Why is the Vista not a favorite?

I've been on every class Carnival Ship except for the Vista. Now it is coming to Galveston to compete with the RCCL Liberty of the Seas which is beautiful. It appears that many dislike the Vista and I was wondering what the big problems are if anyone wishes to enlighten me.

I've been on every class Carnival Ship except for the Vista. Now it is coming to Galveston to compete with the RCCL Liberty of the Seas which is beautiful. It appears that many dislike the Vista and I was wondering what the big problems are if anyone wishes to enlighten me.

No issues with me and I have sailed her twice.

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I didn't DISLIKE Vista, just like the Dream class better. I did not like how Vista was laid out - we frequent the casino, Alchemy Bar and Red Frog Pub - on the Dream class they're all right together on the same floor. On Vista, they're separated. I also missed the big, open atrium on Vista - just made the ship seem less open to me. Everything is new and nice, which is a plus! I also noticed the service was lacking on Vista. MDR was hit or miss from day to day (we had early dining), some of the bartenders were awful and the bars were frequently out of various things throughout the cruise. We're back on Magic in a couple of months, so we'll see if I still feel the same way! :)

I thought it was an awesome ship except for a couple things. The atrium is boring and the buffet was by far the worst we have ever had on any cruise. Besides that , it's a great ship in my opinion.

I could give 5,000 reasons, too many people

I also missed the atrium. I felt like the layout of the ship didn't handle the crowds very well. But still had a great time on her last week!

There are some things I really liked about it and some things I didn't.

I liked the number of eating places available, the hand sanitizing machines in the buffet, the cruise director (the absolute best ever), and the shows. I also liked that they seemed to enforce rules a bit more and were very orderly. They even had a late night small buffet.

What I didn't like is that I had to show up very early for shows in order to get a decent seat. Forty minutes for an adult comedy show and for a theater show. There were so many people that the good seats filled up very quickly. I also hated the theater. It is the worst I have ever seen. It's like they built the ship, made it bigger than the rest, but went back in time when they built the theater and decorated the interior of the ship.

The theater has a main floor and a balcony. Many of the seats on the main floor are just regular chairs on a flat floor. The second floor isn't much better, but at least the seats are at an angel. Some of the other theaters on other ships have little tables every so often so you can put your drink down or use it to play bingo. This theater is a dud.

I really enjoyed my cruise on the Vista and the cruise director couldn't have been more entertaining. However, the crowds for the shows were too much. I don't mind getting to a show early, but this was ridiculous and the theater bothered me every time I saw a show in it. Also, it has absolutely no wow factor. It's very blah looking. If the appearance was the only negative thing, I could get over it. I prefer Carnival's other ships.

Vista is my favorite ship we have sailed on.

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I've been on every class Carnival Ship except for the Vista. Now it is coming to Galveston to compete with the RCCL Liberty of the Seas which is beautiful. It appears that many dislike the Vista and I was wondering what the big problems are if anyone wishes to enlighten me.

Some people are just too picky. I have sailed the Vista and thoroughly enjoyed her.

Leaving for my 2nd and 3rd cruises on the Vista in a month. We love that ship

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We loved the Vista, the only thing we found that we didn't care for was the layout of the theatre for the shows. It's pretty terrible, but if you just get to the show a tad earlier, go sit in the balcony, you'll get good seats. The problems with that layout seem to be mainly on the first floor of the theatre. Other than that we loved everything about the ship.

We thoroughly enjoyed the Vista. We stayed in the Havana area which was amazing. But we still enjoyed the other areas of the ship and the service and friendliness of the staff. Food was one of the better MDR experiences we have had in our 12 Carnival cruises. The CD Matt Mitchum was the best CD we've had....and that includes John Heald

I could give 5,000 reasons, too many people

If your referring to number of pax 3,936 ( actual) is a far cry from 5,000.

If not there is no way any one person can find 5,000 things wrong on any ship.

I could give 5,000 reasons, too many people

This is the reason I dislike the Vista and any ship this big. I also would not go to a resort where I had to wait in line for everything. To exacerbate this issue, Vista has new sections of the ship in which you are only allowed if you have purchased a certain room like the Havana area, thus even further lessening the room for the 5000 passengers to be. Dream ships were too large for me already, I am afraid I am relegated to the older of this fleets ships. I really dislike the short Atrium, but I am afraid it is the wave of the future for Carnival as they can both add cabins and a safety measure to the atrium.

The only thing I liked about the Vista and the larger ships is the 3 deck Lido area, but even that is negated by so many people.

Price.

This is the reason I dislike the Vista and any ship this big. I also would not go to a resort where I had to wait in line for everything. To exacerbate this issue, Vista has new sections of the ship in which you are only allowed if you have purchased a certain room like the Havana area, thus even further lessening the room for the 5000 passengers to be. Dream ships were too large for me already, I am afraid I am relegated to the older of this fleets ships. I really dislike the short Atrium, but I am afraid it is the wave of the future for Carnival as they can both add cabins and a safety measure to the atrium.

 

The only thing I liked about the Vista and the larger ships is the 3 deck Lido area, but even that is negated by so many people.

I never waited on the Vista, never felt crowded.... Granted I am a not a huge show person.... But seriously I cannot remember waiting for anything other than a few minutes for a drink when the bar was crowded...and this happens anywhere (land or sea). Many options to eat at.... Several buffet areas (i.e the lighter buffet on Ocean Plaza).... Lots of other food venue choices. Even embarkation and disembarkation was a breeze.... No lines...constantly was moving. I don't get these comments that this ship had a crowded feel. Now ...if you want to talk about the Sunshine...Thats a whole different story. That ship plus others that they refurbursh and add cabins to an existing ship tonnage and former public space is a whole different story!!

If your referring to number of pax 3,936 ( actual) is a far cry from 5,000.

 

If not there is no way any one person can find 5,000 things wrong on any ship.

I agree with that number, I count passengers and crew because I have to share the space with them also. 3936 and 1450, but some of them never get to come upstairs, so about 5000.

In the end the Vista has almost the same public space as the Pride after removing the paid venues and restricted locations and there are 2000 less people on board.

I never waited on the Vista, never felt crowded.... Granted I am a not a huge show person.... But seriously I cannot remember waiting for anything other than a few minutes for a drink when the bar was crowded...and this happens anywhere (land or sea). Many options to eat at.... Several buffet areas (i.e the lighter buffet on Ocean Plaza).... Lots of other food venue choices. Even embarkation and disembarkation was a breeze.... No lines...constantly was moving. I don't get these comments that this ship had a crowded feel. Now ...if you want to talk about the Sunshine...Thats a whole different story. That ship plus others that they refurbursh and add cabins to an existing ship tonnage and former public space is a whole different story!!

I know many people that this does not bother at all, but for me, less people equals a much more relaxing week.

We thoroughly enjoyed the Vista. We stayed in the Havana area which was amazing. But we still enjoyed the other areas of the ship and the service and friendliness of the staff. Food was one of the better MDR experiences we have had in our 12 Carnival cruises. The CD Matt Mitchum was the best CD we've had....and that includes John Heald

Haven’t sailed the Vista, but hate to see the Breeze go. I’m hesitant to critique a ship I haven’t sailed on, but the reviews I’ve read and seen gives me the impression that Vista is great if you’re in the Havana, but a downgrade from the Dream Class if you are not.

We like big showrooms and atriums and enjoy the aft, supposedly kid free, pools. For those reasons, we’d probably look at upgrading our Cabin on the Freedom (or whatever Conquest Class ship is doing the 7 dayers from Galveston) before paying a premium for the Havana.

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I agree with that number, I count passengers and crew because I have to share the space with them also. 3936 and 1450, but some of them never get to come upstairs, so about 5000.

 

In the end the Vista has almost the same public space as the Pride after removing the paid venues and restricted locations and there are 2000 less people on board.

Not quite... Paid venues on Pride too. Pride does not have outside seating and space via a wrap around promenade deck like Vista and the Dream class has. Lots of outside seating on this deck....IMO...greatly underutilized by passengers. The Havana on the Vista...although limited to Havana passengers until 7pm really isn't that huge a difference. We are talking about a small pool/hot tub area with outside seating ...This area is still accessible to all passengers in evening.

Out of 12 cruises on different Carnival ships, this Vista has been our favorite. We read the reviews before hand and were apprehensive, but the only issue we had was being told we had to leave on debarkation day. We're booked on the Glory this May and kicking ourselves for not booking the Vista again.

I remember when RCL came out with big ships , CCL people would say the ships are too big ( oh the crowds!). Yet, the big issue to watch for is crowd to size ratio

Vista has 4000 pp for 136k tons of displacement

Spirit class has 2000 pp for 89k tons

If spirit was blown up to hold 4,000 pp like vista, it’d displace 200k tons.

Pretty obvious why it would feel very crowded.

Oasis class has 5400pp for 226k tons. Has just 1400 pp than Vista but adds an extra 90k tons ( like an extra Spirit ship!)

The oasis class ships are the only ships I’ve cruises where I could always find a lounger next to to the pool on a sea day in the middle of the day.

If you don’t like crowds, cruise on the remaining spirit class ships before they send them away. The fantasy class ships were pretty good too.

My wife and I sailed the Vista last February and we loved it. It was our 5th different ship on Carnival, and the Vista may be our favorite (at least tied with the Breeze).

Excellent restaurant choices and plenty of entertainment options. The buffet wasn't as good as some of my previous cruises (only ate there twice), but the alternatives more than make up for that. The MDR and steakhouse were very good.

The comedy club is a good spot, although we did have to arrive 15-30 minutes early to get a seat. We only attended one show in the main theatre, but the sightlines were horrible. The piano bar was our favorite late night hangout. Natalie was phenomenal.

Matt, the CD, was awesome. Definitely the best CD we've had.

i agree with some of the other posters....I dont think Carnival has done a good job with their newer bigger ships as far as crowd control. Everything seems crowded....Go to a show, wait in line, go to comedy club, wait in even a bigger line. Even tho the ship is bigger, the crowds seem to outweigh the size. I think Royal does a better job on their floating monstrosities. i just dont feel like i am on a cruise when i have been on those ships. I did not feel that it was as crowded as a big ship of Carnival or NCL....Case in point, i went on the NCL Epic just over 2 yrs ago. The first night i got to see one of their headline show was night 3 (they use a reservation system)....The first 2 nights, everything was sold out. The comedy shows didnt use the online reservation system, so you just lined up prior to the doors opening. I get queing up 15 mins prior, that seems reasonable. I am not kidding, people were lining up almost 2 hrs before the doors to the venue opened. I get the saying of "different strokes for different folks", but i am amazed why you would wait for 2 hrs, standing around doing nothing on a cruise when there is so many other things going on. I will give the Epic kudos for one thing, the buffet. Hands down the best buffet i have ever had. We ate in the MDR one night, because the buffet was that good. One of the last cruises i took was on the Elation. Last minute getaway, short 5 nighter. Now, can the Elation be compared in the same sentence to any of these newer/bigger ships as far as amenities, absolutely not. Still one of the best cruises i have ever taken (liked it so much our next cruise is on her). The weather was great, which helps when you cruise. The crew couldnt have been friendlier and stepped over themselves to make sure the passengers were happy. What i noticed, there was NEVER a line for anything. Go to any bar at any time during the day, always tables open and seats at the bar. Want to see a show, we were able to walk into the venue, 5 mins prior to start time and plenty of seats available. Even tho i am not a gambler, i did walk thru the casino on occasion, always seats at tables open. We took the tender to HMC. I think we were the 2nd tender off. We walked down, got on the tender and had to wait for it to fill up. No line, no quing up. There is another thread going on here with a lady giving her review of the Vista, tons of pictures, she did a great job with all the info. One pic was of the GS line....i did a double take....the line had to be about 75 feet long!!!!!!!! I spent alot of time at the Atrium Bar while waiting for DW get ready for dinner. The GS desk was right next to the bar. Outside of the final morning, never did i see more than 3-4 people on line at the GS desk....Something to be said for the "older/smaller" ships i guess

On the Elation for the first time in 42 days. This is exactly what I wanted to hear. Thanks! What you are describing on the Epic is everything I strive to avoid on a cruise.

I am a cruiser who also prefers the dream class ships. For me the negatives of the Vista included the smaller spa, the main theater, and the atrium. I have to agree with the other posters about it feeling crowded a lot of the time. Everything is relative though and I understand others really like the ship and the design.