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

[@LifeWellCruised]

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[@lemireba1]

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

[@pdallen5801]

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]

I fly and I prefer 7 days.

[@anitaclue9868]

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

[@cruisecrazy7066]

Absolute minimum for me is 10 days.

[@druegillis1744]

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]

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

[@Theoceantraveler7]

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.

[@LifeWellCruised]

Thanks for watching!

[@JamieAnn841]

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

[@jazminflorio8512]

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]

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

[@LifeWellCruised]

Glad to hear your experience :)

[@arosenweig]

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

[@jenniferallred9367]

@arosenweig I have and I didn't.

[@LoveBlueTopaz]

There’s nothing luxury about Carnival 😂

[@AliiKattTalks]

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

[@LifeWellCruised]

😂

[@HauserMcQuaid]

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.

[@haileyhammock2318]

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]

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

[@alisong2328]

Crowded pools are gross - it's like bathing with a ton of strangers. Kids won't mind, but I would hate it.

[@annettegrimes2931]

I am not a buffet person at all. I don’t trust the public and their lack of sanitation so I do not eat from the buffet. The food doesn’t always look appetizing. I enjoy the MDR and specialty dining. ❤

[@ashleys4652]

Holland America has the buffet crew serving guests at the buffet. I wish all cruise lines did this, it would make me feel better about cleanliness. I know what you mean, the buffets are not my thing.

[@sherryruddell3588]

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.

[@carlettewilliams]

Me too..

[@grinchy1689]

what really gets me is that the fruit always looks so beautiful, but then it’s flavorless when eaten. 😢

[@lorigrimaldi194]

Same thing with some of the fancy desserts at the buffet

[@Meanandre]

Because pesticides are used to grow these fruits

[@daynacjones]

@@lorigrimaldi194all I can say about the chocolate was it was brown.

[@omhomelin]

Ugh never been on a cruise and this sounds so disappointing

[@michellehairston8299]

​@lorigrimaldi194 is not sweet at all. I was like, Americans didn't make this

[@allenellzey5735]

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.

[@reneebrady8389]

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]

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]

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.

[@higheroctave32]

Just to clarify, Carnival didn't purchase the ship from Costa. Carnival owns Costa, so they just transferred the ship to the Carnival Fleet after a major US focused refit.

[@idahoadventures5936]

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

[@tiffanylacko857]

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]

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

[@dannyturner1899]

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.

[@JBOdysseys]

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]

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

[@Ccdurko]

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

[@LifeWellCruised]

Yay!! So glad you enjoyed it

[@latinkas1ify]

4 night cruises are not ideal on carnival. Lots of party people and college kids and not our style. We do 7+ nights only.

[@reginaobrien8983]

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]

I love sailing past the Statue of Liberty 🗽

[@Tweedle104]

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]

That’s our new favorite ship!!

[@brendamills546]

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

[@hollicoburn8590]

We just got back from Carnival Mardi Gras loved it

[@constancecook-cruisetravel1166]

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❤

[@LifeWellCruised]

Thanks!

[@coisafofa420]

Returned on the Mardi Gras last week and hated that ship

[@constancecook-cruisetravel1166]

@@coisafofa420 wow hate is a very strong word

[@constancecook-cruisetravel1166]

@@coisafofa420 all I can say is wow what the heck what was so bad that you hated it

[@nancyruckman5875]

@@coisafofa420 Could you offer some reasons why you did not care for the Mardi Gras?

[@rubykam4839]

Hate the pools and hot tubs. People drinking and not getting out. 🥵😩😱

[@bigrod359]

I always find it disgusting when people are eating or drinking at the pool

[@conniesink7013]

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]

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.

[@andrewbrown574]

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]

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

[@texasfamilymusicals]

We are on this cruise

[@heideleskun1163]

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]

Thanks for sharing these tips

[@jazminflorio8512]

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

[@jmiller8678]

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]

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

[@sportsMike87]

Never tried carnival but will try them out some day. Feel like there is so much hate against them

[@krkoepke]

Everyone is going to find their cruise to different

[@pamelapope859]

I agree 100%

[@rubysony8334]

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

[@LifeWellCruised]

Thanks for watching!

[@sandysandona8484]

I cruise about once a month on the Carnival Glory out of New Orleans. I have gotten used to the fact that the “Italian” dishes prepared by the chefs primarily from India bare little resemblance to authentic Italian cuisine. Base this on the fact that I grew up in an Italian-American neighborhood with an Italian nonna and innumerable Italian relatives etc. I can’t believe that the Italian Captain and senior officers, the vast majority whom are Italian, eat the same dishes!! No way!!

[@jazminflorio8512]

You are so lucky to be able to cruise once a month. I'm jealous. These are life goals. ⚓❤️

[@catherinespotorno9470]

My Italian family and I just came back from Carnival Venezia. The food was disappointing, and does not really resemble Italian food. It left a lot to be desired. We did speak to some of the Italian officers of the ship and even they complained about the food. One claimed we didn't know how he suffered. Therefore, I believe they eat the same food.

[@moelladevil]

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

[@laurenschenck5355]

Carnival Venezia looks absolutely so gorgeous inside and out and so luxurious xoxo 😘 💛💛🛳️🛳️🏝️🩵🛳️🛳️🛳️💛🩵🏝️✈️✈️🏝️💛🛳️🛳️💛🩵✈️🏝️🩵💛🛳️🛳️🛳️🛳️💛🩵🏝️🏝️✈️✈️🩵🛳️🛳️🛳️💛🩵🏝️✈️✈️

[@noelreynolds4861]

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!

[@clarencemarquez8134]

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]

Thanks so much for your lovely comments!

[@jongorman2949]

I just returned from the cruise on the Venezia. This was the most disappointing cruise I have ever been on. Many issues that are unavoidable such as the weather which was a major disappointment. I have been on 20+ cruises with Carnival but I found this particular cruise lost much of what has made Carnival what it is. There were ship issues like losing power while at sea. (this was particularly scary). Over-head announcements that were not always clear as the speaker system would break up and you could not understand instructions. I went to guest services to make them aware and the response I received was NOT what I expected from Carnival as I got a snarky response of "well, I heard it". We had a lot of time on board as due to weather many of the shore excursions were cancelled. During one afternoon I walked the entire deck 5 trying to find a bar that was open to get a soda, and all were closed. Other members of the ship would go over and above to make sure you were happy, and I thank them from the bottom of my heart. Particularly the restaurant staff and cabin attendants. Smoking was another issue. The casino allows smoking if you were playing a machine or table. However, a major issue was there were people on oxygen playing in the casino with people smoking right next to them and nothing was said or done. Thank goodness no explosion occurred (although this crossed my mind the night, we lost power). The smell of smoke always made its way across all of deck 4 both ends on the casino. These were just a few of the issues but I was never so happy to get off a cruise ship in my life. I did report the issues to guest services and received a snarky response. Oh well.

[@anthonyzdanowski9171]

I should not read cruise reviews. It seems like people feel they have to say something bad. You can go anywhere and find something that is not 100% to your liking. I have been on 27 cruises from old WW11 riveted ships to the newest and on most lines. I was on Queen Mary 2x. Many think it is the top of the heap. Very nice and enjoyable but stuffy. Oops there I go being negative. Carnival has been my choice for the last 4 cruises Veniza being my last cruise. We Go back on April 2024. Buffets are buffets some a little better than others. I can always find something that appeals to me. When you decide to go is very important and will decide how good your experience is. If you do not want a real party experience don't go during college breaks, don't want a crowed pool don't go during the hot summer. There we showed you how to avoid some complaints. Of my 27 cruises we enjoyed then all. Complaints too few to mention. That's why 4/24 will be our 28 cruise and counting.

[@helainespitzer1380]

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]

Loved Carnival 4-day cruise to Cozumel this March.

[@lenaapple1974]

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.

[@mcarter985]

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.

[@taram4338]

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]

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

[@BalancingItAll]

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]

That sounds awesome!!

[@nancyruckman5875]

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

[@lauranewman7734]

it was a very pretty ship , however it was over crowded, tons of kids in hot tubs with no parental supervision , not Carnivals fault ! The dining room service was just terrible , I think they were understaffed! Buffet was just not that good ! I still had a great time though!!

[@Beachdudeca]

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.

[@RevitupPhil]

4 Day cruises in general are booze cruises. Too short to relax if flight to get to port is involved. Nice looking ship thou.

[@tracymoore3624]

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

[@maryphillips5863]

BTW, you want to experience "friendly"? You need to come on down and cruise out of Galveston!

[@LifeWellCruised]

Hopefully one day :)

[@moniquevann9950]

I’m so over Carnival ☹️ it must be my age

[@CBar-rd6im]

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. 😢

[@tightwindow6438]

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.!!!

[@fripperossi]

As a European i have to say it's really nice to see that Carnival has kept that Mediterranean feeling of the ship! I know she differs from regular carnival ships but to me this just brings a bit of elegance to the ship. - And yes she heavily based on the arkitekturen style and feeling of Venice. Question - did you feel that the Buffé was American or Mediterranean in terms of style of the food?

[@LifeWellCruised]

Very American :)

[@blktenor]

Architecture and buffet

[@vickylocke3665]

Enjoyed your review - many of your assessments were spot on. But I get the impression this was not a typical Carnival ship in many ways. The passengers, time of year, itinerary, and port of embarkation seem to have a much greater effect on a cruise than many first-time cruisers would ever imagine, along with the design and atmosphere of the ship, and in many ways this ship seems a bit classier than most Carnivals, as you pointed out. In fact, most cruise lines now are making an effort to segregate those who prefer to be with their “own kind” by adding their extra cost exclusive areas, which are more like the luxury ships of earlier days where tuxedos and elegant gowns, along with filet mignons and lobsters were expected for the high class lifestyles of only the rich and famous. And outlandish behaviors such as fighting and language of today’s culture wasn’t even imagined, much less expected!

[@suewolf3279]

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

[@javanda-jillbrice]

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!

[@user-wu5fz1zr9b]

We have been on 5 carnival cruises and all have been nice. I was thinking about trying Norwegian but some of my friends said they had horrible experiences on Norwegian. One said their cabin smelled like sewer the whole trip and the elevators not working half the time.

[@alanwignall3016]

4 day cruise is always a party cruise. Even compared to a 5 day cruise it is much busier for partying/drinking according to one of the bartenders on the Paradise.

[@kdnichols99]

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!

[@drdtexan]

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

[@meladeeketcham8870]

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

[@Peorhum]

Folding pizza... never a good sign of a good pizza or someone who knows good pizza when they see it. Folding pizza is what you do, when it is junk and you just want to get it eaten ASAP, then move on.

[@paulemery7333]

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

[@RC-bv7hw]

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

[@cindyt987]

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!😂

[@LifeWellCruised]

Haha they’re definitely on my list

[@marybarnum437]

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.

[@LifeWellCruised]

Thanks for the tips!

[@LiveInSydney]

Its funny because Carnival Sydney had staff waiting to welcome you and direct you on embarkation and the cruise Director and fun team were there to assist on disembarkation. The Fahrenheit555 was every bit as good as you said. You can ask for two entrees also. No issue. I made a video of my experience on my youtube channel of Carnival Spendor. Bernie in Sydney

[@JOSMAMA100]

I agree with you about the food. I preferred the dining room food. I was so not into the buffet, the pizza was not good at all. I was on Carnival Magic. The food disappointed me that was the only I can complain about

[@vikker8274]

Sailed on the magic twice. Enjoyed it and we also stuck with the dining room.

[@cruisecrazy7066]

Ilana; You are not there to relax and enjoy. You are there to WORK, and make money. 4 days, for you, is plenty, then on to the next cruise ship.

[@ashleys4652]

She is with her family and absolutely can find a balance of work and fun. Who are you to say? 🙄

[@andylandry4656]

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.

[@cocob6366]

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!

[@susangomish4549]

I absolutely loved CARNIVAL CRUISE ships…. My daughter and I took a cruise in December of 2022 (it was my 4 Carnival cruise…her 1st)….we both loved all the food and we had the CHEERS PACKAGE. And in March of 2023 I went on a cruise with ENCHANTMENT OF THE SEAS….and I absolutely hated the main dining room….the prime rib dinner was tough and grizzly and very UNFLAVORED 😢so in a few days later…I thought that I would give the dining room another shot so I decided to go for breakfast and that was EXTREMELY disappointing so after that….I ate ALL my meals up at the WINDJAMMER and very satisfied

[@LifeWellCruised]

It’s always hard to know with food. Thanks for sharing

[@jessicarage8513]

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 😃

[@ciearakimberly523]

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!!

[@CalCobra]

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.

[@SuperLux25]

Lots of people got Covid on July 5-13 cruise, myself included 🫤 Nice ship though.

[@tduck828]

Ouch. I went on RC in Feb and two in our party came home with it. Im just glad it wasn't me!!

[@cadenkausch2789]

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

[@nascarmadman]

We did our first Carnival cruise in 2002 on the then non-smoking Paradise. It was our 3rd cruise and there wasn't anything really wrong with it. Our only other cruise experience was 2 nighter (a nice cruise intro) on Majesty and an 7day Alaska cruise on HAL. A few cruises later, my father in law wants to do Bermuda. It was kinda last minute for a cruise but we made things work - even needing to get a 2 day or less covid test for Bermuda. Again, nothing really wrong with it. A 4 nighter is kinda nice for an intro cruise. But for a veteran-why 4 nights and WHY Carnival. Carnival IS what it IS. And it's kinda confusing that they own HAL (the best of the lot so far). They are a budget conscious, family friendly line. But I have NO desire to do them again. But, on the Bermuda cruise (and probably on all the others) they had an adult only pool area - no not in THAT way; no children under 18. I am looking forward to HAL again in October, but I think their version of it is an add-on of some kind. Buffets are hit or miss and when they miss, it's usually something that doesn't belong sitting under heat lamps or in steam trays - ie eggs Benedict. If you want eggs, I suggest the omelet station. If one bar is overcrowded, there is usually another one close by.

[@jamesvineyard4142]

I love Carnival for the value. I can cruise more and upgrade for less. I strongly recommend trying the Havana experience on the Vista, Horizon, or Panorama-choose the Panorama if you’d like to see Cabo and Pto Vallarta. The Xcel class (Mardi Gras, Celebration, and Jubilee) will blow you away. Carnival has jumped up to a whole new level on those.

[@andream420]

LISTENING... 😊I WAS ON FOR THE DEBUT WITH JAY LENO ON JUNE THE 14TH AND WILL DO AN ACTUAL CRUISE WITH MY GROUP ON 12.28.23-1.6.24

[@LifeWellCruised]

That must have been so cool 😎

[@TheLifeofLogan]

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

[@fontesdeo8582]

Sure wish you would sail on Jubilee with us during the last week of February. My wife and I watch a lot of your videos 😊

[@jennifermorrow6895]

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

[@charlieverity5405]

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

[@LifeWellCruised]

Glad you enjoyed it & thank you 😊

[@desire2travel]

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]

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

[@grannyoffive1313]

Thank you for a very balanced review!!! 🚢

[@hella9068]

Costa Crociere belongs to the Carneval Corporation and they moved Venezia and now costa Firenze in '24 over to the US fleet, reasons can be many, but I think mostly finacial. These ships are beautiful made in Italian style kind all in the same at Costa but the interior design on all costa ships is fabulous, in different themes. Now that Firenze is there try that one as well 🚢

[@leahoverman392]

Please try one of the new Excel Class ships. I have been on lots of Carnival ships and lots of other lines as well and the new Carnival ships are a game changer. I do not care for any ship that is packed to the rails full! So book one when it is a time that it wont be FULL lol.

[@bevcox4716]

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.

[@mikekatz96]

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.

[@rodneyscales2648]

Carnival has the best comedians and Cruise Director.

[@michellehughes5385]

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.

[@bug_queen8574]

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.

[@marsbar1312]

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]

Maybe one day 😊

[@pullcarsmelly8051]

​@@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]

@@pullcarsmelly8051 great to know

[@larry-wells]

I've only cruise on Carnival my first was back in 2015 to Hawaii via Vancover which I had a great time 4 day at sea was fun and it was funny how excited people got to see a cargo ship, another one I loved was the Horizon in the Mediterranean loved Italy with a bad back I use the spa alot for a massage, although I wasn't that crazy about Guys burgers. But next time I will not get a alcohol package you just seem to drink more to get value for the money, great channel 👍

[@LifeWellCruised]

Thanks so much for sharing 👏

[@maryphillips5863]

4 day cruise and in the summer...are you mad?! Lol. We spend about 6 months out of the year on Carnival ships (a lot out of TX). We very rarely cruise in the summer and we never take cruises that are under 6 days. Carnival's staff and crew are great, but even they have a hard time keeping things nice with a ship load of children, especially teens. The Serenity areas are always nice and usually have a huge lunch salad bar. I also like the ships that have some specialty restaurants (usually Italian and Oriental) open for lunch and do not cost extra. A lot of people like the BBQ buffet that's open on seadays. I agree that the buffets need an upgrade, though my husband likes the fresh egg/omelet area for breakfast/brunch. Continental breakfasts are usually available in other areas of the ships. Lunch and dinner buffets vary and often represent the ports of call. As far as fights...I've been on 82 Carnival cruises and have never seen one. I guess I just don't hang out in the right places.😂

[@LifeWellCruised]

Lol, yes a summer cruise is definitely busy 😂

[@robertabeyers3371]

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

[@matthewferrick3288]

I just can't bring myself to sail with Carnival. My ex wife and I sailed RCCL now that I'm single I started sailing solo on NCL and am really hooked on them.

[@jenniferallred9367]

Because?

[@LifeWellCruised]

That’s great! It’s absolutely fine to have a cruise line that you really enjoy

[@williamsmith2830]

im heading out on the jubilee next july

[@michellebealle5636]

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.