This cruise was unexpected. I had just got done with the Sailabration and thought was I was not cruising again til the Fall. A friend was having her first cruise on the Vista and invited me. Of course couldn’t turn that down. Got to help her learn the new ship and she showed me many venues and excursions I had been missing. The embarkation and room were the only let downs but I never let a couple of issues ruin a great time.
Embarkation
2 out of 5
Ongoing engine problems had the ship arrive late. Carnival did a good job keeping people informed but the having everyone arrive at once plan made for really long lines.
This was sadly our first time having a Suite and we lost out on the priority embarkation perk.
This was just the beginning though and it didn’t get us down.
Ship experiences
Food and Dining
3 out of 5
Buffet mimicking the MDR each night is not appealing. I normally hit the buffet on nights that the MDR menu is unappealing so seeing the same things but in lower quality is not a benefit. Fortunately the deli is always good.
Sports Bar
3 out of 5
Another first time visit. Nothing great or overly bad. Arrived there and had a drink right as it was closing down for the night. Didn’t get to try a pretzel. Looking forward to that next time.
Alchemy Bar
4 out of 5
After multiple cruises on the Vista this was the first time I tried the Alchemy Bar thanks to a friend that came with having me try new things. The drinks and bartenders are both fantastic but the crowds do make it hard to get speedy service and it gets easy to be looked over while waiting to get a drink.
Plaza Bar
4 out of 5
Easily my favorite bar to chill at. Usually no wait, right next to good music. Watch out though as this cruise there was a ceiling leak around some of the seating.
Pizzeria Del Capitano
2 out of 5
Pizza is always good. No longer being 24 hours is sad. I have a lot of nights that I sometimes can’t sleep and love to wander around the ship at random hours. Having that random pizza break will be missed.
Bonsai Sushi
5 out of 5
Another first time for me with my friend having me try new things. The service, drinks, and skewers were amazing!
Fahrenheit 555 Steakhouse
4 out of 5
Always love hitting the steakhouse once per cruise. Sadly they did not have the wagyu this cruise but the filet mignon is always a solid choice.
Guy's Burger Joint
5 out of 5
Always great.
Onboard Activities
5 out of 5
Activities are what you make of them. There is always something to do. I was certainly never bored.
Entertainment
4 out of 5
Have seen most of the shows on repeat expect the Cuba show. It was the first time seeing it and it was pretty good. A nice mix of energy and romance.
Service and Staff
5 out of 5
Ship Quality
4 out of 5
I’m used to the layout of the Vista so any of the odd pathways don’t really bother me but my friend did explain what stood out as problematic in getting from aft to stern depending on what deck you are on. The crew is always working to keep up cleanliness but there are a lot of maintenance needs appearing with age.
Cabin / Stateroom
2 out of 5
For my first time in a suite I was really underwhelmed. It wasn’t horrible but I failed to see the perks over the usual balcony.
The extra space feels minimal.
The bathtub is way too small. Granted I am a bit on the plus size but I’d imagine even a normally slim person would feel comfortable trying to use the tub and the jets. But the worst part was the one time actually trying to use the tub caused a pre-existing clogged pipe to backflow from the drain, flooding the bathroom and filling it with a foul stench. Fortunately the maintenance crew was very fast getting it cleaned up but I definite did not try the tub again.
Otherwise I didn’t hate the room but really don’t feel it is worth the difference in price.
Ship tip
Try new things. I can’t believe I have been in the Vista multiple times and I had so many firsts in just this last visit.
First time doing an excursion. Went to Iberostar. After a small issue with being dropped off at the wrong entry everything was great! Plenty of sun, chairs, and drinks. Service was always easy to find. May have had a little too much fun there but I won’t be sharing that story.
Arrived the night before and stayed at a hotel on the seawall. It’s nice to be able to relax and not feel rushed to get to the terminal from out of town.
Another late port arrival due to ongoing engine issues but the priority disembarkation was well organized. Got to sneak my friend that was not priory in the group with me. And the wait for the late arrival and docking was the perfect time for breakfast.
Appreciate your feedback. We enjoy cruising with first timers!! You can learn so much and get to feel the excitement all over again. Glad you had that opportunity!
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