Carnival’s Newest Cruise Ship Was NOT What I Expected. Here's Why [Carnival Venezia Review]

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  • เผยแพร่เมื่อ 22 ธ.ค. 2024

ความคิดเห็น • 681

  • @LifeWellCruised
    @LifeWellCruised  ปีที่แล้ว +5

    Planning a cruise? Get The Ultimate Cruise Planner. It's a 47 page cruise travel planner with packing checklists, shore excursion planning forms and much more! ($10 off for a limted time). Details here: lifewellcruised.com/ultimate-cruise-planner/

    • @lemireba1
      @lemireba1 6 หลายเดือนก่อน

      You mentioned the comedians... Were they family-friendly shows?

  • @HauserMcQuaid
    @HauserMcQuaid 9 หลายเดือนก่อน +11

    I have sailed with Carnival and Royal. I like them both for different reasons. For a more relaxing and zen like vibe, Royal for the win. For a more festive and lively vibe, Carnival all day. When selecting between the 2, I look for itinerary and price. I am loyal to my wallet. Lately, it has been Carnival offering the best deals.

  • @Theoceantraveler7
    @Theoceantraveler7 ปีที่แล้ว +55

    I have cruised with Carnival 4 times, soon to be 5 and you really were spot on with this review.. the buffet needs a good bit of work. The dining room is good always had great staff. The steak house really is amazing! Can't go wrong with Guy's burgers. I"ve done the seaday brunch and the breakfast burger is really good. The 80's party is alot of fun and yes Carnival does have some very good comedians.

  • @jazminflorio8512
    @jazminflorio8512 ปีที่แล้ว +158

    Carnival has been our only source of cruising over the last 12 years, and we just keep coming back. The accommodations are just right in terms of luxury, which may be comparable to other cruise lines that you may be familiar with, for Ilana and other cruisers. Sleeping out at sea on a floating city, food varieties at our leisure 24/7, drinks of all sorts of distillations, and plenty of vacation vibes is luxurious in my opinion. No work, no cleaning, no cooking and no driving! It is great to be a VIFP (Carnival terminology) onboard Carnival, with the level of attention from crew and staff that is more than adequate for our needs, as we especially do not like be waited on every moment. Still, Carnival takes us by surprise every time, when our staff recognizes us and call us by name from embarkation day.

    • @Lalilabazaar
      @Lalilabazaar ปีที่แล้ว +21

      I absolutely love cruising on carnival. We are a family of 8 and carnival never disappoints.

    • @LifeWellCruised
      @LifeWellCruised  ปีที่แล้ว +3

      Glad to hear your experience :)

    • @arosenweig
      @arosenweig ปีที่แล้ว +6

      Why don’t you give Royal Caribbean a try? I think you will like them better.

    • @jenniferallred9367
      @jenniferallred9367 ปีที่แล้ว +12

      @arosenweig I have and I didn't.

    • @LoveBlueTopaz
      @LoveBlueTopaz ปีที่แล้ว +15

      There’s nothing luxury about Carnival 😂

  • @AliiKattTalks
    @AliiKattTalks ปีที่แล้ว +22

    That was the most polite Canadian way of saying "I'm still not a Carnival girl." 🍁🇨🇦

  • @pdallen5801
    @pdallen5801 ปีที่แล้ว +118

    I don’t do 4-day cruises because they don’t give me time to relax, especially if I have to fly in to the port.

    • @tduck828
      @tduck828 ปีที่แล้ว +7

      I fly and I prefer 7 days.

    • @anitaclue9868
      @anitaclue9868 ปีที่แล้ว +6

      I agree. It would be great if it were only a couple hour drive.

    • @cruisecrazy7066
      @cruisecrazy7066 ปีที่แล้ว +13

      Absolute minimum for me is 10 days.

    • @druegillis1744
      @druegillis1744 ปีที่แล้ว +9

      We enjoy the 10-11 day cruises. Enough time to kick back, get to know the ship and get into a vacation routine. Agree that if you are flying in, you need the time to decompress.

    • @bones1492
      @bones1492 ปีที่แล้ว +3

      @@druegillis1744who remembers when flying was fun and exciting?! Or is that only how the young feel ? 🤔

  • @tiffanylacko857
    @tiffanylacko857 ปีที่แล้ว +10

    This is the ship im going on with my daughter im a single mom and this is our very first cruise and i just wanted to do 4days in case i get sick i won't be miserable for 7 days thank you so much for this

    • @jenniferbond7073
      @jenniferbond7073 5 หลายเดือนก่อน

      We are going to try a 4 day cruise as well, likely a Princess cruise tho.

  • @noelreynolds4861
    @noelreynolds4861 ปีที่แล้ว +4

    They had the bright yellow umbrellas on the Carnival Conquest and Carnival Elation. I love sitting under them with a good book and an amazing view!

  • @JamieAnn841
    @JamieAnn841 ปีที่แล้ว +21

    I love Carnival ❤️ never had a bad cruise with them.

  • @allenellzey5735
    @allenellzey5735 ปีที่แล้ว +6

    We sailed on Venezia for 9 days. We LOVE this ship. Our first Carnival cruise was Dec 2022 on Celebration. We did 14 days and had a good time. However we like Venezia much better. The vibe, and honestly less people.

  • @BalancingItAll
    @BalancingItAll ปีที่แล้ว +7

    We (my 12 year old son and I) are pretty new to cruising, our first one was over Spring break this year and we were on the Carnival Dream. It is a wonderful midsize ship, in the Dream class. It was a 6 day Western Caribbean cruise to Costa Maya, Belize and Cozumel…..we had an amazing time and are hooked. Our next cruise is next June on the Mardi Gras, Eastern Caribbean to Bahamas, Grand Turk and Dominican Republic. I am so excited I can’t stand it. Every video and review I have seen on the Excel class ships has talked about how beautiful they are, and how it isn’t that traditional “loud” Carnival decor, but toned down some. We were in an oceanview cabin on the Dream which was lovely, and are booked in a cove balcony in Mardi Gras, my son doesn’t know about that part…..I cannot wait to experience this, and surprise him with the balcony cabin!
    We have steakhouse reservations booked as well, we didn’t go our first cruise, but I have heard great things about it. We had some hits and misses on the Dream with food as well, but I feel like you have that at land restaurants as well. Overall the food was pretty good.
    I hope that you give Carnival another go, I do agree that they are working to do better and be better. Great video! I love your reviews and tips!

    • @LifeWellCruised
      @LifeWellCruised  ปีที่แล้ว

      That sounds awesome!!

    • @nancyruckman5875
      @nancyruckman5875 ปีที่แล้ว +1

      What lovely memories you are making with your son. You and he will cherish them forever!

    • @penelopepitstop762
      @penelopepitstop762 2 หลายเดือนก่อน

      That was a very nice post! We have 4 kids with the youngest being 22 next month and they all love cruising! Now they are adults and starting to plan their own cruises with their friends, but we still take a big family cruise every couple of years. It just warms my heart!

  • @dannyturner1899
    @dannyturner1899 ปีที่แล้ว +6

    We’ve sailed on all the major lines and Princess is our favorite but we have sailed many times on Carnival as well. I laugh more on their cruises than any other line. Recently did the Mardi Gras and loved it. Would certainly do the Venezia if the opportunity arises.

  • @sherryruddell3588
    @sherryruddell3588 ปีที่แล้ว +14

    Looks like a great ship. We are set to sail on the Jubilee, in January. We just returned from a cruise on the Dream. I spent way too much money in the casino. But it was a fun time. I'm glad you finally decided to review Carnival. I've been wondering why that was missing. We love Carnival.

  • @andrewbrown574
    @andrewbrown574 ปีที่แล้ว +26

    I have honestly been waiting for your review on pins and needles. I sail with Carnival more than any line, so I assumed I would be satisfied with Venezia (sailing in November on a 10-day cruise), but the fact that you had so many positive things to say - especially since you did a 4-day in the Summer - makes me even more excited!
    I’m rarely excited about the buffet itself, but I love being able to make a salad to accompany my pizza, burrito, or deli sandwich…

    • @LifeWellCruised
      @LifeWellCruised  ปีที่แล้ว +1

      Have an amazing cruise! So glad you enjoyed the video 😊

    • @texasfamilymusicals
      @texasfamilymusicals 11 หลายเดือนก่อน

      We are on this cruise

  • @Ccdurko
    @Ccdurko ปีที่แล้ว +10

    I love your videos and reviews. They are so insightful! I'm ready for another one!

  • @clarencemarquez8134
    @clarencemarquez8134 ปีที่แล้ว +23

    Ilana, I just want to say you did an outstanding job on this Cruise review and personal experience onboard the Carnival Venezia!! You touched on all the various categories including the ambience of the ship, the included and specialty dinning, the entertainment and comedy shows, the balcony Cabin, the vibe and room available .... crowd vs space, the bars, the Buffet and the crowded atmosphere due to the limited space for the amount of people, and the outstanding crew that Carnival is known for. Thank you so much for this outstanding and comprehensive review. 😎⛹️‍♀️🚴‍♂️🤸‍♂️

    • @LifeWellCruised
      @LifeWellCruised  ปีที่แล้ว

      Thanks so much for your lovely comments!

  • @suewolf3279
    @suewolf3279 ปีที่แล้ว +3

    Wow! The buffet area on the magic is fabulous. Lots of different stations. Lots of choices

  • @heideleskun1163
    @heideleskun1163 ปีที่แล้ว +8

    Just for added information on the Steakhouse. The Free bottle of house wine is embarkation and the next day. You can also upgrade to a different wine for, I believe, 50% off. The Amari bar is the equivalent to the regular ships called Alchemy. The Amari has new drinks and they brought the favorites from Alchemy. They can make you any drink you like, if you ask them for a recommendation, they will ask you certain questions about likes/dislikes and will come up with a drink for you.

    • @LifeWellCruised
      @LifeWellCruised  ปีที่แล้ว

      Thanks for sharing these tips

    • @jazminflorio8512
      @jazminflorio8512 ปีที่แล้ว +1

      We love the Alchemy Bar. Thank you for the heads up on the Amari Bar. Cheers!

  • @lynnleipold2617
    @lynnleipold2617 ปีที่แล้ว +1

    Thanks!

  • @constancecook-cruisetravel1166
    @constancecook-cruisetravel1166 ปีที่แล้ว +18

    I have sailed on the carnival Mardi Gras recently. I would definitely recommend that ship to you and your family yet. So many different food options for free. It was a beautiful ship and the crew was absolutely amazing❤

  • @paulemery7333
    @paulemery7333 ปีที่แล้ว +2

    Thank you for your honest review. We are sailing on this ship in September to Canada. You gave us a lot of good info.

  • @Tweedle104
    @Tweedle104 ปีที่แล้ว +15

    I would really suggest you sail on Mardi Gras! We sailed on it Oct. 2022 and we are booked again Jan. 2024 because we enjoyed it so much. Some Carnival ships can feel a bit run down and I totally agree with the offensive lighting sometimes, lol, but Mardi Gras is simply amazing. The food options are also amazing. Hope you get to sail on her! Thanks for another great video!

    • @penelopepitstop762
      @penelopepitstop762 10 หลายเดือนก่อน +1

      That’s our new favorite ship!!

    • @brendamills546
      @brendamills546 8 หลายเดือนก่อน +1

      We sailed on Mardi Gras in April 2022! It is amazing!

    • @hollicoburn8590
      @hollicoburn8590 8 หลายเดือนก่อน

      We just got back from Carnival Mardi Gras loved it

  • @reginaobrien8983
    @reginaobrien8983 ปีที่แล้ว +25

    Ship looks beautiful! I’m glad to hear you enjoyed the cruise. Sailing out of NYC is always special. With luck they’ll improve the buffet and organizational issues.

    • @LifeWellCruised
      @LifeWellCruised  ปีที่แล้ว +3

      I love sailing past the Statue of Liberty 🗽

  • @reneebrady8389
    @reneebrady8389 ปีที่แล้ว +14

    I was just on the Venezia last month for my first crise and I hate to say I was a bit disappointed, many people we spoke with said not to judge cruising on this trip, that usually they are much better. They seemed (the staff) very disorganized and perhaps short staffed for the amount of guests onboard. Long lines for everything, hard to find a chair and to be honest, most of the bar staff we met seemed to want to be anywhere else. I agree with you on the food, the main dining was fine, the buffet not so much.

    • @LifeWellCruised
      @LifeWellCruised  ปีที่แล้ว +1

      I can understand. Truthfully not every ship or cruise line is for everyone. It could have been in part that the crew was new to working on the ship, & they we’re getting the kinks out

    • @timhuggins8174
      @timhuggins8174 ปีที่แล้ว +1

      We’ve been on 3 different cruise lines this year and they all seem short staffed. The Royal Was probably the best one as far as staff but still not great. The other two were Virgin Voyages and we just got done last week on an Alaskan cruise on the Royal Princess.

  • @javanda-jillbrice
    @javanda-jillbrice ปีที่แล้ว +3

    Thanks so much! I am a travel advisor from the south and have family and friends wanting to try a variety of cruise lines and ships. The first cruise line is Carnival I have booked but want to experience more of the ships on the east coast. This was a great review and so very helpful. Thanks for your honest positive video!

  • @CalCobra
    @CalCobra ปีที่แล้ว +1

    Just came back from a Carnival 10 day San Francisco to Alaska cruise where I took my mom and daughter. Had a great time, and came back to see a sweetheart VIFP deal for the Venezla on a 7-day Mexican Riviera cruise, booked! The comedians are top notch, their live entertainment is generally pretty good. I love that they now have the family feud!! They had Deal or No Deal on the cruise we just took which was good too.

  • @charlieverity5405
    @charlieverity5405 ปีที่แล้ว +2

    Nice presenting - relaxed, informed, with a lovely smile.
    Thanks!

    • @LifeWellCruised
      @LifeWellCruised  ปีที่แล้ว +1

      Glad you enjoyed it & thank you 😊

  • @mcarter985
    @mcarter985 3 หลายเดือนก่อน +2

    OK, you talked me into a cruise onboard this ship. A very fair and balanced review...thank you! BTW, to avoid the fights on Carnival, never take a cruise with them less than 7 days. We have at least 10 cruises with them (never less than 7 days) and have never seen fights or rowdy behavior.

  • @meladeeketcham8870
    @meladeeketcham8870 ปีที่แล้ว +2

    We sail mostly Carnival and looking forward to our Sept Venezia Cruise. Love watching your videos and the great information 😊

  • @idahoadventures5936
    @idahoadventures5936 ปีที่แล้ว +6

    I enjoy Carnival and especially the teppenyaki! It is the best

  • @rubysony8334
    @rubysony8334 ปีที่แล้ว +8

    A very fair and balanced review. Thank you for sharing.

  • @mikekatz96
    @mikekatz96 10 หลายเดือนก่อน +1

    Just did the 10 night on Jan 23. Had a great time and was not crowded at all. Great fun and entertainment all the time. Beautiful ship with lots of outdoor chill spots. Marco Polo dining room had great service and food. Highly recommend this ship.

  • @helainespitzer1380
    @helainespitzer1380 8 หลายเดือนก่อน +2

    We're booked on the Venezia from Manhattan in June. We love Carnival overall, But I've never been on the Venezia, I'm looking forward to it!

  • @ilahwarriner613
    @ilahwarriner613 ปีที่แล้ว +4

    Loved Carnival 4-day cruise to Cozumel this March.

  • @bajanbabes1
    @bajanbabes1 2 หลายเดือนก่อน +1

    I just came off this ship last Friday, and I had a blast! I enjoyed the food, drinks, music etc....

    • @penelopepitstop762
      @penelopepitstop762 2 หลายเดือนก่อน

      Did they make any improvements as far as the crowding at the buffet lines?

  • @cocob6366
    @cocob6366 9 หลายเดือนก่อน +1

    I was hoping you had sailed this ship as we just booked a 10 day Caribbean trip in May 2024 and I only trust your reviews. Thank you!

  • @jennifermorrow6895
    @jennifermorrow6895 ปีที่แล้ว +1

    Love your videos! Sailing on Venezia on a Journeys cruise in 2024. I’m very excited to see this ship.

  • @drdtexan
    @drdtexan ปีที่แล้ว +3

    We have cruised Carnival many times and enjoy the longer cruises versus the 4 day cruises. And we don’t usually cruise during the summer months when the kids are out of school as it gets very crowded

  • @jimward7881
    @jimward7881 ปีที่แล้ว +1

    Thanks for being honest and telling us that the cruise line gave you free interest. I wish all the bloggers would tell us this

  • @taram4338
    @taram4338 ปีที่แล้ว +4

    We just got back from cruising the Mardi Gras, and we absolutely loved it. The staff was so nice and the shows were top notch. I usually like smaller ships, but I would cruise the Marsi Gras again :) we ate at the steak house as well and would recommend it to anyone.

    • @conspiracybeliever1749
      @conspiracybeliever1749 8 หลายเดือนก่อน

      Wow. MARDI Gras was my very first cruise to Bermuda in the early '70s

    • @merri-suehannem4915
      @merri-suehannem4915 2 หลายเดือนก่อน

      We are sailing on this ship in October...we have ever only sailed on Carnival and have had great cruises. I agree with your assessment of the buffet and pool being crowded. We just do work arounds that suit us. Looking forward to sailing from New York...a first for us.

  • @conniesink7013
    @conniesink7013 ปีที่แล้ว +8

    We had a horrible experience with the sea day brunch because we waited to go later. We had to wait for 45 minutes, the food was COLD, and the service was beyond disappointing (dropped the food and ran). I definitely agree with your breakfast buffet review as well. I only did it once. Thankfully, we had a Blue Iguana with FANTASTIC breakfast burritos!

    • @dchenkin02
      @dchenkin02 3 หลายเดือนก่อน

      Best thing to do when you have bad service in a sit down restaurant; either the brunch or main dining room is to speak to the head waiter, the Maitre De, the Maitre De is essentially the waiters' supervisor and will immediately address problems.

  • @kdnichols99
    @kdnichols99 ปีที่แล้ว +3

    I have only sailed on Carnival so I have nothing to compare it to, but, I think your cruise is always what you make it. I choose to eat in the dining room when I can and not the buffet unless it's to grab some fruit or dessert while walking through the Lido. I love the sushi on Carnival. Its always spot on. I never hang out on Lido and always try to find a good spot to relax and read on Serenity, away from the crowds and kids. I think the Celebration and Mardi Gras are wonderful as they have added a small swimming pool to the Serenity decks. I also get a week long pass for the thermalspa for more relaxation time on the heated loungers (and again, no kids). I am not a family traveler, so don't want to be around a lot of children, but I do find there are lots of spots to enjoy kid free on Carnival. Book at the right time of year and it's even more child free (Just got off Carnival Celebration Sept 17 and of 5600 passengers, only 300 were under 21! due to school having just started) Okay, guess I like my cruises to be kinda kid free lol. That's just me. I don't hate kids, by no means, but I do think Carnival has a rep for family and party. And I am really neither and very much love Carnival. Also, getting a balcony room and having coffee and fruit delivered in the morning to take out on the balcony is pure bliss....Also, I don't know if other cruise lines do this, but the Celebration and Mardi Gras have the "Carnival Kitchen" where you can take a cooking course. I took the sushi course and I absolutely loved it! I can't wait to make some sushi at home and feel I can do it no problem now. I will be doing the bar-b-que course on Mardi Gras in March 2024. So much to do on a Carnival Cruise. I am glad you tried it again and enjoyed it!

    • @penelopepitstop762
      @penelopepitstop762 2 หลายเดือนก่อน

      We've cruised on Carnival many times (most recently Mardi Gras and Jubilee), plus we have one booked on the Celebration for next year. We love Carnival! Are they perfect, of course not, but we've always had good cruises. We've only tried another line once - Princess Discovery to Alaska - and to be honest, we thought it was boring! (And we are not rowdy partiers either.) I'd like to try Norwegian and Celebrity some day.

  • @Beachdudeca
    @Beachdudeca ปีที่แล้ว +2

    If it’s kid season on any of the major larger ships $CCL $RCL $NCLH you are going to have a crowded buffet & pool area.
    But at least with Carnival they have additional casual food sources that are good, Burger, Mexican, Deli, plus Pizza.
    In my opinion an option to avoid the crowd issue in peak kid season would be to consider Holland America where it’s less of an issue.

  • @billandmartyjackson901
    @billandmartyjackson901 ปีที่แล้ว +2

    First time cruiser on the Venezia next March... 11 nights to the Caribbean..sea days before and after visiting 5 ports. So the ship ambiance and food is very important...your review was so helpful!

    • @LifeWellCruised
      @LifeWellCruised  ปีที่แล้ว +1

      I think you’ll enjoy the 11 nights. I don’t think it will be as busy as you’ll have less kids. Have fun!

    • @billandmartyjackson901
      @billandmartyjackson901 ปีที่แล้ว +1

      @@LifeWellCruised And I'm going to be 74 during the cruise... happy birthday to me! 😁

  • @robertabeyers3371
    @robertabeyers3371 ปีที่แล้ว +1

    I think you did a outstanding job on your review. Glad you enjoyed your cruise on carnival.

  • @michellebealle5636
    @michellebealle5636 ปีที่แล้ว +1

    I'm so glad you enjoyed your cruise. We love Carnival and I'm glad were able to understand why people love this brand. I think you would really like one of the newest ships they offer. I really appreciate your honest opinion. Thank you for trying this brand again. We are taking the Venezia on an Alaskan cruise in 2024 and look forward to experiencing this ship after your review.

  • @jessicarage8513
    @jessicarage8513 8 หลายเดือนก่อน +1

    Thank you for the awesome review! I'm a long time Carnival cruiser and have to say, I agree with 99.9% of everything you addressed!! Very informative 😃

  • @ScottiveNatish
    @ScottiveNatish ปีที่แล้ว +1

    Wow!! The Venezia is beautiful. Thanks for sharing.

  • @helmuthaltsmaul141
    @helmuthaltsmaul141 ปีที่แล้ว +1

    Good review. Comprehensive. Fair. I almost passed it by when I saw what seemed to be a Karen look promoting it, but then you won me over. I am Platinum on Carnival, looking forward to Venezia when it gets to L.A. next year, so I had a special interest in hearing your comments. The typical L.A. crowd is as diverse as the one in New York, making this even more relevant. Thanks.

    • @LifeWellCruised
      @LifeWellCruised  ปีที่แล้ว

      Lol, glad I won you over (I try hard on my thumbnails but admittedly some might miss the mark) 😂

  • @TheLifeofLogan
    @TheLifeofLogan ปีที่แล้ว +1

    Leaving on Monday out of NYC. Thanks for the information, I'm very excited

  • @andylandry4656
    @andylandry4656 9 หลายเดือนก่อน +1

    We will be Cruising on the Venezia in Oct and I have watched multiple Videos on this Ship with mixed Reviews, but Most were at the beginning of its Sailings and since We are going in October I hope the Suggestions made by Past Cruisers were taken to Heart and Carnival made the Improvements. Also We are on a 10 day Cruise, and We are Looking forward To it. Enjoy Your Videos.

  • @marybarnum437
    @marybarnum437 ปีที่แล้ว +3

    Heads up, if you sail on any of the new carnival ships, Mardi Gras. Celebration or the Jubilee , the average room is very small. Maybe in a suite they are a little bigger, but below that, just keep that in mind. I have been on Mardi Gras twice last year and really enjoyed it. Just the cabins are smaller. Can't wait for your review when you do decide to go. Thanks for your review on this ship. I am still on the fence about it.

  • @cadenkausch2789
    @cadenkausch2789 ปีที่แล้ว +1

    I went on Venezia June 19 for 8 days I loved the ship I remember first walking onto the ship looking like a fancy hotel. I loved the ship and the activities and I also hated the lines especially at guys burger joint and those other places. Another thing was on debarkation day it took way too long to get off people were getting off when their muster station wasn’t called yet and it was frustrating

  • @paulaworkman2578
    @paulaworkman2578 4 หลายเดือนก่อน

    Thank you for sharing. The end of September, we go on the Venezia on a 3 day in Bermuda. I like The Celebration. Hope you get to experience it.

  • @michellehughes5385
    @michellehughes5385 ปีที่แล้ว +1

    I’m glad you enjoyed the cruise and I appreciate your review. I agree with so many points, and I love Carnival. ( But I have to say that I LOVE the 12 hour French toast). The buffet was a disappointment on my cruise last week as well.

  • @amyjvien
    @amyjvien ปีที่แล้ว +1

    So glad to see your opinion! We sailed exclusively on Carnival from 2006 until this year when we tried a four day Celebrity cruise. After many Carnival cruises I decided that Journeys cruises are the best way to sail with them as it’s mostly adults - so less people. I also find that our experiences weren’t consistent. But we have had some WONDERFUL cruises with them. We did a four day at Christmas with extended family and it was so crowded - because it was more than two occupancy on most of the ship. We don’t have children so we normally cruise when school is in session. And we normally don’t take cruises less than 7 days. Ideally 14 days lol. Anyway, thanks for your review!

  • @haileyhammock2318
    @haileyhammock2318 ปีที่แล้ว +17

    I love your videos! My husband and I are going on our first cruise next month😊 a 6 day cruise on carnival dream to take time for our marriage after having one late miscarriage and then two healthy beautiful babies👼❤💙

    • @LifeWellCruised
      @LifeWellCruised  ปีที่แล้ว +1

      Have a wonderful cruise!! It sounds like you’ll enjoy the time together

  • @bug_queen8574
    @bug_queen8574 ปีที่แล้ว +1

    We are going on our first Carnival cruise, a 4 day out of Charleston in Oct. We've been on other lines, NCL, Royal, Princess, Celebrity & Disney. We always try to go in with an open mind because even if you've been on one Royal ship it may have a different vibe from another depending on port and time of year. The ship looked gorgeous & kind of what I'd expect crowd-wise from NYC in the summer. Thanks for the tips, as I'm going to book the steakhosue for the first night of our cruise.

  • @Arkhokie
    @Arkhokie ปีที่แล้ว +1

    Great report on your Carnival cruise! I think we’ll take it next year!

  • @jmiller8678
    @jmiller8678 ปีที่แล้ว +21

    We sailed on the same cruise with you and agree with you 100%. We overall had a great time, a great ship for families. The food could have been better. But we generally found something we liked. The fruit and vegetables were overall disappointing, and often the dishes in the main dinning room lacked seasoning. The entertainment was good, comedians were great, music and vibe in the Limelight was awesome and the 80s and White party was a blast. MarQ did a great job keeping everyone pumped up, I’m sure you saw my husband win the 80s dance contest. Lol😂 Overall we were happy with the cruise and will definitely cruise again on the Venezia.

    • @LifeWellCruised
      @LifeWellCruised  ปีที่แล้ว +1

      Thanks for sharing your experience! Sounds like you both had a fun time 🎉

  • @cindyt987
    @cindyt987 ปีที่แล้ว +3

    Great review Ilana. Yes you get what you get with the buffet with Carnival. Always so crowded. That class of ship does seem overcrowded to me (I went on Horizon) I’m glad you enjoyed your experience overall, especially since you went during summer, on a 4-day and out of NY. I would absolutely love for you to go on Mardi Gras or Celebration to get your feedback. ❤🎉I wrote this before the end when you mentioned those ships!😂

  • @karenschultz4057
    @karenschultz4057 ปีที่แล้ว

    Love your review thank you--We have been on 4 Carnival cruises--Booked on the Celebration Feb. '24 for our 5th---out of Miami my favorite port.

  • @markteeboon1289
    @markteeboon1289 11 หลายเดือนก่อน

    About to go on a nine night cruise on this ship in a few days so your candid opinions were most helpful.
    Thank you.

  • @saraseals3147
    @saraseals3147 ปีที่แล้ว +1

    Love this review! We are cruising 8/14-8/19 on the Venezia (with a Terrazza balcony room!) and I cannot wait! Your videos have been really helpful with the planning process!

  • @avaa1217
    @avaa1217 ปีที่แล้ว +1

    I really appreciate your review. It seems very fair. I understand the issues you had but none of them seemed to ruin your trip or be deal breakers for me personally. I’m sailing on Venezia in October and I like knowing her flaws ahead of time.

  • @divinedaydreamingwithdeaco1519
    @divinedaydreamingwithdeaco1519 ปีที่แล้ว

    Just got off today and absolutely loved the Terraza area. It made our trip even more enjoyable. You're absolutely right about the buffet. On sea days they had a small sandwich and some other items available for lunch on 5 which was really good and not crowded.

  • @joannawhite1441
    @joannawhite1441 ปีที่แล้ว +1

    Recently cruised for the first time on Liberty of the Seas from NJ to Bermuda. Everything was awesome except for the crowds! Someone I met onboard who cruises often said she’s never been on such a crowded ship. I think everyone has a YOLO mindset since covid. That’s how we felt when we booked it last Fall. We will definitely be more careful about time of year when we book certain itineraries in the future and will default to a travel agent to help us figure it out. ( booked ourselves this time). Your videos were SO helpful!

    • @LifeWellCruised
      @LifeWellCruised  ปีที่แล้ว

      Your right, I also heard this ship was very crowded when we were in Bermuda. We all want to travel 😂

  • @mk31210
    @mk31210 4 หลายเดือนก่อน

    I appreciate this review. I was surprised with your overall review. My Sister in law booked a cruise for all of us on this ship in April. I was pretty nervous because of their reputation. Now I am looking forward to it.

  • @jimwarrick
    @jimwarrick ปีที่แล้ว +1

    We are sailing on the Firenze next year, which I'd imagine is quite similar. Our only other Carnival sailing was on the Inspiration and I'll say she was pretty long in the tooth at that time. The decor was also very bright and busy, and kind of gawdy.
    We had a great time but found Carnival (at that point) was definitely not even close to the same level of service and food as the premium lines. The one thing I will say is that cruise may have been the most fun we've ever had and the drinks were quite good. So they definitely live up to the "fun ship" claim. With that said we are very excited to try a newer ship and enjoyed your review and perspective.

  • @karenmckenzie8465
    @karenmckenzie8465 ปีที่แล้ว +1

    We are going on her in a few weeks. Can’t wait. Thanks for the Canadian perspective.

  • @RC-bv7hw
    @RC-bv7hw ปีที่แล้ว +2

    I like Carnival, did a cruise on Vista earlier this year, have two more cruises already booked with them.

  • @bevcox4716
    @bevcox4716 ปีที่แล้ว +1

    We love cruising. 10 -50 times between us. We often just use the ship as our holiday destination. We just get off for fun or exceptional destinations based on past experience. Our holiday is based on our family of 3. Enjoying our own company. Fun fun fun.

  • @penelopepitstop762
    @penelopepitstop762 2 หลายเดือนก่อน

    The ship looks beautiful! I love that it's different in style compared to their other ships. The NY/Bermuda itinerary is on my list to do. What a fun trip - a few days in NYC then a cruise to Bermuda! Even though we love Carnival and have cruised with them many times (including the Mardi Gras, Jubliee, and on Celebration next May), I do agree their buffets could use improvement. I've never seen such a long line like you showed in the video. I might eat in the buffet once or twice max. Too many other choices!

  • @rozannejones8779
    @rozannejones8779 หลายเดือนก่อน

    Good review. Very thorough, clear and concise. I do plan to cruise on Carnival Venezia in the near future.

  • @CBar-rd6im
    @CBar-rd6im ปีที่แล้ว +2

    Carnival's mushroom soup is yummy! I loved the roasted tomato soup they had at sea day brunch, but that was taken off the menu a few years ago. 😢

  • @lynnm2469
    @lynnm2469 ปีที่แล้ว +1

    My family and I were on this cruise with you! My son and I are actually in your footage of the sail away party. :) I saw you and recognized you on day 1, but didn’t want to intrude. This was our first cruise and I had been watching your videos for months! I totally agree, the buffet was disappointing. My son also was not impressed with the kids club. We will try another cruise, but this one was mediocre.

    • @LifeWellCruised
      @LifeWellCruised  ปีที่แล้ว +1

      That’s fun! I would have been happy to say hello, but I understand. All cruises are different so if this wasn’t the right fit, you’ll likely find another that will be :)

  • @abelgonzales2409
    @abelgonzales2409 ปีที่แล้ว

    We just got back from a 7 day Carnival Vista trip out of Galveston. A family of 4. It was great no complaints. The cruise director TJ was awesome.Great energy and very friendly.

  • @harpo55
    @harpo55 7 หลายเดือนก่อน

    My husband and I just got back from a Bahamas Carnival cruise in the Glory.
    We enjoyed Guys Burger Joint as well but had to go back a few times because the lines were very long! I suggest you should try and go there at off times.
    The Glory is an old ship and was refurbished.
    This was a real mix of people! Some very young others very senior.
    Pools were crowded. The serenity area was far from serene.

  • @Krkeagle
    @Krkeagle ปีที่แล้ว

    It’s not rowdy on most of the cruises I’ve been on with Carnival - sometimes the fun squad has fun contests on the Lido but not rowdy. We also always love the GROOVE FOR ST JUDE!! So cool

  • @marsbar1312
    @marsbar1312 ปีที่แล้ว +3

    Would love to see you do a Disney review! I’m not a Disney fanatic but I LOVE DCL for their service, cleanliness and food. It would be interesting to hear your opinion in comparison to other ships.

    • @LifeWellCruised
      @LifeWellCruised  ปีที่แล้ว

      Maybe one day 😊

    • @pullcarsmelly8051
      @pullcarsmelly8051 ปีที่แล้ว +1

      ​@@LifeWellCruisedI saw your vid on not doing disney. I'm not a Disney fan either. I just don't care for their movies and vibe, but I discovered that you didn't have to be one to enjoy their cruise. The service, cleanliness, and food quality, to date, is still the best I have ever gotten on any boat in any cruise line. Going on celebrity and oceania soon though, so I'm hoping to match the experience.

    • @LifeWellCruised
      @LifeWellCruised  ปีที่แล้ว

      @@pullcarsmelly8051 great to know

  • @donmiller7059
    @donmiller7059 ปีที่แล้ว

    Thanks for the information. I did learn from you that the Teraza area is open to everyone after 7 PM. I am sailing on 15 day Journeys cruise the end of September going into October. Really looking forward to going.

  • @csmith2435
    @csmith2435 ปีที่แล้ว +2

    Thanks again for another awesome review!! Again, I appreciate your candor and diplomatic explanations about the various aspects of your experience! I will be sailing on Carnival Magic in several months. I have been on the Legend to the Caribbean and the Miracle to Alaska. The Caribbean is pretty basic but I would like to cruise Alaska again on a different cruise line. The Miracle was okay but I would like to experience that itinerary again via another company. Lately I have been Loyal to Royal. Thanks again for sharing your awesome insights!

    • @LifeWellCruised
      @LifeWellCruised  ปีที่แล้ว +1

      Thanks so much for your comments! Have a great upcoming cruise

    • @csmith2435
      @csmith2435 ปีที่แล้ว

      @@LifeWellCruised ♥

  • @MarquitaPerez
    @MarquitaPerez ปีที่แล้ว +1

    My family loves the Royal Caribbean ship's. I've been cruising since 2004, trying carnival celebration next year. Love your reviews.

  • @le-anntravel
    @le-anntravel ปีที่แล้ว +1

    Appreciate your honest review. I was actually on the same sailing because I saw a few members of our group. Carnival Venezia is a beautiful ship and I enjoyed my cruise.

  • @JBOdysseys
    @JBOdysseys ปีที่แล้ว +11

    Agree with so many of your points. Found the buffet missing the flavor and had very unappealing foods. Don’t think we’d ever do another 4 day though. 😂

    • @LifeWellCruised
      @LifeWellCruised  ปีที่แล้ว +2

      Lol, glad our experiences were similar. I agree a 4 d isn’t quite long enough

  • @moelladevil
    @moelladevil ปีที่แล้ว +4

    The ship looks like the same design as the Horizon, which I love. Been on Horizon 3 times.

  • @desire2travel
    @desire2travel ปีที่แล้ว +2

    Thanks for the video. I was very curious about Venezia and this in-depth review will help me decide whether to book her or not. I'm sailing on Carnival Celebration in August and will post my impression. I haven't sailed on Carnival since my kids were young so this will be a different experience for us! Looking forward to it.

    • @LifeWellCruised
      @LifeWellCruised  ปีที่แล้ว

      Glad it was helpful & have a good cruise! Let me know :)

  • @maggieotero4338
    @maggieotero4338 6 หลายเดือนก่อน

    I enjoyed your video. It was very thorough. I've been thinking of booking a 4 day cruise on this ship. I was on the Sunrise Carnival in 2019, also a 4 day cruise. I enjoyed the shows and the food on that ship, but the Venezia sounds BEAUTIFUL! according to your review amd videos of the ship. I find that Carnival does offer great service. 😀

  • @kerrymotton1819
    @kerrymotton1819 ปีที่แล้ว

    Thanks so much for this review! We’re sailing on the Venezia in December with a group of 12! We are so excited! We couldn’t decide on getting the Cheers package or not, but I think we’ll pay for our individual drinks. Now, we are getting the bubbles package so we can still enjoy soda and such. We’ll bring along a good insulated tumbler to have water handy. On our last cruise with Carnival in 2021 we found the food ok, and it could have been better. We felt the same about the buffet. Our friends have sailed with different cruise lines and have said that the buffets on RC are much better than Carnival. I’m just excited to sail again and to see a little Italian flair 😊

  • @natashamoses5905
    @natashamoses5905 ปีที่แล้ว

    Love love love this ship . I was on July 13 and can’t wait again . Love cruising from home .

  • @judyvelasquez3226
    @judyvelasquez3226 ปีที่แล้ว +1

    I’ve cruised so many different cruise lines. By far, the soups have always been the best of all cruise ships. I love the comedy shows and the entertainment crew make the deck dances and gatherings the most fun of all. The cruise directors are usually very engaged with the passengers. The storage on most carnival ships is well designed. I’m not a fan of the curtains on the older ships. Carnival is definitely the Fun Ships! Thanks for your videos. They’ve been very helpful.

    • @jazminflorio8512
      @jazminflorio8512 ปีที่แล้ว

      YES, I always get the soup. If there is 2 or 3 hot soups on the menu that evening, I order them all.
      But I'm not a fan of cold soups. Just me. 😉

  • @shawandau6020
    @shawandau6020 ปีที่แล้ว

    Love your review! It’s nice to see that some things have improved from what I saw in a review a few weeks ago from a blogger’s time on the inaugural cruise from New York.

  • @grannyoffive1313
    @grannyoffive1313 ปีที่แล้ว +2

    Thank you for a very balanced review!!! 🚢

  • @tracymoore3624
    @tracymoore3624 7 หลายเดือนก่อน +1

    i do 3 and 4 days because sometimes thats the only vacation days we can afford for time off work. but only take them if they r on the weekends

  • @harrisonlauraj
    @harrisonlauraj 3 หลายเดือนก่อน

    Sailing this at the end of this year on the Venezia, super excited. Thank you for all the tips and tricks to keep an eye out. Luckily most families will be back at school so, I can edit if there are any differences in the crowds and lines :D

  • @ciearakimberly523
    @ciearakimberly523 ปีที่แล้ว +1

    We almost never eat at the buffet on cruises. If we aren't in the MDR, we are visiting the quick service spots for lunch. No complaints from us, we love Guy's burgers and can eat one for lunch everyday on a cruise!!

  • @jenbrooks5872
    @jenbrooks5872 ปีที่แล้ว +2

    Thank you for another honest review! I was a bit put off my Carnival. However, I might be mistaken? I always say, itinerary is important but, make sure the ship has what you prefer. We did not care for the NCL Joy as it was wayyyyy too crowded. We love the Gem class ships though. While this ship maybe a bit too large for us, There was much I did like. This might work for us in the off season. We will go to Bermuda again on NCL as we like being there 3 days. We will try to find a smaller ship, and go in February or March next time! I think our bidest mistake was going in July lol. Too hot for this Mainer and too many people! I think this would be great for New England like you mentioned. We live in Maine so driving to NY isn't bad for us. We spend the night in Manhattan or CT. Then it's just an hour to the port. Even though Boston is closest, we have not sailed out of that part yet. Maybe repositioning cruise would be nice on this ship too! Again thank you so much. You have shown us so many ships, and what to expect etc. It is so very helpful.

    • @LifeWellCruised
      @LifeWellCruised  ปีที่แล้ว +1

      Glad you enjoyed the video! I do like those mid sized ships from NCL :)

    • @kathyhayes5578
      @kathyhayes5578 ปีที่แล้ว +1

      we were on the Joy in June and completely agree with you that it was WAY to crowded for us! And we are night owls, so we thought we'd catch a break at 1 am for a night cap at the Local......WRONG! it was so crowded even then. We ended up taking our night cap back to our cabin and sitting on our balcony. We did like being in Bermuda for 3 days though

    • @jenbrooks5872
      @jenbrooks5872 ปีที่แล้ว

      @@kathyhayes5578 That area was so poorly designed! If you wanted to eat there, you had to try to move through 1000 people even late at night! The area was too small for that bar and the 24 hr restaurant! I think they dropped the ball in designing it. They are going to add more cabins on her! Lol. The last thing that ship needs is people aboard. They are expanding the Haven suites, too. We have a Southern Carribean cruise on the Jade in February. I'm really looking forward to it!

  • @jeffreywagner5234
    @jeffreywagner5234 ปีที่แล้ว +1

    Great video, thanks for sharing. Beautiful ship! 🚢

  • @pisces11105
    @pisces11105 ปีที่แล้ว

    Thank you for this video. My husband and I will be sailing on the Venezia in May 2024 for 11 day cruise.

  • @pamalatalley7262
    @pamalatalley7262 ปีที่แล้ว

    I'm so glad you sailed on the Venezia. I was just checking out an offer for a 10 day on Venezia and was so glad to see your video.
    I appreciate all you do!