Overall, cruising probably isn't for our family. The ship was beautiful, service and staff in the Terrazza area of the Venezia were amazing. But the style of traveling wasn't really our thing. Being stuck inside a ship for 8 days without much of a break was just not enjoyable. Since we missed a port and had a shortened visit at another, we had maybe 8 hours total off the ship in not-so-great weather. We were able to make the best of the trip by enjoying shows, music, and specialty dining on board so I wouldn't give the cruise 1 star, but probably 3.5 stars overall.
Embarkation
3 out of 5
Embarkation was terrible. The entire space was overcrowded because disembarkation was delayed from the previous cruise. When we finally got through the security process, our group was separated. We were traveling with my in-laws, who had assisted boarding. My younger son was in their cabin, so he had to board with them and we waited another 3 hours before we could board. We finally made it on the ship before 4pm only to be told that we were sitting in NYC until early the next morning due to weather.
Ship experiences
Food and Dining
3 out of 5
The main dining room for your time dining was just awful. We ate there only two times, for both elegant nights. The food was close to inedible and the service was nonexistent. No one ever came to refill waters or drinks. The saving grace on the Venezia were the specialty dining options. They were amazing. Bonsai Sushi was superb, the Steakhouse excellent, and hibachi was delicious. Service was excellent in all three. Our kids ended up wanting to eat at Bonsai for two meals a day. The other options were good. Guys Burgers were a hit, but got old when the options didn't change. The burritos/tacos were great. And the pizza place was fantastic tasting. My only issue with pizza was that they were reluctant to serve you as much as you tried to order. For instance, we were trying to order 6 pizzas for our entire group and they kept trying to only give us 6 slices.
Onboard Activities
2 out of 5
Weather really impacted how much we could do, which made everyone retreat inside for most of the cruise. On the days we could get outside, everything was overcrowded, which is understandable since we had all been stuck inside for days! The ropes course and the waterslides were fun, but mostly unusable due to weather. The fitness center was great for us adults who needed some activity, because it was inside and never crowded.
Entertainment
4 out of 5
The Broadway show was great, especially the two female leads. They could really SING. Comedians were funny. We loved watching karaoke, bands, and the string quartet. So good!
Service and Staff
5 out of 5
We stayed in the Terrazza area of the ship and let me tell you, the service we received was impeccable. That part of the ship just made the entire cruise enjoyable for us. The Carnivale Lounge became our second home on the ship, with continental breakfast, cocktails, entertainment. Hendra, the bartender/manager, was just a sheer joy to be around. And the rest of the staff, Hendro, Katherine, and Milos were wonderful. Our room steward I Ketut was prompt, he listened to our small requests and always came through. Not one complaint. He even had our hammock replaced in an instant when we mentioned it was broken. U and Kudu were always greeting us with a smile and asking if they could do anything to help. Terrazza was perfection.
Ship Quality
3 out of 5
With the pools being small, they were basically unusable for most people. The forward pool often had 4-5 people in it and that was FULL. The aft pool with the weather really didn't get much use or if it did, it was overcrowded. The Lido area was always packed. It didn't seem like there were enough common spaces inside to use with the bad weather, which seems like a design flaw for a ship sailing out of the north east. Deck 5 was by far my favorite. With the Terrazza area in the aft, including the outdoor space with hot tubs and lounges, the Carnivale bar, and all of the specialty dining, shops, and little bars, we really never wanted to leave Deck 5.
Cabin / Stateroom
4 out of 5
The room was well appointed, ample room for 3 of us. The outdoor space with the two lounge chairs and hammock was divine. We all wished we had better weather so we could have used it more.
Ship tip
Specialty dining is the WAY TO GO on the Venezia. It's all amazing. If you can upgrade to Terrazza, it's well worth the money.
Definitely the wrong time of the year I would do March April and you might want to try Royal Caribbean instead of carnival but thank you for your review
Tks for sharing..sad that your family experience was not ideal, but their are so many ways to travel with family and we each have our prefered way. Cheers..
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