Carnival Vista ship stats

  • Price:

    $$$$
  • Size:

    XL
  • Total Passengers:

    3,936
  • Total Crew:

    1,450
  • Passenger to Crew Ratio:

    2.71
  • Built:

    May 2016
  • Refurbished:

    Jan 2024
  • Number of Decks:

    14
  • Total Cabins:

    1,958
  • Cabin Categories:

    53
  • Gross Tonnage:

    133,500
  • Beam:

    122

Carnival Vista overview

By Cruiseline.com - Updated Feb. 13, 2024

One of the largest ships in the Carnival Fleet, Carnival Vista comes packed with more onboard fun than you’ll be able to experience in a single seven-night sailing. Carnival’s come-as-you-are approach to cruising focuses on laidback, no-frills fun, and Vista has more of it than any other Carnival ship: Ropes courses, dance classes, sports competitions, trivia, and beer pong are just a few ways to spend your days at sea. Vista also comes with all new features including the Sky Ride cycling attraction, an IMAX theater, and a 4D Thill Theater.

Entertainment highlights on Vista include stand-up comedy at the Punchliner Comedy Club, song-and-dance shows at the Liquid Lounge, and live music throughout the ship. Kids will be more than busy splashing around at the Waterworks Waterpark (which features two 200 foot long water slides), participating in age-appropriate activities and contests at the Camp Ocean kids clubs, and reading at the all new Dr. Seuss library. On Carnival, casual cuisine takes front and center stage, with Guy’s Burger Joint, BlueIguana Cantina, Guy’s Pig & Anchor Bar-B-Que, Mongolian Wok, and Pizzeria del Capitano being the most popular options. More formal and “upscale” options are also available, including the Fahrenheit 555 steakhouse, JiJi Asian Kitchen, and Bonsai Sushi.

While many of the venues are familiar, Vista does set itself apart from other ships in the Carnival fleet. The most noticeable difference is the increased outdoor seating space, with some restaurants offering additional tables outside so you can dine in the Caribbean sun. Like many other new ships, technology plays a big role onboard: Facial recognition software allows passengers to sort through digital photos, whether via iPads in the Pixels gallery, on the stateroom television, or even on smartphones via the line’s newly introduced HUB app. This app also helps guests find out what’s going on around the ship, view their onboard spending accounts, and chat with other passengers.

Launched in 2016, Vista’s initial home port was New York with sailings to the Mediterranean followed by a brief stint in Miami. The ship now sails from Galveston, Texas and offers cruises to the Caribbean. Current Carnival Vista itineraries include 6- to 8-night cruises to the western Caribbean as well as some 9-night Caribbean sailings.

Carnival Vista ship highlights

  • RedFrog Pub & Brewery
  • SkyRide suspended cycling attraction
  • Guy’s Pig & Anchor - Bar-B-Que
  • IMAX Theater
  • Fahrenheit 555 Steakhouse
  • Alchemy Bar
  • Thrill Theater

Before you book

Why sail on Carnival Vista: Families, both with young kinds and multigenerational extended families, and couples looking for a variety of activities, dining options, and amenities.

You should know: Vista is probably not the best option for travelers seeking a quiet ship. While some areas are more tranquil, Vista is generally geared towards energetic family fun during the day and boisterous partying at night. With that said, the Havana suites cater to adults and provide a more peaceful experience with access to a private bar and pool, as well as extra-large outdoor spaces.

Carnival Vista ratings:

  • Cabin / Stateroom 4.5
  • Children's Programs 4.3
  • Destinations and Excursions 4.2
  • Embarkation and Disembarkation 4.3
  • Entertainment 4.3
  • Food and Dining 4.2
  • Onboard Activities 4.2
  • Service and Staff 4.5
  • Ship Quality 4.3

Carnival Vista cabins

1958 cabins and 53 cabin categories.

Inside Cabin

Inside

4.4
(251 Reviews)
Avg. Size: 189 sq. ft. Avg. Cost: $114/night
Oceanview Cabin

Oceanview

4.5
(117 Reviews)
Avg. Size: 224 sq. ft. Avg. Cost: $142/night
Balcony Cabin

Balcony

3.5
(439 Reviews)
Avg. Size: 185 sq. ft. Avg. Cost: $175/night
Suite Cabin

Suite

3.7
(42 Reviews)
Avg. Size: 284 sq. ft. Avg. Cost: $292/night

View All Carnival Vista Cabins

Carnival Vista dining

JavaBlue Café

JavaBlue Café

5.0
(2 Reviews)
Room Service

Room Service

5.0
(1 Review)
Shake Spot

Shake Spot

4.9
(25 Reviews)
BlueIguana Cantina

BlueIguana Cantina

4.8
(49 Reviews)

View All Carnival Vista Dining Options

Carnival Vista onboard activities

Sky Greens

Sky Greens

5.0
(4 Reviews)
SportsSquare

SportsSquare

5.0
(4 Reviews)
Heroes Tribute Bar

Heroes Tribute Bar

5.0
(1 Review)
Bar

Bar

5.0
(11 Reviews)

View All Carnival Vista Onboard Activities

Carnival Vista deck plans

View All Carnival Vista Deck Plans

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2862 Carnival Vista Reviews

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The cruise was good, but not great. The food was average, the staff were late several times for trivia and one trivia host scolded some participants. by Hillcruiser

Sail date: / Traveled as: Couple
Ship: Carnival Vista

We had a relaxing time on the cruise. Plenty of food and rest. Many choices of activities and food. We have experienced better cruise food, comedy and shows on previous cruises.

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Was this review helpful? 4
8 Comments

Had a Great Time. by jaymac1500

Sail date: / Traveled as: Couple
Ship: Carnival Vista

The cruise overall was a great time. Carnival is known for bring a party line, and they didn't disappoint. Halloween night was a spectacle to be seen. The food was overall very good, but the buffet was disappointing. My wife is a picky eater, so we didn't explore the specialty restaurants due to the menu's being a little to "nouveau" for her taste. And the surf and turf in the main dining room was an excellent upgrade for half the price. We really enjoyed the Damjagua zip & dip experience in Puerto Plata. The guides were great and the trip was fun. We were disappointed they cancelled the 2 Reef Snorkel in Grand Turk the night prior due to expected bad weather. However, that day turned out to be fairly nice and the trip could have been made. Half Moon Cay was nice, pretty beaches, but not a lot to do. Entertainment onboard was good. We're not the type to get too involved with onboard activities, but the main event shows in the Liquid Lounge were very nice, especially the VIP 54 show. Also the Vista Band in the Ocean Plaza lounge was very good and entertaining, We danced the night away. Last but not least, any staff we had contact with throughout the week were very pleasant and helpful. The trip overall was a lot of FUN!

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Was this review helpful? 7
3 Comments

A wonderful getaway for our family by jrniemeyer

Sail date: / Traveled as: Family (young children)
Ship: Carnival Vista

We had a great time on the Carnival Vista and enjoyed the ports of call! We had a rough sea day on the way back, so that was disappointing, but had a wonderful trip other than that. We preferred the Horizon crew to Vista, but they were perfectly fine. Amber Cove was our favorite port of call. We used the fitness center and spa pass everyday and loved it!! Our son had a great time at Camp Ocean. The musicians onboard were absolutely fantastic!!!! Food was great.

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Was this review helpful? 5
7 Comments

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Carnival Vista photos

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1588 Carnival Vista tips

abgrenn

Jul 11, 2016

Don't leave the sky ride to the last day. The line was too long and we missed out on doing it. (It is only open a limited amount of time). Don't over pack.

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CruiselineSarah

Dec 15, 2017

Be sure to make reservations for any specialty restaurants you want ahead of time, or as soon during the cruise as possible. They fill up quickly. Cherry on Top now has ice cream sandwiches with various types of cookies in addition to the sundaes - they're really good and large. If you want a seat to any of the adults-only comedy shows, arrive 30+ minutes early. Sign up for mixology classes/martini tastings at the Alchemy Bar on embarkation day. They aren't heavily advertised but they do fill up.

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