Carnival Firenze in one read
Carnival Firenze followed her sister Venezia into the Carnival fleet by about a year, and the extra time shows. As Costa Firenze, she was built for the same canceled Chinese-market push, debuting instead in the Mediterranean in July 2021 after a five-month pandemic delay. She transferred to Carnival in Cádiz, February 2024, becoming the second "Fun Italian Style" ship — Florence-themed rather than Venice-themed, with a dining lineup Carnival had a year to refine.
Her design draws on Florence Cathedral, Palazzo Vecchio and the Piazza del Duomo — Tuscan-countryside lounges, velvet and gilding throughout. Actor Jonathan Bennett served as her godfather at her April 2024 christening in Long Beach. She's currently the class's only West Coast ship, though that's set to change.
Fit scores, not review scores — a lower relaxation number means she suits a quiet trip less well, not that she's a lesser ship.
Couples and travelers on or near the West Coast who want the Fun Italian Style concept refined a year in — Florence theming, a few extra free casual counters, and (for now) an easy Southern California departure.
You're set on the Venice theme instead (that's her sister); you want a dedicated solo cabin (she doesn't have one); or you're booking Long Beach sailings far into 2027, since her homeport is changing.
Is Firenze your ship?
Four quick questions and we'll give you an honest read on whether she fits — not a sales pitch.
Where she sails
Firenze's deployment is genuinely in flux — read this as a snapshot, not a fixed schedule.
Long Beach, for now. Firenze sails short 3- and 4-night Baja cruises from Long Beach, California — the only Fun Italian Style ship on the West Coast. Carnival canceled her Long Beach departures from October 12 to November 16, 2026, and she's leaving the West Coast for good: her last Long Beach departure is January 4, 2027, a 15-day trip to Santiago, Chile. From there she sails around South America to Buenos Aires and on to Miami for a short spring season, then moves to New York from late May 2027 — taking over the slot Venezia held through 2026.
If your sail date is anywhere past late 2026, confirm the ship and homeport directly with Carnival before booking. This pairing changes hands more than any other class in the fleet.
Onboard: her zones & standouts
The Florence theme is what's genuinely hers — everything else is the standard Carnival additions from her transfer refit.
Like her sister, Firenze still carries a Costa-style yellow-and-black funnel under her Carnival livery — the giveaway that she started life with a different cruise line.
Cabins & suites
The neighborhoods
- Terrazza — her version of Havana: aft cabins tied to the Terrazza Carnevale experience, for guests 12 and older.
- No Family Harbor or Cloud 9 Spa cabins — those categories are on the Vista and Excel ships, not this class.
- Cove Balcony — low, close-to-the-water balconies.
Worth knowing
- Carnival's own fact sheet lists Firenze at about 4,126 guests at double occupancy; third-party sites vary on "max occupancy" by a few hundred, so verify against Carnival's current listing rather than a comparison site.
- Like Venezia, Firenze has no dedicated solo-cabin category — worth knowing if you're sailing alone.
Her sister
Same Fun Italian Style concept, different city and coast — here's how Venezia differs from Firenze.
The honest read
Firenze inherits the same core criticism as her sister: Cruise Critic's own editorial coverage notes the Italian theming can leave guests unsure "what cruise line they're sailing," and an aggregated fan-blog ranking of the Carnival fleet places her near the bottom (25th of 29), citing that style clash specifically. As with Venezia, treat that particular ranking as one outlet's opinion rather than an official score — Firenze has no equivalent Cruise Critic award of her own yet, positive or negative, but the sentiment in member reviews echoes it.
Two more concrete points: like Venezia, her pool deck design carries over the retractable-roof compromise from the ships' original Chinese-market intent, and she has no dedicated solo-cabin category. There's also a practical, right-now issue worth flagging honestly: Carnival's cancellation of a run of her fall 2026 Long Beach sailings, ahead of her 2027 relocation, means anyone who booked those dates has had to rebook — a real disruption if you're a West Coast cruiser who liked having her nearby.
Our verdict
Firenze is the pick if the Fun Italian Style concept appeals to you but you'd rather have the newer hull and the refined dining lineup — Fresh Creations, Chicken Shack and Il Mercato are free counters her sister doesn't have. While her Long Beach season lasts, she's also the easiest way for West Coast cruisers to try this class without flying east.
Book her for the Florence theme and the West Coast convenience — but check her homeport carefully if you're booking into 2027, since she's mid-transition to New York. Her godfather, Jonathan Bennett, was named her "Honorary Italian" godparent at her April 2024 christening in Long Beach.
Ask Seabound about Firenze
Tell us about your trip.
Homeport, group size, kids' ages, budget and length — and we'll tell you honestly whether Firenze is your ship or another Carnival fits better.
Instant answers from our guides · always verified against current Carnival information before you book.
Quick answers
Why is Carnival Firenze shaped like a Costa ship?
Because she was one. She was built for Costa Cruises, debuting in 2021, for a Chinese-market push COVID canceled. Carnival Corporation transferred her to the Carnival brand in February 2024, keeping the original Italian design and adding standard Carnival venues.
What's different about Firenze compared to Venezia?
Firenze is Florence-themed rather than Venice-themed — her main dining rooms are Michelangelo and Medici rather than Canal Grande and Marco Polo, and she adds three free casual counters Venezia doesn't have: Fresh Creations, Chicken Shack and Il Mercato. She's also about a year newer to the Carnival fleet.
Where does Carnival Firenze sail from?
Long Beach, California, on short Baja itineraries until January 2027. After a South America repositioning and a spring season from Miami, she moves to New York from late May 2027 — confirm your exact sailing before booking, especially for 2027 or later.
Is Carnival Firenze being moved to a new homeport?
Yes. Firenze leaves Long Beach on January 4, 2027, sails around South America via Santiago and Buenos Aires to Miami, runs a short Miami season, then becomes Carnival's New York ship from late May 2027 — taking over the role Venezia held there through 2026.
Is Carnival Firenze good for families?
Reasonably — she carries the standard Carnival family infrastructure (WaterWorks and Camp Ocean, though no Family Harbor cabins), though like her sister, the class overall leans slightly more toward couples than Carnival's biggest family ships.