Carnival Vista vs Carnival Magic

The Carnival Vista was built in 2016. It was renovated in 2024. The Carnival Vista was the first cruise ship to have a working brewery on board. It's 5 years newer than the Magic, which was built in 2011.

Comparison Overview

• Ship Size
• Number of Passengers
• Food and Restaurants
• Bars and Drinks
• Pools and Hot Tubs
• Ship Features and Activities
• Cruise Costs
• Onboard Costs

Ship Size

The Vista is considered a medium size ship. Coming in at 1,055 feet long and 122 feet wide, it's roughly the length of 2.9 football fields, as wide as 2.3 tractor-trailers and the same height as a 15-story building. It's about the same size as the Carnival Magic.

Number of Passengers

Carnival Vista holds about the same number of passengers as the Magic based on double occupancy (two people per room). When you look at the "Space Ratio," or the total tonnage of a ship compared to the number of passengers, the Vista has less space per person compared to the Magic.

Food and Restaurants

Food is a big part of any cruise, and the ship you choose can make a huge difference in your food experience.

The Vista has 25 different dining options like Captain's Pasta Bar, Bonsai Sushi, and Blue Iguana Cantina. Of those options, 16 are complementary, or included with your cruise fare. The other 9 options have an additional fee.

The Magic has 3 fewer dining venues. Some of its popular venues are The Chef's Table, Guys Pig and Anchor BarBQue, and Seafood Shack. 15 of these restaurants are complementary and the other 7 have an additional fee.

If you like having a variety of places to eat, the Vista might be a better choice. It has 14% more dining options than the Magic.

Both ships have a similar number of paid versus included dining options.

Restaurants on Carnival Vista & Magic

Bars and Drinks

The Carnival Vista has 3 more bars than the Carnival Magic.

In terms of drinks and cocktails, you have a variety of choices. Both ships serve the Pepsi family of products. That means Pepsi, Diet Pepsi, Starry, Mug Root Beer, and Mountain Dew, although the selection can vary by ship.

You can check out recent the bar menus for the Vista and the Magic below.

Pools and Hot Tubs

Nothing beats relaxing by a pool with a nice drink in hand as you feel the fresh sea breeze pass by you. The problem is that with thousands of people on a ship, there's not always room. If you want to spend all day for 7 days in a pool, a cruise isn't for you. You would have a much better bet choosing a resort with a huge pool complex. That being said, a quick dip in the pool can be nice on a hot day.

The Carnival Vista has a total of 3 pools and 6 hot tubs. Tired of loud kids and splashing? 2 of the hot tubs are adults only. 1 of the pools and 2 of the hot tubs are exclusive access, which means there's either an extra charge to access them or you need to book a certain class of cabin to have access to them.

Carnival Magic has fewer pools than the Vista and more hot tubs. There are fewer exclusive pools and hot tubs on the Magic. If you like ships without extra charges or exclusive areas, this might be a better choice since everyone will have access to these areas.

Cruise Coloring and Activity Books for Kids
Get your kids ready for their cruise or keep them entertained while on board with our custom made coloring and activity books. These are the Carnival editions with featuring places Pizza Pirate and mini-golf.

Cruise Ship Coloring Book for Kids 3-5 - Carnival Edition

Let's Get Cruising Activity Book for Kids 6-8 - Carnival Edition

Ship Features and Activities

Both ships have lots of activities to keep you busy throughout your cruise. Below you'll see a list of some of the major features on these ships. You might up paying more while on board the Vista. Only 65% of the activities below are included in your cruise fare. On the Magic, 73% of the activities are included at no additional cost.

Cruise Costs

Carnival is a mainstream cruise line. Mainstream cruise lines cater to a variety of guests, hoping to provide something for everyone. These typically cost about $100 - $350 per person per day.

Cruise pricing is dynamic and varies for each specific sailing based on factors such as departure point, ports of call, and time of year. Typically newer ships cost more, so a cruise on Carnival Vista will likely be more expensive than on Carnival Magic.

The cost will also vary depending on the type of cabin you book. You can see the differences between the Carnival cabins and how to choose the best one here:

Onboard Costs

Another way to gauge the cost of a cruise is to consider how much you'll spend on board. Even though a lot is included in the base cruise fare, you may still spend money on things like spa treatments, specialty dining, drinks, and excursions. In addition, guests can also have to pay for things like gratuities and tips.

Typically guests can expect to spend about 25 - 40% of the cost of the cruise on onboard expenses. In other words, if the cruise fare is $1,000 per person, you might spend between $250 and $400 on extra expenses.

The table below will help you understand what you might spend onboard a Carnival ship.

Want to Stay Up-To-Date on All Things Cruising?

Follow us on Facebook, Instagram, Threads, or subscribe to our monthly newsletter.

Articles Related the These Ships

What Theme Parties Will Be On Your Carnival Cruise?

How To Enjoy Dive-in Movies on Carnival Cruise Ships

Carnival Vista: Hello Non-smoking Casino and Heroes Tribute Bar, Goodbye Thrill Theater

What is Carnival’s “Behind the Fun” Like?

Enchanting Magic and Mixology Await Aboard Sun Princess

Carnival’s Skyride – A High-flying Attraction You Shouldn’t Miss

About Cruise Spotlight
Founded in 2020, Cruise Spotlight's goal is to help people understand every aspect of cruising. Plenty of sites focus on the perfect Instagram pictures and marketing fluff. We focus on what really matters: onboard expenses, tips for cruise ships, detailed cruise reviews, and more. Our goal is to provide helpful, unbiased information to new and established cruisers. Over the years, we've helped millions of people get the most from their cruise vacation.
Learn more about Cruise Spotlight.