Carnival Cruises
A ship for family fun entertainment and cardio-active outdoor facilities
The Ship. Although its design is quite old – based mostly on Carnival Destiny of 1996 – this (Carnival Breeze-plus) ship nevertheless provides an array of activity-fuelled fun for the whole family. Carnival Vista is all about the fun of the fair at sea.
So, line up to get on your bike to pedal the suspended track of Sky Ride – maybe cycle yourself to the next port! Other attractions include a large WaterWorks aqua park, which features a 445-ft (136m) Kaleid-O-Slide, a twisting, corkscrew-turning waterslide adventure with kaleidoscopic effects (a variation on the SkyWalk rope course aboard Carnival Magic), and an excellent place to keep the kids occupied.
Considering the number of passengers carried, the swimming pools are disappointingly small, as is the open deck space, because of all the activity features crammed in. However, there’s usually no shortage of available sun loungers.
The ship has a full walk-around open promenade deck, but it’s lined with deck chairs. Also at the aft, two ‘scenic whirlpools’ are cantilevered over the water (as part of the Havana Outside area), with fine sea views.
Inside, facilities include an IMAX Theater (for blockbuster movies and documentary content), a large Vista Casino (adjacent to the atrium), a Thrill Theater (for a 4D moving experience), and many other lounges and bars, although the ship’s layout is a little disjointed.
The main social center of the ship is the atrium, with large LED screens to provide mood-changing backdrops. Counters for guest services and shore excursions are just off the atrium, while aft of the lobby is the Reflections Dining Room.
Many of the public rooms, lounges, bars, and nightspots are located on two main public room/entertainment decks. These can be accessed via an 11-deck-high atrium lobby, with a cantilevered bandstand atop a massive dance floor on the ground level.
The myriad bars include a sports bar, a trendy Havana Bar, Alchemy Bar (for ‘mixologist’ cocktails, and a RedFrog Pub (with Carnival’s own brews: the ThirstyFrog Red; ThirstyFrog Port Hoppin’ IPA; ThirstyFrog Caribbean Wheat; and ThirstyFrog Java Stout).
An adults-only (extra-cost) Serenity area atop the ship at the front provides a beach-like escape from the noisy family-filled decks below, with hot tubs, sunloungers, a bar, and other facilities, including massage ‘huts.’
Families with children are well catered for, not only with hyper-activity sporty areas outdoors, but also play rooms for kids and teens (in several different locations), and plenty of youth counselors to take charge, so parents and carers can get some ‘me’ time, too.
What Carnival does well is to provide lots of almost non-stop excitement, and entertainment fun, and this ship provides the right setting for it all. While the cuisine is pretty uninspiring, the real fun begins at sundown, when the entertainment kicks in.
Accommodation. The range of cabin sizes, locations, grades and prices includes ‘Family Harbor’ – family cabins that can sleep up to five. Whether you go for high end or low end, all include plush mattresses, and good-quality duvets, bed linen, and pillows. The suites are not large, although they are laid out practically, while some of the standard cabins are fine for two but crowded for three or more (there’s only one personal safe).
All cabins have spy-hole doors, twin beds that can convert into queen-size beds, controllable air conditioning, infotainment set, and telephone. Some cabins can accommodate a third and fourth person, but they have limited closet space. A number of cabins on Deck 3 have lifeboat-obstructed views.
Among the most desirable are those on five of the aft-facing decks; these have private balconies overlooking the stern and ship’s wash. There’s no vibration, a bonus provided by the pod propulsion system.
Cuisine. The two main dining rooms – Horizons and Reflections – are for served meals (breakfast, lunch, and dinner) in two seatings. Horizons Restaurant has some tables at the stern with fine views (on both main and balcony levels – although the upper level has a low ceiling), plus a bar. You can (at extra cost) also have selections from the steakhouse menu.
Don’t even think about a quiet table for two, or a candlelight dinner on deck. This is all about table mates, social talk, lively meals, fast eating, and fast service. Tables do have tablecloths, silverware, and iced water/iced tea whenever you want it. Choose either fixed time dining (6pm or 8.15pm) or flexible dining (during opening hours).
Overall, the food is carbohydrate-rich and non-memorable (it’s mass catering, after all), with simple presentation, few garnishes, and many dishes disguised with gravies and sauces. The selection of fresh green vegetables, bread and bakery items (these are thawed and then baked from frozen ‘starter’ dough), cheeses, and fruit is limited, and there is heavy use of rice, canned fruit and jellied desserts.
‘Spa Carnival Fare’ provides a healthier food option; vegetarian and children’s menus are also available, but they wouldn’t get a generous score for their nutritional content.
Lido Marketplace is a self-serve, buffet-style casual restaurant, while close by are other laid-back eateries (no extra cost), including Guy’s Burger Joint (named after restaurateur Guy Fieri), BlueIguana Cantina (for Mexican snack burritos and tacos), and Pizzeria del Capitano. There’s also Fat Jimmy’s C-Side BBQ – oh, and you can get some light bites at The Taste Bar, hot dogs at SeaDogs in SportSquare, sandwiches at the Carnival Deli, and frozen yoghurt at Swirls.
Extra-cost dining spots include: Fahrenheit 555, an all-American steakhouse (for prime meats and grilled seafood); Bonsai Sushi Restaurant, for Japanese-style cuisine (with both indoor and outdoor seating); and Seafood Shack, a New England-style indoor-outdoor eatery for steamed lobster, crab cakes, and fried shrimp. Plus there’s Cucina del Capitano (for Italian-style cuisine), and Ji-Ji Asian Kitchen (for Asian fusion cuisine), both on the upper level of Lido Marketplace. Families with youngsters might like to indulge in a Green Eggs and Ham breakfast (extra cost), while Chef’s Table (for foodies) includes a little showbusiness from the chef for a small number of diners (also at extra cost).
Entertainment. Liquid Lounge, the showlounge, spans two decks and is the venue for Vegas-style production shows (all feathers and skimpy costumes) and ‘A’-list cabaret acts.
A second entertainment lounge is the Limelight Lounge (for adult comedy), while a Piano Bar offers a gentler tone.
An IMAX Theater has a three-deck high screen, while adjacent is a multi-dimensional, special-effects experience in the Thrill Theater. Both are located on the interior of the forward section of Upper Promenade Deck. Extra-cost popcorn and movie snacks are available, of course. Next door is a video arcade.
Spa/Fitness. The Cloud 9 Spa is on two levels, with treatment rooms, men’s and women’s infrared saunas and hammam (slow steam and mud room – good for couples), relaxation lounger, fitness center, and ‘pay more’ thermal suites, plus a VIP treatment room for Spa Suite occupants.
Activity/sports facilities include an outdoor SkyCourse suspended ropes course (always fun on a moving ship), Sky Gardens mini-golf course, and a Skycourt (for baseball). The Clubhouse at SportSquare includes mini-bowling, ping-pong, arcade basketball, and video games.