Long-Time Lurker, First Time Cruiser...

[LakeWobegon]

On this board and on Carnival that is. So, I was veryexcited that our first Carnival experience was the 8-day Southern Caribbean itinerary on Vista this past week+ and I’d like to offer my perspective if you want to read along.

I want to start by saying I was more than a little nervous about this cruise. Before cruising on NCL’s Escape in 2016 and 2017, our last cruise was our honeymoon on RCCL’s Explorer of the Seas 16 years ago. On thatcruise, we encountered some old rusty Carnival ships along with hundreds ofrowdy passengers in port and it pretty much created a stereotype of Carnival forme for the next decade plus.

We really enjoyed NCL and the Escape but wanted to trysomething different. The Vista and its itinerary looked amazing, but that impression was tempered with comments like “Carnival is the Walmart of the Seas,” in threads I have read on this board no less. Would I be disappointed or worse yet, disgusted with my experience? As I tell my kids, you must try something before you can make a judgement like that. And I thought, if we are spending thousands of dollars on an 8-day cruise, it can’t be too much like Walmart, can it?

So off we went to Miami two Saturdays ago, and to sum it up on the front end, it was pretty much awesome. So much so, that my wife said several times throughout the week “I really liked Norwegian and the Escape. I’m glad we went both times. But this is nicer. It has a better vibe. The service and food are both much better.” My kids (11 and 13) concurred.

Now, those are generalities. I will try to be more specificin my review – and without comparing to or knocking NCL throughout. I would go on one of the newer NCL ships again and have a good vacation if you must push me to. But the “better vibe” comment (comparing the better vibe on Vista to Escape) sort of sums up how we felt all week. The food comment I will elaborate on, but it had to do with two fronts – the MDR (food and service) and the fast and free options like the Blue Iguana Cantina and Guy’s BBQ for lunches.

[LakeWobegon]

Sorry about that formatting btw, will fix going forward. And a disclaimer that this might take me a few days with work and unpacking to offer all my thoughts.

[BNBR]

NCL has the worst product out of the "big 3." I'm glad you are realizing that!

 

Next up should be an Oasis-class on Royal. The thing about cruising is that you have options, lots and lots of options. So there is no reason to really settle.

[LakeWobegon]

Pre-Cruise:

 

We flew into Miami from Minneapolis on Thursday on Delta and the flight was as we like it, uneventful. On the flight, we utilized some of our FlexPerks onboard credits to purchase sandwiches, snack boxes and a glass of wine each for my wife and I.

 

FlexPerks is a rewards points program U.S. Bank administers through one of its credit cards and I've found it to be one of the more advantageous ones out there. It only takes 20,000 points to redeem for many non-stop flights. And with each rewards airline ticket, you get a $25 credit to use for food, drink, baggage fees, etc.

 

Arriving in Miami, we took the "Miami Mover," which I thought would be a tram, but really is just a series of moving walkways, to the SIXT rental counter. We were able to secure a good deal on a full-size SUV for the next couple of days. Check-in was painless as we had entered most of the information online. In no time, we were on our way to our next stop - Key Largo - in the heart of Miami's rush hour. I have to say, it was not as bad as I expected. We left SIXT at 5:30 pm and were at our hotel, the Hampton Inn in Key Largo by 7:30 pm.

 

The Hampton Inn was very nice. Clean, bright, tropical and with a small beach and great outdoor pool. The free hot breakfast was the typical Hampton Inn complimentary morning meal. Great value overall. We didn't spend much time there but there was plenty to do with a family if we had. They even had kayaks for rent on the beach.

 

Thursday night we ate at the Pilot House Marina. The food was delicious. I had the conch fritters to share with the rest of the family and the crispy grouper sandwich, which was good but I could have just eaten the fish on its own with out the bread or accompaniments!

 

Friday's mission was Key West. None of us had ever been and none of us may ever go again. Ha! To be honest, for our family, the best part was the drive down along the Overseas Highway. Very cool to go over the Seven Mile Bridge and see the communities along the way. Key West itself was hot, crowded as heck as there was a Carnival ship in town (thanks for misleading me Cruise TimeTable). Finding a parking spot was fun, not. No picture by the southern most point marker as we would have had to wait in line for about an hour.

 

Instead we ate at Blue Heaven before heading back. The meal was overpriced and not good. About $70 for two cheeseburgers (split four ways) that included no fries and two slices of Key Lime pie. The pie with meringue vs whip cream was outstanding, but I left thinking, I spent how much on that?

 

On the way back to Key Largo, we stopped at Robbies to feed the tarpon. That was a lot of fun and worth the dock admission fee and fish buckets. My son until the last day of the cruise kept saying that was his favorite memory.

 

That night, we ate at the Fish House in Key Largo thanks to a tip over on the Key West forum. That meal was outstanding. I had the Mahi Mahi done Matecumbe style, which the waiter recommended. Absolutely amazing. It is the "house specialty" that is "topped with fresh tomatoes, shallots, fresh basil, capers, olive oil and lemon juice, then baked." Everyone else agreed their meal was one of the best ever at a seafood restaurant as well. The Fish House is both a restaurant utilizing freshly caught fish and fish market. I asked for a clean placemat to take with me as it offers a cool illustrative map of the Keys. Plus, our entire meal, with an appetizer and several drinks came to about twice what we paid for our paltry lunch in Key West. So it was a great value. We went back to the hotel that night in a great mood and ready for cruise day!

 

In summary, I felt like we had to visit Key West once but next time around, for our family, we would just stay in the upper Keys. Lots to do there. But your experience may be different!

 

I will try to get to the first actual cruise day and some of the initial Carnival experiences and impressions tonight!

[LakeWobegon]

NCL has the worst product out of the "big 3." I'm glad you are realizing that!

 

Next up should be an Oasis-class on Royal. The thing about cruising is that you have options, lots and lots of options. So there is no reason to really settle.

 

Thanks for the insight. We had planned the Seaside next in March for Spring Break. We were excited to try that but may cancel to go on the Horizon for another 8 night instead. We are currently booked in a Yacht Club Deluxe Suite on Seaside. The price for that (7 night to Cozumel, Ochos Rios, Grand Cayman and Nassau) is about the same as a balcony on the Horizon (Eastern Carribean). But the Seaside does include alcoholic beverages, whereas we would have to pay another $900+ for Cheers on Horizon.

 

I think the determiner would be the food and vibe. There is no way to gauge the Seaside without going on it. But, I would be concerned it wouldn't be as laid back and "fun." I like wearing nice shorts and a short sleeve dress shirt to dinner or khakis and a dress shirt on elegant nights. And The Flying Scotsman was funny and outgoing without being corny, cheesy or (too) inappropriate. "Eyes up here, sir," he would point to his eyes as he adjusted his kilt and crossed his legs.

[BNBR]

I would think Seaside in Yacht Club, for cheaper, is almost a no brainer, right? Seems it would be worth at least trying it out!

[LakeWobegon]

Here are some images. Beach at Hampton Inn that Friday morning. Key Lime pie at Blue Heaven and Mahi Mahi at the Fish House.

[LakeWobegon]

Yes, I think we had such a great time on Vista that we thought, geez, why screw this up? But the Seaside was right behind us in port and it intrigues me. PLUS, It doesn't leave until 7 pm that Saturday. We are finding it hard to secure an evening flight that Friday (wife is a teacher and no taking off Friday before Spring Break) and so will likely have to fly in that Saturday morning. Those extra three hours give me confidence if we aren't planned to get in until 11 am.

[LakeWobegon]

Embarkation Day:

 

It was an easy drive from Key Largo to downtown Miami to return the rental car. Again, painless with SIXT and I was relieved as it was the first time we used them much less heard of the company. But I did my research and my instincts paid off. A 5 minute ride via UberXL for $12 and we were at the terminal around 10 am.

 

We had purchased FTTF for $80 before it went to $100 and were escorted by a Carnival employee past a long line of people right to the front, were checked-in in just a few minutes and ushered upstairs to the FTTF waiting area. I can't recall exactly when, but believe we boarded around 11:30 I think. We went straight to our room, dropped a few carry-ons off, picked up our cards and headed up for lunch at Guy's Burgers and the Blue Iguana Cantina. No lines to speak of. We enjoyed our food in the buffet seating area and headed back to unpack a little, and change for the pool and slides.

 

I would consider purchasing FTTF again. That relaxing start to the vacation and the ability to unpack a little right away was nice. We were at the slides before anyone really. The only problem was they weren't working. But the staff worked hard to get them going and had them running within the hour. We felt like we got a full day on board really getting there so early. I also liked the priority line at Guest Services, especially when I asked to switch my CC at the last day to my new one. The old one had expired before the cruise. Another story. On the last few days, I saw huge lines of people at Guest Services. What are all those people doing I thought?

 

We also met our room steward Julio who was extremely helpful and polite throughout the cruise. One day the safe locked and would not open. Guest Services said they would send someone up. No one came. Julio made a call and they were there in less than a minute!

 

It was raining some part of sailaway so we stayed inside and unpacked the rest of our bags that had arrived and headed up to the MDR for an early dinner. We picked YTD as we are a bit unpredictable in our schedule.

 

That first night was really the only night in the MDR that was so so. The head waiter was nice enough but almost too nice if you know what I mean and he made a few comments about how he had considered going to another cruise line to join a friend but there were not enough people of his nationality there and too many of another. And he brought our daughter a dessert when she specifically said she did not want one. I get really sensitive when people push food on my kids or make comments about them eating too little. So while he asked we request his wait team again, we did not the next evening.

 

The good news is we had a very helpful and outgoing wait team the next evening, who also asked we request them again and we did. We ate at the Steak House one night and with this team in the MDR the remaining five after that. I really liked that about Carnival and the Vista versus the Escape where no wait team asked I request them again. The funny thing is, our MDR's head waiter's girlfriend was the head waiter for us in the Steak House the night we ate there. We told him her service was excellent and he told us he would tell her it was the worst experience we ever had. lol

[BNBR]

I'm so happy your pre cruise Keys trip was a success! Glad the Florida forum folks could help you with that.

 

P. S. We were also right about suggesting staying in the middle and upper keys, lol.

[A&Jfamily]

Welcome to a whole new cruise line for you!

 

 

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[LakeWobegon]

Thanks both and yes you were right! Ha. But we had to go once and we liked the drive though it was a bit long.

[BNBR]

The general thought is that people who are all lined up at guest services on the last day are removing their tips...

[LakeWobegon]

Wow. That's really carpy unless they are leaving cash straight up. I doubt that is the case but not trying to start a debate. I am still learning the ropes of cruising but am thinking if that is the recommended tip, it's probably considered the minimum to be split as pre-determined using the formula they specify. I would think if anything you would want to leave extra if you received superior service from someone like we did from our MDR wait staff or Java Joe.

 

That brings me to Day Two. Our first true day at Sea, we utilized our Cheers package to order the first of many lattes at the coffee shop and "Java Joe" did not disappoint. I am sure many of you would recognize this individual. He was the happiest man on the ship. Constantly singing and telling us the songs he was crooning. "That was Rage against the Machine. That was Metallica!" He instantly nicknamed me after a Marvel character and would yell it out whenever I arrived to get my morning latte. Great coffee drinks. We had many mochachinos too and I turned up my nose at the substandard coffee in the MDR. lol. We also got a number of amazing chocolate, vanilla and strawberry milkshakes there in the afternoons. And Java Joe would always just ring up a Cheers credited water with our drinks too after we asked once on the first day. Always plenty of waters in our cabin fridge. He told me he would be on the Vista until year's end before a few months off and then back likely in the Spring on that ship or the Horizon.

 

Since we are on the topic on beverages, I will note that my wife and I had Cheers and we more than broke even at least with the coffee, water and alcoholic drinks. I did not feel pressure to drink because of it but I did not have many beers on the ship. Fewer than I could count on one hand. I tried many of the drinks at the Rum and Tequila Bars by the pool, not finishing all of them. Instead, I mainly had Grey Goose VX and tonics or Zaya Gran Reserva and Coke's by the pool. Three of the former would put you past the Cheers break even point at $17 a shot. A bartender at the Tequila bar tipped me off that you could only get this Grey Goose version at the casino or steakhouse bars and it wasn't a long trek to the casino from the pool. A few of the bartenders (just a few) in the casino, seemed irritated with me for ordering it. Most served it with a smile.

 

After the pool, poolside entertainment and waterslides, we played bingo that day. We played three times during the cruise. No jackpot like our first cruise on NCL. It's almost like going to a show for us. Except they confiscate $30-$40 each time.

 

Then we cleaned up, had the first of many really good drinks at the Alchemy Bar (favorites were Cucumber Sunrise and Deal Closer) and headed to dinner. That was the first night we experienced the great wait staff and the first formal night. But we presented the head waiter with his greatest challenge yet toward the end of dinner. My son has had lobster before but he had an allergic reaction and had a rash everywhere from it toward the end of the meal. His eye was almost swollen shut and his lips were ballooning up. My wife and I tried to remain calm for my son's sake and my daughter and we informed the head waiter we needed to leave and where was the medical center. He was extremely concerned and literally took our hands and ran us down there where we called for after hours help.

 

A hydrocortisone shot in the bum followed by a heavy dose of benedryl and we were laughing about it about an hour later. The nurse informed us we could sign the bill in the morning but that she would waive some of the fees since "I really like kids." I was shocked to pay the entire bill of $86 the next morning. Whew.

[LakeWobegon]

Here are some pics of a cucumber sunrise, the Alchemy Bar, morning latte and desserts at the coffee shop. If we were not a fan of the MDR desserts that night, we would pay the outlandish $2+ dollars for a giant piece of cheesecake that would make 4 people sick if they ate all of it together!

 

 

 

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[LakeWobegon]

Carl Jones who wrote a great review a few weeks back showed these too but there were really good cakes in the buffet each afternoon for free. It was fun to watch people get mad if certain cakes ran out. People get serious about cakes. Lol. Here are some pics of cakes and the chocolate extravaganza the last day b

 

 

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[LakeWobegon]

I'm so happy your pre cruise Keys trip was a success! Glad the Florida forum folks could help you with that.

 

P. S. We were also right about suggesting staying in the middle and upper keys, lol.

 

Thanks. You were all extremely helpful. And yes, but as I tell the kids, you have to learn it for yourself. : P

[LakeWobegon]

Welcome to a whole new cruise line for you!

 

 

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Thanks! We certainly do!

[gotscrapz]

The general thought is that people who are all lined up at guest services on the last day are removing their tips...

 

Thank you for your honest review!

I sailed her on the 28th and LOVED Java Joe as well the awesome bartenders, Myu, Saul... in Havana that went above and beyond (we were in a Havana cabin). We loved the ship but I hated the food, daughter loved it. We had YTD and loved the greater dining teams - but I just didn't more than a salad and role and a cocktail most nights lol. Anyway won't hijack your review... plan to leave my own soon but life is in the way.

 

But I must say - didn't experience any crazy lines! I saw guest relations the 1st and last day but I didn't need to go there- I called once about something I needed (sadly room steward was awful- 1st time ever in 6 cruises!). I did have FTTF though so if I needed to go it would have been fine.

 

Ok seriously - I'll stop now, lol!

[LakeWobegon]

Wonderful start to your review!

 

Thank you!

[LakeWobegon]

On Monday, we headed down to the MDR for breakfast a little after 8 and my son basically napped against the wall at the table he still was so groggy from all the benedryl. But he looked much better. We headed off the ship a little after 9 and let my son nap on a lounger at Margaritaville while the rest of us relaxed in the pool nearby. He came alive a little after 11 and so we mainly just hung out at the Cruise Center. We weren't that impressed by the beach given it was so weedy but it was a nice spot overall. The kids suggested we head back at Noon to claim a spot at the pool and grab lunch without lines and so we did. Their plan worked and we enjoyed the rest of the day at the pool and slides followed by a great MDR experience.

 

That night we watched TheViolinMan and the Rockin' Strings in the atrium and several other times throughout the week. Very talented group playing familiar songs on their strings.

[LakeWobegon]

Here they are playing Chandelier by Sia

 

 

 

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[LakeWobegon]

Thank you for your honest review!

I sailed her on the 28th and LOVED Java Joe as well the awesome bartenders, Myu, Saul... in Havana that went above and beyond (we were in a Havana cabin). We loved the ship but I hated the food, daughter loved it. We had YTD and loved the greater dining teams - but I just didn't more than a salad and role and a cocktail most nights lol. Anyway won't hijack your review... plan to leave my own soon but life is in the way.

 

But I must say - didn't experience any crazy lines! I saw guest relations the 1st and last day but I didn't need to go there- I called once about something I needed (sadly room steward was awful- 1st time ever in 6 cruises!). I did have FTTF though so if I needed to go it would have been fine.

 

Ok seriously - I'll stop now, lol!

 

Hijack away! Thanks. I love the discussion. I found the food better than NCL but it was hit and miss for me, most nights good, some GREAT. None terrible. Java Joe was great. Not everyone is so happy and helpful. Yes, a terrible room steward can make things uncomfortable for sure. When I went there the last day and night, on the first occasion, people in the long "regular line" were shaking their heads and laughing because I had one couple in front of me at the FTTF + Diamond/Platinum line and they would alternate telling the Guest Services attendant how awful everything had been but then how much they loved Carnival and what good guests they were. Made me think, so what kind of discount are they angling for? They went on for 15 freakin minutes. Halfway through, I thought about leaving but that was the time our safe wouldn't unlock.

[Carol Jones]

Carl Jones who wrote a great review a few weeks back showed these too but there were really good cakes in the buffet each afternoon for free. It was fun to watch people get mad if certain cakes ran out. People get serious about cakes. Lol. Here are some pics of cakes and the chocolate extravaganza the last day b

 

 

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Yes, I did love those cakes! I’m very much enjoying your review. It’s like reliving my cruise. Great job!

 

 

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[BENHANDEL]

Loving your review! We sail the horizon in December and amtaking in any vista reviews with similar eagerness! And also new CCL, I have similar trepidations so am so relieved to read about your positive vibe. Our only cruise experience has been a brief stint on Disney...

 

Question on the credit card you referenced...do you feel the benefits are better than the delta skymiles card?

 

And from MN...wondering how it was to leave during the precious summer months? I am also a teacher with similar contract requirements. But I cannot give up camping and outside days during our amazing summers so we are cruising at Christmas....(and spring break...).