carnival venezia cruise ship reviews

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Venezia review: After 47 cruises I finally tried Carnival

By EricJ , February 6 in Carnival Cruise Lines

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This was our 48th and 68th cruise, and first on Carnival. We are a couple in our late 50s and usually cruise with Princess, Royal Caribbean, or Celebrity, and have tried NCL, Cunard, and some cruise lines that don’t exist any more, like Sitmar, Home Lines, and Big Red Boat.  This review is for Carnival Venezia on January 23, 2024, a 10-day round-trip from New York to 4 Caribbean ports. Our most recent prior cruise was on Emerald Princess in November 2023, so I will make a lot of comparisons to Princess. 

Ship’s Public Areas

I thought the Venezia had a pretty and interesting design. We have enjoyed several days in Venice, so perhaps I especially appreciated the Venice-themed design, artwork, and photos. I really liked the atrium design, and the inside/outside aspect of deck 5. Very few people used the deck 5 outside space, but it's a nice place to get air and enjoy some peace and quiet. I had read many complaints about the Lido deck, but I think decks 10 and 11 were an interesting and different design (though ship pools are not a major draw for me). 

There are some problems with the ship design. The hallway outside the comedy club is too narrow. It takes 15 minutes to get everyone out of the club after a show, mostly because you can only walk 2-wide in the deck 4 hallway due to the narrow hallway being half blocked by those waiting to get into the comedy club.  Other hallways are narrow, such as hallways to midship elevators, and some elevators and restrooms are well hidden. 

The elevator system is polarizing. Some “expert” passengers were (without prompting) lecturing others how to use the elevators, and sort of accusing everyone of doing it wrong by not pressing twice for two people. To be fair, Carnival should make it easier to indicate multiple passengers or that space is needed for wheelchairs/scooters. The system worked OK. I am willing to believe the engineers did the math and the average wait is shorter this way, but passengers may not individually perceive that. 

Smoke is a real problem on this ship. It’s everywhere midship on decks 4-5 and even inside the comedy club, and all decks of the atrium. The smoke-free casino was usually packed. We saw someone hit a $10k jackpot on a slot machine, and he seemed happy and surprised, which made everyone feel good. I wish there was a casino kiosk in the smoke-free area. 

The theater is small with no rise in the orchestra seats, and a lot of views are obscured by poles (same in comedy club). I imagine on full sailings, a lot of passengers would not be able to attend the shows. 

We had stateroom 1354, which was a “Deluxe Oceanview” with the extra half bathroom/tub. Having the second sink and shower was a nice perk that I didn’t expect. First of all, I didn’t realize we had that type of room, and I had not realized the tub would have a shower. The sink is tiny and the room is tiny, but it helps a lot.

Our cabin attendant did the bare minimum. I am used to twice-a-day service and I like that.  We asked our cabin attendant to service the cabin in the evening. He chose to ignore that, even though we repeated the request. He cleaned as soon as we went out, and was gone off the deck by 3PM. He collected used pool towels without replacing them, even after I asked if it was his job to replace them.

The cabin was big, especially compared to our recent cabin on Emerald Princess. Princess does not offer a chair in a standard cabin any more, let alone a couch like we had on Venezia. I thought it was odd that the couch on Venezia was cheaply finished in orange vinyl, but I later realized there was probably supposed to be a fabric slipcover that the cabin attendant did not want to deal with. There were drawers under the couch that were broken or off the tracks. We asked the attendant to get it fixed, but he only “proved” to us it could be opened with great force. There was a false fingernail in the drawer from a past passenger trying to open it. One curtain fell or ripped off of some of its hooks; I rigged up a repair myself. 

The cabin had very good noise insulation. Our recent Emerald Princess cabin was a cacophony of neighbors’ TV noise, neighbors and stewards slamming doors, and yelling in the halls. While there was some hallway yelling on Venezia, it did not penetrate the stateroom as much, and the walls don’t shake when a neighboring door is closed.  Also, we never once heard voices or TV next door. That was awesome, and I think it was more cabin design than quiet neighbors, because one time the cabin attendant was cleaning next door, which I didn’t know until going into the hallway. On other ships, I usually hear the cleaning activity (talking, vacuuming, toilets flushing, lids slamming, bathroom door slamming, etc.).

The TV remote was painfully slow and the minimum TV volume is annoyingly loud, especially on the Carnival programming channels. TV level 1 should be set for “background music” but it’s set to “rock concert,” so we usually had it turned off.  The Closed Caption and Sleep Timer buttons did nothing. The bow camera and “aft” cam (Lido area) provided good pictures. 

The all–purpose bathroom goop (shampoo / body wash) was at least decent, and better than what Princess served up recently. It lathers well with no residual scent. It was nice that there was a bar of soap provided (none on Princess), but the steward took it away when it was down to a sliver, and I had to hunt him down to get more. 

The bedding was very comfortable for me, and I like it better than the Princess standard. Princess went with very hard mattresses, which they try to correct with foam toppers. The foam is too soft, so you sink in it, and it makes me sweat. 

Food and Dining

We had open-seating dinner. Requesting a table for two was mercifully not a problem, and was even the default choice in the app. We usually got a table assigned in 5-10 minutes at approx. 5:30. It was a stark contrast to our recent experience on Emerald Princess, where there were long lines, limited available reservations, and long waits even with reservations. Princess dining room staff made no effort to honor reservations, badmouthed the app, and always tried to talk us into sharing tables. Service on Venezia was generally good to very good, but the staff rarely introduced themselves, and only one night were their names on a card on the table. I couldn’t tell who was the waiter, who was an assistant, or who was a supervisor. I wish they had paper menus. Even when we requested them, they sometimes couldn’t be found. The waiters seemed to have a problem finding the right buttons to push on their app to order our food, and had to ask us to slow down ordering.  I predict Carnival will soon have us enter our own menu choice right into the app, because the waiters add nothing to the process.

Some dinners were good to excellent (short rib/filet duet, lobster, prime rib). Some dinners disappointed (short ribs as a solo entree, beef wellington, everyday steak, herb-crusted salmon, which had too much raw herb for me).  There was a big vegan menu, and what I tried was tasty. Dessert choices were more limited than other cruises I've been on. At the sea day brunch, I was looking forward to the French toast, but it was just an oily, crunchy mess. Any diner could do better, probably even IHOP could do better. The buffet had better French Toast some days. (Emerald Princess had lousy French Toast made from smashed leftover dinner rolls;  Celebrity and, I think, RCL both use warmed up frozen products). This was the first cruise I’ve been on where dining room tables don’t get tablecloths. You are expected to re-use your silverware for all courses, which we learned when servers just put it aside when clearing dishes. At dinner, waiters don’t hesitate to reach over the table to serve or clear. The dining room staff never once offered coffee with dessert. The staff was unable to come up with lactose-free cow’s milk (generic Lactaid). They brought soy milk when we requested lactose free milk, without saying what it was, even after a very specific request. We’ve not encountered this on any other ship. 

Buffet breakfast selection was minimal and repetitive. For example, bacon was not available many days, and was usually not self-serve when it was available. Some things I like were never offered, like salmon, pineapple, and English muffins.  Eggs Benedict with ham was very tasty, but the sauce didn’t pair well with salmon, which was used every other day. Scrambled eggs were probably made from powder. Omelets were good and the lines were not too bad. I often had burritos for lunch from Tomodoro, and really enjoyed them. The buffet staff never offers to help get (free) drinks and are slow to bus tables.  I like how servers on Princess are happy to get coffee or water, and you don’t have to hunt them down. The dinner buffet was also limited. Princess has lots of appetizers on the buffet, choice of fresh breads, lots of desserts, etc. On the plus side, in my estimation, most of the dining room dinner menu was available in the buffet. 

The buffet layout encourages cafeteria-style singular lines. E.g., if you want lunch, but don’t want salad, you have to wait in the long line that starts with salad, and walk past the salad before you get the chance to take anything else. You could walk directly to the hot food, but you’d better be ready for some dirty looks.  Other ships use a station approach, which works much better (there are many stations, and you walk up to the station that has the food you want). The serving area also seems small and tight. Ice cream machines are so loud, you hear the roar at all tables within 20 feet. Oh, and it’s cold and sweet and wet, but that’s not ice cream. 

One day at the buffet, I used a serving utensil that was thoroughly sticky. I asked a staff member to get a clean one, and I gave him the sticky one. He watched until he thought I was out of sight and put it back. All I can say is I wash my hands before and after filling my plate.  One day I got a cup of water, and didn’t realize until it was half empty that there was half of a sweetener packet stuck to the inside of the cup. Yuck. Drink stations need to be cleaned up more often. The counters were always wet and ice was everywhere. Several ice machines were out of order. 

Activities and App

The carnival Hub App is much better than the Princess App I used in November. The Carnival process for open dinner times is far superior to my experience on Princess. The activities list is fairly easy to use. On both of our phones, sometimes the app would jump to the wrong day, and we got confused about what was when. One night I could not make dinner reservations, because I did not notice the app had jumped days. It seems there is no way at all to get a table without using the app. At least it’s a good app. 

We twice requested paper copies of the daily program from our cabin attendant. He could not handle that. I prefer a paper copy to see at a glance what’s up. Also, the app does not provide practical info about things like gangway location, time changes, tendering process, disembarkation. Perhaps the paper does not have this info either, but I still prefer paper.

Carnival relies heavily on comedians, most of which were good (but tastes vary). They could be more clear about which comedy shows were repeated sets. I’m sure the comedians don’t like seeing people walk out.  Production shows and guest musicians use recorded backing tracks instead of live music like most other cruises I've been on. The production cast seemed small (8) and the singing ability varied from bad to good. Some of the production shows were pretty interesting. I think there was only one true guest entertainer over 10 nights in the theater (I am not including comedians).

I brought ear plugs, which I have often needed in theaters, especially on Royal Caribbean. Surprisingly, the sound level was a good bit below painful on Carnival. But what’s with the spotlights and lasers pointed at the audience?  The lights are blinding to those sitting to the left or right of orchestra seats. Are you really shooting lasers at the audience, Carnival? 

The cruise director, MarkQ, was great, and gave 110%. The Quest activity was maybe a little more crude than necessary, but people loved it, even if I felt a little old for it. Similarly some of the R-rated comedy was really explicit sex talk. Much of it was funny, but some of it was just shocking. I know, tastes will vary, and I could have let myself out. On the other side of the coin, the only bad comedian of the cruise was not really a dirty comedian, except for dropping the F bomb in his R-rated set.

We bought the middle tier of internet service (“Value”), which seemed to work fine. Certain websites were blocked, like known video and music streaming sites. I could not connect to my home VPN using OpenVPN (port 1194). Surprisingly, I could connect to one well known public VPN, but if I name it, I will probably be the last to be able to use it. Annoyingly, I was not able to sign on to the internet until I had my folio number, which wasn’t until I got my key in the mid afternoon of Day 1.

Bars, bartenders, lounge acts

I like a simple gin martini made with a good gin. I could not get the same drink in two bars, as they stock different gins. One bartender took my order, printed the slip (where I’m supposed to add a second tip), then came back a while later saying they don’t stock that gin at that bar, and couldn’t get it. I also seemed to pay different prices in different bars and on different days.. The same drink was $13.50 or $14 at Fizzanti or $15 at Amari (plus tip and sometimes tax). At least they were good size drinks; definitely bigger than a martini on Princess. I was surprised that there were very few drink waiters (or none) working the tables. Except in the theater and comedy club, if you want a drink, you have to walk up to the bar. That’s different from my experience on other cruise lines. 

There was a good amount of live music around the ship, with talented musicians.  Guitarist Ben was fun. The woman working the piano bar had an avid following and the piano bar was standing room only. The “rock band” was talented. Some musicians’ use of backing tracks is a little annoying. The strings group wants to be elegant, but plays mostly rock tunes with backing tracks of percussion etc.

Fellow passengers

We met several nice and interesting people, and also encountered a few selfish idiots and boors. The ship had a fairly light passenger load: At 4092 (according to the CD) it was roughly at double-berth occupancy level, and well below the max of 5260. Being a 10 day cruise, there were probably more experienced travelers and repeaters, and a smaller party crowd.  There were a lot of B2B travelers, and the cruise director mentioned that 128 people were staying on board for the next voyage. There were dozens of kids onboard, but we didn’t experience any significant misbehavior as others have recently reported. A couple passengers got handcuffed and kicked off the ship in Puerto Rico. Rumors about the reason were rampant and mostly unbelievable. 

At the buffet, once I saw a girl take a plate full of bacon. Her father told her it was too much, so she just grabbed the bacon with her hands and put it back in the tray.  Dad was horrified, but did not alert staff. Another day, a teenager had trouble getting the macaroni and cheese off the spoon and onto her plate. Her solution: fingers. She wiped the macaroni off the serving spoon onto her plate. Mom told her she should not have done that, but did not request a clean spoon from crew. I was not going to use that spoon. 

One idiot took a one hour business video call using a laptop and its speakers in the outside space on deck 5. You know who you are, closing a sale for offshore admin services. Did you not see the glares from the dozen quiet passengers who were there first and had to hear the whole sales call? You had enough awareness to ask your customer not to read his credit card number until you turned the speakers off! 

The dining room dress code says no gym shorts, no baseball caps, and no sleeveless tee shirts on men, all of which is present, even on formal nights. It didn’t ruin my meal, but I thought people might try harder. To each his own. 

We had mostly good neighbors. I mean, I don’t care if people want to party all night, but many party people don’t know how to be quiet when returning to their cabins or hanging out in their cabins. Similarly, I wish those getting up at the crack of dawn would not shout down the hall to say good morning to other people. Having said that, we have had cruises where the hallway noise and neighbor noise was much worse.

What’s with the ducks? Holy cow. It doesn’t bother me, but wow. 

Princess Cays: We generally love this place, especially the snorkeling, but tendering is always a chore, and the line at the buffet was insane (roughly 30 minutes).  Someone walking by our table spilled an entire drink, including spilling on my wife and just kept walking. The line for the tender back to the ship was enormous. I didn’t time it, but it was probably 1.5 hours from getting in line to getting on ship, and we started about 1-1.5 hours before the last tender time. 

Grand Turk: We found a couple of great chairs under a palm tree, and had a very relaxing day. We went right when walking off the ship, where we heard nice relaxing live music, instead of the high energy DJ music of Margaritaville. Swimming is harder on this side though, due to rocks and coral. It was a great day.

Amber Cove: I had heard there would be few shady spots, but we found chairs in the shade. We enjoyed the pool. Nice day. We also enjoyed some of the educational material in the shops area, and bought some inexpensive larimar, jade, and coral jewelry. 

Puerto Rico: I walked a little then got a $4 Uber ride to the beach (Balneario El Escambrón), with a very nice driver. It’s a decent beach with a lot of local families and just a few visible Carnival towels. I walked back to the ship, which I do not regret but also do not recommend. It’s hilly and the road I took was not in a nice neighborhood. Some traffic lights on major roads were completely inoperative.

We are able to easily drive to NYC, and despite the very expensive parking, decided to drive and park at the pier. Traffic at 11AM on embarkation day was insane, taking about 45 minutes from the Lincoln Tunnel to the parking lot. That’s maybe half a mile, with the last left-hand turn taking 15-20 minutes. Next time, I would try the GW Bridge, which adds tolls and miles but would require no left turns. Driving on debarkation day was easier. Both were weekdays. The terminal building is not great, but they do what they can. At least all the staff were nice. I bet there were more 4-door pickup trucks in the port lot than in the rest of Manhattan. The parking spots were not made for these giant vehicles. We found a spot between two sedans, but it was still tight. 

We had a very good time, and I would say the overall cruise experience was a little better than we expected. I would consider Carnival in the future, but as with all cruise lines, I will try to avoid the 3-4 day itineraries, especially over weekends, hoping to avoid the party-all-night crowd. Comparing Carnival to our usual cruise lines of Princess, Royal Caribbean, and Celebrity, I would say there is more that is similar than is different. They all have strengths and weaknesses, and the experience can vary from one cruise to the next depending on the specific ship, its crew, and fellow passengers. So I guess I’m finally a VIFP. 

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A few questions/ How was the pool area? And where could you get food around 10PM or so?

How was the pizza?

Thanks Frank

nwcruiselover

Thank you for your thoughtful and fair review!

Very fair review!

I enjoyed your thoughtful review.  I too cruise mostly Princess and Celebrity but last summer, I tried Carnival after a 30 year absence.  I agree with most of your comments and observations.  I now have three Carnival cruises booked for 2024, the shortest of which is 10 days, so the line is doing something good!  I'll still avoid short 3 or 4 day party cruises.

vanislandcruisers

100% agree with you on the Buffet layout on Carnival compared to some of the other Cuiselines...

Thanks for your Review and glad you had some nice Port Days!

Crusin Karen

Great review. I’ve been on Venezia twice and have 3 more booked. I live 20 minutes from the port of Manhattan and am now a “solo cruiser” so I sail exclusively from here. Thanks for a very informative and thorough review. I don’t pay much attention to CD’s but Marq was fantastic!  

Great review.  We are looking forward to trying Venezia, as NY is our homeport.  Interested in how crowded the public areas seemed - Lido,  pools, serenity, etc.  We usually use our balcony or find loungers NOT on Lido - but in another area (quiet) on one of the decks.

Great review! I'm actually most shocked by how bad your steward was. I've always had great ones on Carnival, much better than RC or NCL

1 hour ago, Paelos said: Great review! I'm actually most shocked by how bad your steward was. I've always had great ones on Carnival, much better than RC or NCL

I was down the hall-deck 1 aft. My steward was great! Granted-I clean my room and make my bed lol but he was very friendly, left me paper Fun times as requested and always answered questions or just chatted. Edi-not to be confused with Jamman’s edY lol (see his B2B review) 

Thanks for sharing; I like the organized layout of your review. 

My experience last Sept (Venezia B2B NYC) is similar to many of yours. Disappointing to read the smoke situation has not changed; likely will not as the HVAC system is simply not adequate.  🙄

I noted the cabin maintenance (or lack thereof) on my review - not being addressed it will only get worse. 😒

I agree there is a lot to like and I enjoyed my cruise; not sure I would choose Venezia again until I read of improvements.

15 hours ago, franncos said: A few questions/ How was the pool area? And where could you get food around 10PM or so? How was the pizza?

The main pool area is small, but it didn't seem over crowded on this trip.  I did not spend a lot of time there, though. I only swam once, and it was at the aft pool. The aft pool area is pleasant, though I could do with less music.

I don't usually eat around 10 PM, so you might want to ask others. Pizza would be open at that time, and I think the sandwich counter (deli) would be open. Guy's burgers and Tomodoro close earlier.  There is a late night buffet, but not until roughly 11:00.  The pizza was very good and usually very hot.

5 hours ago, pe4all said: Great review.  We are looking forward to trying Venezia, as NY is our homeport.  Interested in how crowded the public areas seemed - Lido,  pools, serenity, etc.  We usually use our balcony or find loungers NOT on Lido - but in another area (quiet) on one of the decks.

On this trip, I don't think crowding was too bad except in the comedy club and theater. It seems there were usually chairs available by Lido, though maybe not in premium spaces. Chair hogs will do their thing: You see only 2 people in the pool, and dozens of chairs with towels or novels on them. It was harder to find a spot at the aft pool. Take my input with a grain of salt, because I didn't spend much time at pools. Loungers, couches, and tables on the sides of deck 5 were barely used and a great place to read or play a quiet game. We like the cool fresh air and used the outside spaces even when near New York.

I did find there were always tables available in the buffet (usually also at the outdoor seating).  It was nice that you didn't have to fight for a table. A lot of people played cards at buffet tables, yet there was plenty of room for those who were eating. I like the narrow space away from the serving lines, where it's fairly quiet.

Misc comments on food: I was surprised that the wait for Guy's burgers was always short, as they are pre-cooked. I didn't love the burgers or fries, and preferred to wait in the slower line for a burrito at Tomodoro. I tried a Reuben sandwich from the deli, and it was very disappointing. Chewy meat, no sauerkraut, no butter on the bread. The lady in front of me got a "buffalo chicken sandwich, hold the buffalo sauce." That looked good. I had a hotdog on Princess Cays that was worse than any generic grocery store hotdog I could imagine. Like a canned vienna sausage warmed up on a grill.

Okay this is my favorite review ever on this forum.  The entire review in one place at one time, and super fair.

I am sorry to hear about your cabin steward.  The service is certainly reduced over the last 5 years, but this person sounds like they were bottom of the barrel.

Thank you for the very balanced review!  I feel like I will have realistic expectations when we sail on teh Venezia in May.  

Thank you for the review, I enjoyed it. Can't wait for my April trip on Venezia.

19 hours ago, tweety33 said: Thank you for the review, I enjoyed it. Can't wait for my April trip on Venezia.

On the 5th?  See you then!!!

I was on your cruise.   Loved your review.  Buffet was not wonderful but most of them aren’t.    Was disappointed with grand canal dining room at the seaside brunch absolutely cold eggs 2 times. Never went back   Dinner service was excellent and quick.  our steward was Mr d.   and he was beyond wonderful.  very impressed because I use a walker that I was let into the theatre early. Never happened on princess or holland America     Would never cruise out of nyc again. Way too chaotic .      

7 minutes ago, White123 said: Would never cruise out of nyc again. Way too chaotic .

Not loving hearing this.  Heading there 4/5.  I am hoping for the best.

Any suggestions for making things less chaotic?  Best time to arrive?

On 2/7/2024 at 1:49 PM, skywalkr2 said: Okay this is my favorite review ever on this forum.  The entire review in one place at one time, and super fair.   I am sorry to hear about your cabin steward.  The service is certainly reduced over the last 5 years, but this person sounds like they were bottom of the barrel.

Thank you so much. Yeah, our steward was not great. And we really prefer the 2x/day cabin service. If I know when the steward is coming, I can throw the wet towels on the floor, but if I'm unsure, I end up keeping wet towels overnight. There is no air movement in the bathroom to dry them out. I suppose it's a race to the bottom, though, and other cruise brands will soon follow in this service reduction while also raising gratuities.

IntrepidFromDC

On 2/6/2024 at 6:34 PM, EricJ said: ... Summary We had a very good time, and I would say the overall cruise experience was a little better than we expected. I would consider Carnival in the future, but as with all cruise lines, I will try to avoid the 3-4 day itineraries, especially over weekends, hoping to avoid the party-all-night crowd. Comparing Carnival to our usual cruise lines of Princess, Royal Caribbean, and Celebrity, I would say there is more that is similar than is different. They all have strengths and weaknesses, and the experience can vary from one cruise to the next depending on the specific ship, its crew, and fellow passengers. So I guess I’m finally a VIFP. 

Welcome to the VIFP club.  The F in VIFP stands for FUN, hence the ducks.  Venezia offers a very-toned-down experience with respect to Carnival-style FUN IMO.  I'm sailing on her in three days!

How you remembered so much detail about so many different aspects of the cruise is truly impressive, and your communication style and thread organization deserve a bravo (or WAHOO! on Carnival).

FANTASTIC REVIEW, THANK YOU.

I don’t think anything can change the chaos.  Debarkation I used 777;7777 They came promptly thesuvwas large enough for the 4 of us and all our luggage.

very pleased. Tipped him really well.  Did not know about going to floorv2 to,get picked up. Happy we connected our Canadian phone.  

A lot of people dont realize bacon on carnival is every other day in the buffet. Id already done carnival since covid so I knew but I see the OP wrote it was random ... actually it's not random. I tried to eat in Mdr the mornings bacon was on vacation but missed some days on my recent 14 day. I like eggs and bacon some  mornings. I'm not a sausage person. 

I've had one of those deluxe OVs with the extra bath. Nice its offered. 

firstimecruiseronncl

On 2/6/2024 at 6:34 PM, EricJ said: . I was surprised that there were very few drink waiters (or none) working the tables. Except in the theater and comedy club, if you want a drink, you have to walk up to the bar. That’s different from my experience on other cruise lines.

Yes, I sailed on Venezia in January and actually went to guest services and nicely asked if this was normal as I had never experienced this on any cruise that I've sailed--including previous Carnival ships. 

19 hours ago, IntrepidFromDC said: Welcome to the VIFP club.  The F in VIFP stands for FUN, hence the ducks.  Venezia offers a very-toned-down experience with respect to Carnival-style FUN IMO.  I'm sailing on her in three days!   How you remembered so much detail about so many different aspects of the cruise is truly impressive, and your communication style and thread organization deserve a bravo (or WAHOO! on Carnival).   FANTASTIC REVIEW, THANK YOU.

I read a lot of review threads (thank you to everyone who writes them), so I thought I'd use my first-timer perspective to write a review. I took very short notes throughout the cruise, then sorted and expanded the notes when I got home. I also usually like to take notes to make sure I don't forget to mention major things in the corporate survey.  Enjoy your cruise on Venezia! Good ducking luck!

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Carnival Venezia Deck Plans & Reviews

Carnival Venezia

Activities & entertainment

• Piazza San Marco
• Cloud 9 Spa *
• Fitness Center
• Fitness Classes *
• Beauty Salon *
• Camp Ocean - Kids Club
• Circle "C" - Tweens Club
• Club O2 - Teens Club
• Space Cruisers
• Seuss at Sea
• Evening Kids Programs *
• Build-A-Bear Workshop at Sea *
• Seuss-A-Palooza Story Time
• Dr. Seuss Bookville
• Venezia Casino *
• The Fun Shops *
• Pixels Photo Gallery *
• Dreams Studio *
• Art Gallery *
• Gondola Lounge
• Terrazza Carnevale - Exclusive Deck
• Whirlpools (6)
• Burano Pool
• Serenity - Adults-Only
• Carnival WaterWorks
• Sports Court
• SportSquare
• Jogging Track
• Ropes Course
• The Warehouse - Arcade *
• Seuss-A-Palooza Parade
• Deck Parties
• White Party
• Groove for St. Jude *
• Arts and Crafts
• Guest Services
• Carnival Adventures *
• Wine Tasting *
• Teatro Rosso
• Limelight Lounge
• The Punchliner Comedy Club
• Piano Bar 88
• Carnival Seaside Theatre
• Carnevale Lounge
• Playlist Productions
• Dive-In Movies
• Atrium Bar - Atrium Bar *
• Marco Polo Restaurant - Main
• Canal Grande Restaurant - Main
• Heroes Tribute Bar - Military-Themed Bar *
• Cherry On Top - Candy *
• Bonsai Teppanyaki - Teppanyaki *
• Bonsai Sushi - Sushi *
• Fahrenheit 555 Steakhouse - Steakhouse *
• Amari Bar - Cocktail Bar *
• Frizzante Bar - Wine Bar *
• Specialty Italian Restaurant - Italian *
• La Strada Grill - Italian
• Gondola Lounge Bar - Popular Bar *
• Carnevale Bar - Popular Bar *
• Rococo Bar - Poolside Bar *
• JavaBlue Cafe - Coffee Bar *
• Tomodoro Mexitalian Fusion - Mexitalian
• Guy’s Burger Joint - Pool Grill
• Lido Marketplace - Buffet
• Pizzeria Del Capitano - Pizza
• The Carnival Deli - Sandwiches
• Seafood Shack - Seafood *
• Burano Bar - Poolside Bar *
• Serenity - Adult-Only Bar *
• Swirls - Ice Cream
• Room Service *
• Excellent 2
• Very Good 5
• All languages ( 31 )
• English ( 31 )

Upcoming itineraries

Carnival Venezia

Courtesy of Carnival Cruise Line |

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Traveler Reviews

A ship’s traveler rating is provided under license by Cruiseline.com , which manages one of the largest databases of cruise reviews and ratings by travelers. A total of 207 guests have reviewed Carnival Venezia , giving it a rating of 4 on a scale of 1-5.

Cruiseline Travel Rating:

Reviews by traveler type, most recent reviews.

Overall enjoyable with a few hiccups.

Apr 22nd, 2024

We had a good time but there were disappointments that made the trip imperfect.

Traveler Type

4-6 cruises

Apr 18th, 2024

We were dissatisfied with the food in the buffet , selections were good but the food was cold even the soup, the crew were very friendly and did their best but for the amount of passengers, there could have been more crew

Apr 14th, 2024

Too many obnoxious kids, running through hallways knocking indoors, yelling, screaming. 2 little pools for 4 thousand people and were filled with kids, same with hot tubs. No one to do anything about enforcing rule Had over 8 thousand points in Casino couldn't even get a t shirt for them

Another successful cruise

Apr 10th, 2024

Overall our family enjoyed this cruise, weather in New York was cold but you knew that when booking the cruise, enjoyed our first visit to NewYork, met lots of cruisers from NY and got lots of advise for our NY visit after the cruise, had fantastic interaction with the playlist performers, fun squad and what can we say about our Cruise Director, Jacky, he is the best CD we have ever had after 11 Carnival cruises. Best advice to newer cruisers is to just chill and relax, there will be line ups and the occasional hiccup but just enjoy your cruise. Early Venezia reviews were not good at all. Our family completely enjoyed this ship, all those poor reviews was a matter of opinion, it was awesome to be on this ship to see that this was a great ship with fantastic staff and outstanding service.

Large Group

A completely different experience than you’d expect from carnival.

Apr 9th, 2024

We booked the Venezia, excited to have another NYC cruise option. We were excited because carnival had been billing this as a new ship with new features. First off, it is NOT a new ship. It is an old Costa cruise lines ship that was refurbished. Everything on board was like brand new, everything clean, everything functional! (even the hot tubs which if you’ve ever been on a carnival cruise, you know they are never fully functional). That being said, the layout was just off. The lido deck is really disjointed. The activity areas on deck 15 were closed for 6 of our 8 days due to wind, which I get…you can’t control weather…but the layout of the areas made them unsafe, not the wind itself. And the serenity hot tubs are exactly that…bathtubs, not even seating in them to sit. You had grown adults all standing holding their drinks.

Family (older children)

Not much to do

Apr 8th, 2024

The fact that this was our first cruise played a huge role in my reviews. We didn't know how things worked, and at most roadblocks, there was was no one there to give us any sort of direction.

1 cruise (first)

Great cruise, great ship

Apr 1st, 2024

This was our first time on Venezia. There were a lot of negative reviews when she first sailed and I'm guessing they were mostly because the overall vibe of the ship is a bit lower key than other Carnival ships. The biggest difference would be in the lido area. It seems like most of the day long sun bathing, partying in the sun took place at the aft pool. Most of the rest of the ship would be very familiar to Dream class and Vista class cruisers.

First time cruisers

Mar 31st, 2024

First time cruisers. The ship is beautiful. The staff was amazingly attentive. We were really impressed with the food quality. I am gluten free and low carb and had no problems finding good food every meal. We upgraded to the terrazza deck and were really glad for that. The deck is beautiful. The deck staff were wonderful. We loved the dance classes. I really enjoyed the entertainment, my husband felt some of it could have been better. But always several choices of music every night. Comedians were funny, one however was very raunchy. My one negative is smelling smoke. I think they could improve on the air filtration.

Great cruise.

Mar 28th, 2024

Overall very good. Same size venues as on smaller ships. Took 2 hours to see a 30 minute show. Had to stsnd in line for everything.

Another Great Cruise

Mar 27th, 2024

Great time on both the ship and in the ports. Next one is booked for 27 May 2024. Hazel the Casino host is such a wonderful person, ( as is all of he Carnival staff) and hopefully she will still be there in May. The ship is very clean and the entertainment was very good. While he gift shops were spread out some in comparison to other Carnival ships, it was a big deal. The layout of this ship was very nice and easy to navigate. There appeared to be plenty for little kids to do with Camp Carnival and all of the other programs for them. Again, the only thing that is upsetting is to watch the inconsideration of some passengers towards staff members and their waste of food because some people are just pigs

Disclaimers about ship ratings: A ship’s Health Rating is based on vessel inspection scores published by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). If a ship did not receive a CDC score within 22 months prior to the calculation of its Overall Rating, its Health Rating appears as N/A; in such a case, the ship’s Overall Rating is calculated using the average Health Rating of all CDC-rated ships within the cruise line. All ship Traveler Ratings are based on ratings provided under license by Cruiseline.com.

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Carnival Venezia

Former name: costa venezia.

Cruise line Carnival Cruise Line

• New York (NYC Manhattan-Brooklyn)
• Port Canaveral (Orlando, Florida)

Carnival Venezia current position

Carnival Venezia current location is at North West Atlantic Ocean (coordinates 25.08069 N / -77.34043 W) cruising en route to BSNAS>BSHMC. The AIS position was reported 9 minutes ago.

Current itinerary of Carnival Venezia

Carnival Venezia current cruise is 10 days, round-trip Eastern Caribbean . Prices start from USD 509 (double occupancy rates). The itinerary starts on 26 Apr, 2024 and ends on 06 May, 2024 .

Specifications of Carnival Venezia

•   Itineraries
•   Review
•   Wiki

Carnival Venezia Itineraries

Carnival venezia review, review of carnival venezia.

The 2019-built (as Costa Venezia) cruise ship Carnival Venezia was Costa Cruises ' first liner constructed and designed specifically for China's market. Venezia and the sistership Costa Firenze (2020) were both produced by the Italian shipbuilder Fincantieri - Venezia at Monfalcone Shipyard (near Trieste ), Firenze - at Marghera Shipyard (near Venice ). Each vessel has GT tonnage 135,500 tons, 2116 cabins and passenger capacity 4200 (max / double-occupancy 5260 pax).

Under the "COSTA by CARNIVAL" brand, the vessel (IMO number 9801689) is currently Bahamas- flagged (MMSI 311001253) and registered in Nassau . Costa Venezia was Portugal/Madeira- flagged (MMSI 255963000) and registered in Funchal .

From the same series (Vista-Class sisterships) are also the CCL-Carnival liners Vista (2016), Horizon (2018) and Panorama (2019), as well as Adora Cruises ' ships Adora Magic City (2023) and Adora TBN (2024).

Carnival Venezia became CCL's 25th ship in the fleet.

History - construction and ownership

Carnival Cruise Lines (CCL) is a US shipping company, trademarked brand and subsidiary of Carnival Corporation (shipowner). CCL was founded in 1972 as an independent company by Ted Arison (1924-1999, co-founder of NCL Norwegian ). 

CCL has the Corporation's largest fleet as number of vessels and GT-tonnage (ship sizes/volumes and passenger capacities). In 2023, CCL had ~9% (by revenue) and ~19% (passengers) share of the cruise industry's worldwide market. In 2024, the parent company (Carnival Corporation) had ~51% stake in the US$64+ billion industry.

In June 2022, CCL-Carnival Cruise Line and Costa Cruises announced the "COSTA by CARNIVAL" cruise program targeting CCL's North American source market. The program is based on two newbuild Costa ships - Venezia (starting in 2023 with homeporting in NYC New York USA ) and Firenze (starting in 2024 with homeporting in Long Beach/Los Angeles California USA ). Both Costa liners are CCL-managed (while operating out of the USA) and were scheduled for drydock refurbishments prior to the Carnival service.

Prior to entering service for CCL, the ship Venezia entered drydock for an extensive refurbishment and refit (March 16 thru May 28). During the drydocking (at Port Cadiz ' Navantia Shipyard) were added signature for CCL venues and experiences like Fahrenheit 555 Steakhouse, Piano Bar 88, Seafood Shack, Bonsai Sushi, Guy's Burger Joint, Cloud 9 Spa, Serenity (adults-only sundeck), Carnival Waterworks (Aquapark).

New venues debuting on Carnival Venezia are Carnevale Lounge (exclusive for guests in Terrazza staterooms/similar to CCL's Havana staterooms), La Strada Grill (grilled Italian street food and mini-sandwiches), Tomodoro (Italian/Sicilian and traditional Mexican food for breakfast and lunch), Amari Bar (similar to CCL's Alchemy Bar), Frizzante Bar (patisserie serving bubbly drinks, Italian beers and coffee with gourmet snacks), Carnevale Bar Lounge (with large LED screens, menus with fine Italian wines and classic cocktails, live music), Gondola Lounge (with a large stage/dance floor, live entertainment), Rococo Bar (frozen drinks).

Decks and Cabins

Costa Venezia staterooms (2116 total, in 32 grades) all provide as standard amenities 2 twin beds (convertible to Queen-size double bed), wardrobe, electronic safe box and lifejackets (in the closet), seating/lounge area (with mirrored vanity/writing desk with chair), smart HDTV (satellite reception, infotainment system), direct-dial phone, hairdryer, refrigerator (minibar), en-suite bathroom (WC, shower, mirrored single-sink vanity).

All balcony staterooms are with sofabeds. Wifi is available in all staterooms for an additional charge as well as in public areas. Suites receive free 24-hour room service, slippers, bathrobes plus drinks package and personal valet.

The boat has 14 passenger decks , of which 12 are with cabins.

Aft on decks 5-9 are positioned Terrazza staterooms (77 total, similar to CCL's Havana staterooms) as well as the Terrazza Cabanas (cabins with patios furnished with plush loungers, a hammock) and lanai access to Terrazza Carnevale (exclusive outdoor terraced deck fitted with 2 Jacuzzies, a bar, and lounging space. Terrazza staterooms' exclusive perks include morning access to Carnevale Lounge (complimentary continental breakfast), specially-curated brunch (on select sea days, with a complimentary Spritz/Mimosa cocktail), Terrazza-branded robes and towels, and a Terrazza Carnevale sail-away party (with live music).

CARNIVAL Venezia review

Shipboard dining options - food and drinks.

Il Viaggio Restaurant ("The Voyage" in Italian) is a new for CCL specialty dining venue introduced on Carnival Venezia. The reservations-only restaurant is open for dinner and offers traditional cuisine specialties (dishes and beverages) from various regions in Italy. Each item on Il Viaggio's menu represents a regional cuisine specialty, including appetizers, entrees, main dishes (oven-baked pizza, sauces, dressings, pan-fried veal chop) and desserts, as well as Italian wines and cocktails.

Marco Polo Restaurant and Canal Grande Restaurant are complimentary, waiter-served Main Dining Room restaurants for Breakfast, Brunch (seadays only), Lunch (seadays only) and Dinner. On portdays, Breakfast is served between 7:30-9:30 am (closed for lunch). Dining Room hours are subject to change due to itinerary/port of call arrival times or scheduled onboard activities. On seadays, one MDR serves "Punchliner Comedy Brunch" (breakfast and lunch /between 8:30 am - 1 pm) while the other MDR serves Breakfast (between 8-10 am) and Lunch (between 12-noon - 1:30 pm). Afternoon Tea service (between 3-4 pm /seadays only, complimentary) includes a selection of teas, mini sandwiches, sweets. Dinner (seadays/portdays) is with 2 fixed/pre-assigned seatings - Early (at 6 pm) and Late (at 8:15 pm), plus Anytime ("Your Time Dining" between 5:45-9:30 pm). Dr Seuss themed "Green Eggs and Ham Breakfast" (cover charge $5 pp, reservations recommended) is once per cruise (on a seaday /itinerary based) at 8:30 am and 9:30 am. The dining experience features Dr Seuss character visits, waiters in special uniforms, themed decoration, unique menu.

Lido Marketplace (complimentary, 826 seats) is the ship's self-service buffet restaurant for open-seating Breakfast (7:30 am - 12-noon /made-to-order omelet station), Lunch (12-noon - 2:30 pm), Dinner (6-9:30 pm /Good Eats buffet) and for Late Night Snacks (11 pm - 1 am). Good Eats buffet menu is a Main Dining Room dinner alternative offering steaks, prime rib, grilled chicken, pastas, salads, desserts, daily Chef's Special. Lido Marketplace consists of various take-away food stations and themed food bars. Among those are Carnival Deli (sandwiches, draught beer dispenser), Mongolian Wok (stir-fry, made-to-order Asian food /you choose the ingredients), The Captain's Pasta Bar (choice of 3 pastas, 4 sauces, 12 toppings), Salad Bar (35 items), Pizza Pirate (24-hour Pizzeria), Chef's Choice Bar (international cuisine /different menu each day), Hot and Cold Buffet (stir-fry, pastas, carving station), Grille (ham-cheese-veggie burgers, hot dogs, fries, chicken fritters/sandwiches, sauteed mushrooms/onions, sauerkraut, Chili con Carne, homemade tortillas-chips-salsa), Dessert Bar (incl sugar-free items). There are also (self-serve, complimentary, 24-hour) tea/coffee station and machines for soft ice cream and yogurt. Chocolate Extravaganza Buffet (complimentary) is on the last seaday (7-day and longer cruise itineraries) and offers chocolate smorgasborg, chocolate fountain, cakes (incl pear, orange, cheesecake, dry fruit, diet).

Seafood Shack (open for lunch and dinner /both with waiter service) is a casual restaurant with indoor/outdoor seating located near the Lido buffet (poolside). Seafood Shack's menu is a la carte priced (between $4-16 per item) and offers lobster (BLTs, rolls, steamed, fried), shrimp (salad, rolls, fried), crab cakes, clams, oysters. The menu also has buckets (fried clams, fried buffalo shrimps, and combos), platters (lobster/snow crab by the pound, crab cake - served with corn on the cob, garlic bread, hush puppies or fries), Fish & Chips, Soup of the Day (Lobster Bisque, Oyster Stew, Seafood Gumbo, New England Clam Chowder). The Seafood Shack restaurant is unique for offering fresh fish purchased from local markets along the cruise itineraries. Two-three times per sailing, one of the ship's chefs goes to the port's local fish market and purchases fresh fish and seafood. At Seafood Shack you can check out the cruise itinerary's current selection.

Fahrenheit 555 Steakhouse (open between 6-9:30 pm/menu) is a premium steakhouse-seafood restaurant at a surcharge (reservations recommended). Cover charge fee of $35 pp (adults/kids) includes 1 appetizer, 1 entree, 1 dessert and gratuity. Steakhouse's menu has starters (escargots, grilled mushroom, tuna tartare, shrimp cocktail, crab cake, lobster bisque, onion soup), salads (Caesar, spinach/mushrooms, iceberg lettuce, beefsteak tomato), sides (Baked Potatoes, Sauteed Mushrooms, Creamed Spinach, Steamed Broccoli), entrees (prime-aged beef steaks - 14oz NY strip loin, 18oz rib and 18oz ribeye, 9oz filet mignon, lamb chops, chicken, Maine lobster, fish fillet from the market /itinerary based), desserts (cheesecake, caramelized apples, chocolate sampler, fresh fruits, selections of cheeses, sherbets and ice creams). The Steakhouse also serves beverages (bar prices apply) - fresh coffee/tea, dessert wines and after-dinner drinks. The food is wheeled on a cart to your table for examination. A cooking demonstration offers an hour-long presentation from a team of chefs. The dress code is "Elegant" (jeans permitted). At the steakhouse can also be made reservations (bookings) for the "Chef's Table" (private dinner package).

Bonsai Teppanyaki (within Bonsai Sushi Restaurant) is a food bar for authentic Far East dishes and a live cooking show performance (by the chefs) at custom-built cooking stations positioned at the center of an 8-seat dining table. Due to the room's limited seating, reservations are required. Each meal at Bonsai Teppanyaki starts with a sampling of 5 appetizers (Miso Soup, Pork Belly Yakitori, Spicy Tuna on Rocks). Combo dinners are also offered. Each meal ends with the specialty desserts "Chocolate Bento Box" and "Green Tea Ice Cream". The restaurant is open for lunch (seadays only) and for dinner (every night of the voyage). Cover charge/price is per person and covers the entire meal.

Bonsai Sushi restaurant serves Japanese cuisine specialties and drinks (a la carte priced menu). The sushi bar is open for Dinner (between 5 pm - 12-midnight) and also for Lunch (12-noon - 2:30 pm /on seadays only). The menu has appetizers ($4 each /wagyu short ribs, salmon, tuna), soup/salads ($2 each /miso, mixed greens, noodle), sushi sashimi ($1,50 per piece /shrimp, tuna, salmon, amberjack), sushi rolls ($5 per roll /tuna, California-crab), sushi rolls ($7 per roll /fresh water eel, fried shrimp), bento box ($10 combo), sushi ship ($17 combo). The menu also offers Japanese drinks (Kirin beer, Nigori sake, Tyku Junmai Ginjo sake, Carafe sake /served hot), wine by the glass and desserts ($2 each /Yuzu Custard, Green Tea Cupcake). Complimentary sushi is offered in the evenings at the buffet restaurant.

Pizzeria del Capitano (complimentary, 24-hour, self-serve) is equipped with a wood-fired oven and offers fresh-baked pizzas (Margherita, Pepperoni, Napolitana, Capricciosa, Calzone), pan pizza, Caesar salad, also made-to-order pies.

Lanai BBQ (open between 12-noon - 2:30 pm /seadays only) is an outdoor bar serving the Lanai Promenade with cooked-to-order fast food. BBQ Bar's menu has grilled items (steak, pork, chicken), chicken quesadilla, sliders, BBQ tacos (choice of meat), topless burgers, Carnival Dog (hot dogs), salads, homemade chips/salsa, traditional BBQ condiments.

Shipboard entertainment options - Fun and Sport

Themed party events held onboard include Captain's Venetian Toast (held in the Atrium and featuring cast members dressed in Venetian costumes and passengers wearing Venetian masks) and Italian Street Party (with rotating entertainment including Italian-themed performances and live music).

Teatro Rosso (Theater Lounge, lower level 1 of 2) is the ship's main show lounge for grand-style show productions featuring live performances (tribute acts - singing and dancing) combined with sound and lighting special effects. The evening shows last 30 min. The music is backed by high-definition graphics (photos and videos) projected on large-size LED screens. The evening entertainment program also offers popular family game shows (like "Love and Marriage") and guest performers (stand-up comedy acts, magicians, musicians). The ship's theater also hosts the "Playlist Productions" (live stage musical revues) and "Hasbro The Game Show" (interactive board games). The daily program includes seminars, expert lectures, multimedia presentations, workshops and classes, bingo sessions. Carnival Venezia ship offers an exclusive program with 3 production shows (at 7 pm, 8:45 pm, 10:30 pm) followed by after-show parties allowing guests to interact with the performers. Carnival Venezia's Playlist Productions' programming also includes three new shows - Broadway Beats (New York City-themed), Vintage Pop NYC's prohibition era-themed) and Epic Rock (concert).

The ship's theater lounge is designed as a multi-purpose venue, so instead of traditional stadium seating (bench-style), all chairs are individual allowing different configurations. The theater also hosts pre-scheduled daily events - port talks, Carnival shore excursions meetings, land tours-related media presentations, etc.

Hasbro Game Shows are based on the TV series "Family Game Night" (board games and EA Games). These family fun shows are giant versions of popular trademarked board games (like Connect 4, Yahtzee, Sorry! Sliders, Operation Sam Dunk, Simon Flash, Monopoly, 10-pin Bowling) in which guests can team up to win prizes (Hasbro board games).

Playlist Productions are music revues combining live performances (singing, dancing, acting) with LED staging and special effects. Among the offered live musical shows are 88 KEYS (Rock n' Roll Piano Show with singalong hits), 80s POP TO THE MAX (1980s), GETAWAY ISLAND (beach movies of the 1960s with 3D effects), HEART OF SOUL (R&B and soul), EPIC ROCK (hits from 1970s-1980s), STUDIO VIP (1970's), THE BRITS (UK singers tributes), MOTOR CITY (R&B /1960s-1970s), LATIN NIGHTS (Latin singers tributes), DIVAS (one-name female singers tributes).

Limelight Lounge (the place for the "Punchliner Comedy Club") offers live evening entertainment by vocalists, musicians, comedians, and karaoke.

Carnival Seaside Theatre is a complimentary outdoor cinema with a huge LED screen. The Cinema also has a stage (for live performances and games) and is used daily for showing funny videos, TV shows, concerts, live sporting events, and nightly for watching movies with complimentary provided popcorn.

Venezia Casino (plus Annex) is a Vegas-style gambling casino equipped with various slot machines ("Coinless Fun Slot Machines") and gaming tables (Craps, Roulette, Black Jack 21, Caribbean Stud Poker, dealer-free poker tables). The Casino also provides complimentary gambling lessons and hosts regularly gambling tournaments. Guests can pay in cash or with their S&S cards ("sign and sail" /backed by the credit card given at check-in). Travelers checks can be cashed at the Cashier's Window (casino cage). Table games are cash only. Slot machines are S&S cards only (coinless). The opening hours on seadays are - slots (9 am), select tables (10 am), all games (12-noon - 3 am), but may vary depending on itinerary port times. The Casino is closed when the ship is in port, and opens 30-60 min after the ship leaves port. On Carnival ships calling overnight on Nassau Bahamas, the Casino stays open. On Carnival ships in Half Moon Cay (the line's private island) the Casino opens at management's discretion. Smoking is allowed only on designated slot machines and gaming tables. Carnival chips are fleet-transferable and generic (logoed). MegaCash is the world's largest jackpot that can be won on a cruise ship - over USD 1 million.

Heroes Tribute is a bar lounge (age limit 21+ yo) via a partnership with Operation Homefront (a USA-based nonprofit organization that provides services and supports military families and veterans). Each souvenir glass purchase at Heroes Tribute Lounge donates US$ 1 to Operation Homefront. The venue offers comfortable seating (leather armchairs with low tables) and large TVs (for live sporting events).

Pixels Photo Gallery and Shop sells photo-video equipment and accessories, and displays and sells photos made by the ship's professional photographers.

Dreams Studio (photo sessions studio)

Art Gallery in the Atrium displays original works from renowned art dealers, available for purchasing at discount prices (allegedly cheaper than at land galleries). Gallery art auctions are complemented by sparkling wine and held daily (usually in the early afternoon) at the Atrium's Lobby.

The Fun Shops is named the ship's duty-free shopping arcade of stores (open between 8 am - 12 midnight) selling Carnival Cruise Lines logo merchandise (ship models, fun wear-apparel), Special Occasions (gifts, souvenirs, packages), name-brand boutique merchandise (luxury jewelry-watches, designer bags-hats-shoes-fashion-accessories-sunglasses, perfumes-cosmetics-beauty products), also liquor-tobaccos and conveniences. The ship's luxury boutiques sell brands like Bvlgari (jewelry, watches, fragrances, accessories, leather goods), Cartier (jewelry, leather goods, watches), i Caftani di Roby Zu (resort wear/underwear, beachwear, clothing), Marc Jacobs (bags), What Goes Around Comes Around/WGACA (leather handbags, fashion accessories), designer watches (Gucci, Longines, Bremont, Philip Stein).

Cherry on Top (open between 4 - 10:30 pm) is a Carnival signature shop selling bulk candies by the oz (mix and match, sugar-free, assortments), confections (lollipops, sweet apples, truffles, chocolate deep cheesecakes and pretzels, cupcakes, fudge, cookies /and sugar-free). Cherry on Top also sells ladies and kids apparel (bathrobes, hoodies, lounge pants, tank tops), balloons, flowers, Carnival Greeting Cards, shower/spa items. The shop also provides formalwear rentals available only for pre-cruise ordering (not on board).

Beauty Salon (facials, manicure/pedicure, hair styling-cutting-coloring, eyebrow shaping, makeup, waxing, grooming-barbering, teeth whitening, Medi-Spa)

SkyCourse is a suspended ropes course - another complimentary, outdoor high-adrenaline action attraction.

Mini Golf Course

Serenity is the ship's adults-only retreat for passengers 21+ yo. This is a forward-location outdoor area with 2 whirlpools, 2 massage huts, cabanas, Fresh Creations (chopped salad station / complimentary, made-to-order fresh salads), exclusive sundeck for relaxation, sunbathing and evening dance parties.

The adult deck is complimentary (free entry) and accessible at any time. Both whirlpools (large-size outdoor hot tubs) are cantilevered (infinity pool type, with glass walls). The salad bar, whirlpools and the waiter-served Serenity Bar are available between 8 am - 10 pm. Hours may vary depending on cruise itinerary, portdays/seadays, weather.

Serenity Deck is furnished with hammocks, premium wicker chaise lounges and clamshell chairs (plush seating, teal cushions), shaded seating areas with double loungers and plush wicker sofas, live trees for decoration. At regular bar prices, Serenity Bar's menu offers drinks and refreshments (cocktails, beer/buckets, wine, frozens, smoothies, shakes, soda).

Piazza San Marco is a 3-floor-high Atrium space (midship on decks 3-4-5) with an open-floor design and housing the Lobby (Carnival Adventures/Tour Desk and Guest Services/Reception Desk), the Atrium Bar and the stage (for street performers) on its lower level. From the Atrium's mid-level (deck 4) are directly accessed the Fun Shops and the Dreams Studio (photo studio) and Cherry-on-Top. Piazza San Marco's upper level (deck 5) provides direct access to the Fun Shops and the Beauty Salon.

Kids & Teens venues and programs

Camp Ocean is the ship's kids complex providing supervised by counselors age-appropriate activities and themed entertainment for 3 age groups - 2-5 yo (Penguins), 6-8 yo (Stingrays), 9-11 yo (Sharks). Each group has its own room and dedicated staff. Operational hours (may vary due to Carnival cruise itineraries) are - seadays (10 am - 1 pm, 2 - 5 pm, 7 - 10 pm) and portdays (port arrival time until 2 pm, and 2-10 pm).

• Youth staff is international, professional, CPR-certified. Staffing depends on the ship's current cruise itinerary and season. All children must constantly wear their muster station wristbands (available here or at Guest Services). In cases of emergency, parents must collect their kid's lifejacket from their cabin (when picking up their own).
• Camp Ocean provides supervised dinners for kids every evening (between 6-6:45 pm - time may vary due to itinerary) excepting the first evening. Kids-only dinners (chaperoned) take place in the Lido buffet restaurant. Among the menu choices are mac and cheese, pizza, burgers, hot dogs, fries, fish sticks, chicken nuggets, spaghetti and meatballs, vegetables, fruits, Jell-O.
• Carnival Cruise Lines Camp Ocean youth program is complimentary and offers over 200 marine-themed activities. The programming also includes family afternoons (when parents can play with their kids) and a family day with group activities, like face painting and family scavenger hunts (parents and kids receive cameras and search for things hidden in various places throughout the ship).

Camp Ocean PENGUINS (2-5 yo) arts-crafts, Penguin Palooza (costume making, parades), music/singalongs, aerobics, sculpturing, face painting, T-shirt decorating, bingo (candy prizes), storytime (reading), Dr Seuss, Mr Potato Head, Playstation gaming, dance parties, indoor ball games, movie nights, "Owl Jams" themed parties (10 pm - 12-midnight /fees apply).

Camp Ocean STINGRAYS (6-8 yo) PlayStation-Nintendo games, arts-crafts, Pirate Game Night, Memory Game, face painting, T-shirt decorating, sport contests, music time, bingo (prizes), Superheroes, "Fun Til' One" themed parties (10 pm - 1 am /fees apply).

Camp Ocean SHARKS (9-11 yo) PlayStation-Nintendo games, music trivia, arts-crafts, T-shirt decorating, design your own cruise ship, scavenger hunts, origami, bingo (prizes), dance parties, outdoor sports competitions, Fun At Sea themed parties (10 pm - 1 am /fees apply).

Camp Ocean NIGHT OWLS (babysitting of kids 6 months to 11 yo) is available each evening between 10 pm - 1 am (no in-cabin babysitting). The service is at fee $6,75 per kid per hour (plus 15% gratuity, no discounts). Fees are paid via the S&S card (ship account /no cash) and due upon pick-up. Any kid left past 1 am is charged double and forfeits babysitting privileges for the remainder of the cruise. The service offers slumber party activities (movies, toys, board games, video games, arts-crafts) and includes room-service snacks. Babysitting of infants (babies under 2 yo) on portdays begins 15 min before first shore excursion/tour until 12 noon (or from 1 to 5 pm on port arrivals after 12 noon) and on seadays from 8 to 10 am. Kids don't have to be potty-trained (parents provide diapers/toiletries).

Carnival's Camp Ocean-themed programming on select nights offers additional parties (surcharged $13 per kid plus 15% gratuity). These are "Owl Jams" (2-11 yo, 10 pm - 12-midnight /challenges, hide and seek, music), "Fun Til One" (6-8 yo, 10 pm - 1 am /video gaming, dancing, singing) and "Fun At Sea" (9-11 yo, 10 pm - 1 am /video gaming, sports events, pizza). Snacks and beverages are included.

For Carnival Camp Ocean participants only (kids under 5 and kids with special needs/allergies) are provided complimentary beepers, cell phones and phone chargers. At fee can be rented baby strollers (single and double) - 5-day+ itineraries ($30 full cruise) and 3-4-day itineraries ($8 per day).

Carnival Venezia ship's kids complex also has Party Reef (lounge area), Creative Cove (dedicated room for kids arts-crafts-workshops), Dr Seuss Bookville (kids library) and an Outdoor Playground.

Creative Cove is a dedicated room for kids arts-crafts and workshops. The Beary Cuddly Workshop is a build-your-own-stuffed-animal activity where kids can make and take home a stuffed toy (teddy, bear, dog, lion, koala). This workshop is for-fee (prices start from $20 depending on selected outfits/accouterments). A portion of these sales goes to St Jude Children's Research Hospital (Memphis TN). The "Build-A-Bear Workshop at Sea" is a themed activity via an exclusive partnership with the toy company. Like at its stores on land, the Carnival's cruise ship workshop allows children to create and dress their own toy bears using a variety of materials, outfits and accessories, including toy shoes/sneakers, all kinds of suits, hats, sunglasses. Each bear also has its own voice (kids record the voices themselves).

Dr Seuss Bookville (themed library) is a family reading/play room featuring iconic decor (with brightly colored furniture), all Dr Seuss books (over 40 titles in several languages) available for reading, themed board games and activities.

Circle C (children club lounge for 12-14 yo; video games, movies, parties, planned activities, all complimentary), with the new Dr Seuss Bookville library.

Club O2 (teens only club lounge for movies, video games, karaoke, themed parties, booking teen-only cruise shore excursion)

COSTA Venezia review

Ship's design features more efficient use of both indoor and open-deck spaces, with several multi-functional areas. The activity (Lido) deck features aqua park with a water slide, high-rope garden, mini-golf course. The pool deck is covered with a retractable glass roof. The Beach Club (adults only complex) is beneath the glass roof and features a swimming pool, waterslides, rock climbing wall, sports deck area. This deck also has a giant LED wall for movies and other outdoor video entertainment.

The ship has dedicated club lounges for teens and kids, including for toddlers. The panoramic glass elevators also connect the outdoor areas. There is a glass-bottomed skywalk, huge wellness complex (Organic Spa and Fitness), Plaza (with numerous bars and shops), Atrium Lobby Lounge (Piazza San Marco), large-capacity Theater (main show lounge).

Another agreement (with the German shipbuilder Meyer Werft) was signed in July 2015 and included the construction of 4 new ships of the Excellence/Helios-Class. The contract was finalized in April 2016. Of these 4 vessels, 2 were for Costa Cruises ( Costa Smeralda and Costa Toscana ) and the other 2 for AIDA Cruises ( AIDAnova ) and CCL-Carnival ( Jubilee ).

Managed by Costa Group, the Costa and AIDA combined fleet is Europe's largest. In 2014, one out of every two cruise ship tourists in Europe sailed on either AIDA or Costa ship. In 2015, Costa Group had 20 offices in 14 countries, around 27,000 shipyard employees and total passenger capacity of over 68,000 berths (across the combined fleet). Costa Group also is the leader of China's rapidly growing cruise market in Asia.

Besides the ship's staff and crew, Costa cruise passengers are also served by Peper robots - the latest cyborg technology implemented fleetwide in 2016. These humanoid robots greet and guide passengers upon embarkation. They also assist them throughout the cruise by providing information and tips on onboard dining, entertainment, enrichment program (workshops, pre-scheduled events), casino and shopping promotions, shore excursions and tours. Pepper robots are mobile and communicate in 3 languages (English, German, Italian). They can also interpret human emotions by analyzing voice tones and facial expressions.

Costa Venezia offers a total of 15 restaurants and 8 main bars/lounges. The food offerings consist of classic Italian dishes, fast food, traditional Asian and Chinese cuisine. Italian food includes the menu of 3-star Michelin chef Umberto Bombana in Casanova Restaurant. However, authentic Chinese cuisine is available in the main and specialty restaurants at any time.

Follows the complete list of Costa Venezia restaurants and food bars.

• The Main Restaurant (waiter-served) and the Lido deck buffet restaurant offer Chinese and Italian food from the early hours until night.
• The specialty Lu Hot Pot restaurant is where vacationers can cook their own choice of vegetables, seafood, and meat in a stockpot that is placed in the middle of the dining table.
• Another option is street food, with Dim Sum offering traditional Chinese food and the Japanese Yan Teppanyaki where chefs work at the passengers' tables.
• Casanova Restaurant is the ship's stand-out specialty restaurant. Its menu was created by Italian chef Umberto Bombana of 3-star Michelin restaurant Otto e Mezzo Bombana.
• Frutti di Mare is a seafood restaurant serving Venetian and oriental dishes.
• Lanai BBQ Restaurant and La Fiorentina Steak House both feature sea views.
• Napoli Pizza delivers classic Italian pizza anytime anywhere onboard.

Introduced in 2021, "Destination Dishes" are complimentary and available at the MDR's/main dining rooms fleetwide. They are based on individual recipes designed by a "celebrity chef trio" (Bruno Barbieri/Italian, Helene Darroze/French, Angel Leon/Spanish) and interpret the traditional food of the destinations to be visiting by the ship on the following day of the voyage.

Costa Venezia was specially designed to showcase Italian food, lifestyle, and culture, which is why the ship's atrium is modeled on the St Mark's Square in Venice and there are a couple of real gondolas onboard. The Gondola Lounge is where travelers can have a virtual reality trip through the port city in a gondola and the Grand Canal Restaurant features a "canal-side" walk to admire the Bridge of Sighs - Ponte dei Sospiri. The restaurant replicates the architecture of Venetian alleys and guests are served by waiters specially dressed as 17th-century Venetians. Costa Venezia voyages also offer a Venice Carnival party night with Italian entertainment and Venetian masks.

Every night there are shows in the theatre with a focus on Italian productions like Venezia Innamorata, which is based on the life of Venetian lover Giacomo Casanova. The Lounge delle Stelle is where guests can join Costa Venezia Film Festival, being entertained with songs from popular films and watching Venice Film Festival movies.

Despite the Italian ambiance of Costa Venetia, the vessel has been designed exclusively for Chinese passengers with much of the entertainment Chinese, including the Golden Party where there are gifts and surprises to be won every ten minutes.

Typical family entertainment is at the heart of the experience, including kids' clubs, mini-golf, Rope Garden, and Water Park Laguna for onboard fun. Chinese guests can also enjoy duty-free shopping with luxury brands like BVLGARI, Cartier, and Tiffany.

The ship also features some of the most popular Asian entertainment. 11 rooms are dedicated to karaoke, and the masquerade ball is a colorful take on the famous Carnevale in Venice. Half a dozen main lounges are available for pre-dinner cocktails, plus Bella Bar for bubble teas and fruit juices.

CARNIVAL Venezia itineraries

Carnival Venezia cruises were open for booking on November 15, 2022. The ship's inaugural itinerary program is based on homeporting in NYC (New York USA)/Manhattan Cruise Terminal , starting on June 15, 2023.

Carnival Venezia's inaugural season groups 22 unique itineraries (10 different voyage durations) visiting 25 ports/destinations in 14 countries.

The program starts with a 15-day Transatlantic crossing/Carnival Journeys voyage (RepositionCruises.com) from Barcelona to NYC (May 29-June 13, 2023). From Manhattan NYC, the ship's summer schedule includes roundtrips to Southern Caribbean (12-night), Eastern Caribbean (8-10-11-night), to Bahamas (8-9-night), to Bermuda (4-5-night), and New England USA and Canada (5-6-7-night, visiting St John NB, Halifax NS, Sydney NS, Portland ME).

Carnival Venezia's Caribbean itineraries visit Puerto Rico, Aruba, Curacao, Barbados, Grand Turk, Dominica, Grenada, St Lucia, St Maarten, St Thomas USVI, Dominicana (Amber Cove). All longer voyages visit CCL's private Bahamian island Half Moon Cay , Shorter/9-day voyages from NYC to Bahamas visit PortMiami Florida , Nassau, Freeport, Half Moon Cay.

In May 2023 CCL announced that in December 2024 Venezia will move from New York to Florida and homeport in Port Canaveral/Orlando City . The new deployment starts with a 12-day East Coast USA relocation voyage/Carnival Journeys from NYC to Port Canaveral (December 6-18th, 2024).

The ex-Florida itineraries (Port Canaveral roundtrips/7 days in length) that were first opened for booking were:

• "Exotic Eastern Caribbean" (Dec 22, 2024) visiting Grand Turk, San Juan Puerto Rico, St Thomas USVI
• "Exotic Eastern Caribbean" (Jan 5, 2025) visiting to Amber Cove Dominicana, San Juan Puerto Rico, St Thomas USVI
• "Exotic Western Caribbean" (departures Dec 29th, and in 2025 - Jan 26th and March 23rd) visiting Mahogany Bay/Roatan Island Honduras, Belize City, Cozumel Mexico.
• "Western Caribbean" (departures in 2025 Feb 9th and Mar 9th) visiting Nassau Bahamas, Montego Bay Jamaica, Grand Cayman Island.
• "Western Caribbean" (departures in 2025 Apr 6th and Apr 20th) visiting Nassau, Ocho Rios Jamaica, Grand Cayman Island.

COSTA Venezia itineraries

Costa Venezia's Maiden Voyage was scheduled for March 8, 2019.

• The eastbound relocation voyage (RepositionCruises.com) from Europe to China (53-day " world voyage " March 8-April 29/from Trieste to Yokohama via Suez Canal ) included popular ports of call in Italy, Croatia, Greece, Israel, Suez Canal (transit), Jordan, Oman, UAE (Dubai, Abu Dhabi), India, Sri Lanka, Malaysia, Singapore, Thailand, Vietnam, China (Hong Kong), Taiwan and Japan.
• The Maiden Voyage was offered for booking in 3 different segments - 20-day (Trieste-Dubai), 18-day (Dubai-Singapore) and 17-day (Singapore-Yokohama). The inaugural cruise deals were also available for booking by European customers.

The Costa ship Venezia was originally planned for a year-round deployment exclusively in Asia, with homeporting in China ( Shanghai ). However, in September 2021, Costa announced that in 2022-2023-2024 Venezia will be redeployed from China to Europe-Eastern Mediterranean and homeported in Istanbul Turkey (docking at Galataport) .

• Venezia's 2022 program (May 1 thru November 20) included 3x alternating Greece and Turkey itineraries (all roundtrips from Istanbul's Galataport) combinable into a 14-day B2B/back-to-back cruise itinerary that visits 8 seaports.
• (Itinerary 1) 2-day from Istanbul (overnight) visiting Izmir , Bodrum , Mykonos Island , Piraeus-Athens .
• (Itinerary 2) 2-day from Istanbul (overnight) visiting Kusadasi-Ephesus , Rhodes Island , Crete Island (Heraklion) .
• (Itinerary 3) 12-day "Holy Land" from Istanbul (overnight) visiting Bodrum, Cyprus Island (Limassol) , Israel ( Haifa-Nazareth ), Egypt ( Alexandria /overnight), Kusadasi (overnight).

The ex-Turkey program also included optional fly-cruise packages with flights to Istanbul (via partnership with Turkish Airlines) from most European countries.

COSTA by CARNIVAL cruise program is targeting CCL's North American source market. The program is based on two newbuild Costa ships - Venezia (starting in 2023 with homeporting in NYC New York USA ) and Firenze (starting in 2024 with homeporting in Long Beach/Los Angeles California USA). Both Costa liners are CCL-managed (while operating out of the USA) and were scheduled for drydock refurbishments prior to the Carnival service.

In September 2022 was canceled Costa Venezia's winter schedule (Dec 1, 2022, thru April 6, 2023/23x total departures) that included 11-day Holy Land voyages out of Istanbul.

For COSTA by CARNIVAL, Costa Venezia was scheduled to start ex-USA operations on April 7, 2023, from NYC New York. The other COSTA by CARNIVAL ship (Costa Firenze) was scheduled to start ex-USA operations in 2024 from Long Beach/LA California.

Carnival Venezia - user reviews and comments

Photos of carnival venezia.

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Carnival Venezia Wiki

The vessel (Fincantieri Monfalcone yard/hull number 6271) has volume 135225 GT-tons, DWT-deadweight tonnage 12100 tons, max draught 8,6 m. The powerplant is based on 5x MAN marine diesel engines (4-stroke, common-rail injection/2x 14V48/60CR plus 3x 8L48/60CR) with combined output 62,4 MW (83680 hp). The propulsion is diesel-electric and based on two ABB Azipod thrusters with combined output 33 MW (44250 hp). The registered shipowner is CARNIVAL CORPORATION while the registered manager is CARNIVAL CRUISE LINE (both companies are Florida USA-based).

In January 2016, the shipowner Carnival Corporation signed a MoA agreement with Fincantieri to build 4 new vessels. Contracts were finalized in April 2016. Of these, 2 units were for Costa Asia (Venezia and Firenze), 1 for Princess ( Enchanted ) and 1 for P&O Australia (TBN-2022). With this shipbuilding order, Carnival Corporation had a total of 17 new ships on order scheduled for deliveries between 2016-2020. All four units are Fincantieri-built (at the shipyards Monfalcone and Marghera) with scheduled deliveries in 2019-2020.

The vessel's keel-laying/coin ceremony was held on November 1, 2017, at the Fincantieri Monfalcone Shipyard (near Trieste Italy ).

The vessel (Monfalcone yard/hull number 6271) was launched/floated out from drydock on June 22, 2018.

Costa Venezia was officially delivered by Fincantieri Monfalcone on February 28, 2019. The delivery documents were signed by Arnold Donald (Carnival Corp's President and CEO) and Giuseppe Bono (Fincantieri's CEO).

Costa Venezia's christening ceremony was on March 1st (2019), held in Port Trieste, as previously announced by Carnival Corporation on December 9, 2018. The special event featured an air show by Frecce Tricolori (aerobatic team of the Italian Italian Air Force / Aeronautica Militare) and a midnight firework show. The ceremony was attended by Massimiliano Fedriga (Friuli Venezia Giulia Region's President), Roberto Dipiazza (Trieste's Mayor) and the godmother Gan Beiye and her family (Costa Crociere fans since 2011).

After the naming ceremony, the liner was repositioned (via Suez Canal ) to China for year-round deployment.

Costa Venezia was one of all 7 newbuilds ordered by Carnival Corporation for Costa Group (deliveries 2019-2023) and part of the company's ~EUR 6 billion investment plan. Venezia and Firenze became Costa's largest vessels homeported in China.

The liner's namesake is the Uniworld -owned riverboat SS La Venezia (2003-launched as "River Countess", 2020-reconstructed and renamed "SS La Venezia").

Following the scheduled drydocking, Carnival Venezia officially joined the CCL-Carnival Cruise Line 's fleet on March 22, 2023, when Costa's Captain Tihomir Muzic handed over the vessel to Carnival's Captain Claudio Cupisti in Port Cadiz (Spain) . The unique event was attended by executives from Costa and Carnival, including Christine Duffy (CCL's President).

Besides the ship's Master Claudio Cupisti (with CCL since 1989), Carnival Venezia's other senior officers are Cesare Boldrini (Chief Engineer/with CCL since 2011) and Karl Hallberg (Hotel Director/with CCL since 2017). In April were also appointed Milena Krivokapic (as Entertainment Director/with CCL since 2018) and Marques Matthias (as Cruise Director/with CCL since 2015).

In June 2023 CCL announced that Carnival Venezia will be christened by Godfather James Douglas Muir Leno/Jay Leno (1950-born TV host and stand-up comedian). Jay Leno is best known for being the host of NBC's "The Tonight Show" in the periods 1992-2009 and 2010-2014. For 8 years (2014-2022) he hosted CNBC's TV series "Jay Leno's Garage", and since 2021 - the comedy quiz series "You Bet Your Life". The ship's naming ceremony was held on June 14th in NYC. Jay Leno entertained the guests with a special stand-up comedy show in collaboration with Carnival World Mastercard (CCL's partnership with the London-based Barclays Bank). The special event (held at the ship's Theater/Teatro Rosso) was attended by John Heald (CCL's Brand Ambassador), Christine Duffy (CCL's President), Fr. Enrique Salvo (Rector of St Patrick's Cathedral) and Captain Claudio Cupisti.

Carnival Venezia refurbishment 2023 review

Carnival Venezia was drydock refurbished at Navantia Shipyard (Cadiz) in the period between March 16th and May 28th. The refit and refurbishment project included the renovation of all staterooms and public spaces, as well as adding CCL's signature facilities, like Fahrenheit 555 Steakhouse, Piano Bar 88, Seafood Shack, Bonsai Sushi, Guy's Burger Joint, Cloud 9 Spa, Serenity (adults-only sundeck), Carnival Waterworks (Aquapark).

New venues (debuting on Carnival Venezia) are Carnevale Lounge (exclusive for Terrazza staterooms), La Strada Grill, Tomodoro Restaurant, Carnevale Lounge & Bar (with live music), Gondola Lounge & Nightclub (with live entertainment), Amari Bar, Rococo Bar, Frizzante Bar (patisserie).

Curiously, unlike the other CCL fleetmates, Carnival Venezia has a hull on which the traditional red stripe is in yellow, paying homage to the ship's Costa heritage, and also to match the yellow-painted funnel.

Inaugural itineraries 2023 (Carnival Venezia)

Carnival Venezia's Maiden Voyage was scheduled for May 29, 2023 (15-day Transatlantic crossing from Barcelona to NYC New York USA). The inaugural cruise was priced from US$590 per person with double occupancy.

Followed a year-round deployment with homeporting at NYC's Manhattan Cruise Terminal (first departure June 15th).

Carnival Venezia's inaugural itinerary program was based on roundtrips out of NYC to destinations in Bermuda, the Caribbean/Bahamas and Canada and New England USA.

Next tables show the inaugural voyages by destination.

inaugural Bermuda (4-day itinerary) from US$625 pp

inaugural Eastern Caribbean (8-day itinerary) from US$1090 pp

Inaugural Canada and New England (5-day itinerary) from US$495 pp

inaugural Southern Caribbean (15-day itinerary) from US$980 pp

inaugural Bahamas (9-day itinerary) from US$510 pp

Inaugural Mediterranean itineraries 2022-2023-2024 (Costa Venezia)

Next table shows the ship's first Mediterranean voyage (part of the 2022-23-24 program) following the redeployment from Asia to Europe.

This was a 14-day B2B/back-to-back itinerary leaving roundtrip from Istanbul/Galataport.

Prices started from USD 500-700 per person (double occupancy) for a 7-day itinerary and $1030-1520 for a 14-day B2B.

Inaugural itineraries 2019 (Costa Venezia)

Costa Venezia's maiden voyage was scheduled for March 3 (2019) - a 5-day Adriatic Sea itinerary leaving out of Trieste Italy .

Initially, for booking was opened (on March 2, 2018) only the Trieste-Yokohama voyage. Tickets for the Maiden Voyage were available for booking by both European and Asian customers. Prices started from USD 5000 pp (inside cabin rates based on double occupancy).

This eastbound repositioning cruise was offered for booking in 5 different itinerary segments:

• (March 8-27) 19-day (Trieste-Dubai) - prices from USD 2000 pp
• (March 27 - April 13) 17-day (Dubai-Singapore) - prices from USD 1700 pp
• (April 13-29) 16-day (Singapore-Yokohama) - prices from USD 1600 pp
• 33-day (Dubay-Yokohama) - prices from USD 3600 pp
• 36-day (Trieste-Singapore) - prices from USD 4000 pp

Homeport operations from Shanghai were scheduled to start on May 18, 2019.

Next tables show the revised (slightly changed) repositioning cruise itinerary segments as destinations and port times.

19-day from Trieste to Dubai

17-day from Dubai to Singapore

16-day from Singapore to Tokyo

• Cruise Advice

Carnival Venezia: Everything You Need to Know Before Cruising

Doug Parker

• June 16, 2023

Those who say all Carnival Cruise Line ships are the same will undoubtedly be surprised upon boarding Carnival Venezia . 

The Carnival Venezia is the newest and most unique addition to the Carnival Cruise fleet. The Venezia brings all the flair of Italy to New York Cruise lines. 

The 14-deck, 4,200-passenger ship, was initially made for the Italian cruise line Costa Venezia back in 2019, but several operational factors brought it to the shores of the US in 2023. It was customized to fit the Carnival look, without detracting from its Italian vibe.

In this article, I’ll tell you everything you need to know about Carnival Venezia , from the food and entertainment options to cabin categories and deck activities. 

There’s a lot that makes this ship so different from the rest of the Carnival fleet, and you’re about to know why.

Carnival Venezia, Carnival’s kinda new ship

Venezia was initially constructed for Costa Cruises, one of the lines under the Carnival Corporation umbrella. When deciding to transfer the ship from Costa to Carnival, Venezia underwent an extensive drydock, during which several of Carnival’s most popular venues were added.

As the name implies, Venezia was heavily themed around the Italian city of Venice, despite being built for the Chinese market. 

To explain this new hybrid, Carnival marketed Venezia as offering “ Carnival Fun, Italian Style .” (This similar approach will be used when her sister ship, Firenze , makes the Costa-to-Carnival move in late 2024.)

Venezia began sailing year-round from her homeport of New York City in the spring of 2023. The ship is slated to remain there until December 2024, when she will head to Port Canaveral , Florida, for several months.

Carnival Venezia Fast Facts 

What inspired Carnival Venezia’s design

The ship’s interiors are inspired by Italian architectural design. Its three-level atrium is modeled after Venice’s main public square, Piazza San Marco.

Here, you’ll see a giant white column rising from the bar that anchors the space, a majestic, gold-winged lion perched at the top. 

Outdoor spaces, especially the Lido deck, resemble the Italian Riviera. This main pool area features a retractable roof, making it ideal for sailing out of New York City during winter.

The Serenity Deck takes the concept familiar to most Carnival cruisers and gives it a bit of a twist. You can’t miss the Spritz bar, which, in conjunction with the accompanying seating, provides the area with a pop of color. 

While the main pool on the Lido deck is stunning, guests will undoubtedly notice that it’s not particularly large and doesn’t offer much. But fret not, as another pool is just located toward the ship’s rear, along with hot tubs and two decks worth of loungers.

Passengers get a true sense of the “Carnival Fun, Italian Style” theme concept on the Lido deck and around the pool. It’s worth noting that familiar venues, such as Guy’s Burger Bar, were given new looks and menu items.

There are also new-to-Carnival spaces, including the Rococo Bar, decorated with classic paintings, offering a wide variety of frozen cocktails. This occupies the space where you’d find the BlueIguana Tequila Bar on other Carnival ships. 

The Italian theme concept can be found on board in every venue. Some touches are more subtle, while others — such as the life-sized gondola plopped into the middle of the dining room — are anything but.

Carnival Venezia’s complimentary dining options

Have I told you that you’ll never go hungry on a cruise ship? Well, that’s absolutely true of Carnival Venezia. Dining options here range from one of Guy’s famous burgers to a full-blown Italian meal that even your meatball-making grandma would love. 

Of course, the main dining room is one of the most popular options on any Carnival ship. You’ll find two restaurants, The Canal Grande and Marco Polo. Both showcase Italian sculptures and architectural designs, offering a different experience. 

The most amazing is the Canal Grande, which spans two decks on the ship’s aft end.

From the moment Carnival began touting the ship’s features, the full-sized gondola appeared to “float” on the water made of blue glass tiles, which are attention-getters.

After all, that’s not exactly what you’ll routinely encounter in a restaurant… whether on land or sea! 

The Marco Polo dining room may not offer eye-popping features, but it manages to pull off the type of intimacy rarely achieved by a main dining room. How? Using structures within the room to carve out smaller spaces while giving off Tuscan vibes.

Other complimentary dining venues include an Italian-themed version of the ever-popular Guy’s Burger Joint , featuring a pepperoni pizza burger. Also, the new-to-Carnival Tomodoro, offering up a menu of Italian and Mexican faves, such as meatballs and tacos, respectively.

While both restaurants are located near the main pool on the Lido, the aft area of deck 10 is where you can find Pizzeria del Capitano. Plus, there’s the Lido Marketplace buffet, with various stations serving everything from salads to stir-fry.

Elsewhere, the La Strada Grill is a quick-serve venue with a menu featuring sandwiches, salads, and a tremendous mac-and-cheese side dish.

Carnival Venezia’s specialty dining options

Want something different and willing to pay for it? Look no further; you’ll find several specialty dining restaurants aboard Carnival Venezia , including the new-to-Carnival Il Viaggio, an upscale Italian restaurant with a menu designed to take you on a culinary journey across — where else? — Italy. 

This might best be considered Cucina del Capitano on steroids, at $42 per person, with a price to match.

As on other Carnival ships, Bonsai Sushi is the place to head for fresh rolls and other Asian-inspired treats. This is a great place to grab lunch on a sea day, although it can get crowded.

And if you want to enjoy the dinner-and-a-show concept of Bonsai Teppanyaki, it’s best to make a reservation, as there’s limited seating available, which gets filled up fast.

Another popular venue you must visit is Fahrenheit 555 Steakhouse, perfect for cruisers to celebrate a special occasion; it is almost impossible to snag a table two or three days into any sailing. With the ship’s Italian theme concept, it will be interesting to see Il Viaggio managing to become a last-night favorite.

Those looking for fresh seafood of the non-sushi variety can head to the aft section of deck 10 to hit the Seafood Shack. Whether you’re looking for a lobster roll or fried shrimp, this offers reasonably priced food dinner, or, on sea days, lunch.

For the ultimate Carnival foodie experience — not to mention an incredible way to impress someone on date night — try to grab a reservation for the Chef’s Table. This special, multi-course meal is truly a stunning place and includes the galley tour.

Where to grab a drink on Carnival Venezia?

Aboard the ship, you won’t be thirsty, as Carnival Venezia has many bars.

Note, however, that there is no RedFrog Pub or BlueIguana Tequila bar. Instead, you’ll find several new-to-Carnival watering holes, which will certainly become favorites.

For example, if you’re sitting poolside on the Lido deck and jonesing for a frozen cocktail, you’ll be delighted by what’s served up at Rococo.

The decor is described as “Baroque goes pop,” with staid portraits, which give them a modern look, while the menu features frozen concoctions made with popular Italian flavors such as limoncello.

On Deck 5, you’ll find Amari, which will remind you of the Alchemy bar, only that the former teems with red colors.

The menu includes several of Alchemy’s most popular drinks, made with Italian bitters and liqueurs. Just like at Alchemy Bar, Amari is staffed by knowledgeable mixologists who handcraft a cocktail to your specifications.

Nearby on Deck 5 is Frizzante, which oozes bubbliness, featuring prosecco, spritzes, bellinis, and Italian beers. You can also find Italian coffees and biscottis at Frizzante, which will undoubtedly prove a popular pre-dinner drinks spot for those planning to dine at the nearby Il Viaggio.

For many guests, their first drink will likely be served by the bartenders at Piazza San Marco. Why? Because that’s the location of the atrium bar, and it is where passengers first enter upon boarding the ship.

Deck 4 is where you’ll find Venezia ‘s Heroes Tribute Bar, a space designed to honor members of the armed services — past and present — and their families. The several large screens directly behind the bar will make this a popular spot for sports watchers.

Piano Bar 88 can be found midship on Deck 5. As the name implies, Piano Bar 88 is the spot to hit if you want to grab drinks and sing with the piano man. While nights here typically start on the sedate side, they almost inevitably turn raucous as the night goes on!

If the Gondola Lounge looks familiar, it’s the ship’s version of Ocean Plaza. Located on Deck 5 midship, there’s a large dance floor, a stage perfect for live performances every night, and much more comfy seating.

Perched on the very aft of Deck 5 is the Carnivale Bar and Lounge. During the morning, this space is only accessible by those staying in Terrazza-level staterooms, although it is open in the afternoon and evening.

Inspired by the elegance of masquerade balls, the place teems with classic cocktails and fine Italian wines, which are the highlights here.

Just beyond the Carnivale Bar, you’ll see the Terrazza Carnivale. As the name implies, this area is only available to Terrazza-level guests during the daytime.

But once the sun sets, the bar and surrounding areas morph into a fantastic place to enjoy the views while sipping drinks and lounging on comfy furniture.

Only steps away from the pool aft of Deck 10 is the Burano Bar, named after an island in the Venetian Lagoon of Northern Italy.

This is the bar from which your drinks will be served if you’re hanging out in the hot tub or on one of the many loungers.

Also nearby is the Serenity Deck, where you’ll see the Serenity Spritz bar.

Carnival Venezia’s cabins and suite accommodations

Carnival Venezia cabins range from swanky suites to cozy inside staterooms. One thing you won’t find on this particular ship, however, is the family harbor staterooms featured on similarly-sized Carnival vessels. 

While Carnival does not offer a ship-within-a-ship concept like Norwegian Cruise Line’s Haven or Celebrity Cruises’ Retreat, the Venezia features Terrazza staterooms.

Like the Havana area found on other Vista-class ships, staterooms within the Terrazza have exclusive daytime access to an outdoor lounging area known as Terrazza Carnivale. You’ll find hot tubs, a bar, and killer views here. 

Terrazza staterooms are available in a variety of categories, including interiors (great for those looking to save a bit of money), balconies (including some with aft-facing views), and Terrazza Cabanas, which, like their Havana brethren, offer stunning terraces and a hammock perfect for hanging around in (pun intended).

It’s worth noting, however, that the Terrazza Cabanas do not offer privacy.

Perhaps the swankiest of these suites is the Terrazza Premium Balcony staterooms, which sit on the very back of the ship and offer large, wrap-around balconies and plenty of privacy.

Those staying in Terrazza staterooms are given wristbands that must be worn to access the Terrazza Carnivale area. Perks include a champagne toast at sail away and a free sea day brunch in the Fahrenheit 555 Steakhouse.

It’s important to note that all guests booked in Terrazza-level staterooms must be at least 12 years of age at the time of sailing.

Whether in or out of the Terraza area, staterooms on Venezia are modern, with a slightly more upscale feel, which you won’t find on some of the line’s other ships.

This is particularly apparent in the bathrooms, which feature glass doors in the shower, sinks with four legs as opposed to your basic fiberglass molding, and Italian-themed gold-framed mirrors.

The rooms here also feature wall art from various Italian locations, which adds to the Italian ambiance. As with other areas of the ship, the staterooms feel new, which makes sense, given they haven’t been around that long.

Activities for kids of all ages

Admit it: You like hitting the waterpark on a Carnival ship as much as the kids do. Fortunately, the one on Carnival Venezia will not disappoint.

This line knows how to keep the entire family occupied, and the WaterWorks area is no exception, which offers three slides (one enclosed) and a splash pad for kids.

If there’s one thing missing aboard the ship, it’s a giant dump bucket. Additionally, there are plenty of loungers in the area.

Near the waterpark is the Serenity Deck.

As on other Carnival ships, this is an adults-only retreat, making it the perfect place to curl up and read a book on one of the many comfortably padded loungers.

You’ll also find the Serenity Spritz bar, perfect for those wanting to augment their time with an adult beverage. You’ll find a nice grouping of tables and chairs near the bar.

While Venezia has a version of The Warehouse Arcade on board, it’s in a rather odd location. To access the space, guests must first find a small sign on Deck 11, which leads to a staircase (the arcade is actually on Deck 12).

Inside, however, the kid-friendly zone is packed with various money-eating, ticket-dispensing games.

Deck 12 is also home to the mini golf course, which extends up to Deck 14. (Remember: Carnival ships don’t have a 13th deck.) This upper deck is also where you’ll find a ropes course perfect for those ready to test their tightrope-walking skills.

What’s on tap, entertainment-wise?

Like the other ships in the fleet, Carnival Venezia knows that to keep several thousand people entertained, you need a wide variety of options for them to explore. Of course, one of the big crowd-pleasers is the Playlist Productions on deck 4’s Teatro Rosso.

The space is also available for games such as Deal Or No Deal, Bingo, and other activities.

If you prefer watching movies under the stars, you may head to Deck 10’s Lido for Dive-In Movies. After all, how often do you get a chance to watch a movie while hanging out in a pool?

Comedy shows are held in the Limelight Lounge, which doubles as the Punchliners Comedy Club. When not playing host to family-friendly and more adult-themed laugh fests, the Limelight is also a great place to do various activities, from karaoke to late-night dance parties.

If you want more fun, head for the Venezia casino, midship on Deck 4, where smoking is allowed in some parts of the casino. There is also an entirely non-smoking and completely separate casino annex.

If you consider shopping a form of entertainment, Venezia is very likely to tickle your fancy. Because the ship was initially designed for the Chinese market, more space is dedicated to retail shops than you’d typically find on a Carnival vessel.

That means you’ll find everything from the first Rolex boutique at sea — just in case you want to treat yourself after hitting the casino! — to leather goods and even “pre-loved” purses and accessories in a shop called “What Goes Around Comes Around.”

Does Carnival Venezia have formal nights?

Venezia holds formal dining nights, which adds to the charm and elegance of the passengers’ experience. That could be 1-2 nights, depending on the length of the trip. 

On formal nights, passengers are advised to follow the traditional Carnival Cruise Line dress code. 

This means that men should wear tuxedos, or classic suits and ties. There’s also an optional button-down dress shirt and pants for passengers who want to join the festivities without going too deep into the formality.

Similarly, the ladies typically wear cocktail dresses, gowns, or pantsuits. What is off the list is a pair of jeans, sandals, t-shirts, swimwear, or similarly informal pieces. 

Formal nights do not apply across the board in every restaurant on the ship. Passengers who crave a more relaxed dinner can head to the Lido Marketplace buffet or any of the casual eateries available. 

The Cloud 9 Spa

Nowadays, imagining a cruise ship without a spa and a casino is hard. While Venezia has a branch of Carnival’s famous Cloud 9 Spa, it is not nearly as expansive as on other similarly-sized ships. That is partly because you won’t find the ever-popular thermal suites here.

If there’s an upside, the locker room facilities offer a free sauna, rainfall shower, and soaking tub. It’s also worth noting that the tub is not a hot tub or hydrotherapy pool that fits several guests. Instead, it is an actual soaking tub designed to be used by one person at a time.

Both the men’s and women’s changing rooms offer these amenities.

While the spa is where you’ll find salon services on Venezia, they have been given their own space — complete with the below Instagram-worthy entrance — on Deck 5, just off the atrium.

This is the place to head if you want a blowout, haircut, manicure, or beard trimming before your big night out. Reservations can be made at the Cloud 9 Spa, the salon, or the Carnival Hub app.

What are the luggage restrictions on Carnival Venezia?

Before sailing on the Carnival Venezia, it’s best to consider the luggage restrictions and pack accordingly. This would guarantee having a smooth embarkation and debarkation onboard the ship. 

Here’s what you need to know: 

• Each passenger can bring two carry-on bags, plus one portable personal item, like a laptop bag, a backpack, a tote bag, or a handbag. 
• Standard carry-on bags should not exceed 50 pounds. Their dimensions should be within 30″ x 24″ x 12″ as a maximum. 
• Baggage exceeding the weight or size limitations might not be accepted, or it could be subject to extra fees. 
• All bags are screened by security agents for prohibited items. This includes alcohol, weapons, and illegal substances. 
• At the time of boarding, passengers aren’t allowed to bring their baggage until their rooms are ready. In the meantime, their bags are held in storage. 
• At the time of departure, guests are advised to vacate their rooms. But they can keep their luggage in storage until they disembark from the ship. 
• There’s a luggage valet service in all Carnival Crusie Lines that passengers can use, for a fee of course.

Is Carnival Venezia right for you?

While we’re big believers that you can have a great time on any cruise, we also know that you’ll have a better time if the ship aligns with your preferences for a vacation. Carnival Venezia offers fun-filled activities, amenities, etc., but they might not be everyone’s cup of tea.

During our recent time on board, we spoke to several longtime Carnival cruisers who didn’t care for the ship. When pressed why, they replied that it was simply “too different” from what they’re used to—which is understandable.

If you are looking for the same experience you can have on most other Carnival Cruise Line ships, you might wind up disappointed.

But those who like the idea of a totally different Carnival ship will likely enjoy Venezia— a cruise ship offering endless thrills and new twists.

Watch Carnival Venezia Review and Tour (2023)

Go Deeper: Carnival Venezia Features New Bars, Italian-themed Guy’s Burger Joint

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• Cruise Ships
• Carnival Venezia

Carnival Venezia ™

• Dining & Activities
• Sails From:

It's a long way from Venice to NYC, but Carnival Venezia thinks the two could be next-door neighbors. This ship is now sailing from its Big Apple homeport... and already has big Port Canaveral plans for the winter/spring 2025 season! What can you expect to find in this ship? Well, there’s more than a little Italy in this one — that’s why we’re calling this new type of cruising Fun Italian Style ™ . It starts with the Venice-inspired atrium Piazza San Marco , the onboard flavor and flair continues at the three-course Marco Polo and Canal Grande Restaurants , La Strada Grill ™ and its Italian street food, plus fusion spots Tomodoro ™ (Mexican-Italian, yum!) and Guy’s Burger Joint (new burgers with Italian flavors — also yum!). And in authentic ristorante style, the elevated Italian of Il Viaggio . Sip well at bars that each specialize in their own thing: complex and sophisticated cocktails at Amari ™ , bubbly stuff (plus snacks and coffee) at Frizzante ™ , frozen everything at Rococó ™ and fine Italian wines at Carnevale Bar & Lounge ™ . There’s great entertainment at the red-velvety Teatro Rosso and its Playlist Productions ™ shows, plus Gondola Lounge was inspired by the famous canals of Venice. Terrazza staterooms are a whole new way to stay in style and comfort, all in a great location close to amenities like the exclusive Terrazza Carnevale , a private terrace deck made for lounging, sipping and fun, day or night! There’s also a lot of the classic Carnival fun that repeat cruisers ( hey there!) know and love. Deliciously familiar flavors come from spots like Bonsai Teppanyaki ™ and Fahrenheit 555 Steakhouse ™ , while celebration spots include Piano Bar 88 and Serenity Bar , and relaxation happens at Cloud 9 Spa ™ and Serenity Adult-Only Retreat ™ . For the kids, there’s spaces just right for their age like Camp Ocean ™ , Circle “C” ® and Club O2 ® . And outdoors, get ready for a very splashy WaterWorks ™ and SportSquare ™ featuring a ropes course, jogging track, mini golf and outdoor fitness center. So as we were saying… hey, we’re cruising here! Carnival Venezia and all this Fun Italian Style sailing now from NYC. Andiamo!

• 135,225 Gross Tonnage
• 4,090 Guest Capacity
• 1,061 Length In Feet
• 1,424 Onboard Crew

INSIDE THIS SHIP

Just like a delicious cake, your ship is made of layers. Find out which fun ingredients — staterooms, dining, activities — go into each deck.

YOUR STATEROOM

Terrazza interior.

Amenities exclusive to Terrazza staterooms:

• Access to the Terrazza Carnevale area for that seaside-lounging lifestyle
• Morning access to the Carnevale Lounge for a daily continental breakfast
• Sailaway event at Terrazza Carnevale, featuring live music
• Comfy Terrazza-branded robes and towels for your use

Plus, every room includes:

• Dedicated stateroom attendant
• Soft, cozy linens
• Plenty of closet and drawer space
• In-room safe for valuables
• Stateroom climate control

Interior with Picture Window (Walkway View)

Every room includes:

Interior with Portholes

Interior upper/lower with portholes, interior upper/lower, deluxe ocean view.

Deluxe Ocean View staterooms are a great choice for families who want to let the sun shine in as they sail. Rooms of this type feature great views, a full bathroom — plus a separate washroom.

Deluxe Ocean View (Obstructed View)

Terrazza premium vista balcony, terrazza premium balcony, terrazza aft-view extended balcony, terrazza cabana, premium balcony.

We designed balcony staterooms for maximum sea breeze and the most stunning views, and this stateroom features a balcony that's even wider than our standard balcony for extra outdoor space.

Aft-View Extended Balcony

Aft-View Extended Balcony staterooms feature a larger balcony for more lounge-around room, more kick-back space... not to even mention some of the best views. Get ready to relax as you gaze upon the ship's gentle wake from your spacious balcony.

Cove Balcony

Cove Balcony staterooms get you close to the waterline, and feature balconies that let you make the most of your location, for one amazing up-close view of the wake and sea foam as the ship cruises along.

Ocean Suite

An Ocean Suite lets you experience private, spacious relaxation... more space for stretching out indoors, including a walk-in closet and bathroom with whirlpool tub, plus a large balcony for kicking back outdoors.

Amenities exclusive to suites:

• Priority check-in and boarding
• Priority Main Dining Room time assignment
• Priority debarkation at homeport, and ports of call requiring a water shuttle or with arrival times later than 9:30 AM
• Access to the Terrazza Carnevale area for that seaside-lounging lifestyle (guests 12 or older only)
• Two large bottles of water
• Pillow-top mattress

Ocean Suite (Obstructed View)

Onboard activities, onboard dining, where to for you.

Carnival Venezia gives you so, so many choices: Bermuda, Canada, Caribbean and more. How do you say smörgåsbord in Italian?

* Taxes, fees, and port expenses are additional per person.

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Carnival Venezia Deck Plans & Reviews

Carnival Venezia

Activities & entertainment

• Piazza San Marco
• Cloud 9 Spa *
• Fitness Center
• Fitness Classes *
• Beauty Salon *
• Camp Ocean - Kids Club
• Circle "C" - Tweens Club
• Club O2 - Teens Club
• Space Cruisers
• Seuss at Sea
• Evening Kids Programs *
• Build-A-Bear Workshop at Sea *
• Seuss-A-Palooza Story Time
• Dr. Seuss Bookville
• Venezia Casino *
• The Fun Shops *
• Pixels Photo Gallery *
• Dreams Studio *
• Art Gallery *
• Gondola Lounge
• Terrazza Carnevale - Exclusive Deck
• Whirlpools (6)
• Burano Pool
• Serenity - Adults-Only
• Carnival WaterWorks
• Sports Court
• SportSquare
• Jogging Track
• Ropes Course
• The Warehouse - Arcade *
• Seuss-A-Palooza Parade
• Deck Parties
• White Party
• Groove for St. Jude *
• Arts and Crafts
• Guest Services
• Carnival Adventures *
• Wine Tasting *
• Teatro Rosso
• Limelight Lounge
• The Punchliner Comedy Club
• Piano Bar 88
• Carnival Seaside Theatre
• Carnevale Lounge
• Playlist Productions
• Dive-In Movies
• Atrium Bar - Atrium Bar *
• Marco Polo Restaurant - Main
• Canal Grande Restaurant - Main
• Heroes Tribute Bar - Military-Themed Bar *
• Cherry On Top - Candy *
• Bonsai Teppanyaki - Teppanyaki *
• Bonsai Sushi - Sushi *
• Fahrenheit 555 Steakhouse - Steakhouse *
• Amari Bar - Cocktail Bar *
• Frizzante Bar - Wine Bar *
• Specialty Italian Restaurant - Italian *
• La Strada Grill - Italian
• Gondola Lounge Bar - Popular Bar *
• Carnevale Bar - Popular Bar *
• Rococo Bar - Poolside Bar *
• JavaBlue Cafe - Coffee Bar *
• Tomodoro Mexitalian Fusion - Mexitalian
• Guy’s Burger Joint - Pool Grill
• Lido Marketplace - Buffet
• Pizzeria Del Capitano - Pizza
• The Carnival Deli - Sandwiches
• Seafood Shack - Seafood *
• Burano Bar - Poolside Bar *
• Serenity - Adult-Only Bar *
• Swirls - Ice Cream
• Room Service *
• Excellent 2
• Very Good 5
• All languages ( 31 )
• English ( 31 )

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The 6 best cruise ship waterslides and watery fun zones

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Call it the Battle of the Waterslides.

In the last few years, the big boys of the cruise industry — Royal Caribbean , MSC Cruises , Norwegian Cruise Line and Carnival Cruise Line — have been locked in a game of one-upmanship when it comes to waterslides and watery fun zones on vessels.

In addition to such over-the-top, new attractions as go-kart tracks and roller coasters , the brands behind the biggest megaresorts at sea have been packing the top decks of their vessels with even more over-the-top watery allures.

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Royal Caribbean, for instance, added an 800-foot-long “water coaster” to the back of its 3,386-passenger Navigator of the Seas just a few years ago. It’s one of more than two dozen giant waterslides the line has added to more than half a dozen ships in the last seven years.

Royal Caribbean also plans a record six waterslides on its next new ship, Icon of the Seas, which is scheduled to debut in January 2024.

But as recently as early 2016, Royal Caribbean didn’t have a single waterslide on any of its vessels.

MSC Cruises also has gone big with giant water parks in the past seven years, with as many as four waterslides on more than half a dozen of its newest vessels. Norwegian has loaded up its most recent ships with giant water parks, too — some have as many as five waterslides!

Not to be outdone, Carnival, an early adopter of waterslides on ships, has added sprawling water park areas with multiple waterslides to almost every vessel in its fleet.

A brief history of water attractions at sea

In the beginning, there was the pool. As watery cruise ship attractions go, it has long been the staple — something found on nearly every cruise vessel going back to the 1970s.

But as early as 1978, at least one line was spicing up its Lido decks with a little waterslide fun — little being the operative word. That’s the year Carnival added a single slide into the pool on its 728-passenger Festivale — a slide so small it’s now hilarious to think it was touted as an attraction.

Often cited as the first waterslide ever on a cruise vessel, the Festivale slide was of a sort that was found at backyard pools at the time. The cruise industry was still in its infancy, of course, and ships were orders of magnitude smaller than they are today. Festivale measured just 32,697 tons, about one-seventh the size of today’s biggest cruise vessels.

Carnival, the so-called Fun Ship line, would go on to become the early leader in waterslides at sea. The 2,056-passenger Carnival Fantasy, which debuted in 1990, was the first cruise ship with a significant waterslide. It measured 115 feet in length.

Related: A beginner’s guide to picking a cruise line

Just six years later, in 1996, Carnival would make news with the unveiling of a 214-foot-long corkscrew waterslide on what then was called Destiny. (The ship currently sails as the Carnival Sunshine after being rebuilt in 2013.) At the time, Destiny was the biggest cruise ship in the world.

In more recent years, Carnival has gone into waterslide-building overdrive. The line has added full-blown water park areas with waterslides, watery play zones and other features to all but four of its 25 ships. All but one of Carnival’s ships (Carnival Luminosa) now have at least one waterslide.

One of the Carnival water parks, on the line’s 5-year-old Carnival Horizon, even has Disney-style theming revolving around Dr. Seuss characters.

Norwegian, MSC Cruises and Royal Caribbean only began going big with waterslides on ships in the past decade or so. Many of the newest vessels from the brands have massive water park areas. Some of the brands are retrofitting big waterslides onto older ships, too.

Additionally, family-focused Disney Cruise Line now has major water attractions on all its vessels.

Where you’ll find the biggest waterslides at sea

If your idea of the perfect cruise ship is one loaded to the gills with waterslides and watery fun zones (plus all sorts of other over-the-top attractions), you’ll want to stick to the biggest floating megaresorts operated by Royal Caribbean, Norwegian, MSC Cruises and Carnival.

At Royal Caribbean, that means the giant Oasis-class vessels , which include Wonder of the Seas — the world’s largest cruise ship. At Norwegian, you’ll find the biggest waterslides and water parks on the line’s relatively recently built Breakaway Plus-, Breakaway- and Epic-class ships. At MSC Cruises, the new Seaside-, Meraviglia-, Meraviglia Plus- and World-class vessels have the line’s big water parks.

Big lines that have steered clear of the water-park-at-sea trend include Princess Cruises, Holland America and Celebrity Cruises. Geared more toward couples than families and typically drawing an older demographic, all three of these lines have stuck to a more subdued feel for the outdoor areas of their ships. The top decks of vessels operated by Princess, Holland America and Celebrity still mostly revolve around traditional swimming areas with pools, hot tubs and lounge chairs.

Ready for a splashy, top-deck thrill? These are the most spectacular watery attractions at sea.

The Perfect Storm

Where you’ll find it: Royal Caribbean’s Wonder of the Seas, Symphony of the Seas, Harmony of the Seas, Oasis of the Seas, Liberty of the Seas and Voyager of the Seas.

This isn’t just one giant waterslide; it’s a whole complex of waterslides, each one among the most exciting you’ll find anywhere on the world’s oceans.

The Perfect Storm is found on four of Royal Caribbean’s massive Oasis-class vessels — Wonder of the Seas, Symphony of the Seas, Harmony of the Seas and Oasis of the Seas — as well as the smaller Liberty of the Seas and Voyager of the Seas. The complex includes two four-deck-high racer slides called Cyclone and Typhoon, where you can do side-by-side speed tests with your travel partner.

On the four Oasis-class ships, there’s also a third, Champagne bowl-style slide called Supercell. It’ll swirl you around a big basin before plummeting you “down the drain” into a plunge pool. On Liberty of the Seas, a third slide called The Tidal Wave sends you screaming down a steep hill on an inner tube to a nearly vertical incline. Zooming upward, topping out and dropping back, you’ll get a blissful moment of complete weightlessness.

Note that Royal Caribbean’s Navigator of the Seas also has a waterslide area called Perfect Storm — but it’s completely different. More on that in a moment.

The Blaster

Where you’ll find it: Royal Caribbean’s Navigator of the Seas.

The Blaster is the Big Daddy of waterslides at sea. At 800 feet, it’s the longest ever built on a cruise ship. Added to Royal Caribbean’s Navigator of the Seas in 2019, it’s a seemingly endless stretch of yellow and orange tubing that winds around the back deck of the vessel like a snake.

A true sight to behold, The Blaster is so long because it’s what’s known as a water coaster. It features water jets that propel you up, down and forward — extending the ride — as you careen around the ship’s basketball court and surfing simulator in an inner tube. At times, you go flying over the side of the ship, over open water (not that you have much time to take in the view).

Royal Caribbean has named the area on Navigator of the Seas where The Blaster is located the Perfect Storm — the same name used for waterslide areas on six other ships — but the area is completely different than what you’ll find on the other vessels. In addition to The Blaster, the Perfect Storm area on Navigator of the Seas includes a headfirst mat racer slide called Riptide — the first of its kind at sea.

Where you’ll find it: Disney Fantasy and Disney Dream.

Leave it to family-focused Disney Cruise Line to come up with the coolest watery family attraction at sea. AquaDuck is a water coaster, like The Blaster on Royal Caribbean’s Navigator of the Seas, and is found on Disney’s two Dream-class ships. But don’t expect anything too white-knuckle. The ride is relatively gentle by water park standards, mainly because it’s designed for kids of all ages (and their parents, who can ride along on inner tubes for two).

While AquaDuck is slightly shorter than The Blaster at 765 feet in length, it has a bigger presence, thanks to its prime location encircling the main pool area. If you’re lounging up top, it’s hard to miss the massive, clear acrylic tubing of the ride, which is held up by 46 giant white stilts.

In addition to AquaDuck, the two Disney ships with the attraction (Disney Fantasy and Disney Dream ) have a relatively small, kid-friendly waterslide next to the centrally located Mickey’s Pool. Dubbed Mickey’s Slide, it’s held up by a giant Mickey hand, which is delightful. Both ships also have a watery play zone for toddlers called Nemo’s Reef. Plus, Disney Fantasy has a watery fun zone with water jets, geysers and bubblers called AquaLab.

Note that Disney’s newest ship — Disney Wish — has a water coaster attraction similar to the AquaDuck called the AquaMouse. The big difference: Riders will see animated shorts while riding up the ramp at the start of the ride.

Carnival WaterWorks

Where you’ll find it: Nearly all Carnival ships.

When it comes to waterslides on ships, cruise giant Carnival is still the undisputed king. The Fun Ship line began adding them to vessels way back in 1978, and there’s now at least one waterslide on every ship in the Carnival fleet — something no other line can say.

Indeed, on all Carnival ships, there’s now not just a single waterslide but a whole water park area. Called WaterWorks, these areas vary in size and features from vessel to vessel, but they typically have one or two big waterslides, a watery play zone with interactive water features and a large continuously filling dump bucket that periodically soaks everybody within range.

You’ll typically find the biggest Carnival water park complexes on the newest Carnival ships, such as Mardi Gras , Celebration and Carnival Venezia . All three have three waterslides — one more than most Carnival ships.

Aqua Park (Norwegian Cruise Line)

Where you’ll find it: Norwegian Epic, Norwegian Breakaway, Norwegian Getaway, Norwegian Escape, Norwegian Joy, Norwegian Bliss and Norwegian Encore.

Norwegian Cruise Line began going big with waterslides in 2010 when it debuted Norwegian Epic. And boy, did it go big! Norwegian Epic offers three monster waterslides, including the thrilling Epic Plunge — a 200-foot-long tube ride that ends in a swirling bowl. Epic Plunge is part of Norwegian Epic’s Aqua Park, the first water park on a Norwegian ship. Norwegian has since added Aqua Parks to six more new vessels, including its biggest ship, the 4-year-old Norwegian Encore .

Norwegian’s Aqua Parks vary in size and attractions from ship to ship, but some of them, such as the one on Norwegian Breakaway, have as many as five separate multistory waterslides. Yes, you read that right: Five waterslides on a single cruise ship!

On Norwegian Breakaway, the lineup includes twin free-fall slides that drop passengers nearly straight down several stories; two side-by-side twisting racer slides; and a family-friendly slide with a more modest drop. For sheer variety, the complex is hard to beat.

Aqua Park (MSC Cruises)

Where you’ll find it: MSC Seascape, MSC Seashore, MSC Seaview, MSC Seaside, MSC Meraviglia, MSC Bellissima, MSC Grandiosa, MSC Virtuosa, MSC Euribia, MSC World Europa.

Fast-growing MSC Cruises has joined the waterslide wars in the last few years — and in a massive way. Each of the 10 ships the line has unveiled since 2017 offers a full-blown water park on its top deck that’s packed with waterslides and other watery fun.

On North America-based MSC Seaside, the Aqua Park has four waterslides and a children’s play area with interactive water features. The waterslides include two massive, 525-foot-long dueling slides that extend over the sides of the ship. The top of the Aqua Park on MSC Seaside is also home to the liftoff point for a zip line that soars 344 feet across the top of the vessel.

Other MSC Cruises water parks at sea include the winter-themed Polar Aqua Park on MSC Meraviglia, which offers a suspended-in-the-sky ropes course in addition to four waterslides. There’s also the Aquaplay area for the little ones.

A handful of ships even have virtual reality waterslides that involve riders wearing virtual reality headsets as part of the experience.

In all, 14 of MSC Cruises’ 22 vessels now have at least one waterslide on their top decks.

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Carnival Venezia Review

Carnival Venezia might seem like a new ship, with a 2023 christening in New York City by godfather Jay Leno.

But the ship has a special history. Carnival Venezia was originally built in 2019 specifically for the Chinese market where it sailed until March 2020, before coming back to Europe and the subsequent pandemic lockdown. So even though Carnival Venezia cruise ship is almost four years old, it hasn't actually sailed for more than a handful of months -- and now it has a completely new identity.

Redesigned for US passengers and rebranded as "Carnival Fun, Italian Style," Carnival Venezia is definitely a departure from the typical Carnival look and feel. But once you get used to the faux marble columns, the gold balustrades, the rococo inlays and the Venetian artwork adorning every available space on the Carnival Venezia ship, you notice the clever touches the Carnival redesign team has made: the first Guy's Burger to feature a pizza burger (yes, really); Tomodoro, a Mexitalian taco restaurant; Amari, the Italian version of the Alchemy Bar and a main dining room, Canal Grande, which an actual gondola in the center.

We feel the 4,090-passenger Carnival Venezia cruise ship will work for New Yorkers, who will enjoy and relate to its Italian touches. The one area which may be a pinch point is the Lido Deck, or main pool deck, which has a small pool and very limited sunbathing. This is adequate for northern sailings, as there are plenty of cafes, bars and restaurants to keep people occupied, as well as a retractable glass roof. But we're not so sure how the pool size will stand up when the ship moves to Florida for winter 2025.

Carnival Venezia's Deck Plan Includes New Bars And Restaurants

Carnival Venezia's deck plan includes an adults-only spot the Serenity Deck on Deck 15.

As you tour the Carnival Venezia ship, you'll find the outdoor sports facilities which include a running track, pickle ball and basketball court, ropes course, waterpark, mini golf and gym, and Camp Ocean, the Kids' Club all on Decks 11-14.

The double-deck Lido Marketplace is like an Italian piazza, surrounded by cafes, bars and restaurants, including a new venue Tomodoro; Guy's Burger Joint and the buffet. It's enclosed with a sunroof (or "magrodome") which opens and shuts depending on the weather. There is a small pool and also a stage and a screen for late-night movies.

At the back of the ship, you'll find a second pool. Though not huge by modern cruise ship standards, the pool has a more typical sun deck, with lots of loungers and space to sunbathe.

Decks 6-9 are all cabins. You'll also find cabins on decks 10-14, including some suites.

The heart of the ship is the triple-deck atrium, aka Piazza San Marco, as it's meant to represent Venice's main square. Most of the bars, restaurants and shops come off here, including one of the two main dining rooms, Marco Polo Restaurant (Deck 3). At the back of the ship, you'll find Canal Grande, the second main dining room. At the opposite end of the ship is Circle C, the teen and tween hangouts.

The main theater, Teatro Rosso, and the Limelight Lounge, which is for late night dancing and stand up comedy are on Deck 4, where you will also find the shops, casino and a brand new bar for Carnival -- Heroes Tribute Bar, dedicated to veterans.

There are more bars and restaurants on Deck 5, including Frizzante -- new for Carnival and serving bubbly Italian drinks; Amari, which is the Venezia version of the popular Alchemy Bar; Carnevale, which is elaborately decorated and more of a lounge bar; a Piano Bar and the Gondola Lounge. There is also a brand-new for fee Italian restaurant, Il Viaggio and two mainstays of the fleet – Fahrenheit 55 steakhouse and Bonsai Sushi and Teppanyaki.

Carnival Venezia's Rooms Include Suites And a New Category, Terrazza Cabins

Carnival Venezia rooms include 2,116 cabins and suites across 12 decks which range from 150-square-foot interiors to balcony rooms measuring 200 to 265 square feet to suites measuring up to 356 square feet.

Post-refurb updates include adding mini-bars and U.S. power outlets to cabins.

There are just 20 Ocean Suites, and they are not so much suites as larger rooms, with an L-shaped sofa and a bigger bathroom complete with a tub and twin tubs.

Carnival has also introduced new Terrazza staterooms -- measuring 200 to 265 square feet -- which are similar to the Havana cabins on other Carnival vessels. Located on decks 5 through 9, the 77 cabins in the new category are available as interiors, balconies -- many with aft-facing views -- and upscale cabanas.

The cabana cabins feature private patios with loungers and a hammock and direct access to Terrazza Carnevale, an exclusive outdoor terraced deck with whirlpools and a bar.

Another new category are family staterooms, which feature a separate room with half-sized tub for smaller kids.

There are also a number of fully accessible cabins across all stateroom categories.

Cabins to avoid are mostly on Deck 1 as they have obstructed views. If you are at all nervous about the proximity of the sea to your room, avoid the balcony cabins on Deck 2.

Carnival Venezia Introduces New Dining Concepts And Some Familiar Favorites

Carnival Venezia places a strong emphasis on Italian food, and has a new-to-the-fleet upscale Italian restaurant: Il Viaggio, which as the name suggests takes you on a tour of Italy's regional cuisine.

The two main dining rooms are both designed with Italian names, and the menus feature favorites from the popular Cucina del Capitano, elsewhere on the fleet.

Another new dining concept, Il Tomodoro, introduces tacos with an Italian twist; and Guy's Burger Joint even has a burger with a pizza topping.

Familiar favorites Fahrenheit 555 and Bonsai Sushi are also onboard, the latter expanding to the biggest Teppanyaki of the fleet.

Carnival Venezia Has Extensive Facilities For Kids

Carnival Venezia is a kids' paradise, with enough to keep any age group occupied for hours. Counsellors and programming are both outstanding, as are the facilities, which range from the waterslides, to the ropes course and mini golf; to indoor fun in the arcade and Camp Ocean to the Circle C area for teens and tweens and with multiple games consoles.

The only drawback is two relatively small pools for a ship this size and no dedicated kids' pool.

Bottom Line

Included with your cruise fare:.

- Main dining rooms, buffet, and Lido deck restaurants (Guy's Burgers, Tomodoro, Pizzeria del Capitano).

Sandwiches and select pastries at Java Blue.

Salads at La Strada Grill.

Ropes Course

Waterslides and splash park

Serenity adults-only pool and sundeck

All evening entertainment and most daily activities

Fitness center (although not classes) and jogging track

Not included with your cruise fare:

- Specialty restaurants (Il Viaggio; Fahrenheit 555 steakhouse; Bonsai Sushi; Bonsai Teppanyaki, Seafood Shack)

Specialty coffee and some pastries and cakes at Java Blue

Spa treatments and thermal suite access

Casino games and slots

Automatic beverage and spa tips

All drinks beyond water, lemonade, iced tea and coffee

Shore Excursions

Photos and artwork

Fellow Passengers

Who is on board.

Carnival Venezia will be New York based until January 2025, when it heads to Fort Lauderdale for the winter, so expect the vast majority of passengers will be from the Tri-State area, with a mixture of couples and families during holiday season.

The ship is welcoming and appealing to a diverse range of passengers and there are regular LGBTQ+ meetings as well as solo gatherings.

Find a Carnival Venezia Cruise from £330

More about carnival venezia, where does carnival venezia sail from, where does carnival venezia sail to, how much does it cost to go on carnival venezia.

A great cruise on a charming ship...but it's not the "classic" Carnival party-ship experience

couple 2-5 Cruises

Ship layout is subpar & cigarette smell horrible

one First Time Cruiser

Loved the Ship

many 10+ Cruises

Great experience, just a little smoky…

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Monster growth! The cruise boom at Carnival continues with debut of another new ship

Make that five new ships for Carnival Cruise Line in just 18 months.

The world's second-biggest cruise brand on Thursday welcomed the first cruisers aboard yet another new vessel, the 4,126-passenger Carnival Firenze, in Long Beach, California.

The 135,156-ton ship is debuting just four months after Carnival unveiled the even bigger 5,374-passenger Carnival Jubilee and 11 months after the line began operating the 4,090-passenger Carnival Venezia .

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The latter two ships operate out of Galveston, Texas, and New York City, respectively. Carnival Venezia also spends part of the year sailing out of Port Canaveral, Florida.

Over the past 18 months, Carnival has also added the Miami-based, 5,374-passenger Carnival Celebration and the Australia-based, 2,260-passenger Carnival Luminosa . Carnival Luminosa also spends part of the year sailing out of Seattle.

The addition of the five ships to the Carnival fleet over such a short time span marks one of the fastest expansions of any cruise brand in the history of cruising.

With the addition of the five ships, Carnival now has a record 27 vessels in its fleet.

A new ship with an asterisk

Scheduled to sail year-round out of Long Beach, California, Carnival Firenze is a new ship for Carnival, but it's new with an asterisk. The 15-deck-high vessel has sailed before for another cruise line, Italy-based Costa Cruises.

Originally called Costa Firenze, the vessel sailed its maiden voyage for Costa, a sister brand to Carnival, in July 2021, making it nearly three years old.

Carnival Firenze is just one of several Costa vessels that Carnival Corporation, the parent company of Costa and Carnival, has transferred from Costa to Carnival in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic.

The pandemic and its aftermath hurt the Costa brand much more than the Carnival brand. This was in part because the Costa brand had big operations in China, where cruising shut down during the pandemic for far longer than it did in North America.

Carnival operates most of its ships out of U.S. ports and draws a lot of the customers for these ships from the states near these ports — a segment of close-to-home cruising that has been booming since cruising resumed in 2021.

The result has been a stronger demand for Carnival ships than Costa ships.

Carnival Firenze's first sailing for Carnival, starting Thursday, will be a seven-night voyage to the Mexican Riviera that includes stops at Puerto Vallarta, Mazatlan and Cabo San Lucas.

Carnival cruising with an Italian twist

Like Carnival Venezia, which also is a former Costa ship, Carnival Firenze is something of an outlier in the Carnival fleet as the vessel retains much of its Italian theming from when it sailed for Costa.

The ship also still has its original, distinctive gold-and-blue funnel that is a trademark of Costa's vessels.

That said, Carnival Firenze won't be devoid of Carnival's signature shipboard venues. In recent months, the ship has undergone a significant overhaul in a dry dock in Spain that included the re-theming of many interior eateries and bars, as well as top-deck attractions to make them more consistent with the Carnival brand.

For instance, the ship will have a Carnival Waterworks water play area and a Steakhouse — a signature Carnival venue.

Related: The 8 classes of Carnival Cruise Line ships, explained

Other venues now on the ship that will be familiar to Carnival fans include a Guy Fieri-inspired Guy's Burger Joint, a Bonsai Sushi eatery, a Chef's Table, Lido Marketplace, Seafood Shack, a Pizzeria del Capitano pizza outlet and a Heroes Tribute Bar.

The ship also will have a new crew made up of Carnival staffers.

In short, Carnival Firenze will combine elements of both Costa and Carnival ships.

Carnival originally planned to call the ship a "Costa by Carnival" product to differentiate it from the rest of the Carnival fleet, but it eventually switched to marketing Carnival Firenze as a vessel that offers "Carnival Fun Italian Style."

Carnival Firenze, notably, was originally purpose-built to sail out of China with Chinese travelers but with Italian theming that played up Costa's Italian roots. Its theming is specifically tied to Florence, Italy — Firenze is what Italians call Florence.

The Carnival and Costa brands have long had similarities that make a transfer of ships between the two lines less complex than one might think. Ships for both Costa and Carnival often are built on the same platforms — that is, they share the same basic structural design and rough interior spaces. In such cases, the main difference between the ships of the two brands is the theming of specific spaces.

As of this week, fares for Carnival Firenze sailings start at $214 per person, not including taxes and fees, for a four-night sailing from Long Beach to Mexico.

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• A quick guide to the most popular cruise lines
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