natefish95

It's 4:26am here at DCA. I've dropped my bag off at Delta and I'm waiting for Chick Fil-A to open. I'm also about to begin my 24 hour journey over to Japan to tour around on land before boarding the NCL Jewel in Tokyo on April 10th, which will then take us to northern Japan and then over to Alaska, ending in Seward on the April 22nd. 

Full disclosure up front-I have no idea if I'm going to keep up this, but I figured I would at least start it and try to keep up. If I fall off posting, or the wifi connection isn't great, I'll fill y'all in afterwards! 

For starters, I will not be as great as a lot of the other trip reviewers on here. There might be typos. My grammar may not be the goodest, and my pictures may not be award-winning, but you're reading this so you must be at least a little interested in this trip. 

I honestly don't care too much about the "Journey" name. I book based on itinerary, ship, and price. The special activities and "throwback sea day"are just kinda "meh" to me. 

I did a 12 day Venezia journey cruise last year to the southern Caribbean and it was great. I'm a lowly gold VIFP person and didn't feel like there was an overwhelming amount of platinums/diamonds onboard. It was very laid back and I loved getting into a routine for all the sea days. I love long cruises and would do another in a heartbeat. 

Pros

-unique itinerary

-less children

-you get to know staff really well

-unique activities (frog racing, knobby knees, horse racing, etc.)

Cons

-so many smokers

-casino was packed (this was an elite cruise too I think...the casino mostly thinned out towards the end)

-some verrrrrrrry entitled cruisers 

-lots of rude scooter riders

-I ate too damn much for too long

10 hours ago, TxTeach79 said:

 

I'm a shell of myself today. Thank goodness for a district snapshot test

So the nightmare about first period was really just a premonition! 

4 hours ago, TxTeach79 said:

So I make it through security and go through the big body scanner machine… I come out, the TSA agent sighs, and says “sir, I’m sorry for you and for me….” (I think he’s joking with me at this point) “….but I’m going to have to do is physical search of you in these areas. I look at the screen, and the little man is glowing bright red exclusively in the crotch and…. Back crotch. 
 

 

He puts on gloves and asks me if I want to do this in private…. I just looked down and mumbled “Nah… it’s fine right here”

 

vacation is over, y’all. #insertjokehere

That's when you gotta say, "I'm not sorry ;)" 

Re: bad southwest delays, I've had reallllllllllly bad aviation luck. I was delayed 27 hours going from DC to Anchorage last September. Delta s#it the bed, but they were able to rebook me on Alaska Airlines and reroute me through San Francisco (no extra cost to me and I still got credit for the original Delta flights). I thiiiiiiiink Southwest doesn't have interline agreements with other airlines and can't rebook you on other airlines. I'm still a Delta guy, but have a Chase credit card and can transfer Chase points to United. My Chase points are paying for my flights to Australia next year. 

This was way too short! The Jewel class is my favorite NCL class of ship. It doesn't have all the amenities of a big ship, but it has a nice spa, bar city, O'Sheehans/The Local, etc. I'll be on the Jewel for 13 days next month from Japan to Alaska. 

Venezia was also my favorite Carnival ship. Everything felt so new and I liked the Italian flair. The Amari bar was the best spot to do some damage. Deck 11 above the pool is a great, quiet place to relax. And the Pergola Bar never gets busy up there!

1 hour ago, ninjacat123 said:

Do it!! I’m so excited about our upcoming Japan trip and your live review would help so much!! Yes, it’s all about me😁

Phew it worked! I guess I'll try a live review! Look for me on the NCL forum in early April. I'm spending a week traveling around Japan before the cruise (assuming there's no flight disruptions...)

1 hour ago, ninjacat123 said:

Do it!! I’m so excited about our upcoming Japan trip and your live review would help so much!! Yes, it’s all about me😁

What’s the best way to post? I’m using my phone now and am going to see if attaching a picture shows up normal or fugly. I want the picture to show up in text and not as an attachment. I swear I’m a tech savvy millennial!

3 hours ago, ninjacat123 said:

DH and I booked flights to Rome 5 days before our cruise knowing flights can screw you over and bottom line we wanted to make our cruise. Fortunately all went well and we were able to travel around Italy ahead of our cruise. Now we are flying to Tokyo in July for a  CB land trip. So far, so good!👍😁

I loved reading your review from your European cruise and Italy adventure. It looked awesome! I'm toying with the idea of doing a live review of my upcoming cruise since it's such a unique itinerary and trip for most. 

Always, always, always fly in the day before (or multiple if feasible). Here's a quick rundown of what happened before my 2023 cruises

April 2023-flying to San Diego from DC for the NCL Jewel. Flight from BWI-ATL was cancelled the day before. Rebooked IAD-DTW-SAN arriving into SAN the night before the cruise. Make it to DTW and the connecting flight to SAN is cancelled. Booked a $600 last minute ticket on American Airlines. Stayed in a crappy DTW airport hotel (avoid the Wyndham Garden Romulus at ALL COSTS). On the day the cruise leaves, I fly from DTW and make it to DFW for the connection, but the connection is delayed 2 hours due to a bird strike. Finally made it to SAN at 11am and made the ship!

September 2023-flying to Anchorage from DC for the Jewel 2 days early. First flight IAD-SEA is delayed 6 hours for maintenance and then cancelled. Rebooked on a later Delta flight to SEA, but that gets cancelled due to weather. I got rebooked on Alaska Airlines via San Francisco and made it to Anchorage 27 hours later than originally planned

October 2023-flying to NYC from DC for the Venezia. Booked a flight the day of sailing only because there are tons of flight options between the two cities. My 6am flight was delayed 2 hours because a pilot called out sick. Thankfully DC is a United hub and they were able to call someone in. 

I've had some reallyyyyyyyy bad flight luck in 2023 (and already into 2024...). My next cruise is in April and i'm flying to Tokyo a week early to travel around Japan haha. 

I just went and checked, in September 2023 it was $199 USD per person for a 7 day cruise. 

For April 2024 for a 12 day cruise, the price is $279 USD per person. 

From what I've read, there is a men's/women's sauna and steam room (you can see them on the deck plans). They used to be free, but now have a fee I believe. 

18 hours ago, JourneyMan89 said:

I saw the pictures of the men's spa area on the Venezia.  Looks very nice.  Sauna has a window to the sea which i prefer.  Too bad there isn't a steam room, but i guess the whirlpool sorta makes up for it.  Curious, Is there a swimsuit requirement for the whirlpool?

If there is a requirement, no one abided by it on my sailing. 

On 1/25/2024 at 6:44 PM, sauna director said:

Usually, we wouldn't cruise Carnival. BUT the Venezia was kinda different. The locker room had 12 lockers stuffed into a corner and the only seat sat 2 and was in front of the lockers. (musical chairs?)

The sauna was great...hot, hot, hot! And the whirlpool tub was very relaxing. Next to it was a rinse which featured various types of rinse.

The spa has a labyrinth of electric doors. Once you get the hang of it, its' okay.

A man on our cruise was blind and it was a problem for him...everyone pitched-in to help.

Glad you enjoyed Venezia! I really enjoyed the spa area...once you found your way to the sauna through all the doors! The lockers and bench are super tiny, but no one on my sailing was very shy. Venezia is one of my favorite ships overall. 

I'm not familiar with that service, but when I was in Sydney, I took the Sydney metro directly from the airport to the Circular Quay stop and then walked the two blocks to the Marriott Circular Quay. I just tapped my credit card going in and then again on the way out. Super easy and cheap if you don't have any mobility issues or a lot of luggage. 

That looks like an awesome excursion! I don't think I've seen it listed on my cruises or never noticed it

Were you using your phone condom at the beach? The pictures turned out really clear. What kind are you using?

12 hours ago, sauna director said:

Happy new year, everybody! Safe sailing!

We're on the Venezia on Jan. 14th. We have read mixed results.... Wish us luck!😁

I had a GREAT time on Venezia back in November on the 12 day sailing. The little hot tub can comfortably fit 2 people. The only annoying thing is that the locker area is VERY tiny with only a little bench, so if there are 3 people there at once, it gets cramped.

Also, the shower is no longer clear glass. They put a translucent covering over it halfway through my sailing. 

7 hours ago, TxTeach79 said:

Big news - can confirm an open Hole

 

Ah, I see you've met ex. 

1 hour ago, #55worktoplay said:

How do they do it if one were allergic to shellfish?

When I was Venezia, there was someone at the table with a shellfish allergy, so they cooked all the meat, veggies, rice on the grill first. Once that was cooked and served, then they cooked and served any shellfish. The person with the allergy did not have to worry about cross contamination on the grill at all. 

40 minutes ago, TxTeach79 said:

The Hole closes after dark 

 

49 minutes ago, TxTeach79 said:

It’s called fashion sweaty look it up 

 

Not sure if you meant to call us "Sweetie" or you think we're all sweaty and gross. Either way, only you could rock this shirt! 

Also, Alex Elkin is hilarious! Definitely check him out.

Hell yeah! I love following along with your reviews so much!

I flew down to Miami for Christmas because being airplane tipsy and Christmas Eve in Little Havana is better than being home alone (my life isn't depressing I swear! I did Christmas with my family a few weeks ago when our schedules worked out!).

Anyways, if you have time, check out Little Havana. The vibes are incredible and there is so much good Cuban food to be had plus monuments, murals, etc. Hope you speak Spanish! 

What shenanigans have you been up to while away from the chil'ren? 

41 minutes ago, TxTeach79 said:

My God Owl City. Who let this happen 

On the Venezia, DJ Maroo played EDM baby shark 3 times within an hour long set. I was ready to yeet myself overboard. I also heard it in the gym which made me max out my volume to tune it out. Didn't work

Excellent review! I loved following along and reminiscing about my own Venezia sailing. We also had Alex Elkin on our sailing and he was definitely the best. Most of the comedians were not great, with a special shoutout to Mark SImmons who was especially bad and rude to other crew members.

The Venezia is an awesome and I'm so glad Carnival stole her from Costa. I was skeptical about the "Carnival Fun Italian Style" thing, but I enjoyed it. It was still Carnival, but a bit different. It's always nice to mix things up a bit! 

Looking forward to your next review!!

7 hours ago, TxTeach79 said:

Midship elevators are impossible, but the aft is wide open

 

 

fat guy probs: I mashed all these buttons getting that pic. Luckily I was alone 

 

 

A firm tug works too I guess...

Bro, I've literally been stalking the Carnival boards wondering where TF you were because I could have sworn you had a thanksgiving cruise.

Excited to binge read these shenanigans now.