Changes on the Vista class cruses...Nightclub and other things?

[fendersrule]

Was just curious--I found this out after I booked my sail on the Panorama.

 

It appears that there is no separate "nightclub" anymore, which I always thought was a neat place, albeit on the smaller side, but still neat.

 

Now Carnival takes the limelight lounge and "makeshifts" it for the nightclub? There's really not a single picture online on what this looks like, but how is this working for people? Does it still feel like a nightclub? Makes me think of dancing in an empty auditorium. Is the bar makeshift now too?

 

I also noticed that the Indian food on the lido deck is gone, and is now replaced with a seafood joint (that is additional $). I am a little bummed about this, because the Indian food was easily one of the best things to eat on Carnival. The good news is that there's still plenty of good food on the ship, but I'm a little bummed that this is gone.

 

The alchemy bar is still there, which I've considered is one of the best bars on the ship for the best drinks that aren't sugared down. But I see that there's the "Havana" bar now. How does this compare--worth stopping in?

 

 

 

[cruisingguy007]

On Panorama the nightclub set up works. Basically everyone dances in the center (large wooden circle dance floor) and the DJ is up on the stage. It actually makes it more intimate if you will. You can see everything and there are lots of comfy seats surrounding the dance floor with plenty of space for people to chill who need a rest or just want to watch or drink. They use a portable bar and there is a drink menu. It's also very close to the Hero's bar and even the Casino bar if there is some kind of drink you want that they don't have. Unfortunately, they don't sell buckets of beer there or anywhere near (Guy's Pig & Anchor is the closest). Every bar should sell buckets, especially the nightclub since almost every nightclub offers buckets of beer on land. 

 

Seafood shack is the seafood place. Prices are a bit high but they have a pretty nice menu with some good options. I actually meant to get a bunch of oysters (I love oysters) on the half shell but every time I was back there I had already eaten...lol. 

 

Havana bar is an odd duck. The space is compact due to the set-up (long rectangle) so there is limited seating. The entrance is like a long hallway with seating but you generally can't see the musicians or dancing until you get 60% in then it's the band (on an awkward island), a mini dance area, a small seating area, then the bar. They have live music most nights and there are a few people who dance. The configuration could be much better. It would facilitate better usage of the space and open it up.

 

They need to put the band where the bar is, the main seating area should combine with the smaller area as a larger dance floor, get rid of the island stage and make it the bar, get rid of the "T" design of the first 50% of the space (upon entering) and move that seating all the way to the wall to open the space up. They also need to revamp the drink menu, it's a bit weak (limited offerings) and should have more Latin themed drinks that you'd see at a Latin club. The space is set up for multiple uses but doesn't do any particularly well. Ocean Plaza gets much more use because the set-up is open, spacious, and a proper venue for dancing and live music. If they switched the Havana bands with the Ocean Plaza it would probably increase the foot traffic and passenger attendance at both locations. 

 

Hope that helps! Enjoy your cruise! 

Edited February 6, 2020 by cruisingguy007

[Saint Greg]

https://saintgregtravel.com/dream-class-vs-vista-class/

 

 

[fendersrule]

Interesting guys, thanks.

 

It seems to me that the Nightclub got botched. 

[PhillyFan33579]

1 hour ago, fendersrule said:

Interesting guys, thanks.

 

It seems to me that the Nightclub got botched. 

Just my opinion, but they botched a lot of things on the Vista class ships. No separate nightclub like you mentioned, theaters/lounges are too small and poorly designed, no vaulted atrium, no glass elevators, no thalassotherapy pool, etc. There are a lot of things I like about Carnival, but I think their newest ships are poorly designed, especially compared to other cruise lines like RCI’s ships. 

[jimbo5544]

7 hours ago, PhillyFan33579 said:

Just my opinion, but they botched a lot of things on the Vista class ships. No separate nightclub like you mentioned, theaters/lounges are too small and poorly designed, no vaulted atrium, no glass elevators, no thalassotherapy pool, etc. There are a lot of things I like about Carnival, but I think their newest ships are poorly designed, especially compared to other cruise lines like RCI’s ships. 

Who is RCI?😎  They certainly have a different view.  I will give a different view, vaulted atriums and glass elevators while pretty, are old.  What they did with the main show space reflects how much that space is used before.  Havana area is the best thing they have done in a long time, flat out home rum.  Same for 5th floor.  We agree on many things, Vista class are not among them (which is fine).  Not trying to go down a rabbit hole, just another view point.  

[PhillyFan33579]

1 hour ago, jimbo5544 said:

Who is RCI?😎  They certainly have a different view.  I will give a different view, vaulted atriums and glass elevators while pretty, are old.  What they did with the main show space reflects how much that space is used before.  Havana area is the best thing they have done in a long time, flat out home rum.  Same for 5th floor.  We agree on many things, Vista class are not among them (which is fine).  Not trying to go down a rabbit hole, just another view point.  

I think Carnival had the right idea using space more efficiently on Vista class ships, I just think they could have implemented a better design.
 

I have friends who feel the same way I do about missing the glass elevators and atrium as well as friends who like the constantly changing led lights at the lobby bar, which is now the focal point of the lobby area. I like the led lights too, but I am greedy and would like to see both the led lights and glass elevators with a vaulted atrium. 

[Sagittarius traveler]

Hahaha I miss those elevators and the golden stairway lol

[five.]

10 hours ago, Saint Greg said:

https://saintgregtravel.com/dream-class-vs-vista-class/

Thanks for posting this. I am one of those people that favor the Dream class over the Vista class. But this breakdown really lays everything out and makes it easy to see what you gain and lose with each option.

 

A few recommendations for your blog:

1) Some of the images are rotated oddly. Often times that is because the cameras rely on exif tags to determine orientation and windows doesn't factor that when displaying. This tool works really well to correct that.

2) Most of the time you did, but make sure since it's a comparison post, that you always reference which ship you're referring to. There was at least a time or two I had a hard time telling which ship the point was about.

But thanks a bunch, great work. We get this post so often, it's really helpful to point them in your direction.

 

[jimbo5544]

3 hours ago, PhillyFan33579 said:

I think Carnival had the right idea using space more efficiently on Vista class ships, I just think they could have implemented a better design.
 

I have friends who feel the same way I do about missing the glass elevators and atrium as well as friends who like the constantly changing led lights at the lobby bar, which is now the focal point of the lobby area. I like the led lights too, but I am greedy and would like to see both the led lights and glass elevators with a vaulted atrium. 

all good

[Joebucks]

I was looking for similar opinions because I am going on the Sunrise soon, and this appears to be the same case. While I will likely miss some sort of nostalgia or feeling of going to the separate venue for the club, the change appears to have made sense overall. You have this real estate that is largely unused all day until around midnight or so, when most other venues are closed down, that's a waste of space. Most opinions I've heard so far, said the lime light lounge is just fine as a night club. The biggest negative I've heard is that Vista's doesn't have a bar. Now that part is just stupid.