Vista Review not a happy bunny

[drerickson77]

Come to Minnesota in the dead of winter and you would be praying for a few minutes on that balcony.

 

 

[LisaH]

I was on the same cruise as OP and in their defense I can confirm that they were working on the construction in the evening as well as the day with grinding machines as I saw sparks flying everywhere in the dark. Also it was very noisy and could be seen and heard from deck 9 where I was situated.

I would not have been happy if I was just above it.

 

Totally unacceptable! We had a noise issue on our first Breeze cruise when the ship was brand new. A horrible creaking noise when moving. Carnival refunded us about $1000 which was great. But I would have rather been refunded $0 and NOT have the noise. I recorded it and took the ipad down to Guest Services.

 

Sorry your balcony was so noisy.

[GOLDENBONNY]

Never had a free welcome drink. Princess also charges 3 bucks each for washer and dryer.

 

Carnival's entertainment not what it used to be and had heard comedy club was too small for size of the ship.

 

Celebrity has welcome drink .

[grush240]

To reply in bullet points again sorry about the rant in 1 para.

 

It wasn't a guaranteed cabin we always choose 2 floor below Lido decks and reasonably central.

 

P&O don't charge for the washers or driers neither do Thomson (long time back though). We didn't actually use them just the iron it was merely an observation.

 

Food was ok, to me that means acceptable but not outstanding.

 

The only thing I would have expected other than what I eventually received regarding the construction was an apology from someone with authority not being left to the front line staff who had to keep running back and forward to the inner sanctum. We didn't wait in line very long the time of 1/2 hour was spent discussing the problem.

 

There was no letter or any form of communication warning us of the impending work if there had been I wold not have been quite so brassed off by it still narked but not as much.

 

I don't expect to see the Captain socialising but it would have been nice if the odd officer that passed said good morning etc, they have on all the other lines I've sailed with including MSC.

 

We have had welcome drinks on Celebrity Azamara Cunard MSC always provide juices in the terminal.

 

Gratuities are added by most lines inc Brit based and I was aware of it being added to the drinks price wasn't expecting it to be added after I had perused the bar menu. ( I didn't have the added gratuities removed by the way)

 

Any other points I haven't covered are my PERSONAL opinion and without the building work wouldn't have bothered me a great deal.

[bguppies]

No cruiseline EVER 100% finishes work in drydock.

Thus, the reason you should never book the first couple of cruises coming out of a drydock.

Especially the first.

 

Sounds like the same rules apply to new builds...

That seems a bit ridiculous.

Edited October 18, 2016 by bguppies

[Rosethorn40]

To reply in bullet points again sorry about the rant in 1 para.

 

It wasn't a guaranteed cabin we always choose 2 floor below Lido decks and reasonably central.

 

P&O don't charge for the washers or driers neither do Thomson (long time back though). We didn't actually use them just the iron it was merely an observation.

 

Food was ok, to me that means acceptable but not outstanding.

 

The only thing I would have expected other than what I eventually received regarding the construction was an apology from someone with authority not being left to the front line staff who had to keep running back and forward to the inner sanctum. We didn't wait in line very long the time of 1/2 hour was spent discussing the problem.

 

There was no letter or any form of communication warning us of the impending work if there had been I wold not have been quite so brassed off by it still narked but not as much.

 

I don't expect to see the Captain socialising but it would have been nice if the odd officer that passed said good morning etc, they have on all the other lines I've sailed with including MSC.

 

We have had welcome drinks on Celebrity Azamara Cunard MSC always provide juices in the terminal.

 

Gratuities are added by most lines inc Brit based and I was aware of it being added to the drinks price wasn't expecting it to be added after I had perused the bar menu. ( I didn't have the added gratuities removed by the way)

 

Any other points I haven't covered are my PERSONAL opinion and without the building work wouldn't have bothered me a great deal.

 

Besides the construction work, which you were rightly annoyed by, it seems to me that you missed some of the niceties that you have enjoyed on other cruise lines. Not every line is a good fit for every person. I like Carnival because I feel it gives me good value, but I love other lines for other reasons.

[martinchem]

I've never got a welcome free drink on Carnival except during a b2b.

[poobears]

Thank you for reposting with some spacing, I honestly tried to read your initial post but was unable to make it through it so was reading follow up posts to kind of piece together what the issues were.

 

Basically it seems like you are accustomed to a different style of cruising and Carnival is just not what you expected. Nothing wrong with that, it would seem as long as you have been around the boards you would know what Carnival represents and refreshments at the port, the Captain or high up officials walking around greeting guests, gourmet food etc is just not what Carnival is all about and they don't represent themselves as such.

 

The construction on the other hand is a very valid complaint and I believe they solved it by giving you a partial refund. While you may have appreciated a formal apology from someone higher up it wouldn't have changed the noise any. They did what they could for you so take your money and book with a cruiseline that better aligns with your cruise style. Also next time be sure to check out what type of line you are booking on, a casual family friendly line or a more upscale line so your expectations and the cruiselines reality will be a bit more aligned.

[Karnyval]

Celebrity has welcome drink .

 

Carnival doesn't charge Celebrity prices. :)

[easyboy]

Carnival Customer relations are garbage. First and last time on Carnival for us.

Sorry about your experience. Thanks for the feedback.

[brittatx89]

Sorry to hear you had a bad time :(

 

though I am puzzled about the construction bit why would carnival sell you a room so close to construction noise? Seems like they could have worked on the new restaurant in dry dock...oh well better luck next time!

[pe4all]

I've never got a welcome free drink on Carnival except during a b2b.

Or boarding at Christmas or NYE!! Free champagne!

[PattBenatar]

 

 

 

So sad, I have to wait another 14 months before I can bake on the balcony of the Vista. If its loud I will never complain. This year I would be happy to smuggle away in a broom closet next to the boiler room that has a leak from the ceiling. Next to the trash from the galley.

 

Anyone have a extra large suitcase to smuggle me aboard? ROFL

[loubetti]

Free self-serve laundry?

 

How about CUNARD.

 

https://ask.cunard.com/help/fleet/laundry

[maldenmusic]

Sorry you didn't enjoy your experience. We have always been mostly satisfied with CCL but it's not for everyone. We actually like the smaller ships.

[Velvetwater]

As a fellow Brit its interesting how many P+Oers and Thompson cruisers tried out the Vista this year. For those over the pond, these are the two lines focus on a range of UK cruisers.

 

From our own Vista cruise and from reading online most of the UK line cruisers seemed to be more negative about Carnival than the British cruisers who usually cruised with US style lines. Lots of Royal and NCL Brits seemed happier with the Vista.

 

As someone who cruised Carnival first (then X and Royal) I am wary of UK style lines being less 'fun' . Even though I would have cheaper drinks and less grats. Maybe we will sail on one in the future.

 

The Balcony thing would have annoyed me too though.

[les37b]

The Balcony thing would have annoyed me too though.

 

I'm surprised it wasn't chargeable as a builder teaching course! :p

[mistyPA]

I don't think it's reasonable to pay for a balcony cabin and not be able to enjoy it because of construction. CCL really should have let people know that there would be construction in the immediate area of their cabins or not sold those cabins. I would not have been happy at all.

[3redheads]

We were on the same cruise and guest relations was ALWAYS packed.

 

OP-I'm sorry you couldn't enjoy your balcony. It would have been very annoying to listen to that noise until 11pm at night.

 

Hope you will give Carnival another try. There's good and bad with every line, every ship and every sailing.

[sprint180]

Apologise for the lack of para's etc I wrote it in word then C/P'd it, I don't normally do reviews just needed to get this off my chest... the minor annoyance was the d##mn building site under my balcony and the lack of interest by anyone in authority. I've never paid for washing yet on any of the lines I've cruised with other than for the powder.

 

I understand being irritated about the construction. I would have too. But, what lines are you cruising that you don't have to pay for laundry. I have always had to pay, just curious

[Karnyval]

What was your cabin number? I'm on Vista now and curious what they could have been constructing - especially for those hours and that many days.

[jimbo5544]

What was your cabin number? I'm on Vista now and curious what they could have been constructing - especially for those hours and that many days.

 

 

Think it was the guys bbq area which is supposed to open with the first NY sailing.

 

 

Sent from my iPhone

[Computer Nerd]

We were on the same cruise and guest relations was ALWAYS packed.

 

OP-I'm sorry you couldn't enjoy your balcony. It would have been very annoying to listen to that noise until 11pm at night.

 

Hope you will give Carnival another try. There's good and bad with every line, every ship and every sailing.

 

Sounds like FTTF would have been helpful. :D

[rjrpar]

To reply in bullet points again sorry about the rant in 1 para.

 

 

 

It wasn't a guaranteed cabin we always choose 2 floor below Lido decks and reasonably central.

 

 

 

P&O don't charge for the washers or driers neither do Thomson (long time back though). We didn't actually use them just the iron it was merely an observation.

 

 

 

Food was ok, to me that means acceptable but not outstanding.

 

 

 

The only thing I would have expected other than what I eventually received regarding the construction was an apology from someone with authority not being left to the front line staff who had to keep running back and forward to the inner sanctum. We didn't wait in line very long the time of 1/2 hour was spent discussing the problem.

 

 

 

There was no letter or any form of communication warning us of the impending work if there had been I wold not have been quite so brassed off by it still narked but not as much.

 

 

 

I don't expect to see the Captain socialising but it would have been nice if the odd officer that passed said good morning etc, they have on all the other lines I've sailed with including MSC.

 

 

 

We have had welcome drinks on Celebrity Azamara Cunard MSC always provide juices in the terminal.

 

 

 

Gratuities are added by most lines inc Brit based and I was aware of it being added to the drinks price wasn't expecting it to be added after I had perused the bar menu. ( I didn't have the added gratuities removed by the way)

 

 

 

Any other points I haven't covered are my PERSONAL opinion and without the building work wouldn't have bothered me a great deal.

 

 

You seem overly concerned with interaction with the officers and people in higher positions. Wonder why that is??

 

 

Sent from my iPhone using Forums

[les37b]

You seem overly concerned with interaction with the officers and people in higher positions. Wonder why that is??

 

I think the OP suggested it might have been a polite thing to do given the inconvenience that was caused by building work on a brand new ship which I doubt anyone would be too happy about.

 

I'm more surprised you seem more concerned about the OP expectations rather than the issues they'd raised. Then again......

 

In the meantime, the ship on my next cruise is in dry dock to have a refurb done. That's the time to do this sort of thing, not while its being used and cabins affected remaining sold.