After departing Nassau yesterday on the “Carnival Fun Italian Style” ship, Carnival Venezia, we headed off to sea for—well—a day at sea. It was one of those days when a ship’s crew is put to the test because everyone is onboard.
That means there’s a lot going on, from a packed schedule of activities for both kids and adults to bars serving drinks for the early risers, to chair hogs claiming deck chairs at 6:30 a.m. and not showing up to actually use them until noon… you get it.
That’s just the nature of a sea day. And as we get closer to the end of this cruise, we’ll have two back-to-back sea days on our return to Port Canaveral.
What Are Chair Hogs and How to Deal With Them on Your Cruise
Finding Your Perfect Spot on a Sea Day
For those who don’t want to camp out around the bustling Lido pool, there’s the adults-only Serenity area up on Deck 15. This peaceful retreat offers two hot tubs, several loungers, and a bar—perfect for soaking up the sun in a kid-free zone.
Guests staying in the Terrazza staterooms—the equivalent of the Havana staterooms on the Vista, Panorama, and Horizon—have access to a private sundeck, two hot tubs, and an outdoor bar. This exclusive space provides a more relaxed atmosphere away from the crowds.
If you prefer a quieter pool experience but still want ocean views, head to Deck 10 aft, where the Burano Pool awaits. It’s conveniently located near Pizzeria del Capitano and the Seafood Shack, as well as a bar. Just a deck above, you’ll find the designated smoking area.
Smoking Areas on Carnival Venezia
Speaking of smoking—if you’ve sailed on a Vista-class ship before, you know there are usually two smoking areas: one on the Lanai area of Deck 5 and another at the aft of Deck 11. On Venezia, the smoking areas remain in the same general locations but are laid out a bit differently.
- Deck 5: The larger of the two smoking areas, this space features open seating as well as cabanas that can accommodate four people. The cabanas are free to use and make for a nice hangout spot, though they do take up quite a bit of space.
- Deck 11: Significantly smaller than what Vista-class cruisers might be used to, this smoking section is a compact, designated area.
Smoking is prohibited in public indoor spaces, staterooms, and balconies. However, it is permitted in the casino if you’re actively playing. Cigar and pipe smoking, though, is not allowed inside the casino.
Dining on a Sea Day
Sea days mean it’s time for the special Sea Day Brunch in the main dining room. If brunch isn’t your thing, you can grab breakfast at the Lido Marketplace buffet or head to BlueIguana for a breakfast burrito.
When lunchtime rolls around, you won’t be short on options. There’s Guy’s Burgers, Blue Iguana, the buffet, and Seafood Shack, just to name a few spots to grab a bite.
Elegant Night & Dress Code
Be sure to scroll down to check out the Fun Times schedule to see all the activities available to keep cruisers entertained throughout the day.
Since this is the first sea day of the cruise, it’s also Elegant Night. That means ship photographers set up special photo ops around the vessel to capture guests dressed in their finest vacation attire.
It’s also Meet the Captain night in the ship’s atrium, where the captain is available for photos. This event includes a Venetian Toast, during which guests and crew don Venetian masks for a bit of added flair.
Surveying the crowd, it was very apparent that very few passengers decided to dress up—like, almost none. In fact, it was noticeably more casual than other cruises I’ve been on, with many people still in shorts and sweatpants at dinner.
You may be wondering if the dress code is enforced? The answer is no. While “dressy” attire is suggested for Elegant Night, there’s no rule saying you can’t enter a restaurant or wander the ship if you’re not following the theme. It’s all pretty relaxed.
Before dinner, I decided to try my luck in the casino—and for once, I actually walked away a winner! I picked a random machine, dropped in some money, and had a series of small wins that kept me going. Just when I was about to call it quits, I hit a $540 win. A rare but welcome surprise!
I always joke when someone asks if I had any luck in the casino by saying, “I can’t even get lucky with a prostitute!” But tonight? I did alright.
With my winnings safely deposited into my casino bank for tomorrow, I headed off to dinner at the ship’s steakhouse, Fahrenheit 555.
Main Dining Room Dinner Menu
Fahrenheit 555 Dinner
Located on Deck 5 in the same spot as on other Vista-class ships, something about this steakhouse immediately felt different.
- No bar inside – Unlike on other Vista-class ships, there’s no bar area to enjoy a pre-dinner cocktail.
- Two separate dining rooms with different décor – This is a holdover from when the ship sailed for Costa Cruises. In its previous life, this space housed two different restaurants, which explains the contrasting styles.
While Fahrenheit 555 typically has a dimly lit, classic steakhouse ambiance, the décor here leans more Asian—another reminder that Carnival didn’t invest too heavily in transforming this ship after acquiring it from Costa.
As a specialty restaurant, Fahrenheit 555 comes with a $52 per person upcharge. The menu features classic steakhouse fare, a solid wine list, and my personal favorite—a bespoke Gin & Tonic menu.
For starters, I ordered the shrimp cocktail (featuring surprisingly small shrimp for a steakhouse) and the tuna tartare.
For my main course, I went with the 18oz ribeye, cooked medium. Perfectly seasoned and cooked just right, it was a refreshing change from the rather meh dinners I’d had in the main dining room the first two nights.
When dessert time rolled around, I shocked even myself—I said no. Who does that? But my belly was full!
After a few nightcaps, I made my way back to my room—only to realize I was coming down with a cold. It always sucks to get sick on vacation, and I’m meticulous about washing my hands to avoid the dreaded norovirus, but here I was, feeling the symptoms creep in. Hopefully, it clears up quickly.
Next Stop: Montego Bay, Jamaica
Tomorrow’s port of call is Montego Bay, Jamaica. Not exactly a place I’m planning to get off and explore—but we’ll see.
As always, thanks for following along!
Carnival Fun Times for Day 3:
