Need help deciding between Vista and Mardi Gras.

[jeep8940]

I'm stuck picking between Vista and Mardi Gras for myself, wife, and sons (4 and 6). Picking between Vista family harbor cove balcony or family harbor ocean view deluxe. and then on the mardi gras either family harbor ocean view or a higher up extended balcony.

Which ship is better suited for kids? Is one waterworks area larger than the other.

My concern with the vista family harbor area is potential noise from the above kitchen. And I wish camp ocean was on the same deck like the Mardi gras.

 

also, Vista itinerary is Half moon cay, Grand turk and Amber cover. Mardi gras is Nassau, Grand turk, and Amber cover. The Nassau stop seems like a waste for us, would much rather HMC. 

Edited March 7 by jeep8940

[mz-s]

If you really want Half Moon Cay, then that settles it and I can't blame you - HMC is paradise especially if you love the beach. Mardi Gras has much more for everyone to do than Vista though, and Grand Turk has a beautiful beach as well.

[ABQrobin]

Both ships will be great.  Pick the itinerary you want most.  

 

[dacsmom]

Both are good for kids. I like the Mardi Gras waterworks better, and the food options. I would take HMC over Nassau, although sometimes it is missed because of rough seas. I like that the Vista has balcony cabins in the family harbor. You can't make a bad choice with either one.

[earthdog]

Both are great and the programs are great. I would suggest not doing the Extended Balcony with kids, Its really a smaller room on both. There are narrower rooms. If you want to experience an extended balcony your are better on with Destiny Class ships. Those are normal width rooms so they are better. Either way with kids in the room they aren't great. If I really was forced I would say Mardi Gras. We are on her next month for the second time.

[Frank12]

Mardi Gras

[spacement]

I went on the Mardi Gras before I went on a Vista class ship. I couldn’t help but feel it was Mardi Gras-lite the entire time I was on the Panorama. I know the Vista class came first but if I had to choose between the two I’d go with Mardi Gras. 

[cruiserNC]

I've done the Vista three times and Mardi Gras twice. If it's about the ship, Mardi Gras all day.

[csm5986142]

Another vote for Mardi Gras - love it.  

We have been on almost every Carnival ship and Vista is one of my least favorite.  We sailed prior to Vista's drydock and it was in bad shape (hopefully improved now).  Our cruise was last summer and I posted pictures here of mold on the ceiling and rusted ceiling tiles.  The air conditioning didn't work at all in some areas and not consistently in others.  There was pipe in the wall that leaked periodically our entire cruise, and the carpet outside our stateroom (and many others down the hall) would get saturated.  They used a carpet cleaner to suck up the water and constantly had industrial fans in the hallway trying to get it to dry.  It smelled damp and musty the entire time.

[Drazil65]

Mardi Gras!

[firefly333]

Mardi gras by a mile. Vista wasnt a favorite ship. 

 

Unless it's a special port like Bermuda not enough difference for me to be swayed to pick vista.

[Knights on the Beach]

We're doing both - B2B on Vista next month and Mardi Gras in September. We love MG, it will be our 5th time on it. But we're looking forward to Vista!

[jsglow]

This is so difficult to answer because we don't know you and your family. Are you a new cruiser? Are you a 'latest gadget' family? Are the ports more important to you than the ship? The only way is to experience all this for yourself and form preferences over time. Both choices will be good. Enjoy your cruise.

[jeep8940]

5 minutes ago, jsglow said:

This is so difficult to answer because we don't know you and your family. Are you a new cruiser? Are you a 'latest gadget' family? Are the ports more important to you than the ship? The only way is to experience all this for yourself and form preferences over time. Both choices will be good. Enjoy your cruise.

 

New cruiser, Have only been on the Sunshine so far. I have a free balcony offer for both of these options.

My wife doesn't particularly like cruising, doesn't like the rocking. I was thinking the Mardi gras would be less prone to rocking. But the Vista cruise is 6 days vs 7 days on the mardi gras which would be better. And the Vista has HMC instead of Nassau.

But I really want her to enjoy it as much as possible, Mardi gras being newer seems like it would be nicer? Sounds like my kids would enjoy either one!

[jsglow]

7 days is always better than 6. And both are big, big ships. Also, if your wife is challenged by movement on ships of this size (both Mardi Gras and Vista), then cruising isn't really for you guys as a family. Nothing personal in that comment. Some folks are more prone to motion and nobody should have to endure. Enjoy!

[jeep8940]

2 minutes ago, jsglow said:

7 days is always better than 6. And both are big, big ships. Also, if your wife is challenged by movement on ships of this size (both Mardi Gras and Vista), then cruising isn't really for you guys as a family. Nothing personal in that comment. Some folks are more prone to motion and nobody should have to endure. Enjoy!

She's also only been on the sunshine, seems like quite a smaller ship. Plus we had a spa interior room, which was the highest deck all the way at the front of the ship, so definitely not an ideal location. Oh, and we were also cruising during the hurricane last year. It was not too far away.

[jsglow]

Sunshine is about 102k tons. Vista is 133k, MG, 181k.

 

Little factoid for you. When Sunshine launched as Destiny in 1996, she was the largest cruise ship in the entire world and the first ever over 100k. You'll see many of us on these boards lamenting the floating shopping mall, Vegas casino monstrosities that are being built and obviously in demand these days. But the neat thing about cruising is that there's a product for everyone who enjoys the sea. My smallest ship and perhaps my favorite cruise ever was aboard the 2.3k ton (yes, you read that right) 360 ft Star Clipper sailing vessel. Yes, she heels over. Now THAT'S going to sea.

 

Enjoy your cruise!

[tha sista]

Just off the vista today. We had a FH suite with connecting balcony and they were quite close to the FH lounge. We heard no noise from the galley above us. I would book this combo again in a heartbeat.  The lounge set up was great for the kids and the camp was not difficult to get to. 

[Jamman54]

Since you are cruising with two young children, Mardi Gras. 😎

[Pyxie]

I have sailed both and my vote would be for Mardi Gras. Better Water Works and I also loved having Camp Ocean on the same deck as Family Harbor (though it can get a bit crowded in the stairwell there when camp is opening or closing).

 

As for ports, we actually like Nassau (I guess we're in the minority there) so I'd be fine with that itinerary too.

[vswan]

One thing that might be considered. If your wife has some motion sickness issues, I would recommend choosing the ship where the room is near center lower in the ship. Cruise lines tend to promote higher level rooms, but it is smoother sailing closer to the center of the ship - and avoid the far forward cabins on any level.

 

I take a "precautionary" bonine everyday of a cruise. I can still have issues with very high seas - the kind where the drawers in the bedstands go in and out on there own.

[TN Roz]

I have been on the Vista and the Mardi Gras and I think the Mardi Gras would be the best option for your family. I love both, but the only thing that would make me choose the Vista over an Excel class ship would be if I were booking a Havana cabin. This area is much better on the Vista class ships. I have never stayed in a Family Harbor cabin, but from what I have read, there are some extra perks that come with those. Either way, enjoy!

[Jamman54]

4 hours ago, TN Roz said:

I have been on the Vista and the Mardi Gras and I think the Mardi Gras would be the best option for your family. I love both, but the only thing that would make me choose the Vista over an Excel class ship would be if I were booking a Havana cabin. This area is much better on the Vista class ships. I have never stayed in a Family Harbor cabin, but from what I have read, there are some extra perks that come with those. Either way, enjoy!

Agree 100%. 😎

[CruizinSusan70]

7 days always trumps 6 days, the Mardi Gras.  Larger, more stable, make wife happy.

[ALSPAUGHDOLL]

I would pick Mardi Gras, it is truly an amazing ship.  We are sailing to Nassau this summer, we plan on staying on the ship.  There is truly nothing better than a port day on the ship, it is so relaxing!