We got spoiled cruising during the pandemic due to the low capacity and unlimited space on the boat. I can say without a doubt, that it was the most relaxing cruise we have been on simply because there were not any crowds, lines, or children (I have three adult children and seven grandbabies). But cruising as a couple and just relaxing is very nice without the other distractions. Props to Carnival for freshening up the ships during their downtime and working their way back to sea.
Embarkation
5 out of 5
When we sailed, the regulations for Covid were still strongly in effect. Embarkation was smooth, Carnival has done a good job at working out the kinks and allowing for a good, quick, and accessible embarkation.
Ship experiences
Food and Dining
4 out of 5
We only dined in the main dining (Our time) on two occasions during this cruise. The rest of the time we ate off the buffet, pizza, or Guy's. The breakfast buffet is the best! There is a large variety of good food and freshly made omelets. The buffet for lunch and dinner is hit or miss, and by that I mean sometimes there is a food I like and other times there isn't. You cannot go wrong with Guy's or pizza anytime!
Onboard Activities
4 out of 5
I rode the SkyRide and had a lot of fun! Remember to bring closed-toe shoes, as they do not allow you to ride without any. We didn't partake in the ropes course, sports activities, or miniature golf. The pools are plenty, and on this particular cruise we were booked at only 60% capacity, so there was plenty of chairs and space in the pool to actually enjoy relaxing.
Entertainment
4 out of 5
Music is everywhere! We are not fans of Flick, so honestly, I will just not rate this show. The other production shows, especially the Havana show are very good. The shows are entertaining and you can see the hard work the staff and dancers have put into making them. The comedians on the ship are good and worth going to see, if you don't like foul language go to the early shows.
Children's Programs
We did not travel with children.
Service and Staff
5 out of 5
All of the staff on the boat is exceptional. We have never encountered a rude, or intolerant staff member, ever.
Ship Quality
4 out of 5
The Vista, post-Covid, is a different ship than the one we sailed in 2019. I must have gone through some refreshing. The paint looked new, and there were hardly any rusty areas. Maybe it seemed fresh because there were fewer people, but we really enjoyed the Vista on the second go round.
Cabin / Stateroom
5 out of 5
The spa balcony is very nice. We opt on some cruises, depending on the length, for a spa stateroom because of the perks that come along with it. We do enjoy the thermal spas and access for the length of the cruise to relax in these areas. Our stateroom was clean and had plenty of plug-ins and ports. Our son sailed on this cruise with us, an adult, and he slept on the couch and said it was perfectly fine.
Ship tip
Book the spa stateroom or upgrade if you have the option, it's worth the perks!
When will we learn! Again, the port is nice with plenty of shopping. We opted for an excursion through Carnival, and although I love the experience we had, I did not like the excursion stops. We booked the Top Ten Best of Roatan, and only got 5 stops. Other than the Iguana Farm, the other stops were mainly to promote shopping from locals. The roads and infrastructure are bad, and the interior is dirty. This is also one of the things I enjoyed, as I like seeing the real parts of the country and how they live, not just what the port promotes as "Roatan."
We just tendered to the port, which is owned by Carnival and has more of a fishing port type feel, and we were told by some local workers that the "locals" were not allowed. Only if they worked on the port could they be present. Not sure I liked that aspect. It is a small port with few shops, but several places to eat. This port was a quick and inexpensive stop since there was not much to do without taking an excursion.
We took a taxi to Mr. Sancho's and it was worth every dollar we spent. This was our first time here, and it was very nice. Easy access and the drinks and food are good. There isn't a large variety, but a good selection and it comes in smaller quantities, but you can order as many times of anything you want. The beach was clean and we were escorted right to a table that was ours for the duration of our stay. They also offer some other activities for purchase outside of the all-inclusive costs. Massages are inexpensive, get one here and opt out of the expensive one on the ship.
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