CONFLICTING REVIEWS....SAME SHIP

We were on the Vista in July 2019.. it was a nice ship, and we had a great time!! I did however enjoy the Magic a little more. I don't know why, I just did. Everything was great on the Vista really no complaints at all. I think it might just have been too big and felt like there were just too many people no matter where I went. It was still an amazing cruise..and Matt Mitchum is no longer the CD on the Vista, or with Carnival. I felt he was unapproachable and too busy to stop and chat, John Heald was on the same cruise we were on, and he was wonderful. Always stopped to chat and was super nice.

We cruise on the Breeze in June of 2022 and I have heard it's very similar to the Magic. We should be sailing out on her today.. but COVID restrictions are too harsh for a 6-year-old.

Been on Vista twice. Our opinion: Ship is big and beautiful, rode it for the skyride experience, much fun. Our preference is a smaller ship, Dream or Conquest class, as we love the glass elevators, which Vista does not have. We like the "old" style lounge to watch the live shows, Vista has no place to set your drink on the main floor during the show, our opinion; bad design of the Liquid lounge. The cruise directors on the smaller ships are more friendly, we traveled on the conquest class Triumph 5 times because we loved the cruise director there. Vista cruise director is kind of "stuck up", no time to talk to you. Smaller ships they give you their full attention.. Vista takes a long time on main dining room meals, the smaller ships got their act together. People love Vista, good for them. We dont"hate" Vista, just prefer a smaller class ship

We like the reviewers that mark 1 star because a hurricane (or other uncontrollable event like Covid) either deleted a cruse, a stop, or something. Sometimes for the entire cruise or sometimes just for what they did not experience. We tend to post a comment on the overall 1 stars that it is a fake review and it is reported, then we report it. Actually have gotten a few emails back from the staff thanking us for reporting the fake review. (No, the "We" is not a royal we or the mouse in my pocket, but my wife on her account)

Now THATS a hellaciously good suggestion. Granted, some folks don't like to type...but thats fine. If you're leaving "excellent" it speaks for itself, but 3 or less deserves some kind of explanation. One reviewer mentioned a line in Galveston where you showed your covid shot card. I can't remember when Texas and Fla won in court that it wasn't legal to ask for it...that the CDC "overstepped" or some such. It would be nice to be able to actually ask folks who sailed on such-and-such a ship on such-and-such a date a specific question.

This got me thinking. It would be nice to make a comment a required field if someone gives 3 stars or below or 2 stars or below on a certain part of the cruise. That way you can judge for yourself. I've seen cruise reviews where someone leaves 2 stars and they don't say anything. It isn't very helpful but it does leave a lingering suspicion in the back of my mind on whether the cruise will be a good time or not.

That's expected. What one person enjoys on a cruise may annoy someone else, even though both cruisers went on the same cruise. I would just go in with an open mind.

Typical. Some people aren't happy unless they're complaining, and they often write cruise reviews. Sometimes I'll read a review of a cruise I was on and wonder if they were on the same ship. Personally, I've never been on a cruise that merited a bad or even middling review.

I have never cancelled or rebooked cruise based on review(s)....Things (alot of things) have to be pretty bad for us to REALLY get ticked off , and yes its happened...did it stop us from booking more?? nope...I guess I'll be banging some keys in a few months...yep...surely will....I hope I hope....But what you two have opined is a primer for anyone who reads reviews and leaps to conclusions......

I agree. I have even seen reviews from the cruise that I was on be totally opposite of my experience. It's good to get the information from recent cruisers, but the need to filter the review is usually important. Rarely is everything perfect but also rarely is it a total disaster. Can't wait to see for myself!

We have many times seen reviews of 1 and 5 for the same ship from the same cruise. There are a number of intangibles with the chief one being the reviewer. Some will encounter 1 difficulty on day 1 and this will sour them for the entire cruise and the review will show that. Others are not bothered by the small stuff and just happy to be cruising. This is reflected in the review. Another is the expectations. Some know the reality and take things in stride. Others expect impossible perfection and this too will be reflected in the reviews. So the tone of the reviewer and the objectivity are key. Reading the review and keeping things in context is the secret to deciphering reviews and separating the gems from the sour grapes.