It’s the final day of this seven-day Western Caribbean cruise on Carnival Venezia, and it’s a sea day as we make our way back to Port Canaveral. This report will focus on my overall experience—I’ll cover the good, the bad, and the ugly, and ultimately reveal whether or not I’d book another cruise on this Carnival Fun Italian Style ship.
But before I dive into that, a few quick notes about the day. Since it’s our last day onboard, the cruise director hosted the debarkation talk in the main theater, and it replayed on stateroom televisions throughout the day. The entire process was explained for first-timers or anyone unfamiliar with how Carnival handles debarkation.
For about a year now, Carnival has switched to what they call Digital Debarkation to help bring some order to what was previously a somewhat disorganized mess on debarkation morning. The concept is pretty simple. A few days before arriving back home, you’ll receive a notification in the Carnival Hub app prompting you to select a debarkation option. There are two to choose from:
- Self Debarkation – You’ll carry all your own bags off the ship without assistance and be among the first groups allowed to leave first thing in the morning.
- Checked Bags – You’ll leave your luggage outside your stateroom between 8 p.m. and 10 p.m. the night before arrival. Crew members will collect these bags, and you’ll retrieve them in the terminal building after getting off the ship.
Regardless of which option you choose, all guests must vacate their staterooms by 8:30 a.m. on debarkation morning.
Once you’ve selected your preferred option, you’ll then pick a debarkation time slot for all members of your party. That’s it! On the morning of debarkation, you just listen for your group to be called or wait for the notification in the app that it’s your time to leave, then proceed to the gangway.
I’ve seen this system work flawlessly on some ships, and I’ve also seen it still turn into chaos. Ultimately, it all comes down to whether or not guests actually follow directions—and for many people, that’s far too difficult. In those situations, all the organization in the world can’t help.
For this trip, I opted to have my bag picked up rather than lug it around on debarkation morning, and I selected an 8:20 a.m. debarkation time. Stay tuned to see how that worked out!
Main Dining Room Dinner Menu
Dinner at Il Viaggio
For my final night onboard, I decided to head to Il Viaggio, the ship’s $42-per-person specialty Italian restaurant. For those following along, I dined here on Day 5 and I had such a fantastic meal that I wanted to experience it one more time.
Il Viaggio Dinner Menu
This time, I kicked things off with two different appetizers: Mozzarella in Carrozza—a fried mozzarella-stuffed bread served with tomato sauce—and Panzerotti, which were crispy fried puffs filled with sausage and pesto. Out of the two, the mozzarella was the clear winner. Crispy on the outside, gooey on the inside, and paired with a rich tomato sauce—it was everything you want in a comforting Italian starter.
For my main course, I went with Pollo Alla Toscana—a tender chicken breast topped with a creamy sauce and fresh tomatoes, served with a small side of pasta. Simple, yet absolutely delicious!
Then came dessert. I didn’t want to do it… but I did. I went for the Mile High Gelato Pie, a massive slice of gelato cake that looked like it contained at least 3,000 calories—but honestly, who’s counting? Every bite was worth it.
Once again, Il Viaggio won me over with excellent food and service, officially solidifying itself as my favorite restaurant on the ship. Sorry, Fahrenheit 555—you didn’t make the cut this time!
Carnival Venezia Overall Review
Embarkation
For this cruise, I drove from my home in Delray Beach to Port Canaveral—a quick 2.5-hour trip. Once at the terminal, check-in was a breeze. Literally.
Being Platinum, I headed into the priority boarding line, checked in, went through security, and was on the ship in less than 30 minutes.
Once onboard, I stopped by my muster station to check in, and that was it! Thanks to the self-mustering process, all I had to do was visit my muster station, have my stateroom keycard scanned, and then watch a safety video in my cabin later in the day. The embarkation experience has changed dramatically post-COVID—and that’s a very good thing!
Gone are the days of donning a bulky life jacket and standing shoulder-to-shoulder at your lifeboat station. Who remembers those drills? Horrible!
Accommodations
For this cruise, I booked a Cove Balcony Stateroom on Deck 2 midship (2338). Cove Balcony rooms are similar to standard balcony staterooms, but the balcony itself is enclosed by the ship’s superstructure and sheltered by the lifeboats above. Unlike a traditional balcony with unobstructed views, Cove Balconies have solid steel surrounding a “window” cut into the metal. While you still get plenty of fresh air, you don’t quite get the full open-balcony experience.
The room itself was roomy, featuring two twin beds that convert into a king, along with a pull-out sofa, allowing the stateroom to accommodate up to four people. However, the sofa had several noticeable stains, which is always a turn-off for me.
Other features in the room included a flat-screen TV positioned directly across from the bed, a mini refrigerator (a true fridge, not just a cooler like on some ships), a hair dryer, a safe, and plenty of closet space—for two people. But if you’re trying to fit four people in here? Good luck.
The bathroom was on the small side—not the smallest I’ve had on a ship, but definitely compact. The sink and vanity were pretty tight, and while there were a few small shelves for toiletries, storage was still pretty limited. On the plus side, the shower had a glass door instead of the dreaded shower curtain and was a decent size.
A quick note about the shower: there’s a dispenser labeled “Shower Gel & Shampoo”, but don’t let that fool you—it’s 100% just shower gel. Carnival uses Victoria Bay shower gel across the fleet, and there’s no separate shampoo provided. If you need shampoo, be sure to bring your own.
The balcony itself was small, with just enough room for two chairs and a small table. If two people were sitting out there, one chair would need to be moved in front of the door, making things feel a bit cramped.
In terms of power options, there were two USB ports on one side of the bed, plus both U.S. and European outlets located on the desk/vanity.
Overall, the room was in fairly good condition, but there were some minor issues. Besides the stained couch, one of the closet doors had a broken hinge, and the balcony furniture was worn, with visible paint drips on it.
Carnival Venezia Food
I’m always very critical of food on any Carnival Cruise Line ship because, post-COVID, the quality in both the buffet and the main dining room has declined significantly. Of course, one could argue that this is all part of a strategy to encourage passengers to spend extra for better-quality food and service in the growing number of specialty restaurants onboard.
While Carnival Venezia has many of the same food outlets found on other Carnival ships, some have been rebranded and slightly tweaked to fit the whole Carnival Fun Italian Style theme. So, let’s take a look at the different places to grab a bite to eat onboard.
- Main Dining Room (Free) ★☆☆☆☆ – Breakfast, brunch, and dinner are served here, with traditional early and late seating as well as Anytime Dining. I dined here the first two nights and never returned. Why? Because this was some of the worst food and service I’ve ever had on a Carnival cruise. From poor food quality to incorrect orders and painfully slow drink service, after my second dinner, I made the decision to never step foot in there again.
- Tomodoro (Free) ★★★☆☆ – On most Carnival ships, this would be BlueIguana Cantina, serving up breakfast burritos and tacos during lunch. On Venezia, it has a different name and a few Italian-inspired additions, including a meatball sub. Open for lunch only.
- Guy’s Burger Joint (Free) ★★☆☆☆ – The home of the greasiest burger at sea. On Venezia, the menu has been tweaked to include a little Italian flair. I’m always amazed at how some people swear these are the best burgers they’ve ever had. I personally find them way too greasy, but hey—it’s all about personal preference. Open for lunch only.
- Carnival Deli (Free) — Did Not Try – A station inside the Lido Marketplace buffet offering hot and cold sandwiches and paninis. Open for lunch and dinner.
- Seafood Shack (A La Carte) ★★★★☆ – Fresh seafood options like whole lobster, shrimp, clams, fish and chips, lobster rolls, and more. The food is solid, but since everything is priced à la carte, costs can add up fast. Open for lunch and dinner.
- La Strada Grill (Free) ★★★☆☆ – On other Vista-class ships, this space would be Pig & Anchor Smokehouse, but on Venezia, it’s La Strada—serving up BBQ favorites like pulled pork and chicken, but also Italian options like sausage & peppers, eggplant parm, and meatballs. This buffet-style quick-service spot is located outdoors and is open for lunch only on sea days.
- Pizzeria del Capitano (Free) ★★☆☆☆ – Your go-to for pizza at sea. It’s decent, and besides the free selections, they offer a few premium pizzas as an upsell. Not the best pizza in the world, but let’s be honest—have you ever truly had a bad pizza? Open for lunch, dinner, and late-night snacks.
- Bonsai Sushi (A La Carte) — Did Not Try – A selection of sushi and ramen available à la carte for lunch and dinner.
- Bonsai Teppanyaki ($45 + 18% Gratuity) ★★★★★ – One of the best specialty dining options on any Carnival ship and one of the best values for the money. You’ll get so much food that you won’t even have room for the six—yes, six—different desserts they serve at the end. Don’t skip this one!
- Fahrenheit 555 Steakhouse ($52) ★★★★★ – Always a standout on any Carnival ship, and Venezia was no exception. While it’s the most expensive specialty dining option onboard, it’s also one of the most consistent across the fleet. If you’re craving steak or seafood, this is your spot.
- Il Viaggio ($42) ★★★★★ – I was a little surprised by the price tag since Cucina del Capitano (Carnival’s usual Italian venue) is cheaper on other ships. But I gave it a shot, and not only did I dine here once—I went back for a second dinner. Why? Because Il Viaggio became my favorite restaurant onboard. The food was incredible, the service was impeccable, and the atmosphere was warm and inviting. Normally, the steakhouse would take the top spot as my favorite specialty restaurant, but this time? Il Viaggio stole my heart—and my stomach.
- Lido Marketplace (Free) ★☆☆☆☆ – Great for breakfast—but for everything else? Skip it. At lunch and dinner, it’s just trays and trays of sad-looking food that don’t taste any better than they look. Carnival seriously needs to do better. At dinner, you’ll find some of the same dishes as the MDR, with a few minor differences. But nothing about this buffet impressed me. Probably one of the worst buffets I’ve ever experienced on a cruise ship.
There were some hits and a lot of misses, but if you want to eat well on Carnival Venezia, you’re going to have to pay for it. The buffet and MDR were disappointing, but the specialty restaurants were fantastic. If you’re sailing on this ship, my top recommendations are:
- Il Viaggio (best specialty dining experience)
- Bonsai Teppanyaki (best value for the price)
- Fahrenheit 555 Steakhouse (best for steak and seafood)
- Seafood Shack (if you don’t mind spending extra)
If you want the best dining experience onboard, be prepared to budget for specialty restaurants—because the included options just aren’t what they used to be.
Carnival Venezia Fellow Passengers
This cruise attracted a much older demographic than I’m used to seeing on a Carnival sailing. While there were some passengers in their 20s, they were few and far between. Surprisingly, there also weren’t many young families onboard. Instead, the passenger age skewed more toward the 45+ crowd, with a significant number of guests over 65.
There was also a large number of Platinum and Diamond cruisers—Carnival’s two highest loyalty tiers. In fact, there were so many of them onboard that the Platinum & Diamond gathering had to be split into two separate events instead of the usual single gathering to accommodate everyone.
Carnival Venezia Service
Aside from the poor service in the dining room, I didn’t feel that service was lacking in other areas of the ship. Bars seemed to be well-staffed, and restaurants were as well.
The only hiccup I encountered was at Java Blue, where I stopped for a coffee drink. The two crew members working the counter seemed new and were clearly struggling to make drinks—likely due to a lack of proper training. They were confused about the ingredients for a frappe, and it took both of them way too long to figure it out, causing the line to back up. I ended up walking away rather than waiting it out.
But aside from that one experience, service throughout the ship was solid.
Debarkation
As I mentioned at the beginning, I opted to have my bags collected the night before debarkation and selected an 8:20 a.m. debarkation time. The first groups to leave the ship were those who chose self-debarkation, followed by those with checked luggage, starting with priority guests.
I was in Group 3, which was called around 8:10 a.m.. Conveniently, my stateroom was directly next to the gangway on Deck 2, so all I had to do was step out of my room and literally walk right off the ship.
Once inside the terminal, luggage was laid out by group number, and I found mine immediately. A quick facial scan for passport holders, and I was cleared through security and on my way to my car. The whole process took less than 10 minutes—a perfect example of how smooth debarkation can be when guests actually follow the procedure.
Carnival Venezia Review – Final Thoughts
Carnival Venezia is a Vista-class ship, sharing the same layout as Carnival Horizon, Carnival Panorama, Carnival Vista, and the other “Carnival Fun Italian Style” ship, Carnival Firenze. However, that’s where the similarities end.
I mentioned in my Day 1 report that Carnival Venezia suffers from an identity crisis, and after spending a week onboard, I stand by that statement. The issue is evident everywhere.
Carnival Corporation spent very little time, effort, or money converting this ship into a true Carnival Cruise Line experience, and even the cruise director made light of that fact. For example, when the Vow Renewal at Sea event had A/V issues, he joked,
“We inherited cheap equipment that doesn’t work like it does on Carnival ships.”
And during another talk, he summed up the ship’s conversion by saying,
“They threw a Guy’s Burger Joint on it and called it Carnival.”
That pretty much says it all.
The theming does not fit the Carnival brand—despite being pitched as “Italian Fun.” If it’s your first time on a Carnival cruise, you might find yourself scratching your head, wondering what this ship is supposed to be.
It Feels More Italian Than an MSC Cruise Ship
Yes, you read that right. The theming that was originally in place when this ship sailed as Costa Venezia for Costa Cruises remains largely untouched—and it takes up a lot of valuable space that Carnival guests are used to having.
For example:
The Lido pool area, normally an open, expansive space for sail-away parties and deck events, is cramped due to the nooks and crannies created by the ship’s Italian theming.
The stateroom decor still reflects a Mediterranean-inspired design, which feels odd for a ship sailing the Caribbean instead of the Mediterranean.
The Italian-inspired entertainment—while a novelty—just doesn’t fit Carnival’s signature Fun Ship style. Sure, a gelato-eating contest and Italian-style races might seem amusing, but do they fit Carnival’s brand? Absolutely not.
It’s clear that when Carnival Corporation transferred these vessels from Costa to Carnival, they did so in the cheapest way possible to avoid adding to their debt load or cutting into maintenance budgets for other ships in the fleet.
Rather than fully refurbishing Venezia, they:
- Replaced some signage
- Painted the hull
- Removed “Costa” from the ship’s name
- Left the smokestack yellow with the Costa “C” still on it
- Overlooked Costa branding on sliding doors, where lines of “Cs” remain (and no, they don’t stand for “Carnival”)
This half-hearted conversion left the ship feeling like a mishmash of Costa and Carnival, rather than a cohesive Fun Ship experience.
At the end of the day, Carnival Venezia wasn’t the Fun Ship experience I’m used to. It pretended to be, but it just didn’t have that same energy or vibe.
If Venezia and Firenze are going to remain in the fleet long-term, maybe Carnival has plans to gut the Italian theming and make them match the other Vista-class ships. That would take a lot of money, and frankly, I don’t see that happening anytime soon.
Trust me, I wanted to like Venezia—but I didn’t.
At the end of the day, I’d be hard-pressed to book another cruise on her.
Final Rating: ⭐⭐½ (2.5 Stars)
This ship simply does not fit within the Carnival fleet. No matter how hard they try to market it as “Carnival fun with an Italian twist,” it’s not the same.
Spend the money to fully transform it into a true Carnival experience, and I’ll give it another shot.
Until then—Ciao, Venezia!
As always, thanks for following along, and stay tuned for the next adventure!
Carnival Fun Times for Day 7:
