Overall, this itinerary is a good one, you just need to make sure you have excursions in place if you expect a good experience while off the boat. Especially in Grand Cayman and Montego Bay. The Vista is a large ship and we didn't find it as easy to maneuver as some of the other ships. If you run into this also, just look at the maps by the elevators to re-orient yourself. Enjoy your cruise and take a lot of pictures!
Embarkation
5 out of 5
We sailed our first time on this ship with our daughter and her family. We experienced a smooth embarkation without any issues.
Ship experiences
Food and Dining
4 out of 5
We dined in the main dining on several occasions and enjoyed our meals. We had the best waiter, he was friendly, funny, and interacted very well with the grandbabies. All the staff danced almost every time we were dining, the atmosphere of the restaurant was fun and uplifting.
Onboard Activities
4 out of 5
We did not partake in many onboard activities. This sailing the SkyRide was closed more than it was open, but it was new and I think they were still working out the kinks. This ship was full capacity, so grabbing a lounger was a bit of an issue, especially in the children's area around the slides.
Entertainment
4 out of 5
The music onboard was always Caribbean music with a little country. I mention this because when we sailed in 2021, it was mostly all country music. That's fine, we are from the south, but I'm on a cruise so I want the feeling of that. The comedy club was good, and the two comedians we watched were funny. The production shows were ok. I know these guys put a lot of hard work into creating them, and overall they were good, there was just something lacking.
Children's Programs
We did not partake.
Service and Staff
5 out of 5
The staff and all of the service, stewards, waiters, bartenders, customer service, and casino were all very nice, helpful, and accommodating. We have never had any instances of anything but good and pleasant service with the staff on this boat.
Ship Quality
3 out of 5
In 2019, the ship needed some paint touchups. I know ships get rust, but the Vista seemed to have a lot of rust marks everywhere. The bucket in the children's area was full of mold and slime. This is the bucket that dumped water on their heads, and I didn't find that sanitary. The mini-golf course had torn "greens" which made it hard to play a good game. And in the thermal spas, the vista windows were so dirty it was impossible to have a good view of the ocean while relaxing.
Cabin / Stateroom
5 out of 5
Overall we really enjoyed the inside cabin. We are not super picky on our cabins, as they are all mostly the same. But this one was on the same floor as the IMAX theatre and we did not have any issues with the sound except when you were walking down the hall you could hear the movie playing. Our room was clean, and had plenty of plug-ins and clothing space. One thing we liked about the interior room is that it is dark and cooler than a balcony room.
Ship tip
Buy your IMAX tickets early as there is limited space if you are wanting to watch a movie.
Galveston is a nice area with a host of things to do while visiting. We only spent the night and got on the boat, but if we opted, there is a lot to experience. We ate breakfast at IHOP and walked the beach for a while. Get to IHOP early, it seems everyone sailing eats breakfast here!
Montego Bay's port does not have anything to do and it is not close to town. You need to have an excursion booked either through Carnival or another site. We did not have an excursion booked and opted to take a taxi to the beach. The problem is that they would not take us to the beach we wanted to go to, but to one, they frequent and probably get a kickback from. We were not happy with that aspect. Know that Montego Bay is dirty and poor, and many people live on the street, so make sure you get a reputable excursion.
Again, this was our stupid mistake. We did not book an excursion but opted for an independent taxi tour of the island. Not a good choice. The air conditioner did not work in the van, it was overly crowded, and it took forever for everyone to get on and off at each stop. We went to Hell (literally) and as much as I was looking forward to Hell, it was dirty and have trash strewn across the volcanic rocks. We did visit a rum factory that was nice, and the beach around it was limestone, but beautiful. Again, I recommend an excursion of your choice.
We decided to stay at port and not venture out on this particular day. The port at Cozumel is very nice. It offers an array of shopping and restaurants if you opt to stay close to the boat. We have learned that many ports Carnival stops at, they own.
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