Carnival Vista Cruise Review: 8-Day Caribbean Sailing
Reviewer: Ilana from LifeWellCruised.com
Ship: Carnival Vista
Duration: 8 days
Ports: Aruba, Bonaire, Carnival Celebration Key
Departure Port: Port Canaveral
Sailing Type: Media sailing (invited by Carnival, all opinions are reviewer's own)
Initial Concerns & Expectations
Pre-Cruise Questions:
- Would Carnival Vista feel too dated?
- What would the activities and entertainment be like?
- How would the dining experience compare?
- Would the overall experience be enjoyable?
Positive Note: Many people had recommended Carnival Vista and this ship class
Embarkation Day Experience
Port Canaveral
- Port has built up significantly over the years
- Nice and easy embarkation process
- Would definitely use this port again
Boarding Experience
- Crew extremely happy and friendly
- Music and great vibe upon boarding
- Completed muster station safety check-in efficiently
Initial Ship Exploration
Pool Deck:
- Least crowded during embarkation (would be busiest for rest of trip)
- Activity area with Skyride and mini golf
- Waterslides (great family zone)
Aft of Ship:
- Tides Pool with excellent views
Serenity Deck (Adults-Only):
- Really nice area
- Quality chairs and loungers
- Two hot tubs
- Highlighted as "a really nice place on a Carnival ship"
Dining Experience
Casual Dining (Day & Evening)
Overall Assessment: Carnival's casual food is "as good as they say"
Blue Iguana Cantina ⭐ FAVORITE
- One of reviewer's favorite restaurants on any cruise ship
- Fresh, quality food
- Tortillas freshly made on board
- Burritos highly recommended
Guy's Burger Joint & Pizza
- Pizza available but had availability/timing issues during visit
- Some lines/wait times
GiGi's Asian Kitchen (Daytime)
- Becomes Mongolian Wok during the day
- Sit-down meal included (no extra charge)
- Different menu than evening specialty restaurant
- Pretty nice menu with quite good food
Cucina del Capitano (Daytime)
- Italian specialty restaurant
- Pasta available during the day for sit-down meals
- Loved in the evening (see specialty dining section)
Pig and Anchor BBQ
- Available for casual dining
Lido Market Buffet
- Reviewer doesn't prefer buffets or standing in lines
- Other options preferred
Continental Breakfast Room Service ⭐ RECOMMENDED
- Light breakfast ordered to cabin almost every morning
- Convenient and enjoyable option
Sea Day Brunch (Main Dining Room)
- Attended approximately 4 out of 8 days
- Very good food
- Nice choice of breakfast and light lunch options
- Great atmosphere and service
Main Dining Room (Evening) ⭐ EXCELLENT
Overall Assessment: Carnival is underrated for main dining room quality
Highlights:
- Beef Wellington was "absolutely delicious" and rivals premium cruise lines
- Prime rib was excellent
- Eggplant parmesan was excellent
- Presentation is "homestyle" rather than fancy, but taste is outstanding
Desserts:
- Overall quite good
- Warm Chocolate Melting Cake: Absolute favorite
- PRO TIP: Order with vanilla ice cream, add peanut butter—tastes like frozen Reese's treat
Specialty Restaurants
Cucina del Capitano (Italian) ⭐ FAVORITE & SURPRISING
- Recently changed menu
- Additional charge applies
- Burrata was excellent
- Steak was amazing
- Mile High Gelato Pie was "so decadent, so good"
- Reviewer's Top Choice
GiGi's Asian Kitchen (Evening)
- So good, but a lot of food
- Family-style service can lead to overeating
- Really good taste
- Would choose Italian and steakhouse over this if selecting just two
Fahrenheit 555 Steakhouse ⭐ HIGHLY RECOMMENDED
- Steak and lobster/surf and turf was amazing
- Shrimp were absolutely delicious
- Fantastic overall meal
- Delicious appetizers and side dishes
- Chocolate Sphere dessert: Most decadent dessert
- PRO TIP: Server pours hot fudge over sphere at table—spectacular presentation and taste
Specialty Restaurant Overall: All were good; quality was as good or better than Carnival Celebration
Entertainment & Activities
Shows & Performances ⭐ HIGHLY PRAISED
- Really interactive with the audience
- Music and dancing was fun and really good
- High-quality entertainment throughout
Specific Entertainment:
Family Feud
- Popular activity (couldn't film due to copyright)
Deck Parties ⭐ EXCEPTIONAL
- 80s Deck Party: "One of the best deck parties seen on cruise ships in years"
- Carnival "really knows how to throw a party"
- People of all ages having fun
- Amazing DJ
- High-energy Cruise Director and Fun Squad
Audience Participation Games
- Love and Marriage
- Comedy shows (always popular)
Bars & Lounges
Alchemy Bar ⭐ ABSOLUTE FAVORITE BAR
- Craft cocktails
- Great atmosphere
Blue Iguana Bar
- Fun Ship Special highly recommended for embarkation day
- PRO TIP: Buy Keeper Cups to keep drinks cold during cruise
Red Frog Pub
- Popular bar option
Atrium Bar ⭐ EXCELLENT ATMOSPHERE
- Really liked the atmosphere
- Nice on Captain's Night/formal night
- Always had entertainment (duos or trios playing)
- Central LED Chandelier: Beautiful and changes themes
- Dr. Seuss theme during children's activities
- Flowers on another day
- American flag display
- Always different decor
Other Bar Notes
- Good bars inside and outside the ship
- Quality drinks throughout
Coffee
Java Blue Cafe ⭐ RECOMMENDED
- Very good coffee
- HIDDEN GEM: Quiet seating area just outside cafe
- Almost always empty
- Beautiful decor
- Great place to sit with food from anywhere
Unique Ship Features
IMAX Theater ⭐ SPECIAL FEATURE
- Real IMAX theater on board
- Shows new releases (not just old movies)
- Unique cruise ship amenity
Red Frog Pub Brewery ⭐ FIRST AT SEA
- Beer brewed on board
- Carnival Vista was the first cruise ship to have an onboard brewery
- Actual brewmaster on board
- Brewery tours available
Activities for Kids & Teens
- Kids club
- Great sports court
- Mini golf
- Ropes course
- Skyride
Havana Area
- Havana Sun Deck: Exclusive to Havana cabin guests
- Havana Bar: Live music (appears to be accessible to all)
Passenger Demographics
Season: Summertime sailing
Age Range: All ages represented
- Families with young children
- Multi-generational families
- Many adults
- Groups of friends traveling together
Atmosphere:
- Fun but not wild
- NOT the "out-of-hand party scene" sometimes seen on social media
- Really good time overall
- Lively but appropriate for all ages
Service & Crew ⭐ OUTSTANDING
Overall Assessment: "Really some of the absolute best at sea"
Characteristics:
- Crew work very hard
- Extremely friendly and helpful
- Consistent excellent service across all areas:
- Main dining room
- Cabin attendants
- Specialty restaurants
- Guest services
- Bartenders
- Crew members in hallways (always greeting guests)
Loyalty Factor: Many repeat Carnival cruisers cite the crew as one of the biggest reasons they keep coming back
Port Experiences
Aruba
Excursion: Snorkeling through cruise line
- A lot of fun
- Included lunch on boat
- Good snorkeling experience
Bonaire ⭐ LOVED THIS PORT
Self-Exploration:
- Did excursion at end of day (smart planning)
- Walked around during peak hours independently
- Loved walking around the market
- "Really good gelato"
- Dutch Caribbean charm
- Would return to this port
Evening Excursion: Catamaran Cruise (booked through Carnival)
- Beautiful experience
- Wonderful tour viewing Bonaire and Klein Bonaire
- Sunset Surprise: Captain brought group to Klein Bonaire
- Jumped into shallow water (about 1 foot deep)
- Secluded beach at sunset
- Absolutely worth it
Carnival Celebration Key ⭐ BEAUTIFUL
- Absolutely beautiful
- Surprisingly large
- Spent day at Pearl Cove and exploring
- Reviewer created separate detailed video about this port
Who This Cruise Ship Is For
Ideal Passengers:
-
Families - Will feel very welcome
-
People of Any Age - Truly multigenerational appeal
-
Fun-Seekers - Those who enjoy:
- Fun ship atmosphere
- Dancing by the pool
- Music and entertainment
- Lively atmosphere overall
-
Value-Conscious Travelers - Looking for:
- Fantastic value vacation
- Quality entertainment included
- Quality food for the price
- Great overall value proposition
Final Verdict & Recommendations
Exceeded Expectations
- Despite initial concerns about ship being dated
- Quality of food, entertainment, and service impressed
- Experience on Vista was as good or better than newer Carnival Celebration
Strong Recommendation
- Carnival Vista is a cruise to seriously consider
- Great balance of quality and value
- Fun atmosphere without being overwhelming
- Excellent for first-time or repeat cruisers
Value Proposition ⭐
When considering what's included with a Carnival cruise—the quality of entertainment, quality of food, and overall experience—this represents excellent value for the price.
Pro Tips Summary
- Embarkation Drink: Order Fun Ship Special at Blue Iguana Bar; buy Keeper Cups
- Breakfast: Continental room service for convenience
- Dessert Hack: Add peanut butter to chocolate melting cake with vanilla ice cream
- Specialty Dining: Prioritize Cucina del Capitano and Fahrenheit 555
- Coffee Spot: Sit in quiet area outside Java Blue Cafe
- Port Planning: Do excursions at off-peak times when possible
- Don't Miss: 80s Deck Party and other themed parties
- Hidden Value: GiGi's Mongolian Wok during daytime (included)
Additional Notes
- This was the reviewer's fourth Carnival cruise
- Previous experience on Carnival Celebration and Carnival Venezia
- Port Canaveral easily accessible and well-developed
- Full video playlist available for other Carnival reviews
- Separate detailed video about Celebration Key available
