Carnival Cruise Line has opened reservations for its newest cruise ship, Carnival Venezia. The cruise ship will join the Carnival fleet next year. Her first cruise will be a transatlantic cruise from Barcelona on May 29, 2023, starting year-round operations from New York City on June 15, 2023.
Costa Venezia will be rebranded to Carnival Venezia in the coming six months and offer ten different cruise durations, 22 unique itineraries, and visit 26 ports in 14 countries. The ship is part of the cruise line’s newest initiative, “Carnival Fun Italian Style,” and she will replace the popular Carnival Magic.
Carnival Venezia Cruises Now Open for Booking
Carnival Cruise Line announced earlier today, November 14, the 2018-built Vista-class cruise ship Carnival Venezia is now open for bookings. Officially joining the Carnival Cruise Line in May next year, Carnival Venezia will be transformed during dry dock in the coming months. The vessel is currently operating for Costa Cruises.
Following her maiden transatlantic voyage for Carnival Cruise Line on May 29, Carnival Venezia will sail year-round from New York’s Manhattan Cruise Terminal from June 15 onwards. Guests will have the choice of ten different cruise durations and 22 itineraries featuring visits to 26 ports in 14 countries.
“Our summer season in New York has been extremely popular, so increasing our offerings with a larger, newer ship that sails year-round provides the opportunity for more guests in the tri-state area and beyond to enjoy the convenience of sailing right from Manhattan,” said Christine Duffy, president of Carnival Cruise Line.
“Carnival Venezia will give guests our signature fun, combined with Italian theming, to beautiful destinations from The Bahamas and the Caribbean to Bermuda and Canada.”
During her first summer season, Carnival Venezia will operate four-, five- six- and eight-day sailings to the Caribbean, Bermuda, and ports in Canada and New England, including Halifax and Saint John.
From September 29, 2023, Carnival Venezia will start her winter itineraries, operation eight- to 12-day cruises to destinations in the Eastern and Southern Caribbean and the Bahamas. Ports of call include St. Thomas, San Juan, Aruba, and Carnival’s private destinations: Half Moon Cay, Princess Cays, Amber Cove, and Grand Turk.
Carnival Venezia to Take Over From Carnival Magic
Carnival Venezia will take over the itineraries scheduled for Carnival Magic once she joins the fleet next year, impacting guests booked onboard the Carnival Magic. Carnival Cruise Line sent out a message to guests booked on cruises sailing from New York City that their cruise would be moved to Carnival Venezia instead.
“We want to provide you with an update on your cruise. Carnival Venezia will be joining the Carnival fleet and Will now be operating our sailings from New York, including your cruise. We know you will enjoy the warm and friendly service from our Carnival Venezia crew and the variety of entertainment and activities we have planned for you.”
Carnival Cruise Line will automatically move all reservations made until November 21, 2022. Once the cruise line has done the transfer, guests will receive confirmation of the new ship and cabin assignment. Guests will be assigned a comparable stateroom, and any onboard credits on the booking will also reflect on the new booking onboard Carnival Venezia.
Any pre-purchased items, such as Carnival Vacation Protection, gratuities, beverage and Wi-Fi packages, and Fun Shop Items, will also automatically transfer.
Carnival Fun Italian Style
The Vista-class, 135,000 gross-ton Carnival Venezia was purpose-built by Costa Cruises for voyages in China and first set sail in China in 2019. However, with the global pause in operations, and the enduring cruise ban in China, Costa has a considerable overcapacity.
To combat this problem, parent company Carnival Corporation announced a few months back that three Costa Cruises ships would transfer to Carnival Cruise Line.
The first, Carnival Luminosa (ex-Costa Luminosa), set sail from Brisbane, Australia, in November 2022. She is a dedicated Carnival Fun Ship, with some features that remind guests of her past. However, Carnival Venezia will be part of a program called “Carnival Fun Italian Style.”
Carnival Venezia (ex-Costa Venezia), will be rebranded in the coming months and will be home to many activities and experiences guests enjoy aboard other Carnival ships, including Carnival Waterworks, Piano Bar 88, Fahrenheit 555 Steakhouse, Bonsai Sushi, Seafood Shack, Cloud 9 Salon & Spa, and the Serenity Adult-Only Retreat.
In 2024, Carnival Cruise Line will welcome a second ‘Carnival Fun Italian Style’ ship when Carnival Firenze joins the fleet, scheduled to sail year-round from Long Beach, California.
