Vista not our favorite

[CarolinaGirlLovesCruisin]

I agree with all your positives. We had a great time on the ship but there were lines everywhere!! I also do not like Your Time Dining. You have to stand in line to get a dining time and then you have to stand in line to get seated in the dining room. I did put these on my comment card. I hope Carnival will really look at comments and make some changes.

[stargate fan]

We sailed the 13 day Vista Transatlantic. We had an amazing cruise and went to incredible ports. We met up with friends whom we hadn't seen in two years.

 

Matt Mitcham, MarQ, and Cookie were so wonderful, kind, compassionate, and funny as all. All crew was super-friendly and hard-working.

 

As to the ship itself, I agree with the cons.

I found the ship layout to be very chopped up.

 

The Liquid Lounge seating was horrible. The seating consists of individual chairs that moved. People moved entire rows against the rows behind them, making them inaccessible. There were no little tables so we had to hold our drinks or put them on the floor. We constantly heard glasses break on the tile floor.

 

The piano bar was smaller than on other ships and had a huge support pole right in front of the piano player.

 

Loved, LOVED the hand washing stations on Lido. Every ship should add them.

 

Vista would have to have an extraordinary itinerary for us to book her again. Spirit class ships are still my favorite.

[TheTravelista]

It does seem that way. Wonder what they will do on the next class?

 

I'm honestly scared to find out.

 

One of the biggest issues I have is the multi-use space that they see to be obsessed with. I get it, it makes sense, but they do it terribly. The Liquid Lounge is hideous with terrible sight lines for the shows. And it's SMALL. Then as a club it doesn't really work either because you have the chairs piled up on the sides from the shows (seriously? They couldn't find anywhere else to put them?), the DJ being swallowed by this huge stage, this massive space that will never be welcoming unless it's full, and it has to end by 1am because of noise complaints (understandable) from the cabins above. I spoke at length with the one of the DJs on the Sunshine about it and they arent happy either. The multiuse space is a "brilliant" idea if done right, both RCI and NCL have done it. Carnival just failed at it. The theater is a part of the ship they should take pride in. It should be one of the crown jewels of the ship. Not just have it be an afterthought and that's exactly what the Liquid Lounge looks and feels like.

 

They also have a bunch of new venues yes, but everything is so small and compact (chopped up is right lol) it doesn't even help to disperse the huge amounts of people they cram onto these ships. Which is why On Oasis/Allure you can have 6k people and be in certain spaces and not encounter a line or see another single soul. They did their public areas right.

 

I don't expect anything to change with Horizon or the Reflection to follow. Maybe with the class after.

Edited January 19, 2017 by TheTravelista

[seamusdad]

25 of us went on the Vista for a family cruise that included 5 birthdays. 14 of have previously sailed with Carnival on between 2 and 6 cruises. The Vista was not anyone's favorite. We all preferred the smaller ships, all classes. If you choose to read on, I will begin with the good, then follow with the disappointments.

 

As usual, the Carnival staff can't be beat! From Matt Mitchum, the cruise director, to the di ing room staff, the room stewards, and everyone you passed by during the day, Carnival employees are always friendly and welcoming. (More than I can say for RCCI)

 

The prominade deck (5) was wonderful, with ample, comfortable seating always. The Private Havanna area looked beautiful, from a distance! It was decorated plushly Caribbean, had its own pool and hot tub.

 

The cabins and bathrooms seem to be larger than usual, both balcony and inside.

 

The homemade ice cream was a treat each day, and the home brewed beer on the interior of deck 5 was excellent.

 

The IMAX theater was amazing and they had 4 different showing each day, 2 movies, 2 shorter films.

 

Guys Pig and Ancher was good.

 

The bartenders in the casino, the Alchemy Bar and the Red Frog Pub, inside on deck 5, were excellent.

 

On the other hand:

 

The location of the casino is ridiculous. You have to walk through the smoke filled casino in order to get to or from the teen club! The always open entryway to the casino in right below the open atrium to deck 5, and the smoke drifts up into that area.

 

The Marketplace Buffet is large because it has many tables. Very little food area! And very little choice of foods! On all other Carnival ships, there is akways a wide selection of foods, salads, desserts. Not on the Vista! We were shocked at how scaled back the buffet was.

 

The white tile floor in the Marketplace is very slippery. It doesn't natter what shoes you are wearing, sneakers, sandals, flip flops, you have to be very careful walking!

 

The bartenders on deck 10, Tides Bar and Red Frog Pub, were terrible! They did not take drinks in order, sometimes served a drink other than the one ordered, and took a very long time serving. There were no staff walking around the Liso deck taking orders, as usual. You had to go to the bar each time you wanted a drink, and then wait for poor service.

 

The shows were spectacular, in costume, but mediocre, at best. Not as good as on smaller ships. Flic, in particular, had a long, boring introduction that turned many audiences off so badly that they left before the actual show. (Which was good)

 

I have a cruise booked on the Magic in two months and hope that it is as great as all of my previous Carnival cruises.

Thanks for the,review. I also prefer the smaller ships. The Breeze has,so far been my least favorite of the 9 Carnival ships I've been on so probably will not like the Vista . Although I live 30 minutes from Galveston I am considering going to Florida in the Fall of 2018 rather than sail Vista.

 

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[jimbo5544]

 

 

 

Probably to read reviews to see if they want to try the ship. I've read other boards to see what people say about the ships on other lines that I'm interested in.

 

 

I can agree that it is an excellent way to see things about other lines or ships. That said, another view of some negative posts are not so noble. All in all it is part of what makes this site work.

 

 

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[csr10236]

I will be on the Vista in July with 21 of my family members. We have anytime dinning. Did your family have ATD or did you have a set time for dinner. From reading all the reviews I'm afraid it's going to be a nightmare to get seats at the time we want them. I understand we won't be able to sit together due to our size but I don't want it to be a hassle and waiting game.

[eaflorida]

Did the NY to Miami on the Vista in November, and being Diamond on Carnival and having sailed almost all of their ships, the Vista was by far the least favorite Carnival Cruise that my wife and I have taken.

Service in the dining room was SLOW. Sometimes it would take 30 minutes to get an appetizer. Many mornings, our stateroom would not be cleaned until 11:30 or noon. That has never ever happened to us previously on our many Carnival cruises. I think part of the problem is that there simply is not enough staffing for the number of passengers. And as many others have stated, you would think Carnival's biggest ship would have the biggest venues, but sadly it does not.

Have been on RCL Allure of the Seas twice now, and they just seem so much better at handling 6,000 passengers, than Carnival handling 4,000 passengers.

 

Simply put, we were not the slightest bit impressed with the Vista and will probably stay away from it!

[jimbo5544]

Did the NY to Miami on the Vista in November, and being Diamond on Carnival and having sailed almost all of their ships, the Vista was by far the least favorite Carnival Cruise that my wife and I have taken.

 

Service in the dining room was SLOW. Sometimes it would take 30 minutes to get an appetizer. Many mornings, our stateroom would not be cleaned until 11:30 or noon. That has never ever happened to us previously on our many Carnival cruises. I think part of the problem is that there simply is not enough staffing for the number of passengers. And as many others have stated, you would think Carnival's biggest ship would have the biggest venues, but sadly it does not.

 

Have been on RCL Allure of the Seas twice now, and they just seem so much better at handling 6,000 passengers, than Carnival handling 4,000 passengers.

 

 

 

Simply put, we were not the slightest bit impressed with the Vista and will probably stay away from it!

 

 

So I may be misreading it but I sense you are in the fence with your thoughts on the Vista. Happy cruising.

 

 

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[Micahs Grandad]

I will be on the Vista in July with 21 of my family members. We have anytime dinning. Did your family have ATD or did you have a set time for dinner. From reading all the reviews I'm afraid it's going to be a nightmare to get seats at the time we want them. I understand we won't be able to sit together due to our size but I don't want it to be a hassle and waiting game.

 

I think ATD with such a large group is a mistake. Would suggest if you can do early or late but link all together so you sit close by and switch off day by day.

[BNBR]

Have been on RCL Allure of the Seas twice now, and they just seem so much better at handling 6,000 passengers, than Carnival handling 4,000 passengers.

 

Oasis class is a near perfect ship. RCL hit a home run for sure and it's simply amazing that they handle 6,000 passengers and the ship feels empty! We were on the fence about booking Vista this year - we did Glory in Oct and enjoyed it quite a bit so were considering Carnivals newest and best... but also did Oasis earlier in the year so had a good comparison.

 

All these negative remarks and it's clear we made the right choice by booking Harmony instead of Vista. What a shame. Though I'm sure Vista is still pretty awesome - and you can't beat the Carnival itineraries, they do such a good job with that.

Edited January 22, 2017 by BNBR

[IPlayWithString]

Always wondered why they dont use a non slick surface in such high traffic areas.

 

As a veteran of both the customer service industry as well as the food service industry, I've wondered the same thing. Because you sometimes get quite a bit of water on the floors of the Lido deck restaurant from people walking through having just stepped out of the pool, etc and the floor is slick as heck.

 

I've even seen kids, still dripping wet, run in one door of the Lido buffet and out the other, leaving a small wet trail behind them. :(

[Janespup]

Yes, we had Any Time Dining. We went to hostess on the first afternoon and were told that the only time we could expect to sit at tables near eachother was at 5:30. We had one person (me) go to the spot on deck 5 (just past photo area) at 5:10-5:15 and get on line. Got a ticket for our 25 seats. Hurried down to deck 4 where everyone was waiting for me (sometimes in a huge crowd of people). But, I must say, they opened the doors at exactly 5:30. We always got in almost immediately. We had two large tables and one smaller table right next to eachother. We were able to get the same wait staff each night. The only hastle was having to get on line at a different location and then rush down to the dining room. They should have had it all in the same location.

[chong67]

I didnt like the buffet on Vista either. No chinese or indian food. We went to fine dining instead. Then we eat fruits and desserts at the buffet.

 

The burrito is good, but only available during breakfast and lunch.

[Micahs Grandad]

I didnt like the buffet on Vista either. No chinese or indian food. We went to fine dining instead. Then we eat fruits and desserts at the buffet.

 

The burrito is good, but only available during breakfast and lunch.

 

For fine dining do you mean the main dining room?

[Jamericannn]

Why do people that neither like Carnival, or have ever sailed Carnival feel the need to read and respond to comments on this board?

 

Good question. I hope they will answer.

[Micahs Grandad]

Good question. I hope they will answer.

 

People do seem to have valid complaints on the direction Carnival is going with the Vista.

 

Entertainment is very important to us and from what we are hearing they have shrunk the venues big time making it more difficult to see shows you want to see.

[sunnylasvegas]

We were not thrilled the Vista either the show room is so small and the chairs are a joke no place for your drink I sure like the other ships main theater 100% better. There are some nice things on the Vista but I think all in all it is the worst new ship I have sailed on. I probably will not sail on her again and also will not sail on the next 2 new Vista class ships I like Carnival but before I sail on a Vista class ship again I would go to another Cruise line which is too bad because I do like Carnival the best, but I really don't care for the Vista class.

 

We are just off the Vista last Saturday and feel the exact same way! Some people said the cabins and balconies were bigger. We didn't see this at all. The closets seem smaller--less storage. And, I believe there has always been a long, low cabinet on the wall in front of the bed. I remember the cabin steward on previous cruises putting the liquor in there. We also always seemed to be fussing with the 2 chairs on the balcony. One always seemed to be in the way of the door.

 

We talked to dozens of people on the ship and no one liked the Liquid Lounge as a "showroom." Very poor design!

 

There were other issues as well----as in Your Time Dining! These things did not spoil the cruise for us. I have to say----we'd never sail the Vista again.

Edited January 25, 2017 by sunnylasvegas

[dockside31]

Give me a break I` m sick and tired of people bashing Carnival try another line and see what you get!

[sprint180]

Thanks for posting. The kids and I have been thinking about another cruise. I really want to do a large ship but not sure if I'd like it. I'm trying to get all the info I can from reviews.

[Juanita56]

I will be on the Vista in July with 21 of my family members. We have anytime dinning. Did your family have ATD or did you have a set time for dinner. From reading all the reviews I'm afraid it's going to be a nightmare to get seats at the time we want them. I understand we won't be able to sit together due to our size but I don't want it to be a hassle and waiting game.

 

I was on the Dec. 11th sailing with a group of 53. We had anytime dining. Best if everyone interested in eating together meet at the same time to check in. They will ask for staterooms for everybody. We weren't able to all sit together but we were basically in the same area. All 53 of us did not always meet at the same time. The most we had at any given time was 25. The earlier you go, the better. We tried to go between 6:00 and 6:30. After that time, the line was very long to check in and again at the restaurant to sit down. Be prepared for lines everywhere.

[Juanita56]

Give me a break I` m sick and tired of people bashing Carnival try another line and see what you get!

 

Not bashing. Just giving an honest opinion. We had a great time. Thank you very much but the truth is the truth.

[Jamericannn]

People do seem to have valid complaints on the direction Carnival is going with the Vista.

 

Entertainment is very important to us and from what we are hearing they have shrunk the venues big time making it more difficult to see shows you want to see.

 

That's why I am not too excited about booking the Vista. I love the shows but if the menus are now small and you have to wait forever to get in that will be a turn off. The new outside spaces are nice though.

[jimbo5544]

That's why I am not too excited about booking the Vista. I love the shows but if the menus are now small and you have to wait forever to get in that will be a turn off. The new outside spaces are nice though.

 

 

Where did you hear the menus were "small"?

 

 

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[sanmarcosman]

Where did you hear the menus were "small"?

 

 

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Auto-correct: menus = venues.

[Jamericannn]

Auto-correct: menus = venues.

 

Thanks Sanmarcosman. I replied from my phone which loves to change my words if there is a slight error.