selected plan, then compare the same fore-and-aft position on the deck above and below. Check the full venue footprint, including outdoor seating, stages, service areas and entrances. Nearby activity can be a reason to investigate, but does not by itself prove a cabin is noisy. Use the cabin advice and its sources to distinguish layout cautions from operator warnings.
Where can I find Carnival Valor deck plans?
Use this guide’s deck selector to compare the decks around your cabin and open available diagrams in the zoom viewer. The full ship PDF and source links are listed for each plan edition.
Which deck-plan edition applies to my sailing?
Select your sailing date before comparing cabin locations. Editions can change after a refit. These answers use “Official colour deck plan - reviewed October 2026”, reviewed 2026-10-21. No exact sailing-date window is supplied for this download. Confirm the cabin category, connecting doors, accessibility, view and refurbishment changes for your departure. Layout-based noise cautions are not confirmed disturbance reports; explicit obstructed-view flags are identified separately as operator-listed.
Traveller reviews
What people who've been say. One review each; you can update yours.
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