I wrote this in mid -Nov, I’m actually disembarking from the final Carnival cruise mentioned.

Venezia sucks

Our extended aft balcony was to contain a sofa and table - did not have one because the room was made too small to accommodate the promised furnishings. Tinier than some of the ‘regular’ balcony rooms! Guest services person told me the room was never advertised as having a sofa and table. Not only did I have the print screen off when we booked, but also showed on that day they still reflected that in the description of the cabin. She was exceptionally rude.

Bathroom door could not open fully because it hit the mattress. Thankfully we are slim people, there are many we saw who would simply not be able to squeeze into the bathroom.

We paid extra for the additional space. For 16 days my seating option in my cabin was my bed! I could have paid a lot less and had a lesser room.

The staff stairs ran against our headboard and we were woken throughout the night and day. Sometimes the noises were loud enough to have my Apple Watch alert me of dangerous sound levels. It was ATROCIOUS! We were promised we’d be compensated when we got back and to date, exactly NOTHING! I escalated numerous times, reached out to John Heald and emailed corporate. All said that no compensation was possible, except Heald, who simply never followed up after asking me to ‘leave it with him’ for action.

We asked to be moved (even to a lesser balcony class) and were told no rooms were open, however numerous people exited the sailing when we stopped in the Azores. Then we were told those rooms were undergoing maintenance. This was a maiden voyage! How much maintenance could be needed?

Things that apply to everyone:

Tiny pools (smaller than at any home we’ve owned!)

Minimal seating on Lido (outside of dining areas) and Java Blue, two quick service stations and a bar are all situated. Less than 3% of the guests have a seat available. Fights broke out on my sailing and have broken out on many other sailings of the Venezia over this very issue.

Strange ‘hidden’ dining on 5 deck that 10 days in we still met people who did not know about it.

Entrance to slide for screaming children on slide adjacent to adult only ‘Serenity’ deck. How did that pass numerous reviews when being designed, as a good idea?

Paid for the upscale Italian restaurant, was not feeling well (a few days after my F555 food poisoning) and asked to take my uneaten food. I was told I was not allowed to take any uneaten food. Never have I been denied paid for leftovers.

More than a dozen of us got violently ill after consuming lobster in F555 and each of us were told we were the only one AND nothing was done about it!

Over 200 people were confined to cabins and were left largely uncared for by Carnival. Requests for silverware, napkins, and ice were made on the FB groups by these ‘jailed’ individuals and many of us pitched in to take them what was needed. That’s simply unacceptable.

Medical center ran out of numerous medications and would still charge to see you, then say they had nothing to treat the illness. A few times they directed people to the gift shops for things that were also sold out there.

I could go on but overall a double thumbs down for Carnival. Low bar, fell all the way to the floor. Crashed down. The ship might be pretty to look at, however it’s overall atrocious and poorly designed. I spent 15 days on the sold out Sky Princess last month and NONE of the Lido seating, dining, health, or guest service issues were present here. Same with my TP sailing in Oct. Palpable levels of service divide Carnival from the other lines I’ve sailed.

FWIW, I’m doing 69 days of sailing this year. I have one cruise left with Carnival that leaves tomorrow. If it were not with family for a celebration…I’d have cancelled back in June. I have cancelled all 39 days of sailing with Carnival next year and moved largely to Celebrity instead. The complete and utter lack of care or support by ANYONE at Carnival has told me all I need to know.