Carnival Vista Review

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JoanneB
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Joined: March 2013
Location: Wirral

Carnival Vista Review

#1

Post by JoanneB »

This was our first Carnival cruise, although we have taken lots of cruises on other lines. We are definitely not the Carnival demographic being Brits, over 65 , no family and don’t like the Caribbean!

However this was a cruise with family for my sister’s 80th, she wanted to go to specific ports, in school holidays for her daughter and family, and no longer than a week. So with some trepidation we said we would come too, being prepared to be appalled with all the FUN,FUN.FUN!!!!

And we were wrong.


THE SHIP

The ship is fine, obviously clean and sparkling being new. Our cabin was very comfortable, the bathroom bigger than many others we have had, extremely comfortable bed, plenty of storage space. The Mirror has a light around it (artfully hidden took us 2 days to find it, it is a toggle switch next to a power point). The balcony was small but perfectly adequate.
The promenade deck was great, there is a running track on deck 11 so no need for the prom to be used for exercise, there is a canopy on the ship side and all the alternative dining venues on deck 5 have outside seating areas here, and in between there are chairs and tables with parasols and longer.. So bags of space to sit and odd glass panels across to stop it getting too windy.
The pools are both small, and the midships pool area was too noisy for us but seemed to be really popular with families and that is who the ship is aimed at.

The Serenity area on deck 12 for over 21s is large and well populated with loungers and chairs, jacuzzis but not a lot of shade so we didn’t use it, but a nice touch.

Lots of bars, including a micro brewery, some innovative lighting, mainly noisy other than the library bar which was morgue like and closed at 9pm, and the Havana Bar where you could go in the bar but not onto the outside area unless you were a Havana Club guest.

Pixels gallery large and at last a fully digitised photo library, and prices quite reasonable. But photographers are around everywhere at all times.

FOOD

We chose Your Time dining, and never had to wait for a table at around the 6.30/7pm slot. The length of the meal did vary from an hour to just over 2 hours but to be honest that was not a problem for us. If you want a quick meal, go early when it is quieter. We were very taken when on our first visit to the Horizons Restaurant the waiter came up and asked us all by name what we wanted to order. Obviously they check on the system first and must look at the photos, a nice touch. Also it is noted on your table ticket (you have to book the table at the Cafe on deck 5 first, and give all the cabin numbers ) if you have left over wine waiting that can sometimes be found before you get to the table.

Food was good, excellent meat, possibly too little veg for us Brits but we could have asked for more. We dined in Cecina del Capitan first night (half carafe of wine free per couple that night!) and it was so good we went again. Cover charge here is reasonable at $15ph but the steak house is dear at $35 and the smallest steak was a 9oz fillet!

The buffet is OK, but I do not like buffets and this was no exception. About 4 different places to find different types of food, and people queued and waited whilst the people in front got salads etc, even when what they wanted was further down the line and they could have moved ahead. Soft scoop ice cream and frozen yoghurt available all day,2 flavours of gelato at lunchtime.

Guys Burgers were OK but nothing special. We ate in Cucina and JiJi (free) at lunchtimes, very quiet and quick. You get a list of types of pasta/noodles; different sauces; proteins and sides tick what you want and the waitress collects them and delivers the food. Sensible sized lunch portions.

Wine & drink prices not too bad, Cunard could learn a thing or two!

ACTIVITIES

Loads, Sky Bikes, Water Chutes, IMAX etc etc. We did not try any so cannot comment.

PORTS

Usual Med ports Naples,Civitavecchia, Cagliari, Livorno, Palma & Marseille we booked private minivans in Naples and Civi and just went ashore round town i the rest

We had amazingly hot sunny weather everywhere which helped greatly, so much so we ducked out of a pre booked trip to Rome with our group pleading heat and were amazed how many people had stayed on board. Seems the ship is the destination for a lot of guests.

Shuttle charges were ridiculous. As an example in Palma it was $17 ph, Eurodam was in their shuttle to the same place was $5, in Marseille it was $20 and a taxi into town for 4 people was the same price. So even for 2 people taxi in and out was cost effective.

We didn’t take any ship’s tours so don’t know if they were good value or not.

OVERALL

Our only negative was the safety briefing which we thought was poor. The PA was muffled, the message hurried. We couldn’t understand what was being said and it was in English. Checking everyone attended was by counting people scattered round muster stations with a clicker, whilst folk were still milling about and talking despite having been asked not to.

Great for families of which there were lots in vast numbers, 15/20 being quite common and even one Asian family group of 120 from all over the world. This is the market Carnival aim their offering at and they do it well. We would never go again, but had a good cruise, and would recommend it to anyone who had kids or liked FUN! and that rules us out :-)

Photos available https://flic.kr/s/aHskFT97dN

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GillD46
Senior First Officer
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Posts: 3364
Joined: January 2013
Location: Gower Peninsula, South Wales

Re: Carnival Vista Review

#2

Post by GillD46 »

An interesting review Jo. People are often very quick to write off Carnival. Our first cruise was with them to the Caribbean and New Orleans and although the ship itself was old, standards of food, cleanliness and service were actually exceptional. I agree there is normally a much younger demographic.

Thanks for taking the time to share.
Gill

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Mervyn and Trish
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Joined: February 2013

Re: Carnival Vista Review

#3

Post by Mervyn and Trish »

Thanks Jo. Confirms it's not a line for us but looks to be very good in the market it targets

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Happydays
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Posts: 1839
Joined: June 2014

Re: Carnival Vista Review

#4

Post by Happydays »

Thank you for your review I enjoyed reading it. I don't think we'll be trying it, but like you we would book it to join family for a special occasion.

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sunseeker16
Second Officer
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Posts: 236
Joined: June 2016

Re: Carnival Vista Review

#5

Post by sunseeker16 »

Thanks for posting your review. It's interesting to hear about 'other' lines

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Raybosailor
First Officer
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Posts: 1195
Joined: February 2015
Location: Nottingham

Re: Carnival Vista Review

#6

Post by Raybosailor »

Loved the review Jo, and like you we would not normally touch a ship like this with a barge pole but we could be tempted to do a 7 night Med. with younger members of the family.

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Gill W
Senior First Officer
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Joined: January 2013
Location: Kent

Re: Carnival Vista Review

#7

Post by Gill W »

Our friends sailed with Carnival for their first few cruises and always speak highly of them

Thanks for your review, Joanne
Gill

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Kendhni
Ex Team Member
Posts: 6520
Joined: January 2013

Re: Carnival Vista Review

#8

Post by Kendhni »

Really enjoyed reading your review. Our first cruise was on Carnival (Carnival Elation, Mexican Riviera) and I have always had an urge to go back on board. The Elation was the most glitzy ship we have been on.

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