Sail on the Carnival Vista – a floating city minus the bad parts, all bathed in the Caribbean sun
There is always an adventure to be had on the journey from A to B — and with the Carnival Vista, getting there is half the fun
IT’S easy to take them for granted, the miracles of engineering that whisk us away on holiday.
I remember the excitement of my first plane journey when I was eight.
My latest trip was just as much about the journey as the destination . . . and I was eight all over again.
This was my first cruise to the Caribbean aboard the Carnival Vista with my excited wife Stacie.
The ship is huge — a floating city minus the bad parts, all bathed in the Caribbean sun.
There are restaurants to suit every taste, live music and entertainment, pools, spas and saunas to relax in, a cinema showing the latest movies and outdoor activities including mini-golf, a ropes course and water park.
There is even the SkyRide, a bike track suspended high above the deck for more adventurous passengers.
Departing Miami, we soon realise that we might struggle to try everything the Carnival Vista has to offer.
There just isn’t the time. So we prioritise by starting with the feature I find most intriguing — the Red Frog Pub & Brewery.
Yes, the Vista even has its own brewery. It is fitting we begin here, as the huge brewing tanks, fermenters, kettles and coolers were among the first things installed on the ship.
The rest of the Carnival Vista was built around them.
The Red Frog is one of 13 bars on board and the first American brewery at sea.
Brewmaster Colin enthusiastically talks us through the beers on offer before I try the Thirsty Frog Port Hoppin’ IPA. What better way to guarantee fresh beer than to brew it right here?
We will be at sea for a day and a night before arriving at our first port of call, so there is ample opportunity to explore the ship further.
On the upper levels is the Cloud 9 Spa & Thermal Suite.
The Carnival Vista is sold as a relaxed cruising experience — and nowhere is that more true than on Cloud 9. Not that we needed a break from our holiday, but I do see the appeal as we take a dip in the thalassotherapy pool.
On board, the boundaries blur between inside and out.
Many of the bars and restaurants have outdoor areas and the urge to enjoy the view with fresh air is overwhelming.
During sea days with nothing but ocean surrounding us, the sight of the sun rising and setting is spectacular.
The best hotels offer sea views but the Vista, appropriately given its name, takes that a step further.
In our stateroom, which boasts a private balcony, we wake to a different view every morning. What hotel can offer that?
It is because of these amazing views most passengers make themselves comfortable on the open-air Lido deck, home to two swimming pools and many bars and food joints, offering pizza, burgers and seafood.
There is even an outdoor cinema screen, which Stacie and I find to enjoy an under-the-stars screening of that timeless romantic classic, Ghostbusters.
Should the Caribbean weather not be so favourable, the on-board IMAX cinema shows Hollywood blockbusters (though probably not Titanic) with the same immersive experience you get in theatres on land.
But if we learn one thing on our cruise, it’s this: Everything is better at sea!
That goes for food too. Dining options, across all corners of the ship, are vast.
We find ourselves eating in a different restaurant each night.
Take your pick from exotic Asian cuisine in JiJi to surf and turf in Steakhouse, rustic Italian food at Cucina Del Capitano and the expertly prepared tataki in Bonsai Sushi.
With an on-board casino and all-night entertainment, it is tempting to stay up.
But we are excited about our first excursion and want to wake early for breakfast on our balcony as we near land at Amber Cove in the Dominican Republic.
The friendly crew help us organise our day ashore, in which we spend time with locals and learn about the island’s culture and colourful history.
Tour guide, Kelvin, leads us off the beaten track to the picturesque home of a family who grow coffee and produce chocolate.
And we gatecrash a maths lesson at a school full of enthusiastic kids who seem happy about the disruption.
After a delicious home-cooked meal, there is time to spend a couple of hours on a beautiful secluded beach before we are driven back to the hulking sight of the Vista, which is starting to feel like home. The next time we disembark is in Grand Turk.
After a further day exploring the endless activities on board, we watch from the adults-only Serenity deck as the island grows from a dot on the horizon to a pristine white sandy beach, ready to be explored.
We opt for an action-packed day out this time, riding horses and driving a dune buggy across the island.
Then we try a zipwire course 45ft up, giving us a brilliant view of Grand Turk.
Throughout this trip, I feel we are seeing the Eastern Caribbean in all its glory.
And while the whistle-stop nature may not suit everybody, a cruise is a great way to experience lots of new places in a limited period.
Hurricanes have done their worst this autumn but the Caribbean remains very much open for business and ready to welcome visitors.
There is always an adventure to be had on the journey from A to B — and with the Carnival Vista, getting there is at least half the fun.
GO: Caribbean Cruising
GETTING/STAYING THERE: A six-night Western Caribbean cruise on Carnival Vista costs from £899 per person based on two sharing a balcony cabin to include all meals on board, port taxes and fees.
Price is based on the October 6, 2018 sailing.
The cruise from Miami visits Ocho Rios, Grand Cayman and Cozumel.
See carnival.com or call 0808 234 0680 for more details.