The Carnival Firenze, a cruise ship offering a unique “Fun Italian Style” experience, operates year-round from Long Beach, California. This vessel, initially built as Costa Firenze in 2021 for the Chinese market, joined the Carnival Cruise Line fleet in February 2024. Its design elements and onboard offerings draw heavily from Italian culture and heritage.
A highlight of the ship’s Italian theme is the Piazza Duomo, named after Florence’s iconic cathedral, serving as the central hub. Other notable Italian-inspired venues include the elegant Michelangelo and Medici Restaurants, Il Viaggio for traditional Italian foods and cocktails, and La Strada Grill™ for Italian street food. Il Mercato, an Italian market, offers meatballs, Italian-inspired sandwiches, and sausages.
For refreshments, guests can visit Amari™ cocktail bar, Rococó™ for frozen drinks, Frizzante™ for bubbly beverages, snacks, and coffee, and Moda Bar and Lounge™ for classic Italian cocktails, martinis, and live music. The Teatro Rosso offers Playlist Productions shows, while the Tuscan Lounge pays homage to Florence’s region.
The ship also integrates familiar Carnival favorites, such as Bonsai Teppanyaki™ and Fahrenheit 555 Steakhouse™. Other venues for relaxation and entertainment include Piano Bar 88, Serenity Bar, Cloud 9 Spa™, and the Serenity Adult-Only Retreat™. Children’s programs like Camp Ocean™, Circle “C”®, and Club O2® cater to various age groups, while active guests can enjoy WaterWorks™ and SportSquare™, featuring a ropes course, jogging track, and mini golf.
Carnival Firenze boasts a gross tonnage of 135,156 and a guest capacity of 4,126, with 1,425 onboard crew members. It measures 1,063 feet in length and was built by Fincantieri in Italy.
Carnival Firenze provides 2,136 cabins and suites across 11 decks, ranging from 153-square-foot interior rooms to suites up to 327 square feet. All staterooms include a dedicated attendant, soft linens, ample storage, an in-room safe, television, and climate control.
Terrazza staterooms offer exclusive amenities, including access to Terrazza Moda, a private deck with all-day lounging, drinks, entertainment, and whirlpools. Guests also receive morning access to Moda Lounge for a select breakfast menu, a sailaway event with live music, and Terrazza-branded robes and towels. Guests in Terrazza staterooms must be 12 years or older.
Dining Options and Culinary Experiences
The ship features 13 restaurants and seven bars and lounges, with a strong focus on Italian cuisine. Complimentary dining includes the Palazzo Restaurant and Medici Restaurant, which serve breakfast, brunch, lunch, and dinner. The Lido Marketplace, a buffet venue, provides a wide variety of casual dining options throughout the day, including a 24-hour Pizzeria del Capitano.
Specialty dining options include the Fahrenheit 555 Steakhouse, Bonsai Teppanyaki, and Bonsai Sushi, offering Japanese cuisine. Tomodoro presents a unique Mexitalian fusion, while Guy’s Burger Joint serves gourmet burgers by Guy Fieri. Seafood Shack offers a New-England-style experience with fresh seafood.
Onboard Entertainment and Activities
Entertainment on Carnival Firenze includes grand-style productions at Teatro Rosso, featuring live music, dance, and tribute acts from Playlist Productions. The Limelight Lounge hosts the Punchliner Comedy Club and other live evening performances. Outdoor entertainment is available at the Carnival Seaside Theatre, an outdoor cinema with a large LED screen.
The Firenze Casino offers a Vegas-style gaming experience with slot machines and table games. The ship also features the Heroes Tribute Lounge, a bar supporting military families. Art enthusiasts can explore the Art Gallery, which holds daily auctions. Shopping options include The Fun Shops, Cherry on Top candy store, and a Cloud 9 Beauty Salon.
For active guests, SkyCourse provides an outdoor ropes course, and a Mini Golf Course is available. The Serenity Adult-Only Retreat offers two large cantilevered whirlpools, massage huts, cabanas, and a complimentary salad bar, providing a peaceful escape for guests 21 and older.
Children and Teen Programs
Carnival Firenze provides extensive youth programs through Camp Ocean for three age groups: Penguins (2–5), Stingrays (6–8), and Sharks (9–11). Each group has dedicated spaces and supervised activities, including arts and crafts, games, and themed parties. Night Owls babysitting services are available for a fee.
Additional kids’ amenities include Party Reef, Creative Cove, Dr. Seuss Bookville, and an outdoor playground. The Beary Cuddly Workshop allows children to build their own stuffed animals. For older kids, Circle C (ages 12–14) and Club O2 (ages 15–17) offer movies, video games, themed parties, and teen-exclusive shore excursions.
Itineraries and Future Deployments
Carnival Firenze is currently sailing 6-day round-trip Mexican Riviera cruises, departing from Long Beach on April 6, 2026. The itinerary includes stops at Cabo San Lucas and Ensenada, Mexico. The ship will return to Los Angeles on April 12, 2026. Prior to its U.S. deployment, Carnival Firenze underwent a drydock conversion at Navantia Shipyard in Port Cadiz, Spain, from January 27 to February 2, 2024, to transform it from Costa Firenze into Carnival Firenze.
Looking ahead, Carnival Firenze’s itineraries include a variety of year-round sailings to Baja, California, and the Mexican Riviera from Long Beach. In summer 2027, the ship is scheduled to reposition to New York City, with a temporary homeport in Miami, Florida, from February to May, offering Caribbean voyages.
The ship’s inaugural leadership team, announced in February 2024, includes Captain Crescenzo Palomba, Chief Engineer Rosario Capilli, Hotel Director Renil Kuruvilla, Entertainment Director Gordon Travis, and Cruise Director Joey Boyes. The official launch and naming ceremony took place on April 24, 2024, at Port Long Beach, with actor Jonathan David Bennett serving as godfather.
Carnival Firenze Mexican Riviera 6-Day Cruise Itinerary (April 2026)Date / TimePortDeparting from Los Angeles, Long Beach-San Pedro, California hotelsCabo San Lucas, Baja California MexicoEnsenada, Baja California MexicoArriving in Los Angeles, Long Beach-San Pedro, California hotels
