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Terrible Havana Experience Aboard Vista


SailorMarg
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23 minutes ago, graphicguy said:

Generally speaking, I think Carnival is trying to offer its version of NCL’s Haven and Royal’s Suite Class.  Obviously, they didn’t come close.  And, their execution leaves a lot to be desired.  That said, hard to differentiate passengers when a TA or Carnival books them.

 

This a.m., there was what obviously an older couple talking about their bathroom habits and how the Havana bathroom doesn’t suit them.  This was right outside my Havana cabin door at 6:00 a.m.  Not what I want to wake to.

 

I also agree that Carnival really did the Havana Bar and Bands in the bar poorly.  Talent’s not that good.  Plus, for reasons that befuddle me, they leave the Havana area open until 3:00 a.m.

 

I’m not a fuddy-duddy.  But, when the Havana’s patrons are yelling in a drunken stupor at 3:00 a.m. by the pool and hot tub, they might want to close that area down so the other Havana patrons can at least get some sleep at 3-ish.  Not too much to ask in my humble opinion.

 

Mentioned this in another thread, I’m on the Vista right now in a Havana balcony cabin.  It would be hopeful if they made the glass from the cabin into the porch area as “one way” glass so we don’t have to close our drapes every time we go in our cabin.

 

Plus, maybe some 8 foot glass doors between the Havana bar/pool area to block the sound from the Havana Cabins?  Shut it down at a reasonable hour, too (say 1-ish).

 

Lucky for me, I didn’t pay anywhere close to what some of you have reported paying for the Havana, as I would be more upset.  But, I got a “deal” on the cabin (maybe related to the complaints logged?).

 

I’ve sailed the Haven on NCL several times.  I could have booked a Haven cabin on one of their newest ships (Escape) for this week for $3,800 for the entire cabin.  That would have included spa access, too.  Drink package included, specialty dining package (3), some internet minutes and a $50/excursion credit.

 

Taking that amount and extrapolating it out, I paid ~$1,500 for my Havana Cabin on the Vista.  Add in drink package, specialty dining, internet, etc that comes with the Haven, and you’re not too far away from a Haven  Spa Cabin.  The experience between the two is night and day, with the nod going to NCL.

 

Not trying to dismiss Carnival lovers.  I absolutely love some things about my cruise.  Havana ain’t one of them.

You did a pretty good job for not trying.  Don’t take it the wrong way but to each their own.  I would not pay a balcony rate to stay in Havens, but that is just me..At least you did not say you were getting the drink package for free.😉

Edited by jimbo5544
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I guess if this elitist attitude is common for Havana guests, then I guess I’m glad I’m only a mere inside cabin (not in Havana) guest. I love to hear laughter, music, and people having fun. If I dared to play music and was told to stop because it didn’t fit some other persons idea of what a vacation should be, I might just play it louder. And I’m not an unruly youth. My hubby and I are senior citizens. As I mentioned several posts ago, I was totally against any area being off limits to guests that didn’t pay for the privilege of being there. That does not include guests that can afford balconies, suites, or even just OV. It means saying I can’t enter an area of the ship. It kind of heralds back to the days of “steerage” not being allowed up on deck. It was really evident on NCL with their Vibe area, which was no different than Carnival’s Serenity deck or Royal’s Solarium. NCL charges big bucks for the same privilege you get free on Carnival and Royal. What was even crazier was that people actually paid it. 

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35 minutes ago, grandmarnnurse said:

I guess if this elitist attitude is common for Havana guests, then I guess I’m glad I’m only a mere inside cabin (not in Havana) guest. I love to hear laughter, music, and people having fun. If I dared to play music and was told to stop because it didn’t fit some other persons idea of what a vacation should be, I might just play it louder. And I’m not an unruly youth. My hubby and I are senior citizens. As I mentioned several posts ago, I was totally against any area being off limits to guests that didn’t pay for the privilege of being there. That does not include guests that can afford balconies, suites, or even just OV. It means saying I can’t enter an area of the ship. It kind of heralds back to the days of “steerage” not being allowed up on deck. It was really evident on NCL with their Vibe area, which was no different than Carnival’s Serenity deck or Royal’s Solarium. NCL charges big bucks for the same privilege you get free on Carnival and Royal. What was even crazier was that people actually paid it. 

I have paid for the Havana area on our upcoming cruise on March 28.  I fully expect to love it!  And especially love the fact that I will be able to find a seat/lounger in the pool area and not have to get up at 7 am to get one.  I love that there will be no small children running around.  Do not get me wrong, I love kids, but not on my vacation if they are wild and misbehaving(which all are not, of course). 

I am guessing the area is now off limits due to non Havana guests ruining it by being unruly after 7pm and Havana guests complaining about it.  I like the new rules.  I can go to the hot tub/pool at night without having to battle crowds.

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42 minutes ago, grandmarnnurse said:

If I dared to play music and was told to stop because it didn’t fit some other persons idea of what a vacation should be, I might just play it louder.

 

 

Don't you think this is rude? What if someone is playing loud rap with foul language? Use ear buds, I want to relax and read, not listen to music which might not be pleasant to me. I usually like your posts, this surprised me

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2 hours ago, airlink diva said:

Let me tell you about my 14 day sailing on HAL awhile back ago.  On that cruise had the children from hell on board with uncaring parents ( they were homeschoolers and ran wild until enough complaints), several rude obnoxious cruises because if you have the nerves to sit in their chairs in the lounge (mind you they weren't there) and they made their own reserved signs.  The lady who used her fingers to taste the dressing and pick fruit and got mad when pointed out to the staff.  There were other issues while the cruise and ports and staff were top grade, some of the cruisers rank among the worst I had sailed with.  Did that keep me from sailing HAL again? No, but everything is not all roses with HAL either

I've sailed HAL enough to know that aboard a HAL cruise my *risk* of rude, obnoxious, drunk passengers, along with unruly poorly behaved children, is far less than the risk aboard a Carnival cruise.  I've cruised for 25 years and am aware that the passengers and their behavior aboard any sailing is the luck of the draw.  I simply feel the luck of the draw is considerably more in my favor aboard HAL.  That said, I live three (3) hours from Galveston by car, and cruise 3-4 times a year.  We were hopeful that by booking in the Havana area of Vista I could improve the odds of good behavior aboard Carnival.  Nope. I’ll go back to flying to a higher tier cruise line for more important cruises, like our upcoming full transit Panama Canal Cruise, and go back to using Royal exclusively for my frequent cruising getaways.  Again, the risk of bad behavior by adults and children alike is not mitigated aboard Royal, but it is greatly reduced when compared to Carnival. My 25 years of cruising has given me enough anecdotal evidence to form my opinion and everyone else's experience will form theirs.  

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46 minutes ago, creef1014 said:

 

"if it persists" HAHAHAHAHAH!!!! No one cares what you, their fellow passenger, tells them to do. You have no authority regardless of how entitled you seem to feel about the subject. If you notify the staff of a suspected rule violation and they allow it to persist, maybe you are the one misreading the situation.

 

I guess "get all boomer on them" translates to I will become a bigger a-hole than the situation requires by throwing a 60 year old temper tantrum

 

 

proximity to home won't stop a millennial from punching you in the face (deservedly so) for throwing their stuff over board...but hey best of luck with that

 

Get off my Lawn!

 

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12 minutes ago, coevan said:

 

 

Don't you think this is rude? What if someone is playing loud rap with foul language? Use ear buds, I want to relax and read, not listen to music which might not be pleasant to me. I usually like your posts, this surprised me

It's definitely rude, no matter the music genre. Carnival designs spaces and what music is pumped into each space, and it usually works. Serenity's music isn't something I'd normally listen to, but it works very well with that atmosphere. I don't want hear somebody's amateur playlist that ruins the entire vibe of the area.

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1 hour ago, grandmarnnurse said:

If I dared to play music and was told to stop because it didn’t fit some other persons idea of what a vacation should be, I might just play it louder.

Or you could simply follow the rules that are already in place to keep entitled people like you from doing whatever they want, everybody else be damned.  

  • Guest must use earphones when listening to music or watching shows/movies on personal devices in public spaces. Bluetooth, portable and wireless speakers are only permitted within your stateroom and must be used respectfully and at a reasonable sound levels and times of day. Large speakers/radios are prohibited on board and will be confiscated.
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21 minutes ago, coevan said:

 

 

Don't you think this is rude? What if someone is playing loud rap with foul language? Use ear buds, I want to relax and read, not listen to music which might not be pleasant to me. I usually like your posts, this surprised me

Sorry, it’s not that I ever even play music onboard. I was just taken back by someone saying their cruise experience is more important than mine. That was the point I was making. These comments have sounded pretty elitist, and that just got my dander up. Sorry. And lord help me if someone starts playing rap music next to me. 🤣🤣

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1 hour ago, creef1014 said:

I get that the environment in the Havana area disappointed the OP, but I cannot be the only one who thinks what was described sounds grossly blown out of proportion. 

 

People were at a pool playing music and doing cannonballs? That sounds like what happens at pools where I'm from. Carnival is literally branded as "The Fun Ship" and OP is complaining because cruise security did not stop people from having what is pretty typical fun poolside behavior? 

 

If you're idea of a good time is quietly reading a book, and my idea of a good time is a pool area bacchanal; only one of those can reasonably be done in 432 different places around a ship.

 

And all the slipped in comments about demographics, character, class, and caliber of Carinval passengers would lead one to believe there are some underlying elitism issues possibly effecting ability OPs to relax and enjoy. And yes, I take personal offense to the derogatory way OP has chosen to describe Carnival passengers as many of my favorite people in the world, including myself, are Carnival regulars. 

Or maybe OP (me) expects people to follow the rules that are already in place to stop entitled folks from doing whatever they want, everybody else be damned.

 

  • Guest must use earphones when listening to music or watching shows/movies on personal devices in public spaces. Bluetooth, portable and wireless speakers are only permitted within your stateroom and must be used respectfully and at a reasonable sound levels and times of day. Large speakers/radios are prohibited on board and will be confiscated.

The following Pool Rules signage is posted at all pools, fleet wide:

  • No running, horseplay, jumping or diving
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3 hours ago, airlink diva said:

The same can happen on Royal Caribbean, Holland America, NCL, Seabourn,.  I can't afford Seabourn, but personally know a couple who sails with them often and she tells about the behavior of fellow cruisers.

At times can't escape rude and stupid.  Hopefully your upcoming sailings will have little or no issues


While I don’t disagree with your comment, from my experience the chances of seeing  rude, obnoxious behavior is significantly higher on Carnival. My wife and I have witnessed this often on Carnival ships and it seems to get worse every cruise. On the other hand we rarely see behavior like this on Royal Carribean, which is why they have bumped Carnival as our favorite cruise line for now.  Of course this could always change in the future. 

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7 minutes ago, SailorMarg said:

Or maybe OP (me) expects people to follow the rules that are already in place to stop entitled folks from doing whatever they want, everybody else be damned.

 

  • Guest must use earphones when listening to music or watching shows/movies on personal devices in public spaces. Bluetooth, portable and wireless speakers are only permitted within your stateroom and must be used respectfully and at a reasonable sound levels and times of day. Large speakers/radios are prohibited on board and will be confiscated.

The following Pool Rules signage is posted at all pools, fleet wide:

  • No running, horseplay, jumping or diving

 

Congratulations on reading the rules, there are a million rules across all cruise lines that serve much more like suggestions/guidelines than gospel. I've gotten Platinum and Diamond perks because I was standing next to people who had earned them, that's against the rules. Security has allowed to me reboard at port and take a full bottle of liquor to my room, also against the rules. I have seen people escorted from the areas for being obnoxious, even though no rules were broken.

 

It sounds like everyone (including security and staff) was fine with the environment around the pool but you. That means you were the one with the "everyone else be damned" attitude....but I get it, you read it on a piece of paper, so forget everyone else the paper must be followed.

 

This seems like a concept some of you have failed to grasp; but maybe when you're having fun, you don't need to structure and restrict that fun strictly based on any and every rule you can find.....

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I apologize for my previous statement about playing my music even louder. That WAS rude of me. And especially since I don’t even play music onboard. I guess I just got my dander up over some comments that sounded somewhat elitist, because I still feel it’s wrong to ban people from certain areas. I don’t feel bad that I can only afford an inside cabin. That was a choice I made to be able to cruise in retirement. But saying I can no longer go near the Havana area just irked me. So sorry for my rudeness. My comments about music were not like me, as someone pointed out to me, and made me come to my senses. I will be heading out on a B2B in April to celebrate our 50th Anniversary, and I, too, would be upset if someone was playing loud music next to me when I wanted peace and quiet. And thank you coevan for setting me straight. 

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3 minutes ago, grandmarnnurse said:

I apologize for my previous statement about playing my music even louder. That WAS rude of me. And especially since I don’t even play music onboard. I guess I just got my dander up over some comments that sounded somewhat elitist, because I still feel it’s wrong to ban people from certain areas. I don’t feel bad that I can only afford an inside cabin. That was a choice I made to be able to cruise in retirement. But saying I can no longer go near the Havana area just irked me. So sorry for my rudeness. My comments about music were not like me, as someone pointed out to me, and made me come to my senses. I will be heading out on a B2B in April to celebrate our 50th Anniversary, and I, too, would be upset if someone was playing loud music next to me when I wanted peace and quiet. And thank you coevan for setting me straight. 

 

Those who read your posts know you are not like that at all.

Don't stress over it.

 

Edited by thesmiths
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We were on the Vista on the 2/8/20 sailing and were in 6461.  We never hear loud music at night in our cabin or on our balcony.  And I sit out and read until about midnight.  I stayed in the havana pool area on almost all of the sea days and never witnessed anyone playing their "boom box" or doing cannonballs in the pool.  I'm not saying it didn't happen because I did go to lunch for about an hour before coming back.  Most of the people we talked with were congenial and polite.  But, in the past if someone did something out of line I have complained and gotten it resolved.  That includes the people in the cabin next to ours this time who seemed to want to smoke on the balcony.  Guest services came up to our room, looked over the divider and saw their bucket with their cigarette butts out there.  I definitely didn't cruise to smell smoke on my balcony.  Sorry you had a bad time.

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7 minutes ago, thesmiths said:

 

Those who read your posts know you are not like that at all.

Don't stress over it.

 

I agree grandmarnurse. Your posts have always been insightful and well thought out. Somebody just put a burr under your saddle. No need to apologize. 😊

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23 minutes ago, creef1014 said:

 

Congratulations on reading the rules, there are a million rules across all cruise lines that serve much more like suggestions/guidelines than gospel. I've gotten Platinum and Diamond perks because I was standing next to people who had earned them, that's against the rules. Security has allowed to me reboard at port and take a full bottle of liquor to my room, also against the rules. I have seen people escorted from the areas for being obnoxious, even though no rules were broken.

 

It sounds like everyone (including security and staff) was fine with the environment around the pool but you. That means you were the one with the "everyone else be damned" attitude....but I get it, you read it on a piece of paper, so forget everyone else the paper must be followed.

 

This seems like a concept some of you have failed to grasp; but maybe when you're having fun, you don't need to structure and restrict that fun strictly based on any and every rule you can find.....

🙄

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  • 1 year later...

It is not just Havana. My wife and I cruised on the Vista Nov. 20-27, 2021.  The unruly passengers in the hallway outside our cabin was unbearable.  Multiple groups of people decided to have loud and very annoying "chats" outside our stateroom very late at night.  We asked them to please tone it down a bit and were yelled at.  In the cabin next to ours (interior), a couple had 3 children under the age of 18 staying by themselves, while they were in the balcony cabin across the hall. on multiple nights, there was yelling, screaming, and banging from the room.  Banging on the adjoining door got banging back and loud laughing.  We called Guest Services, who sent Security.  All they did was ask them to please be quiet.  It helped for 10 minutes.

 

I know Carnival is referred to as "The Fun Ships."  But there are quite a number of places to have fun rather than around staterooms at midnight or 1am.  Many cruisers are very rude and disrespectful, and Carnival does a minimum in maintaining control.

 

23 Carnival Cruises

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Personal music and other noise are not allowed. and no, they have no right to ignore the rules.

 

Guest must use earphones when listening to music or watching shows/movies on personal devices in public spaces. Bluetooth, portable and wireless speakers are only permitted within your stateroom and must be used respectfully and at a reasonable sound levels and times of day. Large speakers/radios are prohibited on board and will be confiscated.

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On 2/25/2020 at 2:52 PM, Theosprey247 said:

In my experience, the chances of seeing  rude, obnoxious behavior greatly Increases with a higher cruise price.   

In my experience there isn't much difference, other than they preface their rude, obnoxious complaints with "Do you know how much I paid for this cruise?"

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On 2/23/2020 at 7:38 AM, Joebucks said:

I'm no fan of those things either. The speaker thing is annoying. Imagine letting this ruin your cruise though. Making it sound like at every turn, there was the guy with a boombox on his shoulder, blasting music. In the dining room, CANNONBALL!

 

It sounds like Carnival isn't the right product for you. There may be some people around you trying to have a good time. You can go be a stick in the mud on a different, non-mass market, line

 

Gotta agree. Some folks have the polar opposite mindset where in they think everyone should behave to their standards and expectations. Maybe another sleepy line with an older clientele or a private ship accommodation would be a better fit. Being upset about the general public doing what the general public does (basically, annoying in general) seems to be a waste of energy. If I let idiots ruin everything I'd never leave the house, drive anywhere, or go in public. People suck everywhere, press on and keep it moving!   

Edited by cruisingguy007
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On 2/22/2020 at 3:33 PM, Drinal01 said:

Everyone is always at the mercy of our fellow passengers.   Sometimes you get lucky (which you normally quickly forget) and sometimes you don't.

 

Can happen no matter the cruise line or the place on the ship.  You paid a premium expecting that other guest paying a premium would be of similar mind to you and you were disappointed. That is understandable.

 

Security has a fine line between being over bearing and allowing people to have fun.  Everyone there is a customer.    

 

Unfortunately its luck of the draw unless you book a private ship.

If you are going to have a rule then you should enforce it. This is from Carnival's website; Guest must use earphones when listening to music or watching shows/movies on personal devices in public spaces. Bluetooth, portable and wireless speakers are only permitted within your stateroom and must be used respectfully and at a reasonable sound levels and times of day. Large speakers/radios are prohibited on board and will be confiscated.

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2 hours ago, DANCING GRANDMOMMY said:

If you are going to have a rule then you should enforce it. This is from Carnival's website; Guest must use earphones when listening to music or watching shows/movies on personal devices in public spaces. Bluetooth, portable and wireless speakers are only permitted within your stateroom and must be used respectfully and at a reasonable sound levels and times of day. Large speakers/radios are prohibited on board and will be confiscated.

 

enforcing rules is not one of Carnivals strong suits.

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