hillbillycruisers

We were on the Vista last month...easily our worst out of ten cruises. The MDR staff were either overwhelmed, or just lacking compared to our usual experiences...they were extremely slow. The food wasn't bad, but seemed to have gone down hill...and they messed up my order three nights. The piano bar was not fun or lively whatsoever...very drab. Lido buffet was probably about normal, and I did get a great omelet every morning, but they didn't have bacon several mornings. The Vista propulsion issues were still in play...we were late returning to Galveston. It was still a decent cruise...had great MDR table mates...good weather...and an overall good time....but I doubt I'll book the Vista again.

We were on the Vista in early November, and the MDR service was the worst I've seen in ten cruises. Very slow...some nights very VERY slow...and brought my order wrong on three nights. It was still a good experience and we had great table mates...but it seems to be going down hill. I am guessing the staff is overworked. They tried and were as always very friendly.

The debarkation process is a huge mess, and it's frustrating to go thru...but I'm not sure what they can do to fix it. Once they start calling the SA zones, it seems EVERYONE gets in line...regardless of whether or not their zone has been called. And while it's frustrating to realize the staff isn't checking anyone's zone info, I'm not sure what they could do about it. You have all seen that crowded, jumbled, hoard of people...all trying to drag luggage...trying to push strollers ...everyone pushing in line towards the exits. What exactly are they going to do at that point if they ' catch ' someone cheating? There is no real option but to let them go...especially the number of people cheating. Our last cruise on the Vista in November, we had a much later zone, but our friends who were giving us a ride back to our hotel had the first zone called. I ask a staff member if we could debark with them, and his exact words were " absolutely...we don't check that anyway. ".... So...there ya go. We have FTTF on our next cruise, and I'm curious how that will compare.

We used FTTF on three cruises...all out of Galveston...prior to all the Covid unpleasantries. On each of these three cruises, we were onboard around 11am, and our cabin was available for use each time. Of course, we just dumped off our carry ons, and went to eat lunch and sightsee. With this newly reinstated FTTF, they are stating the cabin may or may not be ready for use that early, but we can still dump off our bags and go eat. That would suit me just fine, as we both have a carry on and a backpack...our only luggage...nothing checked....and we won't have to lug everything around. We will be using FTTF on our Dream cruise in a few weeks...curious to see how it goes.

Another factor that could possibly delay your boarding time...sometimes the ship is late getting into port...for various reasons. Of the ten cruises we've been on, two had us waiting to board for that reason...one was super late due to very heavy fog ( Galveston), and it was five hours late arriving. On our last cruise, we were almost one hour late getting back, which meant those waiting to board had to wait. Your FTTF will definitely help get on earlier. Good luck and enjoy your first cruise!!

We were on the Vista first week in November, and while it was an enjoyable cruise, I gotta say it was my least favorite ship and cruise so far...out of ten cruises. The MDR was often extremely slow, and they messed up my dinner order 4 of the 7 nights. I wonder if they were covering more tables than normal...not sure. I ordered an ice bucket my first day for our cabin, and didn't get one until late in the day on day two...and that took a few reminders. The piano bar was the most dismal, drab piano bar I've ever seen on a ship. But...it was still a cruise....still a good time....we had very calm seas...decent food...GREAT table mates in the MDR, funny comedians, a fun, energetic cruise director, and great weather.

Be prepared for a possible long wait at the Ferry. I'm sure it varies, but last may we waited over 45 minutes to board coming from Galveston and about that long upon returning. We watched as car after car who arrived after us were allowed ahead of us. Turns out locals can get a pass that allows them priority boarding. We go there every year, and the wait used to be way shorter...sometimes no wait at all. Apparently not any more.

I expect a piano bar to be a fun, lively place. Lots of interaction....like our experience on the Dream. That guy was great. This last time on Vista, it was horrible. It was dark...nothing lively about it. Reminded me of a funeral.

My wife and I was on the Vista last week, and we were extremely disappointed in the piano bar. It was dark...dull...and not fun at all. On our previous cruise a couple years ago on the Dream, we loved the piano bar. It was fun...lively...full of crowd interaction...and the piano player was a hoot. We were expecting the same on the Vista, but it was nothing close. It was somber at best.. My question for all you veteran cruisers... how is the piano bar experience on most ships? We are back on the Dream on January, and are hoping it hasn't changed.

You can ask your cabin steward for a fan....we just did on our last cruise, and he brought us a nice one.

We were on this cruise....our first time on Vista and probably gonna be our last time. We had fun...good weather in ports and extremely calm seas, but we were quite a bit late getting back to Galveston...and since the sky was clear with not a hint of fog...and we weren't fighting a storm...it's pretty obvious they haven't figured out their propulsion issues....which is sad, and can greatly inconvenience the passengers getting off in the morning and the ones boarding. As for Belize, there was some obvious wind damage...especially outside of the port area...but it didn't seem to affect the shops and such.

Last week we were on the Vista for a seven day cruise...and both my wife and I did something I never thought possible...we did carry on only, with no checked luggage. Not long ago, this seemed impossible, and I was always a bit jealous of those who could pull it off. It actually went well...probably better for me than my wife...but she managed. When I think back to our first cruises, we were bringing on way more than we needed. This cruise, we both had a rolling carry-on and a backpack. I even managed to bring my c-pap and 14 cans of soda. We learned a few things, and will be doing it again on our next cruise in January! 😀

The seas were extremely calm. When arriving in Galveston on debarking, the sky was totally clear with not a hint of fog. We were late due to propulsion issues pure and simple. I hate to say never, but pretty confident I'll never cruise the Vista again. As for Belize, there was some obvious wind damage...especially out in the residential area outside of the port...but they seemed to be business as usual.

Just returned from our first Carnival cruise.. since before covid... on the Vista. Easily our least favorite ship and least favorite cruise. The MDR service was slow and they made an unusual amount of mistakes...makes me wonder if they are covering too many tables. Our cabin service was subpar compared to all previous cruises. I ask for an ice bucket on our first day aboard...had to ask again on day two, finally getting one that night. Some mornings they didn't serve bacon at the Lido buffet. No bacon!!! That's poor! The Vista has the worst main show room arrangement of any ship we've sailed on. Very few tables for drinks. Plus, I was unhappy with things from the start, as they confiscated my small scissors during check in...because...I was told...they could be used as a weapon. They were very small...I use them to trim my beard daily...and I've carried them on all ten previous cruises with no issues. Suddenly, they are a weapon. I told the man if I wanted a weapon it'd be much easier stealing a dinner knife from the Lido buffet. All that, plus the Vista's usual propulsion issues made us late getting back to Galveston. Carnival is losing its appeal.

I just returned from the Vista....one night I ordered a regular size entre and a half size of a different entre. They brought both full size, and the waiter's explanation was that it was a smaller portion to begin with and they figured half would be too small.

The results in our case was that we were late getting back to Galveston, which not only inconvenienced all the peeps getting off the boat, but also those who had to wait extra long before boarding on the next cruise. This is definitely nothing new with the Vista, as it's been an ongoing issue for months.

We just returned last Saturday from our seven day Carnival Vista cruise, and while we had a fun and enjoyable cruise, I have to say the Vista is my least favorite ship so far. First, I'm a little unhappy with the fact that Carnival knows this ship is having propulsion issues, but yet they continue to sail her and let the passengers suffer the results. It seemed like the MDR staff and our cabin steward were either overworked, or unorganized...nothing like the results we've seen on all of our previous cruises. Also, the Liquid Lounge showroom has absolutely the worst setup of any ship we've been on....with very few tables to set drinks on, and poor seating overall. There were some positive things...the food was good...the ships layout was good...our table mates were great...and I enjoyed the comedians...especially Just June. She was hilarious. I also liked our cruise director Savanah...she was a hoot! We definitely had fun, but I won't be booking the Vista again.

I have cruised several times with my Cpap, and only used the cabin tap water. It has always been just fine, with absolutely no adverse effects on my machine. I actually had a sleep disorder doctor tell me this would be perfectly okay to do. 😀

Does this stuff actually work?? I have never tried it.

Thanks everyone for all the advice and suggestions. I'm fairly sure we are going to be able to pull this off. We ' practiced packed '...and it was better than I thought. I will have an easier time than my wife, as I can get by with less...especially shoes. I will wear a nicer pair when getting on the boat, and will only need a pair of flip flops packed. It's easier being a man...with this, and a lot of things! One thing in our favor...we are driving down to Galveston from Missouri...so no airline involved. 😀

For our upcoming Carnival Vista cruise in November we are wanting to try packing everything in our carry-ons only, with no checked luggage. I've seen other people do this, but we never thought it possible for us. I've always envied the people walking off the boat with hardly any luggage. This is a seven day cruise, and while it probably will be difficult, we are hoping to pull it off. Besides my carry-on, I'll also have my C-Pap in a backpack, and I can stuff several clothing items in with it.. Does anyone have any advice that might help us?

Food prices are going up...fuel prices are going up. Obviously, unless something changes...which seems highly unlikely Carnival and everyone else will be forced to raise prices. We see it in restaurants everywhere. I would rather pay a little more for the price of my cruise than be shorted on the amenities we come to expect. Some people...especially non bacon eaters...say, it's only bacon...why the fuss? Well...what if it was coffee...or toast...or eggs...or...fruit??? Carnival needs to get its act together. They are already known as The Walmart of Cruise Lines. Keep this up, and soon it'll be known as The Goodwill of Cruise Lines. And by the way...I shop Goodwill almost weekly. 😉

There were videos of this fire all over the internet. Lots of black smoke, and they were attempting to fight the fire from the decks below with fire hoses. It didn't appear the water from the hoses was reaching the funnel, but that may be not be true. Glad it was in port, and not underway when the fire broke out. I'll be curious to learn more about this!

My personal opinion is that Carnival is being too cheap with their policy of withholding bacon from the buffet. What's next? Food prices are going up...ok, we understand that...but where do you draw the line when it comes to customer service? If milk prices go much higher, will they ration it too? We pay good money for a cruise experience that shouldn't see us being nickled and dimed to death. If they ever stoop so low as to eliminate the free ice cream cones...I'm out!!