Carnival Valor from New Orleans: Cozumel & Progreso

August 31: Pizza, biscuits, Abita, and Southside Cafe

We started the trip with a full Louisiana food-and-drink day before the cruise. The first stop was Rotolo’s for Chicago-style deep-dish pizza—a heavy but satisfying way to begin a vacation built around eating well.

At Abita Roasting Company, the biscuits and gravy stood out. They were a little different from the usual version, especially with chives scattered over the top, but they were very good and memorable enough to earn their own place in the trip story.

We continued to Abita Brewing Company, explored the taproom, and tried a flight of beers. The brewery stop gave us a proper taste of Louisiana before boarding. Dinner at Southside Cafe finished the day and left us ready for the ship the next morning.

September 1: Boarding Carnival Valor in New Orleans

We boarded Carnival Valor in New Orleans with a couple more family members joining the trip. Traveling with a larger group changed the feel of the cruise—instead of only deciding what we wanted to do, there were more people to meet for meals, walk around with, and share the ports and ship time.

Once onboard, we looked over the decks and watched New Orleans disappear behind us as the ship worked its way down the Mississippi River. Bridges, passing ships, river traffic, and the city shoreline made sail-away from New Orleans feel completely different from leaving a Florida cruise port.

Dinner officially started the cruise portion of the trip. Good meals became one of the running themes of the sailing, and it was nice having more family around the table.

September 2: A relaxed sea day

The first sea day gave us time to settle into Carnival Valor. We walked around the ship, played shuffleboard, ate well, and spent time together without needing to keep a port schedule.

That evening, the sunset stretched across the water in layers of orange and blue. It became one of the best photo moments of the trip and a reminder that sometimes the most memorable part of a cruise is simply standing outside and watching the ocean change.

September 3: Walking around Cozumel

Cozumel was our first port. We kept the day simple: got off the ship, walked around the port area, explored the shops, and tried a few beers. There was no pressure to pack the day with a long excursion, which made it easy to enjoy the island at our own pace.

Back aboard Carnival Valor, we returned to another good dinner and more time with the family. Cozumel worked as the relaxed port day of the itinerary.

September 4: Progreso and a Yucatán beach day

The next morning brought us to Progreso, Yucatán. The ship docks at the end of a remarkably long pier, and the approach gave us wide views of the coast before we went ashore.

We spent the day at the beach with food and drinks included. Instead of trying to see everything across the Yucatán, we let this be the easy tropical day: sand, warm water, something to eat, cold drinks, and time together.

When we returned to the ship, there was still time to eat dinner and watch the water as Carnival Valor continued the trip.

September 5: One more day together onboard

The final full day was another sea day. We ate well, spent time around the ship, and enjoyed having the extra family members along. There did not need to be one giant activity—the combination of meals, games, ocean views, and everyone being together was the experience.

Dinner closed the trip with another strong meal before one last evening around the ship.