LIVE! Venezia Maiden Voyage 5/29 - Let’s Cruise!

[ninjacat123]

On 6/13/2023 at 7:33 PM, TravelBluebird said:

I have a trip to Seattle for work in early August, then visiting my daughter in Japan the rest of that month.

Although not cruises I’ll cover the travel on my YT channel—not sure I can “fit” any of that under Cruise Critic categories!

 

My next booked cruise is Royal Caribbean’s Wonder of the Seas first week of October. We are looking to pick up a last minute (hopefully well priced!) Carnival cruise in the interim, then Carnival Jubilee first week of March! 

Could you post a link or just post when your Japan trip review (if you're doing one) happens?  My DH, myself and two DDs (21 & 23) will be going to Tokyo and Kyoto July 2024.  TIA!

Edited June 18, 2023 by ninjacat123

[TravelBluebird]

2 hours ago, ninjacat123 said:

Could you post a link or just post when your Japan trip review (if you're doing one) happens?  My DH, myself and two DDs (21 & 23) will be going to Tokyo and Kyoto July 2024.  TIA!

 

Definitely; if I can figure out a place it fits here on CC I will do it here, plus I’ll have videos. 

 

I’ve been to Japan many times (my daughter lives there) so if you have any questions, please ask me! Kyoto is incredible—such a beautiful city!  And Tokyo—no other city is like it! 

[Hogladyrider]

14 hours ago, TravelBluebird said:

 

Definitely; if I can figure out a place it fits here on CC I will do it here, plus I’ll have videos. 

 

I’ve been to Japan many times (my daughter lives there) so if you have any questions, please ask me! Kyoto is incredible—such a beautiful city!  And Tokyo—no other city is like it! 

Suggest you look on CC at the Floataway Lounge section to post your Japan review!

[Haljo1935]

Thank you @TravelBluebird for the posts, pictures and quick responses to seemingly random asks that came your way. All your "pioneering" will surely help those of us with upcoming cruises on Venezia make the most of our time and have a better experience.

We are doing a B2B in Sept and booked on a different ship, so moving to this one was quite a surprise with nowhere to get answers. So, thank you, thank you, thank you!!

Will be viewing your remaining YT videos and look forward to more.

Safe travels!!

[thesmiths]

Thank you for the videos, did you do one on the Terrazza Carnevale area?

 

 

 

 

[Essiesmom]

1 hour ago, Hogladyrider said:

Suggest you look on CC at the Floataway Lounge section to post your Japan review!

Or maybe on the Ports of Call section for Japan.  Cruisers to Japan are always looking for touring hints.  EM

[TravelBluebird]

On 6/19/2023 at 11:25 AM, thesmiths said:

Thank you for the videos, did you do one on the Terrazza Carnevale area?

 

Yes!  This one includes the Terrazza Cabana room, AND the full Carnivale area:  I’m also planning to do a separate video on all the Terrrazza amenities and perks.

 

 

 

[TravelBluebird]

On 6/19/2023 at 11:30 AM, Essiesmom said:

Or maybe on the Ports of Call section for Japan.  Cruisers to Japan are always looking for touring hints.  EM

 

This definitely makes sense, especially since we’ll be visiting Hakodate on Hokkaido, which is a cruise port.

[TravelBluebird]

Well, I said my next Carnival LIVE would not be until Jubilee in early March 2024….but we just got invited to Ultra Cruises (Casino cruise) and we are now eyeing a Celebration cruise at the end of November. 

 

Will let you know if we book it! Sleeping on it overnight. I’ve wanted to sail Celebration but prices have been so high every time I’ve looked.

[ninjacat123]

4 minutes ago, TravelBluebird said:

 

This definitely makes sense, especially since we’ll be visiting Hakodate on Hokkaido, which is a cruise port.

Post a link here so I can follow along please!  Nice about the Ultra Cruise!  What does that all entail?

[TravelBluebird]

2 hours ago, ninjacat123 said:

Post a link here so I can follow along please!  Nice about the Ultra Cruise!  What does that all entail?

 

I will post a link!

 

Ultra cruise is a Carnival Players Club cruise—a discounted rate for room, gifts, cocktail party, treats in room, prizes (can be quite nice; iPads and MacBooks), special events, DOU in casino for you and companion.  

 

I’ve only ever been offered Premier cruises before, but this is my first offer on an Ultra. 

 

Maybe I spent a little too much in the casino on Venezia? 😂

[luvs2beachit]

I will be on Venezia on 6/27 with my family and both my daughter and son need to keep in touch with their offices via email so I am interested in hearing if you were able to send and receive emails.  Also, what level of plan did you have?

Again, thanks for all your hard work.  

 

[TravelBluebird]

10 minutes ago, luvs2beachit said:

I will be on Venezia on 6/27 with my family and both my daughter and son need to keep in touch with their offices via email so I am interested in hearing if you were able to send and receive emails.  Also, what level of plan did you have?

Again, thanks for all your hard work.  

 

 

You are very welcome!

 

The internet on Venezia was overall excellent. Absolutely no problem with emails.   I had the Premium plan due to my need to upload videos. For several TransAtlantic days, my husband had the Value (medium) plan which was suitable for email and most web sites.  We did not try the Social plan (lowest level).

 

We very much dislike that you only get one log on for Internet, since to have 2 plans, one for each of us on the long 15 day cruise would have been prohibitively expensive, and for each of us to sign on and off my plan for the days we did not each buy a plan was exhausting and inconvenient. I understand Royal gives you 4 log ins for the Internet plan, which is so much more reasonable—even 2 log-ins for 1 purchased plan at the Value or Premium levels would be a huge help.

[luvs2beachit]

5 hours ago, TravelBluebird said:

Thanks so much for your quick and detailed response.  I was exactly what I needed to know.  

Judie

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

[vadersprincess12]

On 6/3/2023 at 9:07 AM, TravelBluebird said:

Still not getting old and still no one out here but me. May try the hammock in a bit.

 

Gosh, I love it out here so much maybe I should see if I can switch my Ocean Suite on the Jubilee next year for a Havana Cabana room?

Is this the Terraza Balcony?  We are booked later this year in this type of stateroom.  Never had one and not sure how it will be with the walkway between us and the ocean, but got it for a great price so thought it would be a nice experience.  How are you liking it?

 

[TravelBluebird]

On 6/23/2023 at 9:03 PM, vadersprincess12 said:

Is this the Terraza Balcony?  We are booked later this year in this type of stateroom.  Never had one and not sure how it will be with the walkway between us and the ocean, but got it for a great price so thought it would be a nice experience.  How are you liking it?

 

Yes, this is the Terrazza Balcony.  We really loved it! I have lots of information about it in this thread and also a video about this type of room including a tour on my YT channel.

[TravelBluebird]

An UPDATE to my cruise schedule!

 

I’ve now got the following cruises planned; I’ll do LIVE Blogs on all of them right here on Cruise Critic.  For security reasons I’ll post the dates closer to the cruises, but I’ll include the months I’m sailing here:

 

—Royal Caribbean Wonder of the Seas - October

—Carnival Celebration - November

—HAL Oosterdam to South America and Antarctica - January

—Carnival Jubilee - March, with a BtoB with my grandchildren joining me thereafter.

 

Phew!  HAL was unexpected—I was offered a free cruise.  I don’t think this had anything to do with my blogging or YT channel since it came to a private email—last time I cruised with HAL was over 10 years ago!. Excited about finishing the Carnival Excel class “trifecta” with Celebration and Jubilee, as I love the Mardi Gras so much.

 

Also, if you are interested in the Transatlantic aspect of my journey on the Venezia, here is my latest YouTube video:  

 

 

[Haljo1935]

7 hours ago, TravelBluebird said:

An UPDATE to my cruise schedule!...

—HAL Oosterdam to South America and Antarctica - January

...

Phew!  HAL was unexpected—I was offered a free cruise.  I don’t think this had anything to do with my blogging or YT channel since it came to a private email—last time I cruised with HAL was over 10 years ago!....

 

Welcome back to HAL!! Should be interesting to see how it's changed in 10 years.

I was also offered a free cruise on the SA Antarctica cruise, but just couldn't make it work - I work FT and think there are too many sea days to get a consistent, reliable internet connection. Huge congrats for being able to take advantage of that deal!! I will definitely be following along and look forward to your pictures.

We're on Venezia B2B in Sept, so I thoroughly enjoyed your live review of the TA. Thanks for taking us along...

[TravelBluebird]

14 hours ago, Haljo1935 said:

Welcome back to HAL!! Should be interesting to see how it's changed in 10 years.

I was also offered a free cruise on the SA Antarctica cruise, but just couldn't make it work - I work FT and think there are too many sea days to get a consistent, reliable internet connection. Huge congrats for being able to take advantage of that deal!! I will definitely be following along and look forward to your pictures.

We're on Venezia B2B in Sept, so I thoroughly enjoyed your live review of the TA. Thanks for taking us along...

 

I am already worried about the Internet for this particular journey, but I’m going to do it anyway—I know it won’t compare to the excellent Internet on the Carnival Venezia!

 

Glad you enjoyed this LIVE blog! I so enjoy taking everyone along with me 💕

[Psweets]

For YOUR TIME DINING can you do on app for 22 people or does each cabin have to reserve?

 

[TravelBluebird]

@Psweets

 

When we’ve traveled with others on Carnival, you can select other people you cruise with—or new friends—right in the app so you can get a table together.

 

That said, the largest group I’ve done this with is 6.  I’ve answered you in the other thread as well…I think managing such a large group with Your Time Dining would be very hard to do, for both you and the Main Dining Room.

 

Would love to hear directly from other people who have cruised with a very large group and see if they’ve made this work through the app and Your Time Dining, as I’m traveling with a group of 12+ next year for a Jubilee cruise.

Edited July 3, 2023 by TravelBluebird

[TravelBluebird]

1 hour ago, Lovecruises6969 said:

I’ve been seeing a lot of people saying that it is hot and humid in a lot of the public interior areas on the ship is that true?

 

The Transatlantic cruise had much different weather than a Caribbean cruise; much cooler, so it wasn’t a problem for us.

 

A small bit of advice—most people on the boards here read many of the threads, so there is no need to ask in multiple threats for people to contact Carnival regarding the warm temperatures in the ship. If you are on Twitter, perhaps one post would be more useful//set your mind at ease that Carnival is aware of the problem—, be sure to include an “at’ Carnival in your post; you’ll get their attention directly that way.

Edited July 7, 2023 by TravelBluebird

[TravelBluebird]

OK; if you just got here and don’t want to read through this long thread, or just want to see what my full thoughts were on the ship, finally here is my full review: