What's on "must try" list for your next cruise?

[Eli_6]

Or what do you recommend for other cruisers as a "must" on their to do list for their next carnival cruise?

 

This is my list for my Christmas Cruise on the Vista:

-the salad bar on the serenity deck for lunch

-spiked float at the shake spot

-the alchemy bar and library bar (never been before!)

-the afternoon tea on Sea Days

-Suess at Sea

-debarkation drink specials at red frog or casino

-Pasta bar at the Cucina Del Capitano on embarkation day instead of the buffet on Lido deck

-cooking demonstrations (steakhouse cooking demo with free samples) and free lunches at some of the specialty restaurants (JiJi and Cucina?) on sea days– not sure on details of this.

*Taste Bar - 5:30-8:30 p.m. Allows you to taste samples from around the ship – on promenade deck (not sure about this one)

-try the banana split off the kids menu

-Serenity Nights – try out the serenity deck in the evening time

 

 

[Eli_6]

If you haven't before, I recommend as a "must try":

-Happy hour on port days at Red Frog

-Fish Bowl at Red Frog

-Brunch in the MDR on Sea Days (so good! Especially mac and cheese and eggs benedict)

-Havana area if you are willing to pay the extra

-secret deck spots (sometimes on decks 5-7) – I found one on my florida cruise but not on the Vista

-if you don't see an appetizer you like, ask for a cheese plate off the desert menu as an appetizer

-try more than one item off the menu per course

[bakersdozen12]

9 hours ago, Eli_6 said:

*Taste Bar - 5:30-8:30 p.m. Allows you to taste samples from around the ship – on promenade deck (not sure about this one)

 

I could be wrong, but I believe they no longer have the Taste Bar. We haven’t seen one on our last few cruises, and when we asked about it on our last one, we were told they did away with it. 

[dctravel]

Do you mean embarkation drink specials at the Red Frog Pub? The last two times I have cruised they weren’t serving anything on debarkation day. 

[evandbob]

Taste bar is indeed extinct.

[patrice1]

On our next cruise, we're trying a new  cruise line. We wanted our next cruise to be Carnival, but we moved to Portugal a year ago and there were no Carnival ships in Europe this year, so we're trying MSC for a Med cruise. Be interesting too see the differences and look forward to sailing Carnival again when they come back.

[havanadaydreaming]

1 minute ago, patrice1 said:

On our next cruise, we're trying a new  cruise line. We wanted our next cruise to be Carnival, but we moved to Portugal a year ago and there were no Carnival ships in Europe this year, so we're trying MSC for a Med cruise. Be interesting too see the differences and look forward to sailing Carnival again when they come 

MSC had better buffet and entertainment. 

 

Much, much slower MDR.  Like 90-120 minutes long. 

 

Carnival wins at onboard activities.  Except MSC has a make your own wine activity, which was awesome. 

[Eli_6]

13 hours ago, dctravel said:

Do you mean embarkation drink specials at the Red Frog Pub? The last two times I have cruised they weren’t serving anything on debarkation day. 

Yes, sorry!  I meant embarking.  Long day.

[CRocks]

23 hours ago, Eli_6 said:

If you haven't before, I recommend as a "must try":

-Happy hour on port days at Red Frog

-Fish Bowl at Red Frog

-Brunch in the MDR on Sea Days (so good! Especially mac and cheese and eggs benedict)

-Havana area if you are willing to pay the extra

-secret deck spots (sometimes on decks 5-7) – I found one on my florida cruise but not on the Vista

-if you don't see an appetizer you like, ask for a cheese plate off the desert menu as an appetizer

-try more than one item off the menu per course

 

JMO, but JiJi's on sea days is Mongolian Wok. Very good and very popular, BUT, it ain't JiJi's. Make the reservation, spend the $15 ea, try the pork belly, and thank me later. JiJi's is a real treat!

[havanadaydreaming]

Shrimp taco at blue iguana 1

[PhillyFan33579]

Attend the Military Appreciation Gathering. This is the best event Carnival hosts and should be on everyone’s must attend list in my opinion. As several CDs have said at these events in the past, it’s embarrassing that the theater isn’t packed for this event. 

[Bigwave1129]

Cucina del Capitano

 

I say this every cruise but never seem to do it.  

[Eli_6]

3 hours ago, PhillyFan33579 said:

Attend the Military Appreciation Gathering. This is the best event Carnival hosts and should be on everyone’s must attend list in my opinion. As several CDs have said at these events in the past, it’s embarrassing that the theater isn’t packed for this event. 

Good rec! I honestly would have thought you needed to be military, but will check it out.

[Butterbean1000]

Visit every bar on the ship.

[v3cruiser]

Seafood Shack

Chefs Table

Pig n Arnchor BBQ

Happy Hour at Redfrog Pub

Cucino Del Capitano

Bonsai Sushi

[bnbeyer]

I'm going on my first solo cruise in November on Vista, so these are my must-try items.

• Maybe do a live review
• Serenity deck (never been) and salad bar
• Alchemy bar creations (never tried them before)
• Afternoon tea at least once
• Jiji and Cucina free lunches on sea days
• Movie night at the pool (didn't have that option on other cruises)
• Sky bike
• Experience theater
• Bringing my lightweight camping chair for beach days (https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B01HNL4OJG/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_asin_title_o04_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1)
• No excursions, just taxi to researched beaches/resorts
• Spiked shake

 

[ah4sail]

On my 9/4 Sunrise Cruise the water slide was on my must do list.  I’m 64 and ✔️ 😂

[cruizergal70]

On 9/21/2019 at 3:30 PM, PhillyFan33579 said:

Attend the Military Appreciation Gathering. This is the best event Carnival hosts and should be on everyone’s must attend list in my opinion. As several CDs have said at these events in the past, it’s embarrassing that the theater isn’t packed for this event. 

Why is it embarrassing? Folks are on vacation and want to do other things. Having a base of appreciation for service people is one thing. People aren't required to stop their lives and say thank you over and over.

[christyran1228]

Water slided & pool

Steak house 

[LuvCruiSun]

Go to sea day brunch at lunch time and try a burger and super food salad!

[Lottacruises]

Chocolate buffet

[glrounds]

Must try Cucina Del Capitano . . . . at least for lunch

Edited September 23, 2019 by glrounds

[Irene225]

11 hours ago, cruizergal70 said:

Why is it embarrassing? Folks are on vacation and want to do other things. Having a base of appreciation for service people is one thing. People aren't required to stop their lives and say thank you over and over.

100% agree. My husband is active duty USAF. In 11 cruises, we have never been to one of these. We live it every day and it’s the last thing we’d do on vacation.  

 

We we are on Vista in November and my list is below!

• spiked shake
• thrill theater 
• Enjoy as much Havana time as possible ( we loved it on Horizon!)
• Your Time dining - we love it on NCL and excited to do it on Carnival
• Sky ride & waterslides 
• serenity salad bar
• maybe actually exercise once on a cruise!

[havanadaydreaming]

12 hours ago, cruizergal70 said:

Why is it embarrassing? Folks are on vacation and want to do other things. Having a base of appreciation for service people is one thing. People aren't required to stop their lives and say thank you over and over.

Well said Cgal. 

 

(My son is in army and being stationed at Guantanamo in '20.  I've never attended one of these events on a cruise, truthfully I've never even been aware of such event and I do read the daily schedules.) 

[Joebucks]

I love the food on Carnival. There are so many things I want, but only so many meals. One of my newer favorites after finally just trying it is the Indian Vegetarian dish. It is so good. I also really want to try JiJis