CRUISE CARNIVAL VISTA
Any excuse to cruise works for us! We like cruising out of Galveston, Texas where you can CRUISE CARNIVAL VISTA! It is near family we have in the Houston area and the boarding and parking process there is super easy. So when an opportunity to visit family in Texas presented itself, immediately my brain began churning with thoughts of an escape including a cruise to sunshine!
This particular cruise offered destination stops in Cozumel, Mexico, Mahogany Bay, Roatan (Honduras), and Belize City, Belize. We have visited Cozumel several times before, but the other two stops were new destinations for us!
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“Travelling in the company of those we love is home in motion”
– Leigh Hunt.
CRUISE CARNIVAL VISTA
LUXERIATE WITH YOUR SPOUSE
Is there any better way to spend your days? We are all way too busy, right…
Any opportunity to piggy back a destination trip with a cruise added to the mix is fun for me! Why not! Our winters are so cold and miserable without lots of consistent sunlight, so we try to add a dose of vitamin D to our plans whenever we can! We love to cruise! Check out some cruise video from previous trips!
Now that it is easier to schedule time with just the two of us, it makes perfect sense to indulge in more reconnection moments with my husband!
When the opportunity presented itself for travel to see out-of-state family, what is a better idea than to extend that opportunity by adding a few days onto the middle of this trip for a cruise. This idea is a perfect solution to provide additional one-on-one time with my husband and visit family on either end of the cruise trip!
It becomes much needed in the midst of our busy lifestyles. Now that our eldest son is busy building his career in mid-Michigan and our youngest is working away at his college goals, this special precious time with extended family is becoming a bit easier to schedule. When the family visit is near a cruise port…it becomes even easier to book a few days this way without hassle. It was a blast and easy to coordinate. I can list 10 reasons to cruise easily!
After an early morning walk around the track (8 laps equals 2 miles), I love to lay in the sun with a book and be left alone. My husband enjoys wandering the ship, people watching in the shade, and lounging around the pool area in between naps, but in the afternoons/evenings we reconnected over dinner and enjoyed the evenings entertainment together.
CRUISE CARNIVAL VISTA
CLOUD 9 SPA & HAVANA CABANAS
Most cruise lines offer a discount on spa treatments if you’re willing to book on embarkation day. There’s usually so much going on that day — getting settled, learning your way around the ship, and unpacking — that spas typically have more open appointments. To fill them up, they offer a discount.
We indulged in a couples massage this trip as the ship was leaving port. It was such a nice relaxing way to kick off this cruise while we were waiting for our luggage to arrive to our Extended Balcony room on the 8th level aft.
We observed the HAVANA CABANAS located directly below. We had a bird’s eye view of these rooms to determine if next time we would want to indulge in this luxury. They come with use of the Havana Pool deck exclusively until 7pm when this area opens to the public. It is a trade off as other HAVANA CABANA people can stroll along in front of your private cabana anytime and you do not have a great view of the ocean or breeze for your room. It does afford you more “outdoor room space”, but it is definitely NOT PRIVATE. Something to consider!
The Havana Pub & Lounge is also for your use, but all guests can use this space too. It is really conveniently located to Guy’s Pig & Anchor outdoor BBQ Smokehouse. When the cool ocean breeze hits your nose with the sweet smell of smoke, you know you better follow it to Guy’s Pig & Anchor Bar-B-Que Smokehouse. The restaurant offers meats like Championship Pork Butt, Smoked Round of Beef, Smoked Andouille Sausage and his famous Blue Ribbon Chicken as well as the sides like Mac n Cheese, Potato Salad and Collard Greens along with his signature line of barbecue sauces .
CRUISE CARNIVAL VISTA
TRANQUILITY
SUNRISE…my favorite time of the day while cruising! There is no more peaceful moment that I can begin to explain than this exact moment. Do you enjoy a SUNRISE or SUNSET? I placed my order for the daily early morning tray to be delivered while it is pre-dawn. I usually pick a pot of coffee with cream and croissants with jam to nibble on while I watch the sunrise over the waves and listen to the sounds of the sea.
I read, enjoy the moist, humid air, and soak up the warmth of the southern climate. Complete tranquility! So amazingly great! It used to be that the night before the steward would leave the next days activity list out for us to study to determine what we want to do, or not do, the next day. I would bring a highlighter to mark my preferences. Now, the CARNIVAL HUB APP has become essential to know what all the daily choices for entertainment are and to reserve your dinner reservation and table # assignments. Be sure to download the app prior to departure. So much entertainment available, if one chooses!
These precious early morning moments are priceless to me. It provides me with those stolen chunks of time to feed my need for INNER STILLNESS. This is necessary every day!
CRUISE CARNIVAL VISTA
OH THE FOOD!
The food! Oh the food! Nothing prepares you for the Lido deck! When you embark on Day 1 you go straight to the Lido deck as a place to wait while the final touches are placed on your room. Picture the never ending buffet line. Stations exist. You name the type of food…it is present, section by section, from one end of the ship to the other on the 9th/10th level of most carnival cruise ships.
Evenings you have the option to dine in one of the dining rooms! Picture chandeliers, white linen and two levels with a cathedral ceiling! Very impressive. We were seated on the lower level in the downstairs dining room next to a window to enjoy the evening sunsets. Great view! Each guest is assigned a table in a dining area. The menu is formal and starts with drinks and appetizers, salad and soup course, then the main course, followed by coffee and dessert. Many nights before dessert the servers put on a “SHOW” for you while you dine. It is a highlight and we always look forward to this experience. Elaborate breakfasts are also an option!
CRUISE CARNIVAL VISTA
ON DECK ACTIVITIES
Who doesn’t like to people watch and relax? Never a dull moment here! From the BIG screen to the pool activities…something always has your attention on a cruise. Watch a movie under the stars on deck with the BIG SCREEN all the while with the ocean breeze blowing!
The SkyRide was another new interesting offering on this cruise ship. It is a bit like riding a bike — you’ll never forget it. When was the last time you biked around a ship, high above the deck and even higher above the sparkling blue sea? Zip safely around our two-lane suspended course in a pedal-powered go-mobile, in search of your biggest racing victory, a lower-body workout… or simply the greatest view.
CARNIVAL VISTA actually has an IMAX THEATER experience available. We had one rainy afternoon and did go watch a movie at the Carnival Multiplex & Thrill Theater complete with popcorn and sodas!
We LEARNED THE TRICKS TO CRUISING FROM TRUSTED FRIENDS and have enjoyed every minute! The most valuable tip that they gave us was about motion sickness. We are avid boaters at home, so we were sure we wouldn’t have any problems with this. WRONG!
Ginger 1500mg, 45 Servings, Vegetarian, Gluten Free
The motion of a large cruise ship is so different than our usual boating at home. Our first cruise we encountered rough seas. The boat was really rolling in the ocean waves. My husband suffered the first night terribly. Our friends had told us to take natural ginger tablets a couple of days prior to cruising. We had not, thinking we knew better! BIG MISTAKE! Immediately when my husband began feeling ill, we both took the natural ginger tablets and sucked on ginger candies that I had packed “just in case.” WHEW!
By the next morning we started to feel better and both of us learned our lesson! We take the ginger now 2 days prior to sailing and throughout the duration of being at sea on vacation. Never have we had a problem with motion sickness since!
Consult your doctor first before taking any supplements, I am simply relaying what worked for us! Great advice from our trusted friends!
CRUISE CARNIVAL VISTA
ENTERTAINMENT ABOUNDS!
Water slides are not just for kids! They are for the young at heart who can climb a lot of stairs, repeatedly! Other entertainments can be found strolling from deck to deck, multiple performers can be found in different lounges throughout the ship at the same time. The beat of the bass can be heard coming from the dance clubs nightly. Teenage dance clubs and arcades provide ample entertainment for teens. Comedy Clubs and comedians are stand-out memories when I think of favorites from past cruises.
Family friendly performances are offered earlier in the evenings and adult only performances are offered later in the evening. Outstanding talent is certainly provided. The shows performed by the singers and dancers are really good as well. It reminds me of “Young American” style performers. The entertainers switch out at ports, so new talent can be seen by the guests on board ship. The cruise directors lead interactions with the passenger by playing games like “the Newly-wed Game”, or the “Hairy Chest” competition around the pool, allowing passengers the opportunity to laugh at oneself and give people watchers a great show! So much fun!
CRUISE CARNIVAL VISTA
EXCURSIONS ~ SNORKELING OPPORTUNITY
Each port offers the opportunity to debark and explore the port. Excursions can be booked based on your interests at each location. We tend to gravitate towards snorkeling experiences. We have booked catamaran rides and private island get-aways for a day of relaxing on a beach too!
Crystal clear, turquoise blue, refreshingly soothing, salt water, calmness, tranquility, buoyancy…so many thoughts come to mind when considering snorkeling. Exploring under the surface of the water to find God’s inspiration in all creation! It’s fascinating. Antigua, Belize, Cozumel, Grand Cayman, Bahamas, Puerto Rico, Roatan, Jamaica, Hawaii to name a few, each snorkel destination holds different adventures and underwater microcosm. Make sure to pack your SNORKEL & FINS to ensure a great snorkeling experience. The freedom afforded the underwater explorer provides extensive opportunities to experience nature in many new ways. Like the photos? Try this WATERPROOF CAMERA on your next snorkeling adventure! Don’t forget an UNDERWATER VALUABLES POUCH to secure your phone & wallet.
CRUISE CARNIVAL VISTA
CRUISE-SHIP VIEWS
As the cruise ship enters a new port, the views are always excellent and vastly different at each harbor. Lighthouses come into view, commerce of that country is exposed, and the downtown commerce is usually visible to the anxious shoppers looking for a souvenir. Interesting stories are left for the visitor to discover from dilapidated ruins found along the way.
CRUISE CARNIVAL VISTA
RELAXATION & TRANQUIL SUNSETS
“Peace brings with it so many positive emotions that it is worth aiming for in all circumstances.” —Estella Eliot
We tend to enjoy the sunset pre-dinner time along with a cocktail hour in our cabin on our private balcony or out on public deck space. The spectacular sunsets set the mood for a most enjoyable evening! We have been so fortunate to have excellent weather on our cruises and fabulous experiences with sunsets!
CRUISE CARNIVAL VISTA
TOWEL ART SURPRISES!
Each cruise I am so excited to see what the steward will leave in our room each day! The creativity is superb! If you are lucky enough to have been assigned a GREAT steward you may find towel art in your room too!
If you are lucky you will get a cabin steward that is likes surprising you with towel art each day! It is so much fun! The staff are so creative! This little special touch is so AMAZING for the guests!
CRUISE CARNIVAL VISTA
RECONNECTING ROMANCE
“The greatest thing you’ll ever learn Is to love and be loved in return.” – Natalie Cole
Every relationship requires time and attention to thrive. My husband is my best friend. We require time away from the stress of daily life to reconnect and try to make that a priority. We try to “date” weekly and keep our marriage growing each day. A cruise is a great opportunity to really focus on each other and truly enjoy spending time in each other’s company!
Life can be hectic! I wouldn’t trade my boys for the world, but let’s be real! We LOVE our boys and would drop anything for their needs, but even adult children can be draining! We all need “our person” to feel whole. God intended for husband and wives to be two halves that when together make a whole for fulfillment. My husband and I try to nurture that promise that we made together many years ago when we said, “I do!” Cruising is a fun and easy way to carve out special time for each other! Give it a try too! Even if it is only a long weekend or during a family visit when out of state! Carve out that special time with special people to escape to sunshine for a CRUISE CARNIVAL VISTA adventure! It is worth it!
Leave a reply comment below on how you feel about cruising. Where are the ports that you’d like to discover? What are your favorites on a cruise? Have you taken a cruise out of Galveston, Texas? Do you have details of excursions that you recommend from BELIZE, COZUMEL, or ROATAN to share? Comment below so we can learn from your experiences too!
I look forward to hearing from you!
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Inspirationally Yours,
Barbara
BIO: https://www.inspirationaltraveladventures.com/about-us/
About Me
A 1993 graduate of Michigan State University, Barbara earned a BS in Social Science Pre-Law. She is a Business Manager/HR Director. Her passion is travel, discovering new places, experiences, cuisine, cultures while enjoying temperate climates. Barbara is a newly transitioning empty-nester who became a travel blogger. She’s a great photographer, talented writer, and has a great family to highlight in her blog posts.
WEBSITE: www.inspirationaltraveladventures.com
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Barbara Robinson
TRAVEL BLOG🛩 * ADVENTURE🛶 * INSPIRATION🌞 Thanks for exploring our travel blog! We hope to assist you in your next adventure through learning from ours! We are transitioning empty-nesters perpetually seeking our next luxury snorkeling adventure! Daily God’s awe inspiring inspiration surrounds us with all of His natural beauty in every direction if we but slow down to observe. Take a moment each day to ENJOY!
8 Comments
Fransic verso
This is interesting, would be cool to watch that in real life or even be in that cruise. Thank you for sharing!
Barbara Robinson
It is so much fun and easy! I hope you will go try for yourself!
Laurie Griggs
I’ve never taken a cruise but it looks like tons of fun. Your commentary and photos are great!
Barbara Robinson
I’m glad that you enjoyed my blog post. I hope it inspired you to give it a try for yourself!
Heather Cunningham
Wow, such an informative blog! What a wonderful trip 🙂 I bet that slide was mega fun! Thanks for sharing 🙂
Barbara Robinson
Glad you enjoyed the read!
Valery
My husband and I have never cruised but this sounds so romantic and fun! I feel like cruises are a perfect romantic escape as you can leave the phones in the room and enjoy some fun together. Thanks for such a great review!
Barbara Robinson
Excellent! I’m so glad you found this inspiring! GO!