Eastern Caribbean Adventure Aboard Carnival Vista

In early May, my husband and I set sail on an eight-night Eastern Caribbean cruise aboard Carnival’s Vista, joined by a group of close friends and their extended family. Our adventure began in Cape Canaveral, Florida, with ports of call in St. Thomas, St. Maarten, San Juan (Puerto Rico), and Amber Cove (Dominican Republic).

Originally, the itinerary included Turks and Caicos, but a last-minute change rerouted us to Amber Cove. As it turned out, this was a pleasant surprise—neither of us had visited the Dominican Republic before, and Carnival generously refunded the port fees as onboard credit.

While we had previously explored St. Maarten and San Juan, we were especially excited for St. Thomas, which had long been on my travel list. To make the most of the views, we splurged on a balcony stateroom—a decision we didn’t regret for a second.

Getting there: Travel & stay

We flew into Orlando International Airport, about a 45- to 50-minute drive to the port in Cape Canaveral. There are several transportation options, and we opted for a shared shuttle for $27 per person. It turned into a fun mini party, as everyone onboard was headed to a cruise—either the Vista, Royal Caribbean’s Utopia of the Seas, or Disney Wonder.

We stayed the night before embarkation at the Country Inn & Suites by Radisson, just 10 minutes from the port. The hotel was clean, well-run, and offered convenient shuttle service to the terminal for $8 per person. Complimentary breakfast was a bonus, and the hotel coordinated closely with Carnival to ensure guests arrived on time for check-in.

Embarkation: Smooth sailing

Embarkation at Port Canaveral was impressively fast and efficient. Carnival had plenty of cheerful staff guiding guests every step of the way, making it one of the smoothest boarding experiences we’ve ever had.

Once aboard, we truly appreciated just how massive the Carnival Vista is. As part of the Vista class (along with Horizon and Panorama), the ship carries around 3,900 passengers and a crew of over 1,400. Finding our muster station took some exploring, but once checked in, we met up with our group on the top deck to kick off the vacation in full force.

Onboard experience

The Vista was immaculately maintained, and the crew was outstanding: friendly, professional, and always eager to help. Our room steward, Meli, went above and beyond by ensuring my dress was pressed in time for formal night, even after I missed the deadline. Dining at the Horizons Restaurant was consistently excellent, with our server, Mary Rose, remembering all 10 of us by night two!

The Carnival Hub app was a bit hit-or-miss early in the cruise, which made planning activities slightly tricky. Still, the staff helped fill in any gaps, and since our group agreed to keep plans flexible, it didn’t impact our fun too much.

Activities were plentiful, from live shows and trivia to themed events. A highlight was watching five members of our group compete in the Family Feud Live finale—a hilarious and unforgettable moment.

Port highlights

• St. Thomas: We took a cab ($8 per person) to Sapphire Beach, a quieter spot with stunning views and ample shade near the beach bar. It was one of our most relaxing days—peaceful, beautiful, and uncrowded, with everything within a short distance of your beach lounge and umbrella.

• San Juan: At Isla Verde Beach, one member of our group ticked off a bucket list item: parasailing with Watersports 4 You. Although not booked through Carnival, it was safe, well-organized, and unforgettable. The locals were extremely nice and loved to laugh.

• Amber Cove: We opted for an all-inclusive day pass at Gran Ventana Beach Resort through Carnival. The beach, food, immaculate grounds, and peaceful atmosphere made it a highlight, especially since we arrived early and beat the crowds.

Gran Ventana Resort pool

Gran Ventana Resort lobby

• St. Maarten: We joined another Carnival excursion, the Explorer French & Dutch by Land and Sea, of both the Dutch and French sides of the island, ending with a double-decker boat cruise of Simpson Bay Lagoon featuring rum punch and live music. The singer was so talented—we joked he could win The Voice!

Simpson Bay Lagoon, St. Maarten

Debarkation & final thoughts

Debarkation was just as smooth as embarkation. We chose self-debarkation, walked across the street to grab an Uber, and picked up our rental van. With a late flight, we spent the day enjoying breakfast at Hash House A Go Go on International Drive in Orlando (go hungry—the portions are huge), then browsed Disney Springs for some last-minute fun and cocktails before heading home.

Final verdict

This was truly a fantastic cruise experience. The only hiccup was the occasional spotty performance of the Carnival Hub app, but that was easily outweighed by the incredible service, amazing destinations, and unforgettable memories. If you’re considering a Caribbean getaway, Carnival Vista is a ship that delivers a top-tier vacation with just the right mix of relaxation and excitement, and one that I would be happy to help create for you.

Even though two of the countries have their own currency, they happily accepted US currency. There are so many transportation options for getting to and from Cape Canaveral that should be researched for the best deal depending on the size and needs of a party.

For more inspiration and insider recommendations, visit our cruises page.