Carnival Vista 2019 7-Day Caribbean Cruise Review
Day 5 Part 2 May 22, 2019 Grand Cayman
Scheduled Arrival: 7:00AM Scheduled Departure: 3:00pm (last water shuttle was scheduled for 2:15pm)
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Day 5 Part 2 May 22, 2019 Grand Cayman
Scheduled Arrival: 7:00AM Scheduled Departure: 3:00pm (last water shuttle was scheduled for 2:15pm)
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Getting Back On The Carnival Vista:
Although the water shuttle ride getting back to the ship was short, it took a few minutes for everyone to safely get off the water shuttle because the waves were a bit rough. A crew member held the gangway steady on the water shuttle and a Carnival Vista crew member held the gangway steady on the ship's side of the gangway. The gangway was little, but it was rocking up and down as the water shuttle moved in the water. There was a thunderstorm in the distance that may have been causing the rough seas. After getting back on the ship, we had to form a line for the ship's security checkpoint. First our Sail & Sign cards were scanned and then we were directed to the metal detector machines. All electronics and belongings had to be scanned. The process was the same as our port of call stop in Montego Bay, but this time it took longer because of everyone from our water shuttle trying to go through security at once. After the security checkpoint, we were directed to the Deck 0 stairwell/elevator area that was mid-ship.
Before heading to lunch, we made a quick stop by our stateroom. I needed to change camera batteries before going to lunch. While we were ashore in Grand Cayman, our stateroom steward had come by to clean the room. She left a towel animal and made up the beds. I stepped outside onto our balcony to see what I could see. I was able to see the water shuttle we had just gotten off of and our cove balcony had a good view of the Liberty of the Seas.
Although the water shuttle ride getting back to the ship was short, it took a few minutes for everyone to safely get off the water shuttle because the waves were a bit rough. A crew member held the gangway steady on the water shuttle and a Carnival Vista crew member held the gangway steady on the ship's side of the gangway. The gangway was little, but it was rocking up and down as the water shuttle moved in the water. There was a thunderstorm in the distance that may have been causing the rough seas. After getting back on the ship, we had to form a line for the ship's security checkpoint. First our Sail & Sign cards were scanned and then we were directed to the metal detector machines. All electronics and belongings had to be scanned. The process was the same as our port of call stop in Montego Bay, but this time it took longer because of everyone from our water shuttle trying to go through security at once. After the security checkpoint, we were directed to the Deck 0 stairwell/elevator area that was mid-ship.
Before heading to lunch, we made a quick stop by our stateroom. I needed to change camera batteries before going to lunch. While we were ashore in Grand Cayman, our stateroom steward had come by to clean the room. She left a towel animal and made up the beds. I stepped outside onto our balcony to see what I could see. I was able to see the water shuttle we had just gotten off of and our cove balcony had a good view of the Liberty of the Seas.
View Of A Water Shuttle From Our Cove Balcony
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Balcony Glass Door & Window
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Towel Animal
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Lunch in the Lido Marketplace:
Today's lunch was less crowded than the Montego Bay port day lunch. As a result of there being less people, I was able to get some pictures of the buffet food.
The Fun-Times daily activity newsletter as well as the Carnival Hub app listed the day's lunch options. The lunch options for today's port of call day were a little different and some places did not open for lunch.
Although the Fun-Times said Guy's Burger Joint would open at 1:00pm, one line was open at 12:00pm despite the Fun-Times saying 1:00pm. This was different than the prior day, when they actually opened later. I did not have a burger on this day because I did not realize Guy's Burger Joint was open until I had already gotten a taco from the Blue Iguana Cantina. I told myself I would get a burger on Cozumel day, but ended up not because they stuck with the 1:00pm open time on Cozumel day.
Here are some pictures from the Lido Marketplace's main buffet lines:
Today's lunch was less crowded than the Montego Bay port day lunch. As a result of there being less people, I was able to get some pictures of the buffet food.
The Fun-Times daily activity newsletter as well as the Carnival Hub app listed the day's lunch options. The lunch options for today's port of call day were a little different and some places did not open for lunch.
- Seafood Shack - The Seafood Shack is located at the back of the Lido Marketplace by the Tides aft pool. This venue costs extra and was open from 11:00am to 5:00pm for lunch. Dinner was also served at this venue from 5:00pm until 9:00pm.
- Blue Iguana Cantina 12:00pm - 3:30pm
- Mongolian Wok - This was located in JiJi Asian Kitchen on Deck 11 (right above the Lido Marketplace buffet). The open time was from 12:00pm until 2:30pm.
- Pasta Bar - This was located in Cucina Del Capitano on Deck 11 (right above the Lido Marketplace buffet). The open time was from 12:00pm until 2:30pm.
- Guy's Burger Joint - 1:00pm - 6:00pm
Although the Fun-Times said Guy's Burger Joint would open at 1:00pm, one line was open at 12:00pm despite the Fun-Times saying 1:00pm. This was different than the prior day, when they actually opened later. I did not have a burger on this day because I did not realize Guy's Burger Joint was open until I had already gotten a taco from the Blue Iguana Cantina. I told myself I would get a burger on Cozumel day, but ended up not because they stuck with the 1:00pm open time on Cozumel day.
Here are some pictures from the Lido Marketplace's main buffet lines:
Lido Marketplace Main Lunch Buffet Line
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Lido Marketplace Main Lunch Buffet Line
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Lido Marketplace Main Lunch Buffet Line
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Lido Marketplace Main Lunch Buffet Line
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Lido Marketplace Main Lunch Buffet Line
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Lido Marketplace Main Lunch Buffet Line
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Lido Marketplace Main Lunch Buffet Line
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Lido Marketplace Main Lunch Buffet Line
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Lido Marketplace Main Lunch Buffet Line
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Lido Marketplace Main Lunch Buffet Line
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Lido Marketplace Main Lunch Buffet Line
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Lido Marketplace Main Lunch Buffet Line
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Lido Marketplace Main Lunch Buffet Line
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Lido Marketplace Main Lunch Buffet Line
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My Plate Of Food From The Buffet Line
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Carnival's new buffet style desserts are a big improvement from the past Lido buffet desserts. On previous cruises, the buffet's key lime pie dessert has been one of my favorite things to eat. Carnival served key lime pie on this day's dessert menu and it was even better than it used to be! I love key lime pie and Carnival's key lime pie is my favorite! I had key lime pie for dessert and regretted not getting more, but I was stuffed. The gelato station was also open during today's lunch. I do not remember what the flavors were. Here are some pictures of the dessert cakes from today's lunch:
Lido Marketplace Desserts
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Lido Marketplace Desserts
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Lido Marketplace Desserts
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Lido Marketplace Desserts
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Lido Marketplace Desserts
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Lido Marketplace Desserts
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My lunch review would not be complete without a few more food pictures! Enjoy!
Cookies From The Dessert Station
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My Slice Of Key Lime Pie - It Was Great!
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Shrimp Taco With Guacamole
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Straight Up Burger From Guy's Burger Joint
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Taco Bowl From The Blue Iguana Cantina
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Afternoon Walk Around The Ship's Outside Decks:
After lunch, I took a walk around the ship's outside open decks. I went up to Deck 12 and walked towards the front of the ship. At this time, the SkyRide and ropes course were not yet open (they opened at 2:00pm). The outside deck facilities at Sports Square were vacant and this would have been the perfect time to play a game of mini-golf. Here are some pictures from my walk:
After lunch, I took a walk around the ship's outside open decks. I went up to Deck 12 and walked towards the front of the ship. At this time, the SkyRide and ropes course were not yet open (they opened at 2:00pm). The outside deck facilities at Sports Square were vacant and this would have been the perfect time to play a game of mini-golf. Here are some pictures from my walk:
Liberty of the Seas Anchored
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Deck 12
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Looking Up At SkyRide's Tracks (Left) & Ropes Course (On Right)
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SportsSquare: Mini Golf Course Area
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SportsSquare: Mini Golf Course Area
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SportsSquare: Billards
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SportsSquare: 4 Way Ping-Pong Table
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SportsSquare on Deck 14 - Ropes Course Entrance
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SportsSquare
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Riding SkyRide:
Although I rode on the SkyRide on an earlier day of the cruise, I wanted to do it again. The SkyRide was scheduled to open at 2:00pm. I arrived a few minutes after 2:00pm and a line was already formed. Luckily, I did not have to wait too long to get a turn on the ride. However, when I got off the line was long enough to where the people joining the line had over 30 minutes of waiting (Carnival had signage indicating how long the estimated wait was from certain points). I enjoyed my ride on the SkyRide and had plans to ride it again on Cozumel day. (Sneak Peak: I rode the SkyRide on Cozumel day and two rides after mine they had to shut it down for the rest of the cruise due to at track issue. I'll talk about this more in Day 6's review).
Although I rode on the SkyRide on an earlier day of the cruise, I wanted to do it again. The SkyRide was scheduled to open at 2:00pm. I arrived a few minutes after 2:00pm and a line was already formed. Luckily, I did not have to wait too long to get a turn on the ride. However, when I got off the line was long enough to where the people joining the line had over 30 minutes of waiting (Carnival had signage indicating how long the estimated wait was from certain points). I enjoyed my ride on the SkyRide and had plans to ride it again on Cozumel day. (Sneak Peak: I rode the SkyRide on Cozumel day and two rides after mine they had to shut it down for the rest of the cruise due to at track issue. I'll talk about this more in Day 6's review).
SkyRide Station
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View Of SportsSquare From Deck 14
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Despite today being a port day, the Carnival Vista's WaterWorks were open. Since there were very few people on the ship, I decided to climb up the WaterWorks stairs to see the view from the slide entrance. Here is the view from one of the highest areas of the ship accessible to guests:
Looking Towards The Back Of The Ship From The Waterslide Entrance
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Twister Waterslide Entrance
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Kaleid-O-Slide Entrance
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Departure From Grand Cayman:
About one hour before our departure from Grand Cayman, I saw the Carnival Paradise begin moving. The ship backed away from Grand Cayman and then turned around. We would see the Carnival Paradise again in Cozumel. After I saw the Carnival Paradise get far away, I went up to Deck 9's front area to look out. It was about 2:15pm, which was the time the last water shuttle was set to depart from Grand Cayman. Around 2:15pm, we saw the last water shuttle come back to the ship. Once the people from the water shuttle were back on the Carnival Vista, we stayed anchored for a few minutes and then departed Grand Cayman.
About one hour before our departure from Grand Cayman, I saw the Carnival Paradise begin moving. The ship backed away from Grand Cayman and then turned around. We would see the Carnival Paradise again in Cozumel. After I saw the Carnival Paradise get far away, I went up to Deck 9's front area to look out. It was about 2:15pm, which was the time the last water shuttle was set to depart from Grand Cayman. Around 2:15pm, we saw the last water shuttle come back to the ship. Once the people from the water shuttle were back on the Carnival Vista, we stayed anchored for a few minutes and then departed Grand Cayman.
Carnival Paradise Departing Grand Cayman
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Georgetown's Shoreline
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View From The Front Of The Ship
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Last Water Shuttle With Passengers Coming Back To The Ship
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Water Clear Of Water Shuttles
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Liberty of the Seas In The Distance After We Began Sailing
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After walking on Deck 9 I went down to Deck 5 to see if the Ocean Plaza had any water available. I was extremely thirsty and being outside made me feel zapped! While on Deck 5 I took a quick walk outside to see the view from the front of the ship.
View Of The Ship's Front From Deck 5
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Grand Cayman Getting Smaller As We Moved Farther Away
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View From Deck 5
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As I walked around Deck 5, I saw the Fun Shops were now open. All of the ship's Fun Shops are closed during the ship's time in a port of call. I decided to take a quick look inside the shop that sold Carnival logo items. This shop had a variety of Carnival Vista themed merchandise as well as general Carnival Cruise merchandise. Each time I am on a different ship I buy a model of that cruise ship. Since this was my first cruise on the Carnival Vista, I made sure to buy a Carnival Vista model. I have included a few pictures of the logo items below. However, there are many more items that I did not get pictures of.
Fun Shops: Logo Items Store On Deck 5
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Fun Shops: Logo Items Store On Deck 5
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Fun Shops: Logo Items Store On Deck 5
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As I walked around the ship, I was mindful of the time because I needed to give myself enough time to get ready for dinner. My last stop before going back to the stateroom was the Reflections Dining Room on Deck 3. The Reflections Dining Room seated guests that had early or late seating. The Your-Time Dining was not held in the Reflections Dining Room. This dining room is only one deck and had entrances from the atrium and mid-ship elevator/stairwell area. Below you will find a few pictures of the Reflections Dining Room:
Reflections Dining Room (Mid-Ship)
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Reflections Dining Room
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Reflections Dining Room
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After getting ready for dinner, we went and checked in on Deck 5 for a table. We were one of the first people to check-in and then I headed down to the Deck 3 level of the Horizons Dining Room to line-up for dinner. The dining room did not open its doors until 5:27pm, but this was three minutes earlier than the scheduled dinner time.
Deck 3 Entrance To The Horizons Dining Room
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Two Of The Four Elevators Outside The Horizons Dining Room
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Our Table
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Second Formal Night's Dinner:
Tonight was our second formal night of the cruise. Once again, the tables in the Horizons Dining Room were setup with table clothes. We had the same waitstaff as the prior few nights. Although the first formal night served a lobster dish for free, the second formal night had lobster available for a charge! Lobster is NOT free on both formal nights. Tonight's dinner food and service were very good. For my appetizers I had the four season salad and romaine caesar salad. For my main course, I had the flat iron steak. Normally, the flat iron steak comes with a baked potato, but on formal night the flat iron steak does not. I asked for a side baked potato because I enjoy baked potatoes. My dessert selection for the evening was a banana split off the kid's menu. All of the food was great and I left the dining room as stuffed as always! |
The American Feast formal night menus have a slightly different layout compared to the normal night's dining menus. As a result of this different layout, the menu is able to fit on two pages. Here are my screenshots of the menus for tonight's dinner from the Carnival Hub App:
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Here are my food pictures from tonight's dinner:
Bread Basket
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Appetizer: Chesapeake Crab Cake
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Appetizer: Shrimp Cocktail
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Appetizer: Four Season Salad
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Appetizer: Romaine Caesar Salad
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Main Course: Flat Iron Steak
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Main Course: Grilled Chicken Breast
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Main Course: Striped Bass Fillet
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Side Dish: Baked Potato
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Dessert: Fresh Tropical Fruit Plate
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Dessert: Banana Split (From Kid's Menu)
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Dessert: Amaretto Cake
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Tonight's Playlist Productions Show: "Amor Cubano"
After dinner I wanted to see the Playlist Productions show that was scheduled to take place in the Liquid Lounge. The showtimes for the evening were 7:30pm and 9:30pm. However, the doors to the Liquid Lounge opened 30 minutes prior to show-time. This meant the doors opened at 7pm for the early show and 9pm for the late show.
After Show Quick Walk Around The Ship:
Once the show was over around 8pm I decided to take a walk around the ship's jogging track. After a quick walk on the jogging track we took a walk on Deck 5. I happened to remember the Havana pool area that is normally restricted was open for all cruisers because it was after 6pm. I took a walk through the Havana Bar and stepped outside into this back area of Deck 5. The Havana pool area had a small pool at the very back of Deck 5 and hottubs on each side. There were several deck chairs in this back area as well as a bar counter that was part of the Havana Bar. Overall, this area was very nice. Although I did not stay in a Havana stateroom, it appeared this is a nice deck space for people that paid for the Havana staterooms. Here are some pictures of the Havana area at night:
After dinner I wanted to see the Playlist Productions show that was scheduled to take place in the Liquid Lounge. The showtimes for the evening were 7:30pm and 9:30pm. However, the doors to the Liquid Lounge opened 30 minutes prior to show-time. This meant the doors opened at 7pm for the early show and 9pm for the late show.
After Show Quick Walk Around The Ship:
Once the show was over around 8pm I decided to take a walk around the ship's jogging track. After a quick walk on the jogging track we took a walk on Deck 5. I happened to remember the Havana pool area that is normally restricted was open for all cruisers because it was after 6pm. I took a walk through the Havana Bar and stepped outside into this back area of Deck 5. The Havana pool area had a small pool at the very back of Deck 5 and hottubs on each side. There were several deck chairs in this back area as well as a bar counter that was part of the Havana Bar. Overall, this area was very nice. Although I did not stay in a Havana stateroom, it appeared this is a nice deck space for people that paid for the Havana staterooms. Here are some pictures of the Havana area at night:
Havana Pool Area
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Havana Pool Area
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Havana Pool Area
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Havana Pool Area
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Havana Pool Area
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Lanai
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After walking around I began to feel tired and I wanted to be up early enough to see the Carnival Vista's arrival in Cozumel. I went by the Lido Marketplace for some water before heading back down to Deck 2.
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