Carnival Vista - A Dream Cruise Vacation
All For Fun - Fun For All – This is the vision that Carnival has engraved on its banner!
And indeed, the veteran Carnival Cruise Line launched its large ship, the dream ship, on May 1, 2016. At 134,000 tons, it has a capacity of about 4,000 guests and 1,450 crew members, all with a single goal: to serve you, pamper you, and give you the vacation you have dreamed of all your life!! 15 decks of grandeur and majesty representing a whole world of experiences, pleasures, adventures, entertainment, and high-quality cuisine.
The ship features interior rooms, balcony rooms, luxurious suites, and spacious rooms for families of up to 5 members located in a special family area featuring a game room, movies, and free drinks and snacks for everyone's enjoyment – Family Harbor.
A new and exclusive residential area is Havana Cabanas, featuring rooms and suites with private patios and colorful custom-designed hammocks. The feeling is that of staying on a private island in a Cuban atmosphere with a swimming pool, jacuzzi, club, and bar.
On every single deck, you can find fascinating areas designed in a variety of colors. The investment and thought put into pampering the passenger are evident everywhere on this ship. From the magnificent lobby on deck 3 welcoming passengers with a pampering bar, to the top of the world, Serenity – a relaxation area with colorful sofas, armchairs, and loungers, a hammock, two jacuzzis, and a bar. This is an adults-only area; children are not allowed. Sunshine, tranquility, blue skies, and a calm open sea lie ahead of you!!
Cruise Itinerary
The Vista's homeport (in 2019) was the city of Galveston, Texas, located about an hour's drive from Houston. The ship sailed on several itineraries from Galveston to the Caribbean until 2021.
In 2025-2026, the ship's homeport will be Port Canaveral in Florida, and it will sail on various itineraries to the Eastern Caribbean, Southern Caribbean, and the Bahamas.
Entertainment on Board
Carnival Vista offers a variety of entertainment programs suitable for all ages. Every evening, a show takes place in the main theater at the Liquid Lounge, a two-story venue (decks 4, 5) presenting various programs such as American rock night, Cuban song and dance night, movie songs night, and other entertainment shows. During the day, this hall is used for group games like bingo and trivia, and late at night for parties.
The lower floor of the lounge is interactive; every evening the seating arrangement changes.
Additionally, stand-up comedy entertainment programs are held in various halls, piano sing-along nights at Piano Bar 88, musicians in the lobby, and more. On the ship, you will also find a wide variety of bars such as the SkyBox Sports Bar on deck 4, which features four giant screens broadcasting sports continuously, the Havana Bar, and the RedFrog Pub, which includes a brewery and a game area.
Aside from bars, you will of course also find coffee shops on board, and duty-free shops selling bags, clothing, glasses, watches, and various souvenirs. A very sweet and special store is Cherry on Top, a confectionery shop: you take a bag and fill it with all kinds of gummy candies, chocolates, fine ice creams—a feast for the eyes and the palate.
The ship features a unique cinema complex: IMAX Theatre, with two screening rooms on decks 6 and 7. One screens modern 3D movies like "The Jungle Book," "Batman v Superman," and "Deadpool." The second hall screens 15-22 minute 4D short films, clips from animation/adventure movies, and scary clips where you move with the seats, receive a light poke in the back, a water spray on your face, and a breeze from different directions—fun and experiential, suitable for all ages!
Movie and film lovers will certainly also enjoy Dive-In Movies—a giant screen in the pool area showing 2-3 open-air movies every evening.
The World of Children and Youth
Great thought and creativity were invested in catering to children to give parents peace of mind. In addition to the family area we already wrote about, we find the Dr. Seuss area divided into mini-clubs by age group. Each area offers activities with a skilled and responsible staff, giving children quality time and lots of fun during storytime inspired by Dr. Seuss's books.
There are also clubs for teenagers, where they can lounge in comfortable, designer armchairs, chat, have their own parties, enjoy a movie lounge, video games, and more.
Leisure and Fun
The ship features an area with 3 pools, jacuzzis, and 3 water slides at three different levels for all ages.
A one-of-a-kind extreme experience awaits you at SkyRide, a pedal-powered aerial ride on two tracks running above the upper decks, providing wonderful views and fresh air. An amazing experience!
Also on the top deck, you will find a ropes course where you move from station to station with increasing levels of difficulty. A truly special experience, where you get to try walking on a thin rope with the stunning view of the open sea beneath you.
Young children and families will surely enjoy spending time at the mini-golf, pool/billiards, table tennis, table football, bowling, and more.
Sports enthusiasts will find outdoor and indoor fitness facilities in a luxurious, well-equipped gym.
Atmosphere and Cuisine
For gambling enthusiasts, a huge, luxurious casino awaits with blackjack tables, poker, hundreds of slot machines, and more. In the center, of course, is a well-stocked bar for everyone's enjoyment.
And now, after all the extreme sports and experiences, it's time to eat.
On the ship, there are various complimentary food areas. On the Lido deck, buffet-style dining rooms are open most of the day, serving breakfast, lunch, and dinner. A very wide variety of food types—everyone can find something delicious. In between, sweet snacks at the dessert buffet, fruits, ice cream, and of course hot and cold drinks 24 hours a day. Still hungry? You'll find a 24-hour pizza station, a hamburger stand, and a taco and burrito stand open until evening.
Additionally, the main dining rooms are called Horizons and Reflections, where you dine according to the times you selected during check-in or at your leisure.
Not full yet? Fancy something else? At your disposal are six specialty restaurants serving various cuisines such as Italian food, Asian food, Japanese food, a steakhouse, seafood, and the Chef's Table, where the chef prepares the meal you ordered right in front of you.
Article, voyage, and photography: M. Eldar