Carnival Horizon questions for Previous Vista Cruisers

My DH and I will sail a B2B on the Vista in May 2018 for my retirement, we've been on 7 other Carnival ships. We are the type to go with the flow and not get in to the negative and after reading reviews on other cruise ships, including other than Carnival ship reviews we found we really have enjoyed all of our cruises regardless of the bad reviews. I've learned not to rely only on reviews (good or bad). You can certainly get some great tips though from past reviews and have taken advantage of them on all our past sailings. We can always find the fun and enjoyable places on the ship and just be happy we are cruising! I'm looking forward to my b2b! :)

I just sailed the Vista in early October and had the best time. I also previously sailed the Breeze twice. I would have to say I am torn between which would be my favorite. The complaints people have regarding the theatre, comedy clubs, and lines did not affect me. I guess going in knowing you will wait for certain things or need to get there a little early to get a good seat helps make it more tolerable. That way you aren't disappointed :-)

 

I would book the Vista or the Horizon, but I think to get my "Schwartz" fix I may sail the Breeze next year.

So I just booked a cruise on the Horizon. For the first time after booking a cruise I am doubting myself. I don't know why... but I have a few questions, even after reading reviews and trying to locate information.

 

1. Was it crowded all the time? We don't hang out by the pool or the hot tubs until evening, so we will probably use the Havana pool, since it is open to everyone after 7pm.

 

We didn't notice any "unusual" crowding except at the usual times -- embark day in the buffet, etc. There's a simple solution for that, though: just go up to the Cucina or Jiji's for lunch instead. Both are free, both were uncrowded, and both were really good. We were astonished at how many people in line at the Lido didn't know they could just go up a flight of stairs for a nice sit-down lunch.

 

The pools never seemed TOO overcrowded but there are no adults-only pools. Your plan to go to the Havana pool after 7 pm is a good one since it was almost empty out there the nights we went there.

The ship also has fewer hot-tubs than a Conquest-class, but the two in the Serenity area are, of course, kid-free.

 

2. We are smokers... if they keep it the same as the Vista... Deck 5 starboard forward has tables, chairs, umbrellas (or shaded area)... correct? I saw pics on google for the Dream/Magic/breeze, that there was a smoking area outside the Ocean Plaza... but not sure if that is there anymore based on CCL's website.

The starboard side of the Lanai is, I believe, smoking-allowed.

 

3. Those who have sailed Vista.. and maybe Breeze or Magic... what ship did you prefer and why?

I can only compare Vista to Conquest- and Fantasy-class ships. I would sail again on Vista, but the ship does have some issues. Our sailing experienced more rainy, clousy, and windy weather than normal, and Vista is not designed for such: there is no pool with a retractable roof, and the outdoor seating is awesome...until it rains or gets really windy.

 

We are 39 & 42, we don't drink much, we enjoy the casino, we go to all the shows.

You WILL want to get to shows early, then. As others have said, the Liquid Lounge is a bit undersized and it has those view-blocking poles.

 

I love the Fantasy class, but I want to experience a newer, more 2.0 ship. Splendor was good, didn't feel crowded, and we really like the Movies in the main pool area. The Vista almost looked like that area was small at the mid ship pool, and would be really crowded.

It seemed a bit smaller than the midships pool area on the Conquest-class, so as with many things -- like the SkyRide and the ropes course -- plan on getting there a little early to get a good lounger, or to get in line early.

 

Also, the Horizon will probably have the new elevator-call system that the Vista has recently installed for its forward elevators. It's nifty, but it takes a bit getting used to. Embark day was...problematical. :D

 

Any thoughts are appreciated.

I covered more in my Vista review on CruiseCritic; it's linked in my signature.

The tl;dr: a nice ship with a few really weird choices (like the slippery tile in the Lido buffet....WHY?!), but the good outweighed the bad IMO.

I totally agree about the Vista! There was basically nothing I Iiked about this ship. We were just on this ship in Jan. I had booked for Early Dining---got Anytime Dining---which was horrible! We had to go to a Coffee shop to pick up our dining room "ticket"---then proceed down to the MDR--we waited in another line! Couldn't change it because there were NO extra tables in early Dining. My guess is because they have totally reduced the size of the size of the rooms. Also, very lackluster MDR! My sister---60's---commented that she's seen better décor in VFW dining rooms!

 

I also felt that the entire ship seemed crowded in--probably to make room the huge I-Max theater--which we weren't willing to pay extra for! The "theater/lounge" was horrible. Big support poles that blocked your view---bad seating. We all commented that if they had to evacuate this "lounge" quickly, it would be a disaster!! The lounge chairs at the pool were so crowded in you had to CLIMB over the chair to sit down. It was hard to move them anywhere because the lounges were scrunched in between two unmovable poles.

 

Sad to hear that Horizons will be exactly the same! No more Vista for us---or Horizons!! This ship is catering to people with children---not adults who want to enjoy some Serenity Time! Very poor design if you ask me!

 

This is helpful. I really like the fixed or attached, whatever you want to call it, seating in the main theater and thought that other way looked odd. That IMAX theater is of no interest to us either, as we have one right up the interstate from where we live.

 

I am only trying to figure out what I want, as I do not think I will be on Carnival for a while after this cruise... so I want to choose right, based on what is best for us. Can't go wrong with Fantasy class, I really like them... but I would like to see Dream/Vista class... Might just have to be the Breeze.

We didn't notice any "unusual" crowding except at the usual times -- embark day in the buffet, etc. There's a simple solution for that, though: just go up to the Cucina or Jiji's for lunch instead. Both are free, both were uncrowded, and both were really good. We were astonished at how many people in line at the Lido didn't know they could just go up a flight of stairs for a nice sit-down lunch.

 

The pools never seemed TOO overcrowded but there are no adults-only pools. Your plan to go to the Havana pool after 7 pm is a good one since it was almost empty out there the nights we went there.

The ship also has fewer hot-tubs than a Conquest-class, but the two in the Serenity area are, of course, kid-free.

 

The starboard side of the Lanai is, I believe, smoking-allowed.

 

I can only compare Vista to Conquest- and Fantasy-class ships. I would sail again on Vista, but the ship does have some issues. Our sailing experienced more rainy, clousy, and windy weather than normal, and Vista is not designed for such: there is no pool with a retractable roof, and the outdoor seating is awesome...until it rains or gets really windy.

 

You WILL want to get to shows early, then. As others have said, the Liquid Lounge is a bit undersized and it has those view-blocking poles.

 

It seemed a bit smaller than the midships pool area on the Conquest-class, so as with many things -- like the SkyRide and the ropes course -- plan on getting there a little early to get a good lounger, or to get in line early.

 

Also, the Horizon will probably have the new elevator-call system that the Vista has recently installed for its forward elevators. It's nifty, but it takes a bit getting used to. Embark day was...problematical. :D

 

I covered more in my Vista review on CruiseCritic; it's linked in my signature.

The tl;dr: a nice ship with a few really weird choices (like the slippery tile in the Lido buffet....WHY?!), but the good outweighed the bad IMO.

 

Wow... Thank you for all of that information. I will read your review.

Edited November 6, 2017 by Mikew0805
Spelling error

I was on the Vista inaugural. What I didn't like about the casino was that it was ENTIRELY smoking and the bar is in the middle, so all the smokers congregate there so there's no getting away from it.

 

 

This is actually true of the Dream class as well. The walkway goes through the casino just like on Vista & the bar is in the center. I love the Dream class, but I did prefer when the walkway was alongside the casino rather than in it.

See some speculation on the rumor.

 

 

 

Show lounge on Horizon has a different drink holder solution compared with Vista. Not perfect, but different.

 

 

There were a number of late night comedy shows in the main lounge and what is the comedy club on Vista is the nightclub on Horizon.

 

 

 

On Vista and Horizon, the casino isn't on the Promenade deck so you don't have to go through the casino at all.

 

 

Don't remember any overcrowding but then, we don't have to be the first in line or in the front row. The BBQ might have a line when it opens, but come back an hour later.

 

 

You really should discover for yourself, with an open mind, and decide for yourself. Too many complainers about everything these days.

Horizon Smoking areas:

https://help.carnival.com/app/answers/detail/a_id/3490/#horizon

I was on vista in March. The first couple days, I hated the ship & vowed never again on this class. I was underwhelmed by the dreamscape & atrium. I found the layout confusing. The decor was boring & drab. I felt like I spent all my time walking.

 

However, I honestly warmed up to it. Once I learned the layout, I didnt mind it anymore & I grew to really like the decor. I'll be on the Magic next month (Dream class is still my favorite), but we now have the Horizon booked for 2019.

 

Here's my observations:

 

- Overall it quite honestly didnt feel any more crowded than any other cruise. I got a chair on serenity when I wanted one. Short wait for the ropes course. Waited maybe 10 minutes or so for a table on YTD on formal night.

 

- Lines on lido felt the same & often shorter. Never had a problem finding a table with little to no hunting. The lines for Guys & Blue Iguana were fine. Pizza at night was insane as always. Deli lines were hit or miss.

 

- It was spring break so a TON... EPIC TON... of kids so it's hard to comment accurately on the pools & kid oriented spots.

 

- Went to every adult comedy show on the sailing. We saw people lining up a half hour or more early. We never got in the line & still got a seat easily for all but one show. We arrived late, after starting that time tho.

 

- Whoever designed the main show lounge should hang their head in shame & be invited to never design anything ever again. Absolutely horrible. Drink servers cannot get to you & the crowd actually had to pass drinks back over their heads. Seriously?! The poles are horribly placed. The tables attached to the seats in the balconies are cramped & horribly placed. I whacked my funny bone good while simply trying to sip my drink & dropped it. WORST thing about the ship.

 

- I was not a fan of the limelight being a show lounge AND nightclub. It really messed with the showtimes. I'm not sure if Horizon is the same.

 

- The atrium never grew on me. It felt closed in & blah. I prefer the glass elevators to the dreamscape. I did like the smaller dreamscape set up in the casino though.

 

- Approach the decor with an open mind. Yes, it's different for carnival but I honestly grew to like the more muted tones.

 

So Dream class is still my fave, but I'm open to Vista class too. It has it's good & bad. The crowds I think depend on the sailing, but they aren't necessarily worse than any other ship. Dont take anyone else's word. We're all different. It's worth a try!

Don't want to turn this into yet another smoking thread, though! ;)

 

You already have. :(