I was able to dine at Carnival’s newest specialty restaurant, Il Viaggio, three times on Carnival Venezia’s 15-day transatlantic cruise from Barcelona to New York City. In addition to my experiences. I will share what was said about Il Viaggio during a “fireside chat” with Emeril and Carnival President Christine Duffy. I even dined in Il Viagio with Emeril himself on this cruise.

On my first night in Il Viaggio I sat next to a pair of “youtubers.” This allowed me to hear some of their reactions to the food as they were preparing for their youtube video. I asked if there was anything I needed to try. I had already ordered at this point, but I was interested to hear if I made any good or bad choices. Their feedback could also help me with my future visits. I felt very good going into this meal because all of their favorites were items I had ordered, except the dessert. They ordered different desserts than I did but I would find out on my next visit we all ordered the wrong dessert on this night.

I did try a spritz at the recommendation of my waiter. This is very popular. I saw a lot of people drinking it at the Frizzante bar just outside of Il Viaggio. It looks very good. I guess I’m just not a spritz guy. If I were a spritz guy I think I would’ve enjoyed it.

The youtubers gave me a good recommendation on the bread. This bread has parmesan and pesto inside it.

This bread is the second best bread they have. It was a recommendation of the Il Viaggio manger, Hanna. She said she alternates between this bread and the parmesan bread.

It’s very similar to a croissant.

This are the items I ordered on my first visit to Il Viaggio. You can’t go wrong with this order. I would only modify the dessert.

The Panzarotti is my favorite of all of the appetizers I’ve had.

Zuppa D’Orzio is my favorite of all of the soups and salads I had.

Pasta Alla Genovese is my favorite of all of the entrees I tried.

At the end of each meal you get a shot of limoncello.

I was too full after that meal for dessert. I left the gun and took the cannoli.

I ate the cannoli the next morning. They were very good. The other pastries on the plate are the recipe of the executive chef’s mother in Rome. They are included at the end of each meal.

Hopefully they have fixed this issue for good but on the first night my waiter was going around telling people who prepaid for their meal didn’t include any gratuity. As you can see it did indeed include gratuity. I know the table next to me just to the waiter at his word when they asked about the gratuity. I don’t mind giving additional gratuity. I always do. But they’re now giving you an iPhone with the preset % options in the tip. I would add 10% which sounds cheap when he’s saying you haven’t paid any gratuity but it’s not when you actually already paid 18%. I reported this issue with to the manager, Hanna who said she would get it fixed.

On the second day there was a “fireside chat” between Emeril and Carnival President Christine Duffy where they talked about all issues food including the Il Viaggio. Emeril said they are happy with where the specialty restaurants are. He now wants to focus on improving the Main Dining Rooms.

I captured they Il Viaggio portion of this discussion. In this video you can hear about their favorite dishes as well as the story about the pastries from the executive chef’s Mom in Rome. 

On the second night I ate in Il Viaggio with Emeril himself. He was just at a table behind mine with his family.

This was my table.

I of course loaded up on parmesan bread.

I remember the items Emeril talked about in the “fireside chat” I posted above. I had a pork chop for lunch so I did not want another one for dinner. I asked about the pizza. I was told they recommend it for two people. I ended up going with my servers suggestions. I insisted on the Mile High Pie which I had heard Christine and Emeril talk about during the fireside chat. These are the items I ordered. They are all good but if I were trying to make a perfect order I would go with my first nights picks and switch the dessert to this one.

 

This is the Mile High Pie. I think it’s the best dessert I’ve had on a Carnival ship.

These are the pastries that came from the mother in Rome. They are much better fresh.

I know I’m eating here at least one more time because I prepaid for the last night as well. If I were picking my own items I probably would’ve gone with the pork chop. I didn’t want to do that because I had a pork chop for lunch. At the Emeril talk today items that were specifically mentioned were  the chicken parmigiana, the pork chop, the pizza, and the mile high. The waiter last night mentioned the pizza as well but supposedly it’s so big they want it to be for two people. Be careful with all things financial with here. Since last night they were bringing around the $42 bill asking for a tip, I assumed it was the same tonight and immediately hit the 20%. Tonight they actually already added 18% and were looking for an additional tip. Generous me I tipped 38%. But on top of that they charged me for two people. I went back and they removed the second person.

On the final night of the cruise I made friends at a nearby table who offered me some of their pizza. Finally I did get to try it. If you watched the video I posted of Emeril you know this pizza has no crust. The bottom is actually pressed chicken. It’s really good. It’s one of the best pizzas I’ve ever had.

I of course stuck with the parmesan bread.

I went with the salad tonight.

This was the Shrimp appetizer. They are really big shrimp. When I finished she asked “are you ready for the main course?” I forgot that this was the appetizer. Keeping in mind I had the pizza as well. Fortunately I skipped lunch today otherwise I wouldn’t have made it this far.

For the main course I went with the Pappadelle Al Cinghiale. This is another great pasta. I think I still prefer the Genovese. But this would be my second choice of the main courses I’ve tried. Drop it to third if we’re counting the pizza.

I of course ordered the Mile High for dessert but once I became full I changed it to something that wouldn’t melt. This is the Tiramisu. I never ate it. I got it to go and gave it to one of my favorite bartenders. I do know the youtuber I sat next to on the first night enjoyed it.

There were no issues with the check on the final night so hopefully they have been permanently fixed. The manager Hanna was nice and extremely helpful. I loved this restaurant. I would go again if it were on the next ship I had booked. I don’t think you can go wrong with the menu. But If I were picking the perfect meal it would be the parmesan bread, Panzarotti, Zuppa D’Orzio, Pasta Alla Genovese or the Pizza, and the Mile High Pie.