Our Honest Carnival Vista Review After 8 Days Onbo...

We’re again from 8 days crusing on Carnival Vista and share what it’s actually like on this practically 10-year-old vessel. From the eating to the leisure and actions, we share what we cherished and hated in our trustworthy Carnival Vista assessment. Admittedly, we had been crusing largely to be among the many first guests to visit Celebration Key. Nonetheless, we had been desirous to see how this ship fared when in comparison with newer ships within the Carnival fleet and if Carnival had actually modified since our final crusing.

Informal Eating

One space through which Carnival Cruise Line continues to excel is its informal eating. Carnival Vista provides quite a lot of eating choices which are good for fast grab-and-go meals. Effectively, except you might be caught ready in a line. 

Our favourite is the BlueIguana Cantina. This venue serves up spicy bowls, burritos, and tacos for lunch, however don’t overlook this venue within the morning both. Many don’t understand that BlueIguana additionally serves breakfast burritos, that are arguably even higher than their lunchtime counterparts. 

Moreover, Man’s Burger Joint nonetheless serves up probably the greatest burgers at sea. This quick meals favourite provides freshly made burgers with quite a lot of fixings, permitting you to craft your good burger. If you happen to’re not a burger lover, a veggie burger choice is on the market. Plus, Man’s provides the very best French fries on Carnival Vista. 

Different standouts embody Man’s Pig & Anchor BBQ positioned on the waterfront promenade throughout sea days and the Carnival Deli. Open each day from 11 am to 11 pm, Carnival Deli will fulfill your cravings any time of day with choices like a steak & cheese or buffalo hen sandwich. 

Within the adults-only Serenity Retreat, these 21+ can create a customized salad for a more healthy noon meal at Recent Creations throughout sea days. Although, you received’t discover Recent Creations listed within the Enjoyable Occasions or the Carnival Hub app.

Together with an easy-to-navigate Lido Market with neatly designed stations, together with a Household Categorical choice for many meals, discovering one thing scrumptious and fast to eat was by no means an issue throughout our cruise. 

Whereas a lot of the quick-service choices met our expectations, the pizza at Pizzeria del Capitano fell brief. Often, I discover the pizza on Carnival to be higher than the competitors. However this was not the case on Carnival Vista. We examined it on just a few events, and it was equally disappointing each time. The controversy was actual between Heidi and I relating to which pizza was higher: Pizzeria del Capitano or Sorrento’s on Royal Caribbean.

For much more lunchtime choices, friends can head as much as Deck 11 to the specialty eating places. Throughout the day, each Ji Ji Asian and Cucina del Capitano supply a complimentary sit-down lunch. The Mongolian Wok and Captain’s Pasta Bar are nice alternate options to the opposite grab-and-go eating venues. 

A more recent addition to Carnival Vista’s informal eats is Empanada & Pie. These small, savory or candy handheld treats are $1.50 and are the proper snack alongside some brews on the close by RedFrog Pub. This station is positioned in Ocean Plaza and is barely open within the evenings.

Pool Deck

At double occupancy, Carnival Vista holds slightly below 4,000 friends. However this mid-July cruise was the primary go to to Carnival’s new exclusive destination, Celebration Key. Thus, we had been crusing at near max capability with a complete of 4,870+ friends onboard. So, it wasn’t a shock to us that the pool decks on the ship had been somewhat busy. 

There are two pool areas on deck 10, the Lido Deck. The Seaside Pool is the primary pool, midship on this deck. Actually, this pool felt manner too small for a ship of this measurement. 

By early morning, our fellow cruisers had claimed the prime loungers close to the primary pool. The identical was true for the loungers and extra seating on decks 11 and 12, instantly overlooking the seaside pool. 

On the aft of this deck is the Tides Pool. Once more, one other small pool with two adjoining whirlpools, this space was typically crowded. By lunchtime, the Tides Pool was a soup of individuals, with cruisers of all ages looking for a spot to chill off. 

Each of those swimming pools are open to households. Adults 21 and older have entry to the Serenity Retreat. All the way in which ahead on deck 15, this unique area provides a extra relaxed and chill vibe.

Whereas Serenity does have two whirlpools, it doesn’t have a pool. The cruise line did rectify this evident omission on Carnival’s latest ships, like Carnival Jubilee, although. 

Visitors staying in Havana staterooms have entry to an unique solar deck. All the way in which aft on deck 5, the Havana Pool Deck boasts two whirlpools, an infinity pool, and quite a lot of seating choices. We favored the situation and setup of this Havana greater than its counterpart on Carnival’s Excel-class of ships; although, it did really feel a bit small too. 

If you happen to wish to sleep in, your finest probability of getting loungers is aft on deck 11. Simply take into account that the starboard facet of this deck is the smoking deck. You will see ashtrays and people who smoke the whole stretch from the Seaside Pool to the aft overlooking the Tides Pool. 

Sports activities Deck

Households, particularly these with youthful youngsters, are Carnival Cruise Line‘s audience. Thus, there are quite a few onboard actions and sights designed for households. All the way in which aft is the SportSquare. Providing quite a lot of complimentary actions, we bought in on the enjoyable as effectively. In any case, Heidi and I are massive youngsters at coronary heart. 

With the ship being close to max capability, we had been stunned this space wasn’t busier all through the cruise. Nonetheless, it was additionally constantly over 90 levels on daily basis. 

The signature attraction is the SkyRide. Carnival Vista was the primary ship within the fleet to debut this attraction. Basically, friends peddle across the prime of the sports activities deck, providing some nice views of the ocean and decks under. 

The SportSquare additionally incorporates a nine-hole mini golf course. You may be part of a cornhole competitors or rack up some steps on the jogging observe as effectively. It takes eight laps across the jogging observe to hit a mile. 

Together with the SkyRide suspended above the SportSquare, there’s a ropes course. The ropes course isn’t as intricate or as intensive as some others, however I nonetheless labored up a sweat making two laps across the obstacles. 

There’s additionally a Sports activities Court docket providing free play and arranged video games, together with basketball and pickleball, all through the cruise. And, when you’re on the lookout for a little bit indoor enjoyable, there’s just a few video games inside off the SportSquare at The Clubhouse together with foosball, desk tennis, and soccer billiards.

Ahead on deck 12 is the WaterWorks. This onboard water park is ideal to your little youngsters. It consists of a few slides, in addition to a splash pad and extra water options. Sure, Carnival’s PowerDrencher is entrance and heart on this WaterWorks on Carnival Vista. 

Lastly, the Cloud9 Health Heart is open most days from 6 AM to 10 PM. Providing quite a lot of exercise gear, cardio machines, and free weights, gymnasium lovers may have no points getting in a exercise throughout a cruise. 

Onboard Actions

Cruise Director MarQ and the FunSquad had been out and about, each day and night time, internet hosting quite a lot of occasions and actions. For probably the most half, our fellow cruisers had been proper alongside them, ensuring to take pleasure in each minute of their cruise. 

Throughout the day, there have been a number of trivia classes, cruiser competitions, video games, and dance courses. In actual fact, on one sea day, the Ocean Plaza was jam-packed for a day session of karaoke. I imply, on what different cruise line would that even be a factor? 

Moreover, Carnival Vista homes an IMAX theater. Though it incurs an upcharge, it prices about the identical as a ticket on land. I used to be stunned to see that the theater was exhibiting the brand new Superman film on the weekend it debuted. 

Visitors can even take a brewery tour, partake in liquor tastings, or join behind-the-scenes excursions on sea days. These actions are an upcharge and might be booked as soon as onboard.  

To not point out, Carnival Vista has a spa with a thermal suite the place friends can buy cruise-long packages, day passes, or 3-hour passes. There’s additionally a on line casino that was surprisingly busy in any respect hours of the day.

If you happen to’re on the lookout for some ocean breezes away from the crowds between ports of name, the outside lanai on deck 5 has varied seating choices to compensate for a very good guide, with many within the shade which was prime actual property throughout our crusing.

Youngsters and teenagers have their very own areas too with Camp Ocean for ages 2-11 years outdated, Circle C for tweens 12-14 years outdated, and Membership O2 for teenagers 15-17 years outdated. There’s additionally the newly relocated arcade and the Dr. Suess Bookville that are nice for some household time.

The Enjoyable Occasions each day journal listed all of the occasions and showtimes every day. You may as well use the Carnival Hub app to assessment each day schedules, eating instances, and different pertinent info.

Leisure & Nightlife

The Liquid Lounge, positioned on decks 4 & 5, is the primary theater. Sadly, the lounge setup of this venue implies that there are only a few seats with nice views of the stage. So, you’ll have to arrive early if you wish to snag prime viewing spots for the reveals.

Most nights, the Liquid Lounge boasted both a recreation present or Playlist Productions. Actually, we aren’t large followers of the Playlist Productions when in comparison with the Broadway-caliber reveals discovered on Royal Caribbean ships. For this cruise, we caught three reveals. Flick featured standard music from films and tv, however the shock ending did catch us off guard when in comparison with the remainder of the present’s vibe. The opposite reveals we noticed had been America Rocks! and Amor Cubano. These reveals had been entertaining; nevertheless, we wouldn’t essentially schedule our evenings round them. 

The Liquid Lounge was additionally house to a fairly typical Welcome Aboard present that includes the FunSquad. There have been a number of recreation reveals too, together with Deal or No Deal and the favored Love & Marriage, in addition to Bingo. However one of many highlights for us was the Household Feud recreation present. We had been in a position to catch the adult-themed Household Feud at 11 PM, and it was hysterical.

With a lot to do, see, and eat, we weren’t in a position to get to all the pieces, even a few of our favourite reveals! In actual fact, we by no means made it to a comedy present all week.

The LimeLight Lounge does host just a few further actions however basically doubles because the cruise ship’s comedy membership. Throughout our cruise, 4 completely different comedians took to the stage. With comedy classes beginning within the early night and working late into the night time, each PG and 18+ units had been supplied by all comedians. These are extremely popular, and contours begin forming as much as an hour earlier than the present. 

Carnival Vista additionally hosted a number of events. There was an ’80s Rock-N-Glow Occasion and a Silent Disco out on the pool deck. On night time 7, all of us squeezed into the three decks of the atrium for the White Sizzling Occasion. MarQ did a very good job internet hosting these occasions and getting the remainder of the “Vista Household” fired up. And these occasions had been all the time well-attended with cruisers able to have a enjoyable time.

Though, we had been considerably upset with the music program on Carnival Vista in comparison with our earlier experiences on Carnival ships. Whereas there have been a number of musical artists, the vibe simply wasn’t as vigorous or upbeat. You may discover a metal drum participant within the RedFrog Pub & Brewery (which we thought was odd) or an acoustic guitarist relying on the night. The Vista Rock Band carried out some nights within the comparatively open Ocean Plaza, which isn’t the best spot to rock out. There was additionally Latin dance music within the Havana most nights, dwell performances within the atrium, and piano hits in Piano Bar 88.

Bars and Lounges

Carnival Vista boasts over a dozen bars and lounges. Lots of them serve a normal menu, which incorporates basic boat drinks in addition to commonplace blended drinks. Nonetheless, there are a number of venues with signature cocktail menus so that you can make good use of your Cheers beverage package.

Together with dwell music, the Havana Bar aft on deck 5 serves up Latin-inspired cocktails heavy on the rum, resembling a basic daiquiri or Havana Especial. Musically-themed cocktails are on the menu at Piano Bar 88, additionally on deck 5. Whereas that is often one of many liveliest bars on a Carnival cruise ship, the piano tunes with Mat didn’t draw a lot of a crowd. 

The preferred bar on the ship, and our favourite, was the Alchemy Bar. Positioned on deck 5, the mixologists right here crafts drinks to treatment any ailment. From The Treatment to the Robert Boyle, the Forty is the New Twenty, or the Cucumber Dawn, there may be a lot to select from. The staff on the Alchemy Bar, together with Omar, Christian, and Erika, had been the very best on the ship. 

Moreover, Carnival Vista was the primary ship based mostly within the U.S. to have an onboard brewery. The RedFrog Pub & Brewery provides quite a lot of draft beers brewed proper on board. We couldn’t cross up the chance to do one of many beer tastings and brewery excursions both. The brewmaster was very keen about his job!

Throughout the ship’s dry dock final yr, the cruise line re-themed Carnival Vista’s sports activities bar to the Heroes Tribute Bar. Paying homage to those that served within the armed providers, this bar provides cocktails with a army twist alongside loads of televisions broadcasting your favourite sporting occasions.

Out on the pool deck, you’ve got just a few decisions. Margarita followers will gravitate to the BlueIguana Tequila bar on the port facet of deck 10. Those that desire lengthy drinks will need to stroll throughout the lido to the RedFrog Rum Bar. Or, possibly you’ll need considered one of every! Moreover, the Serenity Bar shakes up unique sangrias, together with different signature cocktails, ahead on deck 15, and the Tides Pool Bar serves up your favourite frozen cocktails aft on deck 10.

For probably the most half, all signature cocktails, beers, and lots of wines by the glass are lined within the drink bundle. 

If us, this most likely doesn’t come as a shock, however the one bar we visited probably the most was the Java Blue Cafe. By day 3, Diane and Seti knew our drink order! In case you are a espresso drinker, don’t neglect to get a espresso card. Each seventh espresso is “free” for these not on a drink bundle. Of word, if the road is lengthy right here within the morning, the close by Plaza Bar does serve espresso drinks as effectively.

Additional, you could have heard that Carnival is testing cell ordering for espresso too, however this characteristic is NOT included within the Cheers beverage bundle.

Major Eating Room

Throughout our 8 nights onboard Carnival Vista, we dined at the main dining room on three evenings. With the Your Time Eating choice, we entered a digital queue once we needed to eat and by no means waited greater than 10 minutes for a desk. 

If you happen to’re extra of a conventional cruiser, Carnival does nonetheless supply set Early Eating and Late Eating within the Reflections eating room, whereas the Horizons eating room is the venue for Your Time Eating and the newer Categorical Eating choice. This Categorical Eating choice has a extra restricted menu however is designed to get you out and in of dinner in below an hour.

Whereas we’ve famous that essential eating rooms throughout all cruise traces have gone downhill lately, we had been pleasantly stunned by Carnival Vista. Eating across the identical time on all three events, we had the identical waiter. Darrell was humorous, personable, and took nice care of us whether or not we dined as a big group or simply the 2 of us. 

Among the higher choices that we sampled included beef wellington, roasted leg of lamb, Szechuan shrimp, and spaghetti carbonara. For appetizers, classics like a Caesar salad or the shrimp cocktail had been on par with our experiences on mainstream cruise traces. Nonetheless, the menus additionally characteristic choose dishes from Emeril Lagasse like a crab and shrimp cake and Girod Road salad that are distinctive to Carnival Cruise Line.

For dessert, it’s important to get no less than one Carnival melting chocolate cake on a cruise. However different candy treats just like the bitter n blanc, which is basically bread pudding, or basic cheesecake had been additionally nice methods to finish a meal. 

Moreover, Carnival was the pioneer of Sea Day Brunch which serves up scrumptious breakfast and lunch choices from 8:30 AM to 12 PM on sea days. Whereas we sometimes love this feature, our go-to Sea Day Brunch menu merchandise, the skillet cake, didn’t meet our expectations. It was fairly dry and over-cooked. Nonetheless, the hen & waffles and omelet had been stable decisions.

Specialty Eating places

Over the course of 8 nights on Carnival Vista, we sampled ALL of the specialty eating places together with The Chef’s Desk. For probably the most half, they had been higher than we remembered. 

Our favourite could be Ji Ji Asian Kitchen although. Eating with a big group, we indulged in quite a lot of appetizers, entrees, and sides. From spring rolls to nanjin-style duck, dumplings, and hen soup, our desk was overflowing with taste. After all, we couldn’t cross up entrees like Singapore Chili Shrimp, Kung Pao Hen, Peppered Beef, and Braised Brief Rib. Some hakka noodles and fried rice accompanied these. And we completed the meal with some tasty desserts too, just like the carmelized crepes. At $24 per individual, it is a unbelievable worth. 

Virtually as equally appetizing was Cucina del Capitano. Our earlier visits to this Italian restaurant on different Carnival ships had been underwhelming. Nonetheless, the menu has been up to date, and we had been stuffed by the point dinner was executed.

Appetizers included classics resembling fried calamari, house-made burrata, and Nonna’s meatballs. For dinner, Heidi couldn’t say no to the hen parmigiana. Based mostly on the waiter’s advice, I selected the pappardelle with shrimp this time round. It was unbelievable.

For dessert, our desk went overboard and all ordered the mile-high gelato pie ($6 up-charge). Whereas scrumptious, we might have break up one dish between the 2 of us. Once more, with dinner at Cucina del Capitano costing $24 per individual, it is a nice worth when stacked up towards different mainstream cruise traces. 

On night time 5, we opted to attempt Bonsai Sushi. This a la carte informal restaurant on Deck 5 dishes up small plates and sushi rolls. Whereas Heidi is a choosy eater, I fairly loved my shrimp tempura and spicy tuna roll. Heidi did just like the hen yakitori, however she wasn’t a fan of the Udon noodles. Nonetheless, it’s a good various to an extended sitdown meal, or for these on the lookout for one thing lighter. 

On the ultimate night time of our cruise, we dined at Fahrenheit 555. This American-style steakhouse served up an admirable meal. My surf and turf got here with a wonderfully seared medium uncommon filet mignon. Plus, you may’t go mistaken with the decadent chocolate sphere for dessert. Or, when you desire one thing a bit extra balanced, the apple tarte tatin can be an ideal alternative. As if we hadn’t already eaten sufficient, this meal was the proper approach to finish our cruise on Carnival Vista.

However, maybe our most spectacular meal of the entire cruise was The Chef’s Desk. Whereas we don’t sometimes guide this sort of expertise due to Heidi’s choosy palette, I’m so glad we determined to hitch our media group for this dinner. The 7-course feast, with some further shock programs, was undoubtedly a spotlight of the journey. 

Whereas it was priced at $124 per individual (plus 18% service cost), the practically 3-hour occasion is greater than a meal. With a galley tour, cooking demonstration, and impeccable service, the Chef’s Desk is certainly a novel expertise well worth the up-charge. With personalised consideration to eating preferences, the chef was in a position to customise choices to accommodate everybody’s requests, even Heidi’s.

Among the many standouts had been the lobster, the venison, and the braised wagyu. Take my phrase for it, meals connoisseurs won’t need to cross up this chance on Carnival Vista. 

Stateroom

We stayed in stateroom 8220 throughout our crusing on Carnival Vista. This class 8C balcony stateroom is on the portside, ahead of the ahead elevators. In response to Carnival’s web site, the cabin measures roughly 185 sq. toes with a 35-square-foot balcony.

This balcony cabin had a well-recognized format much like that of different mainstream cruise traces. Instantly upon coming into the stateroom, our toilet was on the appropriate (ahead wall), with our closet on the left (midship wall). Past the toilet and closet was a settee on the appropriate, with the desk on the left. Our king-sized mattress was simply earlier than our balcony on the ahead wall dealing with aft. 

For an 8-night cruise, we had simply sufficient cupboard space for all our garments and kit. The closet had three completely different sections. One supplied a sequence of cabinets and drawers together with the protected. This was the place we saved our packing cubes. There was additionally one full-length garments bar, and a second garments bar with an adjustable setup. We took the freedom of eradicating the decrease shelf and garments bar on this third closet to make it full size as effectively. 

The couch supplied ample area to chill out and work throughout the week, and the desk was equally spacious, that includes small cabinets for storage off to at least one facet. The mattress was comfy, and I appreciated the small nightstands on either side which supplied further storage. 

What the stateroom was lacking: USB retailers. The one USBs, in addition to energy retailers, had been on the desk. So, we had to make use of our cruise-approved multi-plug outlet to make sure all of our know-how stayed charged. The dearth of charging stations close to the mattress all the time makes it troublesome to cost telephones (which additionally function alarms) in a single day.

Together with the dearth of retailers, the toilet on Carnival Vista additionally felt dated. Maybe the most important turn-off was the dreaded bathe curtain. Fortunately, newer Carnival ships characteristic better-appointed bogs, together with showers with glass doorways! 

For a Carnival FUN ship, the room did really feel a bit drab. It wasn’t as vivid or colourful as we might have anticipated.

Whereas we loved having the balcony, it felt a bit cramped. There was simply sufficient area to squeeze by the desk and chairs when taking within the ocean views. And we all the time dislike the only door against the sliding door discovered on different cruise line balconies.

Nonetheless, for a ship that’s practically ten years outdated, the furnishings had been fairly well-maintained, and the stateroom served as a useful area throughout our cruise.

Our Carnival Vista Evaluate Recap

We had been a bit skeptical earlier than boarding Carnival Vista in Port Canaveral. Our essential goal was visiting Celebration Key, however might we survive an 8-night cruise on this 10-year-old ship simply to get there? 

Effectively, fortunately, we did extra than simply merely make it by way of the week. We had a enjoyable time. Whereas the ship was busy, we managed the crowds. With a little bit of planning, we had been in a position to see the reveals, take pleasure in all of the meals and drinks, and have some snicker with our associates who had been additionally onboard with none hassles. Plus, the FunSquad all the time ensured that everybody was having a very good time and stored the vitality excessive.

Regardless of all of the viral social media movies, we didn’t witness any unruly cruisers, fights, or different obnoxious habits. Simply fellow friends able to take pleasure in their trip. 

Carnival Vista delivered on the fronts that matter most to its cruisers. The meals was glorious, and there was loads of it accessible all through the day. And there are a number of bars with signature drink menus to benefit from the Cheers beverage bundle.

Additional, there have been a variety of complimentary activities to maintain the enjoyable going day and night time, maybe greater than some competitor cruise traces. The lido deck and different outside areas supplied area to bask within the solar or take pleasure in some poolside video games and sports activities. The Liquid Lounge and Limelight Lounge featured quite a lot of reveals and productions, and there was loads of dwell music, trivia, and karaoke to maintain all crusiers engaged.

There was even area for individuals who needed some quiet time. From a little bit pampering within the thermal suite, to rest within the Serenity adult-only retreat, or cozy nooks on the lanai, Carnival Vista has choices for everybody.

Whereas Carnival is the mainstream cruise line that we’ve sailed on the least, this journey actually has us desirous to sail once more, particularly if it features a cease at Celebration Key!

Feedback

Have you ever sailed with Carnival Cruise Line in 2025? Do you agree with our Carnival Vista assessment? Drop us an anchor under to share your newest cruise adventures.

The publish Our Honest Carnival Vista Review After 8 Days Onboard appeared first on EatSleepCruise.com.

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