Carnival Vista - Back to Back Review - Feb 18 - Mar 4

Hello everyone...

We just got back from our very first back to back cruise. The first part of the cruise was to the western Caribbean (Ocho Rios, Grand Cayman and Cozumel). The 2nd part was to the eastern Caribbean (Grand Turk, San Juan, St. Kitts and St. Maarten). This will be a day by day rundown of the cruise with photos.

About Us:

We live in Virginia in the DC metro area. On the first part of the journey, it was only my wife (Sherri) and I (Joe). For the 2nd part, my sister (Karen) and friend (Kathy now lives in NC) joined us. We are all over 40. I became platinum on this cruise. My wife has one more cruising day until she becomes platinum. Too bad there are no longer cruises to nowhere out of Norfolk.

Travel Day and Stay In Miami: 2/17/18 – 2/18/18

We traveled to Miami from Washington Dulles with a connection in Charlotte the day before the cruise. The flights were fine, but the connection time was short. We had less than 40 minutes to get off the 1st plane and travel from terminal E to B to catch our 2nd plane.

We stayed at the Courtyard Miami Airport. They have a shuttle from the airport to the hotel and from the hotel to the cruise terminal. In past cruises, we stayed at the adjacent Marriott. This Marriott has a Hertz car rental counter. I reserved a car for Saturday and Sunday. This allowed us to get out and explore a little. We went for lunch to the Mambo Café at Bayside Marketplace. Then we looked around some of the stores there. We then went to 5 PM mass at St. Michael the Archangel Catholic Church. After that, we went to Publix to get some snacks and a bottle of wine to bring on the ship. After all that, we returned to the hotel and had dinner at their restaurant, Champions. The food was good, but the service was slow. The kitchen was so backed up, the manager apologized several times. They gave us a free dessert. After our meal, we head back to the room and slept. I was too excited about this cruise that I was awake at 3:30. My wife calls it vacation mode.

... Next is embarkation

Embarkation Day: 2/18/18

Several times while cruising from Miami, we just used the hotel shuttle to get us to the Port of Miami. This time, we hired a car service; Cata Black Car Corp. The service was excellent. The driver met us in front of the hotel in a GMC Suburban. All the luggage fit without issue. We left the hotel around 10:00 and arrived at the port around 10:20. We waited outside in the priority line for several minutes. Then we were let into the building. Passport scan and security was very quick. We were brought to the waiting area. Around 11:05, we were boarding the ship.

Our room was on deck 14, Spa deck. We were lucky to get a call from the upgrade fairy, twice. We were originally in an ocean view cabin. The 1st upgrade call was in early December. The price per person was too high, so we declined. Then in mid January, we received another upgrade call. This time was for a spa balcony on the spa deck. The price was right, so we were upgraded. We were in 14214. We were allowed into our cabin immediately and put our carry-on luggage there. Our S&S cards were waiting in our cabin’s mailbox.

Time for lunch. Went to Guy’s Pig and Anchor. Between my wife and I, we sampled a little bit of everything. It was good. Then we went to the Red Frog Pub and had a tasty beer sampler.

The SPA!

We stopped by the Cloud 9 Spa to see what it has to offer. Have a spa cabin gets us discounts on spa services. All I was interested in was a hair cut and a massage. But the staff was trying to give a hard sell on acupuncture, body sculpting, etc. I know that is their job, but it gets annoying when they do not take a polite “no thank you” as our response. Anyway… I signed up for a men’s grooming package (hair cut and shave) and a hot stone massage. My wife signed up for some spa treatments too. More on the spa later.

Muster Drill and Sail Away

Our muster station was in the Liquid Lounge (4 forward). Most of you know that the new policy is that your S&S card is scanned upon entry to the muster station. If you were not accounted for, your name would be called over the ship’s PA system by Matt, the cruise director. I was surprised that more than 20 people did not show up to muster stations A4 and A5.

After muster drill, it was time to sail away. I went to the Lido deck and my wife went to her first spa appointment.

Dinner time

We ate at the steakhouse. We enjoyed the complimentary bottle of wine. I had the rib-eye and my wife had the filet. Both steaks were cooked to our specifications and were very delicious. Our server was Ivana from Croatia. We enjoyed her so much, we requested her for next time (1st night of 2nd part of trip).

The Alchemy Bar

Yulia, Vanja and Miroslav were the Alchemy Bar staff. Great people serving wonderful drinks. We went there every night of the cruise.

… Next is 1st sea day

following! Planning to do the Vista when it moves to Galveston in fall.

Following.... We cruised on Vista 3+ months ago and had a really great time!! Re-living our memories through your review!!

Thanks for the great info. I can't wait to hear more!

Horizon 7/13/2019

Great start looking forward to more on the ports . We cruise again on the Vista in 2 weeks

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Following and eager to read more. We did the Vista a little over a year ago, and stayed in the Havana Cabana area, but have stayed in a Spa cabin, which would be my next choice if no Havana cabin available. Will be interested to hear what you thought of the Thermal Suite.

Following and eager to read more. We did the Vista a little over a year ago, and stayed in the Havana Cabana area, but have stayed in a Spa cabin, which would be my next choice if no Havana cabin available. Will be interested to hear what you thought of the Thermal Suite.

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Hi Joe, looking forward to your review. I'm on the Vista in May. I live in Burke and fly direct on American from DCA. I haven't looked at flights to MIA from IAD? Are there no direct?

Looking forward for the rest.

I'm on Vista in July. Looking forward to reading the rest of your review. Great start so far.

Following We sailing on the Vista in Nov. We also have a spa cabin book looking forward to more of your review. Great start.

Great start looking forward to more on the ports . We cruise again on the Vista in 2 weeks

 

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I will review all the ports very soon. We did not get off the ship at Ocho Rios.

We booked the spa pass for the week again. We were not impressed but it will do, we got it during a special for $186 for both of us for 8 days .The thallaso pool is literally knee deep! It's a disappointment for such a new big ship

 

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The the "T" pool was tiny compared to that type of pool on other Carnival ships. I enjoyed the hot tubs on the Serenity deck a lot more.

Following and eager to read more. We did the Vista a little over a year ago, and stayed in the Havana Cabana area, but have stayed in a Spa cabin, which would be my next choice if no Havana cabin available. Will be interested to hear what you thought of the Thermal Suite.

We would like to be in the Havana cabin next time. The Thermal Suite has your typical steam room, an aroma steam room, a sauna type room and an infrared sauna. I liked the aroma steam room; you get a choice of 3 scents. Also, the infrared sauna was good. Their mineral pool is tiny and really not enough room to sit down completely. I enjoyed the hot tubs on the Serenity deck a lot more.

Hi Joe, looking forward to your review. I'm on the Vista in May. I live in Burke and fly direct on American from DCA. I haven't looked at flights to MIA from IAD? Are there no direct?

I believe there are some non stop flight to MIA on American, but they cost more from IAD and the flying times are really early in the morning or late night. We usually fly to Florida from DCA because the rates and times are better. However, this time we flew out of IAD because we got a good deal on airfare. My sister did non stop from DCA.

Following. we are on the Vista this coming Sunday!

Following. Taking my first cruise on the Vista in June.

Enjoying your review.

Keith

1st Sea Day: 2/19/18

Was up early for a massage. It has been a while since I had one. Headed down to deck 12 and was welcomed by the front desk staff. They escorted me to the waiting lounge, where I had to fill out paper work. The paper work asks about stress level, skin conditions, recent surgeries, medical conditions and asks to list your current medications. Once I completed the form, my masseuse Bibi came for me. I signed up for a hot stone massage; I never had this type of massage. I really enjoyed it. Those stones felt really good on my back. I believe I fell asleep during the massage.

Not much to do for the day except to relax, explore more of the ship and play trivia. We had lunch at the Mongolian Wok (known as JiJi’s for dinner time). We were glad to be there right at noon (opening time) because the place gets very busy. You are seated, you fill out a form of what you want in your bowl. The server collects your form. 15 minutes later, you get your meal. It was 15 for us because we were one of the first customers. Those that came in after us were waiting 20 – 30 minutes for their meal. The orders get backed up really fast. The food was OK, but I had much better elsewhere. I wish they would use less noodles and more meat.

Dinner was good too; it was cruise elegant night. We had early dining in the Reflections Restaurant. Our wonderful wait staff were Wi, I Made and I Made. Yes, there were 2 guys named I Made (pronounced “I mad ee”). After dinner, we met the captain. We visited the Alchemy bar after dinner for more delicious drinks from Yulia and Vanja.

Good evening captain!

I am now platinum, so I got the platinum gift. It is a very nice blanket. Happy to have it.

The the "T" pool was tiny compared to that type of pool on other Carnival ships. I enjoyed the hot tubs on the Serenity deck a lot more.

We loved the salads for lunch on serenity too, we spent Alot of time there and intend to again in 2 weeks

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Ocho Rios or Spa Day: 2/20/18

We stayed on the ship at this port. We have been to Ocho Rios before and decided that a spa/Serenity day would be better. Below are some photos of the port. The NCL Epic was in port too.

While others went ashore, we had a spa day. I got a men’s grooming treatment; which included a hair cut, shave (and beard trim), and a face and arm massage. Rico (the ship’s barber) was fantastic. My wife got a pedicure from Lydia. She was very satisfied with her treatment.

After lunch, we spent some time in the various thermal suites. We really liked the infrared room and the aroma steam room. We were really liking the aroma steam room. You have a choice of 3 scents. We liked the peppermint the best. This ship has a mineral pool in the thermal suite area, but no thalassotherapy pool like on the Breeze or Dream. This tiny pool was disappointing. No room to really sit in it.

We went to the Serenity deck for the rest of the afternoon. The hot tub was wonderful, not crowded. I soaked in there for a while and my wife sat in one of those covered chairs and read (and drank). By the time I got out of the hot tub, she was on her 3rd adult beverage. It’s OK, she kept sending the server over to the hot tub to get my drink order.

Dinner and drinks followed our do nothing day. I do not remember which night we saw the Hasbro show. I think it was the Ocho Rios night. We enjoyed the show.

I like the Caribbean Manhattan

… Next: Grand Caymen

Grand Cayman: 2/21/18

Glad to be back at Grand Cayman. It's been 8 years.

We booked a tour to Stingray City and Rum Point Beach. I was looking forward to Stingray City. We were in Grand Cayman back in January 2010 and were supposed to go to Stingray City, but the tour got cancelled due to the earthquake hitting Haiti that very day. The water was too rough to go out to the sandbar.

This time around, we made it. We took the bus ride to the boat and then on to Stingray City. I enjoyed the boat ride, but really loved the stingrays. I have an action camera with an underwater housing. I took photos and video of the stingrays. After being with the stingrays, we headed to Rum Point Beach. We had lunch, my wife went to the gift shop and I went in the water. The only complaint I have about this tour is that we did not have enough time at Rum Point. I believe we were there for 90 minutes. I would have liked to have had at least 2 – 3 hours there. I would do this tour again.

We decided to go back to the ship after the tour. We were too tired to shop. Had dinner and drinks, then watched the Sauce Factor band in Ocean Plaza. I think this was the night they were playing their 70s tunes. Good band with 2 very good singers. However, they played Celebrate by Kool and the Gang. Not 70s. The song came out in mid – late 1980. Either way… good job Sauce Factor.

Some other ships were in Grand Cayman too.

Some videos from Stingray City:

… Next is Cozumel

Can you comment in more detail about your Deck 14 balcony? Specifically, how was the lack of roof? Location? Was rocking bad that high up? These balconies are the only ones left (I'm currently booked in inside spa cabin on deck 11) and I'm debating. Thanks!

Thank you for the review...we are leaving Sunday so I am following closely.