Carnival Vista vs Royal Caribbean Vision of the Seas

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 18 years newer than the Vision of the Seas, which was built in 1998 and renovated in 2013.

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. Compared to the Royal Caribbean Vision of the Seas, the Vista is 71% larger in terms of overall tons.

Number of Passengers

Carnival Vista holds 92% more passengers than the Vision of the Seas 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 Vision of the Seas.

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 Guys Pig and Anchor BarBQue, Blue Iguana Cantina, and Pizzeria del Capitano. Of those options, 16 are complementary, or included with your cruise fare. The other 9 options have an additional fee.

The Vision of the Seas has 11 fewer dining venues. Some of its popular venues are Izumi Sushi & Hot Rocks, Giovanni's Table, and Chef's Table. 8 of these restaurants are complementary and the other 6 have an additional fee.

If you like having a variety of places to eat, the Vista might be a better choice. It has 79% more dining options than the Vision of the Seas.

If you're looking to avoid extra money while on board, the Vista might be a better choice then the Vision of the Seas. More of the dining options are included in the base cruise fare, potentially saving you money.

Bars and Drinks

The Carnival Vista has 7 more bars than the Royal Caribbean Vision of the Seas. The Vista has 14 bars like BlueIguana Tequila Bar, Havana Bar and Ocean Plaza Bar. On Vista, you can grab a drink at 7 different bars such as Casino Bar, R Bar and Viking Crown Lounge.

In terms of drinks and cocktails, you have a variety of choices. The Vista serves the Pepsi family of products. That means Pepsi, Diet Pepsi, Starry, Mug Root Beer, and Mountain Dew, although the selection can vary by ship. The Vision of the Seas serves Coca Cola branded products. That includes drinks like Coke, Diet Coke, Sprite and Barqs Root Beer, although the selection can vary by ship. Most Royal Caribbean ships also have Coke Freestyle machines where you can make 100 different flavor combinations.

You can check out recent the bar menus for the Vista and the Vision of the Seas 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.

Royal Caribbean Vision of the Seas has fewer pools than the Vista and the same number of hot tubs. There are fewer exclusive pools and hot tubs on the Vision of the Seas. 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.

Cruise Ship Coloring Book for Kids 3-5
(Carnival Edition) (Royal Caribbean Edition)

Let's Get Cruising Activity Book for Kids 6-8
(Carnival Edition) (Royal Caribbean 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. On the Vista, 65% of the activities below are included in the cruise fare. On the Vision of the Seas, only 62% of the activities are included, meaning you might spend more money while on board.

Cruise Costs

Carnival and Royal Caribbean are both considered "Mainstream" cruise lines. 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 Royal Caribbean Vision of the Seas.

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 compare onboard prices to see if you might spend more on a specific ship.

Royal Caribbean uses dynamic pricing, which means the pricing for many things will vary per sailing. The daily gratuities and tip are consistent across the fleet, but the pricing for the drink package, internet, and excursions will change. The only way to know your price is to consult the Royal Caribbean cruise planner once you're booked.

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