Blog Archives

The Eleven Best Spots on the Carnival Vista Cruise Ship

1/30/2017

The first craft brewery at sea offers tasty beers and also offers tours and tastings for passengers.

By John Roberts

The ship is huge so you'll always be able to find something to do. In fact, Carnival Vista has so much onboard -- the food, music, pools, bars, daily activities -- that you'll probably run out of time during your weeklong cruise before you run out of things to do.

Plus, some things are so much fun, you want to revisit them often during your sailing.

I went on a voyage on the nearly 4,000-passenger ship in December, and the trip to the Southern Caribbean was incredible, just what I needed to escape the winter chill of New Jersey. We stopped in the Dominican Republic and the Bahamas. And I especially enjoyed discovering new places and ways to chill out in Curacao, Aruba and Grand Turk.

After a full week and some time to assess all that I saw and did -- dancing, drinking, eating, laughing and relaxing with dozens of new friends I met while cruising -- I have come up with my list of the best spots on Carnival Vista.

These are a mix of great places to hang out, eat, play and more. I hope this helps you navigate this cool new ship.

Get burritos for breakfast, lunch or a late afternoon fillup at BlueIguana Cantina on the pool deck.

BlueIguana Cantina -- Located poolside, I love this place to pick up a quick meal made fresh to order. You can get tacos, taco salads, naked burritos and regular burritos (fully clothed?). Choose from pork, chicken, steak or shrimp and all the traditional toppings like guacamole, corn salsa, refried beans rice, roasted peppers, onions and pico de gallo. You can even get a wheat wrap.

Then peruse the nearby salsa bar for all sorts of sauces and toppings to further enhance your creation. BlueIguana is open all afternoon to grab a lunch or snack whenever you want. But I really love to come by in the morning for the delicious and healthy breakfast burritos.

Keep an eye out for a chance to grab a treat at Guy's Burger Joint during once of the rare times that the lines are short.

Guy's Burger Joint -- Juicy, cheesy and hot-off-the-grill meat-tastic concoctions brought to you by celeb chef Guy Fieri. It's hard to resist this poolside spot -- I gave up and made a deal with myself to stick to just one burger a day a day. You'll love all the burger creations on the menu, and don't forget the fries. Pro tips: Get there early because the line gets long around noon. Also, while you won't see veggie burgers on the menu, you can order one -- you'll just have to wait a little longer while they prepare your burger fresh.

The outdoors sea day barbecue lunch will leave you drooling.

Pig & Anchor Bar-B-Que Smokehouse -- Another Guy Fieri joint. This is a special popup gem, though. Flavorful barbecue lunches served outside on sea days draw huge lines once word gets out that the meats are on the grill (just follow your nose to the wafting smokehouse aromas). Pork, chicken, beef and andouille sausage are served with sides of beans, corn bread, mac 'n' cheese, collard greens and potato salad. Slather with your choice of barbecue sauces.

SkyRide -- Zip around the top of Carnival Vista under your own pedal power. The side-by-side track sends two people out at a time around the aft of the ship. You can race a fellow passenger or just take it easy and soak in all the views from one of the highest points on the ship.

Havana Bar -- Drop by at night when the action heats up with Cuban-themed music and dancing. The outdoor area offers comfy chairs, love seats and a pool so you can enjoy the stars in the warm Caribbean air with your favorite Cuban cocktail like a mojito or daiquiri.

Tides Pool and Bar -- The adults-only aft pool area is a quiet retreat during the day or night. Grab your drinks from the convenient bar or order from a bar staffer making the rounds as you soak up the sun or chill out at night in the small pool or one of the two hot tubs.

The atrium area on Carnival Vista is a focal point of the ship, surrounded by shops and with a hopping bar on the main floor. You can settle in to listen to live music at night.

Atrium Bar -- It's where you first board the ship and where you'll naturally gravitate as you pass by throughout the week onboard. Distinguished by the giant spout centerpiece that rises five floors and changes its colorful scenes often, the Atrium Bar on Carnival Vista is a natural gathering spot to listen to live music and have pre- and post-meal cocktails with your traveling companions and new friends.

Happy hour anyone? Alchemy Bar on #CarnivalVista. Nuff said. Happy Friday! #MyDreamVacation #TBIN @CarnivalCruise @CarnivalPR pic.twitter.com/rxfdMoHdHi
â€” John Roberts (@InTheLoopTravel) December 10, 2016

Alchemy Bar -- Another hot spot to gather for pre-dinner drinks and lively conversation. The Alchemy Bar features dozens of creative cocktails. Even this beer lover dabbles in this kind of menu.

Sports fan? You don't have to miss a game when sailing on Carnival Vista.

SkyBox Sports Bar -- Big screens fill up the walls so you can view NFL, NBA, college hoops and other games you don't want to miss -- just like in your sports bar back home. This is a cool gathering spot to watch the games with your fellow sports fans. A menu features tasty bar bites, too.

RedFrog Pub -- The first craft brewery at sea offers a huge space to hang out, listen to live music, play bar games (shuffleboard, bean-bag toss, foosball) and savor the flavors. This Key West-inspired bar brews the line's signature Thirsty Frog Red, Frisky Frog Java Stout, Port Hoppin' IPA, Caribbean Wheat and American Pale Ale, and they're all fantastic!

The Cloud 9 Spa and Fitness Center -- The fitness center and spa on Carnival Vista are the ideal way to remain fresh and energetic throughout your cruise. The gym space and workout equipment ensure you don't have to stray from your normal regimen while on your cruise (I recommend giving the RYDE spin class a try; what a challenge!).

And the Cloud 9 Spa treatments offer a chance to reward yourself and indulge in full relaxation and pampering. That's what a vacation is all about, after all.

Thanks for reading, and happy sailing!
JR

2 Comments

Lindblad Expeditions' New Ships Are Purpose-Built for Adventure

1/23/2017

0 Comments

Lindblad Expeditions National Geographic Quest is due to launch in June 2017.

By John Roberts

With travelers' increasing appetites for adventure voyages, cruise lines are targeting ways to make these experiences even better. From refurbishing existing expedition vessels to constructing ships from the keel up, companies are connecting passengers with the world's most incredible natural surroundings.

Just look at what Lindblad Expeditions-National Geographic is working on for you adventure cruisers.

Lindblad's newest addition to the fleet, National Geographic Venture, is being built in Seattle and will make its inaugural voyage in June 2018. Venture and sister ship National Geographic Quest -- which is launching in June 2017 -- are the first newbuilds in Lindblad's history and the only purpose-built expedition ships designed and built from scratch in the U.S.

â€‹The 100-passenger National Geographic Venture is due to launch in June 2018 and will feature 50 cabins, 22 with step-out balconies, and six sets of connecting cabins for families and groups; all Category 5 cabins can accommodate a third person. The ship will be outfitted with a fleet of 24 sea kayaks, paddle boards, snorkeling equipment and Zodiacs boats. State-of-the-art expedition technology, including a remotely operated vehicle (ROV), video microscope, a hydrophone and underwater cameras, give additional hi-tech ways to explore destinations.

Venture's inaugural voyage is a June 24, 2018 departure called "Treasures of the Inside Passage: Alaska and British Columbia." This 14-day expedition spends a day in the San Juan Islands and a day in the Gulf Islands before heading north through British Columbia and Alaska. After that, passengers will take on eight-day "Exploring Alaska's Coastal Wilderness" for eight sailings; another "Treasures of the Inside Passage" in September, followed by six eight-day "San Juan Islands and British Columbia" departures.

Lindblad has been operating between Alaska and Central America for more than 30 years and is using that experience and expertise to guide how it is building these new vessels. The design includes larger cabins, many with balconies or the ability to connect, and more spacious public areas.

Lindblad new ships offer these enhanced features designed to improve your expedition experience:

A Better View: A common constraint with wildlife viewing on a ship's bow is that equipment and housing for the anchor system takes up space and a single level allows only one row of people to enjoy clean sightlines. To provide a superior viewing experience, the bow on National Geographic Quest and National Geographic Venture are designed with the anchoring gear separated from public space by a tiered viewing system. This enables multiple rows to line the bow with an unobstructed view. Also, two stairways on either side of the bow lead to an expansive observation deck one level up, for a unique perspective. All of the exterior viewing levels are accessible from the lounge, making for a seamless viewing experience.

Mark V Zodiacs: Expert naturalists lead tours on these inflatable expedition landing craft, allowing you to explore places that would ordinarily be inaccessible. To outfit National Geographic Quest and National Geographic Venture, Lindblad worked with the team at Zodiac Milpro to deliver the first Mark V Zodiacs built entirely in the United States. These boats are customized with features like extra holds for passenger stability and topside treads to improve footing for stepping on and off. Both ships will be outfitted with eight Mark V Zodiacs, and passengers will embark and disembark using custom-designed ladders to improve safety and ease of movement.

Multiple Clear Vistas: Both ships feature a dining room with floor-to-ceiling wraparound windows and a lounge with wraparound windows. Many of the cabins have fine window views, too and Lindblad said it chose a premium glass with a straight tint to offer the clearest, most natural views possible.

A Better Bridge: The bridges (where the captains operate the vessels) on the ships feature designated forward standing areas with clear views and settees set around the navigational equipment to ensure a comfort for longer passenger visits. Passengers have open invites to the bridges on all Lindblad Expeditions vessels. This is where you can chat with the captain and learn about navigation while enjoying the best vantage point on the ship.

Tidy Touches: A mudroom keeps your cabin cleaner. These ships will be the only vessels in their regions of exploration to feature a mudroom to store your expedition gear. The room and rows of lockers will enable passengers to store boots, snorkeling equipment and other gear, making excursion preparation more efficient and leaving cabins cleaner and more comfortable.

The ships are being built by Nichols Brothers Boat Builders on Whidbey Island, Washington, the same company that built the vessels Lindblad has used for the past 36 years. Nichols Brothers Boat Builders completed the National Geographic Sea Bird in 1981 (then known as the Majestic Alaska Explorer) and the National Geographic Sea Lion in 1982 (then known as the Great Rivers Explorer).

Thanks for reading!
â€‹JR

0 Comments

Use Beach Running to Change Up Your Travel Workout

1/19/2017

5 Comments

By John Roberts

You're going to be on the beach a lot, so you might as well use it as part of your workout.
And when you're done, you can always just plop down and enjoy the soft sands. After a refreshing plunge in the sea, that is.

Traveling to a warm-weather spot where the beaches are the hot spots? You know, the Caribbean, Hawaii, Spain, Southern France, Indonesia.

Trying a little beach running can be a great way to mix up your routine and also make sure you stay on track while traveling. Here is what you should know about running on the beach.

Go Early or Late -- Nothing could be more Zen than rising at the crack of dawn and getting your blood pumping with a run on the beach as the sun starts rising over the horizon. This is a perfect way to get the day started and enhance your mood for the rest of the wonderful vacation experiences to come. You can also put on a capper while taking a jog as the sun sets, and you'll be all primed and pumped up for a night of eating, drinking and dancing.

The primary reason to time your beach run for sunset or sunrise, though, is that you won't be out under the blazing sun at its hottest. Or maybe that's your thing. You like a little bit of torture when you train. Do your thing. Burn, baby, burn!

Set a Proper Pace -- Running on sand is more difficult than running on a solid surface. The beach is softer and undulating. You might have to dodge a kid who suddenly makes a break toward the water chasing a ball. This is a beach after all. The people frolicking at the water's edge certainly may outnumber those using it for a running track. These conditions conspire to keep you from banging out your typical mile times. No worries. You're still getting all the benefits of a fabulous workout.

Mix It Up -- Run on the wet sand. This will be firmer and allow for your typical gait. But it's also sloping, so you should run half the time one way and turn around and run in the opposite direction for the remainder of your workout. That way you get even wear on both feet, knees and hips. Dedicate some time in each workout to running on the dry and fluffier sand. This increases the intensity as you have to work much harder to move on this type of surface. It also works the muscles and tendons in your legs and feet in ways you probably are not used to.

Go Barefoot -- Soft sand in your toes is just what you thought about when planning a beach vacation. And maybe your friends think you're crazy for rising for early morning runs on your Caribbean getaway, but that's just how you roll. But don't push it when you choose no shoes.

Take it easy, enjoy a slower pace and fewer miles during these barefoot beach runs because if you're new to running with your feet au naturel, you will definitely notice the fatigue setting in to your calves, ankles and achilles tendons, as well as your arches and the muscles on the top of your feet.

Keep your eyes down, though; not much is worse than a barefoot step on a jagged seashell.

Have Fun -- In addition to your typical jogging, mix in some sprints in the soft sand. Add pushups, burpees, jumping jacks and sand crawls. Heck, do some cartwheels if you want -- and be sure to cool off and clean up by jumping into the sea. Time to celebrate. You're on vacation, just crushed a beach workout and are about to head to the poolside bar for a day of lounging and a few fruity cocktails (you know, the ones with the umbrellas in them).

Thanks for reading.
Remember: Travel fit! Travel happy! Travel often!
JR

More travel fitness stories

Fort Lauderdale Beach Is Fantastic for the Fit Traveler

7 Reasons to Go Out for a Run When You Are Traveling

Free Airport Fitness Areas Keep You Refreshed When You Travel

5 Comments

<<Previous

The Eleven Best Spots on the Carnival Vista Cruise Ship

Lindblad Expeditions' New Ships Are Purpose-Built for Adventure

Use Beach Running to Change Up Your Travel Workout

Categories

Archives