What does it take to turn a ship designed for European tastes into a ship that feels like home for a mainly American crowd?
Everything from new electrical sockets to burgers and pizza needed a rethink as Carnival Cruise Line renovates two ships built for Italy’s Costa Cruises to join the Carnival fleet sailing from U.S. ports. The Costa Venezia, launched in 2019, will be sailing year-round from New York to Bermuda and the Caribbean starting in June and renamed Carnival Venezia. Fleet mate Costa Firenze finished in 2020 will be renamed Carnival Firenze and start sailing from Long Beach, California starting in 2024.
Both 4,200 guest ships are sisters of Carnival Vista and Carnival Horizon, but they were built to European standards, with 220-volt plugs and sit-down restaurants serving what’s considered take-out snack food in America.
Carnival will be making updates across the ships including adding mini-bars and standard American power outlets to the staterooms, so guests feel at home on board, said Christine Duffy, president of Carnival Cruise Line at a preview of the revamped Venezia.
“Carnival Fun Italian Style is a new take on our recipe for creating memorable Carnival cruises…. Guests will feel right at home on Carnival Venezia,” she promised. The former bright white and yellow hulls and stacks are being repainted in Carnival’s red, white and blue livery.
Guests will find restaurants on board reconfigured into Carnival favorites, including steakhouse Fahrenheit 555, Bonsai Sushi & Teppanyaki and the Chef’s Table, along with Lido Marketplace, Seafood Shack and Pizzeria del Capitano, Piano Bar 88 and Heroes Tribute Lounge. But while things change, an Italian flair will remain. Familiar Carnival menus will add Italian specialties — for example, gelato will join the coffee and snack options at Java Blue Café. A new outlet, La Strada Grill will serve grilled Italian street food and sandwiches.
The complimentary Guy’s Burger Joint will replace burger outlets that charged 3.5 Euros or more for a burger and extra 2 Euros for fries on the Costa ships. The Guy’s lineup will also add new Italian flavors. Along with classic American burgers and fries, new menu items will feature an Italian twist, such as a pepperoni pizza burger and a burger smothered in melted mozzarella cheese.
New to Carnival are Tomodoro, a Mex-Italian fusion restaurant that features ingredients such as Italian meatballs and Sicilian chicken alongside traditional Mexican tacos and burritos, for breakfast and lunch.
The main Canal Grande and Marco Polo Restaurants will feature three-course meals in spaces surrounded by elegant Italian sculptures and architectural designs, including a real-life Venetian gondola in one of them. There will also be a new specialty Italian restaurant and more Italian dishes offered in the main dining rooms.
On Venezia’s top deck, Carnival is carving out an adults-only Serenity area featuring lounging furniture, sun beds and two whirlpools that will also include a bar featuring spritzes.
To add the equivalent of the popular Havana staterooms on other Carnival ships, staterooms on decks 5 to 9 aft will become Terrazza staterooms, with exclusive access to Terrazza Carnevale, an outdoor terraced deck featuring two whirlpools, a bar and quiet lounging space.
Bars and Lounges will retain Italian accents. Amari will be similar to what Carnival guests know and love as Alchemy Bars across Carnival’s fleet, with a menu of drinks prepared by mixologists. Frizzante will feature bubbly drinks from prosecco to spritzes and Bellinis along with Italian beer. Authentic Italian coffees and biscotti will be served here throughout the day. And the Carnevale Bar & Lounge will feature scenes of the Carnivale di Venezia on LED screens along with live music and Italian wines and classic cocktails.
Carnival Venezia will be sailing from New York’s Manhattan Terminal, with 10 different cruise durations and 22 unique itineraries featuring visits to 25 ports across 14 countries beginning June 15, 2023. Carnival Firenze joins the fleet in 2024 and will sail year-round from Long Beach, Calif.
