One tradition that my husband and I started was taking a Carnival cruise every single year. We both work for ourselves which means we rarely get a day off because there is always something that needs to be done. It doesn’t help that we both work from home too. Working from home makes it very difficult to separate home life versus work life. It’s a constant battle that we both struggle with. Taking a cruise allows us to get away, both physically and mentally.
We started cruising 5 years ago and you could say we’re addicted. We love that we can get on a boat and visit so many great destinations and really explore the world for one great price. Every year we take a 5-8 day cruise depending on what sail options there are. Exploring the ship is one of our favorite things to do, there is so much to offer on each ship. The first couple times I sailed, I ventured around the ship but had no idea what I was missing by not doing my research before hand. It took a couple sails for me to realize there was an adult only deck. Let me tell you, you don’t want to miss the adult only deck. It’s a little slice of heaven on the ship. Next time you sail, be sure to check it out.
Photo by Andy Newman/Carnival Cruise Line
Our next cruise is booked on the Carnival Vista. This is one of Carnival’s newest ship and I can’t wait to venture around and participate in the activities. One thing about cruise ships that I love is that there is always something going on for you to do whether it is a comedy show, bingo or entertainment in the walk ways. You will never be bored. Here’s the ultimate list of activities the Carnival Vista offers.
Lip Sync Battle: Carnival
- No Cost
- Great for all ages
Do you love being on stage? Do you love busting a tune? This is for you. Lip Sync Battle is series of competitions throughout your vacation is designed to see who’s got what it takes to truly channel their inner idols and make the crowd go wild. If you’ve watched Lip Sync Battle on TV, then you know this will be fun event whether you’re participating or just watching from the crowd.
Skyride
- No Cost
- Great for all ages
If you like a thrill, take a ride on the Skyride. Zip safely around the two-lane suspended course in a pedal-powered go-mobile. This activity will give you views like you’ve never seen before. SkyRide has a minimum height requirement of 54 inches and a weight limit of 300 pounds.
Guests onboard Carnival Vista participate in SkyRide, an opportunity to pedal hanging recumbent-like bikes around an 800-foot-long suspended track some 150 feet above the sea. The largest and most innovative cruise vessel in Carnival Cruise Line’s fleet, Carnival Vista measures 133,500 tons, 1,055 feet long and has a guest capacity of almost 4,000 passengers. Photo by Andy Newman/Carnival Cruise Line
Photo by Andy Newman/Carnival Cruise Line
Havana Bar
Be transported into Cuba at the Havana Bar. Take in great ocean views as you try something authentically Cuban, like café Cubano (that’s Cuban coffee!) or handcrafted Cuban cocktails (think daiquiris, mojitos and more). And this spot definitely doesn’t cool down when the sun goes down, with music and dancing keeping things hot well into the night. No cost to get in but regular drink prices apply.
A guest walks into Havana Bar aboard the Carnival Vista. The largest and most innovative cruise vessel in Carnival Cruise Line’s fleet, Carnival Vista measures 133,500 tons, 1,055 feet long and has a guest capacity of almost 4,000 passengers. Photo by Andy Newman/Carnival Cruise Line
IMAX
If you love movies, you will be stoked to here that the Carnival Vista has an IMAX on board! This ship is the first and only ship to have an IMAX. You’ll find a world of first-run Hollywood blockbusters, recent hit films and IMAX documentaries, all in a huge format that makes normal theaters look like your smartphone screen. There is an additional cost for this activity.
Guests aboard the Carnival Vista await the beginning of a blockbuster movie in the ship’s IMAX theater. The largest and most innovative cruise vessel in Carnival Cruise Line’s fleet, Carnival Vista measures 133,500 tons, 1,055 feet long and has a guest capacity of almost 4,000 passengers. Photo by Andy Newman/Carnival Cruise Line
Suess at Sea
- No Cost
- Great for all ages
The whole family will still enjoy all the classic Carnival activities, but the littlest ones, and their families, will also enjoy an all-new, extra-special experience as the fantastical world of Dr. Seuss comes to life around them. Enjoy a special onboard character parade, interactive story time, arts & crafts activities, character breakfast featuring their favorite Dr. Seuss friends and more. Seuss at Sea truly brings your child’s favorite books to life.
Serenity Adult Only Retreat
- No cost
- Ages 21+
If you’re looking for a quiet, serene area to relax, the serenity adult only retreat is for you. This area is for adults ages 21 and up. It has a bar, lots of great chairs to lay out on, multiple hot tubs and the perfect amount of space to relax and reset.
Serenity is an adults-only area for peaceful relaxation on Carnival Vista. The largest and most innovative cruise vessel in Carnival Cruise Line’s fleet, Carnival Vista measures 133,500 tons, 1,055 feet long and has a guest capacity of almost 4,000 passengers. Photo by Andy Newman/Carnival Cruise Line
Playlist Productions
- No cost
- Great for all ages
One of our favorite activities on any Carnival Cruise is to watch the productions that take place on stage. What makes Playlist Productions fun is that you can get out of your seat, sing along and dance to the music.
Waterworks
- No cost
- Great for all ages
No matter if you’re 3 or 53, the Waterworks is so much fun. It’s a waterpark on board the ship! Many think it’s just for kids but it’s for all ages! I took a ride down the slide last time I was on the Carnival Breeze and had so much fun. Twister Waterslide, hundreds of feet of spiraling awesomeness that starts you off high in the air and gets you down low with one of the fastest, wettest rides you’ll find anywhere. Select ships have side-by-side racing slides, which make serious competition seriously fun. Wear your speed suit for Speedway Splash, which features hundreds of feet of racing action, plus special lighting effects you’ll experience on the road to victory. DrainPipe ends with one major swirl of a finish, while PowerDrencher takes soaking seriously — imagine the biggest bucket of water you’ve ever seen, raining down on you from above. Height and weight restrictions apply. Children must be toilet trained (no diapers or swim diapers).
A guest onboard Carnival Vista slides down Kaleid-O-Slide, a water tube attraction situated amid WaterWorks, the ship’s onboard water park. The largest and most innovative cruise vessel in Carnival Cruise Line’s fleet, Carnival Vista measures 133,500 tons, 1,055 feet long and has a guest capacity of almost 4,000 passengers. Photo by Andy Newman/Carnival Cruise Line
Photo by Andy Newman/Carnival Cruise Line
Hasbro, The Game Show
- No cost
- Great for all ages
Do you love game shows? Admittedly, it’s one of my favorite things to watch on television. Watching people and their candid responses is always entertaining. I’m the type of person who likes to watch from the audience and not participate so I always get in a few belly laughs. No matter if you like to be on the stage or not, this is a great activity for the whole family. Check your daily itinerary to see when and where these take place.
Camp Ocean
- No Cost
- Ages 2-11
Carnival cruises are great for the whole family. No matter what age your kids are, they will have fun on the ship! At Camp Ocean, kids ages 2-11 are supervised with other kids their age while participating in activities like sea salt art and sports competitions. This is included in your cruise and available during specific times. Check your itinerary for more details. Even if you have a little one who is not 2 yet, check with Camp Ocean because they have designated times for the little ones to go in and play with an adult. We can’t wait to check this out.
Children play in Camp Ocean onboard the Carnival Vista. The largest and most innovative cruise vessel in Carnival Cruise Line’s fleet, Carnival Vista measures 133,500 tons, 1,055 feet long and has a guest capacity of almost 4,000 passengers. Photo by Andy Newman/Carnival Cruise Line
Cherry on Top
“Treat Yo Self” is one of my favorite mottos when I’m on a cruise. We’re on vacation, so it’s okay to indulge a little bit and enjoy yourself. Cherry on Top is a candy store that has everything you would ever need to fix your sweet tooth. The store also has all types of other food and apparel. On the Carnival Vista, the Cherry on Top store has a signature ice cream creation, or build your own with tons of mix-ins and topping options
Build a Bear Workshop at Sea
When kids visit the Build-A-Bear Workshop at Sea, they use their small hands and big creativity to bring a new stuffed friend to life. They can customize theirs from head to toe by choosing the clothing and accessories, and even give their new friend a voice and message of its own by integrating a customizable voice chip. The cuddly bears are just the beginning — these stuffed friends come in all shapes, like a monkey, sea turtle, dog, bunny… and the cutest shark imaginable. There’s even a bear with a special Carnival-exclusive design!
Dr. Suess Bookville
Just because you’re on vacation, doesn’t mean that learning has to stop. We’re big advocates of reading to our little so we’re super pumped that we can stop by Dr. Suess’ bookville. The room is all decked out in bright colors, featuring fun and whimsical furniture and even has some of your all-time favorite Dr. Seuss characters on the walls. But let’s not forget that this space is all about the books — the shelves are filled to the brim for hours of fun reading.
A mother walks her child into Dr. Seuss, a family reading area next to Camp Ocean onboard Carnival Vista. The largest and most innovative cruise vessel in Carnival Cruise Line’s fleet, Carnival Vista measures 133,500 tons, 1,055 feet long and has a guest capacity of almost 4,000 passengers. Photo by Andy Newman/Carnival Cruise Line
Photo by Andy Newman/Carnival Cruise Line
Suess-a-palooza Parade
Stand up and cheer for the Seuss-a-palooza Parade, now streaming down the deck of select Carnival ships. Join characters you love — and a flock of your fellow fun followers — as you become part of the spirited procession of the biggest (and smallest) fans on this side of shore.
Night Owls
Bringing kids on the cruise but still want to get out for some adult time? Check out Night Owls! For a nominal fee, kids 11 and under can fun it up with others their age until as late as 1 a.m. They’ll enjoy music, activities, games and giveaways at supervised parties while you enjoy… whatever it is you do at night these days, all without a worry.
JavaBlue Cafe
If you’re a coffee addict like me, you’ll be happy to know that the Carnival Vista has a JavaBlue Cafe so you can get your fix while on the ship. From the simply caffeinated to the simply sublime, nothing satisfies your coffee craving like JavaBlue Café, featuring fun twists on the hot and cold drinks you enjoy.
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