Chose the Vista out of Galveston thinking that it would save us (family of 5) money on our cruise vacation. However, Carnival now charges for so many things (food, entertainment, etc) onboard that the price of the cruise ends up being considerably higher than the rate you pay up front. Add to that the additional cost of transportation to and from Galveston, and I found that this cruise ended up costing us more than a comparable 7 day cruise on another cruiseline with a larger ship out of Port Canaveral, Ft. Lauterdale, or Miami. Will not use Carnival again - we'll stick with the "other" cruise line for the better ship layout, added space, and fewer extra charges onboard.
Embarkation
5 out of 5
Fastest embarkation process we've experienced in 12 cruises
Ship experiences
Food and Dining
4 out of 5
Main dining was excellent. Buffet was good, not great, and usually fairly crowded. Guy's Burger Joint was outstanding, as usual.
Onboard Activities
3 out of 5
Enjoyed the thermal suite, but didn't use it enough to make it worth the price of admission. Fitness center was good, but not as well equipped or spacious as other cruise lines. Serenity was always insanely crowded and very difficult to find a place to sit and relax. Disappointed in the movie theater - no different (and no less expensive) than any other AMC or Regal theater in the country. Expected a small surcharge, not standard ticket prices. Really liked the Havana Bar area - great idea; too bad it's only for guests in the Havana suites.
Entertainment
3 out of 5
The dancing and choreography was quite good. However, the sound mixing was terrible. The sound in the shows was so loud that one could hardly make out the tune and words - serious detraction from the efforts of the performers. Very unfortunate.
Children's Programs
Kids chose not to participate in the youth programs.
Service and Staff
5 out of 5
Great staff - our room attendant was very good, very friendly, and very helpful.
Ship Quality
3 out of 5
Very clean ship, obviously a newer entry in the Carnival fleet. It was sometimes difficult to get around, though - felt less spacious and more crowded than other ships and brands we've been on.
Cabin / Stateroom
3 out of 5
Nothing special here - standard size. Decent value, nice and quiet for the most part.
Ship tip
Try a different week than spring break - might be less crowded.
Carnival's private property in Roatan is outstanding. Warm water, large swimming/relaxing area in the bay, plenty of excellent food options, easy access to the ship.
The snorkeling excursion to shark and ray alley was insanely crowded - 3 ships in port, with multiple tours doing the same thing. It took us over 2 1/2 hours to reach our intended destination, and when we arrived, it was like snorkeling in a walmart parking lot the day before super bowl sunday. I got kicked in the face more times than I saw fish. Would not recommend this tour. The tour guides, however, were fantastic - just a tough situation for them to deal with.
Longest customs experience of my life - we got stuck with the slowest human being employed by customs and border patrol. Not Carnival's fault - just luck of the draw. Other than that, very easy debarkation.
Wow we paid all of our gratuities and drink packages up front, put $100 on our sign and sail card and left owing nothing. And that was with buying 3 t-shirts and a flash drive with our formal night pic on it. Had a great time and other than tipping we didn't spend much money.
Thanks for the honest review. I’ve only cruised Carnival, but I have been thinking of trying another line. In your opinion, what cruise lines do you think are better? In all fairness, there are extra charges on all the cruise lines.
Im always confused by ppl who say carnival charges all this extra - ur food with great variety is all included as is entertainment however they offer optional choices for those who want to spend extra. Therefore it is a choice.
Carnival doesn’t change extra for entertainment. What did they charge you for? Unless you eat at specialty restaurants, i.e. Crab Shack, Sushi, Steak House, or Coffee Shop the food is included (some room service items also are extra). All the other places are included; Guys Burgers, deli, Buffett, pizza, much more. You shouldn’t have gone hungry without spending anything extra.
I am confused at where you had to pay more!
I don't believe Carnival is charging for more extras like food and entertainment than other lines. I believe RC started charging for room service first. Good luck finding what you are looking for.
On all Cruise lines you have to pay extra for some foods & restaurant “ specialty restaurants “. I budget that expensive in. Next time do some research. Don’t blame carnival for your bad planning & budgeting.
*Cruiseline.com is not a booking agent or travel agency,
and does not charge any service fees to users of our site. Our partners
(travel agencies and cruise lines) provide prices, which we list for our
users' convenience. Cruiseline.com does not guarantee any specific rates or
prices. While prices are updated daily, please check with the booking site
for the exact amount. Cruiseline.com is not responsible for content on
external web sites.
Contact us
Submitting...
Need help from a personal vacation planner?
Loading...
Find the perfect cruise with weekly tips and cruise deals for as little as $30/night!
Sign up for weekly cruise deals
Join other subscribers and get the best
cruise deals of the week in your inbox every Thursday.
