Carnival Cruise Line's newest addition to the fleet, Carnival Venezia, has embarked on its inaugural voyage from New York City. As fans of the cruise line eagerly awaited the arrival of the first "Carnival Fun Italian Style" ship, the former Costa Cruises vessel set sail to Bermuda after the naming ceremony hosted by the ship's godfather, Jay Leno.

On June 15, 2023, Carnival Venezia embarked on its maiden voyage from New York City, commencing a journey to King's Wharf, Bermuda, where it will arrive on June 17. Following this voyage, the ship will embark on an 8-night cruise to the Eastern Caribbean starting on June 19. The grand arrival of the newest addition to Carnival's fleet took place in the city on June 13.

To commemorate the ship's maiden voyage Carnival hosted a welcome event at the Manhattan Cruise Terminal. The celebrations began with a naming ceremony onboard on Wednesday evening and continued the following day with the boarding of the first guests. The event was made even more special with a blessing from Father Enrique Salvo of St. Patrick's Cathedral. Furthermore, Jay Leno, the renowned comedian and Late-Night television host, was named the ship's godfather, making history as the first-ever godfather of a Carnival ship. Leno also performed an exclusive comedy show for the event attendees, adding to the festive atmosphere.

During the event, Christine Duffy, president of Carnival Cruise Line, expressed her delight at Leno's involvement, emphasizing the celebration of Italian heritage that guests will experience when cruising on this beautiful ship. Leno's participation adds an extra touch of excitement to the Italian-themed atmosphere onboard Carnival Venezia.

Following the event at the Manhattan Cruise Terminal, Christine Duffy, along with Captain Claudio Cupisti and a group of early boarders, led a ribbon-cutting ceremony, officially marking the start of the embarkation process. With this symbolic act, the ship's journey truly began, and guests eagerly boarded the newly named cruise ship.

Carnival Venezia's summer schedule is filled with an array of sailings, offering four-, five-, six-, and eight-day trips. Destinations include the Caribbean, Bermuda, as well as ports in Canada and New England. From September 29, 2023, the ship will embark on eight- to 12-day cruises to the Eastern Caribbean, Southern Caribbean, and The Bahamas from Port Canaveral. Passengers can look forward to visiting captivating destinations such as Saint Thomas, San Juan, Aruba, and four of Carnival's private destinations: Half Moon Cay, Princess Cays, Amber Cove, and Grand Turk.