You might not think Venice, Italy and Carnival cruise ships have much in common (besides that they both reside on the water). I mean, what are the first words that come into your head when thinking of Venice? Beauty? Romance? Class? Charm? Culture? Now, how about for Carnival? Those loyal to the line would probably shout, FUN! But many others who have never sailed on Carnival or who had a bad experience on the line might go with words like: party, brawl, cheap, classless, and mediocre.
Now personally, I’ve never experienced a bad cruise on Carnival, including on an ill-advised four-day spring break booze cruise from Florida (it was almost a decade ago and I’m STILL telling the stories…and possibly still a little drunk). But for those hesitant to try the line, Carnival’s new Venetian themed ship, the Venezia might finally convince you give it a go! Why? Because the Venezia didn’t start out as a Carnival ship (it was transferred to Carnival from Costa in 2023) and because there are many features that make it distinct from other Carnival vessels. The most obvious is the absence of the signature Carnival whale tail funnel design and the yellow and navy color palette on the exterior and Venetian architectural and design features on the interior.
But there are also significant differences in the dining experience onboard, with a focus on Italian flavors and specialties, even when it comes to the line’s popular fast-casual burger restaurant: Guy’s Burger Joint. Here’s the Guy’s Burger menu on the Venezia, with a few notably Italian-themed offerings:
And for comparison purposes, here’s the standard menu available across most of the Carnival fleet:
On the Venezia, the Chilius Maximus and Pig Patty are replaced with the Pepperoni Pizza Burger and Super Melty Mootz, two VERY authentic Italian dishes.
So for those embarking on their first Carnival cruise ONLY because their partner drugged them on the two hour flight to New York (so they wouldn’t notice how short the ten hour flight to “Italy” seemed) and then blindfolded them as they ascended the gangway before setting them before a replica of a Venice canal and shouting benvenuto in Italia (welcome to Italy) AND those veteran Carnival cruisers tired of the same old food and looking for something new to try, buon appetito and…
Class Dismissed!
Homework (10 points): What do you think of the new “Italian” Fun Ships on Carnival? Will you be booking on the Venezia? Share your thoughts to the comments.
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