Carnival Vista class profile and review

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PROFILE AND REVIEW

CARNIVAL
CRUISE
LINE

VISTA CLASS

Cruise line profile - Carnival Cruise Lines - Vista class - profile and review

Above: Carnival Vista.
.

Above: Carnival Panorama. (Photo courtesy of Carnival
Cruise Line.)

Click here for our profile and review of Carnival's Conquest class

Above: Costa Firenze (photo
courtesy of Costa Cruises).

Right: Costa Veneiza (photo
courtesy of Costa Cruises).

Above: Carnival Vista.

Below: Carnival Horizon.

Above: Carnival Horizon.

Carnival

Carnival Cruise Line's Vista class includes three ships:
Carnival Vista; Carnival Horizon and Carnival Panorama.
Two near-sisters sail for Costa Cruises in that line's Venezia
class: Costa Venezia and Costa Firenze.

The Vista class are large, resort-style ships and are
essentially unrelated to the medium-size Vista class cruise
ships that sail for Holland America Line, P&O Cruises and
Cunard Line. All three of the Carnival ships are 133,000
gross tons. At double occupancy, Vista and Horizon can
accommodate just over 3,950 passengers while Panorama
can host a few above 4,000. At full occupancy, there can be
about 5,000 guests. The Carnival ships offer a casual,
family-friendly, mass-market cruise experience.

Although these ships bear a family resemblance to
Carnival's earlier Conquest-class ships, they are
significantly different. First, the interior layout is different.
Second, the décor of the public areas is more like a
contemporary hotel rather than like a fantasy-land theme
park. Third, as discussed below, they are technologically
different.

    As with Carnival's earlier large ships, the Vista class
have two large main dining rooms; one mid-ships and a
two level one at the stern. One is open for breakfast and
for lunch (on sea days). Both are open for dinner and
guests can select between a flexible dining system or a
traditional cruise ship dining system. In addition, these
ships have several complimentary alternative dining
venues as well as extra-charge specialty restaurants.
Some of these venues have outdoor seating on the Lanai
promenade, which wraps around the ship.

    In addition to two cruise-ship size pools and several
hot tubs, the ships have; a waterpark with slides; a sports
square with various attractions; a jogging trail with fitness
stations; a large basketball court; a ropes course and a
Skyrider monorail. There is also a large spa and an
adults-only Serenity section of the open decks.

    Evening entertainment includes production shows in
the theater and stand-up comedians in the comedy club.
The ships are equipped with Imax movie theaters. There
are also numerous bars and lounges.

    The Vista class were built by Italy's Fincantieri
shipyards with the first ship in the class (Carnival Vista
entering service in 2016 and the most recent ship
(Carnival Panorama) in 2019. Unlike the vast majority of
Carnival's earlier ships, the Vistas have pod propulsion
systems, which increases their maneuverability. Cruising
speed is 23 knots, which is about average for today's
cruise ships.

       The two Costa ships were also built by Fincantieri.
Costa Veneiza entered service in 2019 and Costa Firenze
was completed in 2020). They are slightly larger at
135,500 gross tons and can accommodate more than
5,200 guests.

    Designed for use in the Chinese market, the interior
décor is intended to offer guests a taste of Italy (Venice
on Veneiza and Florence on Firenze). The Italian theme
is also reflected in the onboard activities, in the
gastronomic offerings and in merchandise offered in the
ships' shops.

    Firenze has 13 bars and seven restaurants. It is
family-friendly and includes an adventure park.

Click here for our profile and review of Carnival's Spirit class

Click here for our profile and review of Carnival's Dream class

Click here for our profile and review of Carnival's S unshine class

Click here for our profile and review of Carnival's Fantasy class