Carnival Firenze
Carnival Firenze is a Vista-class cruise ship operated by Carnival Cruise Line, a subsidiary of Carnival Corporation & plc. Originally commissioned for the Chinese market, she debuted as Costa Firenze for sister brand Costa Cruises, but was never deployed to Asia following the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on cruise travel in China. Named after Florence, the 135,156 gross tonnage (GT)-vessel was constructed by Italian shipbuilder Fincantieri in Marghera and delivered in December 2020.
Carnival Firenze as Costa Firenze in Kiel in 2023 | |
| History | |
|---|---|
| Panama | |
| Name |
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| Namesake | Florence, Italy |
| Owner | Carnival Corporation & plc |
| Operator |
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| Port of registry | |
| Ordered | 1 April 2016 |
| Builder |
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| Yard number | 6273 |
| Laid down | 22 December 2015 |
| Launched | 6 November 2019 |
| Sponsored by | Jonathan Bennett (Carnival Firenze) |
| Christened | 24 April 2024 (Carnival Firenze) |
| Completed | 22 December 2020 |
| Acquired |
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| Maiden voyage |
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| In service | 2021–present |
| Identification |
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| Status | In service |
| General characteristics | |
| Class and type | Vista-class cruise ship |
| Tonnage | 135,156 GT |
| Length | 323.63 m (1,061 ft 9 in) |
| Beam | 37.2 m (122 ft 1 in) |
| Draught | 8.25 m (27 ft 1 in) |
| Depth | 11.2 m (36 ft 9 in) |
| Decks | 18 |
| Installed power |
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| Propulsion | 33,000 kW (44,000 hp) |
| Speed | 18 knots (33 km/h; 21 mph) (service) |
| Capacity |
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| Crew | 1,278 crew |
In 2023, amid a corporate fleet reshuffling in the wake of the pandemic, Carnival Corporation announced Costa Firenze would be transferred to Carnival under a new sub-brand named "Costa as Carnival" operating as "Carnival Fun Italian Style". The new concept was designed to integrate Costa Firenze and sister ship Costa Venezia into Carnival in a bid to boost domestic American capacity after the cruise line had sold numerous older vessels while Costa contended with operational challenges in its core markets. In February 2024, she was officially renamed Carnival Firenze during her pre-delivery renovation and will debut for Carnival in April 2024 in the new sub-fleet of Venice-class ships.