Glad I went with friends

Last year my family went on the Norwegian escape and this ship can't even compare to it.  We definitely had a blast.  We went with 6 families and had so much fun.  If you are comparing ships though, I was not impressed at all.  

The positives...our room steward was excellent.  Always pleasant and knew our names.  Our room was tidy.  The room was comparable.  I did like the storage in the rooms in the vista better.  Matt the cruise director was great too.  The shows were comparable. As well as the stops.  We went to a excursion not through carnival called the blue hole with Pete Taylor tours. (Jamaica)  It was excellent.  Would highly recommend.  

The downsides...the customer service was terrible in comparison.  We bought the drink package...many times we waited 15-20 minutes for a drink.  It wasn't necessarily busy.  The bars were not staffed and they were not polite.  The tides bar was the one bar  I would recommend.  The food on the market buffet was not great.  On Norwegian there was such a variety and it was open a lot.  This buffet for dinner was nothing my children would eat...succotash, veal parm, tilapia, lamb...then at the horizons restaurant it was the same meal.  I took them to buffet because they wanted to go to the kids club.  I don't know if I was missing something.  I know you can get sandwiches and pizza at anytime...but the Norwegian had such variety on their buffet.  Even their breakfast had variety.  Carnival was the same breakfast.  (Nothing can beat guy's burger on the carnival though). We did go the Italian resturant for dinner one night.  It was excellent, we needed to pay.  There are more options on the Norwegian though that you don't have to pay for.  

Another thing i did not care for was the main area for the vista.  It is not big.  I like the big gathering area where you can go at anytime and something is going on.  This is such an awkward space.  It is pretty.  

The skyride is is super cool... but such a long wait.  Hour to hour and half.  The outdoor game area is great for kids and families...also adults...pool, mini golf, twister, corn hole.  Great place to hang out.  

I don't want to say it was a bad cruise, but if you have been on a Norwegian....you may be disappointed.