Spoiler Alert: Ignore EVERYTHING negative you have read about the Vista so far. Based on our most recent trip none of the negativity is true and the naysayers are just complaining because they really don’t know how to appreciate a good cruise when they’re on one! This was our second time on the Vista, third cruise on Carnival. Once again, Carnival exceeded our expectations and delivered an amazing adventure for my family. We chose the Vista based on the excellent itinerary including Cozumel, Belize and Roatan, Honduras.

We flew into Houston International the night before and stayed at the Airport Marriott because out flight landed after 11pm. The subway from baggage claim one stop to the hotel was a bonus after a long day at work then a 4 hour flight. The hotel was fine and we enjoyed a late night snack when we landed. We took a Lyft to the Port of Galveston, but will probably take the Carnival Bus from IAH next time. Having a specific “Check-In” time made embarkation a breeze and we were on the ship in no time after going through all the check in points beforehand.

The Vista is a beautiful ship and we love her low-key vibe and laid back ambiance and décor. We had a mid-ship balcony room on the 8th Deck. There was more than ample space for the three of us, although our teenage son is growing so fast I might end up on the pull-out couch on the next trip. Our room steward Jay was wonderful. No request went unanswered and he went above and beyond every day to see to it that we had what we needed. No surprise that the service everywhere on board was exceptional. We met so many hard working, sweet, kind staff and we never once encountered anyone who was less than enthusiastic to help us with a request. The staff was upbeat and positive and we look forward to the chance to spend another week with this crew at some point. Read more