CARNIVAL FIRENZE
May 8, 2026 | Long Beach, California
Carnival Firenze (Carnival Cruise Line) was in Long Beach on May 8, 2026, during a turnaround between two three-night Baja Mexico cruises. Originally built for Costa Cruises as Costa Firenze, the Italian-designed ship has been based in Southern California since joining Carnival in 2024 and departed Long Beach that afternoon for another short cruise to Ensenada.
Carnival Firenze is a Vista-class cruise ship with an unusual history linking Costa Cruises’ expansion in Asia with Carnival Cruise Line’s growing presence on the West Coast. Built by Fincantieri at Marghera, Italy, and delivered in December 2020 as Costa Firenze, the ship was designed around the architecture, art, and atmosphere of Florence and the Italian Renaissance. Originally intended primarily for Costa’s Asian market, her career changed considerably following the disruption of the cruise industry during the COVID-19 pandemic. In 2024, she transferred from Costa Cruises to sister company Carnival Cruise Line, underwent a major transformation, and emerged as Carnival Firenze. She began sailing from Long Beach on April 25, 2024, becoming Carnival’s second ship to feature its “Fun Italian Style” concept and bringing a distinctive combination of Costa’s Italian design and Carnival’s onboard experience to cruises from Southern California.
Information List
Name: Carnival Firenze
Former Name: Costa Firenze
Operator: Carnival Cruise Line
Former Operator: Costa Cruises
Builder: Fincantieri, Marghera, Italy
Yard Number: 6273
Delivered: December 22, 2020
Entered Carnival Service: April 25, 2024
Class: Vista class / Venice-class Costa variant
Ship Type: Cruise ship
Gross Tonnage: 135,156 GT in Carnival service
Length: 1,061 feet / approximately 323.6 meters
Beam: 122 feet / approximately 37.2 meters
Design Draft: Approximately 27 feet / 8.25 meters
Guest Capacity: 4,126 at double occupancy
Passenger Cabins: 2,136
Crew: Approximately 1,425
Cruising Speed: 18 knots
Maximum Original Design Speed: Approximately 22.6 knots
Registry: Panama
Current Homeport: Long Beach, California
Visit Shown: May 8, 2026
May 8 Departure: Approximately 3:30 p.m.
Cruise: Three-night Baja Mexico
Destination: Ensenada, Mexico
Scheduled Return: May 11, 2026
Carnival lists Carnival Firenze at 135,156 gross tons, 1,061 feet long, with a double-occupancy capacity of 4,126 guests and approximately 1,425 crew. Fincantieri's original specifications for Costa Firenze record a length of 323.63 meters, beam of 37.2 meters, 2,136 passenger cabins, and an 18-knot service speed.
History and Features
Construction and Costa Firenze:
Carnival Firenze was constructed by Fincantieri at its Marghera shipyard near Venice as yard number 6273.
She was originally built for Costa Cruises as Costa Firenze, with a design intended to introduce Italian culture and styling to Costa's Asian cruise market.
Fincantieri delivered the ship to Costa Cruises on December 22, 2020.
Her approximately 135,000-gross-ton design was derived from Carnival Corporation's Vista-class platform and closely related to Costa Venezia.
The ship's interiors were inspired by Florence and the Italian Renaissance, giving her a visual identity distinct from Carnival's conventional Vista-class ships.
Her original maximum capacity exceeded 5,200 guests, with 2,136 passenger cabins.
Although delivered in 2020, the global disruption of cruising caused by the COVID-19 pandemic significantly altered the early career originally planned for the ship.
From Costa Cruises to Carnival Cruise Line:
Carnival Corporation announced plans in 2022 to transfer Costa Venezia and Costa Firenze into operations aimed at Carnival Cruise Line's North American passengers.
The concept eventually became known as “Carnival Fun Italian Style,” retaining much of the ships' Italian-inspired architecture while combining it with Carnival's dining, entertainment, and service.
Costa Firenze officially transferred from Costa Cruises to Carnival Cruise Line on February 2, 2024, during a handover in Cádiz, Spain.
Carnival then carried out an approximately two-month refurbishment to prepare the ship for its new role.
The ship was re-registered in Panama during the conversion.
Unlike a complete rebuilding or conventional rebranding, the transformation deliberately retained much of the ship's Italian character.
Carnival Fun Italian Style:
Carnival Firenze became the second Carnival ship to operate under the “Fun Italian Style” concept, following Carnival Venezia.
The concept combines the ship's original Costa and Florence-inspired architecture with familiar Carnival venues, dining, entertainment, and activities.
Piazza Duomo takes inspiration from Florence's famous cathedral and serves as one of the ship's principal Italian-themed spaces.
Restaurants and venues include the Michelangelo and Medici dining rooms, Il Viaggio, La Strada Grill, Il Mercato, Frizzante, and Rococó.
Carnival also introduced Tomodoro, which combines Mexican and Italian influences, particularly appropriate for a ship operating cruises from Southern California to Mexico.
A replica of Michelangelo's David, previously displayed aboard Carnival Pride, was installed aboard Carnival Firenze, reinforcing the ship's connection to Florence.
Arrival in Long Beach:
Carnival Firenze arrived in Southern California in April 2024 following her transformation in Europe.
Actor Jonathan Bennett was named the ship's godfather, an unusual variation on the traditional maritime role of godmother.
The naming ceremony took place at the Long Beach Cruise Terminal on April 24, 2024.
Her inaugural Carnival voyage departed Long Beach the following day, April 25.
That first cruise was a seven-day Mexican Riviera itinerary visiting Puerto Vallarta, Mazatlán, and Cabo San Lucas.
Her arrival added substantial capacity to Carnival's Southern California operation alongside Carnival Panorama and Carnival Radiance.
Carnival described the approximately 5,000-guest ship as part of a major expansion of its Long Beach operation.
Long Beach Service:
Long Beach became Carnival Firenze's first Carnival homeport and has defined the ship's career since her 2024 debut.
Her Southern California deployment has included Baja Mexico and Mexican Riviera itineraries of varying lengths.
Short cruises commonly visit Ensenada and Catalina Island, while longer voyages extend farther south to destinations such as Cabo San Lucas, Mazatlán, and Puerto Vallarta.
The ship's Italian-inspired identity makes her a distinctive presence in Carnival's West Coast fleet while sharing the Long Beach operation with other Carnival vessels.
Carnival's decision to place the ship in Long Beach also continued the company's long relationship with Southern California, where it has maintained West Coast operations for decades.
Long Beach – May 8, 2026:
May 8, 2026, was a turnaround day for Carnival Firenze at her Long Beach homeport.
She arrived that morning at the end of a three-night cruise that had departed Long Beach on May 5.
That voyage included a day at sea followed by a May 7 visit to Ensenada, Mexico.
After guests disembarked and the ship was prepared for her next sailing, a new group of passengers boarded for another three-night Baja Mexico cruise.
Carnival Firenze was scheduled to depart Long Beach at approximately 3:30 p.m. on May 8.
May 9 was scheduled as a day at sea.
The ship was scheduled to visit Ensenada from approximately 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. on May 10.
She was then scheduled to return to Long Beach at approximately 8:00 a.m. on May 11.
The May 8 photographs therefore document Carnival Firenze during the regular turnaround cycle that had become central to her role as a year-round Southern California cruise ship.
Legacy:
Carnival Firenze represents an unusual chapter in the continuing evolution of Carnival Corporation's fleet.
Conceived as an Italian-themed Costa ship for the Asian market, she instead developed a second identity serving Carnival's North American passengers from Southern California.
Her architecture and interior design preserve a visible connection to her origins as Costa Firenze, while the 2024 transformation adapted the ship to Carnival's style of cruising.
Her deployment from Long Beach also increased Carnival's capacity on the West Coast and introduced one of the company's largest ships to the short Baja and longer Mexican Riviera markets.
Rather than completely erasing her Costa heritage, Carnival Firenze continues to operate with that history forming an important part of her present identity.
