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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.
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
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.
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.
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.
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.
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!
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!
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.
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.
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.
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.
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. 😎⛹️♀️🚴♂️🤸♂️
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…
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.
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.
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.
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❤
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.
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!
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!
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.
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👼❤💙
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!!
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.
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.
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.
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
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.
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. 😀
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!
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.
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 😃
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!
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
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
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!
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.
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!
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.
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.
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.
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!😂
I was reall6 glad to see this video and get your imput. We will be sailing on the Venezia from Cape Canavaral dec. 2025 for a 14 day cruise. Thanks for all the info. It helps. 24:22
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!
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.
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
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.
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.
Thank you! 😊, i will be boarding Carnival Venezia December 10-18, 2023. Unfortunately, my favorite place is the buffet, since being a solo cruiser, I dont do the fine dining restaurants. I also dont cruise under 8 days. The reason why is because leaving from Atlanta to any port is hectic. So, it usually takes a day or day on half to get settled. 😮❤😊
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.
Ilana, great review of a beautiful ship. However seasoned cruisers know, if you want to go on a relaxing, fun filled, vacation, you don't go when school is out. Too many unsupervised spoiled brats running around, screaming and yelling because their parents haven't raised them to be courteous. Next, you definitely don't go on the first half dozen runs of a new CruiseShip And you certainly don't go on cruises shorter than 6 days. If you don't mind the above, Go For It. As a rule most cruiser just want to have fun on their vacation. Some vloggers say the food was So So, However, you hear a lot of passenger say " I must have gained five or ten pounds on the cruise. Enjoyed your Life Well Cruised and Good Luck.!!!
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.
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!
I'm going on a 10-day cruise on the carnival Venezia. in a few weeks April 26 to May 6. I am going solo to the Bahamas and the Dominican Republic. Thanks for the review I've seen many others. People have their likes and dislikes, but I guess I will have to make up my own mind. I hope I will enjoy my trip. I am a senior and I see there are a lot of places to go that are quiet and I can relax If I want. I booked a cove balcony to save money and I'm a little worried about that but I've heard many good reviews. I am sure I'll have a good time. One thing is I do like Princess cruises so I think I may go on another sometime.
Carnival has ALWAYS been like this with much of its food. Also known in my circle as the "Krappy Kruise". We personally didn't have issues in the dining room, but the one we went on was newer at the time, but the buffet... ick. If you could see the prime rib photo...looked gross. This has been much of the consensus for many many years over many people. Some are loyal, but makes me wonder if they have tried others.
We are cruising on Carnival Magic in January 24. It is a group cruise. This is our 4th cruise but our 1st on Carnival. We have been on Royal Caribbean Oasis of the Seas. I hope we will not be too disappointed as we hear this is a party ship!!
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.
Two comments come on down to Texas for the Jubilee weekend are here for you! I will be traveling on the Venezia in February! From what you showed it reminds me of the carnival Vista class
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.
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.
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 :)
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You mentioned the comedians... Were they family-friendly shows?
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.
That was the most polite Canadian way of saying "I'm still not a Carnival girl." 🍁🇨🇦
😂
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
We are going to try a 4 day cruise as well, likely a Princess cruise tho.
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.
Thanks for watching!
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.
I absolutely love cruising on carnival. We are a family of 8 and carnival never disappoints.
Glad to hear your experience :)
Why don’t you give Royal Caribbean a try? I think you will like them better.
@arosenweig I have and I didn't.
There’s nothing luxury about Carnival 😂
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.
I fly and I prefer 7 days.
I agree. It would be great if it were only a couple hour drive.
Absolute minimum for me is 10 days.
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.
@@druegillis1744who remembers when flying was fun and exciting?! Or is that only how the young feel ? 🤔
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.
I love Carnival ❤️ never had a bad cruise with them.
Exactly been on 40 Carnival Cruises
I love your videos and reviews. They are so insightful! I'm ready for another one!
Yay!! So glad you enjoyed it
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!
That sounds awesome!!
What lovely memories you are making with your son. You and he will cherish them forever!
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!
Nice presenting - relaxed, informed, with a lovely smile.
Thanks!
Glad you enjoyed it & thank you 😊
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!
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.
A very fair and balanced review. Thank you for sharing.
Thanks for watching!
Wow! The buffet area on the magic is fabulous. Lots of different stations. Lots of choices
I enjoy Carnival and especially the teppenyaki! It is the best
I just came off this ship last Friday, and I had a blast! I enjoyed the food, drinks, music etc....
Did they make any improvements as far as the crowding at the buffet lines?
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.
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.
Thanks for sharing these tips
We love the Alchemy Bar. Thank you for the heads up on the Amari Bar. Cheers!
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.
Me too..
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. 😎⛹️♀️🚴♂️🤸♂️
Thanks so much for your lovely comments!
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…
Have an amazing cruise! So glad you enjoyed the video 😊
We are on this cruise
Thanks for being honest and telling us that the cruise line gave you free interest. I wish all the bloggers would tell us this
Thank you for your honest review. We are sailing on this ship in September to Canada. You gave us a lot of good info.
Thanks!
Thanks so much! I appreciate it 😊
We sail mostly Carnival and looking forward to our Sept Venezia Cruise. Love watching your videos and the great information 😊
I think you did a outstanding job on your review. Glad you enjoyed your cruise on carnival.
Wow!! The Venezia is beautiful. Thanks for sharing.
Leaving on Monday out of NYC. Thanks for the information, I'm very excited
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.
Love your videos! Sailing on Venezia on a Journeys cruise in 2024. I’m very excited to see this ship.
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!
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.
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.
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❤
Thanks!
Returned on the Mardi Gras last week and hated that ship
@@coisafofa420 wow hate is a very strong word
@@coisafofa420 all I can say is wow what the heck what was so bad that you hated it
@@coisafofa420 Could you offer some reasons why you did not care for the Mardi Gras?
Great report on your Carnival cruise! I think we’ll take it next year!
Loved Carnival 4-day cruise to Cozumel this March.
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.
I'll be on it in 49 days for 14 days😊
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!
That’s our new favorite ship!!
We sailed on Mardi Gras in April 2022! It is amazing!
We just got back from Carnival Mardi Gras loved it
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!
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.
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👼❤💙
Have a wonderful cruise!! It sounds like you’ll enjoy the time together
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!!
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.
Wow. MARDI Gras was my very first cruise to Bermuda in the early '70s
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.
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.
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
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.
I loved Venezia! ❤❤🎉🎉 Took the 8 day cruise to the Caribbean! MarQ, the cruise director, was awesome. I can't wait to see it again.
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. 😀
Thank you for a very balanced review!!! 🚢
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.
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!
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!
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.
Carnival has the best comedians and Cruise Director.
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 😃
Good review. Very thorough, clear and concise. I do plan to cruise on Carnival Venezia in the near future.
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!
Great video, thanks for sharing. Beautiful ship! 🚢
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. 😢
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
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
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!
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.
I love sailing past the Statue of Liberty 🗽
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!
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!
@@LifeWellCruised And I'm going to be 74 during the cruise... happy birthday to me! 😁
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.
Lol, glad I won you over (I try hard on my thumbnails but admittedly some might miss the mark) 😂
Congrats on 200k!
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.
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.
Love your videos. Very informative.
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!😂
Haha they’re definitely on my list
We are going on her in a few weeks. Can’t wait. Thanks for the Canadian perspective.
Cool, Montreal food scene is awesome, so I'll have to take your recommendation with interest indeed!
Best review of this ship so far..
I was reall6 glad to see this video and get your imput. We will be sailing on the Venezia from Cape Canavaral dec. 2025 for a 14 day cruise. Thanks for all the info. It helps. 24:22
We booked an 11 days Venezia cruise in November 9th. We’re so excited 😁🛳️🌞🌊👙🏖️
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!
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
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.
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
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.
Thanks for the tips!
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.
I like Carnival, did a cruise on Vista earlier this year, have two more cruises already booked with them.
Thank you! 😊, i will be boarding Carnival Venezia December 10-18, 2023. Unfortunately, my favorite place is the buffet, since being a solo cruiser, I dont do the fine dining restaurants. I also dont cruise under 8 days. The reason why is because leaving from Atlanta to any port is hectic. So, it usually takes a day or day on half to get settled. 😮❤😊
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.
Ilana, great review of a beautiful ship. However seasoned cruisers know, if you want to go on a relaxing, fun filled, vacation, you don't go when school is out. Too many unsupervised spoiled brats running around, screaming and yelling because their parents haven't raised them to be courteous. Next, you definitely don't go on the first half dozen runs of a new CruiseShip And you certainly don't go on cruises shorter than 6 days. If you don't mind the above, Go For It. As a rule most cruiser just want to have fun on their vacation. Some vloggers say the food was So So, However, you hear a lot of passenger say " I must have gained five or ten pounds on the cruise. Enjoyed your Life Well Cruised and Good Luck.!!!
About to go on a nine night cruise on this ship in a few days so your candid opinions were most helpful.
Thank you.
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.
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. 😉
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!
Your right, I also heard this ship was very crowded when we were in Bermuda. We all want to travel 😂
Awesome video, very detailed and honest. Great meeting you!
Nice meeting you too 😊
Oh I love that mushroom soup it’s amazing❤
I'm going on a 10-day cruise on the carnival Venezia. in a few weeks April 26 to May 6. I am going solo to the Bahamas and the Dominican Republic. Thanks for the review I've seen many others. People have their likes and dislikes, but I guess I will have to make up my own mind. I hope I will enjoy my trip. I am a senior and I see there are a lot of places to go that are quiet and I can relax If I want. I booked a cove balcony to save money and I'm a little worried about that but I've heard many good reviews. I am sure I'll have a good time. One thing is I do like Princess cruises so I think I may go on another sometime.
Carnival has ALWAYS been like this with much of its food. Also known in my circle as the "Krappy Kruise". We personally didn't have issues in the dining room, but the one we went on was newer at the time, but the buffet... ick. If you could see the prime rib photo...looked gross. This has been much of the consensus for many many years over many people. Some are loyal, but makes me wonder if they have tried others.
Love love love this ship . I was on July 13 and can’t wait again . Love cruising from home .
We are cruising on Carnival Magic in January 24. It is a group cruise. This is our 4th cruise but our 1st on Carnival. We have been on Royal Caribbean Oasis of the Seas. I hope we will not be too disappointed as we hear this is a party ship!!
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.
Thank you for this video. My husband and I will be sailing on the Venezia in May 2024 for 11 day cruise.
Two comments come on down to Texas for the Jubilee weekend are here for you! I will be traveling on the Venezia in February! From what you showed it reminds me of the carnival Vista class
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.
Thanks for sharing your experience! Sounds like you both had a fun time 🎉
Thanks for sharing this video! I love carnival. 😊😍 I don't like crowed pool. I enjoy the quiet areas.
The ship looks like the same design as the Horizon, which I love. Been on Horizon 3 times.
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.
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 :)
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.