CCL-Carnival Cruise Line unveiled new details about what passengers can expect when they board the next vessel to join the fleet, Carnival Venezia.
Carnival Cruise Line's President Christine Duffy was joined by Carnival's Director of New Build Product Development Glenn Aprile for a virtual preview of the new ship from acclaimed Italian restaurant Il Mulino (New York's Greenwich Village), which underscored the liner's Italian flair from the port city where she will operate year-round.
When guests board Carnival Venezia, they will be surrounded by Italian architectural design inside the atrium, modeled after Venice's main public square, Piazza San Marco (midship on decks 3-4-5). The ship also boasts an elegant theater, Teatro Rosso, which provides a beautiful backdrop for Carnival entertainment and new programming. Venezia's outdoor spaces feature Italian touches and some first-in-fleet features: the Lido deck is modeled after the Italian Riviera and has a retractable roof, so the pool can be enjoyed when the cruise ship departs/returns to NYC New York in colder months.
Carnival has been planning many new spaces and will also be making updates across the liner, such as adding mini-bars/standard American power outlets to the staterooms. On the top deck, Venezia will boast a serenity area, an adults-only retreat, with lounging furniture, sun beds, and 2 whirlpools. The Serenity area will include a new bar featuring spritzes.
The company is introducing a new concept, Terrazza staterooms, similar to the Havana staterooms onboard other Carnival ships. Situated on decks 5-9 aft, Terrazza staterooms include balconies (many with aft-facing views), interior, and the special Terrazza Cabanas, with private patios featuring plush loungers, a hammock and lanai access to Terrazza Carnevale. The Terrazza staterooms provide exclusive access to Terrazza Carnevale, an outdoor terraced deck with 2 whirlpools, a bar, and lounging space. Passengers staying in the 77 Terrazza staterooms benefit from exclusive perks, such as:
- Exclusive morning access to Carnevale Lounge with complimentary continental breakfast
- Specially-curated brunch on select days at sea with a complimentary Spritz/Mimosa
- Terrazza-branded robes/towels
- An exclusive Terrazza Carnevale sail-away event with live music.
Vacationers can find signature Carnival restaurants & bars onboard Carnival Venezia, including the Chef's Table, steakhouse Fahrenheit 555, Bonsai Sushi & Teppanyaki, along with Seafood Shack and Pizzeria del Capitano, Lido Marketplace, Piano Bar 88 and Heroes Tribute Lounge. Many Carnival mainstays offer special Italian menu items onboard. Guests will also find beverage & food offerings throughout the cruise ship at several new/updated restaurant and bar concepts, such as:
Dining Venues
- Guy's Burger Joint boasts with Italian flavors and ingredients, adding to Guy Fieri's famous burgers. Together with classic American burgers/fries, new menu items feature an Italian twist like a pepperoni pizza burger and the Big Mozz burger smothered in mozzarella cheese.
- La Strada Grill serves the best grilled Italian street food & sandwiches.
- Tomodoro offers Mexitalian fusion creations with ingredients like Italian meatballs/Sicilian chicken alongside traditional Mexican tacos/burritos, for breakfast and lunch.
- Canal Grande & Marco Polo Restaurants (main dining rooms) serve 3-course meals in spaces surrounded by Italian sculptures and architectural designs, such as a real-life Venetian gondola. Special Italian dishes are featured, including favourites from Carnival's Cucina del Capitano Italian restaurant.
- New Specialty Italian Restaurant is an all-new dining concept.
More details will be announced soon.
Bars & Lounges
- Amari is similar to what Carnival passengers love at Alchemy bars across the fleet. The expertly crafted cocktails feature Italian liqueurs and bitters, skillfully prepared by professional mixologists. This is an interactive cocktail experience with drinks including Amalfi martini, sbagliato, negroni, and americano. Select Alchemy cocktails are also served.
- Frizzante offers various bubbly drinks, from prosecco to bellinis and spritzes along with Italian beer. Italian coffee and biscotti are served throughout the day.
- Carnevale Bar & Lounge serves tasty cocktails. The lounge is inspired by the style of Venetian masquerades during Carnevale. It features scenes of Carnivale di Venezia on LED screens, complete with fine Italian wines, classic cocktails, and live music in a relaxing atmosphere.
- Gondola Lounge is inspired by the Venetian canals and features a large stage with a dance floor and comfortable seating to enjoy live entertainment. The lounge opens to the outside on either side for a stroll around the lanai.
- Rococo serves refreshing frozen drinks, from colourful layered creations with Italian flavours like bellini and limoncello to classic frozen cocktails, including margaritas, daiquiris and pina coladas. The bar is described as "Baroque Goes Pop."
Italian-Inspired Entertainment & Activities Along with 'Fun Ship' Favorites
Guests can expect the high-energy entertainment they love fleetwide onboard Carnival Venezia. The ship will be the first in Carnival's fleet to feature the new show "Color My World," following the debut on Carnival Celebration in November. It is an Indie rock & pop love story combining different mediums of art to create a visually unique experience. Some of the other entertainment & activity offerings include:
Parties & Gatherings
- Captain's Venetian Toast: Venezia's captain greets passengers in true Venetian style. Live music fills the atrium while the cast members don Venetian costumes. Passengers are encouraged to wear Venetian masks.
- Italian Street Party when Little Italy meets Lido for a street party with rotating entertainment at the mainstage including Italian-themed performances and live music.
Playlist Productions
- Broadway Beats, connecting the audience to the homeport of the ship with a larger-than-life journey through New York.
- Vintage Pop is a modern musical with a '20s spin tying in with New York City's prohibition era.
- Epic Rock is a concert featuring rock staples from artists like Aerosmith, Bon Jovi, and Journey.
Youth & Family Activities
- Camp Ocean & Club O2 where kids, teens, and families can experience various regions of Italy through games, arts & crafts, and themed activities, including Futbol challenges, Italian hopscotch, gondola racing, and more.
- Sports, Games & Attractions are in addition to popular options in SportsSquare like basketball and pickleball. The activities with an Italian twist include bocce ball and foosball. Passengers can also find other top-deck favorites including outdoor fitness equipment, mini golf, a ropes course, a jogging track, and a water park featuring 3 waterslides (1 open and 2 enclosed) with a splash park for younger children.
Carnival Venezia is due to operate a wide range of sailings from NYC's Manhattan Terminal, with ten different cruise durations and 22 itineraries featuring visits to 25 call ports across 14 countries beginning June 15th, 2023.