Carnival Vista Promises More Fun, Features

Carnival Vista will be the latest, greatest ship from the cruise line that defined Fun at sea decades ago.  Kept current with a number of updating initiatives over the year, we’ve watched the evolution of that Fun as Carnival Cruise Line has grown.  Expanding their offerings to have something for nearly everyone, most of the recent updates to the Carnival onboard experience have come in the form of remodels of older ships; upgrades of existing hardware.  Taking advantage of a new ship that can be anything they want it to be, the designers of Carnival Vista have been paying attention to their passengers. Looking to launch a ship that both excites long time fans and draws in new ones, Carnival Vista has unique elements that give a glimpse of the future.

Turning It Inside Out

‘Connecting passengers with the ocean’ is an over-used marketing ploy that a number of cruise lines have thrown out there for us to gobble up recently.  That usually translates to big windows or an indoor/outdoor dining, drinking or entertainment venue.  It’s an interesting way to look at things that may or may not resonate with would-be passengers, mainly because we already understand that connection.  Breaking news: we get it.  Carnival Vista heads in this direction too, but in a bold new way we have not seen elsewhere.

• Havana Bar & Pool is an onboard retreat that’s an exclusive paradise by day and a music/dancing hotspot at night. Featuring handcrafted Cuban cocktails like the classic Mojito or traditional Daiquiri, plus fresh (free) Cuban snacks. The bar is just steps from the Havana Pool, whose ocean view and atmosphere mingles with the bar’s own, for a bit of that old-time Cuban resort flavor.
• SportSquare has SkyGreens minature golf, a basketball court and SkyCourse ropes course.  Featured is a new SkyRide that lets passengers strap in and zip around a bike course high above the deck.
• The Clubhouse features indoor activities like mini-bowling and arcade-style basketball with soccer, volleyball and ping-pong close by
• Multiplex featuring IMAX brings not one but two theaters to sea.  One is a full size IMAX theater, the other a 3D Thrill Theater
• Red Frog Pub And Brewery brings a new element to a popular onboard drinking venue that has made it’s way onto a number of Carnival Cruise Line ships throughout the fleet.  Bumping up the fun level as Carnival does, a brewery has been added that will make microbrews
• Carnival Waterworks just gets better all the time and the facility on Carnival Vista is no exception.  An all new Kaleid-O-Slide is the new kid on the block here and said to be a must-see, from the inside where passengers zip through on rafts with lights colors and sound all around.  Think along the lines of Disney’s Rock ‘n’ Roller Coaster .

Bigger And Better Than Ever

One thing Carnival learned a long long time ago on the way to perfecting Fun at sea: Don’t mess with a winner. Funny pool games still bring laughs, keeping the mood light still resonates with anyone worth resonating with and kids like water slides. Still, that does not mean they can’t improve along the way and add new elements to sure fire hit features

• Carnival Vista’s Serenity Adults-Only Retreat has more for adults,  Moving beyond the main attraction (kids not allowed), Carnival Vista adds a chopped salad station and a large, accessible bar plus more intimate seating that will let guests connect and enjoy sea breezes and peace
• Cherry On Top has become quite a hit on nearly every other ship in the Carnival fleet since its rollout as part of their Funship 2.0 initiative, bringing what is described as a candy-and-more-store.  Taking the pretty much dead space of the Formalities shop on older ships and prominently positioning the space on newer ones, the Carnival Vista rendition will have a premium ice cream counter with toppings for those for whom unlimited soft serve is just not enough.
• Dr. Seuss Bookville takes the highly successful partnership between Carnival Cruise Line and edutainment icon Dr.Seuss to an entirely new space, custom designed for it, as opposed to refits of older ships on a number of lines.  On that same children’s campus, Camp Ocean breaks young cruise travelers age 2-11 down into age-based groups for appropriate interaction with each other and degreed educators who man the space.

A Fun Lineup Of Eateries

• Seafood Shack will feature New-England style complete meals with a view of the ocean
• Horizons Restaurant is a main dining room with a fresh new look we have not seen on other ships as well as an attached Horizon’s bar
• Fahrenheit 555 Steakhouse continues the Carnival franchise that is pretty much the best at sea with steaks, lobster, lamb and more as well as its own full bar
• Bonsai Sushi has proven so popular on other ships in the fleet that an expanded version is included on Carnival Vista, complete with expertly-pruned bonsai trees.
• The Chef’s Table on Carnival Vista promises to do what other renditions of the chefs table on other lines fail to do: make it fun.  The venue itself makes the whole idea of it work, with an open kitchen and plenty of space for guests and chefs to share fun in the kitchen, as opposed so much focus on “I’m the highly skilled chef, let me impress you”
• Ji Ji Asian Kitchen is my main number one reason for wanting to sail Carnival Vista.  I think it’s one of the best foodservice operations Carnival does and it’s only on Carnival Breeze right now.  How good is it?  When we sail Carnival Breeze, we commonly dine there multiple times on each sailing.  It’s just that good.
• Cucina del Capitano continues the successful Italian eatery concept with similar decor and feel, tapping family albums of Carnival’s marine officers with an Italian farmhouse ambiance.
• Guys Burger Joint continues Carnival’s association with celebrity chef Guy Fieri and a burger that has Carnival passengers lined up all day
• BlueIguana Cantina is Carnival Vista’s taco and burrito place and a favorite Chipotle-style you pick the ingredients venue

A Stateroom To Enjoy

Also featured on Carnival Vista, a variety of new stateroom configurations to compliment standard interior, oceanview, balcony and suite accommodations.  Cruise travelers who have convinced themselves that “the cabin is just a place to sleep” will probably rethink that after sailing Carnival Vista.  The standard fare looks quite comfortable and continues a Carnival tradition of having some of the roomiest living spaces at sea. Still, there are a number of featured categories that take an entirely different look at cruise ship accommodations:

• Havana Staterooms And Suites are located close to the Havana Bar and Pool, intended for exclusive use of guests booked in this part of the ship. The main attraction and star of the show is the Havana Cabana suite
• Family Harbor Staterooms and Suites also have a bit of exclusivity, close to the Family Harbor Lounge which is open 24 hours for breakfast, snacks during the day, games, family movies and more.  Stay here and your kids eat free in most onboard specialty restaurants.
• Cloud 9 Spa Staterooms and Suites get priority spa reservations and more access than anyone else to all things spa

That’s a really quick rundown of interesting features coming up on new Carnival Vista. Also of interest, a variety of entertainment options, shore excursion choices and pretty much an entire re-thinking of the standard fare.  More to come.

Graphic Renderings- Carnival Cruise Line