Great ship, great itinerary, great weather... Can't ask for more than that.
Embarkation
5 out of 5
Probably our fastest, smoothest boarding in Galveston ever. They seem to be taking notes from Miami and getting much more efficient. From our shuttle bus to being on board was less than 45 minutes.
Ship experiences
Food and Dining
5 out of 5
The formal dining on the Vista is always top notch, and we probably enjoy the sit-down breakfast every bit as much as the evening meals.
Onboard Activities
5 out of 5
Don't miss the Serenity Deck and the hot tubs there. Most relaxing place on the boat.
Entertainment
5 out of 5
The Serenity Deck is the best! We saw a couple of shows that were as always, impressive. But there was a small venue group called Hasta la Vista that really blew us away. They switched it up every night from country, to 80's, to Motown, to whatever. The female lead vocalist had a fairly thick Slavic accent when speaking, but it was never heard in her singing, and she did Madonna, Shania Twain, Carrie Underwood... You name it! Fantastic show. Oh yeah, they also pulled in a "brass" section on certain shows that really spiced things up.
Children's Programs
No children cruising with us.
Service and Staff
4 out of 5
Always friendly, but wait staff seemed overtaxed. Room steward was on point at all times.
Ship Quality
5 out of 5
I like about 95% of the Vista's design. The outdoor activities, bike ride, water slides and such, are great. My biggest knock on this ship is the layout of the forward formal dining room. It's poorly designed and awkward to navigate. I definitely favor the design of the outer deck area of deck 5.
Cabin / Stateroom
5 out of 5
Great room, as always. We have always chosen a balcony and never regretted the decision.
Ship tip
The balconies on deck 9 have a nice little overhang of deck 10. This allows you to sit on the deck at any time of day without getting brutally hot. It just slightly blocks the direct sunlight.
Being raised within an hour of Galveston, I've spent tons of time there. The beaches are not beautiful by any stretch of the imagination, but still fun. The historical sites there are totally worth the trip. A tour of the Bishop's Palace or Seawolf Park are nothing short of impressive. And if fresh seafood or a great breakfast is the order of the day, go to Miller's Seawall Grill... Absolutely the best! Even when I'm not cruising, I cruise over to Miller's on my Harley for a Saturday brunch several times a year.
This is one of our favorite, yet most simplified ports of all. The Mahogany Beach just off the boat is a great and cheap excursion. We generally take the chair lifts over to the beach, get a pair of lounge chairs with a clamshell shade, then snorkel for hours. A quick trip back to the boat for a Guy's Burger is preferred over paying 20 bucks for an appetizer from the bar on the beach. We wrap up our day snagging a few souvenirs. Always a great day in this port.
3rd trip to Belize, different excursions each time. This time, went to Goff's Cay. What a great choice! Started with horrible weather, but 20 minutes later all was good and we were headed out to our dive site. After snorkeling for about an hour, we had some fresh grilled chicken and lobster. It was fresh and delicious... and the island punch was really good too. After leaving the Cay, they were kind enough to drop us back at the mainland for some shopping. After another 15 minute tender ride back to the ship, we had ended another great day.
We always enjoy Cozumel, but have been there so many times, it's hard to find new things to do; not to mention the cost of excursions there have continued to climb out of sight. Always a fun port.
The procedures are clear, easy and efficient, if people only followed the rules. Patience is in short supply, which makes no sense since everyone just finished a week long vacation and should be in a more relaxed state of mind... Oh well, maybe that's just my pet peeve.
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