Vista revisited (Havana Cabana this time)...... A fairly lengthy review with pics

[jimbo5544]

The rest of the day was very relaxing as was the first cruise elegant meal. One thing we began to see was the level of service we were getting in the main dining room. I can't speak to why, but this was by far the quickest we received our food and a very high level of service we have ever received. It might be that we were on a two top or our positioning of the table or great service.....

[jimbo5544]

Liquid Lounge

After dinner we caught the show in the main theater. For this show we sat on the lower level. For the next show, Flick, we sat on the upper level. We normally sit on the lower level and wanted to do this in part because of what I had read of other review about the sight lines in the Liquid lounge and some of the thoughts on the quality of the shows.

First of all, we enjoyed both shows we saw. I especially thought Flick was pretty unique and interesting how they do the show. In regards to the sight lines of the theater, from the lower level, it might be a little worse than the "standard theater on a Carnival ship, it is flat for a good portion of the front area and they make use of that space (an engaging the clients into the shows). That said, on the upper level, there were significant areas of seats where you had at last a somewhat restricted view of the show, depending on where on the stage the action was.

[jimbo5544]

There was not a show or event in theater that we went to that was SRO. There was always seats available. I continue to find it interesting on how entertainment on a cruise ship continues to evolve. This was a completely full sailing (4,200), as we wandered around the ship during evening times, the only places that we felt packed was comedy shows and the Piano bar (which I will talk about later).

I did find it interesting that every time I went by or stopped into a dive in movie, it was always pretty full. Not sure what all this means but more of a reporting of the facts.

[jimbo5544]

We spent a good hour after that in the red frog listening to the entertainment and then headed down to bed. Of note in the Red Frog was the Brew Master was not on our sailing (back in Miami for meetings....) , therefore no tours. What we also noted on this sailing compared to our previous one was sale of and use of growlers, which seemed to be very successful.

Next up: Our first port of call Grand Turk

[Sizzlechest]

I did find it interesting that every time I went by or stopped into a dive in movie, it was always pretty full. Not sure what all this means but more of a reporting of the facts.

 

What?

[LisaH]

Here is a pic of the lobby area and the ladies I described. I believe their name was Allure strings.

 

We loved the lobby and the violinists. They had a big crowd each night. Honestly I did not miss the big atrium.

[jimbo5544]

What?

LOL, I meant that comment in regards to how entertainment is evolving, as opposed to just the Dive in movie. More of how there are many things going on that attracts people as wanting to do (Casino, main shows, Comedy Club, Oceans Plaza, Red Frog, Violinists in the Atrium, Movie under the stars, Movie theater, %D movie etc etc).

[jimbo5544]

We loved the lobby and the violinists. They had a big crowd each night. Honestly I did not miss the big atrium.

We found them to be very entertaining, especially the different types of songs and the classical/pop interface. The did a Journey song that what the three violins added to it were truly extremely enjoyable. I did not get bored during the cruise in going to listen to them.

[SOLIVITA LADY]

If you did self debark could you give me some advice. We are on Horizon out of Barcelona next year and when the ship gets back into Barcelona on our last day we are going to try to make a 10:30 am flight. Ship is supposed to dock at 6am on a Sunday- we will self debark (we are on deck 5 in a Havana cabin) and will have a car service to bring us to the airport. Is this just a pipe dream or something that is doable. Can you use elevators for self debark or how many flights of stairs will we have to negotiate.

 

Thanks for your sage advice. I've been following your Vista reviews and really appreciate how detailed they are.

 

 

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[jimbo5544]

If you did self debark could you give me some advice. We are on Horizon out of Barcelona next year and when the ship gets back into Barcelona on our last day we are going to try to make a 10:30 am flight. Ship is supposed to dock at 6am on a Sunday- we will self debark (we are on deck 5 in a Havana cabin) and will have a car service to bring us to the airport. Is this just a pipe dream or something that is doable. Can you use elevators for self debark or how many flights of stairs will we have to negotiate.

 

Thanks for your sage advice. I've been following your Vista reviews and really appreciate how detailed they are.

 

 

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Debarking out of Barcelona was surreal. It appeared that no one wanted to get off the ship, my guess would be they all had late flights. We did not do self debark, but if we had, I would think you would not have a problem....the airport is about 20 minutes away and it took 1/2 hour to check in and go through security. I would make sure you were among the first off though.....

 

 

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[PaulMedik]

Enjoying your review Jim. I'm not so sure the aft wrap will have the same appeal as before. Dream Class changed them a lot and it looks like Vista made them moot. I think Havana Cabana will be the way to go...........and reading your review makes me again wish we had went! But had we went, we'd be back already so...:loudcry: The way you are describing your time is like you had your area and then the Havana area and you just visited the rest of the ship. I'm liking that notion! :cool:

[jimbo5544]

Enjoying your review Jim. I'm not so sure the aft wrap will have the same appeal as before. Dream Class changed them a lot and it looks like Vista made them moot. I think Havana Cabana will be the way to go...........and reading your review makes me again wish we had went! But had we went, we'd be back already so...:loudcry: The way you are describing your time is like you had your area and then the Havana area and you just visited the rest of the ship. I'm liking that notion! :cool:

 

 

Thanks Paul, that is exactly the way we felt about the Havana area. The aft wraps have lost some of the appeal with the eh 5th floor underneath (although we have one booked tentatively for August). Going back to A Havana Cabana room next July on the Horizon.

 

 

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[SOLIVITA LADY]

Debarking out of Barcelona was surreal. It appeared that no one wanted to get off the ship, my guess would be they all had late flights. We did not do self debark, but if we had, I would think you would not have a problem....the airport is about 20 minutes away and it took 1/2 hour to check in and go through security. I would make sure you were among the first off though.....

 

 

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Thanks for the info. I'm just hoping it all works out.

 

 

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[jimbo5544]

Enjoying your review Jim. I'm not so sure the aft wrap will have the same appeal as before. Dream Class changed them a lot and it looks like Vista made them moot. I think Havana Cabana will be the way to go...........and reading your review makes me again wish we had went! But had we went, we'd be back already so...:loudcry: The way you are describing your time is like you had your area and then the Havana area and you just visited the rest of the ship. I'm liking that notion! :cool:

The only thing wrong with the Havana cabins on the 5th floor is that darn 7 ft glass wall on the side of the ship......

[splintz]

Can Uber pick you up from the Mia Port back to FLL?

 

 

I cruised on the vista. And when we debarked and got our luggage we checked uber app and there were plenty of Uber's in the area for the ship. This was the first time ever for us using uber. It was simple and great put in our destination FLL airport and within a couple minutes the driver called me and told me to walk to the 2nd median and what kind of car he had. Within another 2 minutes he was there loaded us up and we were on our way to the airport. Dropped us off right at the southwest terminal. It was $31. We had a $20 first time user credit so it cost us $11. I gave the guy a tip in cash and was on my way. In comparison when I arrived to FLL the night before my cruise I took a cab to a downtown hotel close to POM and it cost me $107 with tip.

 

 

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[jimbo5544]

Monday Grand Turk

As we sailed into Grand Turk, for the first time in our trips there it was cloudy. Clearly it had rained the night before, not that we heard it. On every other stop here, we have had a cabana waiting for us, so in order to get the one we wanted, we were among the early throngs off the ship. This is a good hint for those going to GT and have a cabana in that if you have a specific cabana you want you have to go to Margeritaville and check in they give you the cabana.

As we were planning on just lounging by the pool and walking the beach this time, we decided to wait and debark at leisure. About 45 minutes after they cleared debarking, we got off and found a couple of chairs along side the pool facing the flow rider. About 1/2 hour after we were there, the sun sun broke thru to an applause by most of the cruisers in the pool and surrounding area.

[jimbo5544]

I cruised on the vista. And when we debarked and got our luggage we checked uber app and there were plenty of Uber's in the area for the ship. This was the first time ever for us using uber. It was simple and great put in our destination FLL airport and within a couple minutes the driver called me and told me to walk to the 2nd median and what kind of car he had. Within another 2 minutes he was there loaded us up and we were on our way to the airport. Dropped us off right at the southwest terminal. It was $31. We had a $20 first time user credit so it cost us $11. I gave the guy a tip in cash and was on my way. In comparison when I arrived to FLL the night before my cruise I took a cab to a downtown hotel close to POM and it cost me $107 with tip.

 

 

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Thanks for adding this. I am sure Uber will put a significant dent in the transfers for cruises.

[jimbo5544]

Here are some pics I took, first a look from our chairs across the flow rider to the Vista......

[jimbo5544]

...and looking over at Margaritaville.....

.....and the Vista as we walked down the beach.....

[Flytko]

Grand Turk looks very beautiful!!!

[PaulMedik]

The only thing wrong with the Havana cabins on the 5th floor is that darn 7 ft glass wall on the side of the ship......

 

Jim,

 

Yeah I guess they think they need it for some reason. There are many ships with 3rd floor decks that people can walk on and none of them have 7 foot glass walls. My guess is so the glass is the same height all the way and not just elevated where the hot tubs are located?

[pirate4me2]

The only thing wrong with the Havana cabins on the 5th floor is that darn 7 ft glass wall on the side of the ship......

Agreed!! We were not fans of it in January, it made it hard to take pictures from the Havana area.

Enjoying your review, thanks for taking time to post it!

 

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[Froufie]

The second surprise of the evening that the waiter for the rest of the row (the four top of our new friends and the long table as well as another round table) was our head waiter from our last Vista cruise. She spotted us right away and hugs were exchanged. I think our new wait staff was taken back a bit, but it all worked out. Here is a pic of my wife and Maia our waiter from our Med cruise on the Vista.

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Wow - Hi Maia! We were on the Vista Transatlantic when Maia had just signed off - were back on the Vista in February and she had just returned from her break and we loved her and she was a fabulous server!!! :)

[BoDidly]

Jim,

 

Yeah I guess they think they need it for some reason. There are many ships with 3rd floor decks that people can walk on and none of them have 7 foot glass walls. My guess is so the glass is the same height all the way and not just elevated where the hot tubs are located?

Perhaps blocking wind .

[firemanbobswife]

As I said in my Vista review, I think it's to keep people from "falling" overboard. About the only place I can think of that they could easily go over without hitting a deck below them is from a Cove Balcony.