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Carnival Valor 2018 5-Day Caribbean Cruise Review
Day 3           July 2, 2018                        Progreso (Yucatan), Mexico                                      
Scheduled Arrival:  10:00am    Scheduled Departure:  6:00pm              
Click Any Photo To Make It Larger!         
Morning Walk Around The Ship:
Once again, I got up early to walk around the Carnival Valor. My alarm rang at 5:45 and after getting dressed I went down to Deck 5 to begin my walk. The first area I went to was the Paris Hot Lounge. 
Carnival Valor Paris Hot
Paris Hot Lounge Stage & Side Chairs
Carnival Valor Paris Hot
Paris Hot Bar Area
Carnival Valor Paris Hot Lounge Seating
Seating In Paris Hot Lounge
After looking at the Paris Hot Lounge, I walked next door to the Eagles Lounge. The lounge was softly playing music and had a great atmosphere. 
Carnival Valor Eagles Lounge
Eagles Lounge - Side View Of The Stage
Carnival Valor Eagles Lounge
View Of The Stage From The Lounge's Middle Area
Carnival Valor Eagles Lounge
Back Of The Lounge
After walking around the back of the Promenade Deck, I began to walk towards the front. One of the things I noticed during my morning walk was the old Taste Bar counter. The Taste Bar used to be a Fun Ship 2.0 feature and was used to serve small samples of things cruisers can buy in the steakhouse or in a pay for venue on other Carnival ships. Throughout the Carnival fleet, the Taste Bar is no more. This old space on the Carnival Valor is now just a vacant counter. 
Carnival Valor Alchemy Bar
Alchemy Bar
Carnival Valor
Former Taste Bar - Now Just An Empty Counter
Progreso
Tracker - Getting Close To Progreso
One of my last stops on Deck 5 was the Skybox Sports Bar. The bar was closed and nobody was in the lounge at this time of the morning. 
Carnival Valor Skybox Sports Bar
Outside The Skybox Sports Bar
Carnival Valor Skybox Sports Bar
Booth Seating In The Skybox Sports Bar
Carnival Valor Skybox Sports Bar
Bar Counter
Carnival Valor Skybox Sports Bar
Two Smaller Seats By A TV
Picture
Carnival Valor Elevator/Stairwell Area
Elevator/Stairwell Area
The time for breakfast was approaching fast, but I still wanted to make a quick visit to Deck 3. After going from Deck 5 to Deck 3, I walked around the bottom level of the atrium. 
Carnival Valor Atrium
Atrium Bar & Stairwells On Deck 3
Carnival Valor
Sitting Area At The Atrium's Bottom (Deck 3)
Carnival Valor
View Of The Flag Hanging From Deck 5
After being on Deck 3, I went up to Deck 9. Breakfast had not yet started so I walked to the ship's aft pool. The pool was still closed at this time of the day and the retractable roof was closed as well. 
Carnival Valor AFT Pool
Deck Chairs Around The AFT Pool
Carnival Valor Seafood Shack
Seafood Shack (Costs Extra)
Carnival Valor AFT Pool
AFT Pool
Carnival Valor Pizzeria
Pizzeria
Carnival Valor AFT Pool
AFT Pool's Bar Counter
Carnival Valor
Hottubs & Seating Area Around The AFT Pool
Instead of walking straight from the aft pool into the buffet, I decided to walk up to Deck 10 for a quick look at the buffet's second level. The second level of the buffet has additional seating and a drink station. At breakfast, no food service lines are open upstairs. However, at lunch the Ol' Fashioned BBQ is open on the Deck 10 level of Rosie's Lido Buffet.​
Carnival Valor Rosie's Lido Buffet
Rosie's Lido Buffet (Deck 10 Level)
Carnival Valor Ol' Fashioned BBQ Counter
Ol' Fashioned BBQ Counter - Closed
Carnival Valor Buffet
Deck 10 Tables In The Buffet
Carnival Valor Rosie's Lido Buffet
Looking Down At Deck 9 From Deck 10
Carnival Valor Buffet Drink Station
Deck 10 Buffet Drink Station
Carnival Valor Coffee Machines
Coffee Machines At Deck 10 Drink Station
Breakfast At Rosie's:
Rosie's served continental breakfast from 6:30am - 10:00am and the general breakfast buffet lines were open from 7:00am through 10:30am. The Blue Iguana Cantina served breakfast tacos and burritos from 7:00am - 10:30am too. For cruisers that wanted to eat in the dining room, the Washington Dining Room was having open seating from 7:30am - 9:30am. The Washington Dining Room's open seating was a breakfast menu only. Since today was not a sea day, Sea Day Brunch was not being served. For late risers, Rosie's was serving a late risers breakfast buffet from 10:00am - 12:00pm. Here are some pictures of the continental breakfast buffet line as well as the main breakfast buffet line:
Carnival Valor Buffet
Deck 9 - Buffet Counter
Carnival Valor Continental Breakfast Pastries
Continental Breakfast - Pastries
Carnival Valor Continental Breakfast Pastries
Continental Breakfast - Pastries
Carnival Valor Continental Breakfast Pastries
Continental Breakfast - Pastries
Carnival Valor Continental Breakfast Pastries
Continental Breakfast - Pastries
Carnival Valor Continental Breakfast Pastries
Continental Breakfast - Pastries
Carnival Valor Continental Breakfast Pastries
Continental Breakfast - Pastries
Carnival Valor Continental Breakfast Pastries
Continental Breakfast - Pastries
Carnival Valor Continental Breakfast Pastries
Continental Breakfast - Pastries
Carnival Valor Continental Breakfast Pastries
Continental Breakfast - Pastries
Carnival Valor Continental Breakfast Fruits
Continental Breakfast - Fruits
Carnival Valor Continental Breakfast Fruits
Continental Breakfast - Fruits
Carnival Valor Buffet
Buffet
Carnival Valor Omelet Station
Omelet Station Toppings - Behind The Counter
Carnival Valor Omelet Station
Omelet Cooking At The Omelet Station
Carnival Valor Main Breakfast Buffet
Main Breakfast Buffet Line
Carnival Valor Main Breakfast Buffet
Main Breakfast Buffet Line
Carnival Valor Main Breakfast Buffet
Main Breakfast Buffet Line
Carnival Valor Main Breakfast Buffet
Main Breakfast Buffet Line
Carnival Valor Main Breakfast Buffet
Main Breakfast Buffet Line
Carnival Valor Main Breakfast Buffet
Main Breakfast Buffet Line
Carnival Valor Main Breakfast Buffet
Main Breakfast Buffet Line
Carnival Valor Main Breakfast Buffet
Main Breakfast Buffet Line
Carnival Valor Main Breakfast Buffet
Main Breakfast Buffet Line
Carnival Valor Omelet
My Omelet
Carnival Valor Plate of Fruit
Fruits, Pastry, and Bacon
Carnival Valor Buffet Drink Cart
Cart of Drinks - Crew Members Wheeled This Around
Arrival In Progreso:
Although we experienced a medical emergency the day before and lost sailing time, we managed to arrive in Progreso on-time. Our scheduled time to dock was 10:00am and around 9:45am cruisers were able to get off the ship. Before we docked, the Carnival Valor turned around. This allowed my balcony to be on the side that faced the pier! Since I wanted to watch the ship's arrival in Progreso, I went up to Deck 10 after breakfast. My time watching the ship's arrival began at Deck 10's front, but before the ship docked I found myself at Deck 10's back because we turned around prior to docking. 
Carnival Valor Front
View At The Front Of The Ship - On Deck 10
Carnival Valor Pilot Boat Approaching
Pilot Boat Approaching
Pilot Boat Alongside The Carnival Valor
Pilot Boat Alongside The Carnival Valor
Carnival Valor
Getting Nearer - Progreso In The Distance
Carnival Valor
Getting Close To An Industrial Area
Progreso
Tanker Ship Docked
The area around the cruise ship pier is very industrial. There was a break bulk and tanker ship already docked as the Carnival Valor arrived in Progreso. Furthermore, there were two large cranes surrounding an area that was filled with shipping containers. In Progreso cruise ships dock about 4 miles out from the mainland. The pier cruise ships use is connected to a larger pier that extends over four miles long.  The leg of this long pier where cruise ships dock is close to the end of the long highway pier. At the end of the long highway pier is a dock for cargo ships that contains cranes to unload shipping containers. The four mile highway pier is constantly being used by large trucks to bring containers to the mainland, but on days cruise ships are docked will have buses running to transport cruise passengers to the mainland.  
Progreso
Break Bulk Ship Docked
Progreso
Industrial Part of Progreso's Port
Progreso
Large Cranes In The Distance
Progreso Cruise Ship Pier
Cruise Ship Pier In The Distance
Progreso Shipping Containers
Crane & Shipping Containers In Background
Carnival Valor
Cruise Ship Pier - View As Carnival Valor Turned Around
Progreso
Another View Of A Crane & Shipping Containers
Carnival Valor
Getting Close To The Pier
Carnival Valor Arriving At Progreso
Arriving in Progreso
Progreso Cruise Terminal Shopping Area
Shopping Area At Progreso's Cruise Terminal
Progreso
Looking Down The Approximately 4 Mile Long Pier To The Mainland
Carnival Valor
Ship Being Tied Up
Carnival Valor Docking In Progreso
Ship Being Tied Up In Multiple Places Along The Pier
Carnival Valor
4 Tug Boats Docked
Carnival Valor Docked In Progreso
People Beginning To Get Off The Ship
Carnival Valor
Towel Animal Dog In Stateroom
Carnival Valor
Stateroom Beds
Carnival Valor Deck 0
Deck 0
Getting Off The Ship to Visit Progreso: 
​              Around the time the Carnival Valor began letting passengers get off, an announcement was made to let everyone know where the gangways were located. The ship's main gangway was located on Deck 0 at the front, but a second gangway was located on Deck 0 mid-ship. Cruisers were told not to use elevators to go to Deck 0 unless they had trouble using stairs. The elevators' Deck 0 button was turned off to prevent people from ignoring the announcement. Instead, cruisers were told to go to Deck 1 and then someone would direct them to the gangway from the stairwell/elevator area.
​             When we were ready to get off we walked to the mid-ship area and went down to Deck 1. There was no crew member in this area directing people. After standing around for a few minutes, we walked to the front of the ship and went down to Deck 0 there. The line to get off was a little long, but thankfully it moved fast. Before we could get off our Sail & Sign cards were scanned and then we were directed down the gangway. The ship's photographers wanted to take pictures, but we declined. 
Carnival Valor Docked In Progreso
Crossing The Gangway To The Pier
Carnival Valor Ship's Front
Looking Up At The Ship's Front
Progreso Cruise Pier
Walking Along The Pier
Carnival Valor
View Of The Carnival Valor's Side
Carnival Valor Mid-Ship Gangway
Mid-Ship Gangway
Carnival Valor
Side Of The Ship Near The Back
Carnival Valor
Carnival Valor
Progreso Cruise Shops
Approaching The Shops
Carnival Valor
Carnival Valor's Back
Free Shuttle To The Mainland: 
              There is a free shuttle that departs every 20 minutes that will take cruisers to Downtown Progreso. When we got to the area of the shuttle's departure we found ourselves standing in a long line of people wanting to get on a shuttle. The line was so long we missed the first two shuttles, but a third one came quickly. Since the line was so long, the shuttle operators let the shuttle depart as soon as it was full. This was great because we didn't have to wait too long for a shuttle! 
Progreso
Naval Ship Docked In Progreso
Progreso
Sign Announcing Free Shuttle To The Mainland
Progreso
Tour Buses Parked For Excursions & Use As A Shuttle
Progreso Cruise
Progreso's Cruise Shopping Complex
Progreso
Large Parking Lot Space Outside The Cruise Terminal Area
Progreso
Turning Onto The Road To Go To The Mainland
As our shuttle moved, I tried to get some pictures of the ship and water. However, there were large boulders that blocked the view for most of the trip on the 4 mile pier. Our shuttle did not have air conditioning, which meant all of the windows had to be open to allow a breeze to travel through the bus. This was the worst part of the ride. Last time I visited Progreso in 2015, the shuttle ride was used by a local agency to try and sell shore excursions. This time we did not have someone talk on the bus the entire trip down the pier. This made the ride much better than last time!
Carnival Valor Docked In Progreso
Carnival Valor Docked In Progreso
Progreso
On Way To The Mainland
Progreso
View Of The Water As We Rode The Shuttle
Carnival Valor
Looking Back At The Carnival Valor
Progreso
View Of A Fishing Pier & Mainland in Distance
Carnival Valor
Getting Closer To The Mainland
After we got off the long pier and were on the mainland, our shuttle continued driving us through the streets of Progreso. Traffic was a little heavy in parts, but our driver weaved in and out of traffic to keep our ride moving. 
Progreso
View From The Shuttle - Beach Below The Road
Progreso
Cars Parked
Progreso
Progreso
Progreso
Looking At A Side Street We Passed By
Progreso
Progreso
Progreso
At An Intersection
Progreso
Cars Parked Along The Street
Progreso
Busy Street Area
Progreso
View Of Some Type of Store - From The Shuttle
Progreso
Cars Traveling Down A One Way Street
Progreso
Area Right Before The Drop Off Point - Beach In Distance
Progreso
Sign Written In Spanish
Arrival At The Shuttle's Drop Off Point:
When our shuttle ride was over, we were dropped off at an area with a large tent that contained numerous tables of shops. This area was not too far from the beach, which was going to be our next stop after quickly walking through the shops. Before we were allowed off the shuttle, someone boarded to do a 2-3 minute talk on booking a shore excursion. These were not affiliated with the cruise line! Thankfully, the mini presentation did not last long and we were allowed to get off the hot bus.
Progreso
Old Hotel
Progreso Shuttle Drop Off Area
Shuttle Drop Off Point - Large Tent With Shops
Large Tent With Shops
Large Tent With Shops
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​NEXT PART IS READY:  Day 3 Part 2 Is Posted!
​Day 3's review will includes more pictures of Progreso, pictures of lunch & dinner, and some more ship pictures!
Click Here To View Day 3 Part 2's Cruise Review

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