Costa Ship Units Sail on Final Cruise Earlier than Becoming a member of Carnival
Costa Firenze has set sail on her closing voyage with Costa Cruises earlier than the ship will likely be formally retired from the road, extensively refurbished, and rebranded to hitch Carnival Cruise Line as Carnival Firenze.
The ultimate Costa Firenze cruise is a Mediterranean crusing that may finally finish in Savona, Italy on January 21, 2024, earlier than the ship enters dry dock in preparation for her Enjoyable Ship transformation.
Costa Firenze Units Sail for the Final Time
Costa Firenze has welcomed visitors for her closing 10-night Mediterranean crusing, having embarked visitors in Valencia, Spain for a visit that may embody visits to Portugal, the Canary Islands, and Spain earlier than ending in Barcelona on January 19. A particular 1-night cruise will embark in Marseille, France on January 20 and finish in Savona, Italy on January 21.
At the moment, the ship will formally finish her service life with Costa Cruises, and as a substitute will likely be reworked into the “Costa by Carnival” idea and renamed Carnival Firenze.
This closing crusing is bound to a be a celebratory but unhappy event as crew members and visitors alike get pleasure from what makes Costa Firenze a novel and memorable ship. Undoubtedly, there will likely be particular occasions and actions onboard to commemorate the ship as she finishes this chapter in her service life.
The 135,136-gross-ton, Vista-class Costa Firenze joined Costa Cruises in late 2020 and first set sail in July 2021, and so has had a comparatively quick lifespan with the Italian cruise line.
Each Costa Cruises and Carnival Cruise Line are underneath the identical guardian firm, Carnival Company & plc.
What’s Subsequent for Costa Firenze
Now, the vessel will bear an in depth refit and revitalization to convey her areas and ambiance extra in sync with Carnival Cruise Line, although her Italian nature will likely be preserved. The switch of the ship was first introduced in June 2022, on the identical time it was introduced that her sister ship Costa Venezia would turn into Carnival Venezia – which occurred in Could 2023.
Carnival Cruise Line Model Ambassador John Heald has even shared hints of what’s to return for the brand new Carnival Firenze, together with the set up of the duplicate David statue on the ship. The statue was previously aboard Carnival Delight within the David’s steakhouse, however when that venue was rebranded in Could 2023, the statue was eliminated.
“Now, check out the picture and the Christmas Tree as a result of when the ship turns into Carnival Firenze there will likely be one thing else standing the place that tree is now. It’s an outdated pal from one other ship. Are you able to guess what it’s that may have delight of place there?” Heald requested when exhibiting off vacation crusing images aboard Costa Firenze.
Whereas Carnival Cruise Line has not launched a large number of particulars about Carnival Firenze‘s transformation – undoubtedly, some particulars will likely be revealed within the weeks earlier than her debut – some public areas will likely be rebranded with Carnival favorites such because the ever well-liked Man’s Burger Joint, Bonsai Teppanyaki, the Serenity Adults-Solely Retreat, and the WaterWorks aquapark.
The ship can even be receiving the brand new blue-and-gold livery additionally worn by Costa Venezia that matches the model of the red-white-and-blue hull livery that debuted with Mardi Gras and has since been rolled out all through the Carnival fleet.
A spread of normal upkeep updates reminiscent of flooring refreshes, portray, deck restore, lighting upgrades, and different typical dry dock work can even be a part of the three months the ship will likely be out of service.
Setting Sail With Carnival Firenze
As soon as refit and able to welcome visitors once more, Carnival Firenze will likely be welcomed into the Carnival Cruise Line fleet with varied ceremonies, reminiscent of altering her nationwide registry and an official renaming.
On April 25, 2024, the ship will welcome her first visitors underneath the Carnival model from her new homeport in Lengthy Seashore, California – an earlier-than-originally-planned inaugural crusing that has been controversial for some visitors.
Carnival Firenze will then supply Baja Mexico and Mexican Riviera sailings starting from 3-7 nights, visiting ports reminiscent of Puerto Vallarta, Mazatlán, Cabo San Lucas, Ensenada, and Catalina, relying on the crusing date and cruise size.
The ship is scheduled to be based mostly year-round from Lengthy Seashore not less than via April 2026. Itineraries previous that date haven’t but been launched.
