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20th Mar 2025 | 5 nights | Carnival Cruise Line | Carnival Firenze
When Carnival Firenze joins the Carnival Cruise Line fleet in spring 2024, it will become the line's third ship to operate under the banner "Carnival Fun Italian Style". Constructed in 2021 as Costa Firenze, the Vista-class ship was originally set to cater for the Chinese market and sail for sister brand Costa Cruises. The renamed 4,072-passenger vessel has now been transferred to Carnival and will sail year-round from Long Beach. The first Italian-style ship, Carnival Venezia, joined the Carnival fleet in June 2023.
In keeping with its name -- Firenze means Florence in Italian -- and the Costa Cruises brand for which it was initially built, the country's signature style is reflected in opulent public areas. The central hub of Carnival Firenze is the grand three-deck atrium, Piazza della Signoria, which is modelled on the main square in Florence. It has marble columns topped with Italian sculptures and a Renaissance-style decor. Announcing the arrival of the vessel to the Carnival fleet Christine Duffy, President of Carnival Cruise Line, said: "We embark more guests from California than any other cruise line, and soon Carnival Firenze will provide a great new option for them. When the ship joins our fleet, she's going to bring our valued guests a new experience that complements our signature fun with the ship's spectacular Italian atmosphere."
Once destined to be deployed in China, Carnival Firenze was built at Italy's Fincantieri shipyard and designed with Asian passengers in mind. This included Chinese dining venues, a large casino and rooms for the popular board game mahjong along with several karaoke rooms. Although Carnival has yet to release full details about the vessel, the first Costa ship transferred to the fleet, Costa Venezia, was fine-tuned to cater to a predominantly North American market. It is likely Carnival Firenze will undergo similar tweaks, such as the addition of mini-bars and U.S. power outlets to cabins and facilities and eateries geared to an American audience. Carnival has already hinted at this in a statement which said: "Carnival Fun Italian Style incorporates Carnival's signature high-energy environment, friendly team members and many familiar venues, plus several new, creative concepts -- from Italian-themed restaurants, bars and entertainment."
Carnival Firenze is slated to enter service in spring 2024.
Carnival has confirmed the ship will homeport in Long Beach and offer a variety of year-round sailings to destinations in Baja, California and the Mexican Riviera.
Carnival Firenze is 135,000 gross tons and carries 4,072 passengers at full capacity with 1,278 crew.
Outdoor spaces include the adults-only Giardino Delle Rose, a Florentine-style rose garden with loungers and parasols. The chic Fashion Bar overlooks the ocean and is a prime spot for sunset cocktails. Public areas include a theatre, La Laguna Aqua Park with two slides and a splash zone, four pools including one with a retractable roof and the Rope Garden adventure park. The ship also has a kids' club and teen zone, al fresco fitness area, jogging track and spa.
In total, there are 13 restaurants and seven bars and lounges, with a strong emphasis on Italian cuisine. While some of the Chinese eateries may be replaced, there are not expected to be any changes to the main dining rooms Palazzo Vecchio and Ristorante dei Medici or the Restaurant Versilia buffet. Other eateries are expected to include the Fiorentina Steak House, Pizza Napoli and Dolce Vita ice-cream parlour. Carnival fans will also find signature restaurants such as Teppanyaki and the Seafood Shack. Bars include the Aperol Spritz Bar, serving the famous bittersweet Italian cocktail. Full details of all the dining options will be announced closer to the launch date.
Carnival Firenze has 2,136 cabins and suites across 11 decks which range in size from 153-square-foot interiors to suites measuring up to 327 square feet.
Budget-conscious, gregarious families, couples and solos looking for an unpretentious vibe that's all about having fun
Anyone who doesn't appreciate off-color humor, lively hairy chest contests, burgers and BBQ, and thumping music
Carnival Cruise Line sells itself as the "fun" cruise line, and it attracts cruisers who are looking to have a good time with little to no pretensions. Carnival cruisers, who range from young to old, tend to be quite friendly, looking to strike up conversations with other people in the buffet, by the pool and, really, anywhere. Carnival is also one of the most family-oriented lines in the industry, and you're bound to see lots of kids onboard, even during the school year. When school is out, you can expect the number of kids to be well into the hundreds. The line is also popular for family reunions, and bachelor and bachelorette parties. People on Carnival cruise ships hail primarily from the United States, mainly the south and Midwest, but you'll also meet folks from Canada, England and usually a handful of other European countries.
Carnival cruises are casual, with shorts, tee shirts, capris, swimsuits or swim cover-ups de rigueur during the day (no bathing suites in the dining venues, however). Most nights the dress code remains much the same, minus the swimwear, though technically the cruise line asks that people not wear shorts into the main dining room. The policy is inconsistently upheld. On "elegant" nights, you'll see a range of clothing from ball gowns, dresses that leave little to the imagination, tuxes and suits to the same shorts and tees people sport all day long. Most men, however, opt for long trousers and collared shirts, while women don sundresses, or a skirt or trousers with a blouse. Men are not required to wear a suit jacket or tie in any venue.
No. While Carnival is one of the more inclusive cruise lines when it comes to dining, you will still have to pay extra for some specialty dining, all drinks (alcoholic and non, except water, select juice at breakfast, and coffee and tea), shore excursions, visits to the spa and any retail purchases, including photos.
Aside from the main pool, which is the hub of much of the line's fun activities, almost every Carnival cruise ship also has at least one waterslide, with several having multi-slide water parks. Additionally, several have a top-deck SportSquare that features a colourful collection of outdoor amusements, including Ping-Pong, billiards, foosball, mini-golf, Twister and a SkyCourse ropes course. On the line's newest ships (Vista and Horizon), there's also the SkyRide, a recumbent bike attraction suspended 150 feet up in the air, requiring riders to pedal their way around an 800-foot track that wraps around the outer decks. Inside, you'll find activities that range from trivia and Bingo during the day to comedy shows and high-tech song-and-dance revues at night. Carnival ships also have lively bar nightlife, especially on ships with a RedFrog Pub; there's also an always-busy casino.
