CruiseAdict218

This could be her last dry dock since it puts her in line with her 30th birthday unless they plan to push Elation and Paradise beyond that. Guess we will know when they start to order ships again and if they have plans for a smaller class or transfer some newer smaller ships from their other brands. 

Since cruising resumed I've only caught it twice, once in 2022 and once this past September. My mom caught it on this past cruise two weeks ago and the last time for her was in 2021. 

I just came off this past Sunday, we were in 5229. You could hear some noise from the bar during the day here and there (no music, maybe just movement) but once it quieted down it was fine. Outside of that you could hear doors being slammed but I think that was from nearby cabins across or like one down. It also didn't help that we had some rough waters for the most part of the trip so at night you could hear extra creaking.

We wanted to originally book one of the cabana rooms but booked the wrong one by accident. Location wise, it was convenient to be near the bars, and two floors below is the canal grande restaurant (sea day brunch and anytime dining restaurant).

Another article on the matter:

https://www.ilsecoloxix.it/economia/2024/01/12/news/fincantieri_verso_il_maxi_ordine_usa_4_nuove_mega_navi_da_crociera_carnival-13989469/

On 1/2/2024 at 1:23 AM, jas1178 said:

New budget cut?  Wow they have gotten smaller!  Carnival Magic swapped sizes for this cruise.

On 1/4/2024 at 7:02 AM, starstruck05 said:

Currently on Venezia and when they’ve been ordered they’ve come out in both of these sizes and I think the traditional size as well. 

I’ve only said on Freedom and that was last year, middle of the road ship for me, not my top favorite but not my least favorite. I would sail Freedom or her other sisters again. 

4 hours ago, jeanandmark said:

We have a bunch of Fun Points left with our Carnival Cruise credit card that I have not redeemed for our Feb 24 cruise. Our next cruise is on Princess, so I am wondering if I can redeem my Fun Points for that cruise being that Princess is one of the Carnival Cruise Line brands.  Anyone know?

Yes you should be able to, my app lets me apply points to Carnival, Costa, Cunard, Holland America, Princess and Seabourn, you just get a better incentive with using the points on Carnival purchases.

I would hope they go back to a mid-size before going big or similar to Excel.

With the European brands on the up swing as well, I don’t think we will see any more ships moved to Carnival from Costa but that could always change. 

5 hours ago, shof515 said:

Mardi Gras never sailed out of NYC like was originally planned. The NYC sailings was canceled due to all of the construction delays with building the ship. Hopefully they will be a day when the ship or one of its excel class sisters does actually sail out of NYC

Yes, that’s what I meant should have been more specific, I was booked on the original T/A. Would love if they swung one up here for a summer season, seeing as it can be done. One can hope. 

On 12/12/2023 at 11:19 PM, Stick93 said:

They should keep this ship in Florida. Seems NY didn’t embrace Carnival year round - especially this ship. 
Everyone else is doing great in NY.

Did they give it a fair shot though? The year round was pulled before the ship even arrived in NY. 
 

Interestingly enough, poking around other boards, NCL cut back from NY as well, they used to have 2-3 ships almost year round, now they will have 1 ship in the future during the winter. 

On 12/13/2023 at 6:23 AM, shof515 said:

i wish they rotate the ship every year like what they did in the past. 2025 is the 2nd year the venezia is sailing out of NYC during the summer

 

it would be nice if the magic, horizon or other ships return back to NYC again

Besides Magic, they rotated the ship that was in its debut season. Horizon, Sunrise, even Mardi Gras at one point, etc. I wouldn’t mind having Vista come back for a season. 

1. New York (Multiple times but seeing Carnival Venezia being escorted out by a fire tug salute was really something for me on her second cruise)

2. Miami

3. Tampa

4. Fort Lauderdale (Princess)

5. Port Canaveral 

Should be Venezia, I believe that's the only ship missing a summer schedule in 2025. If it was staying in Port Canaveral, I would think it would have been released when they posted her following winter season in PC from November 2025 - April 2026. Should know any time now.

37 minutes ago, toad455 said:

 

Is Venezia staying out of New York full-time in 2025?

Sadly no, it moves to Port Canaveral from December 2024 to May 2025, it is expected to return to New York until November 2025 and returns to PC through April 2026.

15 minutes ago, PrincessPatti said:

I am hoping it returns to New York.  Carnival has been saying New York 2025 schedule will be out in the next week or so.  They have been saying this for two months…..

Venezia is expected to return for the summer season in 2025, its the only ship without a schedule then, and the only port missing as well. Not sure what the delay is, but John said it should be posted any time now.

Sailed on Princess for a few years in between my Carnival cruises. The crowd is older but there was still plenty of fun and activities to be found; ship probably gets quiet a bit earlier than usual if anything. Food was pretty good but I think they reworked their menu at some point and took away some of the classics that myself and my family enjoyed. 

With that said though, I haven't sailed on them post-covid or since they adapted medallion service across their entire fleet. Enjoy their Grand Class ships, Royal Class wasn't bad but a tad overcrowded but that's subjective of course. Either way, its a great line if you choose to sail with them. 

Would also love to try Mardi Gras or Celebration, haven’t had the chance to sail on the class since MG’s original transatlantic was cancelled and then ending up on Venezia 3 times among other cruises. 
 

Panorama is also at the top of the list as well. 

10 minutes ago, geckoaz said:

My wife and i were excited to be on our first inaugural cruise but now it is the second. Will miss festivities and big wig corporate guests on the 2nd cruise. What was real reason the cruise was moved up? Now it is 7 day as oppose to our 5. No first time at port celebrations. Left over cake and party supplies. Thanks carnival for popping our inaugural balloon. 

 

They probably would carry over festivities on both sailings especially if people are going to be that upset. But Venezia basically had two inaugurals, the Transatlantic and the first sailing from NYC and Christine Duffy stayed on for the second cruise. Both had inaugural gifts as well. 

Glad you had a great time, she’s a great ship and I think has ironed out most of its issues from its initial start up. l have sailed twice with one more booked for January. 

Yes, tradewinds news confirmed the sale through a Carnival Corp rep. Now for the official announcement from MAS. 
 

Another Spirit Class ship in the region, definitely would look into booking if she does at least 4/5 day cruises. 

2025 cruises from New York haven’t been posted yet. 

If you’re interested in collecting the pins, they are at pixels gallery, which is your other perk as well for being gold. 

I was also on the US inaugural on Venezia to Bermuda and had a fantastic time, probably minor issues but nothing worth getting excited over. Sailed on the ship again two weeks ago and experience was mostly the same and also have one more sailing in January. I say book it and enjoy! 
 

I have a link to my review in my signature, should probably do another for the sailings I was just on. 

15 hours ago, Fla Mike said:

 

Interesting as per Wiki:

Costa Atlantica was sold to CSSC Carnival Cruise Shipping in late 2019.^[3]On the 12 October, 2023, the ship was renamed Mas Islander, however, the buyer is undisclosed.

 

So, the ship was sold today, (Oct 12, 2023).

I would love this, if it comes to pass, Spirit Class ships are my favorite from Carnival, minus the gawd awful dinning room on the Miracle.

 

Will she fit in the Port Of Palm Beach???

It wouldn’t fit into Port of Palm Beach, Tampa seem like a good place for the ship. 
 

14 hours ago, coaster said:

Atlantica’s interiors are gaudy as heck compared to the older Royal ships that sail from Tampa.  You can’t have it all I guess. Still a smart move if the speculation is true..

Certainly has an interesting atrium for starters, wonder how much would change and stay initially. Would need to make the ship more attractive compared to her sisters that rotate out of Tampa (should the ship end up there). 

On 9/26/2023 at 8:25 PM, Hansenrk said:

Heard from a Margaritaville Official representative the the will add a second larger and newer ship with approx 1200 cabins in 2024.  It will be home based out of the Tampa Port. Fins Up 🦜😎🏝️

 

Speculation is now pointing to the former Costa Atlantica (a Spirit Class) which was renamed Mas Islander. 

12 hours ago, Pellaz said:

 

They do not take you to the actual engine room, but to the Engineering Control Room, for reasons of security as well as safety, as the engine room area requires ear protection.  They can bring up camera views of the drive-shafts and other parts of the diesel gensets and drive motors...or at least, they have done so on some of the tours I've done.   The water and sewage systems are controlled from there also.  Asking knowledgeable questions there will often get great results.  

 

You usually end up walking through the entire galley, so you'll see much of the food prep machinery. 

 

You DO visit the main laundry and see the giant washers and dryers, as well as smaller ones used for guest laundry, plus the real star in action...the automated drying and folding machine.   🙂 

 

You'll also get two presentations regarding the main stage production shows, one from the cast perspective usually from the dance-captain, and one from a technical perspective from the stage manager. 

 

 

Between the two I'd choose the Horizon.  I'll be doing that tour myself in about two weeks.  🙂  

 

Definitely choose an early check-in time and go to Shore Excursions immediately upon embark.  

 

 

You didn't get a carved piece of soap that looks tantalizingly like white chocolate?  You wuz robbed!  😄   

2 hours ago, Haljo1935 said:

That machine is awesome - everyone in our group wants one for their very own, 😆 🤣 

I don't think we got carved soap; at least, I hope not cuz everything we got came delivered on 1 plate courtesy of the Chef. And none was white.

So, guess I wuz robbed!!

Carved piece of soap? Guess I was robbed of that but I did get that plate of goodies that’s pictured here. ^ 

3 hours ago, VentureMan_2000 said:

Do they show you the engine room ?  And other engineer/mechanical areas ?

Would love to see the engine room, propeller drive shaft, water RO processing, laundry processing, sewage processing, kitchen food prep machines... all the mechanical stuff.   

On Venezia you got to see galleries and storage, bit of the crew areas (like the mess areas), did get to see the laundry areas. As far as engine room, you didn't see the actual engine room itself but a control area with a lot of screens and different control panels. My favorite part being the bridge and finally you got to see the behind the scenes of the playlist stage. Each area had a senior representative that further explain the different processes and jobs that happen in each area. 

Total was $130, includes a hat, lanyard, drawstring backpack and a picture with the captain on the bridge (mine was group photo style). Definitely will be doing it again on the other ships in the fleet.