Two VIPs will be joining Carnival Venezia‘s first transatlantic crossing as the revitalized “Carnival Fun Italian Style” ship will make her way from Barcelona to New York for the first time. Both the cruise line’s president, Christine Duff, and chief culinary officer, Emeril Lagasse, will be on the ship’s May 29, 2023 sailing.

Top Names to Sail on Carnival Venezia

Two high-profile Carnival Cruise Line celebrities will be aboard a very celebrated ship as Carnival Venezia sails across the North Atlantic on her first crossing under the new flag and her new position as a Carnival cruise ship.

“Just got word our President, Christine Duffy, and our Chief Culinary Officer, Emeril Lagasse, will be sailing aboard Carnival Venezia’s May 29th sailing from Barcelona!” the cruise line announced on Wednesday, March 29, 2023.

The May 29, 2023 sailing is a one-way 15-night Carnival Journeys transatlantic crossing departing from Barcelona and calling on Malaga, Gibraltar, Lisbon, the Azores, and Halifax before arriving in New York on Tuesday, June 13.

Duffy and Lagasse will only remain onboard for the first part of the sailing, but will be part of a number of festivities in the early days of the cruise.

“We are eagerly awaiting the debut of Carnival Venezia and so we wanted to welcome the ship with ‘BAM’ by having Emeril join me on board as we interact with guests and show off this beautiful ship,” said Duffy.

“Together for the first part of Carnival Venezia’s first sailing, we’ll experience Carnival’s signature fun with a new Italian flair, exclusive onboard events and beautiful European destinations – I can’t wait!”

The exact number of days Duffy and Lagasse will be onboard and when they will leave the ship has not been announced, but they will likely depart the vessel in a European port rather than remaining onboard for the six sea days between the Azores and Canada.

Special VIP Events

Programming highlights featuring Duffy and Lagasse include a Sail Away Party and Captain’s Venetian Toast, guest appearances on The Wave Morning Show, a special Fireside Chat, and a private cooking demonstration planned for May 30, the ship’s first sea day.

Reservations for the cooking demonstration can only be purchased onboard the ship and will be filled on a first-come first-served basis, with proceeds going to Carnival Cruise Line’s long-time charitable partner, St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital.

Other special activities and events are likely to be part of the unique cruise, not only to celebrate the VIPs onboard, but also to commemorate the beginning of the ship’s new position in the Carnival fleet and all that makes Carnival Venezia unique and distinctive.

Sailing With Carnival Venezia

Even if guests cannot book the transatlantic sailing in May, there are many great options for cruising aboard Carnival Venezia. Once she arrives in New York at the Manhattan Cruise Terminal, the ship will begin offering a variety of sailings from the Big Apple.

Shorter 4-night cruises will visit Bermuda, while longer 8-night sailings will be Eastern Caribbean itineraries calling on destinations such as Puerto Rico, St. Thomas, Amber Cove, and Grand Turk. Some cruises will also visit Half Moon Cay in the Bahamas.

Canada and New England itineraries are also available and range from 5-7 nights, with ports of call such as Saint John, Halifax, Sydney, and Portland.

Carnival Venezia will also offer longer 10-, 11-, and 12-night Eastern Caribbean and Southern Caribbean cruises on select departure dates, offering travelers even greater options for fantastic cruises. In total, the ship will offer 22 unique itineraries that together visit 25 ports of call across 14 countries.

Once onboard, guests will experience the Italian vibe of the gorgeous ship, including the stunning atrium modeled after Venice’s main public square, the Piazza San Marco. The Lido deck draws inspiration from the Italian Riviera, the Gondola Lounge is designed to evoke the famous Venetian canals, and the Carnevale Bar & Lounge celebrates the elegance of Venetian masquerades.

The ship, currently being renovated and updated in Cadiz, will also feature many classic Carnival favorites, such as Carnival Waterworks, Heroes Tribute Lounge, Fahrenheit 555 Steakhouse, Bonsai Sushi & Teppanyaki, Guy’s Burger Joint, the Serenity Adult-Only Retreat, and Dr. Seuss Bookville.

With so much to offer in such a beautiful and engaging way, Carnival Venezia truly can bring a bit of Italy to every Carnival cruiser’s experience.

Carnival Cruise Line’s Carnival Venezia was officially registered with the Bahamas Maritime Authority (BMA) during a ceremony in Cadiz, Spain. The ship, set to sail from New York’s Manhattan Cruise Terminal later this year, promises to bring “Fun Italian Style” to cruising.

Carnival Venezia Registration with Bahamas Maritime Authority

Carnival Cruise Line’s Carnival Venezia officially joined the Bahamas Maritime Authority (BMA) registry at a ceremony held in Cadiz, Spain. The ship is scheduled to embark from New York’s Manhattan Cruise Terminal on June 15, 2023.

The registration ceremony in Cadiz saw Carnival Venezia‘s senior leadership team and the classification society completing all necessary processes and raising the Bahamian flag to designate the new ship registry.

Christine Duffy, president of Carnival Cruise Line, said: “We’re thrilled to celebrate another maritime milestone as Carnival Venezia joins the seven other ships we have registered in The Bahamas. The BMA is among the most respected administrations in international shipping, and we value their level of cooperation and professionalism aimed to achieve the highest safety standards.”

The cruise ship, officially handed over to Carnival Cruise Line last week, must now adhere to the laws and regulations of The Bahamas, including taxes and crew member employment.

Dry Dock Followed by Transatlantic Cruise

Presently in dry dock at Cadiz, Carnival Venezia is preparing to set sail on a 15-day transatlantic Carnival Journeys voyage from Barcelona, departing on May 29, 2023.

Carnival Venezia will embark on year-round cruises from Manhattan Cruise Terminal in New York starting June 15, 2023, providing passengers with various options across ten different cruise durations and 22 unique itineraries.

Cruises from New York City will visit 25 ports in 14 countries and include, amongst others, a 4-Night Bermuda Cruise, an 8-Night Eastern Caribbean Cruise with stops in Amber Cove in the Dominican Republic, Grand Turk in Turks and Caicos, and Half Moon Cay, and an 8-Night Eastern Caribbean Cruise with stops in San Juan in Puerto Rico, St. Thomas in the US Virgin Islands, and Grand Turk.

“Fun Italian Style” and Onboard Offerings

Carnival Venezia, formerly known as Costa Venezia, was part of an expansion plan that included the delivery of seven ships to the Costa Group by 2023.

In 2019, at 135,500 gross tons, she was the largest ship Costa Cruises had ever introduced to the Chinese market. The ship accommodates up to 5,145 guests and 1,393 crew members. 

Carnival Venezia will be the first ship to feature “Carnival Fun Italian Style,” combining Italian theming with Carnival’s signature fun. New dining options will focus on Italian flavors, including La Strada Grill, which serves classic Italian street food, and Tomororo, a Mexitalian fusion restaurant.

Carnival Cruise Line favorites, such as Guy’s Burger Joint, Fahrenheit 555 Steakhouse, and Bonsai Sushi & Teppanyaki, will also be available, with some menus adapted to reflect the ship’s Italian influence.

Activities on Carnival Venezia will include an Italian Street Party and Captain’s Venetian Toast, offering Italian-inspired programming for children and teens. The ship will also feature Camp Ocean and Club O2 for young guests, while its SportSquare will be set up with Italian favorites such as bocce ball and foosball.