It’s Valentine’s Day, and love is in the air on Carnival Venezia as we hit day six of this seven-day Western Caribbean cruise. Today is the first of two back-to-back sea days as we make our way back to Port Canaveral after visiting Nassau, The Bahamas; Montego Bay, Jamaica; and George Town, Grand Cayman.

Sea days on a cruise are the ultimate “do whatever you want” kind of day. No port stops, no excursions—just you, the ocean, and a ship packed with ways to have fun (or do absolutely nothing at all). If you want to kick things up a notch, you can head to the top deck and race down the waterslides, take on the SkyCourse ropes course, or play a round on the mini-golf course.

If that sounds like too much effort, grab a lounger, order a Miami Vice, and soak up the sun. And let’s not forget one of the best cruise traditions—Sea Day Brunch!

Carnival Sea Day Brunch Menu

If none of that floats your boat, you can go full relaxation mode with a spa treatment or chill in the adults-only Serenity area. Feeling lucky? Hit the casino and see if today’s the day you win big. If you’d rather laugh than gamble, The Punchliner Comedy Club has you covered with afternoon shows.

Speaking of the Serenity area, on Carnival Venezia, it’s located on Deck 15 forward, and it’s actually one of the nicest Serenity areas I’ve seen. Faux greenery, privacy walls, plenty of loungers and clamshells, as well as two hot tubs and the Serenity Bar, round out the list of amenities available. If you just want to go up and have a few drinks without lying around, there are tables with umbrellas in front of the bar area where you can enjoy those cocktails or a snack.

Carnival Venezia Serenity Deck

Video Tour of the Serenity Deck on Carnival Venezia

Valentine’s Day Activities on Carnival Cruise Line

As you can see in The Fun Times at the bottom of this post, a few special events were planned for Valentine’s Day, including a Conversation Heart Scavenger Hunt, Valentine’s Day Crafts, trivia, and, at 4 p.m., the Largest Vow Renewal at Sea.

Largest Vow Renewal at Sea on Carnival Venezia
Largest Vow Renewal at Sea on Carnival Venezia

This event was held up on the Lido Deck and was officiated by Carnival Cruise Line’s Chief Fun Officer, Shaquille O’Neal. Shaq appeared by video on the big screen while dozens of couples crowded around to say their “I dos” once again. However, this did not go off without a hitch. From the onset, there were noticeable audio issues, which the tech crew tried to correct. But when it came time for Shaq to ask the most important questions, the audio completely glitched, leading the cruise director to step in and read the closed captions to save the day.

Following the “I dos,” cake and champagne were served to all those in attendance, and the DJ played a mix of songs you’d probably hear at a wedding reception from the ’90s.

Valentine's Day treats on Carnival Venezia
Valentine’s Day treats on Carnival Venezia

As the evening rolled around, it was the final elegant night of the cruise. Unlike the first elegant night, more people got dressed up tonight—presumably because it was Valentine’s Day. There was definitely plenty of red being worn in celebration, as well as those who just ignored elegant night completely.

In the main dining room, the “Feast” menu was being served, which meant lobster and prime rib were on the menu. This typically results in long wait times for those with Anytime Dining, as it’s one of the most popular nights in the MDR. Why? Because people love those free 4 oz lobster tails. Maybe?

Main Dining Room Dinner Menu

Dinner at Bonsai Teppanyaki

Tonight, I made a reservation for the ship’s teppanyaki restaurant, which is $42 per person and is always the best value for specialty dining on Carnival. On Carnival Venezia, Bonsai Teppanyaki has just four tables that seat 14 people each. Seatings are available at 5 p.m., 5:30 p.m., 7 p.m., 7:30 p.m., 9 p.m., and 9:30 p.m. This is the first time I’ve seen reservations staggered on the half-hour like this—usually, it’s just 5 p.m., 7 p.m., and 9 p.m.—so I’m not sure if this is something that has changed fleetwide.

Bonsai Teppanyaki on Carnival Venezia
Bonsai Teppanyaki on Carnival Venezia

Bonsai Teppanyaki Menu

Bonsai Teppanyaki is like any other restaurant of its type—lots of food and a show to go along with it. You definitely won’t leave hungry if you have dinner here, as the meal consists of multiple courses. Dinner starts with an appetizer of pork belly-wrapped asparagus, followed by spicy tuna. Then, you move on to miso soup and a salad with ginger dressing. These four items are served to everyone, with no option to swap them out. The only choice you get to make is for your main course.

For entrées, you can choose one protein or a combination of two, served with vegetables, fried rice, and two shrimp. I went with filet and chicken.

When dessert rolls around, you’re presented with a bento box full of delights, including a chocolate-covered strawberry, green tea ice cream, and other treats—six individual desserts in total—to make for a sweet ending.

One thing that’s always on my mind when I book a seat at teppanyaki is whether or not I’m going to have fun people sitting with me. On this particular evening, that was a no. Those joining me were much older and weren’t doing much interacting with the chef or others. They pretty much kept to themselves and just ate rather than socializing or partaking in any of the fun stuff that happens during the course of the dinner. It’s the luck of the draw!

Tomorrow is the final day of the cruise, and as I mentioned, we’re spending it at sea. In tomorrow’s report, I’ll give my overall review of this cruise and the verdict on whether or not I’d book another cruise on Carnival Venezia, so be sure to check back!

Carnival Fun Times for Day 6:

Personal Day-By-Day Carnival Venezia Cruise Review:

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