Need input for first Carnival cruise

[palaemon]

We’ve sailed Princess twice, Royal Caribbean twice, MSC (in 2008], NCL and Holland America.

 

None were bad.

 

Looking between a 7-day Carnival and 10-day Venezia in April 2024. 

 

I’ve read that the Venezia is “smoky,” the lines are longer than average, and the pool seating is awful. 
 

that said, if the smoke is just a normal amount, and the lines are average, and such. We’re not really that picky. 
 

50s gay couple. 

[LatinaInTexas]

In not much help but I loved the Celebration and want to sail on the Venezia. The only issue I would have with the Venezia is the 10 day itinerary I was looking at had a lot of sea days and I don't prefer sea days. 

[theckenlady]

Since its your first cruise I would pick shorter. My wife and I went on a longer cruise the first time and hated all the sea days. Started again a few years later with 5 day cruises and now we love the longer ones. My own opinion, you need time to acclimate to a cruise ship, but once you do its wonderful! The transatlantic to England is fantastic! 

[palaemon]

1 minute ago, theckenlady said:

Since its your first cruise I would pick shorter. My wife and I went on a longer cruise the first time and hated all the sea days. Started again a few years later with 5 day cruises and now we love the longer ones. My own opinion, you need time to acclimate to a cruise ship, but once you do its wonderful! The transatlantic to England is fantastic! 

oh no. It’s our first *Carnival* cruise. We love cruising and sea days are great. 

[Beav1279]

The Celebration goes out of Florida and is more likely to have more families with kids. I would think the 10-day on the Venezia out of NYC would be a more peaceful, relaxing cruise. That's what I would choose! (DH and I are 44, 55, no kids).

[Haljo1935]

2 hours ago, palaemon said:

...

I’ve read that the Venezia is “smoky,” the lines are longer than average, and the pool seating is awful. 
 

that said, if the smoke is just a normal amount, and the lines are average, and such...

Did 13 days B2B on Venezia in Sept. Venezia is very "smokey" mid-ship up to deck 7 is so bad we kept looking for whoever was smoking. Cabin Steward said it's always like that (he has a hard time breathing and it bothers him) and the Crew leading the Behind the Fun Tour said they're struggling w/it as the HVAC cannot keep up & wasn't designed for the volume of smoke it gets.

Not only is the pool seating bad, the pool is small. As is the Theater.

Just not built for this market and the conversion didn't adequately address these things.

But the ship was beautiful. For us, unfortunately, pretty does not trump smokey. 

[bg2310]

I voted for the Celebration. I'm doing a 7 day Western Caribbean sailing on her in April.

 

Is the Venezia the one sailing out of NY? If so, I've read other threads on that with not good exoeriences and I can't say I'd recommend it. Maybe it also explains the "smoke" if that's the case.

[csm5986142]

We have been on Celebration twice and absolutely love it.  So many restaurant and entertainment options, the ship can be your destination (there were some ports we didn't even get off) and you never get bored.  We have been on around 30 Carnival ships and feel their Excel class is a whole new experience.

[kdr69]

I'll wager there were negative things said about your other cruises by someone somewhere as well.  As an experienced cruiser you should know to take it all with a grain (shaker) of salt and just go and enjoy yourselves. My humble opinion.

[MJSailors]

@palaemon There  is a review of the Venezia posted here by @Jamman54

Maybe you have read it.

There are good photos and insights about the ship in his review.

Do you plan to post about the Carnival cruise you have chosen?

It would be interesting to read about that cruise experience from

someone who has cruised with various lines.

MJ🙋🏻‍♀️

[jennas_mum]

I have never been on celebration although I would go in a heart beat. We did a 10 day on Venetian last October and loved it. I am very sensitive to smoke but didn't notice the ship being to smoky. The casino waz very smoky but they do have a non smoking casino. I would enjoy either one. Definitely a hard choice.

[Crusin Karen]

40 minutes ago, MJSailors said:

@palaemon There  is a review of the Venezia posted here by @Jamman54

Maybe you have read it.

There are good photos and insights about the ship in his review.

Do you plan to post about the Carnival cruise you have chosen?

It would be interesting to read about that cruise experience from

someone who has cruised with various lines.

MJ🙋🏻‍♀️

And there are a bunch of celebration reviews and “live from” now. I’ve been on Venezia twice. Yes casino is very smoky. But people talk about smoke smell being “everywhere” and I can honestly say I never experienced that. Really just in or walking through the casino. And I have a very keen sense of smell! 

[crazyfrazee]

You've stressed the fact ya'll are gay. I'm curious, does being gay having any bearing on which cruise and/or ship? 

[palaemon]

1 hour ago, Rahi said:

Actually it does not really matter where it sails from the ship is in need of many cosmetic repairs. It is a smoky run down ship! 

It’s brand new. Less than a year old (as a Carnival rebrand)

[Rahi]

13 minutes ago, palaemon said:

It’s brand new. Less than a year old (as a Carnival rebrand)

Yea, right.. I it NOT brand new!

[StephPS79]

There are points to each.  I think yes, the Celebration would have more families with kids, but I think it has more to do with the length of the cruise than where it leaves.  There would probably be a lot less families with kids on a 10-day.  If that doesn't matter to you at all, I would say Celebration, mostly because I think it is closer to the Carnival brand than the Venezia.  Venezia has a few quirks, as it was built for Costa.  I haven't sailed on Venezia yet, and would really like to in the future, it does look like an intriguing ship, but I don't think I would pick it for my first Carnival cruise.

[Paelos]

I would do the Celebration. I've done the Mardi Gras and liked the food choices. If food is important to you, I think it's the way to go given the variety over the Venezia. If the layout and style of a different type of ship is more important, I'd go with Venezia as it's the more unique one.

[ninjacat123]

If you choose Celebration, check out Emeril's!  A bit of an upcharge but the food is delicious!  Hours can vary so be aware. Bonsai Teppanyaki is great, dinner and a show and is an upcharge. Big Chicken is my favorite chicken sandwich and included.  There is gelato (flavors change daily) on Lido by the Shawarma station, I believe and included.  Try out Street Eatz which change daily as well.  I hope you all have a terrific cruise no matter what ship you decide upon😊