Hasta la Vista, Vista!

[Eli_6]

Short review of our recent 7 day on the Vista. All-in-all, it was one of the best cruises I have been on with some noticeable exceptions.

 

The Havana area was amazing.  It MADE the cruise. If you ever have a chance to go on a Vista class ship, absolutely stay in the Havana area.  That area absolutely MADE our cruise. 

 

Room was nice and super clean. Housekeeping 10 out of 10.   

 

We watched Haunting in Venice in the Imax and loved it.  Our VIP catamaran cruise (with snorkeling) in Cozumel was an 11 out of 10.  We only had 9 people on the entire catamaran that usually has 30 to 40!  

 

Also the absolute BEST chef's table we have been to. Sadly, though, the good food pretty much ended there. MDR dinner and buffet was terrible.  Pasta bar also terrible.  Literally zero flavor.  Even the normally excellent sandwiches were bad.  JiJi's was ok at best. Only good food was Seaday brunch, burger place, and pizza.  Drinks were good, though. And strong!  Never had a bad one the entire cruise.

  

The casino smells so horribly of smoke you can smell it from the floor above and below when walking up/down the stairs nearby.  Really bad.  We only spent like 15 minutes in there because of it.  I really wish they would find somewhere to put a non-smoking when Vista goes into dry dock.

 

We also greatly enjoyed our Victor Bodden excursion in Roatan.  Our guide took us to an amazing area where we snorkeled right from the beach!  I will try to post some pics later.  Truly some of the best shore snorkeling we have done.

 

We also did a Carnival shore excursion to Lamanai.  The tour guides were good and I have no complaints other than it was soooooo hot and humid and miserable that it made it not as enjoyable as it could have been.  Not Carnival's fault or the tour operator's fault, but I wouldn't recommend that tour unless you are going in winter.  (And I am from Houston so used to working in the yard in 100+ degrees heat and humidity, but this felt more like 120.)

 

Overall, a great cruise!  I will truly miss the Vista and her Havana area.

 

One knock I will say is this: Carnival needs to put a stop to plats and diamonds bringing their party of 20 with them to the plat/diamond party and to priority embark/disembark.  I have never seen such madness in my life.  We left the plat/diamond reception because the entire theatre was full and we couldn't get a drink (and 3/4 of the people were NOT plat/diamond)  and it was complete pandemonium with *some* people grabbing 3 and 4 drinks and chugging them. It was literally comical to watch some of these people. We only stayed about 10 minutes because, well, we don't need free drinks that bad.  I actually really don't care that much about the plat/diamond party but the disembark actually annoys me because when we are disembarking we are typically trying to catch a plane or make it home to either work or relieve grandparents or, in this case, to my son's soccer game.  Only the plat/diamond/suites/fttf and the people staying in their cabin should get priority...not the platinum person and their 63 friends.  CCL needs to monitor this and put a stop to it because when people had to get out their boarding pass to disembark, 2/3 to 3/4 of those disembarking with the platinums were not platinums which tells me a lot of people are abusing the benefit.  I mean, I get CCL doesn't want to piss people off, but in the process they are basically voiding the number 1 "benefit" of being plat/diamond or paying for a suite.  Carnival was also disembarking other people waiting in the lobby at same time as diamonds and plats which meant that about 1,000 people disembarked before us. This wouldn't have been as big of a deal but the passport machines were down so it ended up taking us 1 hour and 40 minutes to disembark...with plat priority. I find it really annoying that we have stayed devoted to Carnival in part for this benefit (and the free laundry) and basically it no longer matters at all. Or, at least, it didn't matter AT ALL on this cruise!  We could have waited in the lobby and been off sooner if we had just gone to the lobby and stood by the door when we came down to wait in the plat/dia area.  

Edited October 3, 2023 by Eli_6
additional details

[Eli_6]

FYI the VIP Catamaran is a carnival excursion.

 

Will try to post some pics tomorrow. 

[Rudyard]

After a couple of cruises where it seemed like priority disembarkation went to those who could push, shove, and throw elbows the hardest, we started just waiting and leaving our cabin right before it was time to do so even though we usually have FTTF. After leaving our cabin we go to the Lido and take our time eating and maybe have a couple of cups of coffee until we hear the announcement that they're about to throw us off the ship. by that time we can walk off the ship with ease. I know this isn't possible for a lot of people who actually need to get off early, but until Carnival gets a better handle on the debark procedure that's what we'll keep doing. 

[Crusin Karen]

21 minutes ago, Rudyard said:

After a couple of cruises where it seemed like priority disembarkation went to those who could push, shove, and throw elbows the hardest, we started just waiting and leaving our cabin right before it was time to do so even though we usually have FTTF. After leaving our cabin we go to the Lido and take our time eating and maybe have a couple of cups of coffee until we hear the announcement that they're about to throw us off the ship. by that time we can walk off the ship with ease. I know this isn't possible for a lot of people who actually need to get off early, but until Carnival gets a better handle on the debark procedure that's what we'll keep doing. 

This is a great idea. I’ve been Diamond since a bunch of cruises ago. I was standing in lobby for about an hour 45 minutes on Venezia in June. Just STANDINGon a long line that never moved. I live 20 minutes from port of Manhattan. Ds picks me up I should just hang out on lido drinking coffee until last minute!!!! 👍

[stobe1]

 

Disclaimer: I did copy and paste this post from another thread I posted in for the sake of time.

 

I hear ya. I know it sucks. I think at the end of the day, they just want everyone off the ship ASAP and don't care if you are blue or diamond and don't care what order you debark. They just want to get to a zero count ASAP so they can start embarking the next cruise 

 

I have posted this multiple times over the years but this is one reason we rarely use our priority debark. It is always mass chaos trying to get off the ship. We just grab a seat on lido or a lounge chair somewhere and wait until last call and breeze right off the ship and thru customs with no lines and no hassle. We book our flights for mid to late afternoon just so it is even more stress free getting home and can have a preflight cocktail or 5 at the airport before our flight home. 

 

We always embark late (1 pm or later) for the same reason. No lines and no hassle for boarding. 

 

The only priority benefits we use now-a-days are the guest services line and priority tendering.

Edited October 3, 2023 by stobe1

[jsglow]

Mentioning disembark. Last Spring strong headwinds made us at least a couple hours late into Long Beach. The crew on Panorama did an OUTSTANDING job keeping order. Priority meant priority. They even used the technique of lining up luggage within the lounge to establish your place in line. But I suppose there's only so much you can do once general disembarking commences.

[cynt]

This is why I enjoy cruising alone. I can take my time getting off the ship. One last long shower, leisurely stroll to breakfast and take in my last free meal. Once it has cleared out walk off the ship. However, my hubs must get off the ship ASAP. I'm always like, what's the rush to wait in an hour plus line that bobs and weaves throughout the ship. SMH! I don't get the rush. We usually drive to the port so there is absolutely no rush to get home. And when we fly into Florida we usually book a late afternoon flight. 

[Pellaz]

2 hours ago, Rudyard said:

After a couple of cruises where it seemed like priority disembarkation went to those who could push, shove, and throw elbows the hardest, we started just waiting and leaving our cabin right before it was time to do so even though we usually have FTTF. After leaving our cabin we go to the Lido and take our time eating and maybe have a couple of cups of coffee until we hear the announcement that they're about to throw us off the ship. by that time we can walk off the ship with ease. I know this isn't possible for a lot of people who actually need to get off early, but until Carnival gets a better handle on the debark procedure that's what we'll keep doing. 

 

I was able to do this on my last (also my first) solo cruise since I wasn't traveling with my let's-get-off-ASAP friends.  🙂   

It was really nice to enjoy a relaxed breakfast and just take that extra time.  I'll see if I can "sell" te idea to my cruising compadres on this next cruise, since we'll be driving down and time won't be as critical. 

[LouChamp]

Aloha.  We take our time getting off. No need to rush. I have been blessed to cruise since the 1970s and cannot understand why people can’t wait to get on and rush like crazy to get off!

[jimbo5544]

Nice review.  

Love the Vista and the Havana area even more

[Rudyard]

9 hours ago, Crusin Karen said:

I live 20 minutes from port of Manhattan. Ds picks me up I should just hang out on lido drinking coffee until last minute!!!!

We're only 30 minutes from Galveston so there's rarely any reason for us to hurry. I just wish I had thought to do this years ago and saved all the headache and frustration of dealing with rude pushy people. 

[Crusin Karen]

7 minutes ago, Rudyard said:

We're only 30 minutes from Galveston so there's rarely any reason for us to hurry. I just wish I had thought to do this years ago and saved all the headache and frustration of dealing with rude pushy people. 

Me too!!!! But now we know! 👍👏😆

[firefly333]

10 hours ago, Eli_6 said:

FYI the VIP Catamaran is a carnival excursion.

 

Will try to post some pics tomorrow. 

Fair review. I did pay restaurants on vista, 6 nights and went to lobster night then used my last for lobster rolls for lunch, so 7 meals. Agree the Mdr and deli needed improvement. I also had cheers on vista. Also have used victor boden 3 times and always great. 

 

My issue with the deli was stale bread. Like a rock. I would say dont toast it so much and they acted like they couldnt hear me. I'm hoping dream is better in January. But I'm prepared for whatever, ,its of burgers and pizza. Great cruise, food needed to be improved was my takeaway. 

 

Last time I was on b2b breeze and we did a sea rescue and didnt dock until 10 am. I'd sat so long my butt hurt, though disembark was orderly. They sat us in rows as we entered the theater. Luckily I drove didnt fly in. 

[Eli_6]

I agree that the best solution is just to eat breakfast and take your time getting off the ship. We probably would have done this except for my son had a soccer game we were trying to get to. 

 

Part of my annoyance on embark/debark is that I absolute KNOW Carnival can do better because I have seen it done at other ports when the rules were actually enforced.  It is not that hard to disembark diamonds, plats, suites, and fttf before you open the doors to the rest of the ship. It is not that hard to have a security guard tell the people trying to wait in front of the door on deck 3 that they have to go wait somewhere else.  It is not that hard to make people show their S&S card before allowing them in the plat/diamond/fttf waiting area for early debark.  If a group of 10 shows up and only 1 of them is platinum, then you obviously know they aren't all booked in the same room. I mean, come on!  Do better Carnival. Enforce your own rules.     

 

 

[Butterbean1000]

How do non plans and diamonds get into the parry?  I thought you could only bring a cabin mate.

[stobe1]

1 hour ago, Eli_6 said:

I agree that the best solution is just to eat breakfast and take your time getting off the ship. We probably would have done this except for my son had a soccer game we were trying to get to. 

 

Part of my annoyance on embark/debark is that I absolute KNOW Carnival can do better because I have seen it done at other ports when the rules were actually enforced.  It is not that hard to disembark diamonds, plats, suites, and fttf before you open the doors to the rest of the ship. It is not that hard to have a security guard tell the people trying to wait in front of the door on deck 3 that they have to go wait somewhere else.  It is not that hard to make people show their S&S card before allowing them in the plat/diamond/fttf waiting area for early debark.  If a group of 10 shows up and only 1 of them is platinum, then you obviously know they aren't all booked in the same room. I mean, come on!  Do better Carnival. Enforce your own rules.     

 

 

 

 

I 100% agree with you in principle.

 

Practically, however, it may not be feasible. If you notice how crowded it gets in the queue for debarkation with everyone with all of their bags and kids and strollers and wheelchairs and liquor and God-only-knows what else in tow, there is literally no wiggle room. The single-file line line snakes from the gangway, around the lobby bar, by guest services or shore excursion desk, into the elevator lobby and up several flights of stairs. It would not be practical for security to send a blue or red or gold card to the back of the line when they present their cards to be scanned at the gangway. It would be like a salmon swimming upstream. This would just further disrupt the operation and only aggravate already frustrated people even further. It is just easier to let the ones that "snuck thru" off so they can keep getting down to a zero count ASAP.

 

Now, in the priority debarkation areas like the dining room or theater, yes, the staff and crew should and could absolutely enforce it and limit access to Plat and Diamonds and not allow 20 other non-priority to tag along. Most cabins can hold a max of 4 people, not 20 as we all know so common sense applies.

 

It's the same thing with boarding.  We always see threads on here about a Plat asking "I have Zone A1, but I am travelling with 6 other cabins who have Zone D3. Can they board with me?" Obviously we all know the practical answer. But it is done all the time and I have seen it in ports where a priority passenger is arguing with a port agent about letting the 2 other cabins they are travelling with into the priority line. Sometimes it just isn't worth getting their blood pressure elevated so the port agents just let them thru to just keep the line moving. But, it just further dilutes the priority access for the rest of us.

 

Which is why I dont even bother with priority embark or debark anymore. It is just too much chaos. Late boarding and waiting until last call to debark is the way to go for sure.

Edited October 3, 2023 by stobe1

[stobe1]

11 minutes ago, Butterbean1000 said:

How do non plans and diamonds get into the parry?  I thought you could only bring a cabin mate.

 

The same way they get in line with Priority embark and debark. No one looks or challenges them. And honestly, I don't ever recall anyone looking at my card or even asking to see it when I go to the Plat/Diamond party. 

[happy cruzer]

Thanks for your review.

 

We got off of Vista on 9/16.  Did not do a review (just too lazy).  Here are a few of our observations; had a balcony cabin and traditional Early dining at 6.

 

Agree that the housekeeping was 10/10.  Agree loved the IMAX.

 

Food - We were very happy.  MDR was excellent,  Good variety, good food, and great service.  Stand outs were the cornish game hen, coffee glazed duck and "cold water" lobster.  But all was very acceptable.  Entertainment each night in the MDR with a wonderful singer.

 

Buffet - was good.  Really enjoyed the Sandwiches.  We had at least 6 of the cold sandwiches. We ordered on Focacia or pretzle bun since we do like a softer bread - chicken salad, ham and cheese, etc, all good.  We ate most of breakfast and lunches outdoor at the very aft area near the Seafood Shack.  Lovely views and quiet.

 

Went to seaday brunch close to closing; had to wait 30 minutes for food; the food was excellent especially the Voyage Burger.

 

Also enjoyed, pizza, Guys' and Cucina for lunches.  All very good.  Guy's BBQ was tooooo salty, not a hit for us.

 

One specialty dinner at JiJi's.  Very delicious and a lot of food.  Very good value.

 

Just a note about the heat - It was hot.  We avoided being outside early in the cruise.  Later we did early mornings outside in areas like the pool tables and mini golf.  Enjoyed Mahogany bay as a laid back dip in the sea.

 

Casino was smokey but no more than typical for ships that allow smoking in the casino. 

 

It was a very nice homeport cruise.  Great value.

 

Again thanks for the review that brought back memories.

 

[five.]

I assume self-embarkation is still the easiest and first ones off? That's what we always do and we've never had lines. Though last Carnival was shortly before covid.

[Butterbean1000]

1 hour ago, stobe1 said:

 

The same way they get in line with Priority embark and debark. No one looks or challenges them. And honestly, I don't ever recall anyone looking at my card or even asking to see it when I go to the Plat/Diamond party. 

Meanwhile, they are eliminating our benefits and raising prices.  Some of my complaints of Carnival are the failure to enforce the rules, ie., the Plat/Diamond party, kids in Serenity area, chair hogs, rowdy, unattended kids.

[balcony bound]

I wonder how much "early flights" had to do with disembarkation.

 

Love the Vista, so glad you had a great time.  Our next 4 are Vista havana cabanas, we love them.

[mdin]

Nice review, thanks for sharing!

 

The Havana area is great! My wife and I booked it on our two cruises next year (Horizon and Vista).

 

I haven't been able to find anything on the internet, but I wonder what upgrades (if any) Vista will get during the dry dock? Hoping they add Teppanyaki like they have on Horizon 😃. 

[dallasdan]

I think the dry dock is fix the propulsion issues. 

[carsastic]

For me , the  times that u really feel the crowded ship is early boarding , with tons of people, with rolling carryons , jaming up seats and food venues and early disembark which can be favorable to a hockey player with all checking and elbows .

I normally get on later and leave late .. no rush  just make the arrangements to work for that time frame. 

[DramaQueen22]

We were on the Horizon 3 weeks ago, in Havana too.  I will not sail on Vista class without that wonderful area!   Totally worth it.  We're on Vista in a Havana Cabana next October and are looking forward to that.